Bill aims to improve literacy rate; Another tax refund; CAU gets money for security

Summary

Georgia Today Podcast Summary – May 5, 2026

Host: Peter Biello (Georgia Public Broadcasting)
Main Theme:
This episode covers Georgia's recently signed laws aimed at improving literacy and student discipline, an upcoming tax refund for residents, federal funding to enhance security at Clark Atlanta University, updates on Fulton County election investigations, environmental enforcement, agricultural progress post-drought, and local news including changes at Delta Air Lines and Atlanta Braves highlights.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Fulton County Election Investigation

[00:52 - 02:20]

• Justice Department Subpoena: The DOJ seeks the identities of every person who worked the 2020 election in Atlanta’s Fulton County.
• Fulton County Response:
  • County lawyers have filed a motion to quash the subpoena, claiming it's overly broad and politically motivated.
  • Context: Action follows FBI's earlier seizure of ballots and claims of widespread fraud by former President Trump—accusations previously dismissed by courts and ex-Attorney General.
• Environmental Crime:
  • Christopher Samuel Jones, wastewater operator in Fort Gaines, indicted for falsifying reports and polluting the Chattahoochee River.
  • The Riverkeeper’s ongoing monitoring shows discharges are now within permitted limits as of March.

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2. Georgia Agriculture Resumes Planting

[02:20 - 03:06]

• Delayed Peanut Planting: Drought postponed start—peanut farmers like Kenny Ray Davis Jr. (Ben Hill County) are now catching up thanks to recent rains.
  • Quote: “So we held up. But it's May now. It's time to go.” – Kenny Ray Davis Jr. [02:30]
  • Planting window is tight: 10 days to plant 1,000 acres, working day and night if needed.

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3. Literacy Reform and Student Cell Phone Ban

[03:06 - 03:59]

• Literacy Rates: Over 66% of Georgia third graders are reading below grade level.
• Governor's Action: Gov. Brian Kemp signs House Bill 1193 into law, allocating $70 million for literacy coaches in all public elementary schools.
  • Quote: “If young learners fail to learn how to read at the start of their educational careers, they'll struggle to read to learn during the rest of their academic journeys. This bill is a monumental step in our years long work to ensure students have the literacy skills they need.” – Gov. Brian Kemp [03:28]
• Cell Phone Restrictions: HB 1109 extends the ban on student cell phone use through high school.
• Legislative Priority: HB 1193 was championed by Speaker John Byrne.

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4. Atlanta City Budget Proposal

[03:59 - 04:49]

• Mayor Andre Dickens’ $1 Billion Fiscal Year 2027 Budget: A 2% increase with priorities in affordable housing and public safety; raises reflect increased retirement and health care costs.

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5. Clark Atlanta University Security Upgrades

[04:49 - 05:04]

• Federal Funding: CAU receives $250,000 to improve campus safety tech, delivered by Congresswoman Nikema Williams.
• Broader Context: Reaction to increased threats at HBCUs nationwide.
  • Quote: “Anytime we put anything on our campus… we want to make sure that we're prepared because we don't want to be responsive. We want to be proactive when it comes to campus safety.” – Deborah Williams, CAU Police Chief [04:49/00:37]
• Past Funding: Last year, $600,000 used for emergency call stations on campus.

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6. State Tax Refunds

[05:04 - 05:40]

• Refund Timeline: Eligible Georgians who filed in the last two years will see $250–$500 rebates, promised by Gov. Kemp and the Department of Revenue as part of the latest General Assembly session.

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7. Delta Air Lines Service Change

[06:05 - 06:39]

• In-Flight Service Update: Starting May 19, flights <350 miles will not offer food or drinks in most cabins, affecting about 9% of Delta’s schedule; first-class unaffected.

