Fort Stewart shooting; Middle Georgia sleep study; Vote count revamp

Summary

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Georgia Today — June 18, 2026

Host: Peter Biello (Georgia Public Broadcasting)
Theme: Legal, social, and political developments in Georgia; public interest stories and World Cup excitement

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Overview

This episode covers a breadth of pressing Georgia news:

• The conviction of an Army sergeant in a Fort Stewart shooting
• New research on how sleep impacts kids in Middle Georgia
• Legislative debate over Georgia's vote-counting system and technology
• The emotional impact of utility expansion on suburban homeowners
• The repatriation of an enslaved artist’s historic ceramic piece
• Electric grid expansion clashes with community concerns
• World Cup fever in Atlanta and a U.S. team preview
• Other state news on jobs, industry, weather, and sports

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Fort Stewart Shooting Verdict (01:14-02:03)

• Incident Recap: Army Sergeant Cornelius Radford was found guilty on all counts in a military trial regarding a mass shooting at Fort Stewart in August last year.
• Details: Radford used a personal handgun after an argument with his partner, injuring four soldiers and one civilian.
• Life-saving Actions: Fellow soldiers swiftly administered first aid and subdued Radford until police arrived.
• Legal Outcome: In court, Radford pleaded guilty to some aggravated assault and domestic violence charges, with the court martial resolving others. He was found guilty of attempted premeditated and unpremeditated murder.
• Quote: "He's now been found guilty of attempted premeditated murder and attempted unpremeditated murder. Sentencing is scheduled for next week." — Ellen Eldredge (01:58)

Georgia Votes & Voting Machines Legislative Update (02:03-02:50)

• Legislation Focus: Lawmakers are addressing a looming July 1st deadline to stop using QR codes for ballot tabulation, with Senate Bill 3ex proposing postponement to 2028 and a committee to study future equipment.
• Political Concerns: Senate Democrats, particularly Senator Kim Jackson, raised alarms about the committee possibly lacking Democratic or expert representation.
• Transparency Issues: The vague definition of “experts” and lack of mandated Democratic involvement are ongoing matters of concern.
• Quote: "The current system will need to be replaced. It is at the end of its useful life in Georgia." — Bob Sherrier & Grant Blankenship (02:22-02:31)
• Quote: "We need to make sure we have Democratic representation on the committee that's doing the initial deep dive approach." — Sen. Kim Jackson (02:42)

Middle Georgia Sleep Study for Children (03:00-03:58)

• Community Initiative: Volunteers from the nonprofit Sleep in Heavenly Peace are teaming with Middle Georgia State University (MGSU) researchers to study the impacts of good sleep on children.
• Project Structure: The study will deploy baseline and follow-up emotional health surveys over a year among children receiving new beds.
• Anticipated Outcomes: Research hopes to track improvements in academic performance, social development, and behavior.
• Quote: "What we hope that we can track is that there is some improvement in their academic performance, in their social development, in their behavior." — Christy Roberts Lewis (03:36)

Historic Ceramic Jar Returned to Descendants (03:58-05:10)

• Event Recap: A ceramic jar made by David Drake, a renowned enslaved artist, was returned to his descendants in Athens.
• Cultural Importance: Drake inscribed his jars with poetry despite risks, exemplifying resilience and defiance.
• Quote: "For him to sign his name and write poems on a pot was literally putting his life at risk. If he could stand up and sign his name and make his voice heard, anybody can." — Yabba Baker, Drake’s fourth great-grandson (04:46)

Georgia Power Grid Expansion & Community Impact (05:10-09:08)

