Latest news with #Hallock
Axios
16-07-2025
- Business
- Axios
How to fight your Atlanta property assessment hike
Metro Atlanta homeowners gobsmacked by a sudden jump in their property assessment should prepare for battle. Why it matters: Georgia law gives residents one opportunity a year to appeal the assessment and potentially end up with a lower — and for three years following, frozen — property tax amount owed. Catch up quick: Every spring, county tax officials tell homeowners that their property's assessed value — one of two factors used to calculate property tax bills — increased, decreased or stayed the same. State of play: Property owners have 45 days from the date in the notice to file an appeal. Deadlines vary by county — DeKalb's is July 18, and Fulton's is Aug. 1. To appeal the assessment, head to your county's website for filing guidance. Zoom in: Double-check your property info on your county's qPublic database — for mistaken square footage, miscalculations, etc. — and review 2024 comparable sales only, property tax attorney Bryan Hallock told Axios. "If your story is the market has turned in the last few months, that's going to be a next-year appeal." How it works: If you choose to have your appeal heard by the county's Board of Equalization, bring your homework and a pleasant attitude to present your data-driven argument. The board will review your materials, tell you your fate and move on to the next case. All in all, Hallock said, the process takes roughly 15 minutes. Zoom out: A lower assessment means your tax bill is capped for three years. Yes, but: If all this talk of comps and qPublic makes your head spin, you can hire a firm to manage your appeal for a fee or a share of the savings. Hallock prefers clients contact his firm before they file the appeal so he can shepherd the case and avoid pitfalls.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Spring ended up hotter and wetter than normal in Minnesota
Spring ended up hotter and wetter than normal in Minnesota originally appeared on Bring Me The News. Well, here we are, wrapping up meteorological spring in Minnesota Saturday. Summer, in our world, begins on Sunday, June 1. It was a warmer than normal May and spring for the state. Precipitation on a spring-wide basis was generally above normal but May was a mixed picture. Let's look at May warmer than normal conditions were driven largely by that 10 day heat wave we had in the first month. Despite the last 7 to 10 days of below normal temperatures, it couldn't overcome that "temperature surplus." We averaged anywhere from +1 deg F above normal in the southeast to as much as +6 deg F above normal in northwest Minnesota. Remember Northwest Minnesota bore the brunt of that heat when Hallock hit 100 degrees!Rainfall was highly variable depending on where you were. Central Minnesota saw above normal rainfall thanks to that deluge we had mid-May of up to 4 inches of rain for some. Total May rainfall was 4-5 inches for central and south central Minnesota. Far southern and far northern Minnesota had a dry May however. Those areas missed the soaking rains of May 19-21. Parts of northern Minnesota were behind by as much as 2 inches, meaning they saw just about one tenth of normal May rainfall in some spots. BUT, spring on the whole was mostly wet for the vast majority of the state, including many of those areas that didn't fare as well in May. As for spring temperatures, it was warm statewide just as May was. Spring temperatures averaged +1 to +2 deg F above normal for most of Minnesota which is quite significant when you remember that we're averaging 184 numbers together (92 highs and lows: March 1–May 31). Spring has been somewhat of an enigma in Minnesota in recent years. While most seasons have been warming rapidly, spring has been nearly flat with some warm seasons (such as this year) but also some unusually cold ones with snowy Aprils. The summer outlook officially calls for warmer and drier than normal conditions. As I've stated many times, it's a good wager to bet on a warmer than normal summer without looking at anything but climate data, since almost 75% of summers since 2000 have brought above-average heat. BMTN Note: Weather events in isolation can't always be pinned on climate change, but the broader trend of increasingly severe weather and record-breaking extremes seen in Minnesota and across the globe can be attributed directly to the rapidly warming climate caused by human activity. The IPCC has warned that Earth is "firmly on track toward an unlivable world," and says greenhouse gas emissions must be halved by 2030 in order to limit warming to 1.5C, which would prevent the most catastrophic effects on humankind. You can read more here. This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on May 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Decatur Morgan Hospital invests in robotic-assisted orthopedic surgeries
May 29—Decatur Morgan Hospital has expanded its use of surgical robotics with the recent purchase of one designed specifically for orthopedic procedures such as knee and hip replacements, continuing the hospital's focus on using advanced technology for faster patient recoveries. The Velys Robotic-Assisted Solution, acquired in March, was partially funded through proceeds from the annual Decatur Morgan Hospital Foundation Dragon Boat Race & Festival, held each May. Dr. Justin Hallock, a surgeon with DOC Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, has used the robot extensively for hip and knee replacements. "At Sports Medicine, we treat a lot of shoulders, hips and knees, so we do treat a lot of athletes, but we also treat a lot of patients from kids to elderly adults," Hallock said. The Velys robot works together with the ATTUNE Knee System to provide surgeons with real-time data. Hallock said surgeons can tailor the robot to make different incisions on the hip and knee. "The navigation allows us to track the balancing of the knee or the leg lengths so that you can really dial it in to give the patient the best overall outcome," Hallock said. He said the hospital still utilizes