Department of Corrections investigates deadly prison riot; ICE masking legislation

Summary

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Georgia Today Podcast Summary

Episode: Department of Corrections investigates deadly prison riot; ICE masking legislation
Date: January 14, 2026
Host: Peter Biello (Georgia Public Broadcasting)

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Overview

This episode of Georgia Today delivers a brisk yet thorough recap of major news stories across Georgia, focusing on the deadly riot at Washington State Prison and new legislation targeting the practices of federal immigration agents (ICE). Other critical topics include health care access, legislative updates, a school spending investigation, entertainment industry expansion, environmental conservation, public health concerns, and weather.

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Key Discussion Points

1. ICE "Unmasking" Legislation

Discussion Highlights:

• Prompted by a recent Minneapolis shooting involving an ICE officer, Georgia Democrats push for federal immigration agents (ICE) to be required to visibly identify themselves when making arrests.
• State Senator Kim Jackson (00:25, 00:58):

  "We are calling for ICE to be unmasked to end the terror, to end the fear."

• The proposed legislation would also permit civil lawsuits against ICE.
• Senator Randy Robertson (01:15) disagrees, stating:

  "That is a decision made case by case and the supervisors make those determinations, not a group of legislators sitting in an air conditioned and heated room."

• DeKalb County discusses a resolution urging the cessation of ICE operations in the area. The vote is postponed for more consideration (01:26).

Memorable Moment:
State Senator Kim Jackson’s repeated emphasis on ending community fear associated with masked ICE actions.

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2. ACA Enrollment & Health Subsidies

ACA Enrollment Update:

• 1.3M Georgians enrolled in an ACA plan—a decrease of nearly 192,000 from the prior year (02:48).
• New enrollees via the state exchange are less than half year-over-year.
• Uncertainty looms as Congress negotiates on enhanced subsidies; President Trump threatens a veto (02:48).

State Subsidy Proposal:

• Georgia Senate Democrats propose a state-funded subsidy program for healthcare, mirroring other states.
• State Senator Kim Jackson notes (03:45):

  "The pain point is so dramatic for the voters that are dealing with this issue that I think Republicans are going to be forced to pay attention."

Outlook:
State health agencies to submit budgets; Governor Brian Kemp’s priorities will shape the eventual direction (03:53).

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3. Infrastructure & Homelessness Initiatives

Governor Brian Kemp’s Announcements (04:11):

• Roadwork: $1.8B earmarked for transportation projects, notably express lanes on I-75 in Henry County for congestion relief.
  • Grant Blankenship (04:32):

    "Our initial estimates indicate that once these express lanes are completed, as much as 70% more vehicles will be able to pass through that corridor during the rush hours."

• Homelessness: $50M toward reducing homelessness through enhanced social services.
• Workforce: New workforce readiness program teased for the legislative session.

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4. Prison Riot at Washington State Prison

Incident Details:

• Three inmates killed during a major fight at the Washington State Prison (05:00).
• Ongoing struggle with staffing and safety at Georgia prisons.

Eyewitness Testimony (Jennifer Fender):

• Typical visitation day upended by reduced staffing and visible tension among inmates (05:26–08:12).
• Fender describes hearing about and witnessing chaos:
  • "As soon as he came in, he just seemed a little bit, you know, tense or something... he said, 'They're fighting out there. You know, there's a big fight. And he said, people are getting stabbed.'" (06:22)
  • A lone officer attempting to hold back inmates as visitors evacuate. Fender observes:

    "She couldn't hold that door by herself." (07:14)

  • Disturbing scene as bloodied, presumably aggressive inmates breach the visitation room, but visitors escape unharmed, though deeply traumatized.
• Aftermath: Families and visitors shaken. Fender pledges to continue visiting despite trauma (08:27).

  • "I'm not going to let that, you know, stop me from, from, you know, seeing him." (08:32)

GDC Response:

• Internal investigation ongoing; families awaiting follow-up and support.

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5. School Spending Probe in Dublin City

Details:

• Lawrence County DA requests GBI investigation into Dublin City Schools.
• District faces a $13M deficit, reduced staff and school days (08:59).
• Audit shows improper use of temporary Covid funds masked the problem.
• No evidence of crime, but probe seeks transparency and avoids conflicts of interest.

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6. Industry & Environment

Entertainment Expansion:

• Trilith Studios, south of Atlanta, opens a new multifaceted entertainment venue—The Box (2,800 seats), cinema, and outdoor plaza for public and corporate events (09:55).
  • Executive director Matt McLain:

    "We have tons of restroom facilities, tons of concession facilities to hopefully help that guest have a very short wait or no wait in lines. So we're really excited about that." (10:35)

Right Whale Protection:

• Georgia Conservancy receives $500,000 in federal funds to monitor and protect the endangered North Atlantic right whale, leveraging technology to inform vessels and prevent collisions (10:56).

