Georgia Trend Daily – April 30, 2026
April 30, 2026 The Brunswick News
Re-entry begins, aid resources event planned as Brantley fire still burns
Michael Hall reports that officials are allowing some Brantley County residents back into areas where the Highway 82 wildfire has already burned. But the fire that has torn through more than 22,000 acres in the Atkinson and Waynesville areas was far from extinguished or fully contained.
April 30, 2026 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Logistics Boom in Georgia
Don Sadler reports that Georgia continues to rank as one of the most business-friendly states in the country, ranking at the top of Area Development magazine’s Best States for Business list in 2025 for the 12th year in a row. A big reason is Georgia’s thriving logistics network. “We continue to see record-setting growth in our logistics infrastructure,” says Sandy Lake, director of logistics at the Georgia Center of Innovation, part of the state’s Department of Economic Development.
April 30, 2026 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Amid decline in film production, equipment rental company exits Atlanta
Savannah Sicurella reports that studio and equipment rental company Quixote is winding down its Atlanta production services business as part of a broader strategy to save millions in costs amid a downturn in film production in the U.S. Parent company Hudson Pacific Properties, a Los Angeles-based real estate investment trust, announced the decision April 28.
April 30, 2026 Valdosta Daily Times
Lowndes County Utilities issues public notice following statewide drought declaration
Staff reports, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division issued a statewide Drought Response Level 1 Monday as continuing dry conditions raise concerns about water resources across the state. After closely monitoring drought indicators for several months, EPD coordinated with public water systems, including Lowndes County Utilities, to assess current conditions and the status of the water supply before making this determination, the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners said in a press release Wednesday.
April 30, 2026 Georgia Press
Northside Hospital Atlanta launches expansion project for emergency department
Dyana Bagby reports that Northside Hospital Atlanta in Sandy Springs is undergoing an expansion and renovation of its emergency department. The department will remain open and operational throughout the project, expected to be completed in early 2028.
April 30, 2026 Tifton Gazette
Renasant Bank donates $50,000 each to Tift Regional Medical Center and Southwell Medical
Staff reports, Renasant Bank recently donated $50,000 to Tift Regional Medical Center in Tifton and $50,000 to Southwell Medical in Adel. These contributions were made through the Georgia HEART program, which supports rural hospitals throughout the state.
April 30, 2026 Healthbeat Atlanta
Georgia ranks 48th for Hispanic health care, driven by high uninsured rates
Rebecca Grapevine reports that Georgia ranks second worst in the nation for Hispanic health care, with high rates of uninsured adults and children, according to a report released Wednesday by The Commonwealth Fund. The report used data for 24 health indicators from 2023 and 2024 to rank how states’ health systems perform for different racial groups.
April 30, 2026 Macon Telegraph
Georgia PSC tells feds not to worry about Ossoff’s AI data center inquiry
Kala Hunter reports, late week, U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to investigate whether proper safeguards are in place for electricity rates amid a boom in AI data centers setting up shop and vying to come to the Peach State. However, on Monday, a week after Ossoff’s request, two Georgia Public Service Commissioners gave an unsolicited response to FERC’s chairman, declaring there is a “simple answer to his inquiry” and touting the guardrails they have put in place.
April 30, 2026 Gainesville Times
State Sen. Drew Echols just won this award for his tourism advocacy
Ben Anderson reports, the Georgia World Congress Center Authority has named state Sen. Drew Echols its Legislative Champion of the Year, recognizing what officials described as his growing advocacy for Georgia’s tourism and hospitality industry. The award was presented during the authority’s April board meeting, according to a press release.
April 30, 2026 WABE
New Georgia election tool breaks down voter turnout by party amid a record for early voting
Kendall Murry reports that Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger announced Wednesday that his office has upgraded the state’s Election Data Hub. The office says the hub now includes a new feature in the Voter Turnout Interactive Map that enables people to filter voting participation by party affiliation.
April 30, 2026 GPB
In debates for the secretary of state race, a broad consensus to change voting machines forms
Grant Blankenship reports that candidates for secretary of state, the office ultimately responsible for the accuracy and safety of Georgia elections, faced off in partisan debates Tuesday, offering divergent paths to keeping the trust of the voting public. From the beginning of the debate between Republican candidates Gabriel Sterling, Ted Metz, Vernon Jones and Kelvin King, it was apparent Sterling would be challenged by the others for his role in administering a state election system they all characterized as broken and even corrupt, pointing to still unproven allegations of misconduct in Fulton County during the 2020 election.
April 30, 2026 Georgia Recorder
Supreme Court decision weakening Voting Rights Act could impact future political maps in Georgia
Maya Homan reports that some prominent Republicans started calling for Georgia lawmakers to redraw the state’s political maps hours after the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling that dilutes a key provision of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Democrats have roundly condemned the decision, which they say risks fair representation for minority voters across the country, and urged Georgia residents to make their voices heard at the polls during this year’s midterm elections.
April 30, 2026 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
AJC poll: More than $100M later, GOP governor’s race is neck-and-neck
Greg Bluestein reports that the most expensive Republican primary for governor in Georgia history is still a dead heat despite a staggering avalanche of ad spending and one of the ugliest intraparty fights in recent memory. Republican healthcare executive Rick Jackson and Lt. Gov. Burt Jones have spent months hammering each other in court, on the debate stage, on the campaign trail and in an ad war that’s eclipsed $100 million in spending.
