It’s Friday!
We are excited to welcome The Babylon Bee’s Seth Dillon to the Georgia Freedom Dinner in a matter of days. But ticket sales close tonight at 5 pm!
The Babylon Bee has become the leading satire site in the nation and a go-to on social media largely because it is one of the few voices willing to mock today’s culture and society. That is one of the reasons the powers that be have attempted to cancel The Bee. But it is more than that. Their work is often so close to the truth that it has wound up predicting the future. Seth refers to these instances as fulfilled prophecies.
For example, in 2021 The Bee ran a headline calling California Gov. Gavin Newsom the “U-Haul Salesperson of the Year.” Less than a year later, a headline from Fox News read, “Californians fleeing for Texas so fast U-Haul runs out of trucks for them.” And the latest (real) story from the Golden State? The Bee is suing the state over a law that requires social media companies to report on “misinformation” or “extremism.” Such a standard, naturally, is open to wide interpretation by the Attorney General.
We are excited to hear Seth talk about that, The Bee’s work in defending free speech and more. We hope you’ll join us Tuesday, April 25.
Friday’s Freshest
How do government regulations affect the cost of multifamily housing?
In total, federal, state and local regulation contributes 23.4% on average to the cost of multifamily housing, according to a new report from the Foundation.
📝 READ: Regulations and multifamily housing
Georgia taxpayers lost money to Obamacare, the American Rescue Plan and unemployment fraud
State workforce agencies in five states, including Georgia, paid millions of dollars in fraudulently obtained benefits in COVID-19 unemployment insurance. That story, and more, highlight our latest review of waste, fraud or abuse of taxpayer money or taxpayer-funded resources throughout Georgia.
Looking back at the 2023 session
While there were some important wins for Georgians during the recently concluded legislative session, it will better be remembered as the year of “almost.”
What happened to CON reform this year?
Three bills that would have reduced certificate of need regulations by varying degrees were introduced this year. Some got further than others, but none passed. So what gives?
The Latest
Economy
What $100,000 is actually worth in the largest U.S. cities
To see how much $100,000 is actually worth in different parts of the country, SmartAsset compared the after-tax income in 76 of the largest U.S. cities and then adjusted those figures for the cost of living in each place. Atlanta came in 39th.
Atlanta is city with 5th highest rise in inflation
According to the Bureau of Labor, area prices are up 7.2% over the past 12 months in metro Atlanta. The biggest rise in cost for Atlanta residents was energy, the index for which rose 5.3% from December to February, led by a 13.2% increase in the cost of gasoline.
Education
Georgia’s AP pass rate climbs to 15th, returns to 2018 level
Data from the College Board shows that Georgia’s Advanced Placement pass rate has climbed to 15th in the nation. While that’s an improvement from 17th place the past three years, the ranking has been more or less stagnant in recent years.
Congressional probe confirms damage of COVID-19 school closures
America’s schoolchildren suffered grievously from prolonged school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic. That was a rare point of consensus at a March hearing of the newly created House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic.
Government accountability
Two million people fled America’s big cities from 2020 to 2022
Two million people fled America’s largest cities from 2020 to 2022, new research shows, signaling that a retreat from urban centers to suburbs, exurbs and smaller cities in the early months of the pandemic has hardened into an enduring trend.
Biden unveils strictest-ever emissions standards
The Biden administration unveiled the most stringent vehicle emissions standards ever considered this week as part of its push to force carmakers and consumers into transitioning to electric vehicles.
Housing
Moratorium issued on new apartments in Marietta
City leaders in Marietta have imposed a six-month moratorium on new apartment construction. The move comes as the city attempts to evaluate the impact of high-density housing on the community.
Rental prices outpace inflation
Consumers paid less for gasoline and groceries, causing the consumer-price index – a widely used measure of inflation – to moderate to 5% in March from a year earlier. But housing costs went up 8% during the same time period.
Quotes of the Week
“It’s not the load that weighs you down, it’s the way you carry it.” – C.S. Lewis
“Temper is what gets most of us in trouble. Pride is what keeps us there.” – Mark Twain
“Learning is definitely not mere imitation, nor is it the ability to accumulate and regurgitate fixed knowledge. It is a constant process of discovery – a process without end.” – Bruce Lee