Weekly News Briefs: May 2

Local

Governor approves 2017 budget

Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal approved a $23.7 billion budget plan for 2017 on Monday. The budget will give 200,000 teachers and state employees their first raise since 2008. According to AJC, the budget will include over $1.6 billion to restore roads and bridges and renovate schools, as well as $48 million for the building of Lanier Technical College in Hall County. Going in effect on July 1, the budget also requires the hiring of new staff in positions of law enforcement attacking cyberterrorism, as well as child welfare workers.

National

New requirements for “smart guns”, Obama says

On Friday, President Obama said there will be new requirements for “smart guns,” which have technological methods to prevent accidental shootings and track down the guns, in order for law enforcement agents to be able to buy and use them. In addition, the Justice and Homeland Security departments, which the president put in charge of conducting smart gun research, published a report saying they will release the completed requirement list for smart guns in October. According to WABE, the report also said that the federal government will help local and state governments develop smart-gun technology as well.

World

Syrian government strikes again

Over 250 people have been killed in Aleppo, Syria in what US Secretary of State John Kerry says is a violation by the government of the nine week on-going truce. The Syrian government began attacking rebel districts on Monday with air strikes and artillery attacks. BBC reported that Kerry and members of the International Syria Support Group are meeting in Geneva in an effort to end the Syrian government’s violence. He said during the time of truce, many lives were saved and there was a “profoundly positive effect”.

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