Georgia Trend Daily – April 22, 2026
April 22, 2026 GPB
Fire spreads in South Georgia amid worsening drought
Emily Jones reports that a wildfire in South Georgia has grown to nearly 9,000 acres and was just 10% contained as of Tuesday morning, according to the Georgia Forestry Commission. The Pinelands Road fire was one of 52 that started in just two days, April 18 and 19, as most of Georgia experiences drought conditions.
April 2, 2026 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
The Essential Role of a Health Plan in Georgia
Amanda Free reports, when families face a cancer diagnosis, mental health crisis, or any unexpected change in their health, the last thing they should worry about is navigating a complicated healthcare system. But for many, that’s exactly what they face.
April 22, 2026 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Texas law firm poaches real estate group to open Atlanta office
Rosie Manins reports, a large Texas law firm is opening an Atlanta office with a group of real estate attorneys it poached from the Buckhead base of newly merged firm Taft | Morris Manning. Winstead’s move into Atlanta is the latest in a series of recent market changes driven in large part by outside law firms that have caused some local firms to fold and helped others flourish.
April 22, 2026 WABE
Atlanta City Council approves entertainment district for World Cup fans
Marlon Hyde reports, ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup matches this summer, the Atlanta City Council has approved designating parts of downtown as a temporary “Public Entertainment District” for fans. Under the ordinance, solicitation, the distribution of free commercial products and vehicle cruising are prohibited in portions of downtown Atlanta and Castleberry Hill.
April 22, 2026 Gainesville Times
Gainesville-based Peach State Bank is being acquired by United Community Bank
Jeff Gill reports, United Community Banks is moving to acquire Gainesville-based Peach State Bancshares Inc. for $100.4 million, bank officials said Tuesday, April 21. Peach State, which has a branch in Braselton, had total assets of $788 million, loans of $498 million and deposits of $713 million as of March 31, according to a press release.
April 22, 2026 Albany Herald
While others talk work force solutions, this Albany robotics team is building them
Kathryn Crockett reports, in a brightly lit “STEM gym” tucked inside a public charter school, a group of high school students is quietly doing something many communities spend years trying to figure out: building a work force pipeline that actually works. Relaxed but focused, they sit haphazardly across the floor, eyes locked on their team captain talking through competition strategy.
April 22, 2026 The Current
Right whale calving season yields 23 babies
Mary Landers reports that North Atlantic right whales, a beleaguered species of fewer than 400 individuals, gave researchers new reason to hope this winter off the coast of Georgia. The bus-sized giants migrate to the Southeast to give birth.
April 22, 2026 Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
Minority Leader Carolyn Hugley discusses key takeaways from GA legislative session
Brittany McGee reports, the 2026 Georgia General Assembly legislative session has ended with bills that restrict school zone cameras, create a merit-based scholarship for students and reduce property taxes — all sent to Gov. Brian Kemp for his signature. The Ledger-Enquirer interviewed Georgia House Minority Leader Carolyn Hugley (D-Columbus), who represents District 141, about some of the key pieces of legislation that will impact Columbus and the rest of the state.
April 22, 2026 Georgia Recorder
Georgia Democrats decry steep drop in ACA enrollment
Alander Rocha and Jill Nolin report, when congressional Republicans allowed pandemic-era enhanced health insurance subsidies to expire at the end of last year, Georgia Democrats and at least one notable Republican warned that a spike in premiums for Affordable Care Act plans would cause many Georgians to lose their coverage.
April 22, 2026 Marietta Daily Journal
Fitz Johnson survives residency challenge, stays in PSC race
Lucinda Warnke reports that Republican Public Service Commission candidate Fitz Johnson meets residency requirements and is eligible to continue his campaign, a judge has ruled. Office of State Administrative Hearings Judge Kimberly Schroer released the decision less than a week after a more than three-hour-long hearing to deliberate if Johnson had violated rules stating that PSC candidates must live in the district they are running to represent.
April 22, 2026 Capitol Beat News
Candidates for Georgia governor present to manufacturers’ forum
Ty Tagami reports, with weeks to go before Georgia’s primary election, nearly all the leading candidates for governor attended a forum Tuesday in hopes of distinguishing themselves from their competitors. Only Keisha Lance Bottoms, a Democrat and former Atlanta mayor, skipped the event at The Battery Atlanta hosted by the Georgia Association of Manufacturers.
April 22, 2026 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Why Derek Dooley is trying to turn Georgia’s Senate race into a revolt against D.C.
Greg Bluestein reports that Derek Dooley is trying to pull off a tricky balancing act as he campaigns for the U.S. Senate: run against Democrat Jon Ossoff while waging war on Washington itself. The former football coach sharpened that message Tuesday with the launch of his first TV ad, timed to promote his campaign against U.S. Reps. Buddy Carter and Mike Collins just before early voting begins next week in the Republican primary.
