– Thursday, Aug. 28, 2024 –
Good morning. Coastal Georgia is abuzz with a U.S. presidential candidate visit, culminating in a political rally on Thursday in Savannah.
While we’re keeping an eye on the national politics, we’re looking at the politics in our own backyards — over delayed prosecution in Glynn County and dismissed prosecution in Chatham County.
Questions, comments or story ideas? Reach out to me at jake.shore@thecurrentga. And be sure to watch our homepage as our team covers the rally of Vice President Kamala Harris in Savannah.
NEWS: COURTS
Delayed Arbery case turns three
The prosecution of Jackie Johnson, former Brunswick Judicial Circuit district attorney alleged to have shielded the killers of Ahmaud Arbery from arrest, turns three years old next week.
Unprecedented delays, her lawyer’s workload and a hamstrung judge and prosecutor have brought the case to a screeching halt.
The delays raise questions of disparity in treatment under the law in Glynn County and Georgia.
Read The Current‘s dispatch on the case.
NEWS: COURTS
Playing politics?
Chatham County’s district attorney and Savannah’s mayor traded barbs after a decision by the DA to dismiss charges against six people in murder cases that were tainted by police misconduct.
While Mayor Van Johnson claims DA Shalena Cook Jones left the city in the dark about the dismissals, the DA called out the mayor for his “baseless, ill-informed ramblings about politics.”
At its core the dispute between the prominent Chatham County Democrats highlights how central the issue of victims rights will be in a heated race pitting Cook Jones against a Republican challenger in November.
Read more about what the two leaders said and what the criticisms mean about the upcoming DA race.
ANALYSIS: PUBLIC SAFETY
Super bus
This is not your grandmother’s campaign bus.
Liberty County residents driving along Highway 84 and Chatham County residents near Sandfly may have noticed the large blue vehicle carrying Vice President and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris on Wednesday.
Harris’ campaign “bus tour,” meant to encourage more Georgia voter engagement outside of Atlanta, features an upgraded campaign bus that doubles as “an armored U.S. Secret Service vehicle driven by agents that comes with lights and sirens and secure communications,” according to the reporting by the Associated Press.
She arrived in Savannah on Wednesday and her trip culminates in a rally in the Hostess City on Thursday.
‘Judge’s hands are tied’: Jackie Johnson case turns 3 years old with no trial date set
Prosecution of Jackie Johnson in Brunswick stretches to three years in delayed case where the former district attorney is accused of interfering on behalf of former employee who killed Ahmaud Arbery.
The Tide: Chatham DA, Savannah mayor spar over dismissed cases
Chatham County district attorney and Savannah mayor trade criticisms after decision on dismissed murder cases related to police misconduct and indictments.
Early voting begins Sept. 9 for Sapelo election
McIntosh County residents are scheduled to head to the polls Oct. 1 to vote on the rezoning of Hogg Hummock n Sapelo.
Army corps to reevaluate Hyundai site permit
Works continues at the 2,500-acre Hyundai site as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers re-evaluates the site permit.
Why Mississippi coal is powering Georgia’s data centers
In order to provide electricity to Georgia, a Mississippi Power coal plant that had been slated for closure will keep running and ratepayers won’t know the cost.
It’s called an urgent care emergency center — but which is it?
Urgent care centers are a more familiar option for many patients. Research shows that, on average, urgent care visits can be about 10 times cheaper than a low-acuity — or less severe — visit to an ER.
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