About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (July 14, 2020)
Swing in the breeze with this new art installation inside Laurel Park, inside, 3 a Federal judge voids ‘heartbeat’ law Abortion bill ruled as violating US Constitution; Gov. Kemp vows to appeal court decision BY JEFF AMY Associated Press ATLANTA — A federal judge on Monday permanently blocked Georgia’s 2019 “heartbeat” abor tion law, finding that it violates the U.S. Constitution. U.S. District Judge Steve Jones ruled against the state in a lawsuit filed by abortion providers and an advocacy group. Jones had tempo rarily blocked the law in October, and it never went into effect. The new ruling permanently enjoins the state from ever enforcing House Bill 481. Georgia’s measure sought to ban abortions once a “detectable human heartbeat” was present, with some limited exceptions. Car diac activity can be detected by ultrasound as early as six weeks into a pregnancy, before many women realize they’re pregnant, according to a legal challenge. The bill narrowly passed the Georgia General Assembly amid intense lobbying for and against. Those who challenged the law suit said the ruling proves their contention that the measure was unconstitutional. Lead plaintiff SisterSong, an Atlanta-based group that fights abortion restrictions on behalf of African American and other women of color, called it a “huge win for bodily autonomy.” “No one should have to live in a world where their bodies and reproductive decision making is controlled by the state,” SisterSong Executive Director Monica Simp son said in a statement. Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, who has supported the restriction, immediately vowed an appeal. “We will appeal the court’s deci sion,” Kemp said in a statement. “Georgia values life and we will keep fighting for the rights of the unborn.” The prospects of an appeal are ■ Please see ABORTION, 3A Changing course Photos by SCOTT ROGERS I The Times The speed limit on East Main Street in Flowery Branch may be reduced from 40 mph to 25 mph because of the vast housing construction along and near the road and a plan to allow golf cart travel. Flowery Branch street may see speed limit change, golf carts City Schools to mandate masks inside BY NATHAN BERG nberg@gainesvilletimes.com Gainesville City Schools released its back-to- school plan Monday evening, which includes a mandate that all students and school faculty participating in face-to-face instruction wear face coverings when inside buildings and buses. The plan — titled “Return of the Big Red Ele phants” — provides teachers, students and par ents guidance on the planned return to school on Aug. 17. Families will be given two options of instruction type for their students. Option one is face-to-face instruction supplemented by remote learning when “levels of COVID-19 virus do not allow us to con vene safely in buildings.” Superintendent Jeremy Williams acknowl edged during a Monday evening board of edu cation meeting that trends in COVID-19 cases could cause the school system to shift to remote learning at a moment’s notice, adding that “there is a possibility that instead of starting ■ Please see MASKS, 5A Related Gainesville planning board to vote on new middle school site at meeting, 3A 9th candidate BY JEFF GILL jgill@gainesvilletimes.com Golf carts eventually may be allowed on East Main Street in Flowery Branch as the city looks to “foster connectivity” between the downtown area and a growing residential community near Thurmon Tanner Parkway. The first step toward expanding the city’s personal transportation vehicles route is a vote by Flowery Branch City Council set for Thursday, July 16, on whether to reduce the speed limit on East Main from 40 mph to 25 mph. “In addition to allowing for the expansion of our PTV route, a lower speed limit will fos ter a safer driving environment for this cor ridor,” according to city documents. PTVs are motorized carts, typically golf carts. The idea would be that those driving PTVs on East Main Street could reach downtown, or the city’s Old Town district, taking Mul- Flowery Branch City Council What: Proposed speed limit change on East Main Street When: 6 p.m. Thursday, July 16 Where: Flowery Branch City Flail, 5410 W. Pine St. berry Street and Spring Street, and crossing Atlanta Highway/Ga. 13. Amending the PTV Plan “could not be done until the correct signage and signal- ization was in place,” according to the city. “The signalization of Atlanta Highway will be fairly expensive.” East Main, a once quiet road with a hand ful of old homes, is now teeming with new houses — finished or still being built — between Atlanta Highway and Thurmon Tanner. Thurmon Tanner connects to a 325-unit apartment complex, plus commercial lots, being built off Phil Niekro Boulevard and near Interstate 985. A golf cart crossing sign stands along East Main Street in Flowery Branch Monday, July 13. Authorities: Search for 28-year-old man in Lanier continues BY NICK WATSON nwatson@gainesvilletimes.com A 28-year-old man jumped into the waters of Lake Lanier Saturday and did not resurface, according to the Hall County Fire Services. Divers were in the lake Saturday near Harbor’s Landing searching for the man. The call came in at 3:58 p.m. Saturday, July 11. The Department of Natural Resources, the Hall County Sheriff’s Office, the For syth County Sheriffs Office and the Army Corps of Engineers have assisted. DNR spokesman Mark McKinnon said game wardens searched through the night but were unable to find the man. A new shift started at 7 a.m. Monday, July 13 “to relieve those who worked all night.” DNR is using sector scan and side-scan sonar as well as a remote-operated vehicle. “The terrain on the bottom is a steep incline and is covered in standing and fallen timber, which makes the search more difficult,” McKinnon wrote in an email. freed on charge of contempt BY JEFF GILL jgill@galnesvllletimes.com A Democratic candidate for the U.S. House 9th District seat was released from the Gwin nett County Jail Monday, July 13, after being in custody on a contempt of court charge. Brooke Siskin was jailed because she had violated an order in a domestic case by having a weapon and ammu nition in her possession. When she surrendered the gun but not the ammunition in a Gwin nett County court Thursday, July 9, she was jailed. Siskin told The Times on Monday she had been released and was returning to court to sur render the ammo. Gwinnett sheriffs records no longer show her being in jail. “This is a personal issue, but also an issue I feel strongly about, and that is, women and domestic violence victims should be able to have protection,” she said of the case. This is Siskin’s second arrest this year. She was charged in March after an incident at her Gwinnett bank. That case hasn’t come to court yet. Siskin who faces Devin Pandy in an Aug. 11 runoff. She was the top vote getter in the June Democratic primary, with Pandy second. Siskin This e-edition sponsored by:
