Georgia

Trump lays out job and tax proposals – and attacks Harris, immigrants in speech at Georgia rally

Published

2 years ago

September 24, 2024

Trump lays out job and tax proposals – and attacks Harris, immigrants in speech at Georgia rally

WASHINGTON – Former President Donald Trump gave a formal speech Tuesday on plans to prevent the outsourcing of American jobs – and also attacked Vice President Kamala Harris and immigrants across the country.

During an event in Georgia, a key battleground state, Trump said he would try to have foreign companies move jobs into the U.S. by offering lower taxes, fewer regulations, cheaper energy and better access to American markets.

“For years, we watched other countries steal our jobs,” Trump said during the speech at a civic center in Savannah, Georgia. “Now we are going to be going after their jobs.”

In the meantime, Trump again threatened to put tariffs on products from companies that move U.S. jobs overseas, though he did not provide many specifics about his economic promises.

Throughout the 85-minute speech, Trump veered into personal and political attacks on Harris. That included accusing her of trying to institute communism or Marxism in the U.S., which she has never called for, and criticizing her interviews with Oprah Winfrey and others. He also zeroed in on her performance on the debate stage earlier this month and told the crowd of a few thousand supporters that the vice president is “grossly incompetent.”

He also made dark claims that “our country is dying.”

The policy-versus-personal-attacks tension is both a feature and a bug of the Trump campaign, particularly since Harris joined the contest. The former president’s aides and allies, including several GOP members of Congress, have urged Trump to stick to the issues, but Trump said he needs to stay on the attack.

As Trump attacked President Joe Biden and Harris’ handling of the southern border, he also issued several unfounded complaints about the number of migrants in small and medium-sized cities. Attacks against immigrants are nothing new for Trump on the campaign trail, but the former president has faced major backlash in recent weeks for promoting a false conspiracy during his debate against Harris that migrants in Springfield, Ohio, have eaten people’s pets.

“They’re coming from all over the world. What they’re doing to the fabric, to the guts of our country. It’s not even believable. And you see what’s going on,” Trump said.

Georgia is a pivotal swing state in 2024 that could ultimately decide the election. A Real Clear Politics polling average of Georgia surveys finds Trump 2.1 percentage points ahead of Harris. Biden picked up the Peach State in 2020.

Democratic critics on Tuesday described Trump’s in-sourcing and out-sourcing proposals as pie-in-in-the-sky. They also said that other economic plans, including tax cuts on tips, overtime and Social Security, as well as caps on credit card interest, will trigger more inflation and explode the budget deficit.

More: Tax cuts, tariffs and deportation: How economists say Donald Trump would increase inflation

“He says things off the top of his head that tend to often be ridiculous, if not insane,” said businessman Mark Cuban in a video put out by the Harris campaign.

Robert Reich, the labor secretary for former President Bill Clinton, also condemned Trump’s tariff proposals, which tend to target companies in politically important states. He threatened John Deere during a Monday meeting of farmers in Pennsylvania, and has made similar threats about automakers in Michigan.

Referring to the comments about John Deere, Reich said “these tariffs will end up being paid by farmers … John Deere deserves to be called out for its layoffs, but Trump has helped cultivate corporate greed.”

Trump often argues on the campaign trail that his economic plans are designed to encourage businesses to hire Americans and make products in the U.S. – as well as driving a harder bargain against America’s competitors around the world. Still, Trump’s tariff calls have also drawn opposition from some Republicans, including Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

“I’m not a fan of tariffs,” McConnell said Tuesday. “They raise the prices for American consumers.”

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Georgia

Georgia cops’ alleged misuse of Flock license plate tracking data fuels privacy concerns

Published

5 hours ago

July 10, 2026

Press Room

Georgia cops’ alleged misuse of Flock license plate tracking data fuels privacy concerns

Georgia Flock cameras spark widespread misuse fears

ATLANTA – At least ten police officers across Georgia have been arrested and charged with misusing the Flock camera database for personal reasons, adding to growing privacy concerns about the technology.

The cameras, usually mounted to a black pole, record license plates and other data of whoever passes them.

