Georgia Trend Daily – June 5, 2026
June 5, 2026 Macon Telegraph
Google gives $1M for Flint River watershed restoration project in south Georgia
Kala Hunter reports, about 35 acres of wetlands along the Flint River in south Georgia will soon get a boost from big tech. Google is supporting a water stewardship and restoration project in Dooly County along the Flint River Wildlife Management Area with a $1 million grant in partnership with Ducks Unlimited, a nonprofit organization dedicated to wetland restoration.
June 5, 2026 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Unofficial Guide Issue 6.02: Eat, Visit, Do, and Shop
Jana Lawrence reports, it’s officially “out of school for the summer” season and everybody in the house is likely bored already. Need to get out of the house but don’t know what to do? We like to share some of our favorite things about Georgia – places to eat, sights to visit, things to do, stores to shop.
June 5, 2026 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
One of Georgia’s biggest solar farms is dividing one of its smallest counties
Drew Kann reports, 50 feet from Art Cothen’s field on the other side of a thin stand of trees, the land has been cleared, and the pine trees that had been grown for lumber won’t be coming back anytime soon. Soon, it will be covered in solar panels — along with thousands more acres in the county.
June 5, 2026 Georgia Ports Authority
GPA Trucker app streamlines driver experience
Staff reports, more people are downloading the GPA Trucker mobile app. Since its roll-out in October 2025, enrollment has grown from fewer than 900 to more than 4,000 users, according to the Georgia Ports Authority.
June 5, 2026 Athens Banner-Herald
St. Mary’s plans $100 million hospital expansion in Athens, Greensboro
Wayne Ford reports that St. Mary’s Health Care System recently announced two major multi-million-dollar projects at its hospital in Athens and the St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital in Greensboro. The expansion in Athens at the Baxter Street location will cost about $35 million and will enhance the hospital’s heart and cancer treatment, according to the hospital.
June 5, 2026 Gainesville Times
Northeast Georgia Medical Center ranks among America’s best maternity hospitals
Danny McArthur reports that Newsweek named Northeast Georgia Medical Center Gainesville to its America’s Best Maternity Hospitals 2026 list. The recognition highlights hospitals that consistently deliver safer births, better outcomes and stronger support for mothers and newborns.
June 5, 2026 GlobalAtlanta.com
Atlanta’s East West Manufacturing Announces CEO Transition
Trevor Williams reports, one of Atlanta’s top contract manufacturers has announced a CEO transition that will take one of the city’s leading voices on global manufacturing out of day-to-day operations. East West Manufacturing founder and CEO Scott Ellyson, who co-founded the company and shepherded it from a primarily China-focused sourcing shop 25 years ago to a globally integrated system spanning seven countries today, will move into the chairman role June 15 to make room for new executive leadership.
June 5, 2026 Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
Columbus Council to vote on version of data center rules created by ‘unofficial’ board
Brittany McGee reports, during its meeting Tuesday night, the Columbus Council substituted the proposed technology overlay district ordinance for one created by an “unofficial” data center committee, meaning the new version of the ordinance would be what is used when it comes to a vote The council also voted to delay the first reading of the ordinance for one week, so it will be on the June 9 meeting’s agenda.
June 5, 2026 Marietta Daily Journal
County, Mableton trade blame as police services deal unravels
Isabelle Manders reports that the county government is holding its ground in an ongoing dispute over police services and court jurisdiction with the city of Mableton. Lisa Cupid, chair of the Cobb Board of Commissioners, held a joint press conference Tuesday alongside Public Safety Director Michael Register and Cobb Police Chief Dan Ferrell to “set the record straight” about negotiations with the city and defend the county’s position after a recently negotiated service agreement unraveled just days before it was expected to take effect.
June 5, 2026 Savannah Morning News
She’s the best female chef in North America, and she’s right here in GA
Vanessa Johns reports, a celebrated Savannah chef is adding another major achievement to her career. Chef Mashama Bailey, the culinary force behind The Grey in Savannah, has been named North America’s Best Female Chef for 2026 by The World’s 50 Best, an organization that recognizes leading restaurants and culinary professionals around the globe.
June 5, 2026 Tifton Gazette
Truvista Fiber contributes more than $112,000 to support schools
Staff reports, as the 2025-26 school year draws to a close, Truvista Fiber announced a total of more than $112,000 in company donations, sponsorships and in-kind services to schools and education-related programs across the communities it serves during the school year. Among the highlights for the 2025-26 year, the company cited the installation of new fiber at Tift County High School and Eighth Street Middle School to bring internet access to remote locations on campus.
June 5, 2026 GPB
Atlanta airport investigating new reports of jet fuel in the Flint River
Pamela Kirkland reports, for the third time this year, crews are responding to possible petroleum contamination near the Flint River headwaters at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Airport officials notified downstream communities over Memorial Day weekend that a spill had occurred, according to Flint Riverkeeper staff.
June 5, 2026 Georgia Recorder
Georgia State Election Board passes resolution allowing counties to switch to hand-marked ballots
Maya Homan reports, Georgia’s State Election Board has advanced a resolution seeking to implement hand-marked paper ballots ahead of the November 2026 general election, contradicting guidelines from the secretary of state’s office directing counties to continue using Georgia’s current voting machines. The resolution, which is not binding, was introduced by newly appointed Vice Chair Janelle King and passed in a 3-1 vote Thursday.
June 5, 2026 State Affairs
Democrats eye flipping Georgia House after historic primaries
Beau Evans reports, almost exactly one year ago, when Charlie Bailey took the reins of Georgia’s Democratic Party, there was only a feeling that he and the party’s leadership could win back the state House of Representatives after more than 20 years of Republican control. Now, Bailey has evidence that a flip may be within reach for the 2026 midterm elections.
June 5, 2026 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Lieutenant governor runoffs expose rifts in both parties
Caleb Groves and Riley Bunch report, the run-up to the runoffs for lieutenant governor is shaping up to be a battle of style. On the Republican side, state Sen. Greg Dolezal is doubling down on MAGA policies and red meat issues to offset former state Sen. John F. Kennedy’s campaign that leans on his experience in the Legislature.
