Georgia Today

Georgia faces its worst crisis of the pandemic, with more patients than ever before hospitalized for COVID-19. The state's also breaking records for the number of children in the hospital with the virus. As the delta variant tightens its grip on the state, the Georgia Today podcast gets a firsthand account of the situation inside Georgia's pediatric hospitals from Dr. Matthew Linam, an infectious disease specialist at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium: home to the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United and, for a few weeks this summer, hip-hop icon Kanye West? The megastar staged a listening party for his upcoming album at the stadium. And then he moved in for a couple of weeks. And that’s not all. Steve Fennessy chats with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Greg Bluestein about what Bluestein's investigation into the logistics of West's stay at Mercedes-Benz Stadium turned up.

Georgians with certain medical conditions have been permitted to take cannabis oil to ease their symptoms for six years, but it was illegal to purchase in Georgia. The state has finally approved six licenses for companies to produce and distribute medical marijuana oil in  Georgia. However, many companies whose applications were not accepted are calling foul play, protesting the licensing process which can delay the production and distribution of medical cannabis oil for many Georgians in need.

Georgia students are beginning their second year of school during the pandemic as coronavirus cases skyrocket, driven by the highly contagious delta variant. With children under 12 not yet eligible for the vaccine, some school districts are already seeing battles over how best to keep kids safe for in-person learning. Gov. Brian Kemp says he has no plans to impose mask or vaccination mandates. Steve Fennessy gets into all this and more with Atlanta-based Wall Street Journal reporter Cam McWhirter.

Hundreds of thousands of Georgians who lost income in the pandemic, falling behind on their rent payments and putting them at increased risk for eviction, just got another reprieve. After a previous CDC eviction ban expired earlier this week the Biden administration has again frozen evictions, this time until early October. The new moratorium aims to cover renters in counties with “substantial” spread of the delta coronavirus variant. But, for the state’s most vulnerable families living on the economic margins, the realities of finding and maintaining safe, affordable housing were much more complicated long before the pandemic hit.

The COVID-19 pandemic is sparking an unprecedented boom in housing sales and remodeling across the country as many Americans seek more space in which to live, work and learn at home. The historic levels of consumer demand over the last year has pushed finished lumber prices to all-time highs and Georgia’s massive timber industry that employs hundreds of thousands of people is struggling to adjust. The latest Georgia Today podcast with guest Ryan Dezember, a reporter at The Wall Street Journal, explores the lumber boom's impact on the state’s critical timber industry and its growers, and what all this could mean for home prices.

Crime is spiking across the city of Atlanta, and perhaps most visibly in Buckhead. Some residents there are saying it's time to secede from Atlanta and that forming their own city is the best way to protect their citizens and keep a close eye on their tax dollars. Opponents of Buckhead cityhood believe that this could be a tremendous hit to the economy of the city of Atlanta. On the latest episode of Georgia Today, we talk to J.D. Capelouto, news reporter from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, about the push by some residents for Buckhead to secede from Atlanta.

In communities across the country, the reckoning over racism is playing out in ways big and small. For one young farmer in northwest Georgia named Stacie Marshall, her personal awakening began with a horrifying discovery. She learned that her ancestors kept enslaved people. On the latest Georgia Today podcast, we hear how she’s now working to heal race relations in her community.

How did a Kennesaw woman with strong family ties and hopes for the future end up dead on the steps of the United States Capitol? Rosanne Boyland’s family blames QAnon and other political conspiracy theories for leading her to her death at the pro-Trump insurrection in Washington on Jan. 6. On the latest Georgia Today podcast, New York Times reporter Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs shares what he learned about Boyland’s life, her death, and her journey into the shadowy world of QAnon.

In most Georgia counties, COVID-19 vaccination rates have stalled. And with infections from the so-called Delta variant rapidly rising across the United States, public health experts worry the state could again see surges in serious virus cases. What’s behind the low vaccination numbers? Host Steve Fennessy and GPB Macon Reporter and Editor Grant Blankenship try to answer that question on the latest episode of the Georgia Today podcast.

