FIFA fans; Olympic torch relocation; Savannah homeless shelter grows

Summary

Georgia Today Podcast — June 12, 2026
Host: Peter Biello, Georgia Public Broadcasting
Episode Topics: FIFA Fan Festival Atlanta; Olympic torch relocation controversy; Savannah homeless shelter expansion; Judicial appointment news; Rare coin fraud; Tybee Island parking update; Trail opening; Tony Award-winning teacher interview

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Episode Overview

This episode covers several big stories across Georgia:

• The thousands who attended the opening of Atlanta's FIFA Fan Festival ahead of the 2026 World Cup
• Controversy around the relocation of Atlanta’s 1996 Olympic torch
• Major expansions at Savannah and Macon homelessness centers
• Judicial shakeups following a key court appointment
• An in-depth, inspiring interview with Tony Award-winning theater teacher Freddie Hendricks
  Other statewide updates include a rare coin fraud case, Tybee Island parking changes, and the opening of a new trail for Georgia’s youth.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Atlanta FIFA Fan Festival Draws Massive Crowds

[00:39–02:10]

• Thousands turned out to launch the FIFA fan festival in Atlanta ahead of the city hosting eight World Cup matches.
  • The festival features concerts, fan activities, and match watch parties.
  • Governor Brian Kemp: "We have put in the work, we have made the necessary preparations and now FIFA World Cup 2026 is here. Let's kick off the celebration that we'll never forget." [01:02]
• Youth ambassadors selected as match flag bearers included 13-year-old Collier Bainbridge, who recently overcame two heart surgeries.
  • Collier Bainbridge: "I mean, I can't wait to see like Pedri and all that, but I'm kind of devastated that La Minamal is injured for the group stage, so. But he will be back on if they make it to the rounds 16, which they will." [01:48]

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2. 1996 Olympic Torch Relocation Sparks Community Outcry

[02:10–03:04]

• The Olympic torch, long located in Atlanta’s historic Summerhill neighborhood, is to be moved to Centennial Olympic Park, upsetting locals.
  • Residents and leaders argue that the torch is a symbol of pride and resiliency embedded in the community.
  • Rep. Phil Olaye: "You would not move forward with this move if you understood fully the significance and the attachment that people have in this part of town to the torch." [02:51]
• Summerhill leaders are exploring steps to stop the move.

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3. Homeless Services Expand in Savannah and Macon

[03:20–04:54]

• Savannah’s Union Mission unveiled the $5 million Emmaus House resource center, a multi-organization hub for medical care, workforce development, and essential support.
  • CEO Michael Traynor: "Medical care from JC Lewis Healthcare, Workforce Development through Goodwill and Savannah Tech. ... a barber shop is in the building where we can do hair and shampoo, get people ready for an interview. Food, case management for housing and also mental health counseling." [03:38]
  • The center opens to clients next week.
• In Macon, the Brookdale Resource Center, which houses homeless families, is expanding with two new houses thanks to local affordable housing funds.
  • Brookdale Exec. Director Alison Bender: "Housing means children can remain in the same schools, ride the same bus routes and maintain friendships and relationships with teachers and classmates." [04:32]
  • Adults can stay connected to jobs, health providers, and their support networks.

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4. Court Shakeup: Judicial Appointment Raises Questions

[04:54–05:48]

• Governor Brian Kemp appoints Superior Court Judge Paige Reese Whitaker (recently voted out) to the Georgia Court of Appeals, possibly voiding her replacement’s election to the lower court.
  • Under Georgia law, Whitaker’s appointment creates a vacancy Kemp can fill, which may nullify Nikia Smith Sellers’ recent win for Whitaker's former position.
  • Whitaker previously presided over high-profile cases, including Atlanta rapper Young Thug's gang/racketeering trial.
  • Sellers’ campaign focused on her prosecutorial experience.

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5. Brief Statewide News Updates

[06:20–08:17]

• Rare Coin Fraud Charges: Scott Hardwick of Middle Georgia indicted for allegedly defrauding dealers of rare coins worth $29,000, faces up to 20 years per count.
• Tybee Island Parking Changes: New $25/day parking pass offers savings for visitors staying over 6 hours, replacing the previous $4/hour-only option.
• Georgia High Low Trail Launch: The nonprofit completes a three-mile trail at Washington County’s Forest Grove Preserve, its first in the county, supporting youth biking programs.

