July 20, 2026 Georgia.gov
Staff reports that the Georgia Department of Labor announced that Georgia reached new all-time highs in both its labor force (5,477,859) and employment (5,294,229) in June, while the state’s unemployment rate held steady at 3.4%. Georgia’s unemployment rate remains 0.8 percentage points below the national rate.
July 20, 2026 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Kristen Soles McCrackin reports, across South Metro Atlanta, economic development is no longer defined solely by major projects and capital investment. It’s taking shape in the details – safer streets, cleaner corridors, clearer signage and more intentional design.
July 20, 2026 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Drew Kann reports, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee meets this month in Busan, South Korea, to decide if the Okefenokee belongs in the same company as places like Yellowstone National Park, the Taj Mahal and Machu Picchu. Supporters of the Okefenokee’s bid see World Heritage status as a well-deserved and long-awaited acknowledgment of the swamp’s world-class ecosystems.
July 20, 20206 Marietta Daily Journal
Jack Lindner reports, despite challenges in the American economy, the nation is projected to continue steady economic growth through 2027, said Kennesaw State University economist Roger Tutterow. Tutterow outlined various trends in the nation’s economy, and how they are expected to impact communities on the local level in a talk to the Cobb Chamber of Commerce this week.
July 20, 2026 Capitol Beat News
Ty Tagami reports that people spent more money on the Georgia Lottery over the past year than the prior one, sending more than $1 billion to public educational programs for the 11th year in a row. The more than $1.5 billion raised during fiscal year 2026, which ended June 30, exceeded the prior fiscal year profit by nearly $70 million, according to Gov. Brian Kemp’s office.
July 20, 2026 Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
Jordyn Paul-Slater reports that Master Wall Inc., an architectural and exterior wall manufacturer, has expanded its Columbus operations with a new manufacturing facility that also serves as the company’s corporate headquarters. The expansion represents an approximately $7 million investment in property acquisition and facility improvements.
July 20, 2026 GPB
Sofi Gratas reports, Georgia researchers are hoping to learn more about the financial well being of the state’s farmers, who drive Georgia’s largest economic sector. The Farm Profitability Survey from the University of Georgia’s School of Public Health, the Georgia Farm Bureau and the Georgia Farm Foundation includes questions about operating margins, cash flow, and debt, among others, because Georgia farmers have reported financial stress as a top concern, said researcher Stephanie Basey, who has done previous farmer wellbeing studies.
July 20, 2026 GlobalAtlanta.com
Trevor Williams reports that the Spanish firm leading the design, construction and operation of the Georgia 400 express toll lanes project has acquired a metro Atlanta an infrastructure contractor. Acciona, the buyer in the deal, is a key member of the SR 400 Peach Partners Consortium, which also includes Spanish firms ACS Infrastructure and FlatironDragados, another firm deepening its presence in Atlanta, as well as Paris-based Meridiam.
July 20, 2026 Capitol Beat News
Ty Tagami reports that MARTA announced Friday that it moved 4.7 million riders during the 35 days of events in metro Atlanta, with no major crimes reported. The transit agency came into the FIFA World Cup amid a federal investigation, after a woman was stabbed to death on a train and another was stabbed in a separate incident.
July 20, 2026 Macon Telegraph
Kala Hunter reports, a year ago, in a 4-3 vote, the Lowndes County Planning Commission approved property owner Pope Langdale’s request to rezone 719 acres of his land from residential to manufacturing in north Valdosta. A week later, on July 8, 2025, the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners approved the rezoning from low residential (R-1) to light manufacturing (M-1), “to be developed into a large warehouse type campus,” according to meeting minutes.
July 20, 2026 Georgia Recorder
Ellie Fivas reports, after spending 16 years moving away from a psychiatric care system centered on institutionalization, state officials are preparing to build Georgia’s largest state hospital in decades. More than 700 Georgians in the criminal justice system are currently waiting for a spot in a state psychiatric facility, according to Kevin Tanner, commissioner of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities.
July 20, 2026 State Affairs
Beau Evans reports, hardly any study committees will meet this year in the Georgia Senate, marking a dearth of out-of-session activity before new statewide leadership takes office in 2027. Only one study committee was appointed from 13 committees approved by senators in the 2026 regular session.
July 20, 2026 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Tia Mitchell reports, U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, already considered the underdog in his race to unseat incumbent U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, is now facing a new controversy surrounding white nationalist and antisemitic statements by his son-in-law who lives on his property. A spokesperson for Collins pointed to his record supporting Israel in response to the multiple social media accounts, first reported on by CNN, in which the congressman’s son-in-law used Nazi imagery and posted videos and images using white nationalist tropes.
