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[00:04]
Peter Biello
Welcome to the Georgia Today Podcast. Here we bring you the latest reports from the GPB newsroom. On today's episode, a teacher gets a settlement after being punished for comments she made after Charlie Kirk's assassination. The National Park Service has reopened the Martin Luther King Jr. Birth home and a new drug targets a particularly aggressive form of breast cancer.
[00:23]
Dr. Kevin Kalinsky
Essentially a smart drug. That is the way that your GPS tells you where to go is the way that this drug works.
[00:32]
Peter Biello
Today is Monday, July 6th. I'm Peter Biello and this is GEORGIA Today. The public school system in northeast Georgia's Oglethorpe county has agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by a teacher who claims she was punished for comments she made in the wake of political commentator Charlie Kirk's assassination. GPB's Chase McGee reports.
[00:53]
Chase McGee
After Kirk's death, high school teacher Michelle Mickens posted on her personal Facebook page a verbatim quote by Kirk. In the online discussion that followed, she criticized the right wing activist while also condemning political violence. Her school placed her on leave. In a lawsuit that followed, Mickens claimed the school system had no social media policy and that teachers who publicly supported Kirk did not face any consequences. Her attorneys argued the system violated her constitutional rights to free speech and equal protection. The settlement, reviewed by GPB through an open records request, says that Mickens and her attorneys will receive $300,000 while Mickens resigns and the school system denies her allegations. For GPB news, I'm Chase McGee.
[01:35]
Peter Biello
Atlanta Congresswoman Nekima Williams wants the FBI and U.S. justice Department to explain the reported reassignment of law enforcement agents to investigate the 2020 election in Georgia. The Associated Press obtained a memo last week that calls for a surge of 260 investigators and other staff to the effort. Georgia ballots in that year's presidential race were counted three times, including once by hand, each time reaffirming Democrat Joe Biden's win. In a letter dated Thursday, Williams condemned the effort and asked Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Cash Patel to explain it. Ten people died on Georgia roadways over the Fourth of July holiday weekend while no boating deaths were reported. Injuries included a woman who was critically wounded inside her house by celebratory gunfire in metro Atlanta's DeKalb County. Two people have been arrested in that case. Two people were seriously injured when a tree fell during a storm at the metro Atlanta amusement park. Flags over Georgia. A Delta Air Lines flight and a high flying firework reportedly came into contact in the sky above Chicago as the city celebrated the Fourth of July holiday. The pilot of Delta Flight 1076 notified air traffic controllers just before landing at Chicago Midway International Airport on Saturday night that a firework hit the commercial airliner. Both the Federal Aviation Administration and Delta said the plane landed safely. Delta says none of the 52 passengers or six crew members were injured and mechanics found no damage to the aircraft. Early voting began today in a special election to fill the seat of the late metro Atlanta Congressman David Scott, who died in April. Six candidates are on the ballot, including Scott's daughter, three other Democrats and two Republicans. Research from Emory University has contributed to a new FDA approved treatment for a specific type of aggressive breast cancer. GPB's Ellen Eldredge has more metastatic triple
[03:32]
Ellen Eldredge
negative Breast cancer is a fast progressing disease with poor prognosis and limited treatment options. Dr. Kevin Kalinsky is the director of the Division of Medical Oncology at Emory's Winship Cancer Institute. He says the treatment combines an immune boosting drug with another that targets cancer cells.
[03:49]
Dr. Kevin Kalinsky
So that is essentially a smart drug. That is the way that your GPS tells you where to go is the way that this drug works is it targets this protein and directly delivers chemo to that cancer cell.
[04:02]
Ellen Eldredge
The newly approved treatment is for people recently diagnosed with this most aggressive subtype of breast cancer. For GPB News, I'm Ellen Eldredge.
[04:13]
NPR Planet Money Announcer
Each story you hear on Planet Money starts with a question. 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 start seeing how the economy really works.
[04:55]
Peter Biello
The National Park Service has reopened the Martin Luther King Jr. Birth home for public tours after three years of renovations. King and his family lived in the 1895 structure in Atlanta's Sweet Auburn neighborhood until 1941, when the future civil rights leader was 12 years old. The Park Service acquired it in 2018, making it part of the larger King National Historic Park. Rehabilitation included improvements to the building's structure, interiors, accessibility and visitor entrance. The King family joined Park Service officials at a reopening celebration on the Fourth of July. Georgia wildlife officials say bald eagles had another successful nesting season this year. Reporting from the Current in Savannah says the Department of Natural Resources found above average nesting success in every area it surveyed. Chatham county had 29 occupied nests, more than any other county surveyed this year. Officials estimate Georgia has had more than 200 bald eagle nests each year since 2015. As the summer heat wave continues, a statewide conservation group is inviting Georgians to cool off in several rivers. The organization Georgia Rivers on Friday released its annual list of canoe and kayak opportunities for the summer and fall. The paddling, fishing, camping and other adventures include excursions on eight Georgia rivers, from the Toccoa river near Blue Ridge to the Suwannee river in the Okefenokee Swamp. The group says their annual Trips introduce about 1,000 people to Georgia rivers each year. World cup fever is translating into a big boost in sales for some Atlanta bars and restaurants. Many soccer leaning bars, breweries and eateries adjacent to large fan events like the Decatur watchfest and the FIFA Fan Festival in downtown Atlanta say they've experienced what one pub owner called lightning in a bottle. The events are winding down, however, with just two matches left in Atlanta and 14 matches left in the tournament overall. Graves, catcher Drake Baldwin and second baseman Ozzy Albies have been named starters in next week's Major League Baseball All Star Game in Philadelphia. It'll be Baldwin's first trip to the All Star Game and he becomes the fourth Braves catcher to win a fan election, joining Javi Lopez, Brian McCann and Sean Murphy. It'll be Ozzy Albi's fourth All Star game. Aside from the starters, Braves first baseman Matt Olson and relief pitcher Ricell Iglesias were named All Stars. The game is scheduled for Tuesday, July 14. That is a wrap on Georgia Today. Thank you so much for tuning in. We hope you had a great Fourth of July holiday weekend. If you want to learn more about any of these stories, go to gpb.org news and remember to subscribe to this podcast because we will be back in your feed. Subscribe tomorrow afternoon. If you've got feedback, we'd love to hear from you. Email us@georgia todaypb.org I'm Peter Biello. Thanks again for listening. We will see you tomorrow.

