Father of accused Apalachee shooter bonded; Fed judge retires; Savannah public art

Summary

Georgia Today Podcast Summary Episode: Father of Accused Apalachee Shooter Bonded; Fed Judge Retires; Savannah Public Art
Release Date: February 12, 2025
Host: Peter Biello, Georgia Public Broadcasting

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1. Father Granted Bond in Apalachee High School Shooting Case

In a rare and high-profile case, Colin Gray, the father of the 14-year-old accused of the deadly Apalachee High School shooting, was granted bond by Barrow County Superior Court Judge Nicholas Prim. Gray has pleaded not guilty to 29 counts related to the incident.

Key Points:

• Legal Considerations: Judge Prim emphasized the necessity to evaluate Gray's flight risk and other relevant factors before making a bond decision.
• Bond Details: Given the exceptional nature of the case and absence of flight risk, the judge set Gray's bond at a substantial $500,000.

Notable Quote:

"Weighing all of these considerations, I believe that it is one required to give a bond, but two, given the extraordinary nature of the case and the other factors, that it needs to be a high bond." — Judge Nicholas Prim [00:55]

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2. State Senate Passes Bill to Ban Gender-Affirming Care Coverage for State Employees

The Georgia State Senate approved a controversial bill that prohibits state employee health plans from covering gender-affirming treatments, including sex reassignment surgery and hormone therapy. The bill advanced with a 30-19 vote and now awaits consideration in the House.

Key Points:

• Republican Support: Proponents like Senator Blake Tillery argue that taxpayers should not fund gender-affirming care.

  Notable Quote:

  "I think the ultimate answer was no." — Speaker discussing Senate Bill 39 [02:00]

• Democratic Opposition: Opponents, including Senator Kim Jackson, contend that the ban targets a marginalized group and may face legal challenges.

  Notable Quote:

  "My colleagues have chosen a group of people that are easy to pick on and easy to score political points." — Senator Kim Jackson [02:13]

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3. Federal Judge Retirement Opens Nomination Opportunity for President Trump

Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy Batten of the Northern District of Georgia announced his retirement, presenting President Donald Trump with his first chance in the second term to nominate a successor to the federal bench.

Key Points:

• Judge Batten’s Career: Nominated by President George W. Bush and confirmed 19 years ago, Judge Batten expressed gratitude for his service and plans to engage in arbitrations and mediations post-retirement.

  Notable Quote:

  "I remain profoundly grateful for the opportunity to serve and intend to use my skills in the realm of arbitrations and mediations." — Judge Timothy Batten [02:29]

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4. Environmental Working Group Study Highlights Health Risks in Beauty Products for Black Women

A new study by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) reveals that nearly 80% of beauty products marketed to Black women are associated with increased risks of diseases such as breast and uterine cancer. This includes products like makeup, shampoos, hair relaxers, and dyes.

Key Points:

• Hazard Levels: Out of 4,000 products analyzed, 74 were classified as presenting moderate to high health hazard risks.

• Improvement Noted: The average hazard rating for hair relaxers improved from a high hazard (8) in 2016 to a moderate hazard (5) in the 2025 report.

  Notable Quotes:

  "Hair relaxers remain one of the more hazardous product categories." — Alexa Friedman, EWG [03:33]

  "But one good thing that we did see between our 2016 and our 2025 report is that the average rating for hair relaxers went from an eight, which would be a high hazard in our database, to A5, which is moderate hazard." — Alexa Friedman [03:33]

• Safety Recommendations: Products rated 1 or 2 in the EWG's database are considered the safest for use.

  Notable Quote:

  "They and her colleagues consider products rated as 1 or 2 in the study's online database as the safest to use." — Ellen Eldredge [03:48]

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5. Savannah Launches Public Art Master Plan Initiative

Savannah city officials are embarking on a comprehensive campaign to develop a master plan dedicated to public art. This initiative aims to enhance community storytelling through murals, sculptures, and other forms of public installations.

Key Points:

• Community Engagement: Until early March, city staff and design consultants are conducting community meetings and online focus groups to solicit input from residents.

• Director's Vision: Stuart Miller, Savannah's Director of Cultural Resources, emphasized the importance of reflecting each community's unique story through public art.

  Notable Quote:

  "Each community has a story and public art is all about storytelling." — Peter Biello discussing Stuart Miller's vision [04:35]

• Public Participation: Residents are encouraged to participate via an online survey at savannapublicart.com.

• Expected Outcome: The master plan is slated for completion later in the year.

