I-285 weekend closure; Last day of early voting; Starbucks closes Atlanta office

Summary

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Georgia Today Podcast: Episode Summary

Date: May 15, 2026
Host: Peter Biello (Georgia Public Broadcasting)
Episode Focus:
This episode centers on important statewide updates, including major logistical changes in Atlanta (I-285 closure), the final push for Georgia's primary early voting, shifts affecting local workers (Starbucks closure), positive environmental adaptations amid a drought, cultural highlights, and upcoming community events.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. I-285 Weekend Closure and Traffic Updates

[00:31 – 01:14, 08:55 - 09:57]

• A two-mile stretch of Interstate 285 in metro Atlanta—from Cascade Road to Martin Luther King Jr. Drive—will be fully closed for construction all weekend (Friday 7pm to Monday 5am).
• All lanes both northbound and southbound will be affected, with detours sending traffic downtown via Interstates 20, 75/85, and Langford Parkway.
• The closure had been postponed from last weekend due to weather delays.
  • Reminders: The closure coincides with several major festivals, so travelers are warned of possible heavy traffic.
  • "Remember, the Triple 285 closure near Atlanta this weekend may make travel tougher than usual." (Peter Biello, 09:45)

2. Georgia's Primary Election: End of Early Voting

[00:23, 01:14 – 02:00]

• Today is the final day for early voting ahead of Tuesday’s primary election.
• Candidates are making a last push statewide to motivate voters.
• Notable candidate moments:
  • Keisha Lance Bottoms (Democratic governor candidate):
    • "The challenges that we are facing in this state are not challenges that I have ever experienced in my lifetime." (Keisha Lance Bottoms, 01:29)
  • Derek Dooley (Republican senate candidate):
    • "It's going to take a new leadership to go up there for the right reasons, and that's why I'm doing it." (Derek Dooley, 01:39)
• Over 700,000 Georgians have already voted.
• Information about runoffs and polling logistics is shared; some races expected to go to a runoff on June 16th.

3. Election Resource

[02:00]

• GPB’s voter guide provides details on candidates and polling locations. Visit gpb.org/election.

4. FIFA World Cup Security Drill

[02:00 – 02:28, 08:55]

• Fulton County Courthouse held an evacuation drill ahead of the Atlanta-hosted FIFA World Cup—first match is just a month away.
• Sheriff Pat Labatt emphasizes preparedness for security challenges, including human trafficking and potential attacks:
  • "You can never train too much and so we did it on a normal day so that both the judges, court personnel, people that visit our courthouse, [and] people that work feel safe and know the evacuation protocols.” (Sheriff Pat Labatt, paraphrased, 02:13)
• The Atlanta Police Department is leading a coordinated multi-agency response.

5. Positive Wetlands Impact During Drought

[02:28 – 03:42]

• Ongoing drought in Georgia, but U.S. Fish and Wildlife biologists see a silver lining: dry conditions allow for increased removal of invasive plants by foot, improving wetland health.
• Biologist Wayne Harris (Savannah National Wildlife Refuge) notes:
  • “We take advantage of these times… get into those areas and do invasive exotic plant control.” (Wayne Harris, 03:23)
  • “If you can go in on foot versus having to take a boat in... it just really, really increases our capacity for doing invasive species control.” (Wayne Harris, 03:34)

6. Starbucks Closes Corporate Office in Atlanta

[03:42 – 04:15]

• Starbucks announces closure of a corporate office in Atlanta as part of a cost-saving initiative affecting 300 jobs across several states.
• No impact on local coffeehouse workers; part of a broader $400 million savings plan. Number of Atlanta layoffs unspecified.

7. Higher Education Leadership Change

[04:15 – 04:30]

• Donald Green, president of Gordon State College, is named president of Valdosta State University.
• He previously led Georgia Highlands College and replaces Richard Carvajal, now president at Cal Poly Pomona.

