Georgia Trend Daily – Aug. 20, 2026

Aug. 20, 2026 Athens Banner-Herald

Climate change threatens peach crops in the Southeast | Exclusive

Erica Van Buren reports, horticulturalists are starting to ring a peach alarm bell as climate change takes a toll in such popular peach-growing states as South Carolina and Georgia. Climate change is impacting high-value commodity crops such as peaches in Georgia and South Carolina, primarily through warmer winters, reduced chill accumulation, earlier blooming, and an increased risk of spring freeze damage.

Aug. 20, 2026 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!

Kind30

Julia Roberts reports, it started with a single candy bar. Now it is a viral movement. You may have seen the hashtag trending: #Kind30. While paying for her groceries, Beth Abernathy bought some chocolate and handed it to her cashier.

Aug. 20, 2026 Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Coming soon to rural Georgia: Thousands more acres of new solar projects

Drew Kann and Kristi E. Swartz report, a trio of new renewable energy projects could soon cover thousands more acres of rural Georgia in solar panels, according to filings submitted in recent days to state regional planning authorities. The proposals come as Georgia seeks to keep up with the growing demand for electricity driven by data centers.

Aug. 20, 2026 Vinea Capital

Allan and Ursula Soto Commit $1 Million to Support Pediatric Development and Behavioral Health at Wellstar Golisano Children’s Hospital of Georgia

Staff reports that Augusta business leaders and philanthropists Allan and Ursula Soto have committed $1 million to support the Kisner Foundation & Friends Pediatric Development, Behavioral Health & Wellness Center at Wellstar Golisano Children’s Hospital of Georgia, helping expand access to developmental and behavioral healthcare for children and families across the region. The Wellstar Golisano Children’s Hospital of Georgia in Augusta is Georgia’s second-largest children’s hospital, providing everything from routine pediatric services to highly specialized treatment, including the highest level of neonatal and pediatric intensive care.

Aug. 20, 2026 The Desk

Paramount could relocate from California to Georgia over antitrust case

Matthew Keys reports, an ongoing antitrust lawsuit backed by California Attorney General Rob Bonta over Paramount’s acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) has at least one of those companies considering a relocation of its corporate headquarters out of the Golden State. If that happens, one of the places where Paramount might settle down is Georgia, a southern state that has dangled generous tax incentives and other perks in front of film and television companies over the past few years and where its entertainment footprint is starting to rival that of Hollywood.

Aug. 20, 2026 GlobalAtlanta.com

Sports as a Vehicle for Commerce: How South Africa Used NASCAR to Accelerate Ties With Atlanta

Trevor Williams reports that South Africa revels in its unrivaled diversity, but the country that emerged as the Rainbow Nation after apartheid still has to work diligently to bridge its internal cultural differences and divides. The one thing that accomplishes this feat where politics can’t? Rugby.

Aug. 20, 2026 Savannah Morning News

Pooler lands $800,000 GDOT grant for park trail

Latrice Williams reports that a new grant will help fund improvements to a local park in Pooler, bringing the community one step closer to a planned trail project designed to expand outdoor recreation opportunities for residents. Mayor Karen Williams announced on her Facebook page that the Georgia Department of Transportation has awarded the city an $800,000 grant for the Pooler Park-to-Park Trail Project.

Aug. 20, 2026 Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

‘It’s the Jetsons coming.’ Columbus officials eye eVTOL as next economic development play

Jordyn Paul-Slater reports that Columbus officials are positioning the city to become an early hub for electric air taxis. Negotiations are underway to develop a universal eVTOL charging station and vertiport at the Columbus Airport. The proposed infrastructure would support electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles, which are battery-powered vehicles that take off and land like helicopters and fly like planes, as Georgia looks to build out its advanced air mobility network.

Aug. 20, 2026 Valdosta Daily Times

Georgia farmers recognized for 2025 peanut yields

Staff reports that fifteen farm families were recently recognized by the University of Georgia Peanut Team for their high yielding peanuts in 2025. The high yields ranged from 4,156 to 6,794 pounds per acre.

Aug. 20, 2026 Rough Draft Atlanta

Buckhead Coalition appoints civic leader Tommy Holder as new chair

Staff reports that business and civic leadership organization the Buckhead Coalition has appointed Tommy Holder to serve as its next chair, effective January 2027. Holder, a longtime Buckhead resident and business and civic leader, will succeed Jonathan Rodbell, who served as chair for 2025 and 2026.

Aug. 20, 2026 State Affairs

Can the stock market fix Georgia’s property tax dilemma?

Beau Evans reports, lawmakers are looking at ways for counties and cities to balance their budgets without having to depend on property taxes as the General Assembly aims to keep slashing homeowner costs. The Republican-led hunt for alternative revenues comes as Georgia counties, cities and school districts face new limits on how much they can hike property taxes annually — all while Democratic state leaders bottled up passage of special sales taxes earlier this summer.

Aug. 20, 2026 Capitol Beat News

Both candidates for state school superintendent say they will push for change

Ty Tagami reports that Georgia’s longtime Republican state school superintendent is touting his experience to fend off his Democratic challenger, who calls herself a change agent. Lydia Powell, an assistant high school principal in Henry County, wants to unseat Richard Woods, saying test scores indicate that schools need new leadership.

Aug. 20, 2026 Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Brian Kemp cheers potential Paramount move as merger divides lawmakers

Greg Bluestein, Tia Mitchell, Patricia Murphy and Adam Beam report, Georgia could be in the running for Paramount Skydance’s worldwide headquarters. And Gov. Brian Kemp is egging it on. Asked about the prospect Monday at the Gwinnett Chamber Governor’s Luncheon, the Republican drew laughs when he was pressed to “enlighten” the crowd on efforts to woo the media giant.