HIGHWAYS, BRIDGES, AND FERRIES Department of Transportation: Amend Title 32 Relating to Highways, Bridges, and Ferries, so as to Provide for a Division and a Director of Planning; Provide for the Development of Transportation Plans for the State; Specify Certain Duties for the Commissioner of Transportation; Specify Certain Duties for the State Transportation Board; Provide for an Organizational Structure Within the Department; Provide a Timetable for Completion and Reporting of Transportation Plans; Provide for Investment Policies to Guide Transportation Planning; Provide for the Appointment of the Director of Planning; Provide for Identifying and Constructing Projects with Private Investment; Provide for Priority of Expenditures; Provide for the Development of Allocation Formulas for Available Funding; Amend Article 2 of Chapter 32 of Title 50, Relating to the Jurisdiction of the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority, so as to Remove a Planning Function of the Authority; Provide for Related Matters; Provide for an Effective Date; Repeal Conflicting Laws; and for Other Purposes.

The Department of Transportation will consist of the State Transportation Board, which includes a new position, the Director of Planning. The Director of Planning will supervise the new Planning Division, which will have responsibility for developing statewide improvement programs and making strategic planning decisions. The Governor will appoint the Director, subject to approval. The Director will be required to prepare and submit a report for comments and suggestions by the House and Senate Transportation Committees and the Governor. The Director will deliver a final version of the report to the Governor, Lt. Governor, Speaker of the House, and House and Senate Transportation Committees. The Director will make periodic reports and updates. The Planning Division and Director will develop and implement a funding allocation formula subject to the Appropriations Act

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker initiation on organ support-free days in patients hospitalized with COVID-19

IMPORTANCE Overactivation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may contribute to poor clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Objective To determine whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) initiation improves outcomes in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In an ongoing, adaptive platform randomized clinical trial, 721 critically ill and 58 non–critically ill hospitalized adults were randomized to receive an RAS inhibitor or control between March 16, 2021, and February 25, 2022, at 69 sites in 7 countries (final follow-up on June 1, 2022). INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized to receive open-label initiation of an ACE inhibitor (n = 257), ARB (n = 248), ARB in combination with DMX-200 (a chemokine receptor-2 inhibitor; n = 10), or no RAS inhibitor (control; n = 264) for up to 10 days. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was organ support–free days, a composite of hospital survival and days alive without cardiovascular or respiratory organ support through 21 days. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model. Odds ratios (ORs) greater than 1 represent improved outcomes. RESULTS On February 25, 2022, enrollment was discontinued due to safety concerns. Among 679 critically ill patients with available primary outcome data, the median age was 56 years and 239 participants (35.2%) were women. Median (IQR) organ support–free days among critically ill patients was 10 (–1 to 16) in the ACE inhibitor group (n = 231), 8 (–1 to 17) in the ARB group (n = 217), and 12 (0 to 17) in the control group (n = 231) (median adjusted odds ratios of 0.77 [95% bayesian credible interval, 0.58-1.06] for improvement for ACE inhibitor and 0.76 [95% credible interval, 0.56-1.05] for ARB compared with control). The posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitors and ARBs worsened organ support–free days compared with control were 94.9% and 95.4%, respectively. Hospital survival occurred in 166 of 231 critically ill participants (71.9%) in the ACE inhibitor group, 152 of 217 (70.0%) in the ARB group, and 182 of 231 (78.8%) in the control group (posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitor and ARB worsened hospital survival compared with control were 95.3% and 98.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this trial, among critically ill adults with COVID-19, initiation of an ACE inhibitor or ARB did not improve, and likely worsened, clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0273570

HIGHWAYS, BRIDGES, AND FERRIES Department of Transportation: Amend Title 32 Relating to Highways, Bridges, and Ferries, so as to Provide for a Division and a Director of Planning; Provide for the Development of Transportation Plans for the State; Specify Certain Duties for the Commissioner of Transportation; Specify Certain Duties for the State Transportation Board; Provide for an Organizational Structure Within the Department; Provide a Timetable for Completion and Reporting of Transportation Plans; Provide for Investment Policies to Guide Transportation Planning; Provide for the Appointment of the Director of Planning; Provide for Identifying and Constructing Projects with Private Investment; Provide for Priority of Expenditures; Provide for the Development of Allocation Formulas for Available Funding; Amend Article 2 of Chapter 32 of Title 50, Relating to the Jurisdiction of the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority, so as to Remove a Planning Function of the Authority; Provide for Related Matters; Provide for an Effective Date; Repeal Conflicting Laws; and for Other Purposes.

The Department of Transportation will consist of the State Transportation Board, which includes a new position, the Director of Planning. The Director of Planning will supervise the new Planning Division, which will have responsibility for developing statewide improvement programs and making strategic planning decisions. The Governor will appoint the Director, subject to approval. The Director will be required to prepare and submit a report for comments and suggestions by the House and Senate Transportation Committees and the Governor. The Director will deliver a final version of the report to the Governor, Lt. Governor, Speaker of the House, and House and Senate Transportation Committees. The Director will make periodic reports and updates. The Planning Division and Director will develop and implement a funding allocation formula subject to the Appropriations Act

Technique [Volume 87, Issue 6]

7-foot Aussie completes Hewitt's first recruiting classAre science and faith incompatible?Attack your eardrums over the long weekend with a fresh batch of live music!Barnes turns eye to Regents' Test reform'Branch'ing out the definition of 'pop'Brazilians find their musical bliss togetherBurns, running game struggle in close victory over OrangeCampus Research Review: Learning Through Role-PlayingCitadel's Travis Stevens has genes, work ethic on his sideDave Ralph "Naturalizes" electronicaDelivery first step in Buzz Card expansionFlag Football play begins Sept. 4, 2nd Annual Wrestling Tournament to be held on Oct. 6GSS lacks quorum, plans electionsInner-City ball more than a gameNew admissions policies needed to increase diversityNew freshmen look outside EngineeringNew record not for the closed-mindedNews BriefsOUR VIEWS: Consensus OpinionProud to be a Jacket: From Tech to UGA and backSpikers hope to upend 14th-ranked Utah in tourneyTech striving to increase minority enrollmentTemporary losses to accompany SAC II'They could run anything'...Two BitsUndergrads debate summer legislationWhat's in a word?Women quickly level the playing field at Tec

Technique [Volume 87, Issue 12]

2nd-Ranked golf dominating in home invitational at Rocky FaceBeing Buzz: ESPN spot one of the many perksBeyond the White and GoldChatty ChapsChris Kattan's Corky Romano disappointsClough presents vision for new yearConcerns raised over 'T'-less shirtCouncil Clippings Senate and HouseEmory marks jazz milestonesFerst Center experiences marketing, budgetary successGood things come in small packagesHomecoming events packed into three day weekIntramural NotebookIron Monkey better second time aroundIs it an Atlanta bar or an Irish pub? Only the Prodigals know for sureLetters to the EditorLife after the White and GoldNew accountability act passed by SGANew modes of communication fascinate TechiesNews BriefsNew Web site ranks squirrel-friendliness of campusesOUR VIEWS Consensus OpinionParking, gas and traffic: MARTA never looked so goodROTC: A career alternativeSoul abundant in 'Seven Year Itch'Staff EditorialSTD, AIDS rates high for students in GeorgiaStopping off at the Netherworld? Nice knowing you!Tarred spikers venture home after lossTechs and the CityTechsters swarm to join student-run cheering squadThe Live Mini-List: Fall Break Edition (10/12 to 10/19-it'll keep you busy)This Journey worth taking...Two Bit