The Brief from WABE

Governor Brian Kemp scheduled a summer special session to reassess GA's 2028 maps after the recent Supreme Court ruling on the Voting Rights Act; local energy groups join a lawsuit against the federal Environmental Protection Agency for not maintaining clean air; and what's at stake during the Public Service Commission election this yearSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Utility officials move to lower electricity prices for Georgia customers; what's at stake in the primary race for Georgia Lieutenant Governor; and Republicans want to question Stacey Abrams over her 2018 gubernatorial campaignSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgia now has a need-based scholarship for students attending Georgia’s public colleges and universities; Two of the passengers from a cruise ship where some people have gotten sick and died from hantavirus are being transferred to Atlanta; The Atlanta-area man whose more than year-long detention in immigration facilities rose to the notice of members of Congress says he's focused now on rebuilding.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An Atlanta-based federal appeals court is the latest to reject Immigration and Custom Enforcement’s new mandatory detention practice; DeKalb County says it is building a new park project at Intrenchment Creek Park, years after a controversial land swap deal; and Atlanta-based poet Amy Pence's genre-bending debut novel explores themes of consciousness, trauma and connection through one young woman's relationship with a mysterious yellow blob.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A gallon of premium gas in Georgia is now averaging nearly five dollars a gallon according to motoring group AAA; State health officials say they are closely monitoring two passengers who have returned to Georgia after being aboard the cruise ship at the center of a deadly hantavirus outbreak; Atlanta fiber artist Honey Pierre is being celebrated twice over, with a solo show now open at One Contemporary Gallery, and a just-announced Emerging Artist Award from the City of Atlanta.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CNN founder Ted Turner, a consummate salesman who changed how much of the world consumes news, has died; Governor Brian Kemp signed legislation regulating how health insurance companies use artificial intelligence in making patient decisions; A local non-profit is expanding a mentorship program for high school and college students to prepare them for high paying tech careers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fulton County is pushing back on federal efforts to obtain the personal information of over 3000 election workers, plus volunteers, who worked on November 2020 elections; Georgia Power wants to lower the rate it charges for fuel; This weekend, Atlanta Ballet opens the East Coast premiere of “Frida,” a full-length narrative ballet.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgia abortion-rights advocates are among the national voices urging the U.S. Supreme Court to preserve access to abortion medication by mail after a flurry of back and forth court rulings; A disabled Georgia man has been released after more than a year in immigration detention; One of the few Black teachers ever hired by a south Georgia school district claims she was the victim of racial harassment. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fire crews are making gains on two large wildfires in South Georgia; Georgia Governor Brian Kemp says he will not delay the May 19th party primaries to allow for a special session to redraw congressional and state legislative lines; The race for the Republican and Democratic nominations to replace retiring Congressman Barry Loudermilk continue to focus on President Donald Trump and his policies. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Man claims he lost fingers, lower legs after Fulton County Jail failed to give him antibiotics; A look at the candidates for Georgia Secretary of State; and for the most part, candidates for the Georgia Public Service Commission agree on one issue--even across party lines. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wildfires continue to burn across South Georgia; Georgia has a new way to track voting; and how the Atlanta region became the number one market for 'build to rent' homes.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgia officials say crews have made significant progress on two large devastating wildfires in the Southeast part of the state; Georgia U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock is calling on Speaker of the House Mike Johnson to bring the bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security up for a vote; Georgia's Democratic and Republican candidates for governor faced off in the Atlanta Press Club debates.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Southeast Georgia got some much-needed rainfall over the weekend – but not nearly enough to put out the tens of thousands of acres ablaze from two wildfires; In-person, early voting is now underway in Georgia for the May 19th primary election; and as a new generation witnesses astronauts travel to the moon for the first time in more than 50 years, we look at how the Fernbank Science Center contributed to the Apollo missions of the 1960s.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Federal officials are stepping in to help as wildfires rage in Southeast Georgia; Members of Georgia's congressional delegation are supporting a resolution that would require the Trump Administration to extend temporary legal protections for Haitian migrants; A Black community founded by freed enslaved people after the Civil War is now an official historic district in the city of Decatur.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Firefighters in Georgia are working to contain a wildfire that has destroyed 87 homes so far; State officials warn some populations may be at higher risk for smoke-related health impacts from the wildfires; WABE's climate reporter Emily Jones reports from Brantley County, near one of the ongoing wildfires.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Longtime Georgia Congressman David Scott has died at the age of 80; Governor Brian Kemp has declared a state of emergency for 91 counties as wildfires rage across South Georgia; The Trump administration wants to allow new roads to be built on millions of acres of forest--acres where that hasn't been allowed for decades. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Baby, it's dry outside; Epidemic Intelligence Service officers, part of the CDC, meet in Atlanta; and a journey inside Inman Park's 'tree house.' See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Georgia river finds itself on list of most endangered; Why your primary ballot might have some unusual questions; and gas prices fall a smidge, but likley not for long.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the backlog of immigration cases in Georgia grows while the Trump Administration shuffles judges around, members of Congress are trying to separate the courts from political influence; This last winter and spring were the driest in Georgia's recorded history according to federal records; and the director of water strategy at the Metro Atlanta Chamber places Georgia's current drought conditions in context.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Donald Trump nominates Erica Schwartz to lead the CDC; State lawmakers are running out of time to choose a new way for Georgians to vote; and Fulton Commission approves $1.3-billion to spruce up Atlanta's jail, among other projects. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ossoff co-sponsors Senate bill to give local cities agency over ICE immigration detention centers; Sonny Perdue retires; and Hartsfield-Jackson keeps 'world's busiest' designation for another year--and it isn't even close (despite how Chicago's O'Hare tries to spin it)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former executive with the High Museum of Art pleaded not guilty to stealing hundreds of thousands of barrels; Dunwoody residents vocally oppose a city agreement with the public safety tech company Flock; and why better understanding of bird behavior could slow the spread of avian flu. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As record high temperatures are expected, the state's drought worsens; Georgia prisons implement drones in the fight against contraband; and parting words from the outgoing CEO of Clarkston-based "Friends of Refugees." See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Republican legislation on Governor Brian Kemp’s desk would expand access to birth control; Former Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene -- once an adamant loyalist of President Donald Trump -- is now calling for his removal from office using the 25th Amendment; and we hear from two of the authors behind Planet Money's first book explaining the economic forces affecting our everyday lives. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The median home price in Fulton County neared $750,000 in March; When it comes to avoiding the relic known as the penny, state lawmakers say it all adds up--unless you round down; and GSU athletics plan to expand in Atlanta's Summerhill neighborhood.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Calls for the federal government to step up and repair damage at the CDC increase some eight months after someone shot it up; Fulton County's Reparations Task Force issues a 600+ page report; and on this date in 1974, Henry "Hank" Aaron hit homerun number 715 and surpassed Babe Ruth as baseball's "Homerun King." .See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hip-hop artist Offset is recovering after the former Migos member was shot outside of a Florida casino; Private companies will soon be able to add their own renewable energy sources to Georgia Power's grid; and Delta ups baggage fees to subsidize fuel cost increases.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Big backups at the busiest airport in the world; State lawmakers advance efforts to suspend the gas tax; and what your local water provider is doing to make sure dirty tasting, smelly water is a thing of the past. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The future of two Georgia warehouses in question following shifts in Dept. of Homeland Security leadership; Sine Die is near; and what Cuba looks like from an Atlantan's perspective as the Trump administration imposes tough sanctions on the island.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Officials react to violent weekend in Atlanta after multiple young people shot; UPS agrees to cap voluntary separation buyouts; and a final-seconds two-pointer keeps Emory from NCAA Div. III national title. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgia lawmakers have approved next year's $38.5 billion dollar state budget, which moved through in the final hours of the legislative session last night; Georgia property owners may soon be able to sue their cities and towns if they believe certain laws related to homelessness and immigration aren't being enforced aggressively enough; North Georgia streams are some of the most biodiverse places in the country and biologists are trying to help one threatened species of blue-striped fish.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sine Die caps the 2026 General Assembly; hundreds of layoffs are coming to Stone Mountain Park; and the BeltLine reaches an affordable housing milestone.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

State Democrats resist efforts to re-classify some elected positions concentrated in metro Atlanta; The government wants to collect and store DNA for immigrants taken into custody; and DeKalb gets serious about tire cleanup.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgia's Senators call for bipartisan investigation into Iran strikes; "No Kings" rally leaders encourage protestors to keep showing up to be effective; and a look at the big legislative issues rolling into Sine Die.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Republican-backed election bill, that would change this year's elections, passed the State Senate Friday; Travelers at the world’s busiest airport say TSA employees are long overdue to be paid as the DHS shutdown continues; and a new book chronicles how a Cartersville company was the only one willing to bring back Ebola patients from West Africa 12 years ago.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Continued long TSA lines prompt Delta to ease ticket restrictions, promote rebooking; State lawmakers plead with ICE officials to release Loganville double amputee; and the influence Frida Kahlo had on one Atlanta artist.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The proposed 38 and half billion 2027 state budget is headed for a vote in the State Senate after passing out of committee today Wednesday; The Gwinnett County school board unanimously approved Alexandra Estrella today as the new superintendent of the largest school district in Georgia; East Lake Foundation president and CEO Illy Askia joins "All Things Considered" to talk about how its model can be replicated in other communities.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Groups question ICE presence, purpose at Atlanta's airport; Georgia stopped collecting vehicle gas taxes, but that's done little to bolster pump prices; and 'What time is it?' Why lawmakers think Georgians can't be bothered with changing a clock.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

TSA call-outs cause hours-long lines at Atlanta's airport; State lawmakers vote to ban cell phones in high school classrooms; and Atlanta sees its 16th-worst pollen count ever. Achoo...we're just getting started.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgia becomes the first state to suspend its gas tax in response to the war in Iran, which has caused gas prices to spike; Governor Brian Kemp signed his fourth round of one-time state income tax rebates at the State Capitol Friday; The Princeton Eviction lab found that Atlanta had more than 144 thousand evictions last year, we hear from one of the researchers involved.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

State lawmakers pass bill to suspend Georgia's gas tax; homeowner's insurance is about to see another premium increase; and a conversation with the legendary Dionne Warwick.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

State Senate looks to ban phones in Georgia high schools; Two decades past verdict, and father convicted of killing infant child wants a new trial; and the mystique that is the Georgia Guidestones. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

World's busiest airport feeling pinch of partial government shutdown; a judge delivers a major blow to the Trump administration's anti-vaccine agenda; and the first installment in WABE's series, "Invisible Scars." See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Democratic state senator Nabilah Parkes of Duluth is resigning; charges have been dropped in the case of five teenagers involved in the death of Hall County teacher and coach Jason Hughes; a new report from Duluth-based Planned PEThood of Georgia outlines a framework for improving the delivery of animal welfare services in the state.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ACLU to Dept. of Homeland Security: Stop detaining immigrants in temporary holding cells in the basement of an Atlanta immigration office; Could professional hockey return to Atlanta?; and why this year's Dogwood Festival has an admission charge.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With QR codes on ballots now unlawful in Georgia, another new voting system is on the horizon; gas prices sharply increase as war with Iran continues; and the significance of the Stitch project adding "Inc." to its name. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Judge denies Laken Riley killer a new trial; state lawmakers pass 2027 budget; and Yamaha ditches California for Georgia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fulton DA says state GOP is targeting her for prosecuting Donald Trump; political shuffle on Fulton County Commission sets the stage for major shifts; and what a year into Trump's second term means for the Atlanta-based CDC.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Candidates qualify for the commission that sets Georgia Power rates; and an investigation into a controversial land swap in DeKalb CountySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some of the biggest names running for state office qualify under the Gold Dome; Fulton commissioners approve plan aimed at improving conditions at the Rice Street jail; and a conversation with Boris Kodjoe.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.