8. Major Art Exhibition: "American Sublime" at High Museum

[05:03 – 08:46]

• The "American Sublime" exhibition featuring Amy Sherald opens at Atlanta's High Museum.
• Amy Sherald's career highlights:
  • First African American and first woman to win the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery competition (2016).
  • Famed for her portrait of Michelle Obama and her paintings of everyday Americans.
  • “You get a sense of how she was thinking when she was in graduate school from the mid-2000s, and you get to trace her kind of artistic evolution all the way through 2024.” (Angelica Artbelas, 05:31)
  • Sherald on inspiration:
    • “I realized when I saw that work that I wanted to make paintings like that; I was able to see my future in that moment.” (Amy Sherald, 06:31)
  • Sherald on her artistic purpose:
    • “The excellence of what it is to be an everyday American, the people that make the world go round. ... The little H is what really makes everything everything.” (Amy Sherald, 08:23)
• Includes works like her portraits of Michelle Obama and Breonna Taylor.
• The exhibition runs May 15 through September 27.

9. FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour Arrives in Atlanta

[08:55 – 09:25]

• The 18-karat gold World Cup trophy is unveiled at Coca Cola HQ; dignitaries including Governor Brian Kemp and Mayor Andre Dickens in attendance.
• Trophy will be on display through Saturday; free tickets required. Atlanta will host eight matches in the World Cup starting in a month.

10. Spring Festivals Across Georgia

[09:25 – 09:45]

• Diverse events happening statewide:
  • Suds on the Parkway (Fayetteville), Greek Festival (Marietta), Daylily Festival (Adel), Down Home Days Festival (Chickamauga, 52nd year), Mountain Laurel Festival (Clarksville, 64th year), Register Pecan Festival, Jug Festival in Knoxville, and Thunder Over Evans (Augusta).
• Listeners are reminded to check for possible rain and be mindful of traffic delays from the I-285 closure.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Keisha Lance Bottoms:
  “The challenges that we are facing in this state are not challenges that I have ever experienced in my lifetime.” (01:29)
• Derek Dooley:
  “It's going to take a new leadership to go up there for the right reasons, and that's why I'm doing it.” (01:39)
• Wayne Harris (on wetlands):
  “We take advantage of these times like this, get into those areas and do invasive exotic plant control.” (03:23) “If you can go in on foot versus having to take a boat in... it just really, really increases our capacity for doing invasive species control.” (03:34)
• Amy Sherald (on seeing art that represented her):
  “I realized when I saw that work that I wanted to make paintings like that; I was able to see my future in that moment.” (06:31)
• Amy Sherald (on her work):
  “The excellence of what it is to be an everyday American, the people that make the world go round. ... The little H is what really makes everything everything.” (08:23)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• I-285 Closure & Traffic: 00:31 – 01:14, 09:45
• Early Voting & Candidate Quotes: 00:23, 01:14 – 02:00
• World Cup Security Drill: 02:00 – 02:28
• Wetlands/Biology Update: 02:28 – 03:42
• Starbucks Announcement: 03:42 – 04:15
• University Leadership: 04:15 – 04:30
• Amy Sherald Exhibition: 05:03 – 08:46
• World Cup Trophy Tour: 08:55 – 09:25
• Spring Festivals: 09:25 – 09:45

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Tone & Style

The episode maintains a journalistic, community-focused tone, offering timely, practical information mixed with cultural insights and dynamic quotes from local voices. Each story is concise yet informative, balancing facts, expert commentary, and celebration of Georgia’s diversity and resilience.

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Useful Links

• GPB Voter Guide
• High Museum of Art - American Sublime
• Georgia Today Podcast Archive

Transcript

[A]

Foreign.

[B]

Welcome to the Georgia Today Podcast. Here we bring you the latest reports from the GPB newsroom on today's episode. Today is the last day for early voting. The i285 closure that had been scheduled for last weekend is now this weekend and Georgia's wetlands are actually benefiting from this year's drought.

[C]

We take advantage of these times like this, get into those areas and do invasive exotic plant control.

