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Forsyth County development intends to bring NHL back to metro Atlanta

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Forsyth County development intends to bring NHL back to metro Atlanta


FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – A massive Forsyth County development could hinge on the return of the National Hockey League to metro Atlanta.

The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners approved an agreement in principle with Krause Sports and Entertainment, which will build an 80-acre complex worth more than $2 billion called The Gathering at South Forsyth.

The centerpiece of the development will be a 700,000-square-foot arena, according to a press release. It would also include 1,800 multifamily units, 150 single family units, 1.6 million square feet of office and retail space and a 1.2 mile extension of the Big Creek Greenway trail system, according to the county.

The county will only invest in the arena if an NHL expansion franchise is awarded to Atlanta. If a franchise is awarded to the region, the county would add nearly $400 million in total to the arena and a parking deck. The agreement also states that the team would remain in the arena until the arena is paid off and that the county would receive at least $1 from every ticket sol for events at the arena.

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The league is currently at 32 teams and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has stated that expansion is not a priority for the league. The expansion fee for the Seattle Kraken, the league’s most recent franchise, was $650 million.

Krause Sports and Entertainment CEO Vernon Krause said, “[We] are committed to creating a gathering place that will cater to diverse interests and provide an unparalleled world-class experience for all. The prospect of bringing the National Hockey League back to Georgia adds another layer of excitement to this venture, and we are eager to pursue that potential.”

An expansion franchise would be the region’s third NHL team. The Atlanta Flames played at the Omni Coliseum from 1972 to 1980 before moving to Calgary, Canada. The Thrashers played at State Farm Arena from 1999 to 2011 before moving to Winnipeg, Canada, and rebranding as the Winnipeg Jets.



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Atlanta, GA

Mayor Dickens addresses planned ICE activity at Atlanta airport

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Mayor Dickens addresses planned ICE activity at Atlanta airport


Mayor Andre Dickens is addressing a planned ICE presence at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, as additional personnel are set to assist with operations, during ongoing federal staffing challenges starting tomorrow.

In a statement released Sunday, Dickens said the City of Atlanta has been notified that federal agents from Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations will be deployed to the airport beginning Monday morning. 

According to the mayor, those personnel will not be conducting immigration enforcement. Instead, they will support the Transportation Security Administration with line management and crowd control inside domestic terminals. 

“This deployment is not intended to conduct immigration enforcement activities,” Dickens said, citing information provided by federal officials. 

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City leaders emphasized that all federal personnel will report directly to TSA during the assignment. Officials also noted that there has been no request for assistance from the Atlanta Police Department and no expected impact on city operations. 

The move comes as TSA continues to navigate operational pressures tied to federal workforce challenges, including issues related to funding and employee pay.

Dickens said the city will continue monitoring the situation while staying in communication with travelers and residents.

“Atlanta remains committed to ensuring that residents and travelers feel safe, informed, and supported as they move through the world’s busiest and most efficient airport,” Dickens said. 

The mayor also expressed hope that the federal government will resolve ongoing funding issues affecting TSA workers.

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“Our Administration remains hopeful the Federal Government can soon find a way to fully fund TSA and pay their employees to resume standard operations,” he said. 

City officials say support measures have already been put in place to assist TSA officers who continue working despite pay disruptions, though specific operational questions are being directed to the TSA.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport remains one of the busiest travel hubs in the world, and officials say maintaining smooth operations remains a top priority as the federal deployment begins.



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Instant Takeaways From The Atlanta Hawks’ Blowout Win Over the Golden State Warriors

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Instant Takeaways From The Atlanta Hawks’ Blowout Win Over the Golden State Warriors


It’s somewhat possible that this game could have been different if Steph Curry was playing. However, the Hawks dominated almost every facet of this game in such a way that suggests there’s very little the Warriors could have done to avoid this result tonight.

Atlanta struggled to start, but they made it clear that they were of a different caliber tonight from the second quarter onwards. Practically every member of the lineup chipped in for this win that showed the vast difference in depth between Golden State and Atlanta. Jalen Johnson was scratched late for the lineup due to shoulder inflammation, but it didn’t make much of a difference. Surprisingly, Dyson Daniels led the way for Atlanta tonight by tying a career-high 28 points to go along with seven rebounds, six assists and four steals. He wasn’t the only Hawks player to stuff the stat sheet tonight.

