Georgia Trend Daily – June 29, 2026
June 29, 2026 Macon Telegraph
Georgia communities receive $13.5M to clean up contaminated sites
Margaret Walker reports that Federal officials announced $13.5 million in cleanup grants for Georgia communities to turn contaminated properties into something usable again, the Environmental Protection Agency announced. A “brownfield” is property where past industrial or commercial use left behind contaminants that complicate redevelopment.
June 29, 2026 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
On Track for Great Success: Georgia Women’s and Men’s Coach Ranks High
Loran Smith writes, the sport of track and field, which has long been one of the most prestigious sports in the world in large part because of the Olympics, has risen in popularity in recent years. Before NIL (name, image and likeness) rights for college athletes officially got underway in 2021, track athletes were among the top earners in sports, particularly in international competitions.
June 29, 2026 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Life University makes ‘difficult but necessary’ cuts amid financial challenges
Jason Armesto reports, suffering from declining enrollment and a multimillion-dollar deficit, Life University is making cuts the Marietta school says are necessary to protect its future. Its financial struggles were highlighted in March when Moody’s, the global financial risk assessment company, downgraded Life’s bond rating and classified the school’s outlook as “negative.”
June 29, 2026 Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
Inside the Columbus inducement agreement for this company’s $13 million expansion
Jordyn Paul-Slater reports that on May 14, the Ledger-Enquirer reported Heckler & Koch, a German firearms manufacturer operating locally as HK USA, will expand its Columbus facility with a $13 million investment. We obtained the inducement agreement documents signed between the Development Authority of Columbus and Heckler & Koch.
June 29, 2026 Savannah Morning News
Most beautiful places in Georgia? Southern Living lists top 18 spots
Miguel Legoas reports that plenty of Georgians are traveling for summer vacation. But, as the old saying goes, if it’s not on social media, it didn’t happen.
June 29, 2026 Gainesville Times
Clermont looking at a data center ordinance. Here’s why
Jeff Gill reports that data centers haven’t come knocking on Clermont’s door, but the North Hall town wants to be ready, nonetheless. The town has scheduled a July 7 work session to discuss a proposed data center regulation ordinance, which is still in draft form.
June 29, 2026 Marietta Daily Journal
State school super defends Georgia literacy rates as election ramps up
Lucinda Warnke reports that Georgia State School Superintendent Richard Woods made a stop in Marietta Friday afternoon to address the Cobb County Republican Women’s Club. During the event, Woods — a Republican who is up for reelection — defended his work to improve literacy rates, something he faced criticism for during the Republican primary.
June 29, 2026 Albany Herald
Georgia’s school funding formula still ignores poverty; educators say students pay the price
Kathryn Crockett reports, Dougherty County School System Superintendent Ken Dyer told the Board of Education this week that one of the district’s top legislative priorities failed to gain enough traction during Georgia’s 2026 legislative session, leaving the state’s education funding formula unchanged despite continued advocacy from school leaders across Georgia. During a report to the board on the outcomes of this year’s legislative session, Dyer discussed the district’s efforts to persuade lawmakers to add an “opportunity weight” to Georgia’s Quality Basic Education (QBE) funding formula — a change supporters say would provide additional state funding for students living in poverty.
June 29, 2026 State Affairs
Taxes, technology and Medicaid teed up for 2026 study committees
Beau Evans reports, the regular and special sessions are done. Now it’s time for study committees. Property taxes, healthcare, prescription drugs, foster care and the harms of social media on youth will be the order of the day for this year’s roster of issue-focused legislative panels, set to meet over the summer and fall.
June 29, 2026 Georgia Recorder
Bottoms wants Georgia to meet its universal pre-K pledge. It’s a tough campaign promise to keep.
Jeff Amy reports that Georgia’s prekindergarten program for 4-year-olds is supposed to provide a free spot to any parent who wants to enroll their child. But that universal guarantee has been voided by a shortage of classrooms in parts of the state.
June 29, 2026 The Current
Ossoff, Bottoms declare ‘United for Georgia’ at first joint campaign rally
Craig Nelson reports, there was no mistaking the message that incumbent U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff and gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms were seeking to drive home at a rally on Saturday in Savannah, not only to the thousand or so supporters gathered in a hall on a sweltering day in late June but to voters across the state. Signs reading “United for Georgia” were everywhere, eclipsing the “Ossoff for Senate” and “Bottoms for Governor” placards.
June 29, 2026 Capitol Beat News
Kemp signs elections bill, locking in QR code voting machines for November
Ty Tagami reports that Gov. Brian Kemp signed legislation into law Thursday that delays the July 1 ban on the use of QR codes in Georgia’s voting machines. His signature postpones the prohibition until Jan. 1, 2028, giving lawmakers more time to adopt new election procedures.
June 29, 2026 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Republican ad tries to blame Democrats for killing property tax relief
Greg Bluestein, Tia Mitchell, Patricia Murphy and Adam Beam report, House Republicans lost a property tax fight with Democrats this week. But the GOP didn’t leave the special session empty handed. Georgia’s Future, the nonprofit associated with House Speaker Jon Burns, launched a digital ad framing the fight as Democrats voting to keep property tax bills high.
