THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2024

Good morning! On this date in 1954, a series of tornadoes hit 17 western Georgia counties, causing one death, 90 injuries, and an estimated $2.2 million in damages.

Today we're covering the state ranking second best in the Southeast for small business friendliness, family farms in Ellington drawing support from the big city, and Home Depot signing on as a major World Cup sponsor.

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Trump Files to Dismiss Georgia Case

President-elect Donald Trump and his attorneys filed a motion with the Georgia Court of Appeals to dismiss his election interference case in Fulton County, citing a "lack of jurisdiction."

Trump's attorney cited Trump's election and the precedent that "any ongoing criminal proceeding against a sitting president must be dismissed under the U.S. Constitution." Trump also maintains he is not guilty of the charges.

Two federal cases against Trump were previously dropped and, in New York, the former president is attempting to get his so-called "hush money" case disqualified.

State No. 19 for Small Business Climate

Georgia ranks No. 19 among all states and second in the Southeast region for small business friendliness, a new study finds.

Washington, Utah, and Wyoming ranked as the top three in the nation. Rhode Island, Mississippi, and Louisiana were listed as the bottom three.

Georgia's neighbors varied widely in their rankings. Florida was No. 6; North Carolina was No. 24; Tennessee was No. 25; South Carolina was No. 26; and Alabama ranked 44th. (Rankings Map)

Five Locales Listed as 'Sanctuary Cities'

Five Georgia locations are on a group's list of "sanctuary cities and counties" as officials start to grapple with a potential crackdown on illegal immigrants. But not all of the places agree with their designation.

The places are Atlanta and Athens and the counties of Douglas, DeKalb, and Columbia. They were named in a list developed by the Center for Immigration Studies published this week in The Augusta Chronicle.

The newspaper noted that not all of the five places known as sanctuary cities agree with the label.

In Columbia County, the county commissioners issued a proclamation that the county is not a sanctuary county. In the last election, the county voted 62% in favor of Trump.

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➤ Savannah: The local economy slogged through a temporary economic dip in the wake of this fall's hurricanes and tropical storms, a new report says. (More)

➤ Hartsfield-Jackson Airport: International travelers will soon gain an option to avoid long lines as security pass company CLEAR expands beyond the Atlanta airport's domestic terminal, creating 30 jobs. (More)

➤ Washington County: A GOP candidate for the state House is challenging election results, claiming votes were wrongly rejected along with other irregularities after losing by 48 votes. (See Video Report)

➤ Athens: Attorneys for the Venezuelan man sentenced to life in prison in Laken Riley's killing have requested a new trial, citing "errors of law" without elaborating. (More)

➤ Atlanta: A former campaign lawyer for President-elect Donald Trump asked a judge to invalidate a 2023 plea deal with the Justice Department, saying the basis of the charge has been invalidated. (More)

➤ Statewide: Public hearings on proposed express lanes on a major stretch of Interstate 285 are underway with the next one set for 11 a.m. today in Atlanta. (Public comment schedule)

➤ Georgia was able to land its top-ranked quarterback prospect, Ryan Montgomery, on National Signing Day despite rumors that he would flip to Florida. (More)

➤ The Atlanta Hawks will face the New York Knicks in the NBA Cup's opening knockout rounds. (More)

➤ The Atlanta Falcons are locked into a tight divisional race with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with both teams tied for first place at 6-6 despite the Falcons losing their last three games. (See race preview)

➤ Yesterday's Results: NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW

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➤ Atlanta-based Home Depot signed as a major co-sponsor for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with eight matches set for Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (See Announcement)

➤ A $5 million pledge from former Coca-Cola CEO and chairman Doug Ivester and his wife Kay will fund a business research institute at the University of Georgia, where Ivester studied accounting in the mid-1960s. (More)

➤ Businesses in Clarkson face increased costs after the city council approved higher taxes and fees, including raising liquor license fees and the local occupational tax. (More)

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➤ Family farms in Ellington received a helping hand on Giving Tuesday from volunteers of the Atlanta nonprofit Food Well Alliance, which is also helping build a farm store in the area. (More)

➤ A Roswell woman who served in the Women's Army Auxiliary Corp during World War II celebrated her 100th birthday, receiving a special certificate from Gov. Brian Kemp. (Watch)

➤ Losing his wedding ring seven years ago didn't break up his marriage of 40 years, but a Macon man was nonetheless thrilled when a neighbor found the ring near his backyard. (More)

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