*New claims for unemployment insurance in Gainesville decreased by 41.1 percent in July compared to July 2018, according to the state Department of Labor, the biggest decrease of any metropolitan area in Georgia. Statewide, claims were down 5.6 percent for the period.
*Sen. John Wilkinson (R–Toccoa) was recently appointed by Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan to chair the Senate Study Committee on Reducing Georgia's Cost of Doing Business.
*For the fourth year in a row, Forbes Magazine has named the University of North Georgia one of "America's Top Colleges." UNG is one of only six public universities in Georgia to be included on the 2019 list, and it is ranked fourth among those.
*The Georgia Mountains Regional Commission Career Coach will visit the Sharon Forks Library in Cumming August 21, 11 AM – 2:30 PM. Experts will be on hand to help job seekers search for and apply for jobs, write resumes and cover letters, discern their career interests, and learn about funding for training. There is no charge for this service.
*Rudy Bowen of Suwanee is the new vice-chairman of the Georgia Board of Transportation and Emily Dunn of Blue Ridge is the board’s new secretary.
