Ga. senate prepares for change; Union protests; Savannah unhoused resource center

Summary

Georgia Today: Comprehensive Episode Summary Release Date: July 23, 2025 Host: Orlando Montoya, Georgia Public Broadcasting

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1. Georgia Senate Prepares for Leadership Changes

As the 2026 campaign season approaches, the Georgia Senate is bracing for significant leadership shifts. A total of ten state senators have announced their intention to vacate their seats in pursuit of higher offices. This movement is primarily driven by strategic decisions higher up the political hierarchy, including:

• Three senators are vying to succeed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who has declared his candidacy for governor.
• Two senators are aiming to replace state Attorney General Chris Carr, who is also contesting for the governorship.
• Additional senators are pursuing congressional seats, while one has already declared their bid for governor.

Orlando Montoya highlights the potential ripple effects of this turnover: "Such turnover is not unusual in competitive election years. It opens the door for city and county officials, state representatives and others to aim for Senate seats. But it also threatens to turn colleagues into rivals when the Legislature gavels into session in January." (02:14)

This exodus sets the stage for a dynamic and possibly contentious legislative session, with emerging leaders stepping into prominent roles and shaping Georgia's political landscape.

2. Union Protests Amid Federal Funding Cuts

Last night, Atlanta became the focal point for labor activism as union members from across the Southeast congregated for the Workers Over Billionaires Rally. This event is part of a broader nationwide labor organizing tour aimed at addressing significant federal funding cuts.

Amanda Andrews reports on the protest, noting the involvement of the AFL-CIO's Bus Tour and the key issues at stake:

• Federal Funding Cuts: The unions are vocal against reductions in essential services and programs.
• Lawsuits Against the Trump Administration: Ongoing legal battles highlight the unions' resistance to administrative policies impacting workers' rights.

Yolanda Jacobs from the Centers for Disease Control emphasizes the multifaceted struggle faced by Georgia unions: "Georgia unions are fighting on every front because the impact of federal cuts doesn't stop at layoffs. It's still worse to destroy our lives by dismantling essentials such as public health programs, Medicaid funding, student loan programs, intentionally breaking things that didn't require fixing." (01:25)

She further elaborates on the broader implications, mentioning that many federal workers lost union representation due to a White House executive order in March. In response, some lawmakers are supporting union efforts by proposing bills to restore these rights.

3. Savannah Launches New Resource Center for the Unhoused

Addressing homelessness, Savannah has unveiled plans for a new resource center aimed at supporting the city's unhoused population. Benjamin Payne provides an in-depth look at this initiative:

• Location & Facilities: The 8,000-square-foot center, situated next to the downtown bus station, will feature a day center serving up to 150 individuals daily, medical exam rooms, counseling services, and workforce training areas.

• Management & Funding: Operated by Union Mission, a nonprofit organization, the project has been generously funded by Parker's Kitchen, a regional convenience store chain that donated $1 million.

Yolanda Jacobs underscores the center's significance: "People get out of the homeless shelters and then they have nowhere to go. Now having this we're creating this place where people can feel safe, where they can come and take a shower, get mental health coaching, where we can help them try to get permanent housing." (04:18)

The resource center's design incorporates elements from Savannah College of Art and Design students, with construction slated to begin in September and expected completion by spring next year.

4. Increased ICE Arrests in Georgia

In a concerning trend, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authorities arrested migrants at a construction site in Marietta yesterday. An ICE spokesperson confirmed the arrests but declined to disclose the individuals' identities to protect their privacy. Notably, data from the Deportation Data Project reveals that over 4,000 people have been apprehended by ICE in Georgia this year—twice the number from all of 2024.

5. Traffic Management Enhancements in Southeast Georgia

To alleviate longstanding traffic issues, the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) has introduced ramp meters at two key Interstate 16 ramps: Dean Forest Road and Chatham Parkway. These devices regulate the flow of vehicles entering the highway, preventing congestion by requiring drivers to wait at light signals before merging.

A GDOT spokesperson explained: "These ramp meters are part of a $320 million road improvement project at Interstates 16 and 95. While ramp meters are common in metro Atlanta, they are a new addition to southeast Georgia's traffic management." (04:43)

The project is expected to be substantially completed by the end of the year, with final touches continuing into 2026.

6. Reevaluating Electricity Needs for Data Centers

A recent report from the London Economics Institute, commissioned by the Southern Environmental Law Center, suggests that the United States' projected electricity requirements for data centers may be overstated. Key findings include:

• Demand Forecasts vs. Semiconductor Production: There is a significant mismatch between the anticipated electricity needs of data centers and the realistic output of semiconductor manufacturers.

• Policy Implications: As Georgia emerges as a hub for data centers, utility companies and regulators are revising policies, which could have environmental and economic repercussions for residents.

7. Medicaid Expansion and the Pathways to Coverage Program

Georgia's alternative approach to Medicaid expansion—Pathways to Coverage, launched in 2023—has resulted in substantial financial commitments with limited enrollment success. According to an analysis by KFF Health News:

• Expenditure: $100 million has been allocated to the program.

