Georgia Today Podcast Summary
Release Date: March 31, 2025
Host: Orlando Montoya
Episode Title: Democratic Party Chair Steps Down; Election Lawsuit Dismissed; Maternal Mortality

1. Democratic Party of Georgia Chair Resignation

Key Points:

• Nekimah Williams has resigned as the chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia.
• The resignation follows the state committee's decision to transform the chair role into a full-time position, a change that Williams could not accommodate.
• Williams, the first Black woman to hold the position, cited significant achievements during her tenure, including making the state party "not just present but powerful" ([00:44]).
• Despite her accomplishments, the Democratic Party faced setbacks in the 2024 presidential election, leading to internal pressure for Williams to step down from various party members, major donors, and influential figures like U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff.
• Matthew Wilson, the party's first vice chair, will serve as interim chair until a permanent replacement is elected.

Impact on the Democratic Field:

• Representative Lucy McBath has suspended her exploratory campaign for the 2026 gubernatorial race to address her husband's health issues following cancer surgery, introducing uncertainty into the Democratic primary.
• The open gubernatorial seat due to term limits on Republican Governor Brian Kemp has attracted several contenders:
  • Republican Side: Attorney General Chris Carr and Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones are prominent candidates.
  • Democratic Side: Potential candidates include former Atlanta Mayor Lakeisha Lance Bottoms, State Senator Jason Estevez, and former DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond.

2. Dismissal of Election Lawsuit Challenging Georgia's 2021 Election Law

Key Points:

• U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has directed the Justice Department to dismiss a lawsuit opposing Georgia's comprehensive 2021 election law.
• The law, enacted by Republican lawmakers following President Donald Trump's 2020 election loss in Georgia, was criticized for allegedly suppressing Black voters by reducing the number of ballot drop boxes in predominantly Democratic metro Atlanta counties.
• The lawsuit, filed in 2021 during President Joe Biden's administration, claimed that the new election law was designed to disenfranchise Black voters.
• Bondi defended the dismissal, asserting that the Biden administration had propagated "false claims of suppression" ([07:01]).

3. High Maternal Mortality Rates in Georgia

Key Points:

• Georgia ranks among the highest states in the U.S. for maternal mortality rates.
• The Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC) is responsible for tracking and analyzing deaths related to pregnancy up to a year postpartum. Its role includes comprehensive investigations through medical records and interviews, though reports to the public lack specific case narratives.

Controversy and Changes:

• Following ProPublica’s investigative reporting on the deaths of two Black women, Candy Miller and Amber Thurman, due to mismanaged abortions ([04:09]), Georgia's Department of Public Health, led by Dr. Toomey, dismissed all committee members in November, citing unauthorized information release.
• Sophie Gratis from GPB News discussed with ProPublica reporter Amy Yerkonen the implications of this dismissal, emphasizing concerns over the transparency and trustworthiness of the MMRC’s future reports, especially post-Roe v. Wade.

Notable Quotes:

• Nekimah Williams: "Not just present but powerful." ([00:44])
• Sophie Gratis: "The goal of these committees is to improve maternal health care. It's not to push for any certain policy or, you know, ideological thing." ([00:33])
• Amber Thurman's Mom, Shanette Williams: "I'm going to let the journalist know that my daughter's death was preventable, I will never know your name, but I say thank you." ([06:04])

4. Paid Family Leave and Child Safety in Georgia

Key Points:

• A study by the Georgia Institute of Technology revealed that states with paid family leave policies experience a 46% reduction in home removals due to unsafe conditions, correlating with lower child abuse rates.
• Lindsay Rose Bollinger, a researcher at the Georgia Tech School of Public Policy, highlighted that paid family leave provides parents with essential time to bond and manage the stresses of new parenthood, thereby enhancing child safety ([07:58]).
• Despite these benefits, Georgia does not mandate paid family leave statewide, though in 2021, it approved family leave for state employees and educators.

Notable Quotes:

• Pamela Kirkland: "One of the ways that we can lower the rate of abuse and neglect among infants is, is to have more time for parents to bond with their children and learn their baby." ([08:18])

5. Recovery of Missing Soldiers from Fort Stewart

Key Points:

• Three of the four soldiers missing from Fort Stewart were found deceased in Lithuania after their armored vehicle plunged into a swamp during a training exercise near the NATO border with Belarus ([08:45]).
• The soldiers were deployed from Fort Stewart in Liberty County, southeast Georgia. The search for the fourth soldier continues.
• This incident marks the second unfortunate event involving Fort Stewart soldiers this year, following a fatal vehicle rollover incident in February.

