Colin Gray trial wraps up; Laken Riley's family sues; Sen. Warnock in Social Circle

Summary

Georgia Today – March 2, 2026

Host: Peter Biello, GPB News
Main Theme:
This episode reports on major ongoing stories in Georgia, including the close of the Colin Gray trial, a wrongful death lawsuit connected to Laken Riley’s murder, and Senator Raphael Warnock’s visit to Social Circle to address concerns about an ICE detention center. Additional coverage includes shifts in senior service provision, local development debates, and community assistance for grandparents raising grandchildren.

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Key Segments & Discussion Points

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1. Colin Gray Trial Wraps Up

[01:13–02:20]

• The highly publicized trial in Barrow County of Colin Gray, father of suspected school shooter Cole Gray, has entered its final stage. Attorneys delivered closing arguments, and the jury must now decide on over two dozen charges, including second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter.
• Prosecution Argument:
  • Prosecutor Patricia Brooks stressed Gray's responsibility:

    “That man was the one person who could have prevented this mass shooting. He was the one man who ensured that Cole Gray had the tools he needed to commit mass murder.” (Patricia Brooks, 01:59)

• The jury may also consider lesser charges. No clear timeframe for a verdict or sentencing if convicted.

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2. Senator Raphael Warnock in Social Circle: ICE Detention Center Opposition

[02:20–03:16]

• Sen. Warnock visited Social Circle to listen to city leaders and residents who are concerned about a proposed ICE detention center, fearing strain on municipal resources.
• The city’s aging water infrastructure is inadequate to meet demands if the facility moves in—city leaders noted legal and infrastructural limitations.
• At the press conference, Warnock relayed the sentiments of residents, including some Trump voters, noting:

  "I'll tell you something else they didn't vote for. They didn't vote for potential boil water advisories or sewer overflows." (Sen. Raphael Warnock, 02:56)

• Warnock has proposed an amendment targeting the project, to be debated during Senate discussions on DHS funding.

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3. Laken Riley Wrongful Death Lawsuit

[03:16–04:03]

• Jason Riley, father of murdered UGA student Laken Riley, filed a lawsuit against the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, alleging negligence led to her death.
• The suit claims campus officials failed to warn students following a break-in attempt by the convicted killer, Jose Ibarra, and accuses the university system of poor monitoring of campus criminal activity.
• The Board of Regents has not commented, citing ongoing litigation.

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4. Southwest Georgia Council on Aging Building Closes

[04:03–04:40]

• The Southwest Georgia Council on Aging is selling its Albany headquarters to Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital, completing its shift away from providing direct services.
• Executive Director Izzy Sadler explained:

  “The programming in that building is mostly exercise classes, education classes, and that's a very small part of what we do. The core of our programming really is home delivered meals, nutrition programs, making sure that we have services in our seniors’ homes.” (Izzy Sadler, 04:23)

• The sale will allow greater funding for services rather than maintaining a building; the hospital plans to use it for medical residency to help address a physician shortage.

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5. Local Gwinnett County Development Proposal and Wildlife Concerns

[04:57–05:36]

• A developer proposes to build 280 homes near Yellow River Wildlife Sanctuary. The project requires rezoning nearly 30 acres and would place new homes within a few hundred feet of the sanctuary, which houses about 150 rescued animals.
• There are concerns about potential impact on sanctuary operations.

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6. Support for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

[05:36–06:19]

• Georgia State’s “Project Healthy Grandparents” offers a year-long support program to grandparents raising grandchildren due to absent parents.
• Patricia Lawrence of Georgia State explains:

  “The intervention, like I said, is comprised of home visits by social workers, monthly home visits, monthly home visits by nurses when it's appropriate because a lot of grandparents, when they do take over the grandchildren's care, often neglect their own health.” (Patricia Lawrence, 05:47)

• The program screens children for developmental and behavioral challenges, especially those under five, in partnership with the Emory Neurodevelopmental Exposure Clinic.

