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GEORGIA — A new ranking released Tuesday by U.S. News and World Report says Georgia is the 21st best overall in meeting the diverse needs of its residents.

The rankings, which U.S. News first launched in 2017, assess the states across eight categories and 71 metrics. Here’s where Georgia ranked in each of them:

A recent study showed Sandy Springs is Georgia’s most diverse town. Nationwide, the metro Atlanta city was 43rd on WalletHub’s ranking.

Roswell (49th), Atlanta (74th) and Columbus (104th) were also named among the most diverse cities.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, of the state’s more than 11 million people, Georgia is largely comprised of non-Hispanic Caucasian and African-American residents.

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Emory University is Georgia’s most diverse post-secondary institution, according to a Niche ranking. Life University and Georgia State University followed suit.

Meanwhile, the Peach State serves customers with diverse tastes in food, offering restaurants that dishes out meals from octopus lemongrass salad to house burgers to caviar and cheese.

Utah topped the U.S. News and World Report list for the third consecutive year. The state has never slipped below the top five in the economy category in the history of the Best States rankings, U.S. News said. Here’s the top 10:

U.S. News said many of the top-ranked states put a big priority on education — the highest-weighted category of the 2025 rankings based on new survey results showing what areas Americans believe their states should prioritize, and which issues present the most pressing concerns.

Five of the top 10 states overall also placed among the top 10 in education, while just one — Massachusetts — did the same in the category carrying the second-highest weight, health care.

Even high-performing states do not excel in every rankings category, U.S. News said.

Utah, for example, ranks near the bottom for environment (No. 48), burdened by poor scores for industrial toxins and pollution health risk. Florida — among the nation’s worst performers for housing affordability and income equality — ranks 47th for opportunity, and South Dakota ranks 46th for health care, weighed down in part by a U.S. News assessment of hospital quality in the state.

There was little movement among low performers in the rankings, which U.S. News said were concentrated primarily in the South but also included states in the West, Midwest and Northeast, as well as Alaska.

The lowest-ranked state is Louisiana. Other states in the bottom 10 are Alaska, Mississippi, New Mexico, West Virginia, Alabama, Arkansas, Michigan, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania.

» Read more about the Best States methodology.

The City of Sandy Springs, GA has begun preparations to submit its 2025 Annual Action Plan for the CDBG Program to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) by May 21, 2025, tentatively.

To meet the requirements of Consolidated Submissions for Community Planning and Development Programs, Sandy Springs will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.

This meeting can be attended virtually or in-person at City Hall located at 1 Galambos Way, Sandy Springs, GA, 30328.

To attend and participate virtually, please visit http://spr.gs/pm for more information.

Sandy Springs 2025 Annual Action Plan

In 2025, Staff will begin working on the implementation of South Roswell Road Multiyear Sidewalk Project.

Specifically the area south of Interstate 285 (Phase III), and other projects as determined.

Citizens can offer input on this project at the public hearing.

As well as other needs in their community relative to the CDBG Program.

The CDBG program assists cities with developing viable urban communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment.

As well as expanding economic opportunities principally for low- and moderate-income persons.

Citizens in need of translation services or materials in alternative formats should call 770-730-5600 seven calendar days prior to the regularly scheduled meeting.

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Additional CDBG Program information can be found on the City’s CDBG webpage at http://spr.gs/cdbg1

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New trail leads to popular Sandy Springs park

Morgan Falls Overlook Park is already one of Sandy Springs crown jewels, and now a scenic new trail is opening this week that will connect the park to Roswell Road. Paul Milliken got a first look at the highly-anticipated new natural addition.

The Brief

Morgan Falls Overlook Park is one of the most popular outdoor destinations in Sandy Springs — and accessing the park from Roswell Road is about to get much more scenic.

City leaders will gather on Friday, May 2, to officially unveil what’s been known as the Morgan Falls Connector, a 1.88-mile trail connecting Morgan Falls Overlook Park to Roswell Road at Cimarron Parkway. Work on the $8.5 million project began back in December 2022, and involved installing a paved multi-use trail, a boardwalk across Orkin Lake, pedestrian bridges, landscaping, and more. It’s the first completed installment of the Springway Trail, which aims to connect parks and greenspaces throughout Sandy Springs.