July 17, 2026 GPB The Okefenokee is on the verge of UNESCO World Heritage status, bringing promise — and pressure Jillian Magtoto reports, later in July, a United Nations committee will likely convene in South Korea to officially inscribe the…
July 16, 2026 The Brunswick News Infrastructure bill to pay for 58 miles of fiber at Georgia ports Staff reports, a recently passed federal infrastructure bill includes just under $21 million to install fiber connections to increase efficiency and connectivity…
July 15, 2026 Georgia.gov Gov. Kemp: Highline Warren Plans Multi-Year, $170M Investment in Henry County Staff reports that Gov. Kemp, on Tuesday, announced that Highline Warren, an American vertically integrated distributor of automotive aftermarket and cleaning products, is investing $170…
July 14, 2026 GPB Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta leads multi-site clinical trial for peanut allergy Ellen Eldridge reports that Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is leading a multi-site study to test a new way of potentially treating peanut allergy with an…
July 13, 2026 Augusta Chronicle Best run city in Georgia? This one is in WalletHub's top 25 in the US Miguel Legoas reports, two weeks ago, WalletHub ranked the best and worst cities in the U.S. Only two Georgia cities were included in…
July 10, 2026 Georgia.gov Gov. Kemp Leads Economic Development Mission to Scotland and Ireland Staff reports that Gov. Kemp announced that he and First Lady Marty Kemp are leading an international mission this week to foster economic relationships in Scotland…
July 9, 2026 Georgia.org Georgia Council for the Arts Awards 179 Organizations $1.3 Million in Grant Funding Staff reports that the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) team specialized in empowering arts and culture, Georgia Council for the Arts, on…
July 8, 2026 Macon Telegraph Childcare in GA is among the lowest in cost, but not in accessibility. Here’s how it stacks up Sundi Rose reports, the National Bipartisan Policy Center reports nearly 65% of Georgia children have two…
July 7, 2026 Augusta Chronicle Textron plans split that could spin off Augusta's E‑Z‑GO | Exclusive Joe Hotchkiss reports that the Augusta-based manufacturer of one of the world's leading brands of golf carts could split from parent company Textron by the…
July 6, 2026 Valdosta Daily Times Survey seeks input from Georgia farmers on economic challenges Staff reports that the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture (GFA), Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB), and the University of Georgia College of Public Health have partnered to…
July 2, 2026 Newnan Times-Herald Georgia Power: Grid ready for AI, population growth Laura Camper reports that Plant Yates was buzzing with activity Thursday, much of it centered on construction of three new generator towers, signs of the growth happening…
July 1, 2026 Columbus Ledger-Enquirer How a No. 1 bestselling book inspired by Columbus impacts tourism in the city Madeline Shapiro reports, in the novel “Theo of Golden,” a stranger moves into a Southern town and embeds himself in the…
June 30, 2026 Georgia.gov Gov. Kemp Announces Fourth Round of Rural Site Development Grants Staff reports, Gov. Kemp on Monday announced the fourth round of grants from the Rural Site Development Initiative (RSDI) within the OneGeorgia Authority, totaling $7.8 million…
June 29, 2026 Macon Telegraph Georgia communities receive $13.5M to clean up contaminated sites Margaret Walker reports that Federal officials announced $13.5 million in cleanup grants for Georgia communities to turn contaminated properties into something usable again, the Environmental Protection…
June 26, 2026 Georgia.gov Gov. Kemp: Yancey Engineered Solutions Bringing 300 New Jobs to Crisp Co. Staff reports that Gov. Kemp on Thursday announced that Georgia-based engineering and manufacturing company Yancey Engineered Solutions will invest $5.7 million in a new…
June 25, 2026 GPB Conservation groups demand congressional oversight of new plans for Cumberland Island Jillian Magtoto reports that Cumberland Island is among the largest remaining undeveloped barrier islands on the East Coast. But recent moves from the National Park…
June 24, 2026 GPB Georgia Power has a massive plan for new power lines. What does that mean for the homes near them? Grant Blankenship reports, on a recent morning, Claudia Moore was at home, with her kids, watching them…
June 23, 2026 Georgia.gov Gov. Kemp Announces Georgia Activation at Great American State Fair Staff reports that Gov. Kemp on Monday announced the State of Georgia's participation in the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C., as part of the…
June 22, 2026 WSB Radio Georgia’s oldest bookshop cracks Top 10 independent bookstore list Staff reports, a beloved Georgia bookstore is earning national recognition. USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards ranked E. Shaver, Bookseller in Savannah, as the No. 9…
June 19, 2026 GlobalAtlanta.com How to Have a Beer With 10,000 Czech Fans Descending on Atlanta for the World Cup Trevor Williams reports that Atlanta is set to host up to 10,000 Czech visitors to the city as its national soccer team, a…
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