(GA. NEWS NETWORK)
*Gov. Kemp signed his final budget bill Tuesday. Some key items in the $39 billion spending plan include over $70 million in funding for literacy coaches in all K-3 elementary schools. Also, $100 million for state employee retirement funding. But Kemp said the final budget came with tough choices that had to be made. He vetoed several line items that had been included. Just the day before, he had approved a number of tax cut bills.
*Early voting for the May 19 primaries ends in two more days. And here’s another reminder: If you haven’t already registered, you won’t be able to vote in the primaries, but you can still register for the November general election.
*A Newnan man accused of running a $140 million Ponzi scheme pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of wire fraud. ANF reports Brant Frost IV, 68, the founder of First Liberty Building and Loan, will be sentenced Aug. 14. Frost faces up to 20 years in prison.
*If your weekend plans call for a trip to or through Atlanta this may interest you: The state Department of Transportation’s planned shutdown of I-285 has been rescheduled for this weekend. Crews are closing the entire interstate between exits seven and nine on the west side, starting this Friday night at 7:00 through early Monday morning. Drivers should anticipate significant spillover traffic on local roads and severe congestion on other interstate routes in Atlanta. This work was delayed from last weekend due to a forecast of rain.