GDP Script/ Top Stories for February 20th Publish Date: February 20th From the BG AD Group Studio Welcome to the Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast. Today is Thursday, February 20th and Happy birthday to I’m Keith Ippolito and here are your top stories presented by KIA Mall of Georgia. Gwinnett government opts out of statewide homestead exemption Investigators seize 23 kilograms of meth during raids in Gwinnett Jackson EMC Foundation awards $80K to agencies serving Gwinnett County residents Plus, Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on seed oil All of this and more is coming up on the Gwinnett Daily Post podcast, and if you are looking for community news, we encourage you to listen daily and subscribe! Break 1: 07.14.22 KIA MOG STORY 1: Gwinnett government opts out of statewide homestead exemption Gwinnett County commissioners unanimously opted out of a new statewide floating homestead exemption tied to inflation, arguing their existing Value Offset Exemption (VOE) offers better savings. The VOE freezes taxable property values at the level when a homeowner first claimed the exemption, unlike the statewide version, which adjusts annually for inflation. County officials highlighted that the VOE has kept county taxes stable despite rising property values. The school system, which accounts for two-thirds of property tax bills, will hold hearings Thursday to decide whether to opt out as well. Residents can attend at 11 a.m. or 6 p.m. in Suwanee. STORY 2: Investigators seize 23 kilograms of meth during raids in Gwinnett Six people, including a mother and daughter, were arrested during raids on two methamphetamine operations in Gwinnett County on Feb. 12. The Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office, working with the Gwinnett Metro Task Force and FBI Atlanta, seized 23 kilograms of methamphetamine and over $6,000 in cash from locations in Lilburn and Norcross. Charges ranged from trafficking methamphetamine to possession and obstruction of law enforcement. The Sheriff’s Office praised the collaborative efforts to enhance community safety. STORY 3: Jackson EMC Foundation awards $80K to agencies serving Gwinnett County residents The Jackson EMC Foundation awarded $99,890 in grants, with $80,000 benefiting Gwinnett County organizations. Recipients include Hebron Community Health Center and Hope Clinic for medical and mental health services, The Salvation Army for housing assistance, and Home Repairs Ministries for critical home repairs. Other grants supported virtual healthcare access, therapy for abuse survivors, and literacy promotion. Funded by the Operation Round Up program, which rounds members' electric bills to the nearest dollar, the initiative has provided over $21.5 million in community grants since 2005. Applications for grants are open to individuals and organizations in Jackson EMC’s 10-county service area. We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.874.3200 for more info. We’ll be right back Break 2: RINGLING BROS_FINAL STORY 4: Georgia Supreme Court raises concerns about 2019 child custody law The Georgia Supreme Court raised concerns about the 2019 Equitable Caregiver law, which allows non-legal parents to seek custody or visitation if they’ve had a parental role and bond with a child. In the case of *Dias v. Boone*, the court reversed a lower court's decision granting Abby Boone caregiver status over Michelle Dias’s child, ruling the law didn’t apply since Boone’s relationship with the child predated the law. While the justices questioned the law’s impact on parental rights, they did not strike it down, instead issuing a narrow ruling specific to this case. STORY 5: Gwinnett Technical College Names New Vice President of Economic Development Gwinnett Technical College has named Lauren Dodson as its new Vice President of Economic Development. With over 15 years of experience in sciences and education, Dodson will oversee economic development, customized training, Quick Start, and continuing education services to address workforce needs. Her background includes roles at Partnership Gwinnett, Georgia EMC, and the Technology Association of Georgia, as well as teaching science in Gwinnett County Public Schools. Gwinnett Tech President Dr. D. Glen Cannon praised her contributions to the community and technology sector, calling her a perfect fit for the role. Dodson holds advanced degrees in education and lives in Tucker with her family. Break 3: And now here is Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on seed oil We’ll have closing comments after this Break 4: Ingles Markets 1 Signoff – Thanks again for hanging out with us on today’s Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, or the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan ...