Mo Gueye took full advantage of his rare opportunity to be a starter with 16 points and nine rebounds while going 4-4 from deep. CJ McCollum turned back the clock and scored 23 points on a blistering 10-16 from the field to make up for a quiet night from Onyeka Okongwu. The Hawks got a staggering 36 points from their bench tonight and although the Warriors got 37 from Pat Spencer and Nate Williams alone, the diference in caliber of teams was evident. Buddy Hield punctuating the victory with a dunk was incredibly fitting, putting a nice exclamation mark on a blowout win that sets the Hawks up for a clash with the Grizzlies on Monday night.

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Dyson From Deep

Mar 21, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5) reacts after a basket against the Golden State Warriors in the first quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
| Brett Davis-Imagn Images
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Dyson Daniels didn’t get a $100 million dollar contract because of his prowess as a scorer. However, he did an excellent job of making the absence of Jalen Johnson feel less significant in the first half. Daniels was aggressive inside the paint, went 2-4 from deep and played a huge role in Atlanta’s 19-9 run to erase the Warriors lead and get the Hawks back towards holding a 63-61 lead at halftime. He scored 19 points and dished out five assists in the first half alone.

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When he’s running the offense, Daniels thrives on his drive-and-kick game and he was able to find open shooters more often than not. His floater also looked solid tonight, he put Omar Yurtseven into the blender and there wasn’t really anyone on Golden State who could really stay with him tonight. A more aggressive version of Daniels could be massive for the Hawks’ chances of being a postseason threat.

McCollum In Motion

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Jan 11, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard De’Anthony Melton (8) and Atlanta Hawks guard CJ McCollum (3) vie for a loose ball during the fourth quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images | D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images

The trade that sent Trae Young to Washington was viewed as a pure salary dump at the time, but there’s no question that this team would be noticeably worse without CJ McCollum. Tonight was an excellent display of why labeling him as a sharpshooter is so reductive to what he does. He still has enough athletic juice to get downhill against weaker defenders and he showed it off tonight.

McCollum absolutely dominated Nate Williams and Draymond on several occasions, driving aggressively to the rim and scoring 21 points on only 12 shots by the end of the third quarter. He scored 13 points in the third quarter alone, which is a testament to what he can do as a scorer when he gets going. Despite his size, CJ has also been surprisingly additive on defense due to how much he competes on that end. He fights over screens, usually makes the right rotation and does his best considering his age.

Questionable Night For Quin

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Mar 22, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks head coach Quin Snyder on the sideline against the Golden State Warriors in the first quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
| Brett Davis-Imagn Images

The Hawks shot 50% from deep in the first half because Zaccharie Risacher, Mo Gueye and Dyson Daniels had uncharacteristically good nights. They combined for eight three-pointers in the first half alone, which gave the offense a shot in the arm that made a massive difference early. However, it didn’t entirely mask the fact that Quin Snyder’s defensive rotations made little sense. The trio of Jock Landale, Corey Kispert and CJ McCollum might be good for getting back into the game on offense at times, but this team can’t expect to have a good defense with those three on the floor and they got worked accordingly. In 121 minutes, that three-man lineup has a net rating of -9.4 on the season.

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He didn’t play the lineup heavy minutes when the game was still close, but continuing to go back to a bad combination has unflattering shades of the infamous Keaton Wallace – Vit Krejci – Luke Kennard lineup from earlier in the season. Mo Gueye’s strong performance tonight also raises questions as to why he can’t get an increase in playing time, especially given how poorly Onyeka Okongwu has been shooting as of late. It might be a good time to consider more of a two-big approach considering the rave results tonight.

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The Hawks won this game because their players communicate constantly, consistently attacked the rim and continue to look for the extra pass in order to set up high-quality shots. Part of that is certainly due to Snyder’s coaching, but the Hawks’ talent and the Warriors’ mishaps bailed him out of a poor decision tonight.

Mo-Mentous Occasion

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Mar 21, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Mouhamed Gueye (18) reacts after a basket against the Golden State Warriors in the second quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
| Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Sixteen points, nine rebounds and a chant of his name in the stands. All in all, it’s hard to envision this night going any better for Mo Gueye after his playing time has been surprisingly muted this season. He finished as a +22 and looked like a complete mismatch against a Warriors team that can’t protect the rim or establish any sort of presence in the paint. Atlanta absolutely dominated Golden State in the paint by a 64-44 margin and the double-big lineup with Gueye/Okongwu was part of the reason why.

He certainly has his miscues on both ends, but there’s really no reason that Gueye shouldn’t be getting increased playing time moving forward. Onyeka Okongwu has hit a rough cold stretch and Mo’s energy on both ends of the court clearly makes a difference. He won’t shoot 4-4 from deep every night, but the Hawks could use more size in the paint if this Johnson injury lingers at all. It’s also a good idea to give him more minutes and ease up on Johnson’s workload in non-critical games.