• Major Expansion: Last year, regulators approved Georgia Power’s massive expansion, necessitating not just new plants but new power lines.
• Community Fallout: Homeowners in Atlanta suburbs are facing eminent domain claims, demolitions, and loss of woodlands, raising questions about who benefits — with many suspecting data centers are the true driver.
• Utility's Position: Georgia Power admits 80% of growth comes from data centers but insists the expansion's also for a growing population.
• Quote: "We thought we were going to be on the chopping block. ... We're not getting demolished. They're just going to claim eminent domain on some of our land." — Claudia Moore, Coweta County resident (06:02)
• Quote: "The plan now is 1,000 miles of new transmission lines in the next 10 years." — Bob Sherrier, Southern Environmental Law Center attorney (07:20)
• Quote: "80% of the growth that we are seeing in the state of Georgia is data centers. They're here, they're coming. There's no way around that." — Meredith Stone, Georgia Power spokesperson (07:37)
• Legal Frustration: Homeowner Cynthia Van Epp remarks, "This house wasn't for sale ... that isn't something that a publicly held company should be able to do to individual homeowners." (08:36)
• Need for Legislative Action: Bob Sherrier: "These rules haven't been updated in a long time, and things have changed." (08:53)

Georgia Jobs & Industry Snapshots (09:08-09:59)

• Lockheed Martin Milestone: Celebrating 75 years in Marietta with 5,000+ jobs.
• Jobs Report: Georgia reports a record high of over 5 million jobs. Healthcare/social assistance sectors are climbing, while federal jobs decline.
• World Cup Update: South Africa and Czechia tie 1-1 at Atlanta Stadium amid tropical downpours, marking the city’s second 2026 World Cup match.
• Quote: "To be here with all our fellow supporters and South Africans just coming together in sport is just amazing, and we just love it." — Antonio Lopez, South African fan (10:20)

World Cup Deep Dive: U.S. vs. Australia Preview (11:04-16:13)

• U.S. Team Strengths: The U.S. brings "aura," momentum, and pressing tactics from the first match.
• Players to Watch: Main concern is Christian Pulisic’s fitness after an injury (“How is that calf, how is it going to go?” — John Nelson, 12:10). Goalie decisions and a veteran captain fill out the roster talk.
• Seattle Venue: John Nelson describes Seattle Stadium’s loud, festive atmosphere and Grass conversion for the match.
• Atlanta’s World Cup Vibe: Atlanta is buzzing with fans from around the world. Soccer culture is celebrated and diverse.
• Quote: "It has been 30 hours a day, eight days a week, and it has been just flying around and trying to catch a comet by the tail." — John Nelson on World Cup pace in Atlanta (14:19)
• Fan Fest Experience: John notes the plaza around the stadium as a vibrant gathering spot, even if he hasn’t had time for the official Fan Fest.

Georgia College World Series Ends (16:24)

• Sports Recap: UGA baseball ends a historic run, losing to Oklahoma, but celebrates its most successful season ever with pride from Coach Wes Johnson.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Vote-Tabulation Machines:
  • "The current system will need to be replaced. It is at the end of its useful life in Georgia." — Bob Sherrier & Grant Blankenship (02:26-02:31)
• On Artistic Courage:
  • "For him to sign his name and write poems on a pot was literally putting his life at risk. If he could stand up and sign his name and make his voice heard, anybody can." — Yabba Baker, Drake’s 4th great-grandson (04:46)
• On Eminent Domain:
  • "This house wasn't for sale ... that isn't something that a publicly held company should be able to do to individual homeowners." — Cynthia Van Epp (08:36)
• World Cup Energy:
  • "It has been 30 hours a day, eight days a week, and it has been just flying around and trying to catch a comet by the tail." — John Nelson, on Atlanta's World Cup vibe (14:19)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------| | Weather briefing & Fort Stewart shooting verdict | 00:30-02:03 | | Voting machines legislation updates & committee concerns | 02:03-02:50 | | Middle Georgia sleep study for kids | 03:00-03:58 | | Return of David Drake’s ceramic jar to descendants | 03:58-05:10 | | Georgia Power grid expansion and local uproar | 05:10-09:08 | | Lockheed Martin milestone, jobs snapshot, World Cup match update | 09:08-10:39 | | U.S. vs Australia World Cup match preview, Atlanta fan experience | 11:04-16:13 | | UGA’s College World Series wrap | 16:24 |

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Summary

This episode presents a compelling cross-section of Georgia’s current affairs, blending urgent news (criminal justice, policy debate, utility expansion, cultural restitution) with stories reflecting the state’s growth, resilience, and diversity. Standout moments include heartfelt homeowner perspectives on eminent domain, pride in homegrown artistry and sports, and the global lens of the World Cup energizing Atlanta. Throughout, hosts and reporters maintain an informative yet relatable tone, keeping the news accessible and relevant to listeners.