Summary4 min read

Georgia Today Podcast Summary

Episode Title: Holiday fatalities; MLK Jr. home reopens; Kirk lawsuit settled
Host: Peter Biello, Georgia Public Broadcasting
Date: July 6, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of Georgia Today delivers a snapshot of important news across Georgia, including a legal settlement over a teacher's social media comments, the reopening of Martin Luther King Jr.'s birth home, recent holiday fatalities, breakthrough cancer research at Emory, and updates on wildlife, local events, and sports.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Legal Settlement in Oglethorpe County Teacher Case

Background: High school teacher Michelle Mickens was placed on leave after posting criticism of political commentator Charlie Kirk (posthumously) on Facebook, then sued the Oglethorpe County school system.
Settlement Details:
- The school agreed to pay Mickens and her attorneys $300,000.
- Mickens is resigning as part of the settlement; the school denies wrongdoing.
- Her attorneys argued her rights to free speech and equal protection were violated, especially in light of no clear social media policy and unequal discipline.
Reporter Insight:

“Her attorneys argued the system violated her constitutional rights to free speech and equal protection.” — Chase McGee [00:52]

2. Calls for Transparency in 2020 Election Investigation

News: Congresswoman Nikema Williams demands explanations on the federal reassignment of agents to 2020 election probes in Georgia.
Details:
- The Associated Press obtained a memo revealing 260 staff surging to review 2020 election processes, despite Georgia’s votes being recounted three times, all confirming Biden's win.
- Williams' letter sought clarity from Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Cash Patel.
(No direct quotes provided; story summarized by Peter Biello) [01:34]

3. Holiday Weekend Fatalities and Accidents

Traffic & Other Incidents:
- Ten fatalities on Georgia roadways during July 4th weekend.
- No boating deaths reported.
- One woman critically wounded by celebratory gunfire; two arrests made.
- Two injured at "Flags over Georgia" amusement park due to a falling tree during a storm.
- Delta Flight 1076 hit by fireworks above Chicago; no injuries or damage.
The segment highlights safety concerns around holiday celebrations. [01:34]

4. Special Election in Metro Atlanta

Background: Early voting begins to fill the late Rep. David Scott’s seat.
Candidates: Six on the ballot, including Scott’s daughter, three other Democrats, and two Republicans.