• Enrollment: Only 8,000 out of an eligible 300,000 have signed up.

The US Government Accountability Office is currently investigating the program's costs. A spokesperson for Governor Brian Kemp defends the initiative: "It's doing what it was designed to provide free health care to low-income people who are able and willing to work."

8. Controversy Surrounding the Naming of Augusta's New Arena

The construction of a new arena in Augusta has sparked a debate over its naming rights. While officials aim to honor the legendary singer James Brown, the final decision rests with potential corporate sponsors willing to pay up to $1 million annually. This has caused discontent among community members and Brown's family.

Deanna Brown Thomas, James Brown's daughter, expressed her concerns:

"If historic Augusta can make places historic forever, then we can make the James Brown arena the James Brown arena forever. It was given to him in his lifetime. Let's not take it away from him after he's gone." (08:04, 08:09)

She emphasizes the importance of honoring Brown's legacy and fulfilling promises made to voters regarding the arena's dedication.

9. Educational Advancements: Science of Reading Law Yields Positive Results

A two-year-old Georgia law mandating the incorporation of the science of reading into teaching practices has led to notable improvements in literacy, particularly in the state's lowest-performing schools. The Department of Education reported:

• Improvement: A 15% increase in scores on new reading tests, with kindergarten classes showing the most significant gains.

• Implementation: The law required an overhaul of teacher training protocols, resulting in the deployment of literacy coaches to 60 schools that were previously in the bottom 5% in performance.

10. Georgia Businesses Invited to Participate in Walmart's 2025 Open Call

Walmart has announced a deadline for Georgia businesses to submit their products for consideration in Walmart and Sam's Club stores as part of its 2025 open call initiative. This effort aims to boost domestic sourcing and support local enterprises. Notably, several Georgia companies, including Stuckey's, an East Georgia pecan candy seller, succeeded in entering Walmart's 2024 select group, potentially expanding their market reach significantly.

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Conclusion

This episode of Georgia Today delves into a spectrum of pertinent issues affecting the state, from political shifts and labor movements to social initiatives and economic developments. The comprehensive coverage ensures that listeners are well-informed about the dynamic landscape of Georgia, providing valuable insights and fostering a deeper understanding of the factors shaping the community.

For more detailed information on these stories, visit gpb.org/news.

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Notable Quotes

• Yolanda Jacobs on the importance of the new resource center: "People get out of the homeless shelters and then they have nowhere to go. Now having this we're creating this place where people can feel safe..." (04:18)

• Deanna Brown Thomas advocating for the James Brown arena name: "Let's not take it away from him after he's gone." (08:09)

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Timestamps

• 02:14 Georgia Senate leadership changes
• 01:25 Union protests and federal funding cuts
• 04:18 Savannah's new resource center
• 04:43 Traffic management improvements
• 08:04 Deanna Brown Thomas on arena naming
• 08:09 Continued comments on arena naming

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This summary aims to encapsulate all major discussions and insights from the July 23, 2025, episode of Georgia Today. For ongoing updates and more stories, subscribe to the podcast through your preferred platform.

Transcript

[NPR Host]

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.

[Orlando Montoya]

Hello and welcome to the Georgia Today Podcast. Here we bring you the latest reporting from the GPB newsroom. On today's episode, the Georgia Senate prepares for an exodus of leadership ahead of the 2026 campaign season. Union members gather in Atlanta to protest federal funding cuts and Savannah officials announce a new resource center to help the city's unhoused population.

[Yolanda Jacobs]

Having this we're creating this place where people can feel safe, where they can come and take a shower, get mental health coaching, where we can help them trying to get permanent housing.

[Orlando Montoya]

Today is Wednesday, July 23rd. I'm Orlando Montoya and this is Georgia Today. Union members from across the Southeast gathered in Atlanta last night for a Workers over billionaires rally. GPB's Amanda Andrews reports. It's part of a nationwide labor organizing tour.

[Greg Parker]

Atlanta is the latest stop in the AFL CIOs. It's better in a union bus tour, speakers discussed federal funding cuts and ongoing lawsuits against the Trump administration. Yolanda Jacobs works at the Centers for Disease Control. She says Georgia unions are fighting on every front because the impact of federal cuts doesn't stop at layoffs. It's still worse to destroy our lives by dismantling essentials such as public health programs, Medicaid funding, student loan programs, intentionally breaking things that didn't require fixing. Many federal workers lost union representation under a White House executive order in March. Now some lawmakers are backing union efforts with a bill to restore those rights. For GPB News, I'm Amanda Andrews.