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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 army sergeant accused of a mass shooting at Fort Stewart is found guilty on all counts. Middle Georgia researchers study how a good night's sleep helps kids, and lawmakers consider pushing back the deadline to revamp the way the state counts votes.

[Bob Sherrier]

The current system will need to be replaced.

[Grant Blankenship]

It is at the end of its

[Bob Sherrier]

useful life in Georgia.

[Peter Biello]

Today is Thursday, June 18th. I'm Peter Biello and this is Georgia Today. Get ready for heavy rain as the remnants of a tropical storm are expected to bring multiple rounds of downpours and a flooding risk to much of the state today and tomorrow. The forecast prompted officials to close a FIFA World cup fan festival in downtown Atlanta early and postpone an Atlanta Braves game. In metro Atlanta's Cherokee county, emergency managers say their outdoor siren system isn't working. They're reminding residents to have multiple ways of getting severe weather alerts. An army sergeant accused in a mass shooting at southeast Georgia's Fort Stewart last year has been found guilty on all counts. GPB's Ellen Eldredge has more.

[Sarah Kallas]

The military trial of Cornelius Radford began earlier this week at a courtroom on the post about 40 miles west of Savannah. He told a military judge that he used a personal handgun to shoot and injure four fellow soldiers in August after an argument with his romantic partner, a civilian who was also among the victims. Other soldiers were credited with saving lives by immediately rendering first aid and restraining Radford before police arrived in April. He pleaded guilty to some charges, including aggravated assault and domestic violence, but a court martial was scheduled to resolve the merits of other charges. He's now been found guilty of attempted premeditated murder and attempted unpremeditated murder. Sentencing is scheduled for next week. For GPB News, I'm Ellen Eldredge.

[Peter Biello]

A bill to address an upcoming July 1st deadline to stop using QR codes to tabulate voters ballots passed a senate committee today. GPB's Sarah Kallas reports lawmakers are considering

[Sarah Kallas]

legislation moving the deadline to tabulate votes without the qr code to 2028. Senate Bill 3ex, sponsored by Senator Max Burns, would also appoint a committee to consider new voting equipment altogether.

[Bob Sherrier]

The current system will need to be replaced.

[Grant Blankenship]

It is at the end of its

[Bob Sherrier]

useful life in Georgia.

[Sarah Kallas]

Democrats like Senator Kim Jackson raised concerns about the political makeup of the committee, which isn't required to include Democrats in the vague definition of experts the committee can consult.

[Bob Sherrier]

So therefore we need to make sure we have Democratic representation on the committee that's doing the initial deep dive approach.

[Sarah Kallas]

Despite those concerns, the bill will be voted on by the Senate on Saturday. For GPV News, I'm Sarah Kalis at the State Capitol.

[Peter Biello]

Researchers in Middle Georgia are teaming up with a charity providing beds to children to measure the difference a good night's sleep can make for a young person. GPB's Grant Blankenship reports.

[Grant Blankenship]

Volunteers from the Macon chapter of the nonprofit Sleep in Heavenly Peace have built hundreds of beds in the last year for local children without them. Now, they hope to learn more about how good sleep helps kids with the help of the center for Middle Georgia Studies at Macon's Middle Georgia State University. Christy Roberts Lewis leads the center. She says the year long study will start with a baseline survey of emotional health, followed by additional surveys throughout the study period.

[Peter Biello]

What we hope that we can track is that there is some improvement in their academic performance, in their social development, in their behavior.

[Grant Blankenship]

The study will be led by professors from Middle Georgia State's Departments of Sociology and Psychology. For GPB News, I'm Grant Blankenship In Macon,

[Peter Biello]

a four gallon ceramic jar made by a celebrated, highly collected and enslaved artist was returned to the artist's descendants in a ceremony this week in Athens. Wuga's Emma Auer has more.