[B]

Today is Friday, May 15th. I'm Peter Biello and this is Georgia Today. Major traffic delays are expected in metro Atlanta this weekend when a two mile section of Interstate 285 closes for construction. The Georgia Department of Transportation says all northbound and southbound lanes from Cascade Road to Martin Luther King Jr. Drive will close from 7pm tonight at through 5am Monday. Traffic will be rerouted downtown by way of Interstates 27585 and Langford Parkway. The closure was originally planned for last weekend but was delayed because of weather. Today's the last day of early voting in Georgia's primary election. GPB's Sarah Kalis reports on the final push of campaigning.

[D]

Candidates are holding events across Georgia to make their final pitch and energize voters to turn out. On Tuesday, Democratic candidate for governor Keisha Lance Bottoms told people in Macon the state needs a strong leader.

[B]

The challenges that we are facing in

[A]

this state are not challenges that I

[E]

have ever experienced in my lifetime, republican

[D]

Senate candidate Derek Dooley told voters in Sandy Springs why he should be their Senate pick.

[C]

It's going to take a new leadership to go up there for the right reasons, and that's why I'm doing it.

[D]

Over 700,000 people have already voted. If you plan to vote on Election Day, you can cast your ballot Tuesday at your assigned polling place between between 7:00am and 7:00pm Several major races are expected to go to a runoff, which will be held on June 16th. For GPB news, I'm Sarah Kallis.

[B]

Find out who's on your ballot, plus information about how and where to vote with GPB's voter guide. Head to gpb.org election to learn more. Law enforcement officers evacuated the Fulton County Courthouse this morning as part of a drill to prepare for the FIFA World Cup. The soccer tournament's first match in Atlanta is now a month away. Fulton County Sheriff Pat Labatt says the games bring a range of security concerns, including human trafficking and attacks on buildings like the Fulton County Justice Center. You can never train too much and so we did it on a normal day so that both the judges, court personnel, people that visit our courthouse. People that work feel safe and know the evacuation protocols, you said. The Atlanta Police Department is leading a coordinated local, state and federal response. Georgia's ongoing drought could have a bright spot when it comes to wetlands. A U.S. fish and Wildlife biologist says the dry spell that started last summer so far hasn't negatively impacted plant and wildlife in the state's estuaries. Biologist Wayne Harris at the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge says he'll worry about that if the drought lasts for years. But in the meantime, we take advantage

[C]

of these times like this, get into those areas and do invasive exotic plant control. So if you can go in on foot versus having to take a boat in to places like that, it just really, really increases our capacity for doing invasive species control.

[B]

The latest drought monitor released yesterday shows severe drought conditions in Georgia holding steady despite recent rains. Starbucks is closing a corporate office in Atlanta as part of a move aimed at shoring up its finances. The coffee giant said today that 300 corporate jobs are being shed across several states. It wasn't clear how many of those were in Atlanta. No coffeehouse employees were affected. The move is expected to save the company $400 million. The president of Gordon State College will become the president of Valdosta State University. The University System of Georgia's Board of Regents named Donald Green to the South Georgia position yesterday. Greene also previously served as president of Georgia Highlands College. He's the permanent replacement for former VSU President Richard Carvajal, who stepped down last year to accept the presidency of California State Polytechnic University.

[F]

You know Every day on Up First, NPR's Golden Globe nominated morning news podcast. We bring you three essential stories. the heart of of each story are questions. 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.

[B]

One of Georgia's most anticipated art exhibitions, American Sublime, opens Today in Atlanta. GPB's Christy York Wooten reports.

[G]

Outside the High Museum in Atlanta, signage is going up for a new show featuring the work of one of Georgia's most famous living artists, Amy Sherrid. Assistant curator Angelica Artbelas stands beside a decal depicting One of the 39 portraits in this mid career retrospective.

