Georgia Today Podcast – March 5, 2026

Host: Peter Biello, Georgia Public Broadcasting
Main Episode Theme:
Coverage of breaking news and key legislative actions across Georgia, focusing on a major cold case arrest, new reproductive health legislation, a controversial homelessness/property value bill, and highlights on cycling safety, abortion access, and upcoming film festivals.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Arrest in 16-Year-Old Cold Case

[00:32 – 01:11]

• News: Arrest of Willie James Jr. (Wayne County) for the 2010 murder of Sandra Robinson in Douglas, GA.
• Background: Robinson, a mother of four, was found stabbed inside her workplace in Coffee County.
• Breakthrough: The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) attributes the arrest to a renewed review of evidence.
• Notable Quote:
  • GBI Special Agent Jessica Hamilton:
    "The resolution of this case should serve as a powerful reminder to families still waiting for answers in cold cases." [01:05]

2. Birth Control Bill Expanding Pharmacists’ Authority

[01:11 – 01:48]

• Legislation: House Bill 1138, passed overwhelmingly by the Georgia House (162–4).
• What it Does: Allows pharmacists to prescribe contraceptives and patients to receive a year’s supply at once.
• Objective: Improve access, especially in underserved, rural counties.
• Key Insight: 82 counties in Georgia have no OBGYN provider.
• Notable Quotes:
  • Rep. Beth Camp:
    "In many counties in our state there are no OB GYNs, 82 counties do not have an obgyn, so the pharmacist..." [01:39]
  • Unknown (continuing):
    "...is the health care provider in those counties." [01:46]

3. Homelessness-Related Lawsuit Proposal

[01:48 – 02:53]

• House Bill 295: Passed the House (98–75 along party lines).
• Purpose: Allows property owners to sue local governments for decreased property value if the government does not enforce public nuisance laws (targeting issues like panhandling and public camping).
• Sponsor: Rep. Houston Gaines (R).
• Supporters’ Framing: Focus on local government's fiscal accountability.
  • Rep. Houston Gaines:
    "If a local government refuses to do its job, we're going to hit that local government in the pocketbook and put the money back in the hands of the property owners." [00:23, 02:20]
• Opposition: Critics argue the bill does not address root causes and interferes with local control.
  • Rep. Karla Drenner:
    "Accountability without resources is not accountability, it is punishment." [02:37]

4. Rising Cyclist Deaths & Macon Ghost Bike Memorial

[02:53 – 06:31]

• Trend: Deaths of cyclists are rising in Georgia (26 killed in 2024, 29 the following year; GA is 9th in the nation for cycling fatalities).
• Memorial: Focus on activist Michael Ryan, who fought for safer roads for decades; ghost bike placed at the site of his death.
• Advocacy: Road design and infrastructure lagging; need for safer features and more political push.
• Demographics: Significant fatalities in non-urban areas; many victims are people who cannot afford cars.
• Notable Quotes & Moments:
  • Judith Ryan Graff (Ryan’s sister):
    "And here he dies on a Georgia highway. And that is. That's cruel irony in my book." [04:07]
  • Kayla Brown (Bike Walk Savannah):
    "Having a ghost bike out there does a lot to encourage people to slow down and really bring attention to the problem area." [04:59] "Those fatalities are individuals who can't own a car or can't maintain a motor vehicle. There are so many people who don't have another transportation option." [05:34]
  • Dave Gardner (friend):
    "In remembrance of Mike... the best thing that we can do to honor him and his memory is to keep pushing these politicians for safety." [06:18]

5. Leadership Changes at Delta Airlines

[06:42 – 07:12]

• Overview: Delta CEO Ed Bastian announces organizational shifts—appoints a new president and new chief officers (operations, finance, marketing, products).
• Significance: Aimed at cultivating the next generation of leaders; Bastian has no retirement plans yet.

6. Children's Healthcare of Atlanta CEO Transition

[07:12 – 07:46]

• News: Donna Hyland retiring, to be replaced by Patrick Frius.
• Institution: Georgia’s only independent pediatric care system, serving over a million patients each year.

7. Gas Prices Spike in Georgia

[07:46 – 08:07]

• Update: Average price of gas is $3.17, up from $2.78 last week.
• Causes: Global instability (Iran conflict), normal seasonal fluctuation.

8. Oscar-Nominated Documentary: "The Devil Is Busy"

[08:07 – 12:28]

• Film Focus: A day at an Atlanta abortion clinic, a critical access point since Roe v. Wade was overturned.
• Interview: Co-director Kristalyn Hampton discusses choice of subject, impact, and inspiration from the clinic's head of security, Tracy.
• Notable Quotes:
  • Hampton on nomination:
    "I've been really consistent in trying to create quality work…when you actually hear it, I honestly just screamed…this film is such an important. I'm really proud of this film." [08:18]
  • Hampton on impact of Texas ban & neighboring states:
    "Women having to travel for miles to come and just get basic health care taken care of, you know, was something that was remarkable for us as women filmmakers…" [09:21]
  • On Tracy’s significance:
    "She's the first line of defense…she has this heart and of courage and compassion that sort of, you know, spills over to everyone that she meets..." [11:00]
  • On the film’s title:
    "The devil is busy in everything that Tracy says…we play with a lot of different titles and that just felt like the right one." [12:03]

9. Hindsight Film Festival Debuts in Savannah

[12:33 – 13:15]

• Festival: First US film festival devoted entirely to historical documentaries.
• Founder Quote:
  • Pat Longstreth:
    "There are a lot of great festivals that include historical documentaries and have them as part of the program. But usually it's only a small portion and usually the films don't play in the primetime spots." [12:48]
  • "After many screenings, there's a really wide, diverse, creative selection of films that I couldn't be happier with the Hindsight Film..." [13:08]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "The resolution of this case should serve as a powerful reminder to families still waiting for answers in cold cases."
  — Jessica Hamilton, GBI Special Agent [01:05]

• "Put simply, if a local government refuses to do its job, we're going to hit that local government in the pocketbook and put the money back in the hands of the property owners."
  — Rep. Houston Gaines (R) [00:23, 02:20]

• "Accountability without resources is not accountability, it is punishment."
  — Rep. Karla Drenner [02:37]

• "Having a ghost bike out there does a lot to encourage people to slow down and really bring attention to the problem area."
  — Kayla Brown, Bike Walk Savannah [04:59]

• "The devil is busy in everything that Tracy says… and that just felt like the right [film] title."
  — Kristalyn Hampton [12:03]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Cold case arrest: [00:32 – 01:11]
• Birth control bill: [01:11 – 01:48]
• Homelessness/property value bill: [01:48 – 02:53]
• Ghost bike memorial & cycling safety: [02:53 – 06:31]
• Delta Air Lines leadership: [06:42 – 07:12]
• Children’s Healthcare new CEO: [07:12 – 07:46]
• Gas price update: [07:46 – 08:07]
• "The Devil Is Busy" and interview: [08:07 – 12:28]
• Hindsight Film Festival: [12:33 – 13:15]

Overall Tone & Language

Direct, informative, and compassionate. The host and reporters prioritize clear context and local relevance, frequently featuring the direct voices of lawmakers, advocates, and subjects affected by policy and societal challenges. The episode moves briskly but gives space to voices highlighting the human side of Georgia’s news.