Tremendous In The Third

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Mar 21, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5) shoots over Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski (2) in the second quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
| Brett Davis-Imagn Images

The Hawks really struggled in the first quarter and lost some energy in the early part of the second, but they won this game because of what they did in the third quarter. They turned a slim two-point lead into a 15-0 run that was boosted by four Warriors turnovers and two massive threes from Gueye and NAW.

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It’s fair to consider that Golden State is dealing with a ton of injuries tonight, but it’s nevertheless surprising that the Hawks took advantage of the Warriors’ mishaps in such a dominant way. They’re just 18th in net rating during the third quarter on the season. However, they are 11th in defensive rating, which does match the eye test of how often they turned the Warriors over tonight.

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Atlanta undoubtedly got punked and out-hustled against the Rockets in their last game, but this win gets them back on track and they have a pretty soft matchup against the Grizzlies. They kept position in a tight race for the No. 6 seed in the East and there’s no reason that they can’t continue pushing forward if they play off each other like they did tonight.



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Between Atlanta And Charlotte Is South Carolina’s Small City With Friendly Vibes And A Walkable Downtown – Islands

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Between Atlanta And Charlotte Is South Carolina’s Small City With Friendly Vibes And A Walkable Downtown – Islands






In South Carolina, small towns reign supreme. While each region in the state has its own major city, the real hidden gems are the historic small towns with proud, locally-owned businesses serving their communities. The Upstate has plenty of small towns to choose from, like the hiker’s paradise that is Travelers Rest or the artsy suburb of Simpsonville. However, Belton is a friendly community with a walkable downtown shopping area that’s also worth checking out. Festivals draw crowds year-round, but on any regular day or weekend, Belton is a great place to visit for small-town vibes without straying too far from the urban attractions in nearby Greenville.

Belton became a town in 1855 with the construction of the railroad depot. That vital connection allowed the town to grow. Belton’s economy boomed through the early 1900s. Mills were built. Shops and businesses went up. Tennis came to town and never left. By 1970, Belton was the “Tennis Capital of South Carolina.” Today, the historic railroad depot that made the town official houses the city’s history museum, gift shop, and the South Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame. The historic Standpipe water tower still stands proudly above the city, and those same shop buildings line the main square, home to thriving modern businesses.

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What to see in Belton

Start in Belton’s walker-friendly city square area, lined with boutiques and antique shops. A five-minute walk will take you past over 20 shopfronts. Across the street is the historic train depot, now home to the Belton Area Museum Association, which houses the Belton Museum, the South Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame, an art gallery, and a gift shop. The museums are free to visit, but check operating hours in the low season. Don’t forget a quick photo stop at the historic Belton Standpipe, the city’s water tower, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.

There are a handful of restaurants mixed in with the city square shops, and fast food options line Main Street, but it’s worth a 15-minute drive to the outskirts to eat at Grit & Groceries. The menu features dishes that change with the seasons, only using ingredients grown within a 100-mile radius of the restaurant for a truly local dining experience. This spot boasts a 4.7-star rating on Google Reviews with many praising the high quality of food and service.  

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Family-owned and operated Callaham Orchards, five minutes from Belton’s downtown in the opposite direction, is worth a stop in every season but winter. Spring starts in March with tulip picking and gradually gives way to summer berry and fruit picking. Fall features apple cider donuts, slushies, and a corn maze. Hours are seasonal, so check their website for updates before your trip.

Exploring Belton and the nearby area

Belton is best visited by car while exploring South Carolina’s Upstate over several days. There are no Amtrak stations or public transportation options that service the area. It’s only a 40-minute drive from Greenville, South Carolina and the nearest airport, but flight deals are more likely to happen at hub airports, like Atlanta and Charlotte, both of which are about 2.5 hours away without traffic.

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A day trip to Belton pairs well with other nearby adventures. That’s the advantage of exploring small towns. Belton is only an hour’s drive from five South Carolina state parks and within two hours of several more, making it a great pitstop option before or after visiting a park or historic site.

Don’t miss the South Carolina State Chili Cook-off Championship, held each April in Belton, where you can taste all the competitors’ best chili for a small fee. Proceeds stay in Belton and support local non-profits. Chili is just one part of this community-wide festival, which also includes local craft vendors, an antique car show, tennis showcase matches, art gallery viewings, and live music from local musicians. This is a chance for visitors to come be a part of Belton and its friendly vibes for the day or the full weekend.



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