Feds Launch MARTA Safety Probe

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy directed the Federal Transit Administration to open a formal investigation into the MARTA transit system in Atlanta after two stabbings within a week, including the fatal attack on a great-grandmother.

MARTA was given 15 days to submit detailed information, including action plans, historical crime data, fare evasion enforcement records, and a full accounting of safety spending for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

The investigation will “determine if systemic conditions exist that endanger the public or transit workforce,” the transportation department said, framing the probe as a public safety crisis.

MARTA said in a statement Thursday that it does not oppose federal officials looking into its operations, citing the “hard work that the MARTA team puts in every day, as well as the significant investments in personnel, technology, and operational measures … to support safety and security.”

Kemp Expands Special Session Agenda

Gov. Brian Kemp added three more items to the June 17 special legislative session, expanding the agenda beyond its original focus on redistricting and ballot QR codes.

The additions include confirming governor appointments, formally ratifying the expired gas tax suspension, and allowing local governments to place homestead property tax referendums on the November ballot.

Senate Bill 33 created the new Local Homestead Option Sales Tax, but counties first need the legislature to pass bills authorizing voters to approve the tax arrangement within their jurisdictions. Officials with a state association of county governments said the measure could provide direct property tax relief for homeowners across the state.

Sunken Cannons Return Home

Seventeen Revolutionary War-era cannons—among 19 recovered from the Savannah River in 2021 and 2022—arrived at the Savannah History Museum ahead of a July 2 public exhibit opening.

The weapons sank during the American Revolution and were recovered and restored through years of conservation work, led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Coastal Heritage Society.

Their arrival comes in a year when Georgia and the nation mark the 247th anniversary of the Siege of Savannah and the country’s 250th anniversary.

Their arrival coincides with the 247th anniversary of the siege of Savannah, and as the nation marks its 250th anniversary. The first cannon was discovered in the river in 2021 when dredging equipment pulled it from the riverbed.

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➤ Grady County: An armed man suspected of ramming a woman’s vehicle and shooting her in the shoulder was shot by sheriff’s deputies following an overnight manhunt. The suspect, William Shane Allen, pointed a gun at deputies, authorities said. He was hospitalized in critical condition. (More)

➤ Statewide: Soaking rains over recent weeks have eased drought conditions across Georgia, although much of the state remains in lower-level drought classifications, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor report. (More)

➤ Augusta: The Augusta Commission voted to impose a 49-day moratorium on new data center permits, giving city planners time to update zoning rules. The approved QTS data center is exempt. (More)

➤ Statewide: Lieutenant governor candidate Josh McLaurin received endorsements from U.S. Sens. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff ahead of this month’s Democratic primary runoff election. (More)

➤ Richmond County: The sheriff’s office highlighted its community gun safety programs, including citizens’ firearms classes and a summer youth program. (More)

➤ MLB All-Star voting opened for the July 14 Midsummer Classic in Philadelphia, with nine Atlanta Braves players on the ballot. Fans who vote get 20% off tickets to select games through July 2. (More)

➤ University of Georgia head team physician Dr. Fred Reifsteck was named the Georgia Athletic Trainers’ Association’s Physician of the Year after more than two decades caring for Bulldogs athletes. (More)

➤ Current and former Atlanta Falcons spent a day this week at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in Port Royal, South Carolina, going through portions of the 13-week training recruits endure to become Marines. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NHL | MLB | Soccer | NCAASB | WNBA | Tennis

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➤ Northlake Mall tenants in Tucker received 30-day eviction notices, with business owners saying they’re being forced out with little warning amid reports that the property is heading toward a sale and potential redevelopment. (More)

➤ Metro Atlanta led the nation in homes pulled off the market in April, with many would-be sellers choosing to wait rather than accept lower offers, according to Redfin. (More)

➤ Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport unveiled Atlas, a 14-foot-high digital message board in the shape of a sphere. (More)

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BOXABL’s Growth Story Is Drawing Investor Attention

This company has raised more than $235M from investors as it works toward its goal of transforming the housing industry with factory-built homes.

The company’s foldable housing system is designed to reduce shipping costs and speed up installation. Its flagship Casita unfolds on-site in less than one hour.

The company has announced a proposed merger with FG Merger II Corp. (NASDAQ: FGMC), which could result in BOXABL trading publicly on Nasdaq under the ticker $BXBL.

Shareholder meetings related to the proposed transaction are expected on June 9, 2026.

FGMC on Yahoo Finance: https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/FGMC/ 

Find important information related to the proposed merger here.

➤ Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard, who grew up in Monroe, and Brian Kelley teased a reunion at this week’s CMA Fest in Nashville, including via social media posts. (More)

➤ The rat infestation at the IRS office in Chamblee has grown so bad that at least one worker resigned after finding the conditions intolerable, with rats caught daily in traps throughout the building. (More)

➤ Mercedes-Benz Stadium is temporarily rebranded Atlanta Stadium for the 39-day FIFA World Cup tournament, per FIFA rules requiring venues to drop corporate sponsor names. (More)

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