Bird Flu in Poultry:

• Bird flu confirmed in Walker County’s commercial operation (71,000+ chickens), first such case in Georgia for 2026 (11:14). Cleanup underway by agriculture department.

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7. Weather Update

• Major cold front moving in; wind chills to drop into the teens for north and central Georgia and mid-20s for the south.
• Possibility of snow flurries as far south as I-20; temperatures to remain unseasonably cold through the weekend (11:33).

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Notable Quotes

• Sen. Kim Jackson on ICE:

  "We are calling for ICE to be unmasked to end the terror, to end the fear." (00:25, 00:58)

• Sen. Randy Robertson on law enforcement discretion:

  "That is a decision made case by case and the supervisors make those determinations, not a group of legislators sitting in an air conditioned and heated room." (01:15)

• Jennifer Fender on visitation day violence:

  "She couldn't hold that door by herself." (07:14)
  "I'm not going to let that, you know, stop me from, from, you know, seeing him." (08:32)

• Matt McLain on entertainment venue upgrades:

  "We have tons of restroom facilities, tons of concession facilities to hopefully help that guest have a very short wait or no wait in lines. So we're really excited about that." (10:35)

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• ICE Masking Legislation: 00:25–01:32
• ACA and Insurance News: 02:48–03:31
• State Health & Road Initiatives: 03:45–05:00
• Washington State Prison Riot: 05:00–08:59
• Dublin City Schools Spending Probe: 08:59–09:32
• Trilith Studios Expansion: 09:55–10:47
• Right Whale Protection: 10:56–11:14
• Bird Flu Outbreak: 11:14–11:33
• Weather Forecast: 11:33–end (excluding outro and advertisements)

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Conclusion

This Georgia Today episode spotlights the volatile intersection of public safety, legislative reform, and community wellbeing. In-depth narratives—from the harrowing firsthand account of the prison riot to legislative clashes over ICE identification—underscore the complexity and urgency of current events in Georgia. The podcast rounds out its coverage with updates on health care, industry, and environmental challenges, delivering a concise yet thorough snapshot of the state’s most pressing issues.

Transcript

[Peter Biello]

Welcome to the Georgia Today Podcast. Here we bring you the latest reports from the GPB newsroom. On today's episode, the Georgia Department of Corrections investigates the recent violence at Georgia's Washington State Prison, which left three people dead. New case of bird flu has been confirmed in Walker county and some Georgia lawmakers call for federal immigration agents to identify themselves when making arrests.

[State Senator Kim Jackson]

We are calling for ICE to be unmasked to end the terror, to end the fear.

[Peter Biello]

Today is Wednesday, January 14th. I'm Peter Biello and this is Georgia Today. In the wake of the shooting of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis by an ICE officer last week, some Georgia Democrats want federal immigration agents to identify themselves when making arrests. Democrats, including State Senator Kim Jackson, introduced legislation that would force ICE agents to uncover their faces and wear IDs.

[State Senator Kim Jackson]

We are calling for ICE to be unmasked to end the terror, to end the fear.

[Peter Biello]

The legislation also would allow civil lawsuits against ice. Republicans like Senator Randy Robertson, who is retired from law enforcement, say the bills are unnecessary.

[Grant Blankenship]

That is a decision made based case by case and the supervisors make those determinations, not a group of legislators sitting in an air conditioned and heated room.

[Peter Biello]

Democratic backed bills face an uphill battle in the Republican controlled legislature. Meanwhile, DeKalb county commissioners have delayed consideration of a resolution calling for the withdrawal of federal immigration enforcement operations from county neighborhoods. Commissioner Ted Terry introduced the Walk on resolution at yesterday's meeting. The measure would have urged federal authorities to pull enforcement operations from DeKalb County Commissioner Ladina Bolton moved to defer the item for two weeks, saying the board needs more time to craft a unified response. Terry said he was disappointed by the delay, but plans to bring the resolution back when they meet again on January 27th. Georgia's Secretary of state is pushing back against fellow Republicans in the state Senate over the Trump administration's pursuit of the state's unredacted voter registration list. Several senators introduced a resolution yesterday demanding Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger share the list. Raffensperger fired back, saying that he would fight to protect voters private information, including Social Security numbers from being shared with unknown outside parties. Tomorrow is the last day to sign up for an Affordable Care act health insurance plan for coverage this year in Georgia. People must use the state based marketplace Exchange Georgia Access. So far, the number of people signing up for a plan has declined. GPB's Sophie Gradas has more.