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6. Teacher Spotlight: Freddie Hendricks, Tony Award Winner

[08:17–15:41]

Teaching Philosophy & Inspiration

• Freddie Hendricks: “Honesty. Love as much passion as you can give to the kids, to your students, acceptance. When you're free and you give all of those things, it allows them to be free like that. Especially in theater, because theater teaches so much. My hope is that my teaching changes their lives. The way theater has changed mine.” [08:26]
• Hendricks traces his passion to seeing his first live play—The Glass Menagerie—and subsequently changing his college major:
  • “This was fall quarter, my first weekend on campus, and it just blew my mind. I was like, I finally found my people. This is what I need to do.” [08:56]

Impact as an Educator

• On nurturing students: “What love made me do, was accept who they were. Whatever they gave me, I accepted that, you know, because they're all different and as a teacher, what I learned is that I have to hone in to each and every one of my students and find out their needs, because all the students need something different.” [11:11]
• Hendricks teaches at Utopian Academy for the Arts, founded by one of his former students—a point of immense personal pride.

The Tony Award and Its Impact

• The award grants $10,000 to the theater arts department:
  • “I just want to take everything to another level… Not want to. It will be better this year because of the Tonys.” [12:39]
• Plans include better costumes, sets, props, and more field trips to expose students to theater.

What the Recognition Means

• Hendricks reflects on self-acceptance and the responsibility of inspiring greatness in others:
  • “I think we're all born great. Then when we find our passion and we begin to practice that and live in it, we're living in our greatness. So now the only thing to do is to be greater.” [14:21]
  • “I just want to give more, I just want to love more, and I just want to appreciate everything around me. … I was looking so forward to this. You know, I just think as human beings, we need to embrace every single thing, every moment, because life is so beautiful.” [15:41]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Student Empowerment:
  “Especially in theater, because theater teaches so much. My hope is that my teaching changes their lives. The way theater has changed mine.” — Freddie Hendricks [08:26]

• On Community Attachment:
  “You would not move forward with this move if you understood fully the significance and the attachment that people have in this part of town to the torch.” — Rep. Phil Olaye [02:51]

• On Living in Greatness:
  “I think we're all born great. Then when we find our passion and we begin to practice that and live in it, we're living in our greatness. So now the only thing to do is to be greater. And that's where I am in my life. I just want to be greater.” — Freddie Hendricks [14:21]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• FIFA Fest & Youth Ambassadors: 00:39–02:10
• Olympic Torch Relocation Protest: 02:10–03:04
• Savannah & Macon Homeless Service Expansions: 03:20–04:54
• Judicial Appointment Controversy: 04:54–05:48
• Rare Coin Fraud, Tybee Parking News, Trail Update: 06:20–08:17
• Interview: Freddie Hendricks, Tony Award-winning Teacher: 08:17–15:41

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This fast-paced episode captures a week of celebration, struggle, civic action, and inspiration across Georgia, with a powerful capstone interview highlighting the transformative power of great teaching.

Transcript

[Freddie Hendricks]

Foreign.

[Peter Biello]

Welcome to the Georgia Today Podcast. Here we bring you the latest reports from the GPB newsroom. On today's episode. Thousands turn out for yesterday's opening of a FIFA fan festival in downtown Atlanta. A Savannah homeless shelter is expanding its services and the 1996 Olympic torch is moving downtown, which upsets residents of one Atlanta neighborhood.

[Freddie Hendricks]

You would not move forward with this move if you understood fully the significance and the attachment that people have in this part of town to the torch.

[Peter Biello]

Today is Friday, June 12th. I'm Peter Biello and this is Georgia Today. Thousands of soccer fans turned out for yesterday's opening of a FIFA fan festival in downtown Atlanta. The venue promises concerts, activities and watch parties as the city hosts eight matches in the World Cup. Governor Brian Kemp spoke at the opening yesterday.

[Freddie Hendricks]

We have put in the work, we have made the necessary preparations and now FIFA World Cup 2026 is here. Let's kick off the celebration that we'll never forget.

