Georgia Trend Daily – April 29, 2026
April 29, 2026 The Brunswick News
Brantley firefight makes progress as blaze is 32% contained
Michael Hall reports that firefighters who have been battling the Brantley County wildfire made significant progress overnight Monday and Tuesday morning, bringing the fire to 32% containment, officials say. But the fire is still burning, and officials are urging people to stay out of the fire area so that firefighters can continue working to contain it.
April 29, 2026 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
A Mighty Mission: The Technical College System of Georgia Hits New Heights
Patty Rasmussen reports, despite multiple health and family setbacks that kept her from graduating from high school, Patria Brown was a voracious reader from an early age. Now a mother of six, Brown credits that love of reading with setting her on the path she’s on today: encouraging her children’s academic dreams while pursuing her own.
April 29, 2026 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Developer that sued South Fulton over zoning is poised to get $9M tax break
Zachary Hansen reports, six months ago, an industrial developer had its rezoning request for a mall-sized warehouse campus shot down by the city of South Fulton after fierce community resistance. That denial triggered a lawsuit by the developer, followed by a swift reversal from city leaders.
April 29, 2026 Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
Columbus-based W.C. Bradley Co. announces new CEO as its leader
Jordyn Paul-Slater reports that Columbus-based W.C. Bradley Co., a privately held, family-owned company with businesses spanning outdoor cooking, outdoor living and recreation, real estate development and land management, has named Christopher Ball as its new chief executive officer, the company announced Tuesday. Ball has served as chairman of the W.C. Bradley board since April 2023 and as interim CEO since October 2025, when former CEO James Hillenbrand retired.
April 29, 2026 Marietta Daily Journal
$25M South Cobb health campus moves forward after years of delays
Isabelle Manders reports that the county is moving forward with early development of a new health facility in south Cobb. The Cobb County Board of Commissioners approved contracts for program management and design services tied to the South Cobb Public Health Facility off Riverside Parkway earlier this month, marking another step in a long-planned effort to expand health care access in the area.
April 29, 2026 Augusta Chronicle
Appealing: Petitions against Columbia County data centers await ruling
Joe Hotchkiss reports that three lawsuits challenging the legality of Columbia County’s rezoning decisions on data center and quarry developments are in the hands of the Georgia Court of Appeals. Harlem resident Gregory P. Guido has asserted that the county’s approvals of the projects allow them to locate too closely to private homes.
April 29, 2026 Tifton Gazette
Georgia Peanut Commission approves funding for research
Staff reports that the Georgia Peanut Commission board of directors has approved $764,189 in research project funding for the 2025-26 research budget year. The research projects approved include 40 project proposals submitted from the University of Georgia, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and the USDA Agricultural Research Service.
April 29, 2026 Gainesville Times
Hall County wins state literacy award — but data shows work remains
Danny McArthur reports that Georgia Reads, a statewide literacy initiative, honored Hall County for its efforts Monday, April 27, at Lanier College & Career Academy in Gainesville. The Georgia Reads Community Award is given annually to 10 communities that have demonstrated a commitment to literacy through innovative programs, partnerships, and measurable impact.
April 29, 2026 GPB
A Georgia bill paves the way for suing cities that don’t enforce homelessness laws
Grant Blankenship reports, most weekdays, Macon-Bibb resident Andrew Eck, who makes his living building furniture from salvaged wood and renovating old houses, drives his golf cart down to Macon’s Ocmulgee Heritage Trail — the short river walk that’s been disrupted for years now as the Georgia Department of Transportation revamps the Interstate 75/16 interchange by the trail. Encampments of unhoused people have moved in while GDOT rendered much of the trail impassable.
April 29, 2026 The Current
1st District Democrats spar over labels, outreach strategy
Craig Nelson reports that Coastal Georgia Democrats have struggled long and hard to reverse their election woes in congressional elections in Coastal Georgia. No Democrat has won Georgia’s 1st District Congressional seat since 1990, and the party has lost the past four contests by an average of 18.6% of the vote.
April 29, 2026 Georgia Recorder
Candidates vying to be Georgia’s next top lawyer sharpen attacks as early voting starts
Jill Nolin reports that candidates are pledging to bring a fighting spirit to the attorney general’s office in Georgia, although what they plan to fight for depends largely on which side of the aisle they fall. On the Republican side are state Sen. Bill Cowsert of Athens and state Sen. Brian Strickland of McDonough, and the Democrats competing for their party’s nomination are state Rep. Tanya Miller of Atlanta and Bob Trammell, a former state House minority leader from Luthersville.
April 29, 2026 Capitol Beat News
Democrats for governor pitch tax cuts, with more spending in some areas
Ty Tagami reports, tax cuts coexisted with higher spending on education and health care when Democrats running for governor laid out their positions this week. At a debate hosted by the Atlanta Press Club and aired by Georgia Public Broadcasting on Monday, as early voters headed to the polls, several candidates said they would address affordability by changing Georgia taxes.
April 29, 2026 State Affairs
Tax cuts, Medicaid, break through noise in 2026 primary debates
Beau Evans reports that same-party candidates spent three days pummeling each other in the races for governor, lieutenant governor and other statewide contests, mostly choosing attacks over policies in the only statewide televised debates before the May 19 primaries. But beyond the clashing, moments of substance emerged from 78 contenders who took the stage Sunday to Tuesday, particularly when it came to laying out different visions for tax cuts, healthcare and the power of Georgia’s top elected offices.
April 29, 2026 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Democrats fear Kemp could slow-walk election to replace David Scott
Greg Bluestein, Tia Mitchell, Patricia Murphy and Adam Beam report, Gov. Brian Kemp has not yet set a special election for the deep-blue congressional district held by the late U.S. Rep. David Scott. But Democrats are already worried he could wait as long as possible.