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8. Atlanta Braves Recap

[06:39 - 07:16]

• Braves lost a four-run lead against Seattle; JR Ritchie struggled with six walks before being pulled.
• Bright Spot: Matt Olson hits career home run number 300.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Kenny Ray Davis Jr. (on planting season):

  “So we held up. But it's May now. It's time to go.” [02:30]

• Gov. Brian Kemp (on literacy):

  “If young learners fail to learn how to read at the start of their educational careers, they'll struggle to read to learn during the rest of their academic journeys. This bill is a monumental step…” [03:28]

• Deborah Williams, CAU Police Chief (on safety):

  “We want to make sure that we're prepared because we don't want to be responsive. We want to be proactive when it comes to campus safety.” [00:37, 04:49]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Fulton County Election Investigation: 00:52 – 02:20
• Georgia Peanut Planting Update: 02:20 – 03:06
• Literacy Bill & Cell Phone Ban: 03:06 – 03:59
• Atlanta Budget: 03:59 – 04:49
• Clark Atlanta University Security: 04:49 – 05:04
• Tax Refunds: 05:04 – 05:40
• Delta Air Lines Update: 06:05 – 06:39
• Atlanta Braves Recap: 06:39 – 07:16

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Tone and Style

The episode is informative, concise, and community-focused, reflecting Georgia Public Broadcasting’s dedication to statewide issues, government actions, education reform, public safety, environmental accountability, and local culture. Frequent use of stakeholders' own words adds authenticity and urgency to the topics.

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For more details or to follow up on these stories, visit gpb.org/news.

Transcript

[Sarah Kalis]

GPB belongs to Georgia and you are the center of everything we do. Become a GPB sustainer today or increase your monthly gift to fortify our work enriching Georgians of all ages. Visit gpb.org to donate today and thanks.

[Peter Biello]

Welcome to the Georgia Today Podcast. Here we bring you the latest reports from the GPB newsroom. On today's episode, the Justice Department is seeking the names of everyone who worked the elections in Fulton county in 2020. Some Georgia taxpayers will be getting a special tax refund check, and Clark Atlanta University is getting more money for security.

[Deborah Williams]

Anytime we put anything on our campus when it comes to campus safety as a result of those and any potential violence, we want to make sure that we're prepared because we don't want to be responsive. We want to be proactive when it comes to campus safety.

[Peter Biello]

Today is Tuesday, May 5th. I'm Peter Biello and this is Georgia Today. The Justice Department is seeking the names of every person who worked in the 2020 election in Atlanta's Fulton County. The county's lawyers filed a motion yesterday to quash a grand jury subpoena requesting the information. They argue the subpoena is meant to target President Trump's political opponents and is overly broad. The action follows the FBI's January seizure of ballots from the county. Trump has accused the Democratic stronghold of widespread voter fraud in the 20 action, even though judges and his own attorney general concluded otherwise. A southwest Georgia wastewater treatment operator has been indicted for allegedly falsifying reports and polluting the Chattahoochee River. A federal grand jury in Columbus charged Fort Gaines wastewater treatment operator Christopher Samuel Jones in April. The indictment came after the Chattahoochee Riverkeeper noted huge discrepancies between collected and reported pollution discharges from a pipe at the Fort Gaines plant over a period of two years. The riverkeeper says the city has addressed water quality issues and as of March, their testing showed discharges within permitted limits. The drought across Georgia has put much of the state's agriculture on pause. But as GPB's Grant Blankenship reports, recent rains are starting to change that.

[Grant Blankenship]

Fourth generation peanut farmer Kenny Ray Davis Jr. Of Ben Hill county says Georgia peanut farmers like to plant around the middle of April. That didn't happen this year, it was just dry.

[Kenny Ray Davis Jr.]

So we held up. But it's May now. It's time to go.

[Grant Blankenship]

So peanut farmers are planting this week, davis says. Just because the drought made planting wait doesn't mean harvest can wait on the other end.

[Kenny Ray Davis Jr.]

We plant anywhere around 100 acres a day. 120 acres a day. So you know, thousand acres.

[Grant Blankenship]

He has about 10 days to plant a thousand acres that'd be wide open.

[Kenny Ray Davis Jr.]

Whatever we have to do, we put the time, the hours in to be sure we get this crop in, even

[Grant Blankenship]

if Davis says that means running tractors through the night. For GPB News, I'm Grant Blankenship. In Ben Hill county, two thirds of

[Peter Biello]

Georgia third graders are reading below grade level. Governor Brian Kemp today signed into law a bill that aims to change that GPB. Sarah Kalis reports.

