Top Stories for January 8th 

Publish Date: January 8th
 

From the BG AD Group Studio Welcome to the Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast. 

Today is Thursday, January 8th and Happy birthday to Elvis Presley 

I’m Peyton Spurlock and here are your top stories presented by KIA Mall of Georgia. 
Suwanee breathing new life into popular pocket park
Gwinnett's 2026 budget will be even smaller than previously thought
Ex-legislator accused of lying to get pandemic unemployment money 

  Plus, Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on saturated fats  

All of this and more is coming up on the Gwinnett Daily Post podcast, and if you are looking for community news, we encourage you to listen daily and subscribe! 


Break 1: Sugar Hill Ice Skating Rink 


STORY 1: Suwanee breathing new life into popular pocket park 

Main Street Park, a Suwanee staple since 1998, is getting a much-needed glow-up. Nearly $846,000 worth of renovations are kicking off this week, and honestly? It’s about time. The basketball court—loved, worn, and always in use—is staying, but it’s getting a fresh surface, new hoops, and extra seating. Assistant City Manager Denise Brinson put it simply: “It’s well-loved, so we couldn’t take it away.” 

The old pavilion? Gone. In its place, a modern design with tables and seating—more hangout, less performance space. They’re also adding greenspace, walking paths, and a few parking spots. 

“It’s like PlayTown Suwanee,” Brinson said. “Sometimes, you just have to start over.” 


STORY 2: Gwinnett's 2026 budget will be even smaller than previously thought 

Gwinnett County’s 2026 budget just got even smaller than expected—$84 million smaller, to be exact. On Tuesday, commissioners approved a $2.58 billion budget, trimming more than the $66 million reduction they floated back in November. And yet, they still managed to squeeze in a 4% pay bump for county employees. How? “Efficiencies,” they say. 

“This budget reflects our commitment to delivering top-notch services while staying fiscally responsible,” Financial Services Director Russell Royal explained. 

The budget funds big-ticket projects like a new police HQ, fire station relocations, and $44 million for road repaving. But officials warn: some savings were one-time deals. Next year? Could be trickier. 


STORY 3: Ex-legislator accused of lying to get pandemic unemployment money 

Former state Rep. Karen Bennett, who resigned last week, is now facing federal charges for allegedly lying to collect nearly $14,000 in unemployment benefits during the pandemic. Prosecutors claim she falsely said she couldn’t work for her therapy business, Metro Therapy Providers, due to COVID-19 restrictions. The catch? They say she only had an administrative role, working from her home office the entire time. 

Bennett, from Stone Mountain, allegedly received $13,940 in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance funds, despite also earning $905 a week from a church—something she reportedly didn’t disclose. She’s pleaded not guilty, calling her resignation a “retirement.” 


We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.874.3200 for more info. 

We’ll be right back 


Break 2: Kia Mall of Georgia- GCPL Passport


STORY 4:   Several Gwinnettians make influential, notable Georgians lists 

The new year always brings fresh lists, and Georgia Trend’s 2026 lineup of “Most Influential” and “Notable Georgians” is out—and, as usual, Gwinnett’s well-represented. 

On the “100 Most Influential Georgians” list? Big names like Gwinnett County Commission Chair Nicole Love Hendrickson, Gwinnett Chamber CEO Nick Masino, and Latin American Association CEO Santiago Marquez. 

But the “Notable Georgians” list? That’s where Gwinnett really shines. Peachtree Corners Mayor Mike Mason made the cut, along with Michael “Sully” Sullivan, David Hult, Clyde Tuggle, and Mason Ailstock, who’s leading the massive Rowen project. 

Even beyond Gwinnett, leaders like GDOT Commissioner Russell McMurry and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger—both with ties to the area—made waves. 


STORY 5: Buford Grad Ashton Daniels Commits to Florida State 

Buford’s own Ashton Daniels is on the move again. After a season at Auburn, the 6'2", 219-pound quarterback announced Tuesday he’s heading to Florida State. Big news for the Seminoles. 