The Atlanta Hawks were not supposed to come very far this season considering injuries, a mid-season coaching change, and a pandemic-ravaged season. But thanks to a 22-year-old team member and phenom named Trae Young, the team is electrifying the city. Mike Conti, Managing Editor of 92.9-FM The Game and analyst for the Atlanta Hawks Radio Network joins us for this episode of Georgia Today.

Imagine receiving anonymous text messages telling you your family will be killed. That’s exactly what happened to Tricia Raffensperger, wife of Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. This and other threatening messages first came to light after new reporting into the harassment many elections officials have lived with since Donald Trump lost Georgia in November. The investigation by news outlet Reuters reveals the scope of Trump supporters’ months of menacing tactics and never-before-seen texts, voicemails and emails directed at elections officials across the state.

Former president Donald Trump continues to overshadow the Georgia GOP. But not every Republican in the state is on the same page. Will the GOP unify in time for the next elections? Georgia Today explores that question and more with guest Maya Prabhu, a political reporter at the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

Public trust is a priority for Lou Dekmar, police chief of LaGrange, Ga., since 1995. Chief Dekmar is evolving and adapting his force to an era when police are social workers with guns. This week on Georgia Today, host Virginia Prescott talks with Dekmar about some of his ideas and initiatives in policing.

More than a year into the pandemic, it’s clear its impacts hit some communities much harder than others. People of color have died in greater numbers in many parts of the state, and COVID-19 death rates are often higher in rural areas with a shortage of medical facilities. On the latest Georgia Today podcast, host Steve Fennessy and Olivia Goldhill, an investigative reporter who covers the pandemic for Stat News, explore how hospital closures are hampering some counties’ efforts to combat the pandemic in southwest Georgia.

Stone Mountain’s massive monument featuring Confederate leaders has long sparked controversy. Now, the Stone Mountain Memorial Association has announced changes to the park it hopes will help tell a more "balanced" story of Georgia's past. The latest Georgia Today podcast with host Steve Fennessy and guest Tyler Estep, a reporter at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, examines the park’s history and what the future of its Confederate memorial may look like.

The Cherokee County School Board has voted to ban critical race theory from their curriculum last week. Critical race theory has become an issue for some parents and many conservative politicians, but some are still unsure what it is. This week on Georgia Today, we examine why critical race theory has become such a hot political topic with GPB News' Donna Lowry.

It's been nearly two years since crews began clearing a massive shipwreck from St. Simons Sound. Last week, the already dangerous cleanup operation got even more complex when what's left of the cargo ship caught fire. On the latest Georgia Today podcast, Host Steve Fennessy and guest Larry Hobbs, a reporter with The Brunswick News, bring us the latest on the Golden Ray cleanup effort and how it could affect the state's coastal environment.

Republican Party leaders remain solidly behind former President Donald Trump and his unsubstantiated claims of election fraud. But as the GOP looks toward the 2022 election, the party is not as unified as it would like, and is at a crossroads moment. This week on Georgia Today, we look at how Georgia’s GOP sees a pathway to winning in 2022 and 2024 with GPB News reporter Stephen Fowler.

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms grabbed headlines with her announcement she won’t seek reelection. Her first term has seen a host of crises, including a cyberattack, the coronavirus pandemic, weeks of racial unrest and a sharp rise in crime. Georgia Today host Steve Fennessy and Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist Bill Torpy explore what led to Bottoms' decision, and how the city has changed on her watch.

Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms shocked many people around the metro Atlanta area by announcing last week she will not be running for reelection. She has said that this is coming from a place of strength and not weakness. But her critics have said that what she calls a “COVID Crime Wave” and her handling of the firing of Atlanta police officer Garrett Rolfe, who shot Rayshard Brooks last summer, has made her vulnerable if she had chosen to run. Police officers in the city of Atlanta feel like Bottoms no longer have their backs. This week on Georgia Today, we look at some issues Bottoms faced during her tenure as mayor of the city of Atlanta with CNN national correspondent Ryan Young.

