Exec order targets unions; Aerospace and Defense Alliance; Alzheimer's advisory group

Summary

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Georgia Today – August 25, 2025

Host: Peter Biello, Georgia Public Broadcasting
Main Themes:

• Executive order affecting unions at Georgia’s DHHS agencies
• Launch of the Georgia Aerospace and Defense Alliance
• Two Georgians named to a national Alzheimer’s advisory group
• Additional local news highlights including law enforcement honors, trade, transit, and sports

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Episode Overview

The August 25, 2025 episode of Georgia Today delivers a concise roundup of headline news affecting Georgia residents, highlighting significant state and local developments. Major topics include an executive order that impacts union rights for Department of Health and Human Services staff, the establishment of the Georgia Aerospace and Defense Alliance, and the recognition of two Georgians appointed to the Alzheimer’s Association National Early Stage Advisory Group. The episode also covers tributes to a fallen police officer, trade missions, public transit updates, local sports, and more.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Executive Order Targets Unions at Health and Human Services (02:10)

• Policy Change:
  A recent executive order revokes collective bargaining rights for thousands of federal employees in agencies under the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
• Judicial Context:
  The order, previously stalled by appellate judges in California, was allowed to proceed following a reversal on Friday.
• Impact on CDC Staff:
  The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 2883, representing Atlanta’s CDC workers, voiced concern that the timing is particularly problematic given “layoffs and violence” have already “left them demoralized.”
  • Quote (Paraphrased): CDC staff are being “stripped of support system at a time when layoffs and violence have already left them demoralized.” (02:36)
• Union Response:
  AFGE Local 2883 asserts it will continue advocacy and representation for workplace disputes and other support services despite the loss of collective bargaining rights.

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2. Georgia Aerospace and Defense Alliance Launches (03:24)

• Industry Collaboration:
  Leading aerospace and defense organizations, including Gulfstream Aerospace, Lockheed Martin, Rolls-Royce, FlightSafety International, and Pratt & Whitney, have formed the Georgia Aerospace and Defense Alliance.
• Institutional Support:
  The alliance will be based at Mercer University in Macon.
• Leadership:
  Ember Bentley named executive director; Jay Neely, also the state Department of Economic Development’s board chair, appointed as chair of the alliance.
• Purpose:
  The alliance aims to “advance the state’s aerospace and defense industries” by leveraging collective expertise and regional assets.

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3. Alzheimer’s Advisory Group Features Two Georgians (04:17)

• Advisory Appointments:
  Atlanta residents George King and Andrea Lucas are selected for the National Early Stage Advisory Group of the Alzheimer’s Association, serving two-year terms.
• Personal Advocacy:
  Both share personal experiences to raise awareness about living positively with dementia.
  • Memorable Quote:

    “Being an African American woman who had early onset Alzheimer's, I just felt like I needed to come out of the shadows. I needed to come out of the shadows because again, my first instinct was to be you have to hide.”
    — Andrea Lucas, 04:17

• Broader Context:
  Over 7.2 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, including approximately 188,000 Georgians.

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Additional News Highlights

Georgia National Guard Aids Federal Immigration Efforts (01:12)

• About 75 Georgia National Guard troops will provide logistical and clerical support to ICE.
  • “That’s why we have the Guard. ...they’re the most highly trained and patriotic men and women and they’re the right people for the job.”
    — John Albers, Senate Public Safety Committee Chair (01:44)

Political Developments (02:49)

• State Rep. Tanya Miller (D) announced her run for state Attorney General; the seat is open with incumbent Chris Carr seeking the governorship.

Honoring a Fallen Officer (04:58)

• The interchange in Roswell is named in honor of Officer Jeremy Labonte, who was killed in service.
  • “It makes me really proud to know that his name and his sacrifice won’t be forgotten and he would hate the spotlight. But everyone deserves to know what kind of man he was in and out of the uniform.”
    — Alyssa Labonte, widow, 05:11

Trade Mission (05:26)

• Governor Brian Kemp to lead a trade mission to Brazil and Argentina to boost economic ties; Georgia exports to these countries exceeded $868 million last year.

Transit and Community Events (06:09)

• MARTA’s Decatur station western entrance to close for renovations (September 2nd–5th); bus service unchanged.
• Dunwoody hosts Kids Bike Safety Rodeo September 13 for children ages 5–12.