Morgan Falls Overlook Park is a special place for people in Sandy Springs; opened in 2010, it was the first new park opened by the city following its 2005 incorporation. Amenities at the 30-acre park include pavilions, a boat dock, a playground, and some very relaxing porch swings. When the weather’s warm, it’s a popular spot for fishing, and stand-up paddleboard, kayak, and canoe rentals are available. Oh, and we’re also told the park is a favorite of bird-watchers from across the state!

Tomorrow’s ribbon-cutting is set for 1 p.m., and parking for the event is available in the parking lot adjacent to the Morgan Falls Dog Park (100 Morgan Falls Road in Sandy Springs). And for an exclusive first look at the trail, click the video player in this article.

The Source: Good Day Atlanta's Paul Milliken spent the morning at Morgan Falls Overlook Park, chatting with city leaders about the new trail and exploring the amenities available to local families.

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — United Parcel Service announced April 29 it plans to cut 20,000 jobs and shutter 164 storefronts nationwide amid ongoing changes at one of the world’s largest package delivery companies.

UPS is executing the largest network reconfiguration in its history. In January, UPS announced a deal with Amazon, its largest customer, to lower delivery volume by more than 50 percent by the second half of 2026. When its contract came for renewal, CEO Carol B. Tomé said it was time to reassess margins. The layoff affects fewer than half a percent of all estimated 490,000 UPS employees.

“While our building footprint is changing, our record of reliable pickup and delivery is not,” a UPS spokesperson wrote April 29. “We remain committed to providing industry-leading service to customers in more than 200 countries and territories around the world.”

The company’s first quarter revenue just beat Wall Street’s estimate at $21.55 billion, which was a slight decline from last year.

CEO Tomé told investors April 29 that uncertainty in global trade markets led to a drop in consumer confidence and some muted demand in February and March. Tomé also said the company’s reconfiguration is on track with 73 buildings expected to close by the end of June.

“By modeling different scenarios, we will be able to adjust to rapid shifts in the business,” Tomé said. “Given today’s level of uncertainty; however, we are not providing any updates to our consolidated full-year outlook at this time.”

UPS Spokeswoman Karen Tomaszewski Hill told Appen Media April 30 that the closing of brick-and-mortar locations and the layoffs are not directly related and are a part of the company’s ongoing reconfiguration. The decision predates President Donald Trump’s on-again, off-again tariffs.

In a statement, Sandy Springs Communications Director Carter Long said the city recognizes the impact of the news and understands their announcement creates a lot of uncertainty

“We are reaching out to UPS to understand the scope of the operational job cuts and potential effect on Sandy Springs,” the statement says. “While the geographic locations of the workforce reductions are unclear at this time, our priority remains ensuring our residents have access to the resources they need through the city.”

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Sophomore Maria Valentina Rodriguez was one of five North Springs High School students honored April 21 for their submissions to the 2025 Georgia Rotary Club’s Laws of Life Essay Contest.

The Sandy Springs Rotary Club recognized school winner Rodriguez and four honorable mentions with a luncheon April 21 at the Hilton Atlanta Perimeter Suites hotel off Peachtree Dunwoody Road.

Rodriguez’s essay, which explores her formative life experience and her grandmother’s lasting wisdom, stood out among entries that challenged students to reflect on core values and meaningful life lessons.

Community News

“I am appreciative of this opportunity and being recognized for my Laws of Life essay,” Rodriguez said. Writing about something so personal was difficult, impactful and healing, she said, noting a meaningful quote her grandmother told her, “Everything comes at its time, just have faith.”

Rodriguez is one of five North Springs students honored by the Georgia Rotary Club at the school level. Other students who received honorable mentions for their compelling and thoughtful essays include freshman Theo Ballowe, sophomores Treasure Omorodion and Christian Cain and junior Carson Mayeske.

In its 17th year, the Georgia Rotary Clubs Laws of Life Essay Contest encourages high school students to reflect on personal experiences and the values that guide their lives with 500- to 700-word essays.

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This year, the organization received 30,394 submissions from students across Georgia, and 140 essays were selected as school winners from among 65 participating high schools.

Carol Gray-Walker, executive director at Georgia Laws of Life Essay Contest, said every paper written statewide reflected on personal values, shared powerful stories and inspired us all.

“We deeply thank the volunteer essay judges, Rotary Clubs, and generous sponsors who helped make this contest successful,” Gray-Walker said. “[Their] support ensures that students' voices are heard, and their stories celebrated.”

— Hayden Sumlin