[Peter Biello]

And as the excitement builds towards the first match in Atlanta on Monday, GPB's Amanda Andrews spoke to the Atlanta teens selected to open the game as flag bearers.

[Amanda Andrews]

Coca Cola and the Children's Miracle Network Hospital selected a team of youth ambassadors to kick off the opening matches in the U.S. including 12 kids in Atlanta. Each flag bearer has overcome significant injuries or health challenges. 13 year old Collier Bainbridge has had two open heart surgeries. Now he's a soccer player himself. Bainbridge says he's excited to be a flag bearer and see his favorite Spanish players.

[Freddie Hendricks]

I mean, I can't wait to see like Pedri and all that, but I'm kind of devastated that La Minamal is injured for the group stage, so. But he will be back on if they make it to the rounds 16, which they will.

[Amanda Andrews]

Spain will play Cabo Ver in the first Atlanta World cup match. Kickoff is at noon. For GPB news, I'm Amanda Andrews.

[Peter Biello]

Leaders in one Atlanta neighborhood are upset about the planned relocation of a monument dating to the 1996 Olympic Games. The city's Olympic torch is set to move from its longtime home in Summerhill to downtown Centennial Olympic Park. GPB's Sarah Kallis reports.

[Sarah Kallis]

The Summerhill neighborhood south of downtown Atlanta was developed on land surrounding the original Olympic stadium for the 1996 games. It's now home. Georgia State University. Panthers residents say moving the torch prioritizes tourists over residents. Representative Phil Olaye, who represents Summerhill in the state House of Representatives, says the torch is embedded in the community as a symbol of pride and resiliency.

[Freddie Hendricks]

You would not move forward with this move if you understood fully the significance and the attachment that people have in this part of town to the torch, Alelier says.

[Sarah Kallis]

Leaders in Summerhill will explore every stop the move For GPB News, I'm Sarah Kalis. In Atlanta,

[Peter Biello]

A Savannah homeless shelter is expanding its services. Union Mission today celebrated the opening of its $5 million Emmaus House resource center, made possible by community fundraising. Shelter CEO Michael Traynor called the new facility a multi organization partnership to help people end their homelessness.

[Freddie Hendricks]

Medical care from JC Lewis Healthcare, Workforce Development through Goodwill and Savannah Tech. Actually, a barber shop is in the building where we can do hair and shampoo, get people ready for an interview. Food, case management for housing and also mental health counseling.

[Peter Biello]

It'll begin serving clients on Wednesday. In Macon, a homeless shelter serving mostly families is adding two houses to its portfolio. GPB's Grant Blankenship reports they were made possible by a local affordable housing fund.

[Grant Blankenship]

Macon's Brookdale Resource center shelters entire families experiencing homelessness and converted classrooms of what was once an elementary school in a neighborhood where over a third of households live below the poverty line. Now, money from Macon Bibb County's revolving Affordable housing Fund will be used to renovate and construct two homes nearby in the Paine City neighborhood to use as supportive housing for families. Brookdale Center Executive Director Alison Bender Housing

[Freddie Hendricks]

means children can remain in the same schools, ride the same bus routes and

[Grant Blankenship]

maintain friendships and relationships with teachers and classmates. Adults can stay connected to their jobs, health care providers, faith communities and support networks. In a typical year, Bibb county spends all of its federal funding allocated for rehousing families. For GPB News, I'm Grant Blankenship in

[Peter Biello]

Macon, governor Brian Kemp has appointed a Superior Court judge who lost her reelection bid to serve on the Georgia Court of Appeals. Fulton County Judge Paige Reese Whitaker narrowly was defeated at the polls by Nikia Smith Sellers last month, and Kemp today named whitaker to the 15 member appeals court, creating the possibility that Seller's election to the lower court could be voided. That's because Georgia law allows the governor to appoint a successor in judicial vacancies, and those successors can serve until the next general election held more than six months after the appointment. Kemp's office did not respond when asked if he would appoint Sellers to the vacancy created by Whicker's appointment. Whitaker presided over several notable cases, including the long running gang and racketeering case against Atlanta rapper Young Thug and others. Sellers ran for election based partly on her experience as an assistant district attorney in Fulton County.