[Emma Auer]

David Drake was born into slavery in South Carolina in 1800. Experts think he produced around 170 ceramic jars over his life. His descendants never profited from the market for his pots. George Fothery is a lawyer who facilitated Monday's transfer from a private collector from Athens.

[Bob Sherrier]

The artist never had the right to

[Chase McGee]

exercise his own voluntary agency in terms

[Bob Sherrier]

of determining what would happen with that piece.

[Emma Auer]

Drake inscribed many of his jars with poetry. Though it was illegal for enslaved people to read or write, Drake's fourth great grandson, Yabba Baker, says he wants people to see the bravery in that.

[Bob Sherrier]

For him to sign his name and write poems on a pot was literally putting his life at risk. If he could stand up and sign his name and make his voice heard, anybody can. And I want people to come here and be inspired by that.

[Emma Auer]

The piece transferred to Drake's descendants in Athens will remain in the Georgia Museum of Art for about a year. For GPB News, I'm Emma Auer.

[Peter Biello]

Last year, state regulators gave Georgia Power permission to radically expand its capacity to make electricity. For that to work, it just doesn't mean new power plants. It also means new power lines to get the electricity where it's supposed to go. Now, residents in suburbs south and west of Atlanta are losing their Homes to make way for those lines. And they're asking why GPB's Grant Blankenship has more.

[Grant Blankenship]

If there's one thing kids love in the summer, watch.

[Sarah Kallas]

They do. I'm watching. It's swimming and I can do this also.

[Grant Blankenship]

Good job to try to find Claudia Moore with her two kids out behind her home in a suburban neighborhood in Coweta County.

[Sarah Kallas]

My husband's a country boy, so he wanted the woods for our kids to go play.

[Grant Blankenship]

But now their neighbors are moving.

[Sarah Kallas]

Two houses in our neighborhood are gonna be demolished and yeah, they're bought out.

[Grant Blankenship]

They sold their houses to Georgia Power.

[Sarah Kallas]

We thought we were going to be on the chopping block. We luckily are not getting demolished. They're just going to claim eminent domain on some of our land.

[Grant Blankenship]

The woods the Moore's meant for their children to run wild in have to go. The trees are in the way of Georgia Power's over 30 mile long transmission line expansion running from their plant Wansley. To double the capacity of existing lines, the utility needs a wider easement land. And if there are houses on it, those too. And so, like a lot of people in this area, the Moores are asking, who is this even for?

[Sarah Kallas]

We think it's for the betterment of the data center that they're trying to put up everywhere. But the utility company says it's not for the data center.

[Grant Blankenship]

Southern Environmental Law center attorney Bob Sherrier says that's not true.

[Bob Sherrier]

Before the data center boom happened, the transmission plan at that time said we're going to build 50 miles of new right of way high voltage transmission across the entire state in the next 10 years.

[Grant Blankenship]

That was as recently as 2022. But just last year, Georgia Power went back to the Public Service Commission and said data center growth meant they needed an unprecedented amount of more electricity to sell and more lines to move it. Bob Sherrier says the plan now is

[Bob Sherrier]

1,000 miles of new transmission lines in the next 10 years.

[Grant Blankenship]

You can find the plan on the Georgia Power website.

[Bob Sherrier]

And the only thing that's really changed in that time is this data center interest in the state.

[Grant Blankenship]

In one sense, Georgia Power does not dispute this.

[Sarah Kallas]

80% of the growth that we are seeing in the state of Georgia is data centers. They're here, they're coming. There's no way around that.

[Grant Blankenship]

That's Georgia Power spokesperson Meredith Stone.

[Sarah Kallas]

But she counters Georgia is also the fourth largest growing state, meaning people are moving to Georgia because there's opportunity here.

[Grant Blankenship]

The state population was already growing at that clip under the old, much smaller plan for grid expansion. Still Stone says.

[Sarah Kallas]

We have a duty to reliably serve our customers, whether they're large load customers like data centers, or they're small businesses or residential customers, which in this case

[Grant Blankenship]

requires taking some or all of about 300 properties along this easement. Stone says Georgia Power prefers to buy Their first offer will be 125% the fair market value of a home. Cynthia Van Epp says at her age,

[Bob Sherrier]

she isn't interested, so I'm going to be 58 here shortly.

