Georgia Today – March 24, 2026
Host: Peter Biello | Georgia Public Broadcasting

Episode Overview

This episode of Georgia Today brings updates on key issues affecting Georgia:

• The mixed public response to the deployment of ICE agents at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport amidst long TSA security lines due to a government shutdown.
• Legal doubts surrounding the murder charge against a Georgia mother arrested for an alleged illegal abortion.
• The Georgia Senate’s approval of a bill