Georgia Today: Macon mental health results; Atlanta bridge reopens; Joro spiders behavior

Summary

Georgia Today: Comprehensive Summary of August 1, 2025 Episode

Hosted by Orlando Montoya, Georgia Today delivers in-depth reporting on the issues that matter most to Georgians. In the August 1, 2025 episode, the podcast covers three primary topics: the latest mental health survey results from Macon, the reopening of a significant bridge in Atlanta, and new insights into the behavior of invasive Joro spiders.

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1. Macon Mental Health Survey Results

Mental health advocates in Macon, specifically within Bibb County, have recently conducted their second community survey focusing on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). The survey aimed to gauge the prevalence of abuse, trauma, and neglect among residents during their childhood years.

• Survey Details:

  • Participants: 126 adults across 13 zip codes in and around Macon.
  • Findings: The average ACE score was 3.53, positioned on the lower end of the scale measuring ACEs. Most respondents reported scores between 0 to 6, indicating varying levels of childhood adversity.

• Insights and Implications:

  • Andrea Cook, the survey lead, emphasized the importance of the findings despite the limited sample size. She stated, “[...] the survey offers a way for us to connect people to resources like counseling or group therapy” (01:54).
  • Amanda Andrews highlighted the need for broader participation, noting, “We're happy about the number of respondents that responses that we got, but it would be so much more impactful if we were able to reach more people” (01:44).

• Future Directions:

  • The Macon Mental Health Matters team intends to utilize the survey data to enhance support systems within the community, particularly targeting more vulnerable zip codes. This proactive approach aims to provide necessary mental health resources and interventions based on the survey outcomes.

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2. Reopening of Atlanta’s Ted Turner Bridge

After seven years of construction delays and numerous challenges, a pivotal bridge in downtown Atlanta has finally reopened to traffic. This infrastructure project marks a significant milestone in the city’s ongoing efforts to improve mobility and safety.

• Bridge Details:

  • New Name: The Spring Street Bridge has been renamed the Ted Turner Bridge in honor of a prominent Atlanta business leader and former CNN owner.
  • Upgrades Include: A new viaduct and roadway designed to enhance traffic flow and safety, wider crosswalks, and newly added bike lanes that connect key business and entertainment districts.

• Official Remarks:

  • Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens addressed the significance of the reopening during the ribbon-cutting ceremony, stating, “This corridor will support long-term mobility and ongoing efforts to enhance the downtown area” (04:34).

• Collaborative Efforts:

  • The project was a collaborative endeavor involving local and state Departments of Transportation, as well as the Federal Highway Administration. The successful completion underscores the commitment to revitalizing Atlanta’s infrastructure and supporting economic growth by linking essential urban hubs.

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3. Aggressive Behavior in Joro Spiders

The University of Georgia has conducted a new study shedding light on the behavior of the invasive Joro spiders, which have become a common sight across the state in recent years.

• Study Findings:

  • Aggressive Interactions: Contrary to their typically docile nature, some Joro spiders exhibit aggressive behaviors, including cannibalism outside of mating scenarios. This behavior was observed specifically between female spiders.

• Expert Insights:

  • Andy Davis, a research scientist at the University of Georgia's Odum School of Ecology, explained, “JORO spiders aren't native to Georgia, and they're usually unmoving, docile creatures. [...] They started fighting each other” (07:12; 07:28).
  • Sophie Gradis added, “Two spiders side by side and sure enough they started fighting each other” (07:28).

• Ecological Impact:

  • The aggressive behavior presents new challenges in understanding how invasive species like the Joro spider integrate into or disrupt native ecosystems. Ongoing research aims to explore the causes and consequences of these behavioral changes, providing valuable insights for managing the species and protecting Georgia’s ecological balance.

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Additional Highlights

While the episode primarily focuses on the three main topics, it also briefly touches upon other notable events:

• Insurance Premiums Increase: A study indicates that Georgia's insurance premiums may rise by 21% next year due to the expiration of Affordable Care Act subsidies (02:07).

• Educational Policies: Georgia school districts are addressing chronic absenteeism with new state laws and support systems, as highlighted by Macon State Senator John F. Kennedy (03:27).

