Georgia governor Brian Kemp signs on with some two dozen other republican governors across the country in expressing support for President-elect Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. Plus, we examine where tens of millions of dollars in opioid settlement money is going in Georgia. Also the spotted lanternfly, a tree-sucking, rapidly multiplying insect that’s already invaded other U.S. states, is now in Georgia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Dec 14, 2024•16 min
Three Georgia politicians, who didn't win their last election bids, are set to join the new Trump administration. We'll look more at what former Senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler as well as former Congressman Doug Collins are slated for. Plus, the man found guilty last month of murdering Laken Riley on the campus of University of Georgia is asking for a new trial. The case became a political flashpoint during an election year as Jose Ibarra was in the country illegally. Also we explain th...
Dec 07, 2024•16 min
Jose Ibarra, who was in the country illegally, was found guilty of killing nursing student Laken Riley in case that became a political football this election year. Plus, a Georgia State Election Board member wants the state to provide voters’ personal information to the makers of EagleAI, a controversial tool for challenging voter eligibility. Also, we look at how the incoming Trump administration may impact environmental and immigration issues Georgia. And TSA officials predict this Thanksgivin...
Nov 23, 2024•16 min•Season 5Ep. 151
A federal investigation has found Fulton County Jail is violating the civil rights of people in its custody by failing to protect them from violence, using excessive force, and holding them in filthy and unsafe conditions. Sheriff Patrick Labat says the issues predate his tenure but he believes the problems outlined by the department of justice are fixable. Plus, DeKalb County is planning to raise water and sewer rates to make major improvements to its water system. And we go inside a program th...
Nov 18, 2024•16 min
We spend the first half of the show detailing some of the impact from Tuesday's election on Georgia: From taxes to transit to runoff races. Then we remember billionaire co-founder of Home Depot Bernie Marcus, who died this week. Plus, the late music producer Rico Wade is honored by East Point with monument dedicated by the city and his closest friends and colleagues. Also, we hear an auctioneering prodigy in action. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Nov 09, 2024•16 min•Ep. 225
Jeffrey Williams, also known as rapper Young Thug, is now pleading guilty in the massive gang and racketeering trial. Plus, we explore the complicated relationship between former President Donald Trump and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp after the Kemp is not at another Trump rally in Georgia. And metro Atlanta’s housing prices have surged in the last couple of years, so what are Trump and vice president Kamala Harris saying about what they would do to help those who can't buy and are being priced o...
Nov 02, 2024•16 min•Ep. 224
WABE's Marisa Mecke explores a 2023 raw sewage spill from a Fulton County water treatment plant that forced officials to close off huge swaths of the river. The incident poured in millions of gallons of raw sewage into the river that supplies Atlanta with a majority of its drinking water. How officials handled the situation has left doubts about how seriously authorities take sewage pollution in Atlanta for many of the groups aiming to protect the river. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i...
Oct 26, 2024•8 min•Ep. 224
Georgians continue to be courted by presential candidates and their surrogates. Both former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris were here this week with Harris campaigning alongside former president Barack Obama for the first time. And an update on the three white men who are serving life sentences after murdered Ahmaud Arbery as they seek a new trial. Plus, "Jailbots!" The sheriff in Cobb County is using high-tech guards to keep watch on inmates. Also, right whales are showi...
Oct 26, 2024•17 min•Ep. 223
The chemical fire just south east of Atlanta in Conyers at the Biolab facility last month has some lawmakers calling for the facility to be shuttered, some lawyers talking class action lawsuit. Meanwhile, the state has opened a community center to help residents. Plus, a Georgia grand jury has indicted a father and son for their alleged parts in last month's mass shooting at Apalachee High School that killed two students and two teachers last month. And the former Atlanta Medical Center site is ...
Oct 19, 2024•16 min•Ep. 222
As Georgia and other states were trying to recover from hurricane Helene, Milton hit. We look at the impact from the two storms. Plus, fallout from the chemical fire at the Biolab facility in Conyers continues as some residents want the facility shutdown as the blaze sent plumes of chemicals into the air around metro Atlanta. And Atlanta has one of the largest Jewish communities in the country. We are with them as they remember and mourn the October 7th attack that saw scores of people killed, i...
Oct 12, 2024•16 min•Ep. 221
We explore the impacts of Hurricane Helene in Georgia: Thousands still without power, scores of homes and businesses ruined and at least 33 people in Georgia alone were killed. Plus we have more from the visits this week by President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump (both times). And some are calling for the closure of a plant near Atlanta where a chemical fire sent a huge plume to the air. We'll also have a look at a damning Department of Justice report ...
Oct 05, 2024•16 min•Ep. 220
At least 11 people died in Georgia as Hurricane Helene rolled through the state. Plus, former President Donald Trump stumped in Savannah this week. He was pitching a plan to stimulate manufacturing, but unlike during his last Georgia rally, Trump refrained from antagonizing Governor Brian Kemp. Also, the controversial State Election Board is preparing to investigate eight heavily Democratic counties for dismissing thousands of voter challenges. And the Ports of Savannah and Brunswick are prepari...
Sep 28, 2024•16 min•Ep. 219
Republicans on the controversial Georgia State Election Board approved a rule this week requiring a hand count of ballots cast on election day. That's in opposition of the republican attorney general and secretary of state, who fear the last-minute change could cause delays and confusion on election night and the days that follow. Plus, we have the context behind visits from candidates Kamala Harris, J.D. Vance and Tim Walz. Also, we have more on a company seeking to mine next to the Okefenokee ...
Sep 21, 2024•17 min•Ep. 218
A Georgia judge is dismissing three more counts in the election interference case against former President Donald Trump and his allies. Plus, attorneys for the man whose son is accused of opening fire at Apalachee High School argued in a new court filing that he needs to be separated from the general population behind bars for his own safety. And Georgia’s Republican State House Speaker says lawmakers will consider new gun regulations during the 2025 legislative session. Also, diseases from Geor...
Sep 14, 2024•16 min•Ep. 217
We take a look back at the deadly Barrow County school shooting that left two students and two teachers dead and nine people injured. The 14-year old alleged shooter is in custody along with his father and neither are seeking bail. We hear from the community about those who lost their lives, how a community is trying to recover and what some lawmakers are saying. Plus, we have a special feature on Georgia's foster care system: When parents have their kids taken into foster care, the state orders...
Sep 07, 2024•16 min•Ep. 216
A lawsuit supported by the Harris Campaign is challenging new rules for certifying elections in Georgia that could result in some local election boards voting against certifying results this fall. Plus, Georgia’s presidential ballot will have six candidates for voters to choose from, which is unusual as the state has had at most only three presidential candidates on the ballot each election since 2004. And we examine the strategy of the Harris campaign to hit places outside metro Atlanta. Also, ...
Aug 31, 2024•16 min•Ep. 215
WABE's Molly Samuel and the environment team of Emily Jones and Marisa Mecke review the flooding in Georgia after Tropical Storm Debby. The team also looks at the future of flooding as climate change makes storms more severe and expand their reach across the state. Plus, we look at if some metro Atlanta stormwater systems can handle more severe storms. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 25, 2024•13 min•Ep. 214
The State Election Board faces bipartisan scrutiny after approving another rule change that could disrupt the certification of Georgia's election results this November. Plus, we hear from Georgians who spoke at the Democratic National Convention and those who were there as delegates. Also, after much controversy at the beginning of the school year, some Georgia educators are now teaching the Advanced Placement course in African American Studies. And The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is al...
Aug 24, 2024•16 min•Ep. 213
With former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris recently campaigning in North Carolina-- a state with a similar electorate to Georgia--we look at why these neighboring battlegrounds have not aligned in recent elections. Plus, Georgia residents are still cleaning up after Tropical Storm Debby and as we found out, with climate change supercharging storms, more areas outside the coast are vulnerable. And, Georgia has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the country, bu...
Aug 17, 2024•17 min•Ep. 212
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp made his first public comments this week since former President Donald Trump restarted their public feud. Plus, Atlanta-based Delta is facing a battle on two sides: a class action lawsuit by some passengers and a blame game with Crowdstrike over massive delays due to technical glitches. Also, we'll hear more from some Georgia's faith leaders who kicked off a "Get out the Vote" campaign in an effort to reach Black voters. And we hear about the cleanup from Tropical Sto...
