Georgia Today: Atlanta's Mayor Debate; Donald Trump Case; Savannah Bananas 2026 Schedule

Summary

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Georgia Today Podcast Summary

Episode Date: October 9, 2025
Host: Peter Biello, GPB News
Main Topics: Atlanta Mayor Debate, Georgia Trump Case Update, Savannah Bananas 2026 Schedule, Biolab Chemical Fire Update, Georgia jobs news

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Overview

In this episode, Georgia Today delivers key updates on Georgia's pressing political, legal, and community stories:

• Atlanta mayoral candidates go head-to-head as incumbent Andre Dickens skips the debate.
• The Trump Georgia election case is delayed as a new prosecutor must be found.
• A look back at the Biolab fire in Conyers reveals missed opportunities in protecting first responders.
• The Savannah Bananas baseball team is about to announce its 2026 tour schedule during a nationwide broadcast.
• News on major job losses in Georgia, Delta Air Lines financial results, and a halt to construction of a massive poultry operation near the Satilla River.

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Key Discussion Points

1. Political Climate & Government Shutdown

• Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. Senate are locked in a standoff over a government funding resolution.
• Lucy McBath (D) insists her party won't compromise on the Affordable Care Act.

  "We're going to stand our ground and ... we want the American people to understand and know that we're there fighting for them." (01:16-01:18)

• Mike Collins (R) says the focus should be on government funding, not health care.

  "This is not about a health care fight. This is about funding the government." (01:27-01:32)

• Without a funding bill, ACA policy subsidies lapse, and some rates could double. (01:33-01:50)

2. Atlanta Mayoral Debate—Without the Incumbent

• Three out of four candidates—Helmut Domogalski, Kalima Jackson, and Eddie Andrew Meredith—debated major policy issues on TV.
• Andre Dickens, the sitting mayor and frontrunner, did not attend.
• Central topics:
  • Improving mayor-governor relations.
  • The urgent need for more police officers in Atlanta.
• Eddie Andrew Meredith underscores public safety:

  "We want actual voters and people in the city of Atlanta to actually feel safe. And that's how we do it. We invest into our police officers... We need to invest back into our police officers, our firefighters." (02:16-02:32)

• Early voting opens October 14. (02:32-02:40)

3. Georgia Trump Election Case: New Delays

• Judge extends the search for a new prosecutor until November 14.
• Previous DA Fani Willis was disqualified after a personal relationship disclosure.
• The state agency requested more time for proper case review.
• "Any case against Trump is unlikely to advance while he's president, but 14 others, including Mark Meadows and Rudy Giuliani, still face charges." (02:40-03:45)

4. One Year After the Conyers Biolab Fire: Safety Lessons Unlearned

• On September 29, 2024, a major chemical fire erupted at the Biolab facility in Conyers.
• Sheriff Melody Maddox recalls immediate hazard and confusion:

  "I see this big black cloud or whatever. Then the phone calls start. I'm like, what is this? And then that's when my commander called and said, hey, Rockdale County is asking for our assistance. They've had a blow up at the Biolab." (04:10-04:28)

• Maddox also connects the past (2004 fire) to health impacts on her family and community, though not medically proven.
• First responders lacked crucial chemical exposure data—a special EPA Cessna ("Aspect" plane) that can instantly identify toxic plumes remained unused.
• Robert Crowdle, former EPA scientist, laments the missed opportunity:

  "And we can tell within five or ten seconds what the chemicals are, what the concentrations are." (05:42-05:49) "It's not a history lesson. You can immediately warn the public. The police can go to their houses and say, get out of here. We have a chemical plume coming your way. It's hazardous. You shouldn't stay in your house." (06:22-06:37)

• EPA used a ground-based gas analyzer, which only arrived nearly a week after the fire.
• Biolab initially reported only 40,000 lbs of chemicals involved, but federal estimates now suggest nearly 14 million lbs of oxidizers were present.
• For more coverage, GPB’s podcast "Manufacturing Danger: The Biolab Story" is recommended. (03:45-07:27)

5. Satilla River Chicken Farm Project Halted

• A judge in Coffee County blocks work on a massive operation after environmental concerns about building on a wetland near a "flashy" flood-prone river.
• Shannon Gregory, Satilla Riverkeeper:

  "We're not opposed to the help coming down. ... The primary thing that was really getting us was the placement of these chicken houses in wetland area next to a flashy river that is prone to flooding." (07:59-08:18)

• Project would have been Georgia’s largest poultry operation, housing millions of birds. (07:27-08:18)

6. Business & Jobs News

• Delta Air Lines posts $1.4B Q3 net income, with CEO Ed Bastian voicing optimism for holiday and international travel.
• Major layoffs announced:
  • Nichiha USA closes a Macon plant (171 jobs lost).
  • Augusta Sportswear closes (93 jobs lost).
  • Georgia layoff notices in 2025 now exceed 13,000, double the previous year. (08:18-10:00)

7. Savannah Bananas Announce Their 2026 Schedule

• The team will unveil "Banana Ball 2" with two new teams and the new city tour schedule in a national event at 6:30pm on ESPN2, Disney, and YouTube.
• Fans can join the ticket lottery right after the broadcast. (10:22-10:57)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Lucy McBath (D):

  "We're going to stand our ground and... we want the American people to understand and know that we're there fighting for them." (01:16-01:18)

• Mike Collins (R):

  "This is not about a health care fight. This is about funding the government." (01:27-01:32)

• Eddie Andrew Meredith (Atlanta mayoral candidate):

  "We want actual voters and people in the city of Atlanta to actually feel safe. And that's how we do it. We invest into our police officers..." (02:16-02:32)

• DeKalb County Sheriff Melody Maddox (Biolab fire):

  "I see this big black cloud or whatever... Rockdale County is asking for our assistance. They've had a blow up at the Biolab." (04:10-04:28)

• Robert Crowdle (retired EPA scientist):

  "And we can tell within five or ten seconds what the chemicals are, what the concentrations are." (05:42-05:49)
  "It's not a history lesson. You can immediately warn the public..." (06:22-06:37)

• Shannon Gregory (Satilla Riverkeeper):

  "We're not opposed to the help coming down... The primary thing ... was the placement of these chicken houses in wetland area next to a flashy river..." (07:59-08:18)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Government Shutdown & Political Split: 01:08–01:50
• Atlanta Mayoral Debate Recap: 01:50–02:40
• Trump Election Interference Case Update: 02:40–03:45
• Biolab Conyers Fire—First Responder Risks: 03:45–07:27
• Coffee County Chicken Farm Blocked: 07:27–08:18
• Delta Q3 Earnings & Business Losses: 08:18–10:00
• Savannah Bananas 2026 Announcement: 10:22–10:57

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Tone & Style

The episode maintains a brisk, journalistic tone—delivering headline news with on-the-ground perspectives from officials, local leaders, and reporters. Interviews carry a sense of urgency and accountability, especially around public safety and political developments. Moments of reflection on missed opportunities are poignant, while announcements around sports and business news offer a community-focused close.

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Transcript

[GPB Announcer]

Georgia is the new hotbed for musical talent, and the music industry knows it. Record executives are turning their eyes to the Peach State to discover the next big thing. On GPB's Peach Jam podcast, you'll hear those rising Georgia artists before anyone else listen and discover the sound of what's next on the Peach Jam Podcast from Georgia Public Broadcasting.

[Peter Biello]

Welcome to the Georgia Today Podcast. Here we bring you the latest reports from the GPB newsroom. On today's episode, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens skips a mayoral debate ahead of next month's election. A judge has given more time to find the new prosecutor for the Georgia election interference case against Donald Trump. And the Savannah Bananas will announce their next tour schedule in a live broadcast tonight, October 9th.

[Amanda Andrews]

We're naming two new teams for Banana Ball 2.

[Peter Biello]

Today's Thursday, October 9th. I'm Peter Biello, and this is Georgia Today. As Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. senate continue to spar over a funding resolution to end the government shutdown, House members are back in their districts defending their positions. GPB's Sarah Kalis reports.

[Sarah Kalis]

Democratic U.S. representative Lucy McBath says her party will not budge on their position on health care and the Affordable Care Act.

[Peter Biello]

We're going to stand our ground and.

[NPR Announcer]

We want the American people to understand and know that we're there fighting for them.

[Sarah Kalis]

Republican U.S. representative Mike Collins says the health care debate is secondary.

[Peter Biello]

This is not about a health care fight.

[DeKalb County Sheriff Melody Maddox]

This is about funding the government.

[Peter Biello]

That's it.

[Sarah Kalis]

The federal government shut down on October 1st when Congress could not reach an agreement on a funding bill that would extend ACA subsidies. Without subsidies, the cost of many policies will more than double. For GPB News, I'm Sarah Kallas.

[Peter Biello]

Candidates vying to be the next mayor of Atlanta squared off in a televised debate yesterday. GPB's Amanda Andrews reports. The incumbent, Andre Dickens, was noticeably absent.

[Amanda Andrews]

Three of the four people running for Atlanta mayor attended the debates. They include Helmut Domogalski, Kalima Jackson and Eddie Andrew Meredith. They all spoke about their plans to improve the relationship between the mayor and governor's office. They also agreed the city needs more police officers. Here's Meredith.

[Eddie Andrew Meredith]

We want actual voters and people in the city of Atlanta to actually feel safe. And that's how we do it. We invested into our police officers. That was actually a really, really good answer, Mr. Jackson. We need invest back into our police officers, our firefighters.

[Amanda Andrews]

Early voting begins October 14th. For GPB news, I'm Amanda Andrews.

[Peter Biello]

A judge has given more time to find the new prosecutor for the Georgia election interference case against Donald Trump and others. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis was disqualified due to a romantic relationship with the prosecutor she hired. The judge originally set a two week deadline to find the new prosecutor. The state agency charged with the task asked for at least 90 days to examine the case file. Fulton County Superior court Judge Scott McAfee yesterday granted the prosecuting attorney's counsel until November 14 to find a new prosecutor. Any case against Trump is unlikely to advance while he's president, but 14 others, including Mark Meadows and Rudy Giuliani, still face charges. This month marks one year since the fire at the Biolab facility in Conyers, a major manufacturer of pool and spa cleaning products. Pamela Kirkland has been reporting on the accident for the past year in the podcast Manufacturing Danger. The Biolab Story recently she learned there is a tool that could have provided important information to the people whose job it was to put themselves in danger at biolab. Here's her report.

[Shannon Gregory]

Quinn 19 that's 10 4. When you return to service, we're gonna be placing you en route to a mutual aid call in Rockdale with rest of company 19 Italian 2 on September.

[Pamela Kirkland]

29 last year, the calls for mutual aid from Rockdale county to other communities started coming in. But DeKalb County Sheriff Melody Maddox didn't need her radio to know where help was needed. She saw it in her own backyard.

[DeKalb County Sheriff Melody Maddox]

I see this big black cloud or whatever. Then the phone calls start. I'm like, what is this? And then that's when my commander called and said, hey, Rockdale county is asking for our assistance. They've had a blow up at the Biolab.

[Pamela Kirkland]

She saw this last about 20 years earlier in 2004. Then she helped evacuate her aunt and her aunt's neighbors. She suspects the fire led to her aunt's lung problems and the illnesses of some of the neighbors.

[DeKalb County Sheriff Melody Maddox]

Now can I prove it? I can't because I'm not a doctor.

[Pamela Kirkland]

But that experience was enough to make her afraid of sending her deputies to this new fire at Biolab too, decades later. Because what none of responding agencies knew was what chemical cloud they were walking into or how to keep themselves safe in it.

[DeKalb County Sheriff Melody Maddox]

They had the mask, you know, but they weren't even sure if that was enough for the chemicals that was there.

[Pamela Kirkland]

Meanwhile, sitting on the ground was a tool which could have been telling Sheriff Melody Maddox and other first responders what they were dealing with. It's a plane, a single engine Cessna that can map chemical plumes from above in real time. It's called the Airborne Spectral Photometric Environmental Collection Technology, or Aspect and Robert Crowdle is one of the people who knows what this plane can do best.

[Robert Crowdle]

And we can tell within five or ten seconds what the chemicals are, what the concentrations are.

[Pamela Kirkland]

At the epa, Crowdle served as Aspect's data quality manager. Today he's the public face of a group of retired scientists Speaking out about EPA's handling of data after chemical disasters. A whistleblower, he says Aspect was used at Biolab's 2004 fire in Conyers, where Maddox evacuated her aunt, and at the Westlake, Louisiana biolab fire in 2020. But in 2024, it stayed grounded. Crowdle says that was a mistake.

[Robert Crowdle]

It's not a history lesson. You can immediately warn the public. The police can go to their houses and say, get out of here. We have a chemical plume coming your way. It's hazardous. You shouldn't stay in your house.

[Pamela Kirkland]

The Aspect plane is housed just outside Dallas, Texas. The single engine plane could have been on site within the first day of the biolab accident. The the EPA sent another tool instead. Their Trace Atmospheric Gas Analyzer bus. By the time that rolled up and took its first sample, the biolab fire was nearly a week in the past. So why didn't EPA launch Aspect? One possible reason EPA's early decision making was based on Biolab's estimate that about 40,000 pounds of chemicals were burning inside the warehouse. Now federal Investigators estimate nearly 14 million pounds of oxidizers were in the warehouse. We can't say how much of that caught fire. For GPB News, I'm Pamela Kirkland in Atlanta.

[Peter Biello]

You can find out more about the history of the company and the aftermath of the chemical fire at Biolab in the podcast Manufacturing Danger. The Biolab story from gpb. A superior court judge in southeast Georgia's Coffee county has stopped work on a massive complex of chicken houses. A North Carolina group aims to help area poultry producers recover from damage received during last year's Hurricane Helene by building a 60 house operation on the banks of the Satilla River. Satilla riverkeeper Shannon Gregory applauded the judge's order issued yesterday.

[Shannon Gregory]

We're not opposed to the help coming down. You know, we're not opposed to the chicken houses being built. The primary thing that was really getting us was the placement of these chicken houses in wetland area next to a flashy river that is prone to flooding.

[Peter Biello]

She says 60 chicken houses could hold millions of broilers, making it the state's largest poultry operation by far. Project backers could appeal the order or demand a trial. Delta Air Lines reported this morning a third quarter net income of more than $1.4 billion. That's strong profit and revenue growth for the busy summer travel season. Revenue momentum picked up during the quarter as some uncertainty started to clear concerning tariffs in the economy. That's according to CEO Ed Bastian, speaking with cnbc. Domestic air travel was under the most stress throughout the year and that experienced a recovery. Corporate travel also increased on a per share basis. The Atlanta based company said it had a profit of $2.17. Bastian says he doesn't expect the US government shutdown to have much of an impact now, but that could shift depending on how long the shutdown lasts. He expects strong holiday travel along with improvements in transatlantic travel. A wall panel manufacturing company has closed its residential business manufacturing plants in Makin. Nichiha USA told state officials today that the closure will end jobs for 171 people. The company says some of the plant's operations will move to Nichiha's other Make in facility, which focuses on commercial business. Athletic clothing producer Augusta Sportswear is closing its facility, resulting in 93 job losses. A private equity firm bought the almost 50 year old company last year, signaling trouble. The two recent layoff announcements bring the total such notices in Georgia to more than 13,000 so far this year, twice as many compared to the same time span in 2024.

[NPR Announcer]

Sources and methods the crown jewels of the intelligence community. Shorthand for how do we know what's real? Who told us? If you have those answers, you're on the inside and NPR wants to bring you there. From the Pentagon to the State Department to spy agencies, listen to understand what's really happening and what it means for you. Sources and Methods the new National Security.

[Peter Biello]

Podcast from NPR and the Savannah Bananas will reveal their 2026 tour schedule tonight during a live city selection show airing at 6:30pm on ESPN2, ESPN Disney and the Banana Ball YouTube channel, in addition to the 2026 schedule, two new Banana Ball teams will be announced during the broadcast. Fans can join the ticket lottery list for the 2026 tour immediately after the selection show ends. And that is a wrap on Georgia Today. Thank you so much for tuning in. You're going to want to tune in tomorrow as well. We'll have all headlines plus a few feature conversations for you. If you want to learn more about the stories you heard today, visit gpb.org news and send your feedback to us by email. The address is Georgia todaypb.org I'm Peter Biello. Thanks again for listening and have a great day.

[NPR Announcer]

Sources and Methods the crown jewels of the intelligence community. Shorthand for how do we know what's real? Who told us? If you have those answers, you're on the inside and NPR wants to bring you there. From the Pentagon to the State Department to spy agencies, listen to understand what's really happening and what it means for you. Sources and methods. The new National Security Podcast from npr.