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7. Carter’s Clothing Company Reports Profits

[06:19–end]

• Atlanta-based children’s clothing maker Carter's reports significant profits, with $64 million in the fourth quarter and $92 million overall for the year.
• Company leadership is optimistic about the impact of the Supreme Court striking down many tariffs, describing it as a "net positive" for the company.

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Notable Quotes

• Patricia Brooks, Prosecutor:

  “That man was the one person who could have prevented this mass shooting. He was the one man who ensured that Cole Gray had the tools he needed to commit mass murder.” (01:59)

• Sen. Raphael Warnock:

  "I'll tell you something else they didn't vote for. They didn't vote for potential boil water advisories or sewer overflows." (02:56)

• Izzy Sadler, SW Georgia Council on Aging:

  "The programming in that building is mostly exercise classes, education classes, and that's a very small part of what we do. The core of our programming really is home delivered meals, nutrition programs, making sure that we have services in our seniors’ homes." (04:23)

• Patricia Lawrence, Project Healthy Grandparents:

  “The intervention, like I said, is comprised of home visits by social workers, monthly home visits, monthly home visits by nurses when it's appropriate because a lot of grandparents, when they do take over the grandchildren's care, often neglect their own health.” (05:47)

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Episode Timeline

• 00:02–01:13 – Episode introduction and political news (Congress votes on war powers resolution, Ossoff & Carter commentary)
• 01:13–02:20 – Colin Gray trial closing arguments
• 02:20–03:16 – Warnock in Social Circle and ICE center debate
• 03:16–04:03 – Laken Riley lawsuit against University System
• 04:03–04:40 – Council on Aging closes Albany building
• 04:57–05:36 – Gwinnett County development and wildlife concerns
• 05:36–06:19 – Support program for grandparents raising grandchildren
• 06:19–end – Carter’s financial results

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This episode delivers concise, critical updates on legal, political, and community developments throughout Georgia, with particular attention to accountability, public safety, and the intersecting needs of diverse communities.

Transcript

[A]

Welcome to the Georgia Today podcast. Here we bring you the latest reports from the GPB newsroom. On today's episode, attorneys make closing arguments in the trial of Colin Gray Lake. And Riley's father sues the University System of Georgia over her death. And Senator Raphael Warnock says people in Social Circle aren't prepared for an ICE detention center in their city.

[B]

I'll tell you something else they didn't vote for. They didn't vote for potential boil water advisories or sewer overflows.

[A]

Today is Monday, March 2nd. I'm Peter Biello and this is Georgia Today. Congress is set to vote on a war powers resolution today that would restrain President Donald Trump's attack on Iran without congressional approval. U.S. senator Jon Ossoff says Trump shouldn't have acted without the consent of Congress.

[C]

The president has launched this regime change war without an explanation to the American people, without clearly stated objectives, without evidence of imminent threat.

[A]

Meanwhile, U.S. representative Buddy Carter, who is challenging Ossoff for his Senate seat, says Trump acted within the law.

[D]

The world is safer today than it was two days ago. No question about it. Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.

[A]

The president can authorize some military action without congressional approval, but Congress is the only branch that can declare war. Attorneys made their closing arguments in an unprecedented court case this afternoon in the Barrow county trial of Colin Gray, the father of suspected Apalachee High School shooter Colt Gray. GPB's Chase McGee has more.

[C]

Attorneys on both sides made their cases one final time to a jury from neighboring Hall County. Now jurors are left to decide whether Gray is guilty or not guilty of more than two dozen charges, including second degree murder and involuntary manslaughter. They could also find Gray guilty of lesser charges. Prosecutor Patricia Brooks outlines why Gray is facing these specific charges and why the jury should find him guilty.

[D]

That man was the one person who could have prevented this mass shooting. He was the one man who ensured that Cole Gray had the tools he needed to commit mass murder.

[C]

It's unclear when the jury may return their verdict or when Gray would be sentenced if he's found guilty. For GPB News, I'm Chase McGee.

