Atlanta Unfiltered

Rep. Steve Davis has agreed to pay a $300 fine for failing to include two businesses on his state-mandated financial disclosure.

Sen. Don Balfour in 2011 spent more than $29,000 given to him by political supporters to rent a downtown Atlanta condo that he could use year-round. For eight-plus months of the year, though, records indicate he drove home to Snellville, rather than stay in the condo, on each of the 103 days that he worked on public business. Most of those days were charged to a committee — Rules — that never met.

Lawmaker uncovers personnel problems at state’s newest department Costly payouts pile up for Atlanta

South Fulton lawmaker defends controversial letter Trouble at new Grady CEO’s old hospital raises Q’s about his hiring High CEO pay common at hospitals statewide Valdosta mayor resigns after felony plea UGA sex bias suit can go to trial What’s behind a Henry Co. redistricting feud

Ex-Gwinnett commissioner’s indictment tossed Former Cobb EMC chief reindicted on theft, racketeering charges Hospice problems raise concerns on oversight Savannah lawmaker underreports company’s state income by $1.8M Woman claims Fulton officer blackmailed her into sex Interim sup’t takes first steps to combat APS cheating scandal Governor reopens Dougherty Co. CRCT probe

Reservoir consultant’s power raises questions Lucrative paydays for corporate chiefs Patients in arrears face bill collectors Ex-lawmaker pleads guilty to tax evasion Promoter files claim over Columbus ticket sales

Lawmaker denies exchanging gifts for sex Bishop Eddie Long settles sexual misconduct lawsuits Cobb judge’s ties to DA at issue in murder cases Judge strikes down ban on corporate contributions to federal candidates

Megachurch leaders linked to controversial mortgage venture Georgia to pay Ethics Commission whistleblower $280K Columbus Strangler to seek new trial after DNA test ATL City Hall spends thousands on bottled water Top lawmaker will push for more limits on lobbyists EPA mandates DeKalb clean water-sewer system Local judge takes Kenerly bribery case

Highly paid PSC officials not showing up at the office Superintendent: Inequities at DeKalb schools Chattooga County lawmaker fined to settle voting investigation Kenerly will keep pay despite suspension

A powerful Cobb County legislator collected $40,000 last year to do research to help an advocacy group decide the best way to ask the Legislature for money. Rep. Earl Ehrhart and his client, Friends of Arts & Culture, say he did not help to write a bill that would have allowed local votes on arts funding, nor did he help move it through the Legislature. “I never consult on any type of legislation that’s going on here,” he said. Ehrhart did not disclose his client or his fee, which state law does not require. Nor did he disclose the name of his consulting business, which the law does require. This is what passes for transparency in the Georgia Legislature. UPDATE: An ethics complaint regarding this transaction was filed this week with the Joint Legislative Ethics Committee.

Deal’s federal taxes baffling APD’s CSI unit still understaffed, undertrained, underpaid Few study power of school boards Ex-lawmaker’s tax evasion trial set for April City: Repaying feds won’t hurt Augusta charities GBI probing Kingston, Ga., finances again

Ethics probe of lawmaker Seabaugh quietly vanishes Report claims administrator ‘bloat’ at UGA Cobb officials bend rules on dump trucks Carroll Co. hospital pays commission chairman $170K+ Chatham Co. DA faces harassment, bias complaints