ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – State lawmakers want to keep foreign investors from purchasing Georgia farmland.
Senate Bill 420 would make it a felony for investors to purchase farmland if they have ties with any countries deemed adversarial by the Department of Commerce.
Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper has been vocal in pushing lawmakers to act quickly.
“We can’t be the best state for business if the number one industry in our state isn’t successful. We can’t ensure that our kids have healthy foods in their school and that they have clothes on their backs if agriculture isn’t successful,” said Harper.
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Harper feels foreign investors pose a threat to the livelihood of farmers and national security.
Harper’s office reports that roughly 2,000 acres of farmland in Georgia is owned by companies with ties to adversarial nations. This includes Henry County where Jake Carter is a fifth-generation farmer.
“Farmers in general have a tough row to hoe. We face adverse conditions, climate, disease, and outside pressures. When you have foreign investors come in that makes it an even harder position for Georgia agriculture. We are here. We dont want to go anywhere. We want to remain on our land we want the farmers in America to continue producing,” said Carter.
12 states enacted similar laws last year. Florida’s bill that mirrors the proposal here in Georgia is held up in a discrimination lawsuit.
At a bill hearing on Wednesday, critics of the bill offered suggestions. Some wanted changes, others wanted it to be killed altogether.
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Thông Phan with Asian Americans Advancing Justice Atlanta said the bill is constitutionally vague and would perpetuate dangerous stereotypes.
“we find this bill deeply troubling… This feeds into anti-Chinese hysteria while achieving no measurable benefits to national security,” said Phan.
Bill sponsor Sen. Jason Anavitarte listened to the feedback and will now have time to change or present the bill for a vote as is.
STATESBORO, Ga. (WTOC) – Just ten days prior to Georgia Southern’s matchup against Georgia State on Saturday, the Eagles picked up their first Sun Belt win in Atlanta against the Panthers. However, the script was flipped the second time around, as Georgia State pulled out an 88-83 win in triple overtime.
After trailing 22-11 after the first quarter, the Eagles came back to make it a 5-point game at the half. Georgia Southern led by three with under a minute left in regulation, but Georgia State hit a three-pointer to send it to the first overtime period.
In overtime, the Eagles trailed by four with 15 seconds left on the clock, but this time it was Southern with a clutch shot — Paris Gaines made a three-pointer to bring the Eagles within one. She followed it up by making one of two free throws to send it to double OT.
In double overtime, Shanti Simmons made a layup with 5 seconds remaining to tie the game at 76 and push it to triple OT. In that final period, Georgia Southern had possession trailing by one with under a minute to play, but the Panthers got a steal, extended their lead, and went on to get the win 88-83.
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Simmons led the way for the Eagles with 22 points. Mckenna Eddings followed not far behind with 20, while Gaines made some clutch baskets in extra time.
“This was a tough one,” said head coach Hana Haden. “I think that this will probably be a tough one for everyone to get over — you’re that close. I think for us, something that we’ve been talking about for a lot of the year is trying to play for 40 minutes, and now tonight, we had to play for 55 minutes, and I think if you clean up some things in the first 40 minutes, then maybe it doesn’t have to come to that. It’s really tough whenever you fight as hard as our group did.”
JONESBORO, Ark. (AP) — Joseph Pinion scored 14 points as Arkansas State beat Georgia State 85-59 on Saturday.
Pinion shot 5 for 10, including 4 for 9 from beyond the arc for the Red Wolves (14-5, 5-2 Sun Belt Conference). Taryn Todd scored 12 points and added six rebounds and five assists. Izaiyah Nelson had eight points and finished 4 of 8 from the floor.
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The Panthers (7-12, 3-4) were led in scoring by Nicholas McMullen, who finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Cesare Edwards added 15 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks for Georgia State. Jelani Hamilton also recorded 13 points and two steals.
Both teams play again on Thursday. Arkansas State hosts Appalachian State and Georgia State hosts Marshall.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Breaking down what caused the first severe bird flu case in U.S.
01:20
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Bird flu was detected in a commercial poultry flock in Georgia for the first time since the current outbreak started in 2022, officials announced on Friday.
The positive case of the H5N1 strain of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza was found in Elbert County. It was confirmed by the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
This marks the fifth detection of the virus in a flock in the state, but the first one in a commercial poultry operation. Last week, GDA officials announced that the virus was found in a flock of 13 chickens and ducks in Clayton County.
“This is a serious threat to Georgia’s number one industry and the livelihoods of thousands of Georgians who make their living in our state’s poultry industry,” said Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper. “We are working around the clock to mitigate any further spread of the disease and ensure that normal poultry activities in Georgia can resume as quickly as possible.”
As a result of the detection, all in-state poultry exhibitions, shows, swaps, meets and sales have been suspended until further notice.
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Earlier this year, a Louisiana resident died after being hospitalized with bird flu, marking the first U.S. death from the H5N1 virus.
Since 2003, the World Health Organization has counted more than 400 deaths from the virus.
Camille Knox
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Camille C. Knox is a senior editor at CBSNnews.com. She is a graduate of Michigan State University. Prior to joining CBS News, she served as a reporter and editor for publications that include Snopes, the Tampa Bay Times, The Clarion-Ledger and AOL’s Patch.
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