[Amanda Andrews]

Each story you hear on Planet Money starts with a question. What happens if we refund tariffs? Why are groceries so expensive? At NPR we stand for your right to be curious because the forces shaping our world can be hard to see. Follow NPR's Planet Money wherever you get your podcasts and start seeing how the economy affects really works.

[Peter Biello]

A middle Georgia man is facing federal mail fraud charges after prosecutors say he used a scheme to avoid paying for thousands of dollars worth of rare collectible coins. According to a federal indictment, Scott Hardwick bought two coins valued at more than $29,000 from dealers in New Hampshire and Texas between 2022 and 2024. Prosecutors say he later reported the credit card transactions as fraudulent but never returned the coins. The coins were shipped to the Macon area. Hardwick faces two counts of mail fraud. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison on each count. There is a new potentially money saving parking option if you plan to visit one of Georgia's most popular beach destinations this summer. The city of Tybee island this week announced that it's now selling $25 a day passes for parking. Until now, visitor parking was available only at the rate of $4 per hour. That means if you plan to stay on the island for a little more than six hours, it's cheaper to use the day pass. It's available online or by using the parktyb app wherever you head. Whenever you head for the surf, sand restaurants and other attractions on Tybee island, the Georgia High Low Trail is opening a three mile trail at the Forest Grove Preserve in Washington county tomorrow. It's the nonprofit's first completed trail in Washington county and will serve as a primary venue for a Kids B League program. The Georgia High Low Trail is a nonprofit aiming to connect communities across eight Georgia counties, from North Georgia's Greene county to coastal Chatham county. With more than 200 miles of paved trail, Freddie Hendricks has accumulated an impressive resume in his nearly half century in the arts and entertainment industry. He's an accomplished actor, singer, writer, director and producer. Twice he was honored with a Distinguished Teacher of America Award by President Bill Clinton, and now he can add that he's a Tony Award winner. Last weekend, Hendricks was honored with the Tony Award for Excellence in Teaching and he's with me now to talk about his work. Welcome and congrats on the award.

[Freddie Hendricks]

Hey, thank you so very much.

[Peter Biello]

What would you say is the approach to teaching that earned you not just this Tony Award, but multiple accolades throughout the years?

[Freddie Hendricks]

Well, I think the key to that is honesty. Love as much passion as you can give to the kids, to your students, acceptance. When you're free and you give all of those things, it allows them to be free like that. Especially in theater, because theater teaches so much. My hope is that my teaching changes their lives. The way theater has changed mine.

[Peter Biello]

How has it changed yours?

[Freddie Hendricks]

It's just made me a better person. It makes me understand focus. When I was younger, I had no idea what focus was. I didn't know what I had to focus on. I didn't know. Even when I went to college, I went to see my first play, the Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams. This was fall quarter, my first weekend on campus, and it just blew my mind. I was like, I finally found my people. This is what I need to do. So the next. So maybe if that was on a Friday, that Monday, I went and changed my major from sociology to speech in theater arts, a minor in musical theater. And I never looked back after that.

[Peter Biello]

So when you saw the Glass Menagerie, did you want to act? Did you want to direct? Or did you just want to jump into theater, whatever role might be available to you?

[Freddie Hendricks]

I just wanted to be a part of whatever that was, whatever made them that free to get up there in front of a theater full of people and express themselves and take on different characters and. And to live in it, you know what I mean? Because I had never seen a live theater before in my life, and it seemed so real to me. It was just like, oh, wow, look at this. I had heard of Tennessee Williams before, but I don't think I had ever heard of the Glass Menagerie. But it just changed my life. To the point as to where, when? My last year at Tri Cities High School for the Visual and Performing Arts in East Point. I directed that show, and it was extremely successful, and it brought back so many great memories because I had always told myself I was like, when I become a director, I'm going to direct Glass Menagerie because it changed my life. And I finally did.

[Peter Biello]

You mentioned that you brought love and passion to your teaching. And I think a lot of us have had teachers who I guess we could describe as having love and passion for the job that they did. And it manifested, at least in my experience, with teachers who were willing to. To kind of stay late with me and work on the stuff that I was really struggling with. How did that love and passion manifest for you, for your students?