traditional surgery without robots in some areas, but with the Velys they can position and balance the knee to provide a more personalized and precise joint replacement. "The recovery and the rehab after is very similar (to traditional surgery)," Hallock said. "The difference is you end up with a more kinematic or natural feeling, so that's where it will feel normal quicker." Hallock said although the orthopedic robot can be used for most age groups, its biggest impact is on patients who have had prior surgeries or who have severe deformities in their knee joints. "The more complex the case, the more reliable the robot will be," Hallock said. Hallock performed a hip replacement with the robot this month on a 70-year-old woman. He said the robot's advanced imaging and data is beneficial because it allows the surgeon to see things like metal hardware or bone irregularities during surgery, something that was limited in traditional surgery. Decatur Morgan Hospital President and CEO Kelli Powers said the purchase of the Velys robot is consistent with their mission to provide the best possible care to their patients. "This latest addition to our robotic surgical capabilities builds on our commitment to innovation and excellence, ensuring that every patient receives the most advanced and personalized care possible," Powers said. — or 256-340-2442.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Preserving the past: Jacksonville History Center highlights threatened landmarks
The Jacksonville History Center is working to educate the public about a growing list of endangered buildings across the city. In total, 29 buildings are currently listed as endangered and at risk of not being preserved. Each structure represents a unique piece of cultural or historical significance. Without timely intervention, they could be lost forever. The Jacksonville History Center identified the Laura Street Trio as one of the most endangered properties in the city, along with Snyder Memorial and the Methodist Church. The list also includes schools, churches, and residential buildings. During a recent meeting, the History Center highlighted four historic structures that will not be revitalized, including the Ford Motor Company assembly plant. 'And that building could have been turned into the most wonderful marketplace that you could imagine with the right person to take that on; unfortunately nobody was willing to do that,' Kate Hallock, Communications Director of the Jacksonville History Center, said. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] The organization also celebrated successful preservation efforts. One of those is the former Florida Casket Company. The three-story facility will be turned into a museum that will feature exhibits on Jacksonville's musical, economic, and civil rights history, among other key parts of the city's past. The museum is expected to open in 2027, but additional funding is still needed. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] 'We've already spent $3.4 million for the first phase and now we need another 3 million to finish it off,' Hallock said. Other preservation successes include The Corner at Debs Store, which was renovated and reopened last year, and the Jessie Ball DuPont Center, which was renovated in 2015. The fire station museum at 620 East Bay Street and the Federal Reserve building at 424 North Hogan Street are also in the process of being repurposed. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Twin Cities breaks 125-year-old temperature record; 100 in northwest Minnesota
Uff da. Incredible early-season heat is gripping Minnesota. Numerous record highs were set Sunday—some of them dating back 125 years, including in the Twin Cities and St. Cloud. High temperatures as of 3:45 p.m. Sunday: Twin Cities (90°), St. Cloud (92°), Duluth (84°), International Falls (91°), Brainerd (93°), Fargo (95°), Grand Forks (99°), Baudette (97°), and Park Rapids (92°) all broke records Sunday. Northwest Minnesota and eastern North Dakota in particular shattered previous records by more than 5 degrees. As of mid-afternoon Sunday, Hallock, in the northwest corner of the state, took the prize with an incredible high of 100 degrees! Sign up for our BREAKING WEATHER newsletters Most of central and western Minnesota saw temperatures surpass 90 degrees—unusually early, of course. In the Twin Cities, this was our earliest 90-degree day in 9 years. We reached that mark by 3:31 PM Sunday afternoon. For reference, the average first 90-degree day at MSP (using the modern 1991–2020 averages) is May 30. It's worth noting that a century ago, it was even later. In addition to the record heat, we had strong winds and incredibly low relative humidity. With dew points only in the 30s and 40s, afternoon relative humidity dipped into the single digits in western and northwestern Minnesota. Red Flag Warnings were posted across much of Minnesota through the evening, and we'll likely see more on Monday and Tuesday before dew points begin to rise midweek. The heat will continue through Wednesday, with highs mostly in the mid to upper 80s—and more 90s likely in western Minnesota. In the Twin Cities, we're on track to hit 7 or 8 days in the 80s already this month, including 5 in a row from Sunday through Thursday. For comparison, we average just 5 such days for the entire month of May. Finally, a pattern shift is on the way. Rain chances increase by Thursday, followed by cooler temperatures. Highs next weekend will be slightly below normal—mostly in the 60s across southern Minnesota and 50s up north. BMTN Note: Weather events in isolation can't always be pinned on climate change, but the broader trend of increasingly severe weather and record-breaking extremes seen in Minnesota and across the globe can be attributed directly to the rapidly warming climate caused by human activity. The IPCC has warned that Earth is "firmly on track toward an unlivable world," and says greenhouse gas emissions must be halved by 2030 in order to limit warming to 1.5C, which would prevent the most catastrophic effects on humankind. You can read more here.
