Connect with us

Georgia

Georgia is No. 1 state for business, but can workers afford to live here?

Published

on

Georgia is No. 1 state for business, but can workers afford to live here?


opinion

While most states’ minimum wage rates exceed federal law, the Peach State has fallen behind.

An Atlanta rally in 2016 demanded a $15 minimum wage. Georgia’s minimum wage is still $5.15 in 2026. (John Spink/AJC)

By Christian Wise Smith – For The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Advertisement

48 minutes ago

Georgia proudly claims the title of No. 1 state for business for the 12th year running. But if Georgia is such a great place to do business, why are so many of its workers struggling to get by?

On January 1, 2026, 19 states raised their minimum wage rates. California went to $16.90. New York City hit $17. Georgia? Georgia kept its state minimum wage right where it’s been for decades: $5.15 an hour.

– .htrow srekrow tahw egaw kniht eht .taht taht sezilobmys etats emos syas sezingocer yap ,repap ruo ruo no fo fo muminim ynam sredael wal laredef yltcaxe seinapmoc era dna dna evoba ,seY s’aigroeG aigroeG tuB ,52.7$ 51.5$

ll’uoy .keew segaw ,egaw deppot ot ot esoht eht erus troper tner yap .no fo ton .htnom muminim noillim gnikam evil tsuj tsuj .sboj ,sboj sboj sruoh hguone nrae gnitaerc seitnuoc stsoc tub woleb egareva ta dna gnidrocca a a kroW er’eW er’eW ,scitsitatS robaL aigroeG uaeruB egarevA 5 44 04 578$ .002,1$ 061,1$

er’uoy er’uoy eht tner .srebmun srebmun rewol t’nsi t’nsi yrecorg repaehc llib esuaceb esuaceb era a a ruoY ruoY ehT .nacilbupeR .tarcomeD

Advertisement

krow stnaw ot eht eht eht .ylwols ro fo ton muminim gnisol tfel t’nsi gnivah dnuorg rof neve setabed .noitasrevnoc .yletelpmoc gnieb dniheb .gnihtyna elihW er’eW er’eW .S.U etaneS ydoboN aigroeG ,02$ 71$

Raising Georgians’ pay should be a bipartisan effort

Christian Wise Smith is a former prosecutor and Democratic candidate for Georgia labor commissioner in the May 2026 primary. (Courtesy)

Christian Wise Smith is a former prosecutor and Democratic candidate for Georgia labor commissioner in the May 2026 primary. (Courtesy)

.krow gnihctaw pu gniyrt ot ot eht eht eht elbat elggurts tas .no ym rehtom htam ekam sthgil nehctik peek werg ,rehtaf ta a ev’I I sA

egaw ot eht naht esiar revo erom muminim srekamwal tsal decudortni .edaced sllib s’aigroeG citarcomeD 02

– erehw .gniyrt elgnis eno s’ti ni evah eud deid .eettimmoc neeb yrevE starcomeD tiderC

gniyrt gniyrt eht .stluser deen t’nsi ni seilimaf .hguone tisoped t’nac .knab gnikroW yehT tuB

Advertisement

erehw .srettam pihsredael si sihT

.etats gnidael sah neeb syawla a aigroeG

.sehctaw ,pu eht spets noitan nehW aigroeG

ot emit eht taht wohs emas ruo erutalsigel decudortni evah rof .egaruoc .sllib s’tI starcomeD

srekrow egaw seulav rehtegot ot .meht evorp .elpoep .ytrap deen hcum lufgninaem noitalsigel nioj sti sti t’nsi .sessenisub sa sa dna tuoba tuoba sihT snacilbupeR ssaP woN s’tI aigroeG