2020 was an election year that saw record turnout by men and women from both parties. But the women’s vote was decisive in helping Joe Biden capture the White House and in pushing Democrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock to victory in the tight Senate runoffs. And it’s not just the ballot box where women are making their mark in Georgia politics. More women, and women of color, are also running for statewide office. We look at what's driving this trend with Patricia Murphy, a political reporter at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The deadly Jan. 6 attack on the United States Capitol building by a pro-Trump mob was a glimpse into what many experts have long warned: Homegrown extremism is on the rise across the U.S. On Georgia Today, guest Chris Joyner from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution speaks on what’s known about violent white supremacist groups operating in Georgia.

Jimmy Carter may be the only American president to have used the White House as a stepping stone. Turned out of office after one term, Carter went on to global esteem as a champion of public health, a geopolitical negotiator, and an advocate for democratic representation. Georgia-born brothers and filmmakers Will and Jim Pattiz, revive the debate over Carter’s White House legacy in their new film “Carterland.”

Stories of unexplained illnesses, cancers and death have been the talk of Juliette, Georgia, for years. The town outside Macon is home to Georgia Power’s Plant Scherer, one of the largest coal-fired power plants in the country. Juliette residents say coal ash from the plant is poisoning their water supply. Now, they’re calling for policymakers to help.

Secret tapes, scandal, sanctions. It's a story that strikes at the heart of Georgia's passion for high school football. And Valdosta football is the stuff of legend. The Wildcats claim among the most wins of any team in state history. Now, the organization is the subject of multiple investigations and a broiling scandal that's attracting national attention. We'll get into all that and more on Georgia Today.

The waters off the Georgia coast are a vital calving ground for the North Atlantic right whale. This calving season, which winds down in April, has been a rare bright spot for the critically endangered whales, with scientists counting more babies than in the last three seasons combined. But experts say the gains may not be enough to save the species. On this episode of Georgia Today, we hear the latest on efforts to protect the right whale.

Voting rights groups continue to push back against the state's sweeping new election law. After a 2020 election that saw record voter turnout statewide, Democrats say the Election Integrity Act will make it harder for many Georgians to vote, especially voters of color. Republicans argue it will expand voter access. The measure signed by Gov. Brian Kemp passed without Democratic support, catapulting Georgia smack into the center of a brewing nationwide battle over how Americans vote. In this episode, we'll hear how the law changes the state's election system, and as calls grow louder for companies to boycott Georgia, how the controversy could affect the economy.

After the massacre at three Asian-owned massage businesses in and around Atlanta, we're joined by Atlanta-based CNN correspondent Natasha Chen, who says the Georgia shootings could mark the beginning of a new chapter for Asian-American social justice activism in the United States.

Millions of stimulus checks begin hitting most Americans bank accounts this week after passage of the Biden administration's American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, also known as the COVID-19 Stimulus Package. On Georgia Today, we hear how the plan intends to help the state's Black farmers.

When will you be eligible for the coronavirus vaccine? On Georgia Today, Andy Miller of Georgia Health News explains why the state is so far behind on its vaccine rollout.

After record election turnout that led to big Democratic wins in Georgia, Republican lawmakers are now pushing legislation that would restrict voter access. On Georgia Today, GPB producer Rahul Bali explains how elections could look the next time Georgians head to the polls.

Weeks before the 1960 presidential election, Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested for participating in a lunch counter sit-in in Atlanta and sentenced to four months of hard labor. Thanks to some back-channel moves by the Kennedy campaign, King was released from prison. On Georgia Today, author Paul Kendrick explains how that changed party allegiances for Black and white voters in the South for generations.

During the Great Migration, six million Black Americans moved from the South up North. They wanted work opportunities and a respite from the sting of racist Jim Crow laws. Guest host Leah Fleming talks with New York Times columnist Charles Blow, who is pushing for a reversal of the Great Migration. He’s written about it in his new book, "The Devil You Know: A Black Power Manifesto."

With Georgia teachers still not vaccinated, when can our public schools fully reopen? On Georgia Today, GPB health care reporter Ellen Eldridge discusses the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, and its impact on teachers.

On Georgia Today, GPB political reporter Stephen Fowler discusses Georgia's role in former President Trump’s second impeachment trial, and whether there could be criminal charges tied to Trump’s interference in the presidential election.

