(GA. NEWS NETWORK)
*Georgia food stamp cards are now being blocked from making online grocery purchases. The state began the restrictions to combat benefit theft. The blocks also cover online orders for store pickup and purchases outside Georgia and its neighboring states. Shoppers must first unlock their cards by phone or through ConnectEBT to make purchases.
*An Athens-based program aims to help lower-income homeowners cut energy costs. The Athens-Clarke County Sustainability Department is accepting applications from nonprofit groups to help distribute $177,000 in federal funding for energy-efficient appliance upgrades. The program targets owner-occupied homes with appliances that are at least 12 years old and serves households earning 80 percent or less of area median income. Nonprofits will help qualify applicants, assess homes, and coordinate installations. Applications are due December 23.
*Georgia Insurance Commissioner-elect Keisha Sean Waites is outlining an agenda focused on rising auto and homeowners insurance costs. Waites says she plans to push for legislation preventing insurers from using credit scores and ZIP codes when calculating premiums, arguing those factors are unrelated to an individual’s insurance risk. Supporters say the changes could create a fairer system for consumers. Opponents disagree, arguing credit history and location are established risk indicators and that limiting their use could result in some lower-risk customers paying more to offset costs for higher-risk policyholders. Waites also says she wants to attract more insurers to Georgia and strengthen consumer protections.