[A]

Georgia U.S. senator Raphael Warnock met with city leaders in Social Circle today to hear their concerns about the planned ICE detention center there. GPB's Grant Blankenship has more.

[E]

Warnock's tour began at Social Circle's over half a century old water treatment plant, where city leaders explained neither the law nor their infrastructure will permit them to meet the water needs of the ICE detention center when it effectively triples the city population. Later, at a press conference at the detention center site, watched over by armed guards and unmarked cars, Warnock said he'd heard residents who voted for President Trump say they didn't vote for a detention center in their backyard.

[B]

I'll tell you something else they didn't vote for. They didn't vote for potential boreal water advisories or sewer overflows.

[E]

Now, Warnock says he's proposed an amendment to stop the detention center, which will come up this week when the Senate resumes debate on Department of Homeland Security funding. For GPB News, I'm Grant Blankenship in Social Circle.

[A]

Lakin Riley's father has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. Jason Riley is accusing the state University system of negligence that led to his daughter's death more than two years ago. Jose Ibarra was convicted of murder and other charges in her death. The lawsuit alleges officials failed to warn people on campus after Ibarra tried to enter a student's on campus apartment shortly before her killing. It also alleges the board failed to monitor criminal activity on campus. A Board of Regents spokesperson said. The board does not comment on pending litigation. An Albany based organization that provides services to seniors in 14 counties plans to close its only building this week. GPB's Orlando Montoya reports the move completes a gradual shift for the Southwest Georgia Council on Aging.

[F]

Like 11 other such councils across the state, the Southwest Georgia Council has been moving away from providing direct services. Instead, it's partnering with local nonprofits to handle caregiving, case management and other needs for seniors. Executive director Izzy Sadler says they're now selling their building in Albany to nearby Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital.

[D]

The programming in that building is mostly exercise classes, education classes, and that's a very small part of what we do. The core of our programming really is home delivered meals, nutrition programs, making sure that we have services in our seniors homes.

[F]

She says the council will be able to fund more services without the building's costly overhead. The hospital plans to renovate it for medical residency programs, helping to address the region's doctor shortage. For GPB News, I'm Orlando Montoya.

[A]

A community meeting is planned for this evening in Gwinnett county on a proposed housing development near an animal sanctuary. A developer is looking to build 280 homes near the Yellow River Wildlife Sanctuary. Middleburg communities has asked the county to rezone nearly 30 acres for a mixed residential development. The property would be a few hundred feet from the sanctuary, which houses about 150 rescued animals. Opponents worry about the impact of the development on the operations of the sanctuary. Grandparents raising their grandchildren due to absentee parents are eligible for a year of support and intervention through a program at Georgia State University School of Public Health. GPB's Ellen Eldredge has more.

[G]

Patricia Lawrence leads Project Healthy Grandparents at Georgia State. She says access to four main community services is designed to help caretakers as well.

[H]

The intervention, like I said, is comprised of home visits by social workers, monthly home visits, monthly home visits by nurses when it's appropriate because a lot of grandparents, when they do take over the grandchildren's care, often neglect their own health.

[G]

All the grandchildren are screened for developmental, educational and behavioral challenges. Those with delays, especially under five, collaborate with the Emory Neurodevelopmental Exposure Clinic. For GPB news, I'm Ellen Eldredge.

[A]

Atlanta based children's clothing maker Carter's reported fourth quarter profit of more than $64 million. For the year, the company reported a nearly $92 million profit. The company's leaders say part of last year was spent responding to significant tariffs, adding that the Supreme Court's striking down of many of the president's tariffs will be, quote, net positive for the company. And that is a wrap for Georgia Today. If you want to learn more about any of these stories, visit gpb.org news remember to subscribe to this podcast. A lot of news coming your way this week and you won't want to miss a thing. Subscribing is a way to help you remember to check in with what's going on in Georgia. And if you've got feedback or a story suggestion, something we should be covering, let us know by email. The address is Georgia todaypb.org I'm Peter Biello. Thanks again for listening. We'll see you tomorrow.