[Sarah Kalis]

Governor Brian Kemp signed House Bill 1193 into law aiming to improve the state's literacy rate. The bill finds literacy coaches for all public elementary schools in the state and has a $70 million price tag.

[Kenny Ray Davis Jr.]

If young learners fail to learn how to read at the start of their educational careers, they'll struggle to read to learn during the rest of their academic journeys. This bill is a monumental step in our years long work to ensure students have the literacy skills they need.

[Sarah Kalis]

HB 1193 was one of Speaker John Byrne's legislative priorities. Kemp also signed House Bill 1109, which extends the ban on student cell phone use in schools through high school. For GPB News, I'm Sarah Kalis at the State Capitol.

[Peter Biello]

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens has proposed a nearly $1 billion budget for the city for the 2027 fiscal year. Dickens says his proposed budget represents a 2% increase over the last fiscal year. The increase reflects rising retirement contributions and health care costs. Some of the priorities for his budget include affordable housing and public safety. Clark Atlanta University will receive a quarter million dollars in federal money for campus safety improvements. Congresswoman Nekima Williams delivered the check to university leaders today. The money will be used to upgrade technology. Campus Police Chief Deborah Williams says that's especially important now as HBCUs nationwide are seeing an uptick in threats of campus violence.

[Deborah Williams]

Anytime we put anything on our campus, when it comes to campus safety, as a result of those and any potential violence, we want to make sure that we're prepared because we don't want to be responsive. We want to be proactive when it comes to campus safety.

[Peter Biello]

The Atlanta University center, which includes Clark Atlanta and three other HBCUs, was placed on lockdown because of threats last September. Last year, Clark Atlanta received $600,000, which it used for emergency call stations on campus. Georgia taxpayers should begin seeing special state income tax refunds soon. Governor Brian Kemp and the state Department of Revenue say taxpayers should receive the one time rebates approved in the 2026 General assembly within weeks. Most eligible taxpayers who filed timely state returns for the past two years can expect one time refunds of between $250 and $500, depending on filing status.

[NPR Up First Host]

You know every day on Up First, NPR's Golden Globe nominated morning news podcast. We bring you three essential stories. the heart of each story are questions what really happened? What really mattered? What happens next? At npr, we stand for your right to be curious and to follow the facts. Follow up first wherever you get your podcasts and start your day knowing what matters and why.

[Peter Biello]

Delta Air Lines is changing its onboard service on some flights starting this month. The airline the Atlanta based airline says it will no longer offer food and drinks on flights shorter than 350 miles beginning May 19. A spokesperson for Delta tells GPB it's part of an effort to create a more consistent experience across its network. The airline says passengers in first class will still receive full service and flights longer than 350 miles will continue to include complimentary snacks and beverages in most cabins. About 9% of Delta's schedule will move to no onboard service. In Sports the Atlanta Braves face the Seattle Mariners again tonight for the second of a three game series. The Braves blew a 4 nothing lead last night in a 54 loss. JR Richie, the Braves starting pitcher and Seattle native, presided over the beginning of the Braves collapse in the sixth inning. With the Braves up by four, he walked two batters before giving up a homer. He was taken out of the game and reliever Tyler Kinley gave up two more runs. All told, Ritchie walked six. The bright spot? Braves slugger Matt Olson hit his 300th career home run. Bryce Elder is scheduled to get the start for the Braves tonight. That is it for this edition of Georgia Today. If you want to learn more about any of these stories, visit gpb.org news Today is publication day for Katherine Stockett's newest novel, More than a decade after publishing the Help to Wide the Calamity Club is about an orphan in Mississippi during the Great Depression, her mother who had fallen on hard times, and one woman's mission to help reunite them. I'll be in conversation with Kathryn Stockett at Wild Heaven West End Garden Club in Atlanta on Thursday, May 14. A ticket gets you a signed copy of the book. Learn [e-mail] if you haven't yet subscribed to this podcast, take a moment and do it now. It'll keep us current in your podcast feed and if you've got feedback, we would love to hear from you. You can send us an email. The address is Georgia todaypb.org I'm Peter Biello. Thanks again for listening. We will see you tomorrow.