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Dept. of Labor launches system to improve unemployment insurance

Dept. of Labor launches system to improve unemployment insurance

ATLANTA -- The Georgia Department of Labor recently rolled out a new electronic system designed to increase efficiency and reduce costs of operating the state's unemployment insurance program.

Georgia is one of 10 states to adopt the State Information Data Exchange (SIDES) E-response. It allows employers to respond promptly to the Department of Labor when a former worker files an unemployment claim, according to state Labor Commissioner Mark Butler.

"This new online capability is part of our continuing effort to make the Georgia Department of Labor more user-friendly and technologically up-to-date," Butler said in a statement. "This will significantly speed communications between the labor department and employers. At the same time, it will help prevent some overpayments to people who might not be eligible for benefits, saving us from having to go back and try to collect money from ineligible applicants."

KENNESAW | Tire company to move to Cobb

KENNESAW | Tire company to move to Cobb

ROME, Ga. -- A tire distributor that has operated in Rome for two decades is moving to a larger facility in Kennesaw.

American Tire Distributors reportedly plans to move to the new 100,000-square-foot facility this summer. Ron Sinclair, senior vice president for marketing, said the move is expected to take place in early August.

Officials say all of the employees have been offered the opportunity to stay on with the company after the move.

American Tire Distributors is a wholesaler of tire products to retailers across the region. The company moved more than 200,000 tires to retailers from as far away as Dunlap, Tenn. to Anniston, Ala. from the Rome distribution center last year.

Delay in Sunday sales worries Cobb retailers

COBB COUNTY, Ga. -- Retailers in unincorporated Cobb County are worried about losing profits if Sunday alcohol sales are delayed. The county's Sunday alcohol sales vote, which would have allowed sales of alcohol on June 1, 2012, is being challenged.

Liquor stores like Sherlocks near Marietta feel like they're being caught in a political scrum. While other cities and counties around them are ringing up sales on Sundays, they're still waiting to start, and they may have to wait longer than planned.

Sherlock's store manager David Reed said they're already being hurt on normally busy sales days. "Saturdays have become a little soft because there's no longer a sense of urgency to shop on a Saturday because the public thinks that everyone is open on Sunday already," he said.

New jobs coming to Cobb

New jobs coming to Cobb

Cobb County - PointClear Solutions, Inc., an innovative health-care technology user experience company, joined Cobb County and Cobb Chamber economic development officials to announce the opening of a Cobb County location at 1775 The Exchange in Marietta.

Based in Huntsville, Ala., PointClear Solutions has offices in Nashville, Tenn., Birmingham, Ala., and Atlanta. The Cobb County location brings 10 high-wage jobs over the next two months and up to 75 over the next three years.

“PointClear Solutions is excited to open an office in Atlanta as our business has grown substantially here over the past 18 months and we continue to sign new business,” said David Karabinos, CEO of PointClear Solutions. “We now have a critical mass of clients and employees here and feel that it is time to establish operations here.

UHY’s David Barton to Share Knowledge on Service Organization Audits February 14

UHY’s David Barton to Share Knowledge on Service Organization Audits February 14

Webinar will focus on data center audit standards and assessments

David Barton will address professional service organizations and their customers and lead a discussion on data center audit standards and assessments during a webinar Tuesday, February 14th from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Wild Heaven debuts 'Let There Be Light' beer

ATLANTA -- Wild Heaven Craft Beers will soon compete in the local light beer arena with its fourth beer hitting certain Taco Macs this week.

The Decatur, Ga.-based craft brewer's take on light beer is called "Let There Be Light," and has 4.7 percent alcohol by volume. Wild Heaven said its new beer has a complexity most light beers don't have thanks to two rare hops -- Nelson Sauvin and Sorachi Ace -- plus orange peel.

Let There Be Light debuts as the featured February "Beer of The Month" at several Georgia Taco Mac locations: Atlanta Metropolis (Peachtree Street), Virginia-Highland, Suwanee, Alpharetta, Cumming, Perimeter, Buford, Kennesaw, Newnan, Roswell (Crabapple) and Marietta (Dallas Highway).

'Mega Monday' expected to set records for shopping, returns

ATLANTA -- It's the biggest gift return day of the season, and experts predict "Mega Monday" could be as big as Cyber Monday or Black Friday.

Retailers slashed prices to entice customers already heading to stores to exchange gifts and hunt for after-Christmas bargains.

"Thirty-five percent more people will be returning this year, than last year," said Janice Lieberman, Consumer Correspondent for the Today Show. "For every dollar spent during the holiday, almost ten cents of it is returned." 

Some store make returns much easier than others. 

Sears may be the number one easy return store because they not only readily accept returns, but they extended their return window to 120 days through this holiday season.