Gas tax suspension; Georgia Supreme Court; Emory clinical trials

Summary

Georgia Today Podcast – Episode Summary
Date: May 18, 2026
Host: Peter Biello, GPB News

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Episode Overview

This episode of Georgia Today explores three central topics: the extension of Georgia’s gas tax suspension, allegations of misconduct involving Georgia Supreme Court candidates, and new efforts by Emory University School of Medicine to expand access to clinical trials. Additional news highlights include summer crime prevention efforts, alarming trends in early-onset colorectal cancer, economic developments, changes at Emory’s student newspaper, and a fresh marketing campaign for Georgia's peanut farmers.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Judicial Misconduct Allegations in Georgia Supreme Court Races

• Segment Start: [00:32]

• Report by: Sarah Kalis

• Two candidates for the Georgia Supreme Court, Jen Jordan and Miracle Rankin, both backed by prominent Democrats, are accused by the state Judicial Qualifications Commission of violating judicial conduct codes.

• The allegations center on rules that prohibit candidates from endorsing one another and making promises related to issues (notably abortion rights) that could appear before the court.

• Jen Jordan labeled the accusations, “politically motivated attempts to silence her” ([00:59]).

• Miracle Rankin described them as “character assassination” ([01:06]).

• Despite the controversy, the races will be decided in the upcoming elections.

• Key Quote:
  “Their conduct violates the state's judicial codes. The rules bar candidates from endorsing other candidates and making statements that commit them to issues likely to come before their courts.” – Sarah Kalis ([00:57])

2. Gas Tax Suspension Extended Amid Rising Fuel Prices

• Segment Start: [02:01]

• Report by: Chase McGee

• Governor Brian Kemp has extended Georgia’s 33¢ per gallon gas tax suspension (37¢ for diesel) by two weeks, citing fuel price hikes driven by the war in Iran.

• The emergency declaration ensures lower costs for motorists over Memorial Day, marking Georgia as one of only two states with such a measure in place.

• Legislative action occurred swiftly, with the General Assembly and Governor Kemp passing the current suspension into law in March, and the new extension set to last until June 2nd.

• Key Quote:
  “The new expiration date on June 2 ensures motorists traveling over the Memorial Day holiday won't have to pay the tax as prices remain near their highest level in years.” – Chase McGee ([02:36])

3. Summer, Youth, and Crime: Albany Police Chief’s Message

• Segment Start: [02:43]

• Albany Police Chief Michael Persley urged community vigilance as schools let out for summer, pointing to potential rises in juvenile crime due to idle time.

• He advises keeping youth engaged and encourages guardians to stay connected and talk honestly about consequences.

• Research cited shows mixed trends—property crimes can rise in summer, while assaults may drop.

• Key Quote:
  “Summer can be a season of opportunity, but it can also be a season where idle time leads to poor choices. That is why I want to encourage our youth to stay active, stay connected and stay focused.” – Michael Persley ([02:54])

4. Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer Trends in Georgia

• Segment Start: [03:30]

• Report by: Ellen Eldredge

• Augusta University researchers note a rise in colorectal cancer among Georgians under 50; such cases are “no longer rare.”

• Social and structural disparities disproportionately impact minority communities regarding awareness, early diagnosis, and outcomes.

• Menghan Tsai (assistant professor, Augusta University) pointed to mistrust in healthcare and lack of symptoms leading to fewer early checkups.

• Key Quote:
  “Sometimes they have a mistrust with health care assistance. So a lot of times they feel like if there's no symptoms, so there's no reason to do the early checkout and then to connect with the provider.” – Menghan Tsai ([03:59])

5. Economic and Community Updates

• Segment Start: [04:26]

• Unified Legacy, a precision metal fabrication company, will invest $125 million to build a major plant in Macon, creating 500 jobs.

• The Emory Wheel, Emory University’s 107-year-old student-run newspaper, is transitioning to nonprofit status to maintain its independence and improve finances.

• The National Peanut Board has launched a new campaign: “It’s not nuts, It’s Peanuts,” aiming to elevate the profile of Georgia’s most valuable crop.

6. Expanding Access to Clinical Trials at Emory

• Segment Start: [05:55]

• Report by: Sophie Gradis

• Cuts to research funding have made accessing clinical trials increasingly challenging, especially outside major hospitals.

• Emory’s Satellite Trials Group is proactively breaking down barriers, offering trials in more hospitals and reaching out to patients instead of waiting for them to show up at specialized centers.

• Dr. Larry Bussey (Emory professor) highlights their patient-centered innovation:

• Key Quote:
  “It's really not dependent on a patient showing up at a hospital where, just by sheer luck, there happens to be an investigator studying X disease. We turn that upside down and so we go find the patients where they are.” – Dr. Larry Bussey ([06:29])

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jen Jordan:
  “Politically motivated attempts to silence her.” ([00:59])
• Miracle Rankin:
  “Character assassination.” ([01:06])
• Chief Michael Persley:
  “Stay active, stay connected and stay focused.” ([02:54])
• Menghan Tsai:
  “If there's no symptoms, so there's no reason to do the early checkout and then to connect with the provider.” ([03:59])
• Dr. Larry Bussey:
  “We go find the patients where they are.” ([06:29])

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Judicial Allegations in Supreme Court Race: [00:32–01:30]
• Gas Tax Suspension Extension: [02:01–02:43]
• Summer Youth Crime Advice: [02:43–03:30]
• Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer: [03:30–04:26]
• Economic Development & Community Updates: [04:26–05:30]
• Emory Clinical Trials Expansion: [05:55–06:55]

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Tone & Style:
The episode maintains a brisk, informative tone typical of public radio, focusing on state-level news with broad implications for Georgia communities. Speakers’ language is clear, direct, and occasionally passionate when discussing contentious or community-focused issues.

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This summary covers all critical content, helping listeners quickly grasp major news events and developments in Georgia as reported in this episode.

Transcript

[A]

Welcome to the Georgia Today Podcast. Here we bring you the latest reports from the GPB newsroom. On today's episode, Georgia's gas tax suspension has been extended, 2 Georgia Supreme Court candidates have been accused of misconduct and Emory University School of Medicine is expanding access to clinical trials.

[B]

It's really not dependent on a patient showing up at a hospital where just by sheer luck there happens to be an investigator studying ex disposal. We turn that upside down until we go find the patients where they are.

[A]

Today is Monday, May 18th. I'm Peter Biello and this is Georgia Today. A state panel that investigates ethics complaints against judicial candidates is accusing two Georgia Supreme Court candidates of misconduct. GPB Sarah Kalis reports.

[C]

Candidates Jen Jordan and Miracle Rankin are backed by prominent Democrats and are trying to unseat Republican appointed justices in elections on Tuesday. They have campaigned together and have promised to restore abortion rights. In a ruling made public on Monday, a special committee of the Judicial Qualifications Commission said their conduct violates the state's judicial codes. The rules bar candidates from endorsing other candidates and making statements that commit them to issues likely to come before their courts. Jordan called the accusations politically motivated attempts to silence her. Rankin called them character assassination. Even with the committee's findings, Tuesday's elections will decide both races. For GPB News, I'm Sarah Kallas.

[D]

The Supreme Court races could be the

[A]

most high profile campaigns decided in tomorrow's vote. Other closely watched races feature more crowded fields and are expected to go to runoffs on June 16th. Learn more about what's on your ballot with the GPB Voter Guide and follow our coverage with live results tomorrow [e-mail] election Governor Brian Kemp has extended a temporary suspension of the state's gas tax. GPB's Chase McGee reports. The 33 cent per gallon break at the pump, 37 cents for diesel will be in effect for two more weeks.

[E]

Kemp on Friday used his authority to declare a state of emergency because of spiraling fuel prices, largely driven by the war in Iran. That in turn allowed him to resuspend collection of the motor fuel tax after the current suspension expires. On Tuesday night. The General assembly passed and Kemp immediately signed into law the current suspension on March 20th. It's one of only two state gas tax suspensions across the country. The new expiration date on June 2 ensures motorists traveling over the Memorial Day holiday won't have to pay the tax as prices remain near their highest level in years. For GPB news, I'm Chase McGee.

[D]

Summer brings travel, but it also brings higher risk of juvenile crime Albany Police Chief Michael Pursley today addressed young people and the adults around them as Doherty county schools reach the end of the school year.

[F]

From a law enforcement perspective, we know that summer can be a season of opportunity, but it can also be a season where idle time leads to poor choices. That is why I want to encourage our youth to stay active, stay connected and stay focused.

[D]

He encouraged parents and others to know where children are and what they're doing and to have honest conversations with them about choices and consequences. Research on juvenile crime rates over the summer is mixed. While while evidence suggests juvenile property crimes rise when school is out, incidence of crimes like assault also might drop.

[A]

Researchers at Augusta University say early onset colorectal cancer is no longer rare as diagnoses rise among people under 50. GPB's Ellen Eldredge has more Social and

[G]

structural factors play a major role in determining who is diagnosed early, who receives timely treatment and who ultimately survives. Menghan Tsai is an assistant professor at Augusta University. She says minority populations are disproportionately affected because they lack awareness.

[F]

Sometimes they have a mistrust with health care assistance. So a lot of times they feel like if there's no symptoms, so there's no reason to do the early checkout and then to connect with the provider.

[G]

The American cancer society estimates 5,350 Georgians will be diagnosed with colon cancer this year. For GPB News, I'm Ellen Eldredge.

[A]

A precision metal fabrication company plans to build a new manufacturing facility in Middle Georgia. Unified Legacy said on Friday that it's investing $125 million to expand its footprint in Macon. The company says the new facility will create 500 new jobs. The Georgia based company makes precision metal components for the defense, aerospace, data center and industrial markets. The independent student run newspaper at Emory University says it's transitioning from a registered student organization to a registered non profit. The 107-year-old Emery Wheal said Friday the move will allow it to maintain its independence, efficiently manage its finances and continue its journalism and training. The National Peanut Board unveiled a new marketing campaign today aimed at supporting farmers, manufacturers and producers. The effort aims to elevate peanuts beyond being a reliable staple with the slogan it's not nuts, It's Peanuts. Peanuts are the state's most valuable crop, worth an annual $877 million. That's according to the latest Farmgate Report.

[H]

You know, Every day on Up First, NPR's Golden Globe nominated morning news podcast. We bring you three essential stories. the heart of each story, our what really happened, what really mattered, what happens next. At npr, we stand for your right to be curious and to follow the facts. Follow up first, wherever you get your podcasts and start your day knowing what matters and why.

[A]

Access to clinical trials is often limited to patients at major academic hospitals. An initiative out of Emory University School of Medicine is expanding that access. GPB's Sophie Gradis has more clinical trials

[I]

testing new treatments for diseases have been severely disrupted by cuts to medical research funding. That's one hurdle for patients, says Larry Bussey, professor of medicine at Emory. Another is where trials are presented, usually outside of the community hospitals where most people go in an emergency. Emory's Satellite Trials Group team is shortening that pipeline, Bussey says.

[B]

It's really not dependent on a patient showing up at a hospital where, just by sheer luck, there happens to be an investigator studying X disease. We turn that upside down and so we go find the patients where they are.

[I]

The trials group currently works with over a dozen clinical trials in four Emory hospitals, from treatment for allergic reactions to sepsis. For GPB News, I'm Sophie Gratis.

[A]

That's a wrap on the podcast today. Thank you so much for tuning in. We're going to be back again tomorrow afternoon, so make sure you subscribe. Subscribe to this podcast and check out gpb.org news. You'll find updates to any of the stories that you heard on the podcast today, plus new headlines that our reporters have written. If you have feedback or a story idea, something we should be pursuing, let us know by email. That's the best way to reach us. Send it to Georgia todaypb.org I'm Peter Biello. Thank you again for listening. We will see you tomorrow.

[F]

Sam.