Georgia Trend Daily – June 8, 2026
June 8, 2026 GlobalAtlanta.com
In Atlanta, Ireland Shows How Sports Can Build Business Ties Ahead of World Cup
Trevor Williams reports that Ireland fell just short of qualifying for this year’s expanded World Cup, a loss felt acutely in Atlanta, where its team would have played in the group round. But the country’s efforts to use sports as an entree for building diplomatic and commercial ties in the city recently crowned No. 1 for sports business haven’t slowed down.
June 8, 2026 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Georgia’s Growing Energy Needs Require a Strong Grid
Julia Roberts reports that Georgia communities expect safe, reliable and cost-effective power at home, at work and everywhere in between. As the state grows and technology changes how people use energy, the electric grid must be ready to meet rising demand.
June 8, 2026 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Turtle light fight still burns bright at Buc-ee’s exit along I-95
Adam Van Brimmer reports, deciding on a solution to the long-running turtle tizzy at I-95’s Exit 42, where 100-foot-tall light towers burn so brightly experts say the glow disrupts sea turtle nesting on beaches 12 miles away, has state and local government officials at loggerheads. The third nesting season since the lights came on at the rural interchange that is home to a Buc-ee’s travel center began a month ago and stretches through September.
June 8, 2026 The Current
McIntosh proposes new zoning for Sapelo
Mary Landers reports, at a special called meeting, McIntosh County Commission on Thursday agreed on new limits on house sizes in the Hogg Hummock neighborhood on Sapelo Island. By a 3-2 vote, the commission recommended a maximum size of 1,800 square feet under roof, a minimum size of 720 square feet under roof, and a maximum height of 35 feet.
June 8, 2026 Milledgeville Union-Recorder
Baldwin County Commissioners to borrow $5 million
Billy Hobbs reports that the Baldwin County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday night to borrow $5 million to help the county through its current financial hardship.m“We’re not broke; we’re not broke. We are going through some financial trouble that we’re working through,” said commission chairman Kendrick B. Butts.
June 8, 2026 Marietta Daily Journal
Cobb County residents attempt Guinness World Record ahead of World Cup
Lucinda Warnke reports, more than 150 people turned out at Village Green Park on Saturday in an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the most people juggling a soccer ball simultaneously. According to the Guinness World Records website, the record currently stands at 459.
June 8, 2026 Augusta Chronicle
UGA library opens archives of two former U.S. senators from Georgia
Wayne Ford reports, that University of Georgia’s Russell Library for Political Research and Studies announced recently that it has acquired records from two U.S. senators from Georgia. The Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson papers are now available to the public.
June 8, 2026 GPB
Lawmakers can take up property tax legislation during special session
Sarah Kallis reports that the Legislature will take up property tax legislation during the special legislative session which starts June 17. Gov. Brian Kemp added a line to the special session order allowing lawmakers to take up legislation connected to local property tax acts.
June 8, 2026 Athens Banner-Herald
Gov. Kemp, Senate candidate accused of pay-to-play politics in Georgia
Irene Wright reports that the U.S. Senate race is heating up in Georgia, where two Republicans are facing off in a June runoff to take on incumbent Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff in November. U.S. Rep. Mike Collins and former college football coach Derek Dooley earned the highest percentage of votes on midterm primary day in May.
June 8, 2026 WABE
Georgia state superintendent incumbent faces challenger in runoff marked by low literacy, dark money accusations
Meimei Xu reports, Georgia State School Superintendent Richard Woods will face off against challenger Fred “Bubba” Longgrear in the June 16 Republican primary runoff in an election characterized by controversy over students’ low reading scores. Woods received 49.9% of the votes and Longgrear received 29.1% in the May 19 Republican primary.
June 8, 2026 Georgia Recorder
Georgia utility commission races test party loyalty after recent power bill hikes
Alander Rocha reports that the race for two Georgia Public Service Commission seats this November is becoming a test on whether pocketbook issues and concerns about unchecked data center growth can overcome traditional party lines. Voters are paying more attention to these once little-known, down-ballot races after the commission signed off on a series of Georgia Power rate increases in recent years.
June 8, 2026 State Affairs
Medicaid cuts pushing pediatric clinics to the brink
Beau Evans reports that many clinics serving children with special needs in Georgia face steep cost hikes ordered by two of the state’s Medicaid providers, CareSource and Peach State Health Plan. Both are poised to slash millions of dollars in annual coverage for pediatric therapies, citing rising costs for healthcare and specialized treatments in recent years.
June 8, 2026 Capitol Beat News
Amid data center backlash, Google gives $1M for South Georgia wetlands
Ty Tagami reports that Google will spend $1 million on conservation work in a watershed in South Georgia near one of its data centers. The donation, announced this week, is part of a $17 million commitment by Google to support seven waterway and infrastructure improvement projects nationwide.
June 8, 2026 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
One of Trump’s ‘pit bulls’ resigns from State Election Board
Caleb Groves reports that Janice Johnston, who pushed for MAGA-backed changes to Georgia voting policies, resigned from the State Election Board on Thursday. Johnston resigned, citing “family and personal responsibilities.”