Daniels started three of Auburn’s last four games in 2025, putting up solid numbers: 797 passing yards, three touchdowns, plus 280 rushing yards and two scores. His best? A monster game against Vandy—353 yards, two TDs. Oh, and he balled out against Bama, too: 259 passing yards, 108 rushing. 

Before Auburn, he spent three seasons at Stanford, racking up nearly 6,200 total yards. And let’s not forget—he led Buford to three state titles in high school. 

FALCONS: Kirk Cousins and the Falcons just shook up his contract—again. According to reports, they’ve reworked the final two years of his four-year, $180 million deal, giving Atlanta some breathing room with the salary cap. But here’s the kicker: by March 13, 2026, they’ll have to decide if Cousins sticks around. 

Why? A $67.9 million guarantee for 2027 kicks in that day. And let’s be real—at 38, with a no-trade clause, Cousins isn’t exactly a hot commodity. 

The new deal slashes his 2026 base salary from $35 million to $2.1 million, shifting that cash to 2027. Still, he’s got a $10 million roster bonus locked in for next year. 

Atlanta signed Cousins in 2024 with $100 million guaranteed, then drafted Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8. But when Penix tore his ACL, Cousins stepped in, starting seven games. His numbers? Solid-ish: 1,721 yards, 10 TDs, five picks. Not bad for a guy nearing 40. 


We’ll be right back. 


Break 3: EAGLE THEATRE


And now here is Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on saturated fats  

We’ll have closing comments after this  


Break 5: Ingles Markets

Signoff –  

Thanks again for hanging out with us on today’s Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, or the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties. Read more about all our stories and get other great content at www.gwinnettdailypost.com 

Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Giving you important news about our community and telling great stories are what we do. Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 

Produced by the BG Podcast Network 

Show Sponsors: 
www.ingles-markets.com   
www.kiamallofga.com 
Ice Rink – Downtown Sugar Hill 
Team GCPS 

News Podcast, Current Events, Top Headlines, Breaking News, Podcast News, Trending, Local News, Daily, News, Podcast, Interviews 