Sports (06:47)

• Golf: Tommy Fleetwood captures PGA Tour Championship at East Lake, Atlanta, earning $10 million.
  • “Fleetwood got plenty of help at the start when Patrick Cantlay began bogey, double bogey and could never catch up. Scottie Scheffler ...ended his hopes on the 15th. Fleetwood shot 68 and won by three.” (06:47)
• Baseball: Braves begin a three-game series in Miami.
• Flag Football: Falcons host large-scale girls’ flag football showcase; more than 100 Georgia high school athletes have earned collegiate offers since 2021.

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Notable Quotes

• Andrea Lucas on stigma after early onset diagnosis (Alzheimer’s):

  “Being an African American woman who had early onset Alzheimer's, I just felt like I needed to come out of the shadows.” (04:17)

• John Albers on the Georgia National Guard’s deployment:

  “That’s why we have the Guard. ...they’re the most highly trained and patriotic men and women and they’re the right people for the job.” (01:44)

• Alyssa Labonte on honoring her late husband:

  “It makes me really proud to know that his name and his sacrifice won’t be forgotten and he would hate the spotlight. But everyone deserves to know what kind of man he was in and out of the uniform.” (05:11)

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Episode Timestamps

| Segment | Start | |-----------------------------------------------------------------------|----------| | Executive Order Targets Unions | 02:10 | | Aerospace and Defense Alliance Announcement | 03:24 | | Alzheimer’s Advisory Group/Personal Stories | 04:17 | | Officer Jeremy Labonte Memorial Interchange | 04:58 | | Governor Kemp Trade Mission to Brazil and Argentina | 05:26 | | MARTA Decatur Station Closure, Kids’ Bike Rodeo Details | 06:09 | | Sports (Golf, Braves, Falcons Flag Football) | 06:47 |

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Tone and Closing Thoughts

The podcast balances policy analysis, personal stories, and community news in a factual yet empathetic style. It connects statewide developments to individual experiences, especially in the coverage of Alzheimer’s advocacy and remembrance of law enforcement sacrifice. Georgia Today continues to offer listeners a comprehensive, accessible snapshot of the news that shapes life in Georgia.

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Transcript

[A]

These days there's so much news it can be hard to keep up with what it all means for you, your family and your community. The Consider this Podcast from NPR features our award winning journalism. Six days a week we bring you a deep dive on a news story and provide the context and analysis that helps you make sense of the news. We get behind the headlines. We get to the truth. Listen to the Consider this podcast from npr.

[B]

Welcome to the Georgia Today Podcast. Here we bring you the latest reports from the GPB newsroom. On today's episode, an executive order targets unions at the Department of Health and Human Services. Georgia aerospace and defense companies form an organization to advance their industries and two Georgia residents will serve on a new advisory group for Alzheimer's disease.

[C]

Being an African American woman who had early onset Alzheimer's, I just felt like I needed to come out of the shadows.

[B]

Today is Monday, August 25th. I'm Peter Biello and this is Georgia Today.

[D]

The Georgia National Guard will join part time soldiers from other states to support Federal Immigration Enforcement. GPB's Sarah Kalis reports.

[E]

A spokesperson for the Georgia National Guard says Georgia troops will give logistical and clerical support to officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement to free ICE to make more actual arrests. Republican Senate Public Safety Committee Chair John Albers says this is not the first time the Guard has been deployed to help immigration enforcement. Georgia has stationed National Guard troops at the border since 2019.

[F]

That's why we have the Guard. In order to be able to quickly assemble and go to an area of need to provide, whether it be some safety, some relief, whatever the need happens to be, they're the most highly trained and patriotic men and women and they're the right people for the job.

[E]

About 75 troops will deploy around the state after training in September. For GPB News, I'm Sarah Kallas.

[D]

Staff at agencies under the Department of Health and Human Services are expected to lose their access to unions. An executive order ending collective bargaining for thousands of government employees had been put on hold by appellate judges in California until Friday, when the decision was reversed. The American Federation of Government Employees Local 2883 serves staff at Atlanta's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They say the decision strips CDC staff of support system at a time when layoffs and violence have already left them demoralized. Local 2883 says it will continue to represent members in workplace disputes and provide other resources. Atlanta Democratic State Representative Tanya Miller has.

