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Gov. Brian Kemp has deactivated the National Guard from protest-related duty as of 11:59 p.m. on June 8. Kemp thanked the men and women of the state guard and said in a statement “we will continue to monitor activity around the state and remain prepared to respond if necessary.” The National Guard was accused of using heavy-handed tactics – including tear gas and rubber bullets – to disperse crowds of protesters violating the now-lifted curfew.

The two former Atlanta Police officers fired and charged with using excessive force against two college students during the George Floyd protests in Downtown are suing the city. Ivory Streeter and Mark Gardner say their use of force was lawful, and they were fired without a proper investigation, according to a report in the AJC.  The pair want their jobs back. Chief Erika Shields and Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms are also named in the suit filed in Fulton County Superior Court. Fulton County District Attorney quickly filed charges against the two fired officers and four others involved in the incident on May 30.

The Atlanta Board of Education and Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Meria Carstarphen have called for work on “dismantling a racist and oppressive system” in statements issued in the wake of the George Floyd protests. In a  joint statement, school board members said they were “heartbroken and upset” by the killings of Floyd in Minnesota, Breonna Taylor in Kentucky and Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia. “But the murders of black men and women by vigilantes and police are not new, and it is important for the Board to reaffirm that Black Lives Matter,” the statement said. “We know we cannot do this work alone. The work of dismantling a racist and oppressive system that has an over 400-year legacy will not be easy and requires people of all communities coming together to address inequities.” The board noted it adopted a strategic plan and equity policy last year and will work with the community on them “so that we can finally see a day where the color of your skin does not predict whether you are likely to be healthy and safe, graduate from high school, be economically stable, or live out your childhood dreams.”

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Georgia Aquarium has announced it will reopen to the public on June 15 after shutting its doors for two months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As with all other re-openings, there will be state-mandated guidelines for social distancing.

Tickets will be available in two-hour blocks: 9 a.m. to noon, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and must be reserved online at georgiaaquarium.org. The aquarium will close for an hour between blocks for cleaning and sanitizing. There will only be a limited number of guests allowed in during each block to maintain social distancing.

All visitors must consent to a contactless temperature scan prior to entering the building. Any person exhibiting a fever (temperature of 100.4° or higher) will not be permitted entry. All guests are are urged to ware masks, which will also be available upon entry.

All unique experiences are temporarily suspended and the main entrance of the aquarium will be closed. Visitors will be assigned an entrance area during ticket purchase. All tickets are $32.95, with children under age 3 free.

The post Georgia Aquarium to reopen on June 15 after two-month COVID-19 closure appeared first on Atlanta INtown Paper.

United Community Bank has chosen fifteen of its emerging leaders for the bank’s 2020 Leadership Academy, an internal professional development program which includes team members from across the four-state United Community Bank footprint. Two Atlanta-based bankers, Jason Hultgren and Shelia Stolorena, have been selected for the fourth class of the program. 

“We know that great banking starts with great people,” said Lynn Harton, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of United Community Bank. “We are pleased to offer this talented group of individuals an opportunity to expand their knowledge and professional skills. Their future influence will undoubtedly make our organization an even better place to bank and work.” 

Jason Hultgren serves as Director of Retail Mortgage Sales. He is based in the bank’s Peachtree Road office. Shelia Stolorena serves as a Commercial Real Estate Relationship Manager. She is based in the bank’s McGinnis Ferry Road location.

The fourth-year class includes United employees nominated by senior management throughout the Bank’s footprint. Members will participate in key meetings and leadership roundtables with United’s executive management, Clemson University’s Center for Corporate Learning Mini MBA program in Greenville, S.C., and multiple leadership sessions. The monthly sessions will span for eight months with a graduation upon completion. Forty bankers have completed the program since it was launched in 2016.

Georgia gas prices  increased at the pump compared to a week ago. Georgia motorists are now paying an average price of $1.79 per gallon for regular unleaded gasoline. Monday’s state average is 4 cents more than a week ago, 17 cents more than last month, and 75 cents less than this time last year.

It now costs motorists $26.85 to fill a 15-gallon tank of gasoline; that is $14.25 less than what motorists paid in April of 2019, when pump prices hit their peak of $2.74 per gallon.

“All South and Southeast states saw pump prices increase,” said Montrae Waiters, spokeswoman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “The good news is that gas continues to be fairly cheap. Georgians can fill-up for $2/gallon or less at gas stations across the state.”

National Gas Average Increases Alongside Demand

Since last Monday, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline is $2.02, which is 5 cents higher than a week ago. According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), demand grew slightly from 7.3 million barrels a day to 7.5 million barrels a day last week. The increase in demand has occurred alongside an increase in the national average. If this trend continues, motorists will likely see pump prices continue to move higher.