6. Norfolk Southern's $600 Million Class Action Settlement

Key Points:

• Norfolk Southern seeks additional companies to co-fund a $600 million settlement related to the 2023 train derailment in eastern Ohio.
• The railroad company is pushing for another transportation company and a chemical manufacturer to share the financial burden, arguing their partial responsibility for the derailment and subsequent toxic chemical release.

7. Atlanta Launches Local Legacy Program

Key Points:

• The city of Atlanta introduced the Atlanta Local Legacy program to support businesses operating for over 30 years.
• The initiative offers grants for business modernization and construction, aiming to preserve Atlanta’s historical businesses amidst challenges such as closures of longstanding establishments like Breakfast Spot, Java Jive, and LT Wings.
• With over 400 legacy businesses in Atlanta, the program seeks to counteract commercial pressures from new developments and sustain the city's heritage.

8. "Manufacturing the Biolab Story" Podcast Launch

Key Points:

• GPB News launched a new investigative podcast titled "Manufacturing the Biolab Story," hosted by Pamela Kirkland.
• The podcast revisits the September 29th, 2024 Biolab chemical fire in Conyers, Georgia, which released a toxic smoke plume affecting thousands.
• The series delves into the incident’s history, regulatory responses, Biolab’s operational practices, and the broader impacts on public health and the community.
• Pamela Kirkland emphasized the quest for accountability from residents affected by the fire ([12:26]).

Notable Quotes:

• Pamela Kirkland: "It's a very tricky sort of line to walk. But certainly, you know, where families have questions, you can understand them wanting more information." ([06:25])

9. Savannah Bananas’ Touring Baseball Show at Atlanta Braves Stadium

Key Points:

• The Savannah Bananas performed their touring baseball show, Banana Ball World Tour, at the Atlanta Braves' home venue, Truist Park, drawing two sold-out crowds.
• Pitcher Austin Kryzminski described the experience as a "blessing," while Sophie Gratis, a longtime Braves fan, expressed her joy at participating in the event ([15:29]).
• The tour continues for another six months with tickets sold out through June.

10. Kazoo World Record Attempt in Macon Falls Short

Key Points:

• An attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the most people playing the kazoo simultaneously fell short, with nearly 2,000 participants participating against the record of 5,190 set in London in 2011.
• The event, held at the Atrium Health Amphitheater, featured musical performances and served as a fundraiser for the Odin Reading Foundation's youth music education programs.

11. Severe Weather Disruptions in Georgia

Key Points:

• Georgia experienced severe weather warnings leading to the temporary shutdown of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world's busiest airport.
• The storm system was anticipated to pass through the state by the evening, mitigating immediate disruptions ([16:03]).

Conclusion

In this episode of Georgia Today, host Orlando Montoya navigates a spectrum of pressing issues impacting Georgia—from political shifts within the Democratic Party and significant legal rulings affecting election laws, to critical public health concerns regarding maternal mortality. The episode also touches on community resilience through initiatives like Atlanta's Local Legacy program and cultural events such as the Savannah Bananas' baseball tour. Additionally, the launch of the investigative podcast "Manufacturing the Biolab Story" underscores GPB News' commitment to in-depth reporting on local incidents with broader implications. Listeners are provided with a comprehensive overview of the multifaceted challenges and developments shaping Georgia today.

Notable Quotes:

• Nekimah Williams: "Not just present but powerful." ([00:44])
• Sophie Gratis: "The goal of these committees is to improve maternal health care. It's not to push for any certain policy or, you know, ideological thing." ([00:33])
• Shanette Williams (Amber Thurman's Mother): "I'm going to let the journalist know that my daughter's death was preventable, I will never know your name, but I say thank you." ([06:04])
• Pamela Kirkland: "One of the ways that we can lower the rate of abuse and neglect among infants is, is to have more time for parents to bond with their children and learn their baby." ([08:18])

For more detailed stories and updates, visit gpb.org/news and subscribe to the Georgia Today podcast to stay informed on the latest from GPB News.