• Community Initiatives: Atlanta rapper Quavo has launched a new emergency trauma therapy fund through his nonprofit, the Rocket Foundation, in response to recent shootings in the city (05:17).

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Conclusion

The August 1, 2025 episode of Georgia Today offers a nuanced exploration of critical issues affecting the state. From mental health advocacy in Macon and significant infrastructure developments in Atlanta to emerging ecological concerns with the Joro spiders, the podcast provides listeners with comprehensive insights and expert perspectives. These stories highlight the ongoing efforts to improve community well-being, enhance urban environments, and understand the dynamic interactions within Georgia’s ecosystems.

For more detailed reports and updates, listeners are encouraged to visit gpb.org/news.

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Timestamps Reference

• 01:20 - Introduction to Macon's mental health survey
• 01:44 - Amanda Andrews on survey participation
• 01:54 - Andrea Cook on the impact of the survey
• 02:07 - Discussion on insurance premiums
• 03:27 - Insights from Senator John F. Kennedy on absenteeism
• 04:34 - Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens on Ted Turner Bridge
• 05:17 - Quavo’s trauma therapy fund
• 07:12 - Andy Davis on Joro spiders’ aggressive behavior
• 07:28 - Sophie Gradis on spider interactions

(Note: Timestamps are indicative and correspond to the original podcast transcript.)

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 reports from the GPB newsroom. On today's episode, Mental health advocates in Macon have results from a community survey of adverse childhood experiences. After seven years, a bridge in Atlanta reopened to drivers in a rededication ceremony. And a new University of Georgia survey found aggressive behaviors in some Joro spiders.

[Sophie Gradis]

And they happened to release two spiders side by side and sure enough they started eating spider. They started fighting each other.

[Orlando Montoya]

Today is Friday, August 1st. I'm Orlando Montoya and this is Georgia Today. Mental health advocates in Macon Bibb county embarked on their second ever community survey this summer. They measured many of their neighbors adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs score. GPB's Sophie Gradis has more on what.

[Andrea Cook]

They found this year. The team at Macon Mental health matters surveyed 126 adults across 13 zip codes in and around Macon. Most reported in aces score of 0 to 6. The average score for Makin Bib proper was 3.53, falling on the lower end of the scale that measures abuse, trauma and neglect experienced as a kid. But the sample size is still small. Survey lead Andrea Cook told city leaders this week.

[Amanda Andrews]

We're happy about the number of respondents that responses that we got, but it would be so much more impactful if we were able to reach more people.

[Andrea Cook]

Especially in more vulnerable zip codes. For now, the survey offers a way for Cook and others to connect people to resources like counseling or group therapy. For GPB News, I'm Sophie Gratas.

[Orlando Montoya]

A study from the nonpartisan Healthcare Research Group says Georgia insurance premiums could rise by 21% next year. A key reason is the expiration of Affordable Care act subsidies originally passed by Congress in 2021. Those subsidies are expected to expire at the end of the year unless lawmakers extend them. Georgia U.S. senator Jon Ossoff says federal lawmakers need to act on a solution while Georgians brace for higher costs.

[Jon Ossoff]

We're talking about thousands of dollars per year, more that Georgia families will pay to get health insurance for ourselves and for our kids when folks are already having trouble making ends meet, the KFF.

[Orlando Montoya]

Study says Georgia's 21% expected increase is higher than the median 15% expected rise in 20 states as students return to class for a new school year. Georgia school districts are implementing a new state law aimed at tackling chronic absenteeism. About 21% of Georgia students, or 360,000 in total, were chronically absent, missing 18 days or more of school last year. A legislative committee, including Macon State Senator John F. Kennedy, is studying the issue over the summer, trying to get to the root causes.

[Jon Ossoff]

I think it can be everything from mental health issues. It can be unstable housing that students are facing. It could be unreliable transportation issues and problems there. And sometimes it may just be a lack of connection that the student has with their school.

