James_Jan-Feb_2026_web - Flipbook - Page 7
The 2020 Georgia election interference case against
President Donald Trump officially died with Fulton
County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee dismissing it “in its entirety.” The prosecution, brought by
Fulton County DA Fani Willis, was in national
headlines for over two years, but collapsed when she
was found romantically and financially involved with
one of the special prosecutors she hired to lead the
case. And she improperly based the prosecution on
an anti-racketeering law. The disgraced DA and the
case have Sunk . . .
It was a great day for one Georgian after purchasing
the $980 million winning Mega Millions ticket at a
Publix in Newnan. It was also a jackpot for the Georgia government, which will collect some $20 million
in taxes from the ticket, according to Georgia Lottery
President and CEO Gretchen Corbin. The Lottery, by
the way, has crossed the $30 billion mark for money
raised for Georgia education since its inception in
1993. RISING. . .
A Newton County lawmaker has been arrested on
charges of defrauding the federal government during
COVID. State Rep. Sharon Henderson, D-Covington,
stands accused of securing federal pandemic unemployment benefits under the pretense that she was
unable to come to her job at the Henry County School
District due to the pandemic— and received nearly
$18,000. But school officials say the legislator had only
worked as a substitute teacher in the school system for
five days back in 2018— years before the claims were
filed. Federal charges have Henderson Sinking . . .
One of Georgia’s most iconic brands is about to have
a new leader. Coca-Cola Executive Vice President and
Chief Operating Officer Henrique Braun will succeed
James Quincey as CEO, taking over the beverage giant
which boasts a market cap of more than $300 billion.
Born in California and raised in Brazil, and with an
MBA from Georgia State University, Braun brings a
unique background to Coke as he looks to keep its
success RISING . . .
Libertarian Party candidates in Georgia have forced
multiple Senate races to runoffs in recent cycles, including in 2020 and 2022. But after failing to reach one
percent of the vote in 2024's presidential race, the party must collect 72,679 signatures (one percent of active
Georgia voters) by July of 2026 or risk not making the
ballot at all for the midterms. Party officials say they’re
still short of that number, leaving the Libertarians’
Peach State influence Sinking . . .
The announcement of which teams will be playing
in Atlanta this summer for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
was mildly disappointing because countries traveling
to the Peach State will include South Africa, Morocco, Haiti, Uzbekistan (who?) and Cape Verde
(WHO?). But there is a silver lining. FIFA’s number
one team, World Cup favorite Spain, will play two
group stage matches in Atlanta. They will bring their
star-studded roster and legions of fans into Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and likely set up camp somewhere in metro Atlanta. La Roja (the team’s nickname) will have Atlanta’s sports scene RISING . . .
After being elected in 2020, former Republican U.S.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene was one of President
Donald Trump’s most high-profile and ardent supporters, becoming one of the faces of the MAGA movement
that retook the White House in 2024. But that partnership went up in flames for several reasons ranging
from joining with Democrats on healthcare issues and
slamming U.S. support for Israel. She resigned in January, forcing a special election to fill the GOP-dominated
northwest Georgia seat. The feud leaves MTG’s position
in the Republican Party Sinking . . .
University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny
Perdue has been inducted into the National Agricultural Hall of Fame, a nod to his accomplishments
supporting and advocating for the ag industry across a
storied political career. The former governor and U.S.
agriculture secretary is only the third Georgian to join
the prestigious Kansas City-based hall of fame. The
honor has Perdue’s legacy RISING . . .
JA N UA RY /F E B RUARY 2026
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