Georgia Trend Daily – Oct. 19, 2026
Oct. 19, 2026 GPB
Changes to Preservation Act could threaten Georgia’s historic sites
Peter Biello reports that Federal lawmakers are considering massive changes to the law meant to protect historic and culturally significant sites across the country. Embedded in the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026, the changes to what’s known as Section 106 would reduce or eliminate the public’s ability to comment on developments that may threaten historic sites.
Oct. 19, 2026 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Prospects for Augusta
Jeffrey Humphreys reports, Augusta’s economy has major positives: the U.S. Army Cyber Command at Fort Gordon, the Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center, a focus on healthcare, strong postsecondary education institutions, retiree-based economic development and low costs of living and doing business. In addition, Augusta is a center for telecommunications services and call centers.
Oct. 19, 2026 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In this economy? Turning Atlanta offices into homes is harder than it looks.
Zachary Hansen reports, what can be done with all these empty office towers no one seems to want in a post-pandemic world? That question has loomed large over Atlanta and its suburbs for more than six years.
Oct. 19, 2026 Saporta Report
ARC unveils part two of first-ever regional housing plan
Delaney Tarr reports, the Atlanta Regional Commission has released the second step of its first-ever Regional Housing Strategy: A list of 10 “housing actions” to create more affordable homes in the region by 2035. At the Oct. 14 ARC board meeting, commission leaders presented progress on “Housing Forward 2035,” months after the plan was publicly unveiled in August.
Oct. 19, 2026 Rough Draft Atlanta
New renderings revealed for The Stitch with project set to begin in 2027
Collin Kelley reports, work on The Stitch, the park that will cap a section of the Downtown Connector, is set to begin in 2027, with more funding still being sought to complete the ambitious project. During an October event at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, new renderings for The Stitch were unveiled, showcasing an indoor-outdoor “Gateway Pavilion” along Peachtree Street, cafe space, and green spaces.
Oct. 19, 2026 GlobalAtlanta.com
With $110M Raise, Bridge to Life Brings Tech for Extending Organ Life to Atlanta
Trevor Williams reports, while organ transplantation remains almost miraculous in its effectiveness, a perhaps surprising proportion of donated organs are still being lost due to quality or logistics issues — more than a third of kidneys and a fifth of livers. Fixing this problem — and saving lives in the process — is the impetus behind a medical device whose parent company operates out of metro Atlanta and recently completed a $110 million fund raise.
Oct. 19, 2026 Savannah Morning News
Civis Foundation invests $7 million in Savannah housing initiatives
Evan Lasseter reports, when the City of Savannah released its Housing Savannah Action Plan in 2022, it caught the attention of a team of civic-minded investors based in New York City. The group was then known as the Galvan Foundation, and it wrote a $50,000 grant to support the action plan.
Oct. 19, 2026 Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
How Columbus’ investment in pickleball facility swelled from $1.6 million to $8.4 million
Brittany McGee reports, the Columbus Council approved another $1.7 million for a pickleball facility on Third Avenue, part of increasing the project’s total budget from about $1.6 million to $8.4 million, with some residents expressing frustration about the city’s priorities.
Oct. 19, 2026 Marietta Daily Journal
Smyrna appoints members to public safety task force reviewing Flock usage
Isabelle manders reports, the eight members of Smyrna’s new Public Safety Technology Task Force — intended to review the city’s use of Flock Safety cameras and similar surveillanced technology — have been selected. The task force, described by the city as “a resident advisory group,” will review Smyrna’s use of automated license plate readers (ALPRs), fixed-public safety cameras and drones.
Oct. 19, 2026 Valdosta Daily Times
Lowndes County data center debate heats up amidst moratorium ending
Bailey Wilson reports, the debate for and against hyperscale data centers in Lowndes County continues to spark more questions than answers. Now, with the two-month county-wide moratorium ending, some citizens remain upset with how elected officials have responded.
Oct. 19, 2026 Newnan Times-Herald
Breaking down Georgia’s three constitutional amendments
Staff reports, there are three constitutional amendments on the Nov. 3 ballot, two of which won’t directly affect Coweta County residents, but the third, the Georgia Next Generation 9-1-1 amendment, could. State Sen. Matt Brass voted for the resolution creating the referendum in a near unanimous Senate vote.
Oct. 19, 2026 Marietta Daily Journal
Ossoff, Bottoms rally Democratic voters as early voting opens in Cobb
Lucinda Warnke reports that Cobb County was a flurry of activity Saturday as Sen. Jon Ossoff and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms made a joint appearance at the Cobb Galleria for the first weekend of early voting. Ossoff currently has a lead in polls over his Republican opponent, Rep. Mike Collins, while Bottoms, the former mayor of Atlanta, is neck and neck with Republican candidate Rick Jackson, founder and CEO of a healthcare staffing company.
Oct. 19, 2026 Georgia Recorder
Growth of data centers becomes a defining issue of the midterms, entangling some Georgia candidates
Alander Rocha reports that Georgia candidates up and down the ballot are campaigning on an issue that has struck a nerve across the political spectrum: data centers. A wave of data center projects across Georgia has been met with outrage in many communities in the last year or so, causing state lawmakers from both parties to push a flurry of legislative solutions during the 2026 legislative session.
Oct. 19, 2026 Capitol Beat News
Trump to Georgia voters: ‘Pretend I’m on the ballot’
Ty Tagami reports that President Donald Trump traveled to Georgia on Friday to rally Republican voters three days after early voting got underway and with Election Day just over two weeks away. His visit was meant to boost the campaigns of GOP candidates, especially U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, who is running to unseat Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, and businessman Rick Jackson, who is running against former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms for governor.
Oct. 19, 2026 WSB TV
Barack Obama to rally with Keisha Lance Bottoms, Jon Ossoff in Atlanta
Sabrina Castro reports that former President Barack Obama will join Democratic gubernatorial nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms and U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff for a rally in Atlanta on Wednesday, Oct. 28. The rally will focus on the November election, health care, lowering costs and education.
Oct. 19, 2026 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
AJC poll: Trump’s approval remains underwater in Georgia
Greg Bluestein and Caleb Groves report, inside an airport hangar Friday, President Donald Trump’s enduring hold on Georgia Republicans was unmistakable. Beyond the cheering crowd, though, the political picture is far more complicated.