5. Breakthrough Breast Cancer Drug from Emory

Disease Focus: Metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), which has poor prognosis and limited options.
Treatment Details:
- Combines an immune-boosting drug with a targeted "smart drug" to deliver chemotherapy directly to cancer cells.
Expert Explanation:

“That is the way that your GPS tells you where to go is the way that this drug works… targets this protein and directly delivers chemo to that cancer cell.” — Dr. Kevin Kalinsky [03:48]

6. Martin Luther King Jr. Birth Home Reopens

Event: National Park Service reopens the 1895 King family home after three years of renovations, including structure, interiors, and accessibility improvements.
Celebration: King family and Park Service officials attended the Fourth of July reopening.
Historic Significance: The home is part of the larger King National Historic Park and symbolizes critical civil rights heritage.
Narrated by Peter Biello [04:54]

7. Georgia Wildlife Update: Bald Eagles

Positive News: Bald eagles experience above-average nesting success.
Stats: Over 200 nests recorded annually since 2015, with Chatham County leading in 2026 at 29 nests.

8. Summer River Activities

Announcement: Georgia Rivers, a statewide conservation group, releases a list of summer and fall paddle trips on eight rivers, including the Toccoa and Suwannee.
Goal: To introduce about 1,000 people annually to Georgia’s rivers.

9. World Cup Boosts Atlanta Businesses

Impact: Soccer-related events bring a surge of customers to Atlanta bars and restaurants.
Quote:

“Lightning in a bottle,” one pub owner described the business uptick.
Tournaments: Only two matches left in Atlanta and 14 overall.

10. Atlanta Braves All-Star Selections

Achievements: Drake Baldwin (catcher) earns first All-Star start; Ozzy Albies (second baseman) makes his fourth appearance; Matt Olson and Ricell Iglesias also named All-Stars.
Game Date: Scheduled for July 14 in Philadelphia.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On the new breast cancer treatment:

“That is essentially a smart drug. That is the way that your GPS tells you where to go is the way that this drug works; it targets this protein and directly delivers chemo to that cancer cell.”
— Dr. Kevin Kalinsky, [03:48]
On settlement and constitutional rights:

“Her attorneys argued the system violated her constitutional rights to free speech and equal protection.”
— Chase McGee, [00:52]
Atlanta business uptick described as:

“Lightning in a bottle,”
— Atlanta pub owner (recounted by Peter Biello), [Podcast midsection]

Key Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|-------------------------------------------| | 00:03 | Introduction and episode preview | | 00:52 | Oglethorpe teacher settlement story | | 01:34 | Congresswoman Williams & 2020 investigation| | 01:42 | Fourth of July fatalities & incidents | | 02:45 | Special Metro Atlanta election | | 03:32 | Breast cancer research from Emory | | 03:48 | Dr. Kevin Kalinsky’s explanation | | 04:54 | MLK Jr. house reopens & local events |

Conclusion

This episode captures Georgia's pulse—from pressing legal and political stories, public safety issues, and breakthroughs in health, to celebrations of heritage and success in sports and conservation. With its mix of hard news and feel-good updates, the show delivers value to listeners wanting a thorough, news-forward snapshot of the state. For more details, visit gpb.org/news.

