Dickerson wins state Senate seat; Emory student workers unionize; Drought conditions

Summary

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Georgia Today: Dickerson Wins State Senate Seat, Emory Student Workers Unionize, Drought Conditions

Podcast: Georgia Today
Host: Orlando Montoya (Georgia Public Broadcasting)
Date: September 24, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of Georgia Today delivers a concise snapshot of significant news from across Georgia. Host Orlando Montoya covers Republican Jason Dickerson’s victory in a metro Atlanta state Senate runoff, the historic unionization by Emory University graduate students, and the growing impact of severe drought conditions in the state. Additional shorter segments include a municipal moratorium on new data centers, an innovative nonprofit tackling food insecurity, creative urban use initiatives, and new fast-food industry moves—rounding out a news-rich, community-focused broadcast.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Jason Dickerson Wins State Senate Runoff (00:39–01:40)

• Election Results: Jason Dickerson, a conservative businessman, secured 61% of the vote in the north metro Atlanta runoff, defeating Democrat Deborah Shigley (39%).

• Political Context: Shigley’s campaign mobilized Democratic hopes, especially after leading the initial multi-candidate August election. She improved on past Democratic vote counts in the district.

• Turnout: Over 20,000 voters participated.

• Seat History: The seat was vacated by Brandon Beach, appointed U.S. Treasurer by President Trump.

  “Dickerson won the seat with 61% of the vote. The conservative businessman promised to eliminate the state income tax and protect the Second Amendment if elected.”
  — Sarah Kalis, reporter (00:58)

2. LaGrange Puts Moratorium on Data Centers (01:40–02:33)

• Moratorium Details: LaGrange (West Georgia) City Council unanimously approved a 180-day ban (until March 22, 2026) on planning new data centers within city limits.
• Project Pegasus: $8B project already under construction will not be affected.
• Community Concern: Residents questioned whether the moratorium could halt ongoing projects.

3. Drought Conditions and Agricultural Impact (02:33–03:22)

• Crop and Water Scarcity: Georgia’s peanut and cattle farmers are struggling; dead grass has forced early reliance on hay.
• Climate Data:

  “Some locations went a full three weeks without any measurable rainfall. And on top of that, numerous locations are on track to record one of their driest Septembers on record.”
  — Chris Furman, Southeast Regional Climate Center (00:29 and 02:48)

• Outlook: Modest rainfall is forecasted for eastern parts of the state in the coming week.
• Unusual Hurricane Season: Long drought of named storms, which typically provide much-needed rainfall.

4. Emory Graduate Students Ratify Labor Union Contract (03:22–04:30)

• Historic Agreement: Emory Unite, representing graduate students, ratified the university’s first student-worker contract after a decade of organizing.
• Contract Provisions: Covers pay, benefits, working hours, and other important protections.
• Significance: Largest private university in Georgia, making this a landmark labor development.
• University Response: Joint statement praised shared commitment to quality graduate education.

5. Addressing Food Insecurity: Street Charity (04:30–05:28)

• New Nonprofit Launch: Street Charity provides donors with $5 gift cards usable only at fast food/quick service restaurants for distribution to people in need.
• How It Works:

  “You can hand out a street charity card and absolutely have confidence somebody’s going to eat, because if those funds aren’t [used] by the person you’re giving it to, they’re going to expire and they’re going to go to a food bank.”
  — John Patton, Founder, Street Charity (04:30)

• Digital Convenience: Addresses the decline in people carrying cash; unused card balances revert to food banks.
• Wider Application: Cards can also be directly donated to nonprofits.

6. Urban Space Reimagined: Atlanta’s “Parking Day” (05:28–06:22)

• Initiative Summary: Temporary transformation of parking spaces into communal activity areas—games, music, clothing swaps—in Midtown.

• Student-Led Collaboration: Georgia Tech and Atlanta’s Department of City Planning involved.

• Purpose: To challenge the notion that public space is strictly for transit.

  “They’re meant for people to stay. They’re meant for people to hang out. They’re meant for people to talk, sit down, meet new people … maybe have a work meeting outside in a public space.”
  — Olivia Phillips, Student Planning Association, Georgia Tech (05:50)

  “Just look at how people have responded to Atlanta Streets Alive over the years in the city. I think Atlanta is ready to think about alternate modes of transportation and alternate uses of public land.”
  — Melinda Wharton, Attendee (06:07)

• Next Event: Parking Day returns September 2026.

7. Chick-fil-A Launches Beverage-Only Spin-Off (06:36–07:20)

• Concept: “Daybright” is a new drink-focused store featuring coffee, smoothies, juices, and light bites, opening in Hiram (west of Atlanta).
• Industry Trend: Chick-fil-A joins competitors (McDonald's, Wendy’s, Taco Bell) in targeting beverage market for growth.

8. Atlanta Braves News (07:20–08:12)

• Result: Braves’ 10-game winning streak snapped by the Nationals (4-3).
• Highlights: James Wood’s two home runs (reaching 30 for the season).

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Notable Quotes

• “Some locations went a full three weeks without any measurable rainfall. And on top of that, numerous locations are on track to record one of their driest Septembers on record.”
  — Chris Furman (00:29, 02:48)

• “You can hand out a street charity card and absolutely have confidence somebody’s going to eat…”
  — John Patton (04:30)

• “They’re meant for people to stay. They're meant for people to hang out. They’re meant for people to talk, sit down, meet new people…”
  — Olivia Phillips (05:50)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:39] Dickerson wins Senate seat (report by Sarah Kalis)
• [01:40] LaGrange data center moratorium
• [02:33] Drought impacts and agricultural news (report by Chase McGee)
• [03:22] Emory student workers unionize
• [04:30] Street Charity fights food insecurity (John Patton)
• [05:28] Atlanta’s “Parking Day”/Public space innovation (Amanda Andrews)
• [06:36] Chick-fil-A's Daybright beverage concept
• [07:20] Atlanta Braves game recap

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Tone and Style

The episode maintains a measured, informative tone, featuring concise, well-reported summaries interspersed with direct quotes and ambient on-the-ground perspectives from subject-matter experts and community members.

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This summary captures the essential news and community developments of the September 24, 2025 episode of Georgia Today, making it easy for those who missed the broadcast to grasp the state’s top stories.

Transcript

[Orlando Montoya]

Hello and welcome to the Georgia Today Podcast. Here we bring you the latest reports from the GPB newsroom. On today's episode, Republican Jason Dickerson wins a Senate seat in a special runoff election in metro Atlanta. Student workers at Emory University start a labor union and much of the Southeast is under drought conditions this year. That includes Georgia.

[Chris Furman]

Some locations went a full three weeks without any measurable rainfall. And on top of that, numerous locations are on track to record one of their driest Septembers on record.

[Orlando Montoya]

Today is Wednesday, September 24th. I'm Orlando Montoya and this is Georgia Today. Republican Jason Dickerson won a special election in a north metro Atlanta state senate district. GPB's Sarah Kalis reports.

[Sarah Kalis]

Dickerson won the seat with 61% of the vote. The conservative businessman promised to eliminate the state income tax and protect the Second Amendment if elected. Democrat Deborah Shigley trailed behind him with 39% of the vote. Shigley gained more votes than previous Democratic candidates for that seat. The race drew widespread attention from Democrats after she won a majority of votes in the August election that included multiple Republican candidates. Over 20,000 voters showed up to polls for Tuesday's election. The seat was previously held by Brandon beach, who was appointed by President Donald Trump to serve as treasurer of the United States. For GPB News, I'm Sarah Kallas.

[Orlando Montoya]

The City council in West Georgia's LaGrange has issued a moratorium on data centers and will not allow any new ones to be planned in the city's 45 square miles until at least March 22, 2026. The council unanimously passed the resolution yesterday calling for a 180 day moratorium on all data centers in Lagrange. The action by the council does not, however, stop Progress on the $8 billion Project Pegasus data center that's already under construction in the area. Residents at a meeting raised questions about if progress on the Pegasus center could be halted. Much of the Southeast is under drought conditions, but some parts of Georgia could see rain later this week. GPB's Chase McGee has more.

[Chase McGee]

In Georgia, the peanut crop is drying out and cattle farmers are already transitioning from dead grass pastures to hay. Chris Furman is the deputy director of the Southeast Regional Climate Center. He he says the lack of rain in the Southeast is a problem where.

[Chris Furman]

Some locations went a full three weeks without any measurable rainfall. And on top of that, numerous locations are on track to record one of their driest Septembers on record.

