Georgia Today Podcast

Episode: Charges Dropped for 'Cop City' Defendants; New Details on Immigration Raid at Hyundai
Date: September 9, 2025
Host: Chase McGee (GPB News)

Episode Overview

This episode of Georgia Today delivers key news updates from around the state, with a focus on three major stories:

• Potential dismissal of charges against 61 "Cop City" defendants in Atlanta.
• Insight into an immigration raid at a Hyundai plant near Savannah, involving South Korean workers.
• Augusta’s ongoing recovery from Hurricane Helene and the environmental aftermath, particularly the loss of urban forestation. Additional coverage includes state legislative updates, business investments, educational program launches, and new community initiatives.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Charges Likely Dropped for 'Cop City' Defendants

[00:40 – 02:27]

• Judicial Ruling: Judge Kevin Farmer announced charges will likely be dropped for the majority of 61 defendants charged under Georgia’s RICO law for protesting the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center ("Cop City").
  • The judge cited lack of authority from Attorney General Chris Carr, stating Carr should have sought Governor Kemp’s approval.
  • Defendants faced a wide range of accusations, from violent actions (throwing Molotov cocktails) to non-violent support (supplying food to protesters).
• Case Background: The prosecution’s handling was marked by severe procedural errors, including sharing privileged emails between defendants and their lawyers, which another judge called "gross negligence."
• Remaining Charges: Five defendants might still face domestic terrorism charges under a state law broadened in 2017. No defendants have been tried so far.

Notable Quote:
"Judge Farmer said he didn't believe Attorney General Chris Carr had the authority to secure the indictments two years ago under Georgia's RICO law, saying Carr should have sought Governor Brian Kemp's permission before pursuing the case." — Chase McGee [00:40]

2. Georgia Legislative Updates

[02:27 – 03:49]

• Gwinnett County Special Election: Governor Kemp called a special election for November 4 to replace retiring Rep. Shelly Hutchinson (D). She stepped down for family health reasons and endorsed Akbar Ali.
• Bipartisan Israel Delegation: Five Georgia lawmakers (three Republicans, two Democrats) will visit Israel as part of a 250-member U.S. delegation.
  • State Senator Russ Goodman will return to Israel after experiencing Hamas’s 2023 attack during a previous visit.

Memorable Moment:
"It was quite, quite an experience. You know, being at the Ambassador Hotel there in Jerusalem and hearing machine gun fire from the balcony and all, you know, pretty surreal." — Sam, recounting Goodman’s description of October 2023 in Israel [03:22]

3. Immigration Raid at Hyundai Electric Vehicle Plant

[03:49 – 05:46]

• Attorney’s Perspective: Charles Cook, Atlanta attorney, represents four South Korean workers among 475 rounded up; 300 Koreans in total were detained.
  • Many were brought for specialized roles in building electric vehicle battery lines—work requiring 3–5 years of specialized training not widely available in the U.S.
• Industry Practice: It’s common for international firms to send workers to jumpstart U.S. operations and train domestic staff.

Notable Quote:
"Most had come for short term jobs installing equipment for producing electric vehicle batteries, work he said would take about three to five years to train someone in the US to do." — Chase McGee [03:49]

4. Augusta’s Struggle to Recover Urban Forest After Hurricane Helene

[06:04 – 09:57]

• Scope of Damage: The 2024 hurricane devastated much of Augusta's urban forest, destroying shade cover and impacting home energy use and neighborhood aesthetics.
  • About 20 football fields of tree canopy lost in the central business district alone.
  • Neighborhoods still bear scars: “The tree canopy is completely gone.” — Campbell Vaughn [08:00]
• Impact on Residents: Increased heat in unshaded areas:
  • Ground temperatures on grass surpassed 100°F versus 87°F in shade.
  • "At the hottest parts of the day in Augusta, we measure about a 10 degree difference between the sun and the shade." — Sophie Grata [08:23]
• Financial Strains: Augusta has nearly an $11 million budget shortfall and is awaiting state/federal funds for full storm recovery.
• Expert Advice:
  • Plant the "right tree in the right place" for resilience and sustainability—focus on natives with deep roots.
  • Communities can regrow a robust urban forest for future generations:
    “I always try to tell people, don’t get so discouraged... in 80 years we can have a community forest again.” — Seth Hawkins, Georgia Forestry Commission [09:48]

5. Additional Highlights & Community News

[05:46 – 11:22]

• Business & Education:
  • Anheuser Busch invests $9 million to upgrade its Cartersville brewery.
  • SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design) launches an applied degree in artificial intelligence.
• Disaster Relief Infrastructure:
  • Convoy of Hope opens a regional distribution center in northwest Georgia, slashing disaster response times in the region.
  • “That regional distribution center there, just north of Atlanta, will cut our response time in half to many areas in the southeast...” — Ethan Forhett, Convoy of Hope [05:46]
• Local Environmental Efforts:
  • Tybee Island Marine Science Center releases “Westie” the loggerhead sea turtle with a satellite tracker, promising weekly updates.
• Public Health Outreach:
  • New 3.5-minute public health segments debut during Friday night football broadcasts, covering topics from drug overdose to hurricane safety.
  • “We thought while we had a captive audience, we would try to pass along some helpful information.” — Ginger Heidel, Georgia DPH [11:10]

Memorable Quotes

• “The tree canopy is completely gone.” — Campbell Vaughn, University of Georgia Extension [08:00]
• “At the hottest parts of the day in Augusta, we measure about a 10 degree difference between the sun and the shade.” — Sophie Grata [08:23]
• “I always try to tell people, don’t get so discouraged. I mean, yes, we won’t have 300 year old trees still, but in 80 years we can have a community forest again.” — Seth Hawkins [09:48]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Cop City Charges Dropped: 00:40 – 02:27
• Special Election & Israel Delegation: 02:27 – 03:49
• Hyundai Immigration Raid: 03:49 – 05:46
• Convoy of Hope Disaster Center: 05:46 – 06:45
• Augusta After Hurricane Helene: 06:45 – 09:57
• Tybee Sea Turtle Release: 10:04 – 11:10
• Friday Night Public Health Segments: 11:10 – 11:22

This episode offers an incisive look at legal, economic, environmental, and community challenges facing Georgia, capturing voices from the courtroom to the neighborhoods and providing practical context for listeners across the state.