'Big Beautiful Bill' passes; Peachtree Road Race; Calls for removal of Brunswick DA

Summary

Georgia Today Podcast Summary: July 3, 2025

Hosted by Peter Biello, Georgia Today delves into the most pressing issues affecting Georgians, from legislative changes and local races to legal controversies within county administrations. In this episode, three main stories take center stage: the passage of President Trump's significant budget bill, preparations for the annual Peachtree Road Race, and the push to remove the District Attorney in Brunswick.

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1. Passage of President Trump's Massive Budget Bill

Overview: On July 3, 2025, President Trump's expansive new spending bill successfully cleared its final vote in the U.S. House of Representatives, marking a significant legislative achievement. The bill, which aligns with Trump's broader policy agenda, passed Georgia's 14 representatives strictly along partisan lines—Republicans supported it, while Democrats opposed.

Key Provisions and Controversies:

• Healthcare and Medicaid Cuts: Opponents of the bill criticized it for reducing funding to critical programs, including Medicaid. The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) highlighted these cuts as a "moral civil rights matter," emphasizing the potential negative impact on millions of uninsured Georgians.

  Isabel Otero, SPLC Policy Director (00:26): "Now isn't the time to sort of tighten some of these programs. It's the time for us to care more about how to get adults who are uninsured assistance and kids who are uninsured assistance."

• Tax Breaks and Energy Rollbacks: The bill includes tax reductions favoring the wealthy, cuts to food aid, and significant rollbacks of renewable energy initiatives. These provisions have sparked concerns among Georgia's clean energy advocates about the future of the state's manufacturing sector.

  South Georgia Congressman Austin Scott (01:27): "When the Democrats are telling you that we're kicking disabled people off of SNAP or we're kicking disabled people off of Medicaid, it is an absolute lie."

Impact on Clean Energy: The bill introduces uncertainty into Georgia's clean energy landscape by altering tax credit programs established under the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. This move threatens approximately 28,000 electric vehicle (EV) jobs in the state.

Isabel Otero (02:32): "The reconciliation bill makes significant changes to clean energy tax credit programs implemented by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act."

Conclusion: While Republicans hail the bill as a fulfillment of voter-approved agendas—emphasizing tax cuts, stricter immigration enforcement, and boosting domestic oil and gas production—Democrats and environmentalists fear it could hinder Georgia's progress in sustainable energy and healthcare support.

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2. Calls for Removal of Brunswick District Attorney Keith Higgins

Overview: Five southeastern Georgia counties—Glenn, Camden, Appling, Wayne, and Jeff Davis—have petitioned for the removal of Brunswick District Attorney Keith Higgins. The counties allege financial mismanagement and inappropriate conduct, claiming that Higgins poses a "continuing and escalating threat to the justice system and to the taxpayers of the Brunswick Judicial Circuit."

Allegations Against DA Keith Higgins:

• Excessive Hiring: The primary complaint revolves around Higgins hiring more assistant district attorneys than approved, leading to significant budget overruns. Specifically, Higgins' hiring spree in January 2024 resulted in a nearly $1 million debt to Glenn County.

  Jabari Gibbs, Reporter for The Current (04:04): "People, essentially too many assistant district attorneys. And essentially that has been what is widely considered to be the catalyst for the budget overage..."

• Poor Financial Oversight: Higgins is accused of failing to effectively manage his financial department, neglecting regular briefings on the office's fiscal health despite having an accountant and office manager in place.

  Jabari Gibbs (05:15): "He has essentially dropped the ball in that regard."

DA Keith Higgins' Response: Higgins has admitted that some of his hiring decisions were excessive and acknowledged shortcomings in financial oversight.

Jabari Gibbs (05:26): "He does say that the buck stops with him, and he has acknowledged that some of the hiring... may have been a little bit, a little bit much."

Impact on the Justice System: The DA's mismanagement has led to severe operational challenges:

• Juvenile Court Representation: Higgins has ceased to represent the state in juvenile courts, forcing counties to hire private firms for prosecutions.
• Case Backlogs: With over 2,400 pending felony cases and only six prosecutors across the circuit, significant delays and overcrowded jails have ensued.

Next Steps: A complaint has been filed with the Georgia Prosecuting Attorney's Qualification Commission (PAQC). The PAQC will initiate an investigation to determine the validity of the claims. If findings warrant, the case may advance through panels that could ultimately lead to Higgins' removal.

Jabari Gibbs (07:35): "The PAQC will start initial investigation, and that investigation will see if there is any merit to these claims."

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3. Preparations for the 56th Annual Peachtree Road Race

Overview: Atlanta's iconic Peachtree Road Race is set to welcome over 53,000 runners, making it the largest turnout since 2019. Scheduled for July 4th, the event promises new enhancements aimed at improving the participant and spectator experience.