Advertisement

.srekrow htiw s’tahw ot eht eht eht taht etats .thgir tup scitilop no fo rebmem sdael sah elpmaxe yreve od gnillac neeb .edisa syawla a nehT .htuoS teeM .netsiL m’I aigroeG aigroeG lareneG eB ylbmessA

gnikrow lliw ohw .elbaulav ,meht eht naht ton deen deen erom eganam tsuj morf rof thgif seilimaf .ycneiciffe tnerruc semoc ssenisub .dnuorgkcab na .ycnega etacovda a yehT ehT s’tahT areviR robaL semloH renoissimmoC arabráB tuB

htiw kcart .smetsys drocer fo deen gnixif noipmahc nekorb a a gnikroW snaigroeG

– gnikrow egaw eciov tsehguot ot eht eht eht eht eht eht taht tsegnorts seriuqer ydaer esiar rentrap muminim tseduol .erutalsigel srotalsigel ,dael robal ,ti rof rof .seilimaf gnidnamed renoissimmoc renoissimmoc t’nac nac eb dna enola etacovda ehT tuB

srekrow hcihw segaw hturt ot ot kaeps hsilbup .rewop ytrevop mroftalp yap no evig sreyolpme atad nac dna a yehT

Advertisement

Workers should be able to afford child care and rent

– krow nehw tahw t’nerew ot .meht taht .smetsys smetsys ,sseccus ffats tneps was gnittup ,rotucesorp smargorp elpoep elpoep elpoep yawhtap no fo ton etagivan ym tnemeganam ti .noitarecracni woh depleh htlaeh sneppah tnemnrevog rof rof rof gnixif .t’nseod detaerc dluoc feihc reerac erac tliub nekorb ta dna a a ,lairomeM ev’I nI I I I ydarG tcirtsiD ,licnuoC ytiC atnaltA sA sA 5

.srekrow krow ohw ohw segaw ot ot esoht rieht eht evlos thgir .smelborp ytrevop yap tuo robal sreyolpme detcele od ,renoissimmoc etarbelec llac yb eb dna elsia ssorca ll’I ll’I fI

– gnikrow nehw ot eht eht elbat selggurts ycilop .lanosrep ,slaiciffo fo srettam devil ,sredael sredael sredael evah eniuneg rof ,seilimaf detcele ,srotacude .eugolaid ytinummoc ssenisub gnirb semoceb dna noitatneserpeR ll’I

srekrow krow ohw dnatsrednu eht eht taht taht .elbat etats dluohs ,tner gnisimorp nosirp elpoep ro no fo deen naem sredael ,sboj sruoh emoh .ereh seetnaraug erutuf morf rof doof dnif seilimaf gnimoc dlihc erac nac nac nac ssenisub dliub gnieb dna droffa a erehW eW .oN 04 1

gnikrow rekrow sseccus sseccus .lacidar .srentrap .setisoppo ton t’nsi rof .seilimaf era dna a sihT er’yehT weN s’tI s’aigroeG laeD ssenisuB

Advertisement

FDR showed American an example of positive action

gnuoy srekrow srekrow krow tuohtiw htiw ohw t’nsaw saw saw eciov tnemyolpmenu tnemyolpmenu koot ot ot semit siht eht eht eht eht taht .elbat evivrus os os sroines thgir eriter gnittup elpoep .skrap ,ezinagro eciffo nem gnisol tnemtsevni ,ecnarusni .elbativeni ni ni ni evah drah deetnaraug stserof .gnihtyreve dehsilbatse gnirusne .ytingid t’ndid detaerc detaerc .yrtnuoc dluoc dluoc dluoc .ytirahc tliub ta ta sa dna na tpecca a nehW ehT laicoS ,ytiruceS tlevesooR tnediserP weN tI eH eH eH eH eH nilknarF laeD .D ,sproC noitavresnoC nailiviC .%52 ,3391

gnikrow dootsrednu .sdeeccus ,deeccus gnihtemos :elpmis elpoep nehW tlevesooR aciremA

.srekrow srekrow noitamrofsnart .yadot ot .evirht ,evirht eht eht taht .gnorts etats etats ,elbats emas elpoep evil dael ,ereh .sworg rof rof seilimaf seitinummoc nac nac nac ”ssenisub sessenisub eb era era dna droffa nehW nehW nehW eW .oN .oN aigroeG aigroeG 1 1

— gnikrow yeht meht eht eht eht eht eht taht naht gniklat .elbat etats .stniop nasitrap erom rettam :erutalsigel sdael nioj decudortni evah sah seilimaf elpmaxe .sllib neeb ta syawla a oT .htuoS wohS ,snacilbupeR aigroeG aigroeG starcomeD eB

erehw ot ot ot emit emit eht eht eht elpoep .tnemom teem evil .ereh rof ymonoce gniod nac ssenisub dliub na droffa yllautca s’tI s’tI aigroeG

