Georgia Trend Daily – June 1, 2026
June 1, 2026 Savannah Morning News
Savannah Hilton Head airport lands $10M for upgrades
Latrice Williams reports that the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport is slated to receive $10 million in federal funding to bring new upgrades to the facility. U.S. Sens. Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock collaborated through the bipartisan infrastructure law to secure funding for the improvements, which “will support support the renovation of the baggage claim, ticket lobby, and Savannah Square at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport to enhance accessibility, comfort, and reliability for Georgia families and other travelers,” according to a press release.
June 1, 2026 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
The World COMES TO PLAY: Atlanta & Georgia Host the FIFA World Cup
Amritha Alladi Joseph reports, thirty years ago, Atlanta was a newbie among major international cities that host global sporting events. But this month, when the capital city steps into the global spotlight as a FIFA World Cup host, the showcase of its multicultural communities, vibrant metro area and statewide tourism gems will evoke a sense of worldliness.
June 1, 2026 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Frustration, disappointment for Georgia soccer fans priced out of World Cup
Ken Sugiura reports that Dave Marler has waited nearly his whole life for this moment — the World Cup in his home state. Marler is a rarity — a 66-year-old LaGrange resident, he grew up playing soccer in metro Atlanta during the soccer boom.
June 1, 2026 WABE
Metro Atlanta Airbnb and hotels see low bookings ahead of World Cup
Marlon Hyde reports that Metro Atlanta hotels are seeing lower-than-expected demand as bookings have not lived up to the World Cup hype. Visitors looking to book a place to stay in Decatur during the World Cup should have little to no issues finding available spaces.
June 1, 2026 Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
Pinnacle plans to expand Columbus office and add jobs after merger with Synovus
Jordyn Paul-Slater reports, in an interview last month with the Ledger-Enquirer, Kevin Blair, CEO of Nashville-based Pinnacle Financial Partners, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to continue growth and investment in the Chattahoochee Valley since its merger with Columbus-based Synovus. “I want the community to know, just as we promised, we’re going to make this a bigger but better bank, and not lose who we are,” Blair said.
June 1, 2026 GPB
Georgia Chamber to launch new data center-ready designation for communities
Sarah Kallis reports that the Georgia Chamber of Commerce is launching a new initiative to help communities that want data centers prepare to host them. The Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s “Data Center-Ready” designation launches this summer and will help communities decide if they have the right access to fiber, water systems, workforce and land use to support data centers as well as the proper zoning.
June 1, 2026 Saporta Report
Inside SoDo, Atlanta’s ‘once in a lifetime’ project
Delaney Tarr reports, it’s the kind of project that happens once in a city’s lifetime. Ten city blocks, 58 buildings, 16 acres and one developer all working to revitalize a historic piece of downtown.
June 1, 2026 GlobalAtlanta.com
Casa España Planned for South Downtown During Spain’s Two Atlanta World Cup Matches
Trevor Williams reports, the tech-fueled redevelopment of a historic group of buildings in downtown Atlanta may be hitting its stride as the FIFA World Cup approaches. Fresh off the opening of a new green space (delivered ahead of its World Cup deadline) South Downtown was selected by Spain’s soccer federation as the site of Casa España, a cultural showcase bookending Spain’s two matches in Atlanta.
June 1, 2026 Savannah Morning News
Ownerless Tybee Island tract may become protected conservation land
Destini Ambus reports that nearly seven acres between the Captain’s View subdivision and the Lighthouse Point Beach Club Condominiums on Tybee Island, are what 30-year resident Ric Hogan calls “no man’s land.” For nearly 30 years, the homeowners associations have taken it upon themselves to tend the land, brush-hogging it annually to maintain its appearance, protect their views, and help control Chinese tallow, an invasive, fast-growing tree species.
June 1, 2026 Georgia Recorder
Georgia GOP hopefuls running for the U.S. Senate spar over immigration, ethics investigation
Alander Rocha reports, the two candidates competing for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate traded jabs on the debate stage Sunday over a U.S. House ethics investigation and immigration policy. The debate, organized by the Atlanta Press Club and hosted by Georgia Public Broadcasting, featured Congressman Mike Collins and former football coach Derek Dooley, who are running in the June 16 primary runoff to be the nominee who will run against U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff in November.
June 1, 2026 Capitol Beat News
Fat in Georgia’s budget may have saved their bacon
Ty Tagami reports, things were looking grim for Georgia’s wild pigs during this year’s legislative session, but they found partial salvation in lawmakers who larded their own budget with too much pork. Gov. Brian Kemp, in his effort to balance the budget, cut hundreds of millions of dollars in new spending when he signed it earlier this month.
June 1, 2026 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Election Board hires election skeptic as investigator
Caleb Groves reports that the State Election Board has quietly hired an activist who has challenged the registrations of thousands of Fulton County voters and who cheered as the FBI raided a county ballot warehouse in January to be the board’s official state investigator, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has learned. Jason Frazier stands out among Georgia’s election skeptics and hand-marked paper ballot proponents.