[Sarah Kallas]

This house wasn't for sale.

[Grant Blankenship]

Like Claudia Moore, she stands to lose

[Sarah Kallas]

land, and that isn't something that a

[Bob Sherrier]

population, publicly held company should be able

[Sarah Kallas]

to do to individual homeowners.

[Grant Blankenship]

But attorney Bob Sherrier says under state law for electrical utilities, it's legal.

[Bob Sherrier]

These rules haven't been updated in a long time, and things have changed.

[Grant Blankenship]

He says. Changing the rules would be the job

[Peter Biello]

of the Georgia Legislature.

[Grant Blankenship]

For GPP News, I'm Grant Blankenship. In Coweta County,

[Peter Biello]

Lockheed Martin is marking 75 years in Marietta, north of Atlanta. Lockheed took over what was then called the Bell Bomber plant just after World War II. The aviation giant today celebrated the site's impact on America's military and Georgia's economy. The plant currently employs more than 5,000 people. The number of jobs in Georgia has set a record high at just over 5 million. Georgia labor Commissioner Barbara Rivera Holmes touted may unemployment figures today, calling them the results of a modern, adaptable economy. Jobs were up most in healthcare and social assistance, while they declined the most in federal government. Atlanta hosted its second World cup game this afternoon, just before heavy downpours moved in. GPB's Chase McGee was there.

[Chase McGee]

South Africa and Czechia faced off at noon in Atlanta Stadium in the host city's second match. The teams tied one to one as the game came to a close. Rain from Tropical Storm Arthur moved into the area. FIFA warned the outdoor fan festival would end early at 3pm Antonio Lopez is in the US on business, but he made time to meet with his friends and watch his national team in Atlanta.

[Bob Sherrier]

And to be here with all our fellow supporters and South Africans just coming together in sport is just amazing, and

[Peter Biello]

we just love it.

[Chase McGee]

Atlanta hosts its third game Sunday, when Spain takes on Saudi Arabia. For GPB news, I'm Chase McGee in Atlanta.

[Sarah Kallas]

Each story you hear on Planet Money starts with a 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 and start seeing how the economy really works.

[Peter Biello]

The U.S. men's National Team will compete tomorrow against Australia in a much anticipated World cup match in Seattle. With both the United States and Australia coming off opening match victories. The winner of this game will command Group D. With me for a preview is John Nelson of GPB Sports. Welcome, John.

[John Nelson]

Always good to see you, my friend and good to catch up about the beautiful game.

[Peter Biello]

It's going to be exciting. So what strengths does the US bring to this match?

[John Nelson]

Well, first off, it's aura. I mean when you get the result that you you did in Los Angeles match day one in the group sense, it was about as perfect a performance as you could get in an opener in a cup tournament in your country. And I am intrigued how the counter pressure that we saw with the United States and that the constant pressure defensively that created opportunities offensively kept Paraguay on their heels. Obviously, Australia is a bit of a different beast, but I want to see how round two is and what they've learned about themselves coming out of match day one.

[Peter Biello]

So what players are the ones to watch?

[John Nelson]

Oh, your entire starting 11, Peter, you got to keep an eye on, you know, obviously first and foremost you have to keep an eye on Christian Pulisic because he got a kick to the calf in match day one. So he was only available for 45 minutes and he's been kept out as a, as a precaution, he's been training off to the side. You don't know if there's any kind of subterfuge that's attached to it. You know, in cup competitions, you know, worldwide competitions, coaches having subterfuge, not giving the opponent anything to worry about. But obviously with someone who is as much of a catalyst as Christian Pulisic is, how is that calf, how is it going to go? And then obviously you look between the sticks and look at keeper and the decision there. Do you stick with Matt Freeze? Do you go with Matt Turner? Matt Freese gave you what you saw in match day one. The backline with your 38 year old captain with the support that he gets around. There are a lot of different questions, but obviously the main concern is Christian Pulisic and how he is and how many minutes he can give you.