[Orlando Montoya]

The Georgia Senate is preparing for an exodus of leadership as the 2026 campaign season heats up. At least 10 state senators are stepping away from their seats to run for higher office as the dominoes fall from decisions higher up. Three state senators are running to succeed Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who announced his bid for governor earlier this month. Two are running to succeed state Attorney General Chris Carr, who also is running for governor. Others are vying for congressional seats, and one has declared for governor. Such turnover is not unusual in competitive election years. It opens the door for city and county officials, state representatives and others to aim for Senate seats. But it also threatens to turn colleagues into rivals when the Legislature gavels into session in January. Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirms it arrested migrants at a construction site in Marietta yesterday. According to a NICE spokesperson, an unspecified number of construction workers were arrested at an under construction fast food restaurant. It's ICE policy not to share the names of the arrested in order to protect their privacy. According to data kept by the Deportation Data project, just over 4,000 people have been arrested by ICE in Georgia so far this year. That's twice as many as in all of 2024. Officials in Savannah today announced a new resource center for people experiencing homelessness in the city's downtown. GPB's Benjamin Payne reports.

[Benjamin Payne]

The over 8,000 square foot building will be run by Union Mission, a nonprofit which provides services to Savannah's unhoused population. The new resource center will be located next to the bus station in west downtown and will include a day center able to serve up to 150 people per day, as well as medical exam rooms, counseling services and a workforce training area, among other amenities. Greg Parker is CEO of Parker's Kitchen, a regional convenience store chain that donated $1 million to the project.

[Yolanda Jacobs]

People get out of the homeless shelters and then they have nowhere to go. Now having this we're creating this place where people can feel safe, where they can come and take a shower, get mental health coaching, where we can help them try to get permanent housing.

[Benjamin Payne]

The resource center was designed in part by students at the Savannah College of Art and Design. Construction is scheduled to begin in September and finish next spring. For GPB News, I'm Benjamin Payne in Savannah.

[Orlando Montoya]

One could argue that Atlanta, like traffic, has plagued parts of Savannah for a while. But a sure sign of the problem Ramp meters. The Georgia Department of Transportation has installed the first ever ramp meters in southeast Georgia on two ramps to Interstate 16 at Dean Forest Road and Chatham Parkway. The ramp meters, common in metro Atlanta, prevent too many cars from entering a highway at once by making drivers wait at a short light. A GDOT spokesperson says there are some ramp meters in Columbus, but they're unusual outside of the metro Atlanta traffic juggernaut. The traffic control devices are part of a $320 million road improvement project at Interstates 16 and 95. The spokesperson says the overall project will be substantially completed by the end of this year, with punch list work continuing into 2026. A new report suggests the US won't need as much electricity for power hungry data centers as forecasts are projecting. The London Economics Institute prepared the study for the Southern Environmental Law Center. The report says there's a mismatch between data center electricity demand forecasts and how many chips semiconductor manufacturers realistically can produce for them, among other issues. Georgia has become a hotbed for data centers, with projections for their development driving utilities and regulators to change policies. Those decisions often come with implications for the environment and how much people pay for electricity. Georgia's alternative to full Medicaid expansion has cost the state $100 million, but only 26 million has been spent on health benefits. That's according to an analysis of Georgia's Pathways to Coverage program by GPB partner KFF Health News. Pathways launched in 2023, a priority of Governor Brian Kemp. As of the end of June, it has enrolled just over 8,000 people, a fraction of the 300,000 that would be eligible if the state fully expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. The US Government Accountability Office is investigating the program's costs. A Kemp spokesperson defends the program, saying it's doing what it was designed to provide free health care to low income people who are able and willing to work. Officials overseeing construction of a new Augusta arena say they're going to do everything they can to recognize James Brown at the entertainment venue in the legendary singer's hometown. But they say ultimately the arena's name will be up to whoever buys its naming rights, a potential $1 million annual source of revenue for the arena authority. The authorities naming plans have upset many in the community, including commissioners who have voiced their support for keeping the arena's longtime name. Also upset one of Brown's daughters, Deanna Brown Thomas, who spoke to commissioners yesterday.

[Greg Parker]

If historic Augusta can make places historic.

[Orlando Montoya]

Forever, then we can make the James.

[Greg Parker]

Brown arena the James Brown arena forever.

[Orlando Montoya]

It was given to him in his lifetime. Let's not take it away from him after he's gone, she said. Keeping at the James Brown arena would fulfill a promise made to voters when they approved a special purpose local option sales tax to build it. A two year old Georgia law requiring teachers to use the science of reading in their lessons has led to literacy gains in the state's lowest performing schools, the state Department of Education said. Today scores on new reading tests improve 15%, with the strongest gains in kindergarten. The 2023 law called on the agency to overhaul teacher training. It responded by sending literacy coaches to 60 schools that had been performing in the bottom 5%. And finally today, Georgia businesses have until Friday to apply for a chance to pitch products for possible placement in Walmart and Sam's Club stores. The company's 2025 open call event is part of a nationwide effort to increase its domestic sourcing of products. Several Georgia companies made it into Walmart's 2024 open call, including East Georgia pecan candy seller Stuckey's. And that's it for today's edition of GEORGIA today. If you'd like to learn more about these stories, visit gpb.org news if you haven't yet hit subscribe on this podcast. Take a moment right now and keep us current in your podcast feed. Got feedback? We'd love to hear it. Email usorgiatodaypb.org I'm Orlando Montoya. We'll be back with you again tomorrow.

[NPR Host]

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.