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6. Atlanta Dream and Gray Media Renew Partnership for WNBA Season

The Atlanta Dream have extended their partnership with Atlanta-based Gray Media for the 2025 WNBA season. The renewed deal ensures that non-national exclusive games will be broadcast on Gray Media's Peachtree TV and Peachtree Sports Network, including over-the-air channels in Georgia's major media markets.

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7. University System of Georgia Unveils New Degree in Applied Artificial Intelligence

Responding to the burgeoning field of artificial intelligence, the University System of Georgia's Board of Regents approved the creation of its inaugural Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Artificial Intelligence. The program will be offered at Middle Georgia State University's Warner Robins campus.

Key Points:

• Academic Growth: Georgia's academic institutions are expanding their AI offerings, with Kennesaw State launching a master’s program last year.
• Employment Prospects: The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that careers in computer and information research, including AI, will grow four times faster than the average occupation by 2031.

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8. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Considers Georgia Acts for 2025 Inductees

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is evaluating two iconic musical groups with strong Georgia ties for its 2025 induction class:

• Outkast: The legendary hip-hop duo formed in Atlanta in 1992.
• The Black Crowes: The Southern rock band established in Atlanta in 1984.

Inductees are expected to be announced in late April.

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9. Concord Music Publishing Signs Savannah’s Cole Goodwin

Concord Music Publishing has signed country singer-songwriter Cole Goodwin to a worldwide publishing deal, covering his entire catalog and future works.

Key Points:

• Accolades: Originally from Pooler, Georgia, Goodwin was honored as Savannah's Best Country Artist for both 2023 and 2024, among other local accolades.
• Media Features: He was featured in season three of GPB's Peach Jam and the Peach Jam Podcast.

Highlight:

"I've been punching the clock week after week Working the souls off of the boots on my feet And missing you. Wish I was kissing you." — Cole Goodwin [07:55]

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Conclusion

This episode of Georgia Today provided comprehensive coverage of significant local news stories, ranging from legal developments and legislative actions to cultural initiatives and advancements in education and the arts. Host Peter Biello, along with contributors Sarah Kallas, Ellen Eldredge, and Benjamin Payne, delivered insightful reporting that underscores the dynamic and diverse landscape of Georgia.

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For more stories and updates, subscribe to the Georgia Today podcast and visit georgiatodaypb.org. Feedback and story tips can be emailed to the Georgia Today team.

Transcript

[Peter Biello]

Foreign welcome to the Georgia Today Podcast from GPB News. Today is Wednesday, February 12th. I'm Peter Biello. This podcast features the latest reports from the GPB newsroom. For feedback or story tips, send us an email. The address is Georgia todaypb.org On today's episode, the father of the boy accused of the Apalachee High School shooting is granted bond. President Trump gets his first opportunity in his second term to appoint a federal judge in Georgia. And Savannah city officials put a new focus on public art because each community has a story and public art is all about storytelling. These stories and more are coming up on this edition of Georgia today. A judge has granted bond for the father of the 14 year old boy accused of last year's deadly shooting at Apalachee High School. The father, Colin Gray, has pleaded not guilty to 29 counts in a rare case of a parent being charged after a school shooting. Barrow County Superior Court Judge Nicholas Prim said yesterday the law required him to consider Gray's flight risk, among other concerns in his bond request. Prim said there's no evidence of concern. So weighing all of these considerations, I believe that it is one required to give a bomb, but two, given the extraordinary nature of the case and the other factors that it needs to be a high bond. Gray's bond was set at $500,000. The state Senate passed a bill yesterday that would ban state employee health plans from covering gender affirming care. GPB's Sarah Kallas reports.

[Sarah Kallas]

Republicans supporting Senate Bill 39 let's like Senator Blake Tillery, say taxpayers don't want their money to fund gender affirming care like sex reassignment surgery or hormone therapy.

[Unnamed Speaker]

Right. I think it goes to the ultimate question was whether or not you think.

[Peter Biello]

State taxpayer dollars should be used for transgender surgeries.

[Unnamed Speaker]

I think the ultimate answer was no.

[Sarah Kallas]

Meanwhile, Democrats like Senator Kim Jackson say that the ban could be struck down in court and target an already marginalized group.

[Peter Biello]

I mean, my colleagues have chosen a group of people that are easy to pick on and easy to score political points.

[Sarah Kallas]

The bill passed 30 to 19 and now moves to the House. For GPB News, I'm Sarah Kallas. At the State Capitol.

[Peter Biello]

President Donald Trump is getting his first opportunity of his second term to nominate a judge to the federal bench in Georgia. Chief U.S. district Judge for the Northern District of Georgia, Timothy Batten, notified the president of his intention to retire last week. He told GPB today that he remains profoundly grateful for the opportunity to serve and intends to use his skills in the realm of arbitrations and mediations when he steps down in May. Batten was nominated by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the Senate 19 years ago. A new study from the Environmental Working group suggests nearly 80% of the beauty products marketed to black women are linked to elevated risks of disease like breast and uterine cancer. GPB's Ellen Eldredge has more.