[Orlando Montoya]

The new law creates court overseen review teams to monitor local absenteeism policies and also prohibit schools from expelling students solely for attendance violations. The Grand Opera House in Macon is set to undergo renovations. A marketing official for Mercer University, which operates the venue, says the changes will be focused on backstage areas. Funding comes from Macon Bibb county, which published documents in late July seeking a construction partner. After seven years and many detours, downtown Atlanta bridge is finally reopened to traffic. The ribbon cutting yesterday highlights continued investment in a key corridor linking business and entertainment hubs. GPB's Amanda Andrews reports. The bridge also has a new name.

[Amanda Andrews]

The Spring Street Bridge is now the Ted Turner Bridge, honoring one of the city's most famous business leaders and former owner of cnn. The upgrades include a new viaduct and roadway focusing on improving traffic flow and safety. The area also features wider crosswalks and new bike lanes linking businesses and entertainment districts. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens spoke at the project's ribbon cutting. He says this corridor will support long term mobility and ongoing efforts to enhance the downtown area. The project was a partnership between the local and state departments of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. For GPB news, I'm Amanda Andrews.

[Orlando Montoya]

Atlanta rapper Quavo is launching a new emergency trauma therapy fund through his nonprofit the Rocket foundation after a weekend that saw dozens of shootings in the city of Atlanta. The fund honors two victims with ties to the foundation, 18 year old DeShawn Johnson, a former Rocket Camp attendee, and Aaron Coach Ball Hines, a mentor with the Offender Alumni Association. Quavos foundation is partnering with local groups to provide trauma informed therapy for youth and families affected by gun violence. Earlier this week, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens addressed the weekend violence after one person was found dead and 10 others were injured after a shooting in the Sweet Auburn neighborhood of Atlanta. Former Food Network star Paula Deen has abruptly closed the Savannah restaurant that she started with her two sons nearly three decades ago. In a statement on her social media today, Dean said that she and her sons, Jamie and Bobby Dean, had made the heartfelt decision to close the lady and Sons and another Savannah restaurant, the Chicken Box. No reason was given. Four other restaurants that she owns in other states will remain open. The iconic lady and sons opened in 1996 and helped launch Dean's fame, bringing more attention and visitors to Savannah. Her Food Network show premiered in 2002 and ran for a decade. Time now to turn our attention to the creepy crawlies of living in Georgia. For the better part of the last decade, people here have reported seeing yellow striped Joro spiders perched on webs. A new study from the University of Georgia finds some of these normally peaceful spiders can be aggressive. GPB's Chase McGee has more.

[Andy Davis]

JORO spiders aren't native to Georgia, and they're usually unmoving, docile creatures. Andy Davis is a research scientist at the University of Georgia's Odum School of Ecology. He says his team of researchers recently learned that some joras turn hostile in stressful situations and they happened to release.

[Sophie Gradis]

Two spiders side by side and sure enough, they started fighting each other.

[Andy Davis]

Dr. Davis notes the behavior is an unusual case of cannibalism outside of mating, and so far it's only been observed between female Joro spiders. He says it's worth studying as we learn more about these invasive spiders in our native ecosystems. For GPB news, I'm Chase McGee.

[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]

In Georgia sports, the Atlanta Braves will face the Cincinnati Reds tomorrow in the first ever Major League Baseball game in Tennessee. The Speedway Classic at Bristol Motor Speedway is expected to set a single game regular season attendance record. More than 85,000 tickets have been sold. And that's it for today's edition of Georgia Today. For more Georgia news, visit gpb.org news we always remind you to hit subscribe on this podcast so you stay current with us in your feed and send feedback to georgia todaypb.org we love constructive criticism and positive comments as well. I'm Orlando Montoya. Hope you have a great weekend we'll be back again next week with more. Georgia Today.

[Pamela Kirkland]

When a massive chemical fire erupted at the Biolab facility in Conyers, thick smoke filled the air, forcing evacuations. But for many, it wasn't the first time, and it wouldn't be the last. I'm Pamela Kirkland. In GPB's new podcast, Manufacturing the Biolab Story, I investigate what caused the fire, the response, and what it means for Conyers residents today. Listen at gpb. Org Podcast or wherever you get your podcast.