Georgia Trend Daily – Sept. 8, 2026
Sept. 8, 2026 Georgia Recorder
Report: Georgia continues to rank near the bottom of nation on worker’s rights
Maya Homan reports that Georgia has made modest gains, but remains one of the worst states to be a worker in 2026, according to a new report from Oxfam America. The state’s top leaders often tout Georgia’s credentials as “the best place to live, work and raise a family,” but this year’s rankings — which span all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico — place Georgia near the bottom of the list.
Sept. 8, 2026 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Ups, Downs and In-betweens
Kenna Simmons reports, two of the state’s oldest and largest newspapers have new leases on life. The nonprofit Georgia Trust for Local News purchased the Macon Telegraph, founded in 1826, and the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, founded in 1828.
Sept. 8, 2026 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Battery material recycling plant outside Atlanta to restart under new owners
Drew Kann reports that earlier this year, about 35 miles east of downtown Atlanta, the production lines at a plant that recycled electric vehicle batteries fell silent after its corporate parent filed for bankruptcy. Now, the same factory is coming back to life with new ownership and big plans to turn battery scrap into a major domestic source of a critical material used to power EVs and battery storage systems.
Sept. 8, 2026 GlobalAtlanta.com
Kemp Joins Toyota Supplier at Grand Opening for New Plant in Pendergrass
Trevor Williams reports, the newest addition to a cluster of Toyota auto suppliers in Jackson County this week marked the start of production on its latest factory, a $69 million investment first announced in 2023. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp was on hand to mark the grand opening of the Toyota Industries Electric Systems North America Inc. plant in Pendergrass, which is set to employ 250 people making DC-to-DC converters that take high-voltage power from an electric vehicle’s battery down to the low voltage needed to power interior lights and devices.
Sept. 8, 2026 WSB TV
New facility coming to metro Atlanta, bringing 140 jobs and high-tech robotics
Sabrina Castro reports, a major new distribution center is coming to the Atlanta area, and it will use artificial intelligence and robotics to help get everything from restaurant equipment parts to HVAC components across the country. Parts Town Unlimited announced it has signed a lease for a 538,450-square-foot facility in Pendergrass, northeast of Atlanta.
Sept. 8, 2026 Macon Telegraph
Labor Day: Over 20 years, Macon swapped industrial giants for a broader economy
Alaysia Edwards reports, back in 1997, Brown & Williamson was the crown jewel of Macon’s industrial sector. The cigarette plant employed 3,000 people, paid an average of $26 an hour, offered good benefits and usually required no college degree, just a willingness to undergo rigorous training.
Sept. 8, 2026 Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
‘Building on that momentum.’ Synovus Park in Columbus will have a new name next year
Mark Rice reports, the Columbus Clingstones and Pinnacle Financial Partners announced Sunday night, beginning in 2027, Synovus Park will be renamed Pinnacle Park, reflecting the new combined firm through the merger of Columbus-based Synovus and Nashville-based Pinnacle. The merger was agreed to in July 2025 and completed in January.
Sept. 8, 2026 Griffin Daily News
City of Griffin receives $1 million CDBG grant for water improvements
Staff reports, the City of Griffin has been awarded $1 million in the latest Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding awards. The funds will be used for Phase II water improvements to the Southern Rushton Mill target area.
Sept. 8, 2026 Savannah Morning News
Georgia turns roadsides into butterfly havens
Staff reports that nine roadside sites have been planted with native vegetation as part of a partnership between the Georgia Department of Transportation and The Ray. The meadows are Georgia DOT’s first installed acres banked through the Nationwide Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances for the Monarch Butterfly on Energy and Transportation Lands, according to a community announcement.
Sept. 8, 2026 Augusta Chronicle
What happened to fall? Georgia’s seasons are shifting
Erica Van Buren reports, as summer-like temperatures linger later into the year, Georgians are seeing noticeable changes in what used to be a familiar fall season. Climate change is altering autumn across the state, affecting everything from temperatures and leaves to allergies and outdoor activities.
Sept. 8, 2026 Georgia Recorder
Georgia renames park named after minstrel songwriter, ‘father of American music’
Ross Williams reports, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources removed the name Stephen Foster from a state park, though a spokesman said the name change is unrelated to the 19th century songwriter’s association with racist minstrel music. What was previously the Stephen C. Foster State Park was officially renamed the Okefenokee State Park effective Tuesday.
Sept. 8, 2026 Capitol Beat News
They may look like book drops, but some believe ‘baby boxes’ can save lives
Ty Tagami reports, Amie Anderson’s first instinct was rage. Her daughter, a nurse, had just told her how a young mother had walked into the hospital and surrendered her infant. Under Georgia law, hospitals are among the safe places where a mother can leave her newborn.
Sept. 8, 2026 Georgia Recorder
You still can’t smoke medical cannabis in Georgia, but you can vape it. What’s the difference?
Alander Rocha reports, medical cannabis dispensaries are now selling the flower form of the drug in Georgia, but a new state law that took effect this summer has created some confusion over how it can be legally consumed. Lawmakers passed a measure earlier this year that overhauled the state’s medical cannabis program by dropping the confusing “low THC oil” branding, allowing dry-herb and oil vaporization, adding qualifying medical conditions and removing previous potency barriers.
Sept. 8, 2026 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
3 things to know about Keisha Lance Bottoms’ plan to cut grocery costs
Riley Bunch reports, sandwiched between the aisles of Al Huda Groceries on Lawrenceville Highway in Gwinnett County, Keisha Lance Bottoms on Wednesday unveiled her plan to tackle soaring grocery prices that are squeezing Georgians’ pocketbooks. The Democratic candidate for governor is proposing to allow cities and counties to temporarily suspend or eliminate local sales tax on groceries, baby formula, diapers, feminine hygiene products and other necessities.
