Latest news with #RichMcCormick
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Memorial Day: Events around metro Atlanta remembering fallen heroes
There are a number of Memorial Day events planned for the metro Atlanta area today. Here is how you can pay tribute to those who have died serving our country. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] ALPHARETTA The City of Alpharetta and the Rotary Club of Alpharetta will host Alpharetta's Memorial Day Tribute. The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. at Alpharetta City Hall. The program begins at 9 a.m. and will include an invocation, the National Anthem, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a keynote address by US Rep. Dr. Rich McCormick, followed by 'Taps.' CONYERS The Walk of Heroes Veterans War Memorial in Conyers, Georgia, hosts an annual Memorial Day ceremony. The ceremony is held on the actual Memorial Day, which is the last Monday of May. This year, the ceremony will take place on Monday, May 26th, starting at 11:00 AM. The memorial is located at 3001 Black Shoals Road in Conyers. The event is free and open to the public. DACULA The Dacula Memorial Day Parade will start at 10 a.m. This year's theme is 'They Answered the Call, They Paid the Price' and World World II Army veteran James L. Davis will be the grand marshal. The parade will stage at Hebron Baptist Church but officially start in front of Dacula High School. The route will continue on Second Ave., turn left on Wilson Street, turn left on Dacula Road and continue back to Hebron Baptist Church. DUNWOODY The City of Dunwoody will hold its annual Memorial Day ceremony at 10 a.m. at the Brook Run Park Veterans Memorial on N. Peachtree Road. U.S. Air Force Major Rick Scheff will serve as this year's keynote speaker. Scheff is a Dunwoody native and Georgia Tech graduate. He has recorded over 1,000 flight hours and over 300 combat hours missions across Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria. He currently serves as Chief Evaluator Pilot at Shaw Air Force Base. LOGANVILLE The American Legion Riders of Loganville Post 233 will participate in their 27th annual Ride for America. The ride will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the American Legion Post in Loganville and travel to Madison. It's $10 per rider and $5 per passenger. The money raised will go toward the Cpl. Jonathan Ayers Memorial Scholarship, the American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund and local veterans. MARIETTA The Marietta Memorial Day Ceremony will take place at 12 p.m. at the Marietta National Cemetery. The ceremony is open to all veterans and the public. NEWNAN Newnan will hold its Memorial Day ceremony at 11 a.m. at Veterans Park. In case of rain, the ceremony will take place at McKoon Funeral Home. A free lunch will be provided to veterans after the ceremony. People who attend can also pay their respects to fallen military members at white crosses installed by the Newnan Rotary Club. ROSWELL The 26th annual Roswell Remembers Memorial Day Ceremony will take place at 11 am at Roswell City Hall. The event is rain or shine. The program will include displays and music provided by the Roswell New Horizons Band, a military ceremony, the presentation of colors, Honor Guard, the singing of the national anthem, the Pledge of Allegiance, a POW/MIA tribute, and the solemn laying of the wreath. SENOIA Senoia will hold its Memorial Day ceremony at 9 a.m. at the cemetery on Stallings Road. Georgia State House Rep. David Jenkins will be the guest speaker with other remarks by Senoia Mayor Dub Pearman and U.S. Army veteran Holly Killebrew. East Coweta High School JROTC will serve as the color guard. If the weather permits, the Falcon RV Squadron, a local formation team, will be in attendance. STOCKBRIDGE The Memorial March of Stockbridge will take place at the Merle Manders Conference Center on Monday. The event starts at 9 a.m. but attendees can arrive at 7:30 a.m. This year's event will include a procession and a ceremony. Attendees are encouraged to dress comfortable for the walk.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
20 Recreational Parks in Georgia Forced To Close Until Further Notice
Although the weather is warming up, several recreational parks in the United States have been shut down until further notice. People in Georgia noticed that Tidwell Park had barricades and signs at its entrance on Wednesday. It didn't take long for the Army Corps of Engineers to explain why it was closed off to the public. Due to limited staffing, the Army Corps of Engineers has been left with no choice but to close 20 recreational parks on Lake Lanier. Their main concern at this time is that they can't meet the necessary safety measures. It's unclear when these parks on Lake Lanier will reopen to the public. "With the current hiring freeze to shrink the overall federal workforce we have not been able to bring on summer hires nor backfill employees that took the option for the deferred resignation," Army Corps of Engineers public spokesperson Dustin Gautney told Atlanta News First. Several boat ramps on Lake Lanier were supposed to be closed this Memorial Day weekend, but that won't be the case any longer. "I joined Representative Rich McCormick on a call today with the Army Corps. Congressman McCormick advocated strongly for the re-opening of the sites and encouraged the Corps to reconsider their decision. The Corps leadership said they would discuss internally and see what they could do," Georgia state senator Greg Dolezal said. "They have informed us they will be opening all of the unmanned Lake Lanier boat ramps, and will temporarily close 11 recreation sites, so about half of what was planned. They will continue to assess traffic and adjust as needed through the weekend. He indicated they will be working with the Sheriff's office to help out with traffic management." We'll see if the Army Corps of Engineers can sort this situation before the start of summer. 20 Recreational Parks in Georgia Forced To Close Until Further Notice first appeared on Men's Journal on May 22, 2025
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
LexisNexis Risk Solutions Launches New ADAM Program Interactive Dashboard to Help Recover Missing Children
New Tool Empowers the Public to Search Geo-Targeted Alerts on Missing Children – Released in Honor of National Missing Children's Day and the Program's 25th Anniversary ATLANTA, May 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- LexisNexis® Risk Solutions has announced the launch of a powerful new Interactive Dashboard designed to aid in the recovery of missing children. This innovative, AI-driven tool allows the public to easily search geo-targeted alerts sent through the ADAM Program (Automated Delivery of Alerts on Missing Children) and view missing child posters by location, and other filters. The release of the dashboard coincides with National Missing Children's Day and marks the 25th anniversary of the ADAM Program, which quickly distributes geo-targeted posters from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC). Importantly, the posters contain a photo of the missing child and case details, which are then delivered to communities across the nation. "This dashboard brings a new level of accessibility to our efforts to help recover missing children," said Trish McCall, co-founder of the ADAM Program. "For 25 years, the ADAM Program has been about quickly getting information into the hands of people who can help. Now, with the dashboard, anyone can take action right from their devices— and view missing child posters in their area which they can easily share on social media and help be part of the solution to bring missing children home." The ADAM Program uses technology to distribute missing child posters quickly to individuals, businesses, and organizations within a targeted geographic area. With the addition of the new dashboard, users can now actively browse real-time cases, deepening public engagement in the search for missing children. "I am a supporter of child protection efforts, and I praised this initiative. This dashboard is a shining example of how technology can serve our most vulnerable. The ADAM Program has a proven track record of helping to recover missing children, and this new tool will empower even more citizens to help bring missing children back to safety. I'm proud to stand with The ADAM Program and NCMEC on this milestone," U.S. Representative Rich McCormick said. About LexisNexis Risk Solutions LexisNexis Risk Solutions harnesses the power of data, sophisticated analytics platforms, and technology solutions to provide insights that help businesses across multiple industries and governmental entities reduce risk and improve decisions to benefit people around the globe. Headquartered in metro Atlanta, Georgia, we have offices throughout the world and are part of RELX (LSE: REL/NYSE: RELX), a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. For more information, please visit LexisNexis Risk Solutions and RELX. Media Contact: Jennifer Grigas RichmanLexisNexis Risk SolutionsMobile: +1.678.906.9073 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE LexisNexis Risk Solutions Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lake Lanier closures: Number of parks closing will be cut down to 11, US Rep. says
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will scale back on the number of recreational sites at Lake Lanier that will be temporarily closed. Channel 2 Action News first told you on Tuesday about the plans to close more than 20 lakeside parks due to the USACE's current staffing levels. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Rep. Rich McCormick represents the Georgia 7th Congressional District, which includes Lake Lanier. In a statement released late Wednesday night, McCormick said the U.S. Army Corps will now only close 11 sites. 'I spoke with the U.S. Army Corps today about the planned closures at Lake Lanier. I pushed hard for a better solution, and they listened. All boat ramps will remain open, and only 11 recreation sites will close temporarily, not the 21 originally planned. I am grateful for the partnership of local leaders like Senator Greg Dolezal in advocating for our community,' McCormick said. Lake Lanier has 76 recreational areas. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers operates 37 parks and campgrounds, 10 marinas and Lake Lanier Islands. It leases out 40 parks and campgrounds to local governments and other organizations. It's unclear which 11 sites will be closed. RELATED STORIES: 20 parks to close on Lake Lanier These spots on GA rivers and lakes could be closed this summer GA U.S. senator demands Trump administration reopen parks along Lake Lanier over 'reckless' cuts The USACE launched a new website on Thursday where you can see the current status for a recreational area, campground, boat ramp or beaches operated by the agency. You can click here to access it. 'Public safety and service quality continue to be our highest priorities. As we manage available resources, some sites may experience reduced operations or temporary closures. These difficult decisions are based on our ability to ensure visitors have a safe and consistent experience,' Stephen L. Hill, USACE director of Operations and Regulatory Programs, said. 'These decisions are not made lightly because we understand the importance of USACE recreation areas to the public and their vacation plans, especially during the summer season,' he added. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Newsweek
16-05-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Republicans Push to Expand H-1B Visa Program
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Republican and Democratic lawmakers have joined forces to send a bipartisan letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, urging the permanent expansion of a 2024 pilot program that allowed select H-1B recipients to renew their visas domestically. "I joined a bipartisan push to expand domestic visa renewals for H-1B and other low-risk visa holders. It's time to modernize our visa system by reducing costs, boosting efficiency, and keeping America competitive," Representative Rich McCormick, who represents Georgia's 7th District, said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. Why It Matters President Donald Trump has previously backed employment-based visas, especially the H-1B program. It comes amid renewed scrutiny of employment-based immigration and signals a more restrained approach compared to previous years. The right is split over H-1B visas, with MAGA-aligned conservatives opposing the program over concerns about job displacement and corporate abuse. Moderate Republicans see it as a tool to fill critical workforce gaps, particularly in the tech sector. Representative Rich McCormick at a hearing at the U.S. Capitol on June 3, 2024. Representative Rich McCormick at a hearing at the U.S. Capitol on June 3, 2024. Scott Applewhite/AP What To Know In a letter to Rubio on May 7, lawmakers stressed the importance of expanding the State Department's 2024 pilot program, which allowed certain H-1B visa holders to renew their visas without leaving the country. They urged the department to establish clear eligibility guidelines and consider including additional visa categories—such as E, H, I, L, O, and P—in future expansions. The pilot, launched last year, permitted 20,000 qualified H-1B visa holders to complete renewals domestically, provided their biometric data had been previously collected and could be reused. With the program set to expire, lawmakers are advocating for its permanent adoption and broader application to benefit more visa holders. Democratic Representatives Suhas Subramanyam of Virginia, Ami Bera and Ro Khanna of California, and Shri Thanedar of Michigan jointly sent the letter with Republicans McCormick and Don Bacon of Nebraska. The letter was also signed by a group of Democratic lawmakers, including Representatives Sanford Bishop (Georgia), Yvette Clarke (New York), Lou Correa (California), Jonathan Jackson (Illinois), Hank Johnson (Georgia), Sarah McBride (Delaware), Jim McGovern (Massachusetts), Deborah Ross (North Carolina), Terri Sewell (Georgia), and Marc Veasey (Texas). The move has ignited outrage among MAGA supporters on social media, with some voicing strong opposition. Sectors such as technology, finance, and academia remain among the primary beneficiaries of the H-1B visa program. In 2024, top firms, including Amazon, Google, and Meta, received thousands of H-1B approvals, while Tesla, under Elon Musk's leadership, reportedly utilized the program to bring in hundreds of specialized workers from abroad. The program is subject to an annual cap of 65,000 new visas, with an additional 20,000 slots reserved for applicants who hold advanced degrees from U.S. institutions, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). What People Are Saying Democratic Representative Krishnamoorthi said in a press release on May 7: "The 2024 pilot program for domestic visa renewals was a commonsense success, and now it's time to build on that momentum. Expanding and formalizing this program will reduce red tape, strengthen our economy, and help ensure that the United States continues to attract and retain the best and brightest talent from around the world." Democratic Representative Suhas Subramanyam said in the press release: "The current process to renew H-1B visas is cumbersome and needs to be modernized. This bipartisan proposal, based on a successful bipartisan 2024 pilot program, will help streamline the H-1B process and avoid unnecessary processing delays." Benjamin Johnson, executive director for the American Immigration Lawyers Association, said in the press release: "Reinstating the domestic visa renewals pilot program, expanding it beyond the H-1B visa category, and clarifying the eligibility rules is an important step in the effort to modernize the immigration system." "It provides an opportunity for the Department of State to alleviate the visa backlog, increase efficiency, stimulate economic growth, and strengthen America's ability to retain talented individuals." X user @godemperorcame said in response to Representative Rich McCormick: "Absolutely not. It's time for the H1B program to end. There is not a shortage of tech workers. H1B's should only be used if a citizen cannot fill the role, and that includes a citizen that has the potential to do the role but doesn't have experience. There are far too many." What Happens Next The debate over the H-1B visa program is expected to continue, reflecting divisions within the ruling Republican Party over H-1B visa policies and the future of America's workforce.
