Latest news with #BrunswickStew
Axios
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Sine Die 2025: What passed, what failed
On a Friday night filled with drama, the Georgia General Assembly approved dozens of pieces of legislation about advanced voting, President Trump's legal bills and car booting on the final day of the legislative session. Why it matters: The marathon Sine Die meeting of the state Senate and House of Representatives marks the final day legislation can pass both chambers to possibly become law — until next year, of course. The intrigue: Senators this year broke from long-standing tradition and adjourned at 9:11pm — well before the usual midnight close. Without a chamber to send legislation, the House followed suit an hour or so later. Dozens of measures must wait until next year for consideration. "We feel like everything we wanted to get finished today has been completed," Senate Majority Leader Steve Gooch (R-Dahlonega) told reporters after the upper chamber called it quits. Fun fact: Georgia lawmakers serve part-time and meet at the Capitol for only 40 days early in the year. That's a holdover from the days when rural representatives and senators could get away from their crops in the winter. What passed 💰 Budget: State lawmakers approved Georgia's roughly $38 billion operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year — actually the one thing they're required to do every year — on the morning of the final day. 🙏 Religious freedom: Earlier Friday, Gov. Brian Kemp signed into law a controversial — and long-sought — measure aimed at protecting Georgians' religious beliefs, which opponents said would give people a license to discriminate. 👶 Child care: A measure creating a $250 tax credit to pay for child care expenses and an expanded existing tax credit cleared both chambers and awaits the governor's pen. 🚗 Car booting: Legislation regulating Georgia booting companies cleared both chambers and awaits Kemp's signature. 🍲 State symbols: Cornbread would become Georgia's official state bread and Brunswick Stew the official soup under legislation that became a vessel for language prohibiting state agencies to conduct business with foreign adversaries — mainly China. 🧾 Trump legal fees: President Trump and other defendants in the Fulton County election interference case could recoup legal fees under a measure approved by the House and Senate. What didn't pass 🏎️ School zone cameras: The Senate's surprise decision to end their work early left legislation cracking down on cameras in school zones — some state lawmakers say cities use them to generate revenue — in limbo until next year. 🗳️ Elections: House Bill 397, which requires poll workers to hand count ballots, allows counties to opt out of Saturday advanced voting, and forces Georgia to leave a multi-state voter integrity group, did not receive House approval. 🔎 Transparency: A controversial provision that would have shielded lawmakers' communications with state agencies from Open Records requests was stripped from related legislation approved Friday. 🏳️⚧️ Transgender care: A bill prohibiting transgender minors from receiving puberty-blocking medications was deemed a low Sine Die priority for Speaker Jon Burns (R-Newington) but remains active when the General Assembly convenes in January.
Yahoo
16-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mexico Beach hosted its 25th Annual Gumbo Cook off
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – You could definitely smell what Mexico Beach was cooking Saturday morning. They held their 25th annual Gumbo cook-off. The event was held at Boat Ramp Park just off Highway 98. There was a gumbo and a Brunswick Stew division, with cash prizes for the top 3 in each category. There were also awards for best team spirit and best Mardi Gras decorations. Barbeque Monsters won first place in the gumbo division, and second in Brunswick stew. Celebrations continue at PCB Mardi Gras Team leader David Braun says that engaging with the community is what makes this event so special to attend. 'The favorite part for me is handing out the samples and meeting people and talking to people from all over the country and all walks of life and everybody's having a great time and smiling and it's just a great event,' Barbeque Monsters Team Leader David Braun said. While this is the third time their gumbo has taken home the gold, this is the first time that they've ever placed in Brunswick. All the proceeds from the event will go towards funding the city's Fourth of July fireworks. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
