Georgia Trend Daily – Jan. 28, 2026

Jan. 28, 2026 WABE

UPS is slashing up to 30,000 jobs, plans to increase automation

Marlon Hyde reports, Atlanta-based UPS is cutting another 30,000 operational positions and closing two dozen facilities this year, CFO Brian Dykes said during Tuesday’s earnings conference call. “This will be accomplished through attrition, and we expect to offer a second voluntary separation program for full-time drivers,” said Dykes.

Jan. 28, 2026 GlobalAtlanta.com

Acquisition Deepens Atlanta IT Firm’s Access to India, Japan

Trevor Williams reports that Atlanta-based Kaizen Analytix is acquiring an Indian information technology consultancy driving innovation in Japan. Nihon Technology, which joined Kaizen officially this week, was founded to bring India’s considerable IT prowess to bear for Japan’s ongoing digital transformation.

Jan. 28, 2026 Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Lawmakers seed study to deepen Savannah port amid environmental questions

Adam Van Brimmer reports that Georgia’s bustling world trade route, the Savannah River, moved toward a deeper and wider future this month, albeit with lawmakers, not dredge ships, digging in.The United States Congress recently passed a budget bill that includes $500,000 to fund the start of a feasibility study to deepen the 40-mile shipping channel that serves the Georgia Ports Authority’s Savannah terminals.

Jan. 28, 2026 WSB Radio

‘The Stitch’ project over Downtown Connector moves into new phase

Staff reports that the major, multi-million dollar plan called The Stitch aims to physically and economically reconnect parts of the city divided by the construction of the Downtown Connector decades ago. A nine-member board of directors will now oversee the development of the project.

Jan. 28, 2026 Valdosta Daily Times

Chase elected chairman of Georgia Peanut Commission

Staff reports that Donald Chase, a peanut farmer from Oglethorpe, was elected chairman of the Georgia Peanut Commission during the January monthly board meeting.   This is Chase’s first term serving as chairman.

Jan. 28, 2026 Walton Tribune

Ossoff weighs in on ICE center

Jim Thompson reports that U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., is urging the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to abandon its reported plan to establish a U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in Social Circle that could reportedly house between 5,000 and 10,000 people awaiting deportation to their home countries. In a joint statement released Friday by the senator’s office, Ossoff and Social Circle Mayor David Keener said, “A proposed ICE detention facility is not right for Social Circle, and the City of Social Circle does not support it. We are urging the Administration to abandon this plan, which risks overwhelming the City’s resources and more than tripling its population.”

Jan. 28, 2026 Marietta Daily Journal

Cobb to launch drive-through court services to handle surge in volume

Isabelle Manders reports that next month, Cobb County will launch a new State and Magistrate Court drive-thru service aimed at handling a growing volume of court business, largely driven by an increase in school bus stop-arm violations. The initiative, called “Clerk’s Office Express,” will operate out of a former Wells Fargo bank building owned by the county on Waddell Street in Marietta.

Jan. 28, 2026 Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Should Columbus have a data center? Economic development leader says yes

Jordyn Paul-Slater reports, Columbus economic development leader said Tuesday it’s time for the region to prepare for an artificial intelligence data center. During the Georgia Economic Outlook in the Cunningham Conference Center at Columbus State University, Choose Columbus president and CEO Missy Kendrick said Columbus must “prepare now for significant discussions” about AI data centers in the region.

Jan. 28, 2026 Capitol Beat News

Resistance to data centers fuels flood of Georgia bills targeting the industry

Mark Niesse reports, anger and opposition to the rapid rise of data centers across Georgia has led to a surge of bills that would clamp down on the resource-consuming industry. Georgia legislators have proposed seven bills regulating data centers by eliminating tax breaks, prohibiting costs from being passed on to residential electricity customers, or temporarily barring their construction entirely.

Jan. 28, 2026 Macon Telegraph

GA lawmakers want to change the state flower after 100 years. Here’s why and the new flower

Sundi Rose reports, with the help of the Georgia Federation of Women’s Clubs, the state declared the Cherokee Rose as its official state flower in 1916, but we could have a new one soon if new legislation passes. In early 2026, Georgia House Representative Deborah Silcox (R- Sandy Springs) introduced Georgia House Bill 955 to replace the Cherokee rose with native plant, Sweetbay magnolia as the state flower.

Jan. 28, 2026 GPB

Where do you climb from rock bottom? State senate mulls sober living and recovery housing in Georgia

Ellen Eldridge reports, recently, the Senate Study Committee on Recovery Residences heard concerns from people in the addiction recovery community about the need for sober homes. “My primary focus here is getting the bad actors out of this arena and making sure that we have good clean safe places for people that recovered or recovering,” Committee Chair Sen. Randy Robertson said.

Jan. 28, 2026 Gainesville Times

Buford lawmaker proposes renaming Sawnee Mountain after Trump

Kelly Whitmire reports that State Rep. David Clark, R-Buford, has filed a resolution that could rename Forsyth County’s Sawnee Mountain after President Donald Trump. In social media posts on Tuesday, Jan. 27, Clark said he had introduced a resolution earlier in the day to rename the mountain.

Jan. 28, 2026 State Affairs

Minnesota shootings strengthen calls for ICE legislation in Georgia

Beau Evans reports that Democratic lawmakers are doubling down on measures aimed at restricting federal authorities from law enforcement actions in Georgia after a second fatal shooting by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Minnesota. Bills filed earlier this month on ICE masking rules and whether anyone besides the governor can allow military forces to enter the state gained new urgency after the death of 37-year-old Alex Pretti, who was killed by ICE agents during an operation Saturday in Minneapolis.

Jan. 28, 2026 Capitol Beat News

Trump administration tries again to collect Georgia’s voter list after judge dismissed previous suit

Mark Niesse reports that the U.S. Department of Justice has again sued Georgia for the state’s voter list — including voters’ personal information — days after a federal judge dismissed a similar lawsuit filed in the wrong court. The Trump administration’s demand Tuesday is its latest attempt to force Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to turn over voter registration information as part of a nationwide effort to collect voters’ data.

Jan. 28, 2026 Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Georgia Senate investigators want testimony from Stacey Abrams

David Wickert reports that a Georgia Senate committee that’s spent the last two years investigating Fani Willis plans to finish its work with a bang. Chairman Bill Cowsert, R-Athens, told the Senate Special Committee on Investigations Tuesday he wants to wrap up the committee’s work during this legislative session.