Georgia

Georgia lawmakers focused on vets hope Trump VA nominee Collins will improve agency’s support • Georgia Recorder

Published

2 months ago

November 18, 2024

Georgia lawmakers focused on vets hope Trump VA nominee Collins will improve agency’s support • Georgia Recorder

Former Georgia GOP Congressman Doug Collins could be headed back to Washington to serve as head of the second-largest department in the federal government, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Collins will oversee a staff of nearly 371,000 tasked with providing health care, benefits and burial services for American veterans and their families.

Collins is a Baptist minister and businessman who also became a lawyer later in life. Born in Gainesville, he studied at North Georgia College, New Orleans Theological Seminary and John Marshall Law School. He joined the United States Air Force Reserve as a chaplain following the Sept. 11 attacks and previously served as a Navy chaplain. He currently holds the rank of colonel in the Air Force Reserve.

Collins served in the Georgia House from 2007 to 2012, departing for a successful Congressional campaign, and he represented northeast Georgia’s 9th Congressional District from 2013 to 2021.

In Congress, Collins gained a reputation as a solid Trump ally, defending then-president Donald Trump during special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into whether Russia improperly influenced the 2016 election and authoring a book on Trump’s first impeachment.

Collins was Trump’s favorite to replace the late GOP U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson when Isakson retired from the Senate, but Gov. Brian Kemp bucked Trump and chose businesswoman Kelly Loeffler instead.

Collins dropped out of Congress to mount a bid for Loeffler’s seat when she was up in the 2020 election, but he lost to Loeffler after a contentious GOP primary, and Loeffler would go on to be defeated by Sen. Raphael Warnock, a Democrat, in a runoff.

In 2021, Collins announced that he would not be seeking election to any office in a letter to supporters.

“For those who may wonder, this is goodbye for now, but probably not forever,” he wrote.

Trump’s appointment may give Collins another round in the national spotlight.

“We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need,” president-elect Donald Trump said in a statement naming Collins as his appointee.

Collins will need approval from the Senate before he can take the reins, but he thanked Trump in a statement and pledged to improve care for the approximately 16 million military veterans in the U.S., including about 700,000 in Georgia.

“We’ll fight tirelessly to streamline and cut regulations in the VA, root out corruption, and ensure every veteran receives the benefits they’ve earned. Together, we’ll make the VA work for those who fought for us. Time to deliver for our veterans and give them the world class care they deserve.”

Complaints about the VA have been constant for years, said state Rep. Josh Bonner, a Fayetteville Republican and chair of the House Defense and Veterans Affairs Committee. Service members often report facing delays getting appointments and benefits and say the department is not responsive to complaints.

“It’s never been great, but I’d say it’s gotten worse over the last few years, as things have kind of winded down from Iraq and Afghanistan,” Bonner said. “And then with the PACT Act, that has increased the number of veterans that are eligible for benefits, And so what you have now is even more veterans that are eligible, that are straining the system that’s in place.”

Rep. Josh Bonner. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder

Bonner said he thinks Collins’ experience as a servicemember and a member of Congress make him a good fit for the job.

“All those things combined give him a pretty unique perspective,” he said. “And I think, just again, knowing him personally, I think he’s a very smart guy, who knows how to get things done. And I think that there’s a lot of momentum in the veteran community to see him succeed.”

Bonner said Collins’ statement about streamlining and cutting regulations is just the right message.

“The VA is its own healthcare system, so it’s massive, so when I think of streamlining and cutting red tape, I look at things like allowing veterans instead of waiting six months for a VA doctor 100 miles away from where they live, allowing them to make an appointment with their own doctor.”

Sen. Josh McLaurin, a Sandy Springs Democrat who sits on the Senate’s Veterans Committee, said discontent with the VA’s operation is bipartisan, and he’s hopeful that Collins’ appointment will mean more attention for Georgia’s military communities and that the former Congressman will be able to turn the department around.

Much of that will be down to budgeting, which won’t be directly in Collins’ hands, but McLaurin said Collins has an opportunity to change the often adversarial relationship vets describe between themselves and claims managers.

“The VA should not operate like an insurance company, to put it bluntly,” McLaurin said.

