GDP Script/ Top Stories for June 19th Publish Date: June 19th From the Ingles Studio Welcome to the Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast. Today is Wednesday, June 19th and Happy heavenly Birthday to MLB HOF Lou Gehrig ***06.19.24 – BIRTHDAY – LOU GEHRIG*** I’m Bruce Jenkins and here are your top stories presented by KIA Mall of Georgia. Georgia Gwinnett College's Juneteenth Celebration Focuses on Fellowship and FamilyRecount Likely in Close Race for One Gwinnett School Board SeatGwinnett Wants to Leave Millage Rate Unchanged but Your Property Tax Bill Could Still Go Up Plus, my conversation with Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on brown eggs. All of this and more is coming up on the Gwinnett Daily Post podcast, and if you are looking for community news, we encourage you to listen daily and subscribe! Break 1: MOG STORY 1: Gwinnett College’s Juneteenth Celebration Focuses On Fellowship, Family Georgia Gwinnett College celebrated its second annual Juneteenth with a focus on unity and community. Coordinated by Ryan Smith from Student Life, this year's event aimed for a more relaxed atmosphere compared to the previous year's structured program. Attendees, including student Jasmine Primo and her family, valued the opportunity to reflect on Juneteenth's significance in African American history and culture. For Primo, a psychology major, the event provided a chance to honor ancestors and deepen her understanding of the holiday's importance. Her grandfather, Patrick Grant, emphasized the importance of Juneteenth in connecting younger generations with their heritage and fostering pride in their identity. STORY 2: Recount Likely in Close For One Gwinnett School Board Seat In Gwinnett County, the school board election runoff for District 1 saw Rachel Stone narrowly defeating incumbent Karen Watkins by 16 votes, with Stone receiving 50.23% of the votes compared to Watkins' 49.77%. Watkins has the option to request a recount, as the margin falls within Georgia's half a percent threshold for such requests. Meanwhile, in District 3, Steve Gasper secured victory with 60.81% of the vote over Shana V. White. These elections are nonpartisan, and the winners, including Tarece Johnson-Morgan from a previous election, will start their terms on January 1, 2025, facing decisions such as whether to retain Superintendent Calvin Watts, whose contract expires in mid-2025. STORY 3: Gwinnett Wants to Leave Milage Rate Unchanged Gwinnett County commissioners are proposing to maintain the general fund millage rate at 6.95 mills, unchanged from last year. This decision, if approved after public hearings, could lead to higher property tax bills due to increased property values. While the rate itself remains stable, higher property assessments mean higher taxable values and potentially higher taxes owed. Homestead exemptions can mitigate increases, but property owners must ensure these are in place. The county's proposed rate is slightly above the rollback rate of 6.5 mills, which would maintain revenue neutrality. Public hearings on the proposed millage rate will be held, with online public comment accepted until July 15. We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.874.3200 for more info. We’ll be right back Break 2: TOM WAGES STORY 4: North Gwinnett Grad Selected for Television Academy Foundation Internship Kerri Stephenson, a recent graduate of Emerson College, has been chosen for the Television Academy Foundation Internship Program, a prestigious opportunity for college students nationwide. She was selected as one of 40 interns for the 2024 Summer Internship Program, offered by the Foundation annually. Stephenson, a media arts production major, will intern as a comedy writer at Phony Content in Los Angeles, California. This program provides hands-on experience at top Hollywood studios, mentorships, and professional development seminars. Stephenson aims to become an executive producer, inspired by television's ability to provoke dialogue and change, influenced by figures like Shonda Rhimes and Issa Rae. The Television Academy Foundation aims to nurture future television professionals through education and industry engagement. STORY 5: Tuwanda Rush Williams Wins Vacant Gwinnett Superior Court Seat Tuwanda Rush Williams secured victory in the runoff for Gwinnett County Superior Court, defeating Magistrate Judge Regina Matthews with 53.1% of the vote. Williams, a former county attorney, will replace retiring Judge Karen Beyers in January, joining Magistrate Judge Kimberly Gallant as the new Superior Court judges. Gallant previously won against Juvenile Court Judge Rodney Harris. These were the only contested Superior Court races in Gwinnett this year, alongside State Court Judge Shawn Bratton's re-election. As nonpartisan elections, no further voting is required this year for these judicial seats. We’ll be back in a moment Break 3: ...