[Peter Biello]

All right, a lot of what we've been talking about World cup wise on GPB has been about Atlanta. This one is in Seattle, the one we've been talking about. What can you tell us about the venue in Seattle and the conditions the US Team is going to be playing

[John Nelson]

in it's obviously going to be the converted grass surface. And it is it is an outdoor facility. So as we have to refer to them by their FIFA names, it's Seattle Stadium. But those of us who either watch Major League Soccer know the Seattle Sounders and where they play, or the Seattle Seahawks in National Football League activity. So it's that venue, just grass instead. So it's going to be a very loud venue. It traditionally is very, very loud. You would anticipate that with the home crowd being what it's going to be. It will match that and what we've known from either soccer or football, both F O T and F U T B O L versions of it. So it's going to be a loud building and obviously there's a lot of momentum carried from Match Day one. I know folks coming from our footprint that are going all the way out to Seattle for this match. So that's what it means to the United States for Match Day two.

[Peter Biello]

Let's talk a little bit about how it's been in Atlanta. What's your World cup experience been so far?

[John Nelson]

John it has been, let's see, how many hours are there in a day?

[Peter Biello]

Peter not enough.

[John Nelson]

No, not this time, anyway. It has been 30 hours a day, eight days a week, and it has been just flying around and trying to catch a comet by the tail. It's been great to see all the different cultures here. When you had Cabo Verde in Spain earlier this week to see the Cabo Verde contingent come down from Massachusetts, they have a lot of Cabo Verdians in the Boston area flew down. You had some actually fly over from the African continent to watch this to have a building that had just about 69,000 folks. And it was loud because you had a lot of folks that were fans of Spain and you had the Cabo Verdians that were just as loud. It was a great venue to see one of the larger upsets or upsetting results that we've seen really in recent history in the World Cup. But just how the city has embraced everyone who wants to come and watch soccer and how those fans have come and they've understood what Atlanta has been all about. It's been a great education, I think, for both sides and I'm looking forward to continuing for the other seven matches that we're going to have here in the Atlanta area.

[Peter Biello]

And lastly, John, I got to ask, what's your favorite part of Fan Fest? Have you taken a look around there?

[John Nelson]

I haven't had time to fan. My Fan fest has been getting off of the MARTA train and they have been running fantastic every five minutes like clockwork. It hasn't been a crowded experience at all. Coming up the escalator, seeing the plaza there outside of Atlanta Stadium and the Georgia World Congress center, where it's turned into its own kind of de facto party. The Fan Fest is on the other side of the building for me, of the the State Farm Arena. And so I've been going, I've been going to. What direction is that?

[Sarah Kallas]

West.

[John Nelson]

I've been going west. Fan Fest is east. I've been spending my time in the Western Frontier looking at matches. It's been a fun part for my version of Fan Fest with all the fans. Fan Fest I've seen has been absolutely crowded and just crazy. Once again, you can't speak enough about how Atlanta has prepared for this moment, and they're showing it on the world stage.

[Peter Biello]

Well, John, it's good to see that you're having fun even as you're working really hard. GPB Sports John Nelson, thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me today.

[John Nelson]

Anytime, my friend.

[Peter Biello]

Georgia's historic run in the College World Series is over. Bulldogs baseball fell to Oklahoma 114 last night to end their most winning season ever and their first shot at the national championship in 18 years. Georgia placed third in the series. North Carolina and Oklahoma now will face off in a best of three final matchup set to begin on Saturday in Omaha, Nebraska. Speaking after the disappointing loss, UGA's coach Wes Johnson said he was proud of his players and a season record that will speak for itself for a long time. And that is it on this edition of Georgia Today. Thanks so much for tuning in. If you want to learn more about these stories, visit gpb.org news and remember to subscribe to this podcast. It'll keep us current in your podcast feed. Your feedback is welcome. Of course, we'd love to hear from you. You send an email to Georgia [e-mail] I'm Peter Biello. In celebration of Juneteenth. The podcast is taking tomorrow off, so we will see you on Monday.