New Race Day Changes:

• Earlier Start Time: The race will commence 10 minutes earlier than previous years, at 6:50 AM, to accommodate a more extensive schedule.

• Participant Amenities: All finishers will receive a cooling towel to help combat the summer heat.

• Enhanced Road Closures and Fireworks: Organizers plan to close roads earlier and feature a fireworks display to elevate the festive atmosphere.

  Rich Kanaa, CEO of the Atlanta Track Club (09:51): "We're looking to create a fun festival-like atmosphere over multiple days where people can shop, dine, stay in a hotel and get that selfie underneath the start trust."

Community and Economic Impact: The event is designed to foster a community celebration, encouraging participants to engage in local commerce and tourism. The Atlanta Track Club aims to transform the race into a multi-day festival, boosting local businesses and enhancing Atlanta's reputation as a premier event destination.

Conclusion: With meticulous planning and new amenities, the Peachtree Road Race seeks to provide an unforgettable experience for runners and spectators alike, reinforcing its status as a staple of Atlanta's Independence Day celebrations.

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Additional Local News Highlights

• Legal Actions in Bloomingdale: Three property owners are suing the city of Bloomingdale, alleging a "pay-to-play" scheme related to commercial zoning approvals. The lawsuit claims that other developers received zoning approvals in exchange for substantial financial contributions to a city gym, while similar offers to the plaintiffs were denied.

  Benjamin Payne, Reporter (08:57): "The plaintiffs argued the city violated their right to equal protection under the Constitution and are seeking about $40 million in damages."

• Wildlife Conservation Concerns: Conservationists are alarmed by the opening of a new Buc-ee's in Brunswick, citing potential threats to sea turtle hatchlings due to unshielded bright lights. Wildlife officials have requested the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) to mitigate the lighting issues to protect endangered turtles.

• Lake Lanier Park Reopenings: After temporary closures due to staffing shortages, seven parks at Lake Lanier are reopening ahead of the Fourth of July, with only two parks remaining closed as the US Army Corps of Engineers secures additional staffing.

• Local Chef on Food Network's Chopped: Chef Chelsea Ogletree of Her Majesty Kitchen in Forsyth is set to appear on an upcoming episode of Chopped, showcasing her Southern Creole culinary expertise.

• Atlanta Braves Victory: Jurickson Profar returned to the Atlanta Braves post-suspension, contributing significantly to the team's 8-3 triumph over the Los Angeles Angels, including a pivotal single that sparked a decisive seven-run rally.

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Closing Remarks: As Georgia navigates significant legislative changes, local governance challenges, and vibrant community events, Georgia Today continues to provide comprehensive coverage to keep residents informed and engaged. Enjoy a safe and happy Fourth of July holiday!

Transcript

[Isabel Otero]

Foreign.

[Peter Biello]

Welcome to the Georgia Today Podcast. Here we bring you the latest reports from the GPB newsroom. On today's episode, a look at what the passing of President Trump's massive new spending bill means for Georgia runners gear up for this year's Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta and five county leaders in southeast Georgia want the Brunswick DA removed from office.

[Jabari Gibbs]

He does say that the buck stops with him, and he has acknowledged that some of the hiring that he did back in January of 2024, that may have been a little bit, a little bit much.

[Peter Biello]

Today is Thursday, July 3rd. I'm Peter Biello and this is Georgia Today. President Trump's big budget bill cleared a final vote in the U.S. house this afternoon. Georgia's 14 representatives voted along partisan lines, with Republicans in favor and Democrats against. The passage came after the bill's opponents criticized its health care and food aid cuts, tax breaks for the wealthy and rollbacks to renewable energy programs, among other objections. Before the vote, the Southern Poverty Law center issued a report highlighting the bill's cuts to Medicaid. The organization's policy director, Isabel Otero, said slashing the program's funding is a moral civil rights matter, leaving the health care of millions of Georgians hanging in the balance.

[Isabel Otero]

Now isn't the time to sort of tighten some of these programs. It's the time for us to care more about how to get adults who are uninsured assistance and kids who are uninsured assistants.

[Peter Biello]

Republicans praised the bill as advancing an agenda that they said voters approved with Trump's election, including tax cuts, immigration enforcement and domestic production of oil and natural gas, among other provisions. South Georgia Congressman Austin Scott addressed the bill's impact on Medicaid on the House floor last night. So when the Democrats are telling you that we're kicking disabled people off of SNAP or we're kicking disabled people off of Medicaid, it is an absolute lie. Page 16, page 17 of the legislation. It will take about 60 seconds to read it. The bill now heads to the president's desk for his signature and among other provisions, the bill aims to advance domestic energy production with oil, coal and natural gas. Georgia clean energy advocates worry how that part of the legislation will impact the state's growing manufacturing sector. GPB's Sarah Kalis has more.

