Georgia Trend Daily – Aug. 21, 2026

Aug. 21, 2026 Georgia Recorder

Atlanta left off the shortlist of 2028 DNC host cities

Maya Homan reports, the Democratic National Committee has narrowed its list of host cities for its 2028 national convention — and Atlanta did not make the cut. The Democratic and Republican national conventions are held every four years, during which delegates officially select that year’s presidential nominee.

Aug. 21, 2026 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!

Jules Restaurant: Southern Elegance

Sucheta Rawal reports, my evening at Jules restaurant, which is tucked inside the rolling countryside of Barnsley Resort, began long before the first course arrived. I drove past horse pastures and thick forests before walking onto an estate that appeared to have been transported from the English countryside – manicured gardens spilling with blooms, mossy pathways winding around centuries-old brick ruins and the haunting remains of the Italianate manor built in the 1840s by Godfrey Barnsley for his wife, Julia.

Aug. 21, 2026 Atlanta Journal-Constitution

What end of EEOC sex, race data collection could mean for Ga. workers, employers

Mirtha Donastorg reports that in 2024, white men made up a little more than half of Delta Air Lines’ executives, senior-level officials and managers. For Home Depot, that share was higher, at about 58%. At Coca-Cola, it was 38%.

Aug. 21, 2026 Fox 5 Atlanta

Industrial growth along I-85 drives rapid population gains in Jackson County

Kevyn Stewart reports that population growth along the Interstate 85 corridor northeast of Gwinnett County is surging as major industrial projects draw new workers to Jackson County. Between 2024 and 2025, Jackson County ranked fourth nationally for population growth among counties with at least 20,000 residents.

Aug. 21, 2026 Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Tom Hanks eyed to star in film based on Columbus-inspired novel ‘Theo of Golden’

Sundi Rose reports, Columbus’ beloved Allen Levi and his bestselling book, “Theo of Golden,” might be headed to the big screen. Warner Bros. Pictures is negotiating for the feature film rights to the novel set in a fictional town modeled on Columbus, according to reporting by Deadline, with Tom Hanks eyed to produce and potentially star.

Aug. 21, 2026 Albany Herald

Down but not out: Downtown Albany sees new life after decades of inertia

Alan Mauldin reports that once upon a time, before there was an Albany, Connecticut-born Nelson Tift had a dream in 1936 of a commercial center on the Flint River, whose waters provided access to the outside world via steamboat. His name of Albany, based on its namesake city in New York, stuck, as did his Bridge House, built in 1958 along with a covered bridge.

Aug. 21, 2026 Griffin Daily News

Authority down to final two parcels of land for new airport

Larry Stanford reports, since the Griffin-Spalding County Regional Airport Authority began purchasing the 750 acres needed for the new airport, they have bought 62 of the 64 properties needed to complete the footprint of the new facility. At the Aug. 10 meeting of the authority, airport project manager Madison Teague of Croy Engineering stated that they are down to two remaining parcels.

Aug. 21, 2026 Rough Draft Atlanta

Norcross developers propose a gateway 19-acre mixed-use project

Hayden Sumlin reports, the owners of Jefferson Plaza and The Station office park are working with Crooked Creek Development Partners on a 19-acre mixed-use redevelopment at the Norcross-Peachtree Corners border. The team behind the “Canopy at Crooked Creek” project held a second of three community meetings on Aug. 18 on the first floor of the Jefferson Plaza office building at 3169 Holcomb Bridge Road.

Aug. 21, 2026 Saporta Report

TriNet plants bigger roots in Atlanta with new Dunwoody office

Gabi Hart reports that TriNet is on a mission to make Atlanta a new hub for its growing workforce and small-business customers, planting its latest roots in Dunwoody with a new office and plans to expand its local team. The human resources company celebrated the grand opening of its new metro Atlanta office in Dunwoody with a ribbon-cutting Tuesday, Aug. 18, bringing together company executives, local officials, community partners and employees.

Aug. 21, 2026 GPB

Georgia lieutenant governor candidates say their race carries weight

Sarah Kallis reports, all eyes are on the governor and U.S. Senate races in Georgia. But candidates running for statewide constitutional offices like lieutenant governor are working to engage voters as well.

Aug. 21, 2026 Georgia Recorder

Jackson says he will cancel newly extended state contract if elected Georgia’s next governor

Ross Williams reports that Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson says he will terminate his companies’ contracts with the state if he is elected in November, but he did not rule out extending contracts before the election and then pulling out if he wins. Jackson is set to face Democratic nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms, the former mayor of Atlanta, in less than three months.

Aug. 21, 2026 State Affairs

Georgia farmers seek lawmakers’ help amid dire financial losses

Beau Evans reports that lawmakers are weighing how to help struggling family farms in Georgia that have been hit hard in recent years by high costs, low crop prices and the loss of young farmers to other professions. Agriculture has long been the state’s largest industry, fueling more than $90 billion in economic activity each year and employing more than 380,000 people working on nearly 10 million acres of land, according to the Georgia Farm Bureau.

Aug. 21, 2026 Capitol Beat News

Jackson reveals affordability plan while defending business dealings with state

Ty Tagami reports, facing renewed pressure over his business dealings as he runs for Georgia governor, Republican Rick Jackson pledged to end his healthcare contracting with the state by Dec. 31 if he wins the election against Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms. Appearing at an Atlanta barbershop with a handful of supporters Thursday, Jackson also pledged to cut taxes and the state budget during an event billed as a partial reveal of his affordability agenda.

Aug. 21, 2026 Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Longtime GOP utility regulator to leave post early

Kristi E. Swartz reports, veteran Republican utility regulator Tricia Pridemore is leaving her position next month, creating a temporary vacancy for the governor to fill amid a tense election year defined by increased scrutiny over data centers and electricity bills. In an email to Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, dated Aug. 18, Pridemore said she would be resigning effective Sept. 4.