*The state Attorney General’s office has cleared the Hall County Planning Commission of holding unannounced meetings which is a violation of the state’s Sunshine Law that requires advance public notice when a quorum of public officials will be meeting. But the woman who filed the accusation says the matter is not closed that she plans to sue the planning board.
* Jackson Electric Membership Corporation (JEMC) is investing $90,000 to support three food assistance organizations serving families across northeast Georgia. They are the Athens’ Food Bank of Northeast Georgia, the Gainesville-based Georgia Mountain Food Bank, and Gwinnett County’s StreetWise Northeast Georgia. Food banks across the country have been scrambling to stock up on supplies in case the government shutdown continues and SNAP benefits (food stamps) end Nov. 1.
*Early voting is ending today across Georgia for scores of municipal and other local elections and special referendums such as the one in Hall County for an extension of a Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tas (SPLOST). Tuesday is election day for those who did not vote early.