Advertisement

emit rof a weN s’tI .laeD


eht rotucesorp .yramirp robal si ni remrof rof renoissimmoc etadidnac dna a a esiW htimS yaM aigroeG citarcomeD naitsirhC 6202



Source link

Georgia

Zuckerman eyes MLB Draft after superb baseball season at Georgia Tech

Published

on

Zuckerman eyes MLB Draft after superb baseball season at Georgia Tech


play

Ryan Zuckerman is last on the alphabetical list of the 335 college and high school baseball players attending the June 22-27 MLB Draft Combine in Phoenix.

What the 2023 Pennsbury graduate did in his lone season at Georgia Tech has garnered him plenty of attention from MLB scouts regardless of where his name is on a list that includes Holy Ghost Prep grad Aiden Robbins, a Texas outfield standout who is expected to go as early as late in the first round, fellow Pennsbury graduate Joe Tiroly, an infielder from Virginia, and Pennsbury senior right-handed pitcher Keller Bradley.

Advertisement

MVP of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament for the conference champion Yellow Jackets, second-team All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and leader in home runs (23) and RBIs (79, tied for eighth in the country) for the high-powered Georgia Tech offense are just a few of Zuckerman’s notable accomplishments heading into the July 11-13 draft. He is projected to go toward the middle of the 20 rounds.

“It’s pretty surreal for sure,” said Zuckerman, 21. “It’s something I dreamed of my whole life.”

In a season filled with memorable moments, perhaps most impressive was Zuckerman being named ACC Tournament MVP after hitting three home runs with six RBIs and batting .571 (8 for 14), culminating in a 13-6 championship game win over North Carolina in Charlotte. He also was a first-team All-ACC selection at third base.

Zuckerman and Georgia Tech went into the NCAA Atlanta regional as the nation’s No. 2 seed. Though the 50-11 Yellow Jackets ended up being eliminated by losing twice to Oklahoma, including 8-7 in 10 innings for the regional title, Zuckerman can only rave about his experience at Georgia Tech.  

Advertisement

“If you would have told me that’s how the season for me and each of us on the team would’ve gone, I would’ve been extremely happy,” Zuckerman said. “It was probably the best decision I ever made in my life.”

After a solid sophomore season at Pitt in which he hit .295 with 16 doubles, 13 home runs, 48 RBIs and 48 runs scored, Zuckerman believed transferring would help him develop into a more pro-ready player and allow him to win more games. And Georgia Tech checked all the boxes

In addition to his career-best home run and RBI numbers, Zuckerman led Georgia Tech in 2026 with 24 multi-RBI games while establishing career-highs in batting average (.345), runs (71), hits (80), walks (37), slugging percentage (.720) and on-base percentage (.438). He batted fifth in the order.

Advertisement

The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Zuckerman, who always had a strong arm, also worked hard to improve his defense at third base, resulting in 15.99 defensive runs saved for the season, which was the 13th-highest total in college baseball.

“I like to say I’m arguably the best third baseman in the country,” he said.

As a senior playing third at Pennsbury, Zuckerman hit .465 with an on-base percentage of .563, plus six doubles, six home runs, 23 RBIs and scored 26 runs.

“In high school, he was incredible for us,” said Pennsbury head coach Joe Pesci. “(A year ago), he decided to go from a mid- to low ACC team to the best team in the ACC. Surrounding himself with amazing players at Georgia Tech, he’s kind of elevated his game.”

Advertisement

Since the conclusion of the collegiate season, Zuckerman has been working out in preparation for the MLB Draft Combine and, ultimately, the draft. He’s been splitting his time between Yardley and Atlanta.

MLB teams have indicated Zuckerman’s power bat and defense are two of his strengths, while he’s focusing on improving his swing selection and making more contact at the plate.

Zuckerman is looking forward to hearing his name called by one of the 30 major league clubs. Whether a team views him as a third baseman, first baseman, corner outfielder or even second baseman doesn’t really matter to him.

“I think right now I’m in a great position to go and play professional baseball and start my journey up to the big leagues,” Zuckerman said. “The goal is not to get drafted – it’s to play MLB.”