[Isabel Otero]

The reconciliation bill makes significant changes to clean energy tax credit programs implemented by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. Those credits have helped to bring solar panel and electric vehicle manufacturing projects to Georgia. Stan Cross, the electric transportation director for the Southern alliance on Clean Energy, says that 28,000 EV jobs in Georgia could be on the line.

[Peter Biello]

This bill injects uncertainty across the clean energy sector, which has the potential to shutter manufacturing, kill jobs, and cripple Georgia's progress.

[Isabel Otero]

Proponents of the cut say they reduce wasteful federal spending. For GPB News. Hi, I'm Sarah Kallis.

[Peter Biello]

Five Georgia counties have signed on to a request to remove Brunswick DA Keith Higgins from office. They're alleging that Higgins has misused taxpayer funding, among other things. This follows after more than a year of tension between Higgins and the counties his office oversees, with the counties alleging mismanagement and Higgins admitting to some mistakes, while also citing the inability to hire enough staff. Jabari Gibbs has been reporting on this for the Current, and he's with me now. Welcome to the program.

[Jabari Gibbs]

Hi, Peter. It's great to be here.

[Peter Biello]

Jabari, you write that commissioners from the five counties, that's Glenn, Camden, Appling, Wayne and Jeff Davis, believe Higgins's financial mismanagement and conduct have been so egregious that he represents, quote, an ongoing and escalating threat to the justice system and to the taxpayers of the Brunswick Judicial Circuit. So what do they claim he's done.

[Jabari Gibbs]

So specifically, they cite quite a couple of things. One of the chief complaints among the counties is that the DA has hired an excess without their approval.

[Peter Biello]

Hired in excess, meaning hired too many.

[Jabari Gibbs]

People, essentially too many assistant district attorneys. And essentially that has been what is widely considered to be the catalyst for the budget overage that he owed to Glenn county, which is nearly a million dollars. And they say that this was one of the chief issues, along with the da, essentially not coming in and checking in with his financial department. So he has an accountant. He's supposed to have an accountant and an office manager who are overseeing his financials and are supposed to continually keep him briefed on how the office is, financial health is. And the county say that Keefe has not done well as far as managing that department, and he has essentially dropped the ball in that regard.

[Peter Biello]

I see. And what has DA Keith Higgins said about accusations that he hired too many people and that he wasn't keeping a close enough eye on the finances of the DA's office?

[Jabari Gibbs]

He does say that the buck stops with him. And he has acknowledged that some of the hiring that he did back in January of 2024, essentially, where he brought on a lot of DAs from neighboring circuits here in coastal Georgia, he said that that there may have been a little bit, little bit much. And he also says that he should have been briefed more frequently, but he is very dependent. He Also acknowledged that he is very dependent on his financial department to let him know if he can hire someone.

[Peter Biello]

So what has the impact been overall on the administration of justice in those counties?

[Jabari Gibbs]

First, above all, the DA has ceased to represent the state in juvenile court. So all of the five counties, the da, he acts as the prosecutor in juvenile court, and he has stopped doing that. And that has essentially led to the counties to hire a private firm to prosecute juvenile crimes. And in addition to that, you know, we have over 2,400 pending felony cases throughout the entire circuit, and the DA only has six prosecutors. So right now there are two prosecutors in Glenn, two prosecutors in Camden, one prosecutor in Wayne, and one prosecutor covering Jeff Davis in Applin County. So that has. That has led to a incredible backlog of cases that would essentially be very, very difficult for the DA office to handle all together with the staff that he has right now. And that has led to overpopulation in the county jails along the five counties, and just a lot of people that are sitting in jail waiting to have their day, their date in front of the judge.

[Peter Biello]

So a complaint has been filed with the Georgia Prosecuting Attorney's Qualification Commission. Where do things go from here?

[Jabari Gibbs]

The PAQC will start initial investigation, and that investigation will see if there is any merit to these claims. So, you know, obviously they'll be talking to individuals who are familiar with this situation and try to understand what the picture is. And it kind of escalates from there is after that initial investigation is conducted and they find that there. If there is merit and it's not dismissed, then it goes on to an investigative panel who will go through their steps to also find out if this situation has enough merit to go before another panel which will. Which essentially has the ability to file charges, dismiss altogether. And if charges are filed, then the DA could be removed. But that is an incredibly long process and it's going to be incredibly difficult to do.

[Peter Biello]

Well, we thank you for your reporting on this. Jabari Gibbs is a reporter for the Current. We appreciate your time. Thanks. Three property owners in Southeast Georgia are suing the Savannah suburb of Bloomingdale, alleging a pay to play scheme for commercial zoning. GPB's Benjamin Payne reports.

[Benjamin Payne]

The federal lawsuit claims Bloomingdale officials approved two warehouse projects in 2020 only after the developers pledged hundreds of thousands of dollars to help build a city gym. But when Stan Yates, Nan Van Wang and Terence Truong applied for similar industrial zoning, they say the city denied their requests even after offering payments to the gym. The plaintiffs argued the city violated their right to equal protection under the Constitution and are seeking about $40 million in damages. The city of Bloomingdale did not respond to GPP's request for comment. So called monetary exactions can be legal, but the Supreme Court has held they must fund a legitimate public interest related to the project. For GPP News, I'm Benjamin Payne.

[Peter Biello]

More than 53,000 runners are registered for Atlanta's 56th annual Peachtree Road Race. GPB's Amanda Andrews spoke to organizers about how they're preparing for the annual Independence Day event.

[Isabel Otero]

This year's Peachtree Road Race has the highest number of runners since 2019. This cohort will be the first to see new race day changes. The event will start 10 minutes earlier this year and everyone who finishes will get a cool towel to help beat the heat. Rich Kanaa is the CEO of the Atlanta Track Club. He says they also shut down the road early and planned a fireworks show.

[Peter Biello]

So we're looking to create a fun festival like atmosphere over multiple days where people can shop, dine, stay in a hotel and get that selfie underneath the start Trust.

[Isabel Otero]

The race will begin at 6:50am on July 4th. For GPB news, I'm Amanda Andrews.

[Peter Biello]

Conservationists are sounding the alarm over the grand opening of A new Buc EE's in Brunswick. Opponents say the new Mega Travel Rest station's bright lights at the i95 exit could be deadly for baby sea turtles. At night. Hatchlings rely on moonlight to find the ocean, but experts say unshielded lights from the BUC EE's interchange are pulling them in the wrong direction. Wildlife officials and advocates have asked the Georgia Department of Transportation to turn off or shield the lights before turtle hatching season begins mid July. But GDOT says the lighting will stay on for now due to safety concerns with ongoing road construction. Meanwhile, the Georgia Sea Turtle center on Jekyll island says the first sea turtles of the season have hatched. The center says during dawn patrol yesterday morning, their team found tracks and confirmed the nest had hatched. They said they were right on time. Two months after the nest was laid, the US Army Corps of Engineers is reopening seven parks at Lake Lanier in time for the Fourth of July. It comes a little more than a month after the Corps of Engineers said they would have to temporarily close 20 parks at the lake because of staffing shortfalls. A few days after the announcement, US Congressman Rich McCormick, representing a district that includes the lake north of Atlanta, said the agency would close only 11 of the recreation sites. Now, seven more are reopening with the help of Forsyth and Hull counties. The Corps of Engineers says two parks will remain closed as they secure additional staffing resources. A local chef and restaurant owner will be on an episode of Food Network's Chopped airing this month. Chef Chelsea Ogletree, founder of Forsythe's Her Majesty Kitchen, took to Facebook to announce her debut on the show. The Chopped episode premieres Tuesday, July 8 at 8pm on Food Network. Ogletree's restaurant specializes in Southern Creole cuisine such as shrimp and grits, gumbo and more. Her dishes will soon be on the chopping block, but we're rooting for her not to hear the infamous words you've been chopped in sports In Braves baseball, Jurickson Profar homered in his return to the Atlanta Braves after serving an 80 game suspension for violating Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. He went 2 for 4 overall to help lift the Braves to an 83 victory over the Los Angeles Angels. His single with two outs in the sixth may have been more important than the homer as as it sparked a seven run outburst that allowed the Braves to take control. Braves first baseman Matt Olson had a grand slam among his three hits. The Braves wrap up the series against the Angels tonight and are scheduled to start a three game series against the Baltimore Orioles at home tomorrow. That is a wrap for this edition of Georgia Today, and we're taking the 4th of July holiday off. We hope you have a great holiday weekend and if you want to learn more about any of the stories we've got on the podcast Today, check out gpb.org news and as always, your feedback is welcome by email. The address is Georgia todaypb.org I'm Peter Biello. Thanks again for listening and have a happy and safe Fourth of July.

[Isabel Otero]

When a massive chemical fire erupted at the Biolab facility in Conyers, thick smoke filled the air, forcing evacuations. But for many, it wasn't the first time and it wouldn't be the last. I'm Pamela Kirkland. In GPB's new podcast, Manufacturing the Biolab Story, I investigate what caused the fire, the response and what it means for Conyers residents today. [e-mail] podcast or wherever you get your podcast.