Loading summary

Transcript10 lines

[00:04]
Peter Biello
Welcome to the Georgia Today Podcast. Here we bring you the latest reports from the GPB newsroom. On today's episode, a teacher gets a settlement after being punished for comments she made after Charlie Kirk's assassination. The National Park Service has reopened the Martin Luther King Jr. Birth home and a new drug targets a particularly aggressive form of breast cancer.
[00:23]
Dr. Kevin Kalinsky
Essentially a smart drug. That is the way that your GPS tells you where to go is the way that this drug works.
[00:32]
Peter Biello
Today is Monday, July 6th. I'm Peter Biello and this is GEORGIA Today. The public school system in northeast Georgia's Oglethorpe county has agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by a teacher who claims she was punished for comments she made in the wake of political commentator Charlie Kirk's assassination. GPB's Chase McGee reports.
[00:53]
Chase McGee
After Kirk's death, high school teacher Michelle Mickens posted on her personal Facebook page a verbatim quote by Kirk. In the online discussion that followed, she criticized the right wing activist while also condemning political violence. Her school placed her on leave. In a lawsuit that followed, Mickens claimed the school system had no social media policy and that teachers who publicly supported Kirk did not face any consequences. Her attorneys argued the system violated her constitutional rights to free speech and equal protection. The settlement, reviewed by GPB through an open records request, says that Mickens and her attorneys will receive $300,000 while Mickens resigns and the school system denies her allegations. For GPB news, I'm Chase McGee.
[01:35]
Peter Biello
Atlanta Congresswoman Nekima Williams wants the FBI and U.S. justice Department to explain the reported reassignment of law enforcement agents to investigate the 2020 election in Georgia. The Associated Press obtained a memo last week that calls for a surge of 260 investigators and other staff to the effort. Georgia ballots in that year's presidential race were counted three times, including once by hand, each time reaffirming Democrat Joe Biden's win. In a letter dated Thursday, Williams condemned the effort and asked Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Cash Patel to explain it. Ten people died on Georgia roadways over the Fourth of July holiday weekend while no boating deaths were reported. Injuries included a woman who was critically wounded inside her house by celebratory gunfire in metro Atlanta's DeKalb County. Two people have been arrested in that case. Two people were seriously injured when a tree fell during a storm at the metro Atlanta amusement park. Flags over Georgia. A Delta Air Lines flight and a high flying firework reportedly came into contact in the sky above Chicago as the city celebrated the Fourth of July holiday. The pilot of Delta Flight 1076 notified air traffic controllers just before landing at Chicago Midway International Airport on Saturday night that a firework hit the commercial airliner. Both the Federal Aviation Administration and Delta said the plane landed safely. Delta says none of the 52 passengers or six crew members were injured and mechanics found no damage to the aircraft. Early voting began today in a special election to fill the seat of the late metro Atlanta Congressman David Scott, who died in April. Six candidates are on the ballot, including Scott's daughter, three other Democrats and two Republicans. Research from Emory University has contributed to a new FDA approved treatment for a specific type of aggressive breast cancer. GPB's Ellen Eldredge has more metastatic triple
[03:32]
Ellen Eldredge
negative Breast cancer is a fast progressing disease with poor prognosis and limited treatment options. Dr. Kevin Kalinsky is the director of the Division of Medical Oncology at Emory's Winship Cancer Institute. He says the treatment combines an immune boosting drug with another that targets cancer cells.
[03:49]
Dr. Kevin Kalinsky
So that is essentially a smart drug. That is the way that your GPS tells you where to go is the way that this drug works is it targets this protein and directly delivers chemo to that cancer cell.
[04:02]
Ellen Eldredge
The newly approved treatment is for people recently diagnosed with this most aggressive subtype of breast cancer. For GPB News, I'm Ellen Eldredge.
[04:13]
NPR Planet Money Announcer
Each story you hear on Planet Money starts with a question. 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 start seeing how the economy really works.
[04:55]
Peter Biello
The National Park Service has reopened the Martin Luther King Jr. Birth home for public tours after three years of renovations. King and his family lived in the 1895 structure in Atlanta's Sweet Auburn neighborhood until 1941, when the future civil rights leader was 12 years old. The Park Service acquired it in 2018, making it part of the larger King National Historic Park. Rehabilitation included improvements to the building's structure, interiors, accessibility and visitor entrance. The King family joined Park Service officials at a reopening celebration on the Fourth of July. Georgia wildlife officials say bald eagles had another successful nesting season this year. Reporting from the Current in Savannah says the Department of Natural Resources found above average nesting success in every area it surveyed. Chatham county had 29 occupied nests, more than any other county surveyed this year. Officials estimate Georgia has had more than 200 bald eagle nests each year since 2015. As the summer heat wave continues, a statewide conservation group is inviting Georgians to cool off in several rivers. The organization Georgia Rivers on Friday released its annual list of canoe and kayak opportunities for the summer and fall. The paddling, fishing, camping and other adventures include excursions on eight Georgia rivers, from the Toccoa river near Blue Ridge to the Suwannee river in the Okefenokee Swamp. The group says their annual Trips introduce about 1,000 people to Georgia rivers each year. World cup fever is translating into a big boost in sales for some Atlanta bars and restaurants. Many soccer leaning bars, breweries and eateries adjacent to large fan events like the Decatur watchfest and the FIFA Fan Festival in downtown Atlanta say they've experienced what one pub owner called lightning in a bottle. The events are winding down, however, with just two matches left in Atlanta and 14 matches left in the tournament overall. Graves, catcher Drake Baldwin and second baseman Ozzy Albies have been named starters in next week's Major League Baseball All Star Game in Philadelphia. It'll be Baldwin's first trip to the All Star Game and he becomes the fourth Braves catcher to win a fan election, joining Javi Lopez, Brian McCann and Sean Murphy. It'll be Ozzy Albi's fourth All Star game. Aside from the starters, Braves first baseman Matt Olson and relief pitcher Ricell Iglesias were named All Stars. The game is scheduled for Tuesday, July 14. That is a wrap on Georgia Today. Thank you so much for tuning in. We hope you had a great Fourth of July holiday weekend. If you want to learn more about any of these stories, go to gpb.org news and remember to subscribe to this podcast because we will be back in your feed. Subscribe tomorrow afternoon. If you've got feedback, we'd love to hear from you. Email us@georgia todaypb.org I'm Peter Biello. Thanks again for listening. We will see you tomorrow.