Arrested journalist placed in ICE custody; Wildlife Refuge saved by nonprofit

Summary

Georgia Today Podcast Summary Episode: Arrested journalist placed in ICE custody; Wildlife Refuge saved by nonprofit Release Date: June 20, 2025 Host: Orlando Montoya

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Arrest of Journalist Mario Guevara and ICE Custody

The episode opens with a significant report on the detention of Mario Guevara, a Spanish-language journalist, who was arrested while covering a protest in Atlanta. After spending several days in DeKalb County jail, Guevara has been placed into the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Pamela Kirkland from GPB reports, “Guevara will now have to fight deportation proceedings in an immigration court. His attorney says he is in the US legally” (01:23). Guevara, who previously worked as a journalist in El Salvador before fleeing to the United States in 2004, has amassed a considerable following on social media as an independent journalist in Atlanta. His arrest occurred during a weekend protest where he was livestreaming his coverage.

Conservation Fund Secures Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge

A landmark victory for environmental conservation was highlighted as the national nonprofit Conservation Fund successfully acquired the site of a proposed titanium mine near Georgia's Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. This acquisition halts a six-year-long project that threatened to disrupt the fragile ecosystem of the swamp.

Rena Ann Peck of Georgia Rivers celebrated the achievement, stating, “No other nature conservation effort in Georgia State history has had such overwhelming support and achieved such a monumental win. I'm just so relieved and happy and it's a momentous step” (03:42). The Conservation Fund paid $60 million for nearly 8,000 acres, ensuring the protection of the refuge from potential environmental damage that mining activities could have caused.

Juneteenth Celebrations and DEI Challenges

June 19th marked Juneteenth celebrations across Georgia, commemorating the end of slavery in America. Despite national tensions surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, many events proceeded, including a music festival in Atlanta's Piedmont Park and a traditional beach wade-in on Tybee Island honoring civil rights activists from the 1960s.

However, in Augusta, some festival sponsors withdrew their support, citing discomfort with company-based DEI changes. The festival organizers noted the federal recognition of Juneteenth in 2021 and Georgia's adoption the following year, contrasting with states like West Virginia, which has since revoked the holiday's observance.

Georgia Lawmakers Respond to Minnesota Lawmakers’ Assassinations

The assassination of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, along with Democratic State Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette, has sent shockwaves through the political community. In Augusta, Senator Harold Jones expressed his concerns about the impact of these violent acts on the legislative environment.

Jones emphasized the futility of political affiliations in the face of violence, stating, “It doesn't matter who he voted for. It doesn't matter who he supported. Violence is violence” (04:47). He also advocated for stronger collaborations between Capitol police and local law enforcement, as well as measures to protect lawmakers' personal information from public exposure.

Honoring Fallen Educators

In a heartfelt segment, two Georgia educators, Christina Irami and Richard Aspinwall, are to be added to the National Memorial to Fallen Educators in Emporia, Kansas. Both teachers tragically lost their lives in a school shooting on September 4th of the previous year, alongside two students.

Maddie Fennell, Executive Director of the National Teachers Hall of Fame, remarked, “Every death is tragic, but preventable shooting deaths are especially impactful” (05:47). Their legacy will be preserved on campus at Emporia State University, honoring their dedication to education.

Sheriff's Lawsuit Against Fulton County Leaders

Sheriff Pat Labat of Atlanta's Fulton County has initiated a lawsuit against county commissioners, alleging that their interference is hindering his ability to manage the department's budget effectively. The conflict centers around purchasing policies that Labat claims restrict his efforts to address issues at the county's troubled and aging jail facilities.

Labat asserts that the commissioners’ scrutiny of his spending decisions is jeopardizing the county's financial stability, intensifying the ongoing battle between the elected sheriff and the county's elected officials.

Georgia Department of Transportation Enhances Emergency Preparedness

Following insights from last year's Hurricane Helene, the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) has made significant improvements in emergency preparedness. Emily Fish, Assistant State Maintenance Engineer, highlighted the challenges in communication during the storm, leading to the implementation of advanced communication tools.

Rena Ann Peck elaborates, “So we purchased 1,200 new radios that will be distributed to all the districts. We have also purchased satellite phones for when the cellular towers are down, and we have purchased Starlink devices” (07:03). These enhancements aim to ensure better coordination and safety for over half of GDOT's workforce during emergencies.

Makin's Mental Health Initiative Focuses on Trauma through ACEs Survey

In Makin, a mental health initiative has launched its second public survey to assess trauma within the community by examining Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). The initiative, led by Andrea Cook from the Macon Mental Health Matters program, seeks to understand the prevalence of violence, abuse, and neglect among residents.

Andrea Cook expressed optimism, “I'm hopeful that making people more aware of their own ACES scores and then the greater community's ACES score will result in people who feel more connected” (08:21). The survey, which includes interviews this year, aims to improve resource allocation and secure local funding, with participation closing on July 11.

Rare Shark Bite Near Tybee Island

A young swimmer was recently bitten by a shark near Georgia's Tybee Island, marking one of the rare unprovoked attacks in the state's history. Rachel Cantrell from the Tybee Island Marine Science Center explained, “Sharks are looking for their food in the water and especially if a school of fish is swimming right by and next to you and they're just trying to get that fish. Sometimes they'll accidentally get a person instead” (08:57). The victim was airlifted to a Savannah hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to local authorities.

Managing Canada's Geese Overpopulation

Summertime in Georgia brings challenges beyond the heat and humidity, including an increase in Canada geese populations. Kara Nitschke, the state migratory game bird biologist, noted that geese become flightless during late June due to molting, leading them to congregate around homes and businesses, sometimes exhibiting aggressive territorial behavior.

To mitigate issues, Chase McGee reports various deterrent methods such as motion-activated sprinklers and predator decoys are recommended for those looking to keep geese off their properties (09:44).

Georgia Peaches Re-enter Mexican Market

For the first time in 27 years, Georgia peaches have been exported to Mexico, thanks to advancements in agricultural technology. Tyler Harper, Georgia's Agriculture Commissioner, announced the shipment of 42,000 pounds of peaches, which now meet Mexico's stringent import requirements.

Aflac's Cybersecurity Breach

Insurance giant Aflac has identified suspicious activity within its network that may compromise Social Security numbers and other personal information. The company described the incident as a cybercrime, which they successfully contained within hours to prevent further damage.

50th Anniversary of Atlanta Landmarks' Fox Theater Preservation

Marking half a century, the nonprofit Atlanta Landmarks celebrates its successful campaign to preserve the historic Fox Theater from demolition. Alan Vella, Theater President and CEO, reflected on the movement, saying, “I think that the city and the citizens realized that so many great historic properties had been torn down... and we need to preserve some of these facilities” (11:39). The Fox Theater, built in 1929, stands as a testament to the city’s commitment to historic preservation, featured in GPB’s documentary, The Legend Lives On.

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Conclusion

Today's episode of Georgia Today provided a comprehensive overview of pressing issues ranging from journalistic freedoms and environmental conservation to public safety and historic preservation. Through in-depth reporting and expert commentary, listeners gained valuable insights into the developments shaping Georgia.

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For more information on these stories, visit gpb.org/news. To stay updated, subscribe to the Georgia Today podcast and share your feedback at [e-mail].

Transcript

[Chase McGee]

DBHDD is reminding people that the Good Samaritan law can save lives during alcohol and drug overdoses. People are urged to call 911 and stay until help arrives. More [e-mail].

[Orlando Montoya]

Hello and welcome to the Georgia Today Podcast. Here we bring you the latest reports from the GPB newsroom. On today's episode, a journalist arrested while covering a protest in Atlanta has been placed into ICE custody. A non profit saves land near the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge from being developed into a titanium mine and Georgia lawmakers react to the assassination of two Minnesota lawmakers last weekend.

[Harold Jones]

After this kind of hit the airwaves, people started wondering who this person voted for and who they supported. It doesn't matter who he voted for. It doesn't matter who he supported. Violence is violence.

[Orlando Montoya]

Today is Friday, June 20th. I'm Orlando Montoya. This is Georgia Today. Immigration officers have taken custody of a Spanish language journalist arrested on obstruction and unlawful assembly charges while he was covering a weekend protest in metro Atlantis. DeKalb County GPB's Pamela Kirkland has more.

[Pamela Kirkland]

A spokesperson for U.S. immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed Wednesday that the agency detained Mario Guevara, a Spanish language journalist, after he spent days in a DeKalb county jail. Guevara will now have to fight deportation proceedings in an immigration court. His attorney says he is in the US Legally. Guevara was covering a protest Saturday when he livestreamed video of his arrest. Guevara worked as a journalist in El Salvador before fleeing the country in 2004 and has developed a sizable following on social media as an independent journalist in Atlanta. For GPB News, I'm Pamela Kirkland.

[Orlando Montoya]

Yesterday was Juneteenth and across Georgia, the anniversary of the end of slavery in America marched on. Despite this being a fraught time nationally for diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, many celebrations took place last weekend and including in Atlanta where a music festival took place in Piedmont Park. Yesterday. On Tybee island near Savannah, scores of people gathered for a wade in at the beach. The annual event honors black students who in the 1960s attempted to desegregate the whites only beach by wading into the water and being arrested. In Augusta, Juneteenth festival organizers said a few previous festival sponsors ended their sponsorship after company based DEI changes. The holiday was recognized federally in 2021 and in Georgia the following year, at least one state, West Virginia, has revoked the holiday observance. The national nonprofit Conservation Fund says it has acquired the site of a proposed titanium mine near Georgia's Okefenokee National W. The purchase, announced today ends a six year long project that united environmentalists and lawmakers in opposition but until recently seemed on the cusp of gaining state regulatory approval. Rena Ann Peck of the nonprofit Georgia Rivers credits the sale to Conservation Fund donors and the sustained campaign to save the swamp.

[Rena Ann Peck]

No other nature calls in Georgia State history has had such overwhelming support and achieved such a monumental win. I'm just so relieved and happy and it's a momentous step, peck says.

[Orlando Montoya]

The fund paid $60 million for just under 8,000 acres. Scientists had warned that mining so close to the refuge could irreparably harm it. Georgia lawmakers are reacting to the attacks on Minnesota lawmakers last weekend. Former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, were killed Saturday by a gunman impersonating a police officer. And Democratic State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, also were shot in their home in a separate incident. Speaking with GPB's Donna Lowry, Augusta State Senator Harold Jones says the violence has rattled lawmakers and so has the way some people in the public have responded.

[Harold Jones]

Here's one of the things that was troubling to me is actually after this kind of hit the airwaves, people started wondering who this person voted for and who they supported.

[Orlando Montoya]

Violence.

[Harold Jones]

It doesn't matter who he voted for. It doesn't matter who he supported. Violence is violence.

[Orlando Montoya]

Jones says while the Georgia Capitol is well protected, he'd like to see stronger connections between Capitol police and local law enforcement. He also says Georgia should consider ways to shield lawmakers personal information, such as home addresses from public view. Two Georgia educators will be added to the National Memorial to Fallen educators in Emporia, Kansas today. JPB's Chase McGee has more.

[Chase McGee]

Christina Irami and Richard Aspinwall both worked as math teachers at Apalachee High School in Winder. On September 4th of last year, they were killed during a school shooting that also took the lives of two students. Now they will be honored along with seven other US Teachers who died in the service of education. Maddie Fennell is the executive director of the National Teachers hall of Fame. She says that while every death is tragic, preventable shooting deaths are especially impactful.

[Andrea Cook]

I think that makes it even more tragic because we're not doing everything we can do to stop that.

[Chase McGee]

Both teachers will have their names inscribed on large black granite books on campus at Emporia State University. For GPB news, I'm Chase McGee.

[Orlando Montoya]

The sheriff of Atlanta's Fulton county is suing county leaders, accusing them of interfering with his ability to manage his business budget. The lawsuit filed by Sheriff Pat Labat on Tuesday escalates a battle between the elected sheriff and elected county commissioners. Labatte alleges the commission's purchasing policies illegally limit his ability to address problems at the Troubled and Aging county jail. Commissioners repeatedly have questioned Labatte's spending, accusing the sheriff of putting the county's finances at risk. Georgia Department of Transportation officials say they've made strides in addressing emergency preparedness. The assessment came Wednesday in a report dealing what agency staff members learned from their response to last year's Hurricane Helene. Assistant State Maintenance Engineer Emily Fish told GDOT board members one key problem was communication, making sure employees were safe and where they needed to be after the storm.

[Rena Ann Peck]

So we purchased 1,200 new radios that will be distributed to all the districts. We have also purchased satellite phones for when the cellular towers are down, and we have purchased Starlink devices, she says.

[Orlando Montoya]

The agency mobilized more than 2,000 employees, more than half its workforce to respond to the storm. In Makin, a mental health initiative has launched its second ever public survey aimed at understanding trauma in the community. The survey asks about adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs, which can be the result of violence, abuse or neglect. GPB's Sophie Gratis has more Adverse childhood.

[Sophie Gradis]

Experiences are common and can lead to stress and depression if unchecked. According to the CDC, ACE surveys typically rank risk from 1 to 10. Last year's survey from the city funded Macon Mental Health Matters program found an average score of 4 across 21 zip codes in Bibb County. Program director Andrea Cook says since then they've brought more mental health events to those areas. This year, they'll add interviews to the survey.

[Andrea Cook]

I'm hopeful that making people more aware of their own ACES scores and then the greater community's ACES score will result in people who feel more connected, cook says.

[Sophie Gradis]

More survey participation this year could also help better direct resources and local funding. The Survey closes on July 11. For GPB news, I'm Sophie Gradis.

[Orlando Montoya]

A young swimmer was airlifted to a Savannah hospital on Tuesday after being bitten by a shark. The bite occurred on South Carolina's Hilton Head island near Georgia's Tybee Island. Shark bites in Georgia are rare. Rachel Cantrell of the Tybee Island Marine Science center says there only have been 17 unprovoked shark bites in all of Georgia's recorded history.

[Andrea Cook]

Sharks are looking for their food in the water and especially if a school of fish is swimming right by and next to you and they're just trying to get that fish. Sometimes they'll accidentally get a person instead.

[Orlando Montoya]

A spokesperson for Memorial Health University Medical center said the hospital could not release information about the miner's condition, but Hilton Head Island Fire and Rescue said the injuries were not life threatening. Summertime in Georgia brings a number of nuisances, heat, humidity and biting insects. And add to that Canada geese. GPB's Chase McGee tells us why the birds are so hard to get rid of.

[Chase McGee]

Starting in late June, Canada geese are flightless. They're busy molting feathers they use to migrate across North America. Kara Nitschke is the state migratory game bird biologist. She says that as a result, you might see more geese hanging around homes and businesses and sometimes being very territorial.

[Kara Nitschke]

And if they have a nest in a really inconvenient location where people travel a lot, if there's people coming in and out and there's a nest nearby, then they can really get kind of bullied by these geese. You know, they can hurt you.

[Chase McGee]

People who want to keep geese off their property can try certain techniques, including motion activated sprinklers, scarecrows or decoys of predators, coyotes. For GPB news, I'm Chase McGee.

[Orlando Montoya]

Georgia peaches are being sold in Mexico for the first time in 27 years, state Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper said today. The shipment of 42,000 pounds of Georgia peaches to Mexico was made possible by new technology that allows the crop to meet the country's strict import requirements. Insurance giant Aflac says it has identified suspicious activity on its network in the US that might impact Social Security numbers and other personal information. The Columbus based company today called the incident a cybercrime and said that the intrusion was stopped within hours. And Tomorrow marks the 50th anniversary of the non profit group Atlanta Landmarks taking control of the city's historic Fox Theater. Saving the fabulous Fox from being torn down. The campaign to save the architecturally stunning 1929 theater became a watershed moment for Georgia Historic Preservation. Theater President and CEO Alan Vella spoke with GPB about the campaign in 2019.

[Alan Vella]

I think that the city and the citizens realized that so many great historic properties had been torn down, especially theaters like the Lows, the Rialto, the grand and many others. And I think they finally put a stake in the ground and said, stop. We need to preserve some of these facilities.

[Orlando Montoya]

And you can learn more about the theater and its history by watching the GPB documentary the Legend Lives On. Atlantis fox [e-mail] and that's it for today's edition of Georgia Today. If you'd like to learn more about these stories, visit gpb.org news if you haven't yet hit subscribe on this podcast. Take a moment to do that now. It helps you to keep us current in your feed. If you have feedback, send that to us at Georgia [e-mail] I'm Orlando Montoya. I hope you have a great weekend.

[NPR Planet Money Team]

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[Orlando Montoya]

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[NPR Planet Money Team]

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[Orlando Montoya]

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[Pamela Kirkland]

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