Georgia Trend Daily – May 22, 2026
May 22, 2026 Georgia Ports Authority
GPA’s Gainesville Inland Port open for business
Staff reports, crews at Georgia Ports Authority’s Gainesville Inland Port have worked multiple trains and trucks at the facility since the opening on May 4, 2026, kicking off direct daily rail service between the inland manufacturing hub and the Port of Savannah. “With the start of operations in Gainesville, we’re extending the reach of the Port of Savannah deep into Northeast Georgia,” said Georgia Ports President and CEO Griff Lynch.
May 22, 2026 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Canine Cellmates
Candice Dyer reports, who rescues whom? It is mutual at Canine CellMates/Beyond The Bars, which pairs shelter dogs with men who have been convicted of a crime, for the betterment of both. The dogs, pulled from Fulton County Animal Services, learn obedience, and the men are responsible for training them, with the help of a certified trainer.
May 22, 2026 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Atlanta area firm with the most bitcoin ATMs in North America to shut down
Mirtha Donastorg reports that Bitcoin Depot, a Sandy Springs-based company with cryptocurrency ATMs scattered across North America, filed for bankruptcy protection this week as it faced scrutiny from states over allegations its kiosks facilitated scams. The company was in the vanguard of operating bitcoin teller machines, or BTMs, often inside convenience stores, touting its ability to bring people outside the mainstream of the financial system into the world of digital payments.
May 22, 2026 GPB
‘That land is always gonna be changed.’ Screven County farmers fear new gas pipeline’s impact
Jillian Magtoto reports that three gas pipelines run below rows of cotton, peanuts and soy on William “Carl” Huggins’ family farm in Newington, Ga. Over time, he has seen how the pipeline construction has marred his ability to grow crops.
May 22, 2026 GlobalAtlanta.com
UGA Team Honored for Helping Small Businesses Access Global Markets
Trevor Williams reports, on May 4, just after World Trade Month dawned, the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center was honored by the top U.S. export credit agency for helping small businesses access global markets. The Export-Import Bank of the United States named the UGA SBDC its Regional Export Promotion Program member of the year, an honor reserved for agencies that work in concert with EXIM to assist companies looking to grow their international sales.
May 22, 2026 Marietta Daily Journal
Cupid sets sights on affordable housing, but disagreement remains among commissioners
Lucinda Warnke reports that Cobb County Board of Commissioners Chair Lisa Cupid said Wednesday during her annual State of the County address that she intends to prioritize affordable housing solutions in the coming year, but visions for what that could look like among commissioners differ. Cupid said affordable housing is a major concern for Cobb County residents as the cost of housing outpaces wage growth.
May 22, 2026 Macon Melody
Downtown Macon renovation projects in limbo after Kemp vetoes historic tax credit expansion
Casey Choung reports that remodeling efforts for several downtown Macon buildings — including structures that once housed Union Furniture Co. on Third St. and the Macon Rescue Mission on Hazel St. — might be stalled after Gov. Brian Kemp axed an expansion of Georgia’s historic rehabilitation tax credit. Developers have been using the tax credit to restore buildings for new commercial projects, most prominently in the downtown area, NewTown Macon CEO James Fritze told The Melody in a past interview.
May 22, 2026 The Brunswick News
CCGF funnels $128,000 in charity spending to Brantley fire victims, first responders
Staff reports, a wildfire that has swept Brantley County over the last month is mostly contained, but recovering from the damage it has done will take a lot longer, the Communities of Coastal Georgia Foundation said. More than 100 homes, businesses and other structures were destroyed by the fire that ignited on April 20 when a mylar balloon struck a power line and created sparks that lit the drought-parched ground, officials said.
May 22, 2026 Athens Banner-Herald
Athens to host professional summer football team in 2027
Wayne Ford reports that Indoor Football League announced on Thursday amid the fanfare of live bands, performances by Michael Jackson and Elvis clones, that Athens will host a professional summer league football team in 2027. The team, yet to be named and with no coach announced, was formed through finances from 10 investors, including former football players David Pollock, Jerome Bettis, and Brian Jordan.
May 22, 2026 State Affairs
Conservation tax credit expansion dies in Georgia Senate
Jack Rutherford reports that two land preservation measures hit roadblocks in the 2026 legislative session. Gov. Brian Kemp vetoed a bill aimed at increasing funds for a program that has helped conserve more than 79,000 acres and 120 miles of parks, trails, streams and camps.
May 22, 2026 Georgia Recorder
Take two: These Democratic, Republican statewide races are headed to June runoffs
Maya Homan reports, Tuesday’s election has come and gone, but the race isn’t over yet for many candidates seeking statewide office. Under Georgia law, candidates must secure a majority of votes, not just a plurality, in order to be elected.
May 22, 2026 Capitol Beat News
Democrats outdraw GOP in Georgia primary as turnout flips from 2022
Ty Tagami reports that Democrats than Republicans turned out to vote in Tuesday’s primary election, flipping the outcome in the midterm primary election of four years ago when the GOP dominated. The strong showing could be a singular incident, or a trend that endures to the November general election and the head-to-head contests between the two parties.
May 22, 2026 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Voting Rights Act changed Georgia. Now Black officials fear ‘the worst.’
Tamar Hallerman reports, in many ways, the Voting Rights Act not only helped define the contours of Georgia state Sen. Ed Harbison’s political life — it made it possible. The Columbus Democrat grew up in segregated Montgomery, Alabama, where the idea of any Black person in an elected position was unfathomable.
