Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility Nyamekye Daniel, Author at Baltimore Independent

Author: SHANNON NAJMABADI

North Carolina gets $6M from feds for tourism recovery

North Carolina has received $6.4 million to help the recovery of its travel and tourism industries, which suffered economic losses because of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. The federal government provided the money through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The state plans to use the money for a new tourism-focused economic recovery initiative. “The travel, tourism […]

Federal government sends North Carolina $26M for storm-related road repair

North Carolina will receive more than $26 million in federal aid to repair roads and highways damaged by storms and other natural disasters. North Carolina is among 42 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands that will benefit from $1.39 billion in Emergency Relief grants the U.S. Department of Transportation […]

Kemp’s budget proposal increases Georgia spending by $3B

Gov. Brian Kemp is proposing Georgia spends an additional $2.6 billion in the current fiscal year and another $400 million more in fiscal year 2023. Georgia lawmakers will start budget deliberations Tuesday. It is not mandatory for appropriation leaders to spend the state’s revenue the way that Kemp proposes. The governor’s proposal, which was released […]

Government accountability bill becomes law in North Carolina

The penalty for government corruption in North Carolina has increased under a new law signed by Gov. Roy Cooper. Senate Bill 473 creates a new felony offense for public officials who benefit financially from their position. It requires local governments to garnish a public official’s wages if they owe money for unpaid county and city services. […]

Report ranks North Carolina as 16th freest state in the U.S.

North Carolina ranks as the 16th most free state in the country in the CATO Institute’s latest index measuring states’ freedom. The report by the libertarian think tank found North Carolina has a “reasonably good economic freedom profile and an even better record on personal freedom.” According to CATO, North Carolina has improved in fiscal policy over […]

Georgia lawmakers urged to replace gas tax with per-mile fee

Georgia lawmakers were presented a plan to offset revenue loss amid a transition to fuel-efficient and electric vehicles by enacting per-mile fees on drivers. The state uses transportation fees and fuel taxes to support road maintenance and construction. New technology and President Joe Biden’s plan for 50% of new car sales to be electric vehicles […]

Report says Georgia government could operate more than a month with rainy funds

Georgia had enough money in its rainy day fund to cover 39.3 days of expenses before finishing last fiscal year with a surplus, according to a recent report from the Pew Charitable Trusts. The Pew report ranked Georgia 17th-highest in the U.S. for the number of days its rainy day fund could keep the government running based […]

Georgia transportation revenue reflects positive trend

Georgia’s transportation revenue is showing more positive signs of recovery, Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) Commissioner Russell McMurry said. The GDOT collected 9.1% more in transportation-related revenue in September than at the same time last year. The state collected around $190 million in September from motor fuel tax and transportation fees, McMurry said, a sign […]

North Carolina U.S. senator proposes tax on student-athlete scholarships

U.S. Sen. Richard Burr has introduced a bill that would require college athletes who receive compensation for their name, image or likeness (NIL) to be taxed for their athletic scholarships. Burr, R-N.C., said the NIL Scholarship Tax Act “will protect the integrity of amateur athletics at colleges and universities” after a recent policy change. “Collegiate athletes are […]

Bus driver shortages leave Georgia students without rides

Many school districts in Georgia face school bus driver shortages as the COVID-19 pandemic presses amid the return to in-person learning. Representatives for the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System (SCCPSS) said it needs an additional 60 to 80 drivers to run all of its regular routes this month, but only four drivers are scheduled to […]