[B]

Announced her candidacy for Georgia attorney general. She joins two Republicans and a Democrat in the race. Current Attorney General Chris Carr is running for governor, leaving the position open. Miller became chair of the House Democratic Caucus last year and has opposed Republican governor Brian Kemp's legislation limiting lawsuits. She plans to focus on fraud, predatory lending and corporate landlords. Former Democratic House Minority Leader Bob Tramell from West Georgia, Republican State Senator Bill Cowsert of Athens and Republican State Senator Brian Strickland of McDonough also are running. Georgia's leading aerospace companies today announced the formation of a new statewide organization dedicated to advancing the state's aerospace and def industries. The Georgia Aerospace and Defense alliance is being launched by Gulfstream Aerospace, Lockheed Martin, Rolls Royce, Flight Safety International and Pratt and Whitney. It will be housed at Mercer University in Macon, with Ember Bentley as executive director and Jay Neely as its initial board chairman. Bentley most recently served as chief of staff and vice president for external affairs at Middle Georgia State University in Macon, home to Georgia's flagship school of aviation. Neely serves as board chairman for the state Department of Economic Development. Two Georgia residents will serve two year terms on the Alzheimer's Association's National Early Stage advisory group. GPB's Ellen Eldredge reports they hope sharing their personal experiences will raise awareness about living with dementia.

[C]

Atlantans George King and Andrea Lucas want others to know that quality of life is possible while living with Alzheimer's disease. 60 year old Lucas says she was diagnosed last year with mild cognitive impairment. Being an African American woman who had early onset Alzheimer's, I just felt like I needed to come out of the shadows. I needed to come out of the shadows because again, my first instinct was to be you have to hide. More than 7.2 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer's disease, including more than 188,000 in Georgia. For GPB News, I'm Ellen Eldredge.

[B]

An interchange in Roswell has officially been named in honor of Roswell Police Officer Jeremy Labonte, who was killed in the line of duty in February. Labonte's wife, Alyssa Labonte, thanked the community for honoring her husband.

[G]

It makes me really proud to know that his name and his sacrifice won't be forgotten and he would hate the spotlight. But everyone deserves to know what kind of man he was in and out of the uniform.

[B]

Labonte was shot and killed while responding to a suspicious person call. The state Legislature passed a bipartisan resolution in April renaming the intersection in his honor. Governor Brian Kemp will lead a trade mission to Brazil and Argentina this week. The governor and first lady Marty Kemp will join representatives from state departments of Economic Development and Agriculture and and the Georgia Ports Authority in meeting with executives from companies already operating in Georgia or building new projects here. Last year, Georgia exports to Brazil totaled $748 million, with another $120 million in exports going to Argentina. A bit of news on the Metro Atlanta transit System MARTA Today MARTA's Decatur station will close its western entrance September 2nd through 5th during renovations of the city of Decatur's Public Square above the station. The eastern entrance on Church street will REM and bus service is unchanged. The city of Dunwoody is hosting a free Kids Bike Safety Rodeo next month. The event is billed as showing young cyclists essential safety skills while building confidence on their bicycles. The event is September 13th for kids 5 through 12. In sports in golf, Tommy Fleetwood ends a summer of heartache with the richest prize on the PGA Tour. He won the Tour Championship at Eastlake in Atlanta yesterday for his first tour title to capture the FedEx cup and its $10 million reward. Fleetwood got plenty of help at the start when Patrick Cantlay began bogey, double bogey and could never catch up. Scottie Scheffler hit his opening tee shot out of bounds and still was a threat until a tee shot into the water ended his hopes on the 15th, Fleetwood shot 68 and one by three over Cantlay and Russell Henley. Ryder cup captain Keegan Bradley tied for seventh in baseball, The Braves head to Miami today for a three game series against the Marlins. This comes after dropping two games of three over the weekend to division rival the New York Mets and the Atlanta Falcons are hosting a girls flag football showcase tonight. 200 high school athletes will get to show off their skills to college coaches in a combine style workout. The Falcons say more than 100 Georgia high school athletes have received offers to play flag football at the next level from this event since its inception in 2021. Flag football is a fast growing sport in Georgia with more than 300 high school programs.

[D]

And that is all the.

[B]

News that's fit to broadcast on the podcast today. We appreciate you tuning in and we hope you'll come back tomorrow. Make sure you subscribe to this podcast so we pop up in your feed tomorrow afternoon and check out gpb.org news for updates on any of the stories you heard today. And if you've got feedback, we'd love to hear from you. Send an email to georgia todaypb.org News tips welcome as well. Again, georgia todaypb.org I'm Peter Biello. Thank you again for listening. We'll see you tomorrow.

[A]

These days there's so much news it can be hard to keep up with what it all means for you, your family and your community. The Consider this Podcast from NPR features our award winning journalism. Six days a week we bring you a deep, deep dive on a news story and provide the context and analysis that helps you make sense of the news. We get behind the headlines. We get to the truth. Listen to the Consider this Podcast from NPR.