[A]

American Sublime, which arrives at the high on May 15, will be a wonderful opportunity for visitors to really get an understanding of Amy's practice and development as an artist. You get a sense of how she was thinking when she was in graduate school from the mid-2000s, and you get to trace her kind of artistic evolution all the way through 2024. So there will be much to see, particularly works that convey her understanding of color, the way that she works with her sitters, the depth and elegance with which she captures them, and also how Amy has just become more and more ambitious with the scale of her works as well.

[G]

Amy Sherrid was born in Columbus, Georgia in 1973 and told PBS in 2023 about her first experience seeing a black person depicted in a painting on a museum wall. It was Bo Bartlet' Object Permanence as

[E]

a sixth grader, my first time going to a museum. When I saw this painting by Beau Bartlett, I was shocked that I was looking at a figure of a black man. He was standing in front of a house. He had on a belt that had like some handyman stuff. I just remember standing there for a few minutes and like, I realized when I saw that work that I wanted to make paintings like that, I was able to see my future in that moment.

[G]

Sherrild studied at Clark Atlanta University, at Spelman College and at the Maryland Institute College of art, and in 2016, she became the first woman and the first African American to win the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery's portrait competition, which ultimately led to the commission of one of Sherrid's most famous works, her portrait of former First Lady Beckham Michelle Obama.

[A]

Here's Art Belaz she sought out to paint her as not only the woman that has gained the recognition that she has because of because she was the first black first lady, but also acknowledging that she is an everyday person. She tries to find a way to capture her sitters in a moment of repose, of quiet dignity. And you really get that when you see the portrait of Mrs. O. Obama.

[G]

Other works in American Sublime include Cheryl's portrait of Breonna Taylor, the woman killed by police in Louisville, Kentucky, in 2020, as well as a recreation of the famous 1945 photograph VJ Day in Times Square. As Cheryl told NewsHour in 2024, her work is a celebration of everyday Americans. And this year, as the country celebrates 250 years, American sublime is a fitting collection.

[E]

Yes, the excellence of what it is to be an everyday American, the people that make the world go round. All of these individuals that are in my portraits stand up as archetypes for that, because we can think about all the big names in the big H of history, but the little H is what really makes everything everything.

[G]

American sublime runs from May 15 through September 27 at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta. For GPB News, I'm Krista Yorke Wooten.

[B]

In Georgia sports, the FIFA World cup trophy tour has arrived in Atlanta. The 18 karat solid gold trophy to be lifted by the soccer tournament's winners in New Jersey on July 19 was unveiled at Coca Cola headquarters in Atlanta yesterday. Among the dignitaries on hand for the unveiling were Governor Brian Kemp, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and Ambassador Andrew Young, who was instrumental in bringing the 1996 Olympic Games to Atlanta as mayor. The trophy will be on display through 9pm tonight and again tomorrow from 2 to 8pm tickets to see it are free, but registration is required. The tour, sponsored by Coca Cola, includes 75 stops across 30 countries. Atlanta will host eight matches in soccer's biggest tournament beginning a month from today. Spring festivals are a great way to get out and enjoy your community or explore a neighboring community. And this weekend has a great lineup of festivals all across the state. Fayetteville is hosting Suds on the Parkway, Marietta has its Greek Festival and Adel is hosting its daylily festival. The 52nd annual Down Home Days Festival is in Chickamauga, and Clarksville is hosting the 64th annual Mountain Laurel Festival. There is the Register Pecan Festival, the Georgia Jug Festival in Knoxville, Georgia and Thunder Over Evans just outside of Augusta. If you do venture out this weekend, be sure to check the weather forecast as you might need an umbrella. And Remember, the Triple 285 closure near Atlanta this weekend may make travel tougher than usual. That's a wrap on a busy week of news. Thanks so much for listening to Georgia today. If you want to learn more about any of these stories, check gpb.org news and subscribe to this podcast because we're coming back with more news on Monday afternoon. Your feedback and story ideas are welcome. Send them to us by email. The address is Georgia [e-mail] I'm Peter Biello. Thank you very much for listening. We'll be back with you on Monday.