Sunday Solutions — Nov. 17, 2024
Good morning! Lawsuits expose a seamy side of the I-95 corridor, as they accuse two Hinesville hotel owners of ignoring sex-trafficking rings using their rooms. Also, we ponder whether kayakers or people floating downstream in tubes might be trespassing as they enjoy Georgia rivers. And, we have some good-byes and a hello.
NEWS: PUBLIC SAFETY
Sex trafficking close to home
Two recent federal lawsuits shine a light on sex trafficking, a horrific crime that often remains hidden if it isn’t called out. The suits target two hotels in Hinesville where owners are accused of ignoring clear signs of trafficking using rooms there. Those signs included multiple requests daily for towels and linens, rooms filled with used condoms and young women who never left the room, according to the filings. The suits also said armed men kept the teen women drugged and advertised them for sale to perform sex acts. The Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act allows victims to hold responsible those who knowingly profit from human trafficking and who should have known that trafficking was taking place. The Current’s Liberty County reporter Robin Kemp followed up on the court filings to talk to the hotel managers and local law enforcement.
NEWS: GEORGIA
Public rivers vs. private land
A legislative committee has been working to figure out when it’s legal for fishers and floaters and paddlers to use navigable Georgia streams adjacent to private property. The topic is a tough one but made necessary by a court case from a couple years ago. No one should risk arrest or worse for trespassing just for fishing, floating or kayaking upstream on a common waterway — but defining what “common” means is another issue. The group working to define those water rights has until Dec. 1 to work out an option. Catch up on the considerations in this story from Dave Williams at Capitol Beat: Boaters want to separate paddling from fishing in debate over access to waterways
Also, looking ahead to the January General Assembly, here are more updates on topics they’ll be discussing.
- Democratic Georgia lawmaker sets goals for 2025 intended to reduce children’s gun injuries From Georgia Recorder
- A new take on robocop? Georgia lawmakers look into ways AI can improve public safety From Georgia Recorder
Winner, winner, winner
We’ve got a 3-way tie at the top of last week’s leaderboard, but one person holds the overall lead for the second half of the year. Want to catch up? Here’s your chance. Every Sunday, we’ll give you the opportunity to test your news knowledge with a few short questions related to stories we published in recent weeks.
Leaderboard, Nov. 10
First Place (10/10): Laurie, SG Mark, Kaspar
Second Place (8/10): Shots, Sue
Third Place (6/10): Thanks It, Paul, Sadie T, BC
Overall Leaderboard:
First Place: Laurie
Second Place: SGMark
Third Place: EMF33
Make sure you compete every week and leave your nickname below for a chance to win an exclusive prize from The Current!
NOTEWORTHY
Former Chatham County District Attorney Spencer Lawton died Wednesday at age 81. He served in the position for 28 years. While many know him as the prosecutor in the murder case of Jim Williams — made famous in the book “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” — Lawton’s legacy will be his work to help support crime victims as the creator of the state’s first Victim-Witness Assistance program. Here’s a look at his career from savannahnow.com.
NEWS FROM THE CURRENT
A look at the post-election days
Catch the season finale of The Current‘s podcast series. It’s a sad chapter for us as we also say goodbye to its creator Gillian Goodman. She’s been with us as part of a 4-month internship from the Columbia Graduate School Journalism. So, listen along as she wraps up her series where Coastal Georgians tell us how they’ll approach the next political era.
Say hello to Jeffrey Woolverton
On Friday, The Current welcomed its new Chief Revenue Officer, Jeffrey Woolverton. His work will be key to growing our fundraising to ensure our in-depth reporting for the future. He brings great experience from his work at the Atlanta-based Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the Institute for Nonprofit News and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. Here’s the full announcement. You can welcome him yourself at jeffrey.woolverton@thecurrentga.org.
EXPLAINER: LEARNING
☕ Your second cup: Brain training
There are days we’re all looking for a way to jog our memory or just draw some energy to our brain for a decision. Research now confirms that learning new games and skills really do work to help us think more clearly. Science confirms that activities — along with quitting smoking and managing blood pressure — will help us age with less cognitive decline. Here’s the info from two researchers who found play time may be our best learning time. Enjoy.
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2 Hinesville hotel companies named in federal sex trafficking suits
Owners say they had no knowledge of teens allegedly trapped, sold for sex on premises
By Robin Kemp
Boaters want to separate paddling from fishing in debate over access to waterways
Committee must recommend ways to guarantee access to Georgia streams
By Dave Williams/Capitol Beat
Democratic Georgia lawmaker sets goals for 2025 intended to reduce children’s gun injuries
More than 200 children killed by firearms last year in state
By Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder
A new take on robocop? Georgia lawmakers look into ways AI can improve public safety
Legislators listen to experts on uses for technology in law enforcement, court systems
By Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder
Panel steering Georgia opioid settlement money recommends initial round of projects
$44.4M set over 20 years for 130 programs across state
By Jill Nolin/Georgia Recorder
Will end of endangered status for red-cockaded woodpecker reduce role of Georgia military bases?
Posts served as focus areas for preserving the endangered bird habitat
By Leon Stafford/Georgia Recorder
University system sets enrollment record
Board approves policy prohibiting considerations for diversity in hiring, admission
By Dave Williams/Capitol Beat
Ogeechee Riverkeeper challenges Hyundai water permits
Concerns focus on prioritizing aquifer water for drinking and agriculture rather than for industry.
By Mary Landers
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