Sunday Solutions — Aug. 11, 2024
Good morning! It comes as no surprise that water is today’s theme. And it’s the classic imbalance of life: too much of something doesn’t offset when there may not be enough. As the 2024 Olympics end, state officials match gymnasts with new twists on election certification and teaching Black history.
EXPLAINER: ENVIRONMENT
Water wells to feed Hyundai get scrutiny
This week the state’s Environmental Protection Division officials will meet with area farmers to discuss water well permits for the Hyundai Metaplant. Farmers are worried the daily 2.15 million gallons of water drawn for the car manufacturer will affect what they need to feed their crops. The race to permit the wells is a tricky one with new hurdles, as members of the Savannah Harbor-Interstate 16 Corridor Joint Development Authority can attest after a hastily called meeting last week where they were asked to approve a mitigation fund for the farm wells. Environment reporter Mary Landers explains the process for permitting the wells, the obstacles and options. A map by data reporter Maggie Lee shows how eventually pumping 6.6 million gallons of water a day from the aquifer will affect the depth of wells from Metter to Savannah.
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NEWS: ENVIRONMENT
Debby leaves… a mess
Tropical Storm Debby moved north but the water she left us is still making its way down our rivers from the Savannah to the St. Marys and flooding roads and homes nearby. Flood warnings continue, so be cognizant that a sunny day doesn’t mean you won’t hit high water.
In Bryan and Chatham counties, the Ogeechee River has cut Hwy 17 for two days, clogging alternate commuter routes and stranding drivers and submerging houses in subdivisions. In Liberty County, reporter Robin Kemp reports that the rising Canoochee River has cut off roads and about 100 homes in Fleming. We’re still under a declared State of Emergency, and officials say most rivers should crest by Monday, providing little solace to families in shelters. The destruction and debris the waters leave will take a long time to clean up. If you or someone you know needs temporary shelter or help, here’s a resource page for getting help and giving aid.
Cruise our quiz
We’ve got some new leaders this week on the board! Welcome to Shots, Leonard and Laurie. Every Sunday, you have an opportunity to test your news knowledge with a few short questions related to stories The Current published in recent weeks. Below you’ll find our leaderboard with the top scores form the previous week, and the overall leaderboard, which tracks scores over time.
We track scores and update the leaderboard each week.
Leaderboard August 4, 2024
First Place (10/10): Shots
Second Place (8/10): Leonard
Third Place (7/10): SG Mark
Overall Leaderboard:
First Place: EMF33, SG Mark
Second Place: Shots
Third Place: Laurie
Compete every week and leave your nickname for a chance to win an exclusive prize from The Current! Here’s this week’s quiz.
NEWS: ELECTIONS
Government gymnastics
While we were applauding the tumbling passes and balance skills of Simone Biles and Team USA, the state Elections Board and state school superintendent were performing a few flips and twists of their own.
- The state Elections Board met to reopen the investigation into Fulton County’s ballots for the 2020 General Election after it closed the book on it in May. This is the same board that just set a process that allows one member of a county elections board to stop and hold certification after an election for investigation — a move that could jam up vote counts for days. A story from Jeff Amy at the Associated Press explains the most recent move.
- Richard Woods, state school board superintendent, now says his move to pull funding for Advanced Placement African American studies was a “mistake.” After a ruling from Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, Woods says the state’s “divisive concepts” law won’t apply in his third statement about the course and how it would be funded or not. The law, in fact, exempts courses that give college credit, which applies to all AP classes. Ross Williams at Georgia Recorder explains the reversal.
EXPLAINER: BUSINESS
☕ Your second cup: What’s black & white, read all over?
….Sure it’s an old joke, but it’s about bar codes, the ubiquitous, scannable technology that just turned 50. Invented to help track grocery inventories, it’s changed our world. For starters, it makes self checkouts possible and enables us to know when our package delivery is 10 minutes away. Today’s trivia: What was the first item to be sold using a bar code? Read this story and find out. Here’s your link.
A note: Today we say farewell to summer staffers Catherine Goodman and Serra Sowers. Serra heads to her new job at WXII in Winston-Salem, and Catherine heads back to her junior year at Emory University. Serra’s videos kept us smiling, and Catherine’s ability to focus while surrounded by chaos was astounding.
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Officials race to meet Hyundai’s water needs
Local governments make water agreements to meet Hyundai’s schedule, while farmers still have questions about their wells.
FAQ: How much do you know about your water?
As Hyundai increases demands on water supplies, learn about where the Savannah area gets its water and how the supply is regulated and protected.
100 Fleming homes cut off by post-TS Debby flooding
About 100 homes in Fleming near Mt. Olivet Church Road have been isolated by flooding as the Canoochee River rises Friday, according to the Georgia Emergency Management Agency.
Georgia schools chief reverses African American studies ‘mistake’
Reversal came after receiving a letter from Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, clarifying the state’s 2022 law banning so-called divisive concepts in the classroom, exempts AP, international baccalaureate and dual enrollment classes.
Georgia election board clears county officials to delay vote certification with information demands
The new rule allows local election board members to request insight from election supervisors and staff as well as access other election-related materials to base their decision to sign off on the vote count local officials provide, or refuse to certify the results.
In a 2020 flashback, Georgia’s GOP-aligned election board wants to reinvestigate election results
A trio of Republican partisans aligned with Trump has cemented control of the five-member regulatory board, which has no direct role in determining election results but writes rules to ensure elections run smoothly and hears complaints about violations.
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