Top Stories for&nbsp;January&nbsp;8th&nbsp;
Publish Date:&nbsp;January&nbsp;8th &nbsp;
From the&nbsp;BG&nbsp;AD Group&nbsp;Studio Welcome to the Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast.&nbsp;
Today is&nbsp;Thursday,&nbsp;January&nbsp;8th&nbsp;and Happy birthday to&nbsp;Elvis Presley&nbsp;
I&rsquo;m Peyton Spurlock and here are your top stories presented by KIA Mall of Georgia.&nbsp;
<ol>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="%1." data-font="" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:0,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[65533,0],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;%1.&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Suwanee breathing new life into popular pocket park</li>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="%1." data-font="" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:0,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[65533,0],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;%1.&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Gwinnett's 2026 budget will be even smaller than previously thought</li>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="%1." data-font="" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:0,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[65533,0],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;%1.&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Ex-legislator accused of lying to get pandemic unemployment money&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
&nbsp;&nbsp;Plus, Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on&nbsp;saturated fats&nbsp;&nbsp;
All of this and more is coming up on the Gwinnett Daily Post podcast, and if you are looking for community news, we encourage you to listen daily and subscribe!&nbsp;
 Break 1: <a href="https://downtownsugarhill.com/ice-rink/">Sugar Hill Ice Skating Rink</a>&nbsp;
 STORY 1: <a href="https://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/local/suwanee-breathing-new-life-into-popular-pocket-park/article_2028afb6-61f0-42dc-850e-9da26301a580.html">Suwanee breathing new life into popular pocket park</a>&nbsp;
Main Street Park, a Suwanee staple since 1998, is getting a much-needed glow-up. Nearly $846,000 worth of renovations are kicking off this week, and honestly? It&rsquo;s about time. The basketball court&mdash;loved, worn, and&nbsp;always&nbsp;in use&mdash;is staying, but&nbsp;it&rsquo;s&nbsp;getting a fresh surface, new hoops, and extra seating. Assistant City Manager Denise Brinson put it simply: &ldquo;It&rsquo;s well-loved, so we couldn&rsquo;t take it away.&rdquo;&nbsp;
The old pavilion? Gone. In its place, a modern design with tables and seating&mdash;more hangout, less performance space.&nbsp;They&rsquo;re&nbsp;also adding greenspace, walking paths, and a few parking spots.&nbsp;
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s like&nbsp;PlayTown&nbsp;Suwanee,&rdquo; Brinson said. &ldquo;Sometimes, you just have to start over.&rdquo;&nbsp;
 STORY 2:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/local/gwinnetts-2026-budget-will-be-even-smaller-than-previously-thought/article_b5d20014-a50e-4347-850a-783002f7840d.html">Gwinnett's 2026 budget will be even smaller than previously thought</a>&nbsp;
Gwinnett County&rsquo;s 2026 budget just got even smaller than expected&mdash;$84 million smaller, to be exact. On Tuesday, commissioners approved a $2.58 billion budget, trimming more than the $66 million reduction they floated back in November. And yet, they still managed to squeeze in a 4% pay bump for county employees. How? &ldquo;Efficiencies,&rdquo; they say.&nbsp;
&ldquo;This budget reflects our commitment to delivering top-notch services while staying fiscally responsible,&rdquo; Financial Services Director Russell Royal explained.&nbsp;
The budget funds big-ticket projects like a new police HQ, fire station relocations, and $44 million for road repaving. But officials warn: some savings were one-time deals. Next year?&nbsp;Could&nbsp;be trickier.&nbsp;
 STORY 3:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/local/ex-legislator-accused-of-lying-to-get-pandemic-unemployment-money/article_9c324d7c-ecae-4adc-a216-54eefbfde96f.html">Ex-legislator accused of lying to get pandemic unemployment money</a>&nbsp;
Former state Rep. Karen Bennett, who resigned last week, is now facing federal charges for allegedly lying to collect nearly $14,000 in unemployment benefits during the pandemic. Prosecutors claim she falsely said she couldn&rsquo;t work for her therapy business, Metro Therapy Providers, due to COVID-19 restrictions. The catch? They say she only had an administrative role, working from her home office the entire time.&nbsp;
Bennett, from Stone Mountain, allegedly received $13,940 in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance funds, despite also earning $905 a week from a church&mdash;something she&nbsp;reportedly didn&rsquo;t&nbsp;disclose.&nbsp;She&rsquo;s&nbsp;pleaded not guilty, calling her resignation a &ldquo;retirement.&rdquo;&nbsp;
