Over at the AJC's premium site, we bring you the news that Gov. Nathan Deal has quietly arranged meetings with his counterparts in Alabama and Florida to discuss the long-running water wars dispute.Whether it's an olive branch remains unknown.
The meetings, disclosed in documents obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution through a records request, come as the legal battle between the states enters a brutal new phase. The Supreme Court in November surprised state leaders by agreeing to hear the last-ditch challenge from Florida, forcing Georgia to dig in for a longer battle.
The new round of litigation has already prompted Deal to beef up the state's legal staff, tap a water czar to coordinate Georgia's efforts and set aside millions of dollars for new legal fees. His willingness to meet with counterparts may reflect a desire to strike a compromise rather than risk a painful court ruling.
The meeting with Bentley, which took place earlier this month, was kept off Deal's public calendar. The pow-wow with Scott has taken more of a twisted path.
See why below:
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