Georgia Trend Daily – Jan. 29, 2026
Jan. 29, 2026 Savannah Morning News
Georgia Ports logs second-busiest calendar year, touts efficiency, speed
Evan Lasseter reports, for many in this city known for its booming shipping port, questions turned to what tariffs would mean for the signature ship traffic common on Savannah’s river. An answer came Tuesday as the Georgia Ports Authority announced its second busiest calendar year on record amid volatility in global trade.
Jan. 29, 2026 Georgia Trend Exclusive!
Aerotech Machining Recognized as Modern Machine Shop’s Top Shops Honoree
Jana Lawrence reports, that Aerotech Machining has earned national recognition as Modern Machine Shop’s Top Shops Honoree in Machining Technology for 2025. According to Modern Machine Shop, Aerotech Machining earned this status for a number of reasons, from its apprenticeship program and investing in employee skills to investing in new equipment and technology such as 3D printers and machines that use SmoothAI controls.
Jan. 29, 2026 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Home Depot to cut 800 corporate jobs, require workers back to office full time
Amy Wenk reports that Home Depot says it is eliminating about 800 corporate jobs tied to its Vinings headquarters. The home improvement retailer will also require corporate workers to return to the office five days a week, beginning April 6.
Jan. 29, 2026 Georgia.gov
Gov. Kemp Announces TCSG, Mercer Transfer Agreements
Staff reports that Gov. Brian P. Kemp yesterday announced that the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) and Mercer University have signed new transfer agreements designed to create seamless pathways for technical college students to earn bachelor’s degrees, further reducing barriers to completion and strengthening Georgia’s workforce pipeline. Known as articulation agreements, this partnership allows graduates from any of TCSG’s 22 colleges to transfer into Mercer University’s Bachelor of Business Administration programs in Accounting, Business Technology, Human Resource Management, and Management.
Jan. 29, 2026 Athens Banner-Herald
New $5 million entrance to State Botanical Garden in Athens planned by UGA
Wayne Ford reports that the entrance to the popular State Botanical Garden of Georgia on South Milledge Avenue will be relocated and expanded through a $5 million project, the University of Georgia announced this week. Money for the project was raised through private donations and a state appropriation of $2.35 million.
Jan. 29, 2026 WSB Radio
Alpharetta officials welcome new tech center to the city
Staff reports that Alpharetta’s mayor and other local officials were on the scene of a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday for a new technology center. Evernex Operations is a global third-party maintenance (TPM) and IT life-cycle service company.
Jan. 29, 2026 Gainesville Times
NGHS President/CEO named one of Georgia’s most influential people in 2026
Adriana Cascio reports, in Georgia Trend magazine’s list of 100 Most Influential Georgians for 2026, dozens of presidents, CEO’s, chairs, mayors and commissioners are recognized. With the Northeast Georgia Health System being named ” a powerhouse in north Georgia” by the magazine, NGHS president and CEO Dr. Matt Hanley made his way onto the list.
Jan. 29, 2026 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Nominate now for the 2026 Georgia 500
Staff reports, the 2026 Georgia 500 Nominations for Georgia Trend’s fifth annual edition of GEORGIA 500 are open until January 31, 2026. Georgia 500 is a compilation of the state’s Most Influential Leaders and will publish in November 2026.
Jan. 29, 2026 GPB
Residents of Social Circle, pop. 5,000, fear rumors that ICE could triple their population
Grant Blankenship reports, U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff has written a letter to the head of the Department of Homeland Security, pressing for details about a rumored Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility planned for a warehouse in a small Atlanta suburb. So far, leaders in the city of Social Circle, population about 5,000, have been unable to learn anything new about the idea (first reported in the Washington Post) that ICE has its eye on a million-square-foot warehouse in the city.
Jan. 29, 2026 The Current
Legislature 101: Following Georgia’s budget drafts
Maggie Lee reports that Georgia spends about $3,200 per resident per year to operate the state. The person overseeing this spending is the state’s most powerful elected official, currently Republican Gov. Brian Kemp.
Jan. 29, 2026 Macon Telegraph
GA governor candidate wants transparency on ICE, more police ‘on the ground’
Jesse Fraga reports that as immigration enforcement ramps up across the United States, a Republican businessman who intends to run for Georgia governor blamed both civilians and politicians for violence by federal officers. Clark Dean, a conservative businessman without experience in public office, called for less “political theater” and more transparency from politicians about their goals on immigration enforcement. He also wants to see a greater law enforcement presence in Georgia.
Jan. 29, 2026 Rome News-Tribune
Timbering for the long haul: Floyd County grower sees stakes in proposed state tax cut
Tom Mayer reports, a proposed amendment to the Georgia Constitution that would eliminate sales taxes on timber is drawing local attention as landowners say mill closures, storm damage and shrinking markets are putting long-term forestry under increasing strain. Mills Fitzner, a timber farmer who lives in Floyd County with family land in Screven County along the Savannah River, said the issue goes beyond tax policy and cuts to whether working forests can remain viable for future generations.
Jan. 29, 2026 Georgia Recorder
FBI raids Fulton County elections warehouse seeking 2020 ballots
Maya Homan reports that officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation raided the Fulton County elections warehouse Wednesday. A court order signed by Magistrate Judge Catherine M. Salinas authorized agents to seize all physical ballots from the 2020 election in Fulton County, all ballot images and Fulton County’s 2020 voter rolls.
Jan. 29, 2026 State Affairs
Houses moves to end property taxes for Georgia homeowners
Beau Evans reports that eight months ago, Rep. Shaw Blackmon, R-Bonaire, set out on what seemed like an impossible job. The Houston County lawmaker was tasked by House Speaker Jon Burns, R-Newington, with figuring out how to end property taxes for nearly millions of Georgia homeowners that have skyrocketed in recent years.
Jan. 29, 2026 Capitol Beat News
Republican state House leaders unveil plan to abolish homeowner property taxes
Ty Tagami reports that Republicans in Georgia’s state House say they want to take steps to erase homeowner property taxes this legislative session, which is getting underway ahead of an election cycle seemingly dominated by concerns about the cost of living. The proposal unveiled at the Capitol Wednesday by House leaders, would gradually chip away at the amount of property taxes homeowners pay on their primary residence, until the amount vanishes to zero in 2032.
Jan. 29, 2026 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Cobb County school officials threaten to punish students joining ICE walkout
Greg Bluestein, Tia Mitchell, Patricia Murphy and Adam Beam report, thousands of students across Georgia have staged walkouts in recent weeks to protest President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdowns. But in Cobb County, school officials have a blunt warning to students thinking of joining a planned protest Friday during classroom hours.