[Sophie Gradas]

As of January 12, 2026, a total of 1.3 million people in Georgia have enrolled in an Affordable Care act plan. That marks a decrease of about 192,000 enrollees compared to this time last year when Georgia announced it had broken records for ACA enrollment. The state Department of Insurance said in December it saw 111,000 new enrollees through the state based exchange, less than half of last year's new enrollee total. The US Senate has yet to reach a compromise on a plan approved by the House to extend the enhanced subsidies that help millions of people afford a marketplace health care plan. President Trump says if Congress does extend the subsidies, he may veto the legislation. For GPB News, I'm Sophie Cradus.

[Peter Biello]

And under Georgia's Gold Dome yesterday, a group of Senate Democrats introduced legislation to create a state funded subsidy to help Georgians afford health care. About 10 other states have a similar program, but Metro Atlanta's Josh McLaurin says he's hoping to get Republicans on board.

[State Senator Kim Jackson]

The pain point is so dramatic for the voters that are dealing with this issue that I think Republicans are going to be forced to pay attention.

[Peter Biello]

State health agencies will begin to make their budget requests next week. Whatever lawmakers decide to do this session, it's likely Governor Brian Kemp will have the final word. He gave a preview of his priorities during the Georgia Chamber's annual Eggs and Issues event today. GPB Sarah Kalis reports.

[Sarah Kalis]

Kemp says that the state will spend $1.8 billion to address congestion and other issues on Georgia's roads. The projects include construction of new express lanes on I75 in Henry county, often the site of heavy traffic.

[Grant Blankenship]

Our initial estimates indicate that once these express lanes are completed, as much as.

[TED Radio Hour Announcer]

70% more vehicles will be able to.

[Grant Blankenship]

Pass through that corridor during the rush hours.

[Sarah Kalis]

He also announced more money for local road improvements. Also this year, the state will grant $50 million to a new program to reduce homelessness in Atlanta and other urban areas through social services. Kemp teased a new workforce readiness program as well that will be introduced this session. For GPB News, I'm Sarah Kallas.

[Peter Biello]

Three incarcerated men were killed inside George's Washington State Prison last weekend. It's just the latest headline grabbing violence at a Georgia prison. Meanwhile, Georgia Department of Corrections continues to struggle with keeping prisons staffed and guarded. The agency's investigation of the recent Violence is underway. GPB's Grant Blankenship spoke to someone who was there.

[Grant Blankenship]

Jennifer Fender says most Sundays you can find her at the visitation room at Washington State Prison with her boyfriend.

[State Senator Kim Jackson]

You know, he needs that and, and I need it too, you know.

[Grant Blankenship]

And after about a year of visits, Fender says she knows what and who to expect when she gets to the.

[State Senator Kim Jackson]

Prison you have officers at the front, at least, to always work the front when you first come in, and you have to go through the metal detector and.

[Grant Blankenship]

And then there's usually two or three officers in the visitation room to keep eyes on things, all kind cordial and professional, she says.

[State Senator Kim Jackson]

But last Sunday, the normal staff that I. That I know every Sunday, I didn't see any of them.

[Grant Blankenship]

Vendor says there was just a single officer in the visitation room. So it's you and how many other people in the visitation room at that point?

[State Senator Kim Jackson]

I would say there were probably about.

[Grant Blankenship]

Maybe a dozen inmates, plus their visitors.

[State Senator Kim Jackson]

Let's see. I noticed to my left, there was a little girl, and she was sitting on her dad's lap, you know, when I had first come in the room. And they were smiling. They were so happy. She was so happy. I felt so bad for her.

[Grant Blankenship]

Vendor says there was an elderly couple who had come to visit. Then she says her boyfriend came in the room.

[State Senator Kim Jackson]

As soon as he came in, he just seemed a little bit, you know, tense or something. And I said, what's wrong? He said. He said, they're fighting out there. You know, there's a big fight. And he said, people are getting stabbed.

[Grant Blankenship]

People were getting stabbed. The Georgia Department of Corrections says the usual visitation guards were responding to the fight. Three people, all inmates, would be killed. One, Jimmy Trammell, was mere days away from release. Fender says her boyfriend calls the vending machine pizza. They share the best meal of the week. She was putting quarters in the machine.

[State Senator Kim Jackson]

When the guard who had been, you know, in the visitation room, she was kind of. She kind of like ran out the door. I heard a lot of yelling when she was out there, and everyone just kind of froze.

[Grant Blankenship]

A single guard came back, tried to bar the door against the inmates who were trying to break in.

[State Senator Kim Jackson]

She couldn't hold that door by herself.

[Grant Blankenship]

Fender says the guard was shouting, imploring the visitors to get out. Vendor says some people were confused. They didn't register the danger. One woman insisted on getting her coat. And between them and the inmates breaking in, just that one guard, she just.

[State Senator Kim Jackson]

Kind of jumped between those guys and the visitors that were trying to get out.

