Georgia Governor Nathan Deal

Deal signs revised tourism tax bill

HAMPTON, Ga. - Gov. Nathan Deal has signed a bill into law that makes changes to a tax break program aimed at boosting Georgia tourism.

Deal signed the bill Monday at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. The Georgia Tourism Development Act, which offers tax rebates for building tourist attractions, was signed into law two years ago but had been unavailable to developers. State agencies responsible for implementing it had told lawmakers they needed to fix technical problems before rebates could be offered.

Officials at Lake Winnepesaukah, where the five-acre SoakYa water park is under construction, have said they would not know their chances of receiving the tax break until the revised law was passed.

The law allows approved projects to keep some of the sales taxes they collect for 10 years.

Commissioners across state meet

SAVANNAH, Ga. - County commissioners from across Georgia are meeting for their annual conference in Savannah.

The Association County Commissioners of Georgia was scheduled to wrap up its three-day meeting Monday. Work sessions included a discussion on how steep federal budget cuts are expected to affect local governments and a session to get county officials up to speed on recent changes to state financial disclosure laws for elected officials.

The Association County Commissioners was formed 99 years ago in 1914. Its members include officials from all 159 Georgia counties.

Fleischmann to address grads

MADISONVILLE, Tenn. - U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tenn., will give the commencement address to graduates at Hiwassee College's 160th commencement ceremonies Saturday.

The event is scheduled to begin in the school auditorium at 10:30 a.m.

Fleischmann represents the 3rd District and its 11 counties: Anderson, Bradley, Campbell, Hamilton, McMinn, Monroe, Morgan, Polk, Roane, Scott and Union.

Campaign aims at child hunger

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey has launched a campaign to help reduce the number of kids going hungry in Alabama.

Ivey was surrounded by elementary school children when she announced the campaign Monday. She said Auburn University's Hunger Solutions Institute will bring state leaders, private industry and community groups together to address the fact that about one-third of Alabama's children live in homes where food is scarce.

The group hopes to improve the food assistance safety net for children by building the public will to end childhood hunger. Federal dollars will be tapped to provide evening meals at schools under a drop-in program.