 We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.874.3200 for more info.&nbsp;
We&rsquo;ll be right back&nbsp;
 Break 2: <a href="https://www.kiamallofga.com/">Kia Mall of Georgia</a> - <a href="https://www.gwinnettpl.org/passportservices/">GCPL Passport</a>
 STORY&nbsp;4:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/local/several-gwinnettians-make-influential-notable-georgians-lists/article_e751a06c-cf7e-40d9-b0ac-a686659e77e9.html">Several Gwinnettians make influential, notable Georgians lists</a>&nbsp;
The new year always brings fresh lists, and Georgia Trend&rsquo;s 2026 lineup of &ldquo;Most Influential&rdquo; and &ldquo;Notable Georgians&rdquo; is out&mdash;and, as usual, Gwinnett&rsquo;s well-represented.&nbsp;
On the &ldquo;100 Most Influential Georgians&rdquo; list? Big names like Gwinnett County Commission Chair Nicole Love Hendrickson, Gwinnett Chamber CEO Nick Masino, and Latin American Association CEO Santiago Marquez.&nbsp;
But the &ldquo;Notable Georgians&rdquo; list?&nbsp;That&rsquo;s&nbsp;where Gwinnett really shines. Peachtree Corners Mayor Mike Mason made the cut, along with Michael &ldquo;Sully&rdquo; Sullivan, David Hult, Clyde Tuggle, and Mason Ailstock,&nbsp;who&rsquo;s&nbsp;leading the massive Rowen project.&nbsp;
Even beyond Gwinnett, leaders like GDOT Commissioner Russell McMurry and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger&mdash;both with ties to the area&mdash;made waves.&nbsp;
 STORY&nbsp;5:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/sports/buford-grad-ashton-daniels-commits-to-florida-state/article_464da3f9-3e14-418e-8479-df67a21f1ed9.html">Buford Grad Ashton Daniels Commits to Florida State</a>&nbsp;
Buford&rsquo;s own Ashton Daniels is on the move again. After a season at Auburn, the 6'2", 219-pound quarterback announced Tuesday&nbsp;he&rsquo;s&nbsp;heading to Florida State. Big news for the Seminoles.&nbsp;
Daniels started three of Auburn&rsquo;s last four games in 2025, putting up solid numbers: 797 passing yards, three touchdowns, plus 280 rushing yards and two scores. His best? A monster game against Vandy&mdash;353 yards, two TDs. Oh, and he balled out against Bama, too: 259 passing yards, 108 rushing.&nbsp;
Before Auburn, he spent three seasons at Stanford, racking up&nbsp;nearly 6,200&nbsp;total yards. And&nbsp;let&rsquo;s&nbsp;not forget&mdash;he led Buford to&nbsp;three&nbsp;state titles in high school.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/fieldlevel/reports-falcons-qb-kirk-cousins-agrees-to-modified-contract/article_6ab3ffc7-1b67-58f6-b9bd-5969e0e3f022.html">FALCONS:</a>&nbsp;Kirk Cousins and the Falcons just shook up his contract&mdash;again. According to reports,&nbsp;they&rsquo;ve&nbsp;reworked the final two years of his four-year, $180 million deal, giving Atlanta some breathing room with the salary cap. But&nbsp;here&rsquo;s&nbsp;the kicker: by March 13, 2026,&nbsp;they&rsquo;ll&nbsp;have to decide if Cousins sticks around.&nbsp;
Why? A $67.9 million guarantee for 2027 kicks in that day. And&nbsp;let&rsquo;s&nbsp;be real&mdash;at 38, with a no-trade&nbsp;clause,&nbsp;Cousins&nbsp;isn&rsquo;t&nbsp;exactly a hot commodity.&nbsp;
The new deal slashes his 2026 base salary from $35 million to $2.1 million, shifting that cash to 2027. Still,&nbsp;he&rsquo;s&nbsp;got a $10 million roster bonus locked in for next year.&nbsp;
Atlanta signed Cousins in 2024 with $100 million guaranteed, then drafted Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8. But when Penix tore his ACL, Cousins stepped in, starting seven games. His numbers? Solid-ish:&nbsp;1,721 yards, 10 TDs, five picks. Not bad for a guy nearing 40.&nbsp;
 We&rsquo;ll&nbsp;be right back.&nbsp;
 Break&nbsp;3: <a href="https://www.eagleatsugarhill.com/events-tickets/">EAGLE THEATRE</a>
 And now here is Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on saturated fats&nbsp;&nbsp;
We&rsquo;ll&nbsp;have closing comments after this&nbsp;&nbsp;
 Break 5: <a href="https://www.ingles-markets.com/">Ingles Markets</a>
Signoff &ndash;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Thanks again for hanging out with us on today&rsquo;s Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, or the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties. Read more about all our stories and get other great content at www.gwinnettdailypost.com&nbsp;
Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Giving you important news about our community and telling&nbsp;great stories&nbsp;are what we do. Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or&nbsp;your Google&nbsp;Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.bgpodcastnetwork.com/">Produced by the BG Podcast Network</a>&nbsp;
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Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast

Suwanee Breathing New Life into Popular Pocket Park | Gwinnett's 2026 Budget Will Be Even Smaller Than Previously Thought | Ex-Legislator Accused of Lying to Get Pandemic Unemployment Money

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