[Grant Blankenship]

And the inmates breached the door.

[State Senator Kim Jackson]

They had. A lot of them did have blood on them, but none of them were injured visibly, that I could tell. I mean, they had their shirts open.

[Grant Blankenship]

I don't know, as bloody as they were. Finder feels sure they were the aggressors.

[State Senator Kim Jackson]

Like, they were just kind of wild.

[Grant Blankenship]

Amped up, she says, adrenalized, maybe without any real plan. They did not pass the guard. The visitors made it outside safely without injury. GDC says only one guard sustained minor injuries, but some, like the little girl who'd been sitting on her dad's knee, were left in shock.

[State Senator Kim Jackson]

I saw the mom holding her hand and the little girl just looked, yeah, the mom was crying. I'll tell you what was really terrifying was the fact that we had to leave our, you know, loved ones in there with those guys.

[Grant Blankenship]

Are, are you, are you going to try to, to make visitation this, this coming Sunday or, you know, I'm not.

[State Senator Kim Jackson]

Going to let that, you know, stop me from, from, you know, seeing him.

[Grant Blankenship]

Because he deserves she says neither she nor her boyfriend deserve to lose that. GDC says they're investigating the incident as of this writing. Fender says she hasn't received a follow up from the agency. Neither has Jimmy Trammell's family. They're trying to raise money for his funeral. For GPB News, I'm Grant Blankenship in Macon.

[Peter Biello]

The district attorney in middle Georgia's Lawrence county is asking the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to look into spending at Dublin City Schools. The district is facing a $13 million budget deficit and has has made significant cuts to staff and the number of days students will be in school. A state audit shows the district used temporary Covid funds to cover ongoing expenses, which had been hiding budget problems until recently. DA Harold McLendon says there's no proof of any crimes, but he wants the GBI to investigate to avoid possible conflict of interest.

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[Peter Biello]

A major film and television production complex south of Atlanta is expanding its footprint with new entertainment options opening tomorrow. GPB's Amanda Andrews reports. The project at Trilis Studios is part of a planned community in Fayetteville that also includes housing, shopping and recreation.

[Sarah Kalis]

Trilith Live will include a new venue called the Box, which can hold up to 2,800 people. The complex also includes a nine screen movie theater and an expansive outdoor plaza that's open to the public. The facilities are designed to host live entertainment and smaller corporate or community events. Matt McLain is the executive director of Trilith Live. He says they designed the Box to make amenities easily accessible to guests.

[Grant Blankenship]

We have tons of restroom facilities, tons of concession facilities to hopefully help that guest have a very short wait or no wait in lines. So we're really excited about that.

[Sarah Kalis]

The first show at the box will be the Gabby's Dollhouse National Tour. For GPB News, I'm Amanda Andrews.

[Peter Biello]

A Georgia nonprofit is getting a half million dollars in federal funds to monitor and protect the highly endangered North American right whale population. Southeast Georgia Congressman Buddy Carter yesterday said the Georgia Conservancy will use the House approved funding to prevent whale ship collisions, one of the leading threats to the species long term survival. The group will leverage existing technology to transmit information about the whale's seasonal management areas to vessels. The Georgia Department of Agriculture says a case of bird flu has been confirmed in a commercial poultry operation in northwest Georgia's Walker County. The department says it has deployed teams to perform the necessary cleanup operations. The operation housed more than 71,000 broiler chickens. This is the first confirmed case in Georgia this year and the fourth in the state at a commercial poultry operation since the ongoing nationwide outbreak began in 2022. If you are anything like me, you are counting the days until warmer weather comes. The weather in Georgia tonight is going to make those warm days feel like a long, long time from now. The National Weather Service says a strong cold front will be moving through tonight. By tomorrow morning, breezy winds will push wind chills into the teens across most of north and central Georgia. South Georgia could feel temps in the mid-20s. We may see light snow showers in the Middle Mountains tomorrow morning, with flurries possibly reaching as far south as the I20 corridor. Temperatures are expected to be 5 to 15 degrees below average through the weekend. No matter the weather, Georgia Today is here for you. Thanks for tuning to Georgia Today for all your Georgia related news. You can find [e-mail] news and if there's a story we should know about that we aren't covering yet, let us know by email because can also offer feedback on this podcast. The address is Georgia todaypb.org and while you're thinking of it, make sure to subscribe to this podcast. That way, we pop up in your podcast feed automatically tomorrow afternoon. I'm Peter Biello. Thanks again for listening. We'll see you tomorrow.

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How does AI even work? Where does creativity come from? What's the secret to living longer? TED Radio Hour explores the biggest questions with some of the world's greatest thinkers. They will surprise, challenge and even change you. Listen to NPR's TED Radio Hour wherever you get your podcasts.