NEWS

Georgia Tim Wigginton Georgia Tim Wigginton

Gov. Kemp Announces $500 Million In Water Infrastructure Grants  

This week, Governor Brian Kemp announced that Georgia received $499,385,000 in grants to help communities impacted by Hurricane Helene strengthen the resilience of drinking water and wastewater unfractured and respond to water-related emergencies. This funding is a result of the 2025 American Relief Act and will be administered by the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA).

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Local, Western North Carolina Tim Wigginton Local, Western North Carolina Tim Wigginton

North Carolina Forest Service Receives Nearly $65 Million To Restore National Forest And Surrounding Communities

This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service and North Carolina’s Forest Service (NCFS) signed a nearly $65 million, 10-year Good Neighbor Agreement to support Helene recovery efforts. Under the agreement, NCFS will reduce hazardous fuels across areas of wildland-urban interface impacted by the storm and develop strategies to address non-native and invasive species that can thrive in the aftermath of landscape disturbance. The new agreement will increase the pace of forest restoration and bring new jobs to Western North Carolina.

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North Carolina, State Tim Wigginton North Carolina, State Tim Wigginton

State Audit Shows Increase In Machine Gaming

Between FY 2023 and FY 2025, the North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL) reported a gross sale increase from $4.3 billion up to $6.6 billion, up 51% in two years. Over that same period, the percentage of sales transferred to the Education Fund fell from 23% to 16%. Actual dollars transferred to the Education Fund increased from $1.02 billion in FY 2023 to $1.09 billion in FY 2024 but dipped to $1.08 billion in FY 2025.

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Tennessee Tim Wigginton Tennessee Tim Wigginton

Tennessee Leaders Announce Plans To Provide 100% Of Funding For Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library In Tennessee

“Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is one of Tennessee’s greatest gifts to the next generation,” said Speaker Sexton. “What started in Tennessee is now in all 50 states. Millions of children have been inspired and discovered a love of reading because of Dolly. There is no better way to honor her extraordinary legacy than to ensure every single Tennessee child, in every county and every community, continues to have access to the Imagination Library for generations to come.”  

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