At the close of last Thursday’s formal trading session, WTI increased by 12 cents to $37.41 per barrel. Domestic crude prices have been volatile as the market awaits a potential announcement from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) on additional steps to reduce crude production amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which has lowered global crude demand. OPEC and other large crude producers, including Russia, are implementing a 9.7 million barrels a day crude production reduction agreement for May and June 2020, but the future of the agreement is uncertain. As market uncertainty over the agreement increases, crude prices will likely remain volatile.

Regional Prices

Atlanta ($1.76)

• Most expensive Georgia metro markets – Brunswick ($1.91), Savannah ($1.88) and Valdosta ($1.87).

• Least expensive Georgia metro markets – Athens ($1.73), Rome ($1.74) and Catoosa-Dade-Walker ($1.75). 

CURRENT AND PAST PRICE AVERAGES (Regular Unleaded Gasoline) 

	Sunday	Saturday	Week Ago	Month Ago	One Year Ago	2019 Low	2019 High	Record High
National	$2.02	$2.01	$1.97	$1.81	$2.77	$2.23 (January)	$2.90 (May)	$4.11   (7/17/2008)
Georgia	$1.79	$1.78	$1.75	$1.62	$2.54	$2.04 (January)	$2.74 (April)	$4.16   (9/15/2008)
Click here to view current gasoline price averages

Lincoln Property Company Southeast (Lincoln) has secured a new lease with Toyota Motor Credit Corporation (TMCC), a division of Toyota Financial Services (TFS), for 56,746 square feet at NorthWinds Office Park in Alpharetta, Georgia. With this lease, NorthWinds is now over 85% leased. Lincoln’s Michael Howell, Hunter Henritze and Caroline Fisher represented the landlord, The Brookdale Group. Wade Clark, Dom Wyant and Caroline McKinley of JLL represented the tenant. 

TFS is the finance and insurance brand for Toyota in the United States, offering retail auto financing and leasing through TMCC and Toyota Lease Trust. Serving customers across the globe, TMCC provides automotive finance services, including dealer finance, term loans and revolving credit services to vehicles and industrial equipment dealers. This deal at NorthWinds V is the result of a consolidation of numerous TMCC offices into a larger regional office. The new Alpharetta office will become the company’s East Dealer Service Center, bringing more than 150 new jobs to Fulton County. Employees at this location will be tasked with ensuring a smooth experience between TFS and dealer personnel.  

“As one of the fastest growing cities across the country, and often deemed as the ‘technology city of the south,’ Alpharetta offers a prime location for corporate headquarters and regional offices with access to a volume of top talent as well as some of the best schools, amenities and neighborhoods within metro Atlanta,” said Lincoln’s Howell. “NorthWinds is an ideal environment for corporate, regional and local companies alike with its numerous on-site amenities and ability to accommodate tenants both large and small”. 

NorthWinds is a preeminent office park that includes seven six-story, Class-A office buildings, totaling 1.04 million square feet, with a comprehensive on-site amenity package to include two hotels, two banks, nine restaurants, two complimentary fitness facilities, a daycare and learning facility and six free conference and training facilities.  NorthWinds is located less than 1 mile from the award winning mixed-use development Avalon and also offers immediate access to GA-400, as well as major East/West connectors, including Haynes Bridge Road and Old Milton Parkway. 

Election Day is Tuesday, June 9, for the primary and special elections with polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Early voting was plagued with problems related to coronavirus pandemic precautions, including long lines and missing absentee ballots.

Many polling places have moved because facilities like senior centers cannot house polls during the pandemic. Be sure to confirm your polling place through the state voter registration website.

Fulton County released a statement from Board of Registration & Elections Chair Mary Carole Cooney and Director of Registration & Elections Richard L. Barron concerning the problems with voting:

“On behalf of the Fulton County Board of Registration and the Department of Registration & Elections, we want to thank the more than 6,000 voters who stood in the sun and rain for many hours during the last day of early voting on Friday, June 5. In total, more than 30,458 Fulton County voters cast their ballots during the Early Voting period.

This election cycle has brought an unprecedented number of challenges – from date changes, changes in locations, the availability of poll workers, restrictions related to COVID, coronavirus infections among Department of Registration and Elections employees and more.

Most troubling is the number of voters who applied for absentee ballots but never received them. That is an issue that will take time to determine but we promise you that we will review the steps involved and any mistakes made to give you an answer that will serve us all better in the next election.”

The post Election Day for primary and special election is June 9 appeared first on Atlanta INtown Paper.

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