Latest news with #SteveGooch
Associated Press
7 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
John Kennedy, Georgia's top Senate Republican, joins race for lieutenant governor
ATLANTA (AP) — John Kennedy, the top-ranking Republican in Georgia's state Senate, on Monday joined a growing field of GOP candidates seeking to become the state's next lieutenant governor in 2026. Kennedy, a Macon lawyer, is banking on the support of Georgia's business community after helping pass a law this year limiting lawsuits and civil verdicts. Burt Jones, the current Republican lieutenant governor, is expected to run for governor next year instead of seeking reelection. He's could announce his candidacy later this summer. Kennedy was first elected to the state Senate in 2014. Majority Republicans elected him president pro tem, the No. 2 position in the Senate, in 2023. Before that, Kennedy had been chair of the majority caucus and led the redrawing of legislative and congressional districts after the 2020 Census, securing Republican majorities. Senate Majority Leader Steve Gooch of Dahlonega announced last month that he is running for lieutenant governor, saying he would model his candidacy on President Donald Trump. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Blake Tillery of Vidalia is raising money for a possible bid. Other Republicans could seek the office as well, including state Sen. Greg Dolezal, of Cumming. Kennedy didn't mention Trump in his announcement, saying his top priorities as lieutenant governor would be a strong economy, education and public safety. 'Georgians can be confident that my leadership will be focused on delivering conservative results, not empty rhetoric,' Kennedy said in a statement. 'And I know that by working together, we will keep Georgia growing, keep Georgia learning and keep Georgia safe.' This year, Kennedy sponsored a law that is meant to curb the number of student absences in schools. Like the onetime president, Kennedy's initials are JFK. But this 59-year-old Kennedy, born less than two years after the president was assassinated, is unrelated and bears the middle name of Flanders. Georgia's lieutenant governor presides over Senate sessions, but senators decide how much power the official has. When senators agree, lieutenant governors can be influential. As president pro tem, Kennedy already works with Jones to set the agenda for the Senate. On the Democratic side, the only declared candidate is state Sen. Josh McLaurin of Sandy Springs.
Associated Press
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Georgia Republican Steve Gooch launches bid for lieutenant governor
ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia Senate Majority Leader Steve Gooch on Thursday launched his campaign for lieutenant governor, becoming the latest Republican to say he would model his candidacy on President Donald Trump. Burt Jones, the current Republican lieutenant governor, is expected to run for governor next year and could announce his candidacy within the next few weeks. Gooch, of Dahlonega, was first elected to the state Senate in 2010. He previously served as Lumpkin County's lone commissioner. He also earlier served as a member of the state Board of Transportation, which oversees Georgia's highways and other infrastructure. 'I see a Georgia that is the gold standard for our great country — a state that leads the way in securing our borders, stopping violent crime, abolishing the state income tax, and defending the values that make America great,' Gooch said in a statement. He called himself a 'die-hard MAGA supporter' having successfully sponsored a law this year creating an 'America First' license plate that will soon be offered to Georgia motorists. At a previous state Republican Party convention, Gooch touted the license plate as a way to show support for Trump. Georgia's lieutenant governor presides over Senate sessions, but senators decide how much power the official has. When senators agree, lieutenant governors can be influential. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Blake Tillery of Vidalia has already announced that he's running for lieutenant governor. Senate President Pro Tem John Kennedy of Macon has also been considering a run. Other Republicans could seek the office as well, including state Sen. Greg Dolezal of Cumming. On the Democratic side, the only declared candidate is state Sen. Josh McLaurin of Sandy Springs.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Women sue over GA law that added cash bail requirements for misdemeanors
Two women behind bars in Atlanta sued the state of Georgia on Friday over a recent law that added a cash bail requirement for more crimes, many of them misdemeanors. The lawsuit accuses the state of violating people's constitutional rights to due process when they're accused of crimes that require cash bail due to last year's Senate Bill 63. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The law, which went into effect in July, requires cash bail for 30 additional crimes, 18 of which are always or often misdemeanors, including failing to appear for a traffic citation if it's not their first. Georgia requires cash bail for far more offenses than any other state and has one of the nation's highest rates of people in jail or prison. The American Civil Liberties Union, the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia and the Southern Center for Human Rights, which filed the suit on behalf of the two women and a nonprofit group, estimate that tens of thousands of Georgians have and will be subject to the law if a judge doesn't rule it unconstitutional. The law 'is keeping our jails full, separating people from their jobs, families, and homes, and all but guaranteeing that people leave worse than when they came in,' said Lachlan Athanasiou of the Southern Center for Human Rights in a statement. 