[Chase McGee]

But in the next week, rain could break that drought in eastern parts of the state. Furman also notes this hurricane season saw one of the longest periods with no named storms since meteorologists started tracking the weather with satellites in the 1970s. Something like a tropical storm could bring water that farmers need to break prolonged drought. For GPB news, I'm Chase McGee.

[Orlando Montoya]

Emory University graduate students have ratified the first and only labor contract at Georgia's largest private university. The PhD student union Emory Unite announced the vote last week, calling it a landmark deal that protects student workers and culminates a 10 year campaign of organizing and negotiation. The agreement outlines new pay rates, benefits and working hours, among other provisions. Two university officials in a joint statement, said the deal reflects a shared commitment to top quality graduate education. A new Atlanta nonprofit aims to address an all too frequent question that people in the city get asked on the street can you give me money for food? The group Street Charity launched this month to combat food insecurity by sending donors $5 gift cards that can only be used at fast food and quick service restaurants. Founder John Patton says donors then can give those cards to people on the street knowing that they can't be used for anything other than food.

[John Patton]

You can hand out a street charity card and absolutely have confidence somebody's going to eat, because if those funds aren't by the person you're giving it to, they're going to expire and they're going to go to a food bank.

[Orlando Montoya]

He says the cards are helpful because most people no longer carry cash. The nationwide program is a partnership with several financial technology companies. The gift cards also can be donated to non profit organizations that work directly with hungry people. One in seven Georgians faces food insecurity, according to the nonprofit Feeding Georgia. The city of Atlanta recently turned parking spaces into temporary gathering spots as part of an international project. GPB's Amanda Andrews has more on how Parking Day aims to change how streets are used.

[Amanda Andrews]

In spaces where cars were normally parked, there were games, music and even a clothing swap. Student leaders at Georgia Tech and employees with Atlanta's Department of City Planning partnered to take over a city block in Midtown. Olivia Phillips leads the Student Planning association at Georgia Tech. She wanted to challenge the idea that public spaces are only there to funnel people between locations.

[Olivia Phillips]

They're meant for people to stay. They're meant for people to hang out. They're meant for people to talk, sit down, meet new people, do stuff, maybe have, you know, have a work meeting outside in a public space.

[Amanda Andrews]

This year's theme is Micro Acts of Civil Joy. Melinda Wharton attended the Pop up event. She says residents are ready for more.

[Olivia Phillips]

Just look at how people have responded to Atlanta streets alive over the years in the city. I think Atlanta and the Belt Line. I think Atlanta is ready to think about alternate modes of transportation and alternate uses of public land.

[Amanda Andrews]

Parking Day will return in September 2026. For GPB news, I'm Amanda Andrews.

[Orlando Montoya]

Chick Fil A is trying out a new spinoff that's all about drinks. The concept is called Daybright and it's set to open this fall in Hiram, about 30 miles west of Atlanta. Instead of chicken sandwiches, the menu will feature coffee, smoothies, juices and light bites. The staybright comes from Chick Fil A's innovation arm, Red Wagon Ventures. It's the latest fast food chain looking to cash in on the growing market for specialty beverages. Fast food chains like McDonald's, Wendy's and Taco Bell have previously announced they're focusing on trendy beverages to boost sales and customer visits in Georgia Sports we had an afternoon game today with the Atlanta Braves, but it wasn't a Braves win. James Wood hit two home runs and Josh Bell added another as the Washington Nationals snapped the Braves 10 game winning streak with a 43 win. Mitchell Parker got the final two outs of the fifth inning and earned the victory out of the bullpen for Washington. Rookie Dalen Lyle had three hits, including an RBI single for the Nationals. Jose Ferrer earned his 10th save. Wood's two solo home runs gave him 30 for the season. And that's it for today's edition of Georgia Today. If you'd like to learn more about the stories that you hear on this podcast, many of them [e-mail] news hit subscribe on this podcast so you never miss one. And if you have feedback, we'd love to hear it. Email us@georgia todaypb.org I'm Orlando Montoya. I'll talk to you again tomorrow.

[Marielle Segarra]

It's rare to find a podcast that can actually change your life, but when the show's called Life Kit, that's kind of the whole point. I'm Marielle Segarra. Three times a week on the Life Kit podcast, we guide you through a topic we could all use help with, from personal development to healthy living to managing your dinero with takeaways so you can start living what you learn right away. Escucha El lifekit Podcast from NPR.