Aug 10, 2024•16 min•Ep. 211
The transformation of the Democratic campaign for the White House was on full display as Vice President Kamala Harris rallied a boisterous crowd on Tuesday in Atlanta. Former President Donald Trump and his running mate Ohio U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance are set to rally Saturday evening in Atlanta. Plus, Georgia Superintendent Richard Woods says the Advanced Placement course in African American Studies violates Georgia’s “Divisive Concepts” law. And new web portal allowing Georgians to cancel their voter...
Aug 03, 2024•16 min•Ep. 210
Atlanta-based Delta Airlines far outpaced other carriers in cancellations and delays after a widespread tech outage. Federal officials are now investigating if the airline is fulfilling its legal obligation to customers. Plus, we hear from local voters and politicians on the presidential run for Vice President Kamala Harris after President Joe Biden bows out. And Georgia state Superintendent Richard Woods changed a previous decision and will now allow schools to teach "some or all of the standar...
Jul 27, 2024•16 min•Ep. 209
The massive Microsoft Crowdstrike outage that hampered communications worldwide, including forcing flights to be grounded at Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson International, which was again recently named "World's busiest airport." And we talk to Governor Brian Kemp at the Republican National Convention about how he was received, especially after receiving the ire of former President and current nominee Donald Trump. We also look at the two years since Georgia's abortion law took effect. And we look at...
Jul 20, 2024•16 min•Ep. 208
We breakdown the latest over the Fulton County Jail, where commissioners decided to revamp the facility instead of a $1.7 billion rebuild. Plus, we have a one-one-one interview with the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta on how the organization is transitioning from the Covid pandemic. And a new group is putting the focus on fatherhood as a way to empower Black men and boys in Atlanta. Then, a summer program to increase access to fresh food for seniors kicks off in...
Jul 13, 2024•16 min•Ep. 207
We look at new laws surrounding housing, schools and voting. Plus, a south Georgia immigrant detention center leads the country in deaths in custody, and a new report shows most of those fatalities could have been prevented with better medical care. And a years-long dispute between the City of Atlanta and two then-college students who were pulled from their car and tased by police in 2020 is ending. Also the state of Georgia is on the cusp of permitting a controversial mine next to the Okefenoke...
Jul 06, 2024•16 min•Ep. 206
We breakdown some of the health-related topics topics at the debate and the impact that could have on Georgians. Plus, hotel chain Red Roof Inn has settled a civil lawsuit alleging the company was aware of sex trafficking taking place at two metro Atlanta locations. And immigrants detained in Georgia’s two detention centers are losing access to their main source of pro-bono representation. Also, a new program is trying to curb Georgia's abysmally high maternal mortality rate. See omnystudio.com/...
Jun 29, 2024•16 min•Ep. 205
Small businesses in Atlanta are getting financial help to recover from devastating water main breaks that began a few weeks ago. Plus, two former Trump Administration officials will be the Republican nominees for a pair of Congressional seats along the Alabama border. And United States Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is laying the groundwork in Atlanta to combat fentanyl trafficking through the southern border. Also, metro Atlanta continues to lead the country in Black-owned businesses, yet syst...
Jun 22, 2024•16 min•Ep. 204
MARTA officials say the transit agency will move forward with a renovation of the Five Points station in downtown Atlanta set to begin next month, despite a call from Mayor Andre Dickens to pause the project. Plus a national nonprofit helping to bail poor and low-income people out of jail is leaving Georgia, blaming a controversial new state law set to go into effect next month. And local environmental groups want the Atlanta Regional Commission to challenge the city of Atlanta's plans for its c...
Jun 15, 2024•16 min•Ep. 203
Atlantans suffered a series of water main breaks beginning last Friday that caused outages and boil advisories running well into this week. We hear from some of those impacted, why the infrastructure failed and the possible fallout from the emergency. Plus, racial disparities in housing persist even as Atlanta saw an increase in homeownership by Black residents since the pandemic. And a group of rescue dogs are helping men in Fulton County break the cycle of incarceration and adjust to life on t...
Jun 08, 2024•16 min•Ep. 202
We look at how the guilty verdict in New York against former President Donald Trump on hiding hush money payments before the 2016 election could shape the presidential election in Georgia. Plus, despite costing more than twice its original budget and finishing years behind schedule, Governor Brian Kemp is calling for another expansion of nuclear Plant Vogtle. And Atlanta's inspector general says there is a concerted effort by some at city hall to thwart investigations into potential corruption. ...
Jun 01, 2024•16 min•Ep. 201