[Freddie Hendricks]

One thing, what I did, what love made me do, was accept who they were. Whatever they gave me, I accepted that, you know, because they're all different and as a teacher, what I learned is that I have to hone in to each and every one of my students and find out their needs, because all the students need something different. And at first, I didn't know that. And I think that's what makes teaching so challenging because. Well, at least for me, because I try to relate to each and every one of my kids. Yeah, man, Teaching. That's my calling. I think everybody should try to find what it is specifically that they're called to do on Earth. And I think that's what I'm called to do on Earth. And I have a Tony to prove it.

[Peter Biello]

You teach at Utopian Academy for the Arts in Ellenwood, Southeast Atlanta. You could probably teach anywhere you wanted to. Why choose to teach at Utopian Academy?

[Freddie Hendricks]

Well, one of my kids who I taught founded all of those schools. I think there's like, four locations, four charter school locations in the Atlanta metropolitan area. And when I found out he was there, I said, yes, let's do this. Because I was so proud of him, man. Just think, one of your kids that you've taught started all of these four or five schools and then ask you to come and teach. I'm like, I couldn't turn that down.

[Peter Biello]

As part of the Tony Award, your school gets $10,000. If I'm understanding it correctly. Do you have an idea of how the school might use that money?

[Freddie Hendricks]

I think the school goes to my department, to the theater arts department. And what I want to do is just expose them to more things. More field trips, better sets for whatever productions we do, better costumes, props, everything. I just want to take everything to another level because last year was quite wonderful, you know, And I was. I really wasn't surprised that it came. That last year came out so well, but I wanted. I want to be better. Not want to. It will be better this year because of the Tonys.

[Peter Biello]

I'm sure the students will also receive a visiting masterclass taught by Carnegie Mellon drama professors. So what can you tell us about that experience? Do you know anything about it yet?

[Freddie Hendricks]

Not too much. I just know it's happening. And from what I heard from this past, last year's winner of the Tony for excellence in theater education, that the kids are gonna love it.

[Peter Biello]

What are your students saying to you about the Tony Award?

[Freddie Hendricks]

Hey, man, that is so wild. Because they didn't know what a Tony Award was. I had to say, like, do you know what a Grammy is? Yeah. Music. Yeah. This is kind of the same thing, but it's in my field. It's in theater. Have you ever heard of Broadway? I think so. Is that why they do plays said? Absolutely. Absolutely. Absolutely. So everything is a learning experience for my kids right now, and I have so much to share with them when I get back to school, you know, about the wonderful time I had in New York, about the people that I've met. About, most importantly is about the things that I've learned about myself, you know?

[Peter Biello]

What have you learned about yourself?

[Freddie Hendricks]

That I'm great. Say more about that I'm great. I'm a grand. Well, I always thought that I was great, but I never, like, you know, admitted it to myself. Yeah, I do this. Yeah. Oh, Freddie, you're good. You're great, man. Thank you. Now I'm like, yes, thank you. I am. I am. And I want to. Hopefully I can influence everybody else around me to believe that they are, too, because, like, I tell everybody, this is like my, I guess I might say, mantra, I don't know. But it's like, I think we're all born great. I think that's the gift. We're all born great. Then when we find our passion and we begin to practice that and live in it, we're living in our greatness. So now the only thing to do is to be greater. And that's where I am in my life. I just want to be greater. I just want to give more, I just want to love more, and I just want to appreciate everything around me. So, yeah, so that's the kind of. So that's the kind of cat I am, you know, I just. I just appreciate everything, man. Like, being here with you today. I was looking so forward to this. You know, I just think as human beings, we need to embrace every single thing, every moment, because life is so beautiful.

[Peter Biello]

Freddie Hendricks, thank you so much for speaking with me. And congrats again on the Tony.

[Freddie Hendricks]

Amen. Thank you so very much, and it was an honor and a pleasure to speak with you today.

[Peter Biello]

And in honor of National Fishing and Boating Week, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources is offering a free fishing day tomorrow. Georgia residents can fish public waters without a fishing license, trout license, or Landspass. That is a wrap on a busy week of news. Thank you so much for choosing Georgia Today as your way to stay informed. We'll be back on Monday, so make sure you subscribe and check gpb.org news for any updates to the stories you heard on the podcast today. Your feedback is welcome, and the best way to get it to us is by email. Send your note to Georgia today. P.B. i'm Peter Biello. Thanks again for listening. We will see you on Monday.