“Far too often, veterans have the experience that they feel like they’re dealing with an insurance adjuster as opposed to somebody who is genuinely interested in making them whole for the service that they’ve provided to the country. That would be the general perspective I have, and I think that perspective is shared in a bipartisan fashion. There might be different policy views on how to address particular problems with the VA, but in general, I think we want to see an administration that is more oriented towards believing veterans and providing them the services that they need in a timely manner.”

One policy difference that may come up during the next four years goes back to what Collins said about streamlining. Some Democrats fear that could mean privatizing care and laying off workers. For McLaurin, that’s the exact wrong approach.

Sen. Josh McLaurin. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder

“When you cut funding for the VA, or you outsource critical functions of the VA to private industry, which is most of all concerned about its profit motive – I mean, that’s every business, its bottom line comes first – the concern is that you move the system even further away from the mindset I’m talking about, which is to trust veterans to approach them without a scarcity mindset and to make sure they get the care and the benefits they deserve,” he said.

McLaurin said he’s hopeful Collins will pick the approach that’s best for America’s vets.

“This is one of those cases where you don’t root against the opposing party when they come into power, right? I mean, particularly in the case of veterans, you’re rooting for Doug Collins to succeed and to do something with the VA that up till now has proved very difficult.”

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Georgia

Wintry weather set to blast south Georgia. Snow, ice forecast to make impact | Live Updates

Published

2 hours ago

January 21, 2025

Press Room

Wintry weather set to blast south Georgia. Snow, ice forecast to make impact | Live Updates

Savannah and the surrounding area are under a Winter Storm Warning beginning at 5 p.m. and last until Noon on Wednesday.

Two inches of snow or more could fall in the area with another inch or two of sleet expected to mix into the storm as it it passes through.

Snow showers are expected to begin around 6 p.m. with a wintry mix beginning later in the evening. Snow, sleet and a wintry mix are expected until around 5 a.m. Wednesday.

Heavy snow, even blizzard conditions, have swept through Louisiana and Mississippi throughout Tuesday.

Stay tuned here for live updates as Winter Storm Enzo takes hold of the South.

Savannah radar. Follow the winter storm

Senior Director of Marketing and Air Service Development Lori Lynah said about 22 or 23 arriving flights have been canceled at the Savannah/Hilton Head Airport for Tuesday while another 4 to 5 departing flights have been canceled. She said future cancelations for Wednesday will be determined depending on the type of precipitation and amount that could possibly accumulate over night.

She advised that air travelers scheduled to head into or out of Savannah/Hilton Head over the next three days contact their air carriers for the latest information on flight statuses.

— Joseph Schwartzburt, Savannah Morning News

Change in Savannah trash collection

With a Monday holiday and an incoming winter storm, the city of Savannah’s sanitation services are on an altered schedule.

Residential garbage collection, recycling and yard collection services were on a one-day delay due to the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday on Monday, and now services (including street sweeping) will be halted on Wednesday.

Shelters, school closings in Effingham County

Local officials in Effingham County are bracing for a winter storm that is slated to bring freezing temperatures and snow to Southeast Georgia.

Wednesday school closings in Bryan, Effingham counties

School administrators in Bryan County and Effingham County are taking extra precaution to protect students and staff as a winter storm is expected to make landfall Tuesday afternoon.

State of Emergency in Savannah

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for Chatham County through Noon, on Wednesday, Jan. 22. From Tuesday night through possibly Thursday morning, the service is calling for a mix of snow and freezing rain in the Savannah area, which has impacted operations at local schools, companies and institutions across Chatham County.

Read a roundup of the impacts from closings to remote learning shifts.

Savannah prepares for winter storm

Chatham County leaders and officials gathered in downtown Savannah to discuss the incoming winter weather that has already started chilling Coastal Georgia and surrounding areas.

Chatham County and Southeast Georgia are currently under a cold weather advisory, and the winter storm watch has been upgraded to a winter storm warning as of this afternoon. The National Weather Service is forecasting the accumulation of snow, or freezing rain in the area starting in the afternoon Tuesday and ending Wednesday morning.

Historic pictures of snow in Savannah

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Georgia

Kaiser Permanente names new president of Georgia region

Published

9 hours ago

January 21, 2025

Press Room

ATLANTA – Kaiser Permanente has named Corwin N. Harper as the new president of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgia.

Release:

Kaiser Permanente has announced that Corwin N. Harper has been named president of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgia, effective January 21, 2025. As regional health plan president, Harper will lead the organization’s focus on providing integrated, high-quality health care and coverage for more than 327,000 Kaiser Permanente members.

Harper brings 39 years of health care and hospital leadership experience to his position as regional president, including 25 years of prior success at Kaiser Permanente. He served in multiple leadership positions at Kaiser Permanente in Northern California, including various senior vice president, medical group administrator, and area manager roles. He also served as director of hospital operations with The Permanente Medical Group.

Most recently, he served as CEO of Ochsner LSU Health North Louisiana, an integrated academic health system with three acute care hospitals, a behavioral health hospital and 20 clinics with over 600 students, residents, and faculty. Earlier, as regional CEO and chief growth officer for Ochsner Health, he led the turnaround efforts of hospitals and clinics on the Northshore of Louisiana and the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

“We are pleased to welcome Corwin back to Kaiser Permanente,” said Brandon Cuevas, executive vice president, National Health Plan, for Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. and Hospitals. “His deep knowledge of our integrated care model and health plan operations will be crucial in advancing Georgia’s strategic and operational performance to fulfill our mission to provide high-quality, affordable care and service to our members. We are excited to have a leader of Corwin’s experience and commitment to our mission leading our Georgia Health Plan during this exciting time as we continue to expand and invest in the great state of Georgia.”

Harper has served on the University of the Pacific Board of Regents Finance Committee. He is also a board nominee for the American College of Health Care Executives Board of Governors, and preceptor for the U.S. Army Baylor Residency Program. He received a Master of Health Care Administration from Baylor University and a bachelor’s degree in biology from The Citadel.

About Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve nearly 12.5 million members in 8 states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists, and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery, and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education, and the support of community health. For more information, go to about.kp.org.

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Georgia

Georgia Football Depth Chart Check – Quarterback

Published

17 hours ago

January 21, 2025

Press Room

Georgia Football Depth Chart Check – Quarterback

The Georgia Bulldogs enter the 2025 season having to replace two-year starter and now Miami QB, Carson Beck. Here’s a look at the depth chart at Quarterback.

The Georgia Bulldogs enter the 2025 season having to replace two year starter, Carson Beck at the quarterback position. With Gunner Stockton having replaced Beck during the SEC Championship Game against Texas and earning his first career start against Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl, Stockton is the presumed starter entering the 2025 season. Here’s how the depth chart stacks up at QB.

QB1 – Gunner Stockton
Now, there’s no 100% guarantee that Stockton is the guy moving forward, considering Kirby Smart’s history of embarrassing open competitions. Stockton will have to earn the starting job this spring and fall camp, however, he’s earned a sizeable lead entering the offseason over redshirt freshman Ryan Puglisi. Stockton has waited his turn behind both Carson Beck and Brock Vandagriff and showed elite ball placement and downfield accuracy against Notre Dame in his first career start. The offense is expected to look slightly different with a full offseason to mold the offense to Stockton’s skill sets.

QB2 – Ryan Puglisi
At 6’3, 210 pounds on an extremely athletic and powerful frame, Puglisi is arguably the most talented of all the quarterbacks in the room. He has an extremely talented arm that can make all of the throws. However, there’s going to need to be continued growth within the system and maturation in the decision making department as a quarterback. Sources insider the Georgia program have indicated the future is bright for Puglisi once experience is added to the plethora of talented traits he possesses.

QB3 – Colter Ginn
The PWO from Perry, Ga is listed at 6’3, 203 and he turned down mid major opportunities to walk on at Georgia. He’s another one of these young signal-callers that is just as physically gifted as any thrower.

Freshman:
– Ryan Montgomery, QB: Montgomery suffered a knee injury at the beginning of his senior year, undergoing surgery.
– Hezekiah Millender, QB: A PWO from Athens Clarke County, Millender was formerly committed to Boise State.

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