[Ellen Eldredge]

Scientists analyzed more than 4,000 products like makeup, shampoo, hair relaxers and dyes and found that 74 presented moderate to high health hazard risks. Alexa Friedman is with Environmental Working Group and co authored the study. She says hair relaxers remain one of the more hazardous product categories.

[Sarah Kallas]

But one good thing that we did see in between our 2016 and our 2025 report is that the average rating for hair relaxers went from an eight, which would be a high hazard in our database, to A5, which is moderate hazard, friedman says.

[Ellen Eldredge]

She and her colleagues consider products rated as 1 or 2 in the study's online database as the safest to use for GPB news, I'm Ellen Eldredge.

[Peter Biello]

Officials in Savannah have launched a campaign to draw up a master plan focused entirely around public art. GPB's Benjamin Payne reports.

[Benjamin Payne]

For a city as old and as popular as Savannah, it may come as a surprise that it's never had a structured plan for public art. Things like murals on crosswalks and sculptures on street corners that catch you by surprise as you're just going about your day. But that will soon change. Through early March, city staff and design consultants are hosting community meetings and online focus groups to gather feedback from Savannians on what kinds of public art they want to see and where they want to see it. Stuart Miller is Savannah's director of cultural resources.

[Peter Biello]

The idea is that the communities get to talk about what their respective needs and wants are for public art because each community has a story and public art is all about storytelling.

[Benjamin Payne]

Residents can get involved and take an online survey by visiting savannapublicart.com the master plan is expected to be finalized later this year. For GPP News, I'm Benjamin Payne in Savannah.

[Peter Biello]

The Atlanta Dream and Atlanta based Gray Media have renewed their partnership for the 2025 WNBA season. The deal announced yesterday puts the team's non national exclusive games on Grey Media's Peachtree TV and Peachtree Sports Network, including over the air broadcasts in Georgia's largest media markets, among other outlets. The University System of Georgia is responding to the rapid growth of artificial intelligence with a new degree program. The system's Board of Regents voted yesterday to create its first baccalaureate program in the field. The Bachelor of Science degree in applied artificial intelligence will be offered at Middle Georgia State University's campus in Warner Robbins. AI, as an area of academic study, is growing in Georgia overall. Last year, Kennesaw State launched a master's program in the field. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of computer and information research scientists, including AI professionals, will grow four times as fast as the average of all other occupations in the decade preceding 2031.

[Unnamed Speaker]

Each morning it's a new opportunity, a chance to start fresh up first from NPR makes each morning an opportunity Opportunity to learn and to understand. Choose to join the world every morning with Up First, a podcast that hands you everything going on across the globe and down the street, all in 15 minutes or less. Start your day informed and anew with up first by subscribing wherever you get your podcasts.

[Peter Biello]

Rock and Roll hall of Fame is considering two legendary musical acts with Georgia connections for its 2025 class of inductees. On its shortlist this year are hip hop icons Outkast, formed in Atlanta in 1992, and Southern rockers the Black Crows, formed in Atlanta in 1984. Inductees will be announced in late April. And in other music news, Concord Music Publishing announced today the signing of country singer songwriter Cole Goodwin. The worldwide publishing deal, effective immediately, includes his full catalog and all future works. Originally from Pooler, Georgia, Cole Goodwin was voted Savannah's best country artist of 2023 and 2024, well as 2024's best singer songwriter, Best Local Concert and Best All Around Musician. He was featured in season three of GPB's Peach Jam and the Peach Jam Podcast. You can find his [e-mail] peachjam or anywhere you get your podcasts. And why not? Let's hear a little bit of Cole Goodwin right now. I've been punching the clock week after week Working the souls off of the boots on my feet and missing you. Wish I was kissing you. All right, that's it for this edition of Georgia Today. Thanks for tuning in. We've got more news coming your way tomorrow, so make sure you subscribe to this podcast and check for [e-mail] News Again, we'd love to have your feedback. Send it to us by email. The address is Georgia Today. I'm Peter Biello. Thanks again for listening. We'll see you tomorrow.

[Unnamed Speaker]

Each morning it's a new opportunity, a chance to start fresh Up First From NPR makes each morning an opportunity to learn and to understand. Choose to join the world every morning with Up First, a podcast that hands you everything going on across the globe and down the street, all in 15 minutes or less. Start your day informed and anew with up first by subscribing wherever you get your podcasts.