'It's difficult to think of a more backwards policy.' The lawsuit argues that the law prevents judges from considering whether cash bail is actually needed to ensure that people accused of crimes appear in court or don't pose any public safety risk, which was the original purpose of bail. Republicans who supported the measure have argued that people let out of jail without bail are less likely to show up for court than those who have paid to get out of jail, although national studies contradict that claim. They also said judges could still set low bails. 'If you commit a crime, you have to be accountable for that and show back up to your hearing,' said Republican Senate Majority Leader Steve Gooch after the lawsuit was filed. TRENDING STORIES: 2 people shot, 1 critically injured; Atlanta police investigating Wednesday is deadline for travelers to have their Real ID North GA man charged with capital murder after man who was shot crashes into home Since the bill was proposed, advocates warned it would hurt low-income and minority groups, who are less likely to have the means to pay cash bail. Those individuals may spend months behind bars awaiting court dates while people charged with the same offense walk free if they can afford to. 'Unwarranted pretrial detention based on a person's inability to pay cash bond is unjust to those presumed innocent, wrongly punishing poverty and harming communities and families,' the lawsuit said, adding that it can cause instability in housing, employment and family care. The two women who filed the suit are currently incarcerated inside Georgia's Fulton County Jail, which has been the target of a federal probe due to its filthy living quarters and the in-custody death of a man whose body was found covered in insects. Sierrah Coronell was arrested in February on four charges, including drug possession and obstructing a police officer, and cannot afford to pay her $600 cash bond. She missed her daughter's 15th birthday and Easter with her five kids. She was their primary caregiver, but now they're living with their father. Diane Holsey worked at Burger King and helped take care of her grandchildren. Since she was arrested in April on two charges, including battery, Holsey has missed out on making money and could lose her job. She cannot afford her $4,000 cash bond or a $400 deposit required by a bondsman. Nonprofit Women on the Rise also joined the suit. The organization provides services to women who would otherwise go to jail, but the law keeps many of them detained. The law also limited the number of cash bonds that people or organizations, such as churches or charitable funds, can post to three per year unless they meet the same requirements bail bond companies do. A judge temporarily blocked that part of the law last year after Atlanta-based nonprofit Barred Business Foundation sued, arguing it was unconstitutional. The law, signed by Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, was a reversal on criminal justice reform in Georgia, a priority of his predecessor, Republican Gov. Nathan Deal. Legislation passed almost unanimously in 2018 let judges release most people accused of misdemeanors without bail — part of a set of reforms that Deal said would combat unnecessary incarceration, make sure kids grew up with parents in the home and save taxpayer money. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
5 Herefordshire properties you can buy for less than £400k
Looking for the perfect new property? Here are five homes now for sale in Hereford. Homs Road, Ross-On-Wye HR9 - £180,000 A two-bedroom mid-terrace period townhouse on Homs Road, Ross-On-Wye, is in need of some updating and modernisation. The property has an enclosed rear garden, a lounge with a feature fireplace, a dining room with a store cupboard, and a lean-to with plumbing for an automatic washing machine. Upstairs, the landing leads to two bedrooms, one of which has views towards fields and countryside. The bathroom has a white suite with a modern side panel bath. The property is accessed via a small wrought iron gate into the front garden, which is laid to gravel with paved steps. From the lean-to, a lower courtyard area features a wooden shed. Paved steps lead up to a sloped lawn, enclosed by fencing. Steve Gooch - 01594 540133 Hill View, Bromyard - £195,000 A two-bedroom mid-terrace modern bungalow is situated within a block of five similar properties on a small select development. Located a short walk from the town centre and amenities of Bromyard, the property offers a spacious lounge, two double bedrooms, a bathroom, and a private tiered garden. The property benefits from gas central heating, double glazing, and two off-road parking spaces to the front. The kitchen is fitted with a range of matching wall and base units, and the lounge has French doors leading to the rear decking balcony. The private rear garden is laid out with a small decking balcony, a paved patio area, and an area of artificial lawn. The property is being sold with no onward chain. Flint & Cook - 01885 554648 Lingen Avenue, Hereford HR1 - £365,000 A traditional semi-detached house is available in the sought-after location of Lingen Avenue, Hereford. This property benefits from central heating, double glazing, light and airy bedrooms, and two reception rooms with traditional features including fireplaces. The property also has a utility area with a downstairs WC. The gardens are private and enjoy open allotments to the rear. The location offers excellent access to the city's amenities, railway station, and Hereford County Hospital. Williams Estate Agents - 01432 644834 West Street, Pembridge HR6 - £325,000 A unique opportunity to acquire a charming attached three-bedroom cottage with an additional barn within the black and white village of Pembridge. The property enjoys two reception rooms to the main house with a kitchen that is ideal for entertaining. The barn is the perfect space for arts, crafts and hobbies with the opportunity to convert into additional accommodation. The property has a pretty cottage garden and gas heating. The popular black and white village of Pembridge is very well catered for offering a number of public houses and restaurants, primary school, village hall and church to name just a few. Cobb Amos - 01568 597523 Holly Lodge, Bank Crescent, Ledbury HR8 - £400,000 A rare opportunity to purchase a detached two-bedroom bungalow within a stone's throw of Ledbury town centre. The property benefits from gas central heating and a detached garage with a wrap-around garden on a surprisingly large quarter of an acre plot. The bungalow comprises a conservatory, a spacious entrance hallway, two double bedrooms at each end of the property, and a large lean-to with a mixture of brick and wooden outbuildings, including a gardener's toilet/utility space. A mature wrap-around garden with an array of established trees and shrubs offers surprising seclusion within a central location. John Goodwin - 01531 825010
Associated Press
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Women sue over Georgia law that added cash bail requirements for misdemeanors
ATLANTA (AP) — Two women behind bars in Atlanta sued the state of Georgia on Friday over a recent law that added a cash bail requirement for more crimes, many of them misdemeanors. The lawsuit accuses the state of violating people's constitutional rights to due process when they're accused of crimes that require cash bail due to last year's Senate Bill 63. The law, which went into effect in July, requires cash bail for 30 additional crimes, 18 of which are always or often misdemeanors, including failing to appear for a traffic citation if it's not their first. Georgia requires cash bail for far more offenses than any other state and has one of the nation's highest rates of people in jail or prison. The American Civil Liberties Union, the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia and the Southern Center for Human Rights, which filed the suit on behalf of the two women and a nonprofit group, estimate that tens of thousands of Georgians have and will be subject to the law if a judge doesn't rule it unconstitutional. The law 'is keeping our jails full, separating people from their jobs, families, and homes, and all but guaranteeing that people leave worse than when they came in,' said Lachlan Athanasiou of the Southern Center for Human Rights in a statement. 'It's difficult to think of a more backwards policy.' The lawsuit argues that the law prevents judges from considering whether cash bail is actually needed to ensure that people accused of crimes appear in court or don't pose any public safety risk, which was the original purpose of bail. Republicans who supported the measure have argued that people let out of jail without bail are less likely to show up for court than those who have paid to get out of jail, although national studies contradict that claim. 'If you commit a crime, you have to be accountable for that and show back up to your hearing,' said Republican Senate Majority Leader Steve Gooch, a Dahlonega Republican. Since the bill was proposed, advocates warned it would hurt low-income and minority groups, who are less likely to have the means to pay cash bail. Those individuals may spend months behind bars awaiting court dates while people charged with the same offense walk free if they can afford to. 'Unwarranted pretrial detention based on a person's inability to pay cash bond is unjust to those presumed innocent, wrongly punishing poverty and harming communities and families,' the lawsuit said, adding that it can cause instability in housing, employment and family care. The two women who filed the suit are currently incarcerated inside Georgia's Fulton County Jail, which has been the target of a federal probe due to its filthy living quarters and the in-custody death of a man whose body was found covered in insects. Sierrah Coronell was arrested in February on four charges, including drug possession and obstructing a police officer, and cannot afford to pay her $600 cash bond. She missed her daughter's 15th birthday and Easter with her five kids. She was their primary caregiver, but now they're living with their father. Diane Holsey worked at Burger King and helped take care of her grandchildren. Since she was arrested in April on two charges, including battery, Holsey has missed out on making money and could lose her job. She cannot afford her $4,000 cash bond or a $400 deposit required by a bondsman. Nonprofit Women on the Rise also joined the suit. The organization provides services to women who would otherwise go to jail, but the law keeps many of them detained. The law also limited the number of cash bonds that people or organizations, such as churches or charitable funds, can post to three per year unless they meet the same requirements bail bond companies do. A judge temporarily blocked that part of the law last year after Atlanta-based nonprofit Barred Business Foundation sued, arguing it was unconstitutional. The law, signed by Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, was a reversal on criminal justice reform in Georgia, a priority of his predecessor, Republican Gov. Nathan Deal. Legislation passed almost unanimously in 2018 let judges release most people accused of misdemeanors without bail — part of a set of reforms that Deal said would combat unnecessary incarceration, make sure kids grew up with parents in the home and save taxpayer money.