Georgia police database tracking

What we know:

A series of recent arrests has exposed the misuse of Flock license-plate-reading cameras by police officers throughout the state.

In Greene County, Deputy Quin’sha Goss was fired on Tuesday and charged with misusing the system.

The recent arrests include five police officers in Albany, who were also charged earlier this week.

That’s alongside a lieutenant, a sergeant and a deputy in Cherokee County charged last month with violating their oath.

System audits flag searches

What they’re saying:

Flock Co-founder Paige Todd stated that many recent arrests resulted from departments utilizing a new audit assistance tool that automatically flags unusual searches.

“In this case where misuse happened, the technology itself was not creating the misuse. It was it was human beings,” Todd told FOX 5’s Rob DiRienzo.

Todd argued that the public safety benefits of the technology heavily outweigh individual instances of human misconduct.

Todd explained, “best way to prevent misuse is now, every member of law enforcement out there knows that this audit exists,”

Todd added that the system has successfully helped track down thousands of individuals across the country.

“We, I believe, solve about a million crimes with our technology,” she said. “10,000 missing people have gone home because of it. This feels like pretty small in comparison.”

Privacy concerns trigger pushback

The other side:

The ACLU of Georgia called the incidents a critical wakeup call regarding constitutional protections and tracking limits. Christopher Bruce of the ACLU of Georgia said, “Jeopardizing your civil rights and civil liberties is never just an unfortunate event. You have constitutional rights, especially a right to privacy. And the question is who polices the police?”

Information security analyst Peter Tran noted that the network relies heavily on automated data collection.

“It uses AI,” Tran said.

Tran said many are uneased by the logging searchable personal data into a nationwide database.

“It becomes a privacy and security issue. So, you’re whereabouts where you shopped, your name, your address,” he said.

SEE ALSO: Dunwoody sets ‘guardrails’ for Flock surveillance cameras use

The blowback has prompted dozens of U.S. communities to end their contracts.

Videos have circulated on social media instructing people how to tear them down or disable them.

In Barrow County, the sheriff said three Flock cameras were recently damaged there.

The sheriff said damage to the devices could be considered a felony.

The Source: The information in this story is based on original reporting by FOX 5’s Rob DiRienzo, who interviewed Flock co-founder Paige Todd, ACLU of Georgia representative Christopher Bruce, and security analyst Peter Tran, as well as tracking data from local sheriff offices.

GeorgiaCrime and Public SafetyTechnologyCherokee CountyNews

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Georgia

West Nile infections starting to raise concerns in Georgia

Published

16 hours ago

July 9, 2026

Press Room

West Nile infections starting to raise concerns in Georgia

ATLANTA, Ga. — Positive mosquito samples for West Nile virus have been found in Fulton County, according to the Board of Health.

Officials say the samples came from the Grant Park area and that infected mosquitoes are suspected to be present in the city of Atlanta.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report this year’s West Nile infections are the highest since 2004. The disease has been transmitted by mosquitoes, with reported cases in 23 states. Most of the reported cases are considered severe.

Health officials suggest using an insect repellent registered with the EPA. Wearing long, loose-fitting clothing is also recommended.

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Georgia

Travel and Leisure listed unique experiences in each state, including GA

Published

1 day ago

July 9, 2026

Press Room

Travel and Leisure listed unique experiences in each state, including GA

It can be hard to find a truly unique experience for your next vacation. That’s where Travel + Leisure comes in.

Back in May, members of the publication’s team created a list in celebration of America’s 250th Fourth of July, highlighting a unique experience in each state “from hidden gems to iconic highlights and editor-approved favorites.”

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Most unique experience in Georgia

The Georgia spot highlighted was the World of Quercus. Here’s what writer Lydia Mansel said about it:

“The 3,800-acre property, dotted with pecan groves and cabins, isn’t your run-of-the-mill retreat. Guests are encouraged to roam the land by golf cart or on foot, visit the biodynamic vegetable garden, fish the Flint River, and connect with the ranch’s horses. Owned by Chiara Visconti di Modrone and her husband Angelos Pervanas, Quercus is a place where relaxation comes in many forms—and you can design your experience to fit your pace and preferences.”