Georgia Trend Daily – Sept. 15, 2026
Sept. 15, 2026 Valdosta Daily Times
VSU professor shares economic outlook at Georgia peanut industry meeting
Staff reports that Dr. Ellis Heath, professor of economics and head of the Department of Economics and Finance at Valdosta State University, recently presented a macroeconomic outlook to peanut industry leaders during the 2026 Pre-Harvest Meeting of the American Peanut Shellers Association and National Peanut Buying Points Association in Leesburg, Georgia. “Georgia’s economy depends on strong industries and the communities they support,” he said.
Sept. 15, 2026 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Stop the Double Standard
Bryan Robinson writes, I could call them Cobb County residents, but let’s be serious, we can more specifically say “Cobb Democrats” filled a Board of Education meeting in July to express their outrage that Wheeler High hosted a speech from President Donald Trump and other Republicans. The protesters alleged an official event intended to highlight the new Trump Accounts became a political rally, and thus, an inappropriate use of a taxpayer-funded public school.
Sept. 15, 2026 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A new discount airline is launching flights to Atlanta
Kelly Yamanouchi reports, discount airline Volaris announced it will launch service to Atlanta starting next month, adding to the competition on flights to Mexico. The airline, based in Mexico, plans to begin flights between its hub in Guadalajara and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in October.
Sept. 15, 2026 Walton Tribune
Monroe approval of $3 million grant clears way for work on Alcovy River Park to begin
Jim Thompson reports, work on the Alcovy River Park, set to be established on nearly 124 acres of land donated to the city nearly six years ago by MFT Land Investments, an affiliate of Loganville-based residential construction contractor Reliant Homes, got a huge boost at the Sept. 8 council meeting with the council’s unanimous approval of an agreement regarding a $3 million grant from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
Sept. 15, 2026 Savannah Morning News
Concerns mount as OpenAI data center vote delayed
Latrice Williams reports that a vote to approve or deny site plans for the proposed data center in Effingham County has been cancelled. Effingham County announced Monday afternoon on their Facebook page that the applicant requested to postpone the consideration but did not state why. According to the meeting’s agenda, the site will feature two 35-foot-tall data center buildings, a 100,000-square-foot warehouse, a 75,000-square-foot operations building and substations to support electrical demand.
Sept. 15, 2026 Augusta Chronicle
Augusta transit workers secure raises, bonus and stronger protections
Joe Hotchkiss reports that the city of Augusta’s transit workers will get better pay and benefits, stronger job protections and a $1,000 bonus after months of negotiations with their employer. The new three-year contract with MV Transportation headed off a strike that local members of Transport Workers Union of America Local 527 voted to authorize in July.
Sept. 15, 2026 Rough Draft Atlanta
Kyle Waide selected as new president and CEO of Downtown Atlanta Inc.
Collin Kelley reports that Downtown Atlanta Inc. has chosen Atlanta Community Food Bank President and CEO Kyle Waide to lead the organization beginning in December. Downtown Atlanta Inc. is the umbrella organization of the former Central Atlanta Progress (CAP) and the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District (ADID).
Sept. 15, 2026 WABE
Atlanta Women’s Foundation donates $1.4 million to 21 local nonprofits
Kendall Murry reports that the Atlanta Women’s Foundation announced Thursday that it is investing $1.418 million in grants and other mission-driven work such as research and leadership development to improve the lives of women and girls in metro Atlanta. The foundation revealed plans to expand resources across the city during its annual Investment Celebration at Atlanta City Hall.
Sept. 15, 2026 Georgia Recorder
Georgia music education programs play on despite challenges
Ross Williams reports, early fall in Georgia brings the sounds of high schoolers blaring trumpets and pounding drums from football stadiums – as well as the squeaks and squawks of beginner musicians practicing their newly rented instruments. But these sounds do not echo equally across all of Georgia, said Alan Fowler, executive director of the Georgia Music Educators Association.
Sept. 15, 2026 Macon Telegraph
Bibb school board keeps millage rate for fourth year as budget deficit persists
Myracle Lewis reports, for the fourth year in a row, many Bibb County property owners will face higher school tax bills after the Board of Education voted to maintain its current millage rate. The school board approved keeping its current millage rate of 14.674 mills — the same rate since 2023. Because property values have climbed, holding the rate steady has resulted in higher taxes levied each year from 2023 to 2026.
Sept. 15, 2026 The Current
Chatham County elections supervisor resigns
Craig Nelson reports that the supervisor of the Chatham County Elections Board resigned Monday, just six months after assuming the post and less than a month before early voting for midterm elections gets underway. Brook Schreiner had held the $95,000-a-year post for little more than six months when she submitted her resignation at an executive session of the five-member board Monday afternoon, board member James Hall said in a Facebook post.
Sept. 15, 2026 Georgia Recorder
Kemp backs Mike Collins in Georgia’s U.S. Senate race with election less than two months away
Ross Williams reports, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has endorsed Republican Congressman Mike Collins in Georgia’s high-stakes U.S. Senate race after backing Collins’ rival in the GOP primary. “Mike Collins and I share a commitment to making Georgia an even better place to live, work, and raise a family,” Kemp said in a statement Monday.
Sept. 15, 2026 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Trump or the middle? Georgia Republicans test two paths to victory
Greg Bluestein reports, nothing illustrated the stark divide in the Georgia Republican approach to November quite like what happened in the middle of a national GOP convention last week dominated by President Donald Trump. Hours after U.S. Rep. Mike Collins addressed thousands of MAGA loyalists in Dallas, GOP nominee for governor Rick Jackson was back in Georgia, stumping in Madison before joining Gov. Brian Kemp for a fundraiser built around a message largely untethered from Trump.