A liquid nitrogen leak last week at a poultry processing plant in Gainesville killed six people and injured a dozen others. The tragedy brought into focus an industry that's lightly regulated and heavily staffed by undocumented workers.  On Georgia Today, Richard Fausset of The New York Times talks about the tragedy in the self-professed “Poultry Capital of the World.”

During the Great Migration, six million Black Americans moved from the South up North. They wanted work opportunities and a respite from the sting of racist Jim Crow laws. Guest host Leah Fleming talks with New York Times columnist Charles Blow, who is pushing for a reversal of the Great Migration. He’s written about it in his new book, "The Devil You Know: A Black Power Manifesto."

Henry "Hank" Aaron, a longtime Atlanta Braves player and Hall of Famer, was laid to rest this week. He died at the age of 86. On Georgia Today, ESPN senior writer Howard Bryant discusses the complicated life of a baseball legend and American icon.

Host Steve Fennessy talks with Grady Memorial Hospital physician Kimberly Manning on the roots of distrust amid the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, and her personal mission to persuade communities of color to take the vaccine. Dr. Manning is also associate vice chair of diversity, equity and inclusion at Emory University's Department of Medicine.

For decades, Jim Galloway has been on the frontlines of Georgia’s most consequential political stories. He retires Friday, Jan. 15, after more than 40 years with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. On Georgia Today, Galloway reflects on a career covering covering Georgia politics, and his worries about the future of the GOP.

In the week since the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, the FBI has announced dozens of arrests, with many more to come. Some of the rioters have lost their jobs, others placed on no-fly lists. Chris Joyner is an investigative reporter with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He discusses his reporting on Georgians swept up in the insurrection.

What a week. Somewhere between the president's call to Brad Raffensperger on Saturday and the seething and lawless mob in our nation's capitol on Wednesday, Georgia hosted a momentous election. On this week's Georgia Today, host Steve Fennessy talks with GPB political reporter Stephen Fowler on coming to terms with a historic week for Georgia, and for America.

Political columnist Jim Galloway has been on the frontlines of Georgia’s most consequential political stories. He retires in January from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. On Georgia Today, Galloway reflects on 40 years of covering Georgia politics, and his worries about the future of the Republican Party.

Kwanza Hall is Georgia’s newest congressman, even if he is serving for just a month. On Georgia Today, host Steve Fennessy talks with Rep. Hall about his legislative priorities and what it's like following in the footsteps of his predecessor — the late civil rights icon, John Lewis.

Since the November election, President Trump has mounted pressure on Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp to help overturn President-elect Joe Biden’s win in the state. Trump even encouraged a primary challenge against Kemp. On Georgia Today, AJC political reporter Greg Bluestein on the acrimony between President Trump and the man he assumed would always be in his corner, Gov. Kemp.

Since Joe Biden turned Georgia blue, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has become enemy number one in his own party. As his critics level malicious attacks against him, Raffensperger is adamant: The election was sound, and the results stand. On Georgia Today, AJC political reporter Patricia Murphy talks about the threats that have put him and his wife under 24-hour protection.

It’s been over a year since the Golden Ray capsized off the coast of St. Simons Island. Crews recently resumed work to dismantle the giant vessel. On this week’s Georgia Today, Brunswick News reporter Larry Hobbs discusses how the Golden Ray came to capsize in the first place, the tense hours as rescuers tried to free trapped crew members, and what emerged from hearings into the possible causes of the disaster.

An inside look at how the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lost public trust amid an international health crisis – and how the repercussions of the organization’s unraveling could have long-lasting effects beyond the course of the pandemic. Host Steve Fennessy talks with Pulitzer Prize winning journalists Patricia Callahan and James Bandler about their reporting for ProPublica.

More than a week after the presidential election, Georgia is headed for a hand recount prompted in part by allegations of election fraud — despite no evidence. How did we get here? On Georgia Today, Clayton Crescent founder Robin Kemp shares what she saw in the days after the election as the votes that put Joe Biden over the top in Georgia were counted.