Tom Moore: tmoore@couriertimes.com; @TomMoorePhilly is a sports columnist for PhillyBurbs.com. Support our journalism with a subscription.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Georgia

Georgia pair charged with murder after bartender’s dismembered remains found in lake outside Atlanta

Published

on

Georgia pair charged with murder after bartender’s dismembered remains found in lake outside Atlanta


NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

A Georgia pair have been charged with murder after allegedly slaughtering a bartender and dumping his dismembered remains in a lake, according to authorities.

Mario Andre Barber, 46, and Brittany Amber Baker, 42, were arrested on Monday for allegedly murdering Jamal Rashad Parker, 37, in a home outside of Atlanta, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release.

Investigators discovered Parker’s remains in May in the Dog River Reservoir, located about 30 miles outside Atlanta.

Advertisement

Parker’s identity was confirmed using DNA comparison technology after his father contacted authorities to report that the victim’s tattoos matched his son’s ink, local station WSB-TV reported.

MINNESOTA MAN ACCUSED OF DISMEMBERING GIRLFRIENDS, HIDING BODIES IN STORAGE UNITS ENTERS PLEA

Mario Andre Barber, 46, and Brittany Amber Baker, 42, are charged with murder. (Douglas County Sheriff’s Office)

Investigators believe the two suspects killed Parker inside a home in Douglasville where Baker lived.

Late last month, investigators were observed leaving the home with a reciprocating saw and cleaning supplies, according to WSB-TV.

Advertisement

Police have not disclosed if Parker knew his alleged killers. However, a GoFundMe created by a family member described the pair as “people he knew and trusted.”

SUZANNE SIMPSON’S DNA FOUND ON MURDER SUSPECT HUSBAND’S SAW THAT CAN CUT METAL

A family member described Jamal Rashad Parker as a bartender, musician and artist with “a beautiful soul and spirit.” (GoFundMe)

The suspects pleaded not guilty in court on Tuesday and are being held without bond. Both have lengthy criminal records, according to reports.

“I want them to be punished. And I don’t even think a life sentence is good enough,” Parker’s dad, Charles Parker, told WSB-TV outside the courthouse.

Advertisement

“It’s the kind of stuff you see on TV, but I mean … they had no remorse,” he added.

In addition to bartending at Ms. Icey’s Kitchen & Bar in Atlanta, the victim was a musician and artist with “a beautiful soul and spirit,” according to the GoFundMe page created to cover burial costs.

Investigators believe the two suspects killed the victim inside a home in Douglasville. (Douglas County Sheriff’s Office)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

“He loved life and the people he met along his journey in life. He was a musical artist, visual artist, and a professional bartender who enjoyed creating new drinks. This has totally devastated our family and friends and has left us heartbroken,” the fundraiser reads.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Georgia

Georgia football trying to flip Grayson CB recruit

Published

on

Georgia football trying to flip Grayson CB recruit


The Georgia Bulldogs are trying to flip cornerback recruit Preston Glasco just over a week after he committed to the Connecticut Huskies.

Glasco, a member of the class of 2027, announced his commitment to UConn on June 10. Since committing to UCONN, Georgia has hosted Glasco on an official visit and offered him a scholarship (back on June 18).

The 6-foot-3, 190-pound cornerback has excellent length and size. Glasco has impressive athleticism and ran a 4.47-4.57 second 40-yard dash (hand timed) during a recent workout with the South Carolina Gamecocks.

Glasco plays high school football for Grayson High School in Loganville, Georgia. He’s unranked as a recruit, but that’s bound to change soon. The unranked cornerback plays against a stout level of competition at Grayson, who is a Georgia high school powerhouse.

Advertisement

Glasco has scholarship offers from Army, Yale, Boston College, Penn and more. He’s a great student and appears to be healthy after he was recovering from a surgery around this time last year. The talented Grayson cornerback has also gone on recent visits to South Carolina and Vanderbilt.

Coach Kirby Smart and Georgia currently don’t have any cornerback commitments in the class of 2027.

Georgia football offers Preston Glasco

“Blessed to receive an offer from the University of Georgia,” Glasco said after Georgia offered him.

Glasco visits UGA football

Follow UGA Wire on Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) or Threads for more Georgia football recruiting coverage! 





Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending