Government for its Citizens
Conflict of Interest Concerns Can Arise Over County Commission Chairman’s Dual Role as Bank Official: Conflicts of Interest – Part 2
By Carol A. Gasser Moore LANIER COUNTY, Georgia – When it comes to conflicts of interest, questions have been raised regarding an individual, such as Alex Lee, who is elected as the Lanier County Board of Commissioners Chairman and whose employment as the county’s only bank president, now administrator can give the appearance of…
Read MoreLeader of Armed Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to 28 Years in Prison
By U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Georgia MACON, Georgia – The leader of an armed drug trafficking organization based in Middle Georgia was sentenced to serve 28 years in prison for supplying large quantities of methamphetamine in the community. Julian Derwayne Coker, aka “Red,” aka “Bread Red,” 44, of Macon, was sentenced…
Read MoreRFK Jr. to refocus federal autism research on environmental factors
The Georgia Recorder By: Jennifer Shutt – April 16, 2025 9:48 pm U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks during a press conference at the department’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. (Photo by Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom) WASHINGTON — U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Wednesday the…
Read MoreDefendant Brandished a Firearm and Stole $38k, Victims Suffered Panic Attacks
By U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Georgia MACON, Georgia – A Macon resident who brandished a firearm during two bank robberies and an attempted bank robbery in 2022—causing victims to suffer panic attacks and stealing a total of $38,274—was sentenced to prison this week. Felix Cordes, 58, was sentenced to serve 97 months in…
Read MoreKemp signs RFRA bill
by Dave Williams | Capitol Beat News Service GEORGIA – Gov. Brian Kemp signed controversial religious freedom legislation Friday aimed at preventing government intrusion into Georgians’ rights to exercise their religious beliefs. The General Assembly’s Republican majorities passed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act on Wednesday primarily along party lines. “It’s common-sense legislation,” Kemp…
Read MoreGeorgia lawmakers go home early, leaving unfinished business for next year
by Ty Tagami | Capitol Beat News Service GEORGIA – Georgia legislators clocked out unusually early Friday night, leaving behind stacks of unfinished bills, many of them torn into pieces for the ceremonial throwing of confetti that marks the final moments of a legislative session. Among the abandoned bills were several that had seemed…
Read MoreAn Update from Congressman Austin Scott
April 7, 2025 Dear Georgian, Last week, some of our nation’s finest returned to Moody Air Force Base after spending over six months away from their families to keep our country safe. Thank you to our Flying Tigers! We are forever grateful for your service and are happy to have y’all back! As always, my staff…
Read MoreLanier County News launches “conflicts of interest in local government” series: Conflicts of Interest – Part 1
By Carol A. Gasser Moore LANIER COUNTY, Georgia – The Lanier County News is launching a new series focused on an important concept in public service: conflict of interest. Over the next several weeks, the News will publish a series of reports examining situations in which elected officials or government employees in Lanier…
Read MoreIt’s Official! Ray City has a new Police Chief!
By Carol A. Gasser Moore RAY CITY, Berrien County, Georgia – Ten (10) full months ago, Robert “Buck” Owens was appointed to serve of the Ray City Police Department Interim Police Chief. In December, Owens completed his required police chief training. L-R Councilman Jeff Sly, Councilman Hank Studstill, Mayor Brenda Exuum, new Police Chief…
Read MoreTexas Man Guilty of Disaster Fraud Costing Georgia Church Millions
ALBANY, Daugherty County, Georgia – A Texas man acting as an insurance adjuster cheated an Albany church out of millions of dollars paid out by its insurance company to repair its facilities, which were heavily damaged by Hurricane Michael in 2018 and are still not fully repaired. Andrew Mitchell aka “Andrew Aga,” 45, of Kemeh,…
Read More