ATLANTA (AP) — Proclaiming that “education is truly the great equalizer,” Gov Brian Kemp signed a law on Tuesday that will give up to $6,500 a year to some Georgia families to pay for private school tuition or home-schooling expenses. It’s a victory for the Republican governor, whose support helped push a bill across the finish line that failed in 2023, delivering a priority that had eluded conservative activists for years. The achievement burnishes Kemp’s conservative credentials if he runs for the U.S. Senate or president in the future. The Georgia effort is part of a na ..read more

Washington (CNN) — President Joe Biden on Wednesday signed into law an aid package providing crucial military assistance to Ukraine, capping months of negotiations and debate. The aid package, passed by the Senate late Tuesday evening and worth $95 billion in total, includes nearly $61 billion in aid to Ukraine, $26 billion for Israel and $8 billion for the Indo-Pacific. The package also includes a bill that could eventually lead to the banning of TikTok in the United States – giving Chinese parent company ByteDance roughly nine months to sell it o ..read more

While the risks associated with COVID-19 generally have decreased over time due to prior exposure to the vaccines and the virus, some people remain at elevated risk, such as the elderly and immunocompromised. The updated COVID-19 vaccines and, in some cases, a new monoclonal antibody can provide increased protection for this group. “At this point, many people have had multiple vaccines and we are seeing a lot less severe and life-threatening illness, especially in people who have had recent vaccination,” Dr. Camille Kotton, clinical director of Transplant and Immunocomprom ..read more

New York (CNN) — For five decades, the southern United States has been an attractive location for foreign automakers to open plants thanks to generous tax breaks and cheaper, non-union labor. Now, the United Auto Workers has dealt a serious blow to that model: winning a landslide union victory after decades of failing to unionize automakers in the South. The UAW easily won a historic victory Friday at Volkswagen’s plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, with 73% of workers voting in favor of the union. It’s the UAW’s first win in trying to represent workers at a foreign car manufactur ..read more

(CNN) — Flavor Flav is moving through life these days like he’s got no time to waste. In recent months, he’s been spotted backstage at a Bruce Springsteen concert, opening for U2, speaking at Harvard, gushing over Cher and Donny Osmond, and trading friendship bracelets with the Swifties at an “Eras Tour” show. The ultimate hype man, however, is no stranger to fame himself. Flav’s own career kicked off in 1985, when he co-founded the rap group Public Enemy. He went on to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and star in sev ..read more

Washington (CNN) — The Senate will take up the House-passed $95 billion foreign aid package this week, as the legislation nears its final congressional action after both sides of Capitol Hill have struggled for months to send aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer implored his colleagues to pass the package Tuesday, urging senators to “not keep our friends around the world waiting for a moment longer.” “The Senate convenes in a moment nearly six months in the making,” the Democrat from New York said. “A few days ago, the Hous ..read more

Comcast solidified this month its commitment to supporting the growth of small business in the metro Atlanta area with a $1 million donation to the Russell Innovation Center of Entrepreneurship and also announced the return of  Comcast RISE, a comprehensive economic growth program designed to help small businesses move to the next level.  Initially created in 2020 to help small businesses hit hard by Covid-19, Comcast RISE has awarded more than $125 million in funds, marketing and technology grants to some 13,500 businesses. In 2024, the program seeks to help 100 small businesses in ..read more

Cassette art installation inside Google’s Midtown Atlanta HQ. Photo by Kerri Phox/The Atlanta Voice In the heart of Midtown Google’s Atlanta office stands tall—taking up 19 floors of the 1105 West Peachtree office building and spanning 500,000 square feet. Known affectionately as “The Love Letter to Atlanta” by Google staffers, this architectural achievement doubles as a tribute to the city’s rich history and vibrant culture. With the doors opening in 2022 amidst the tail end of the COVID-19 global pandemic, only specific teams were allowed into the building at any given time, and only select ..read more

(CNN) — Joe Biden holds a big edge on the airwaves over Donald Trump in the opening weeks of their general election matchup. The president and his allies nearly tripled his rival’s network in ad spending over the past month and a half while Trump has had to devote millions of campaign funds to legal expenses. From March 6 – the day after Super Tuesday when Trump effectively secured the 2024 GOP presidential nomination – through Sunday, Biden’s campaign and other Democratic advertisers spent $27.2 million on advertising for the presidential race, while t ..read more

Monday is Earth Day and the acclaimed syndicated radio personality and philanthropist, Frank Ski, released “Amazon Sunrise (Lovely Day),” on his label, Future Sights And Sounds. The single is the first song to debut from his passion project, Climate Change, a captivating nine-track ambient soundtrack inspired by Frank Ski Kids Foundation’s (FSKF) unforgettable expeditions across the globe. “20 years ago when we took our first trip to the Galapagos Islands,” explained Frank Ski. “We didn’t have the only thing we had was you could bring a Walkman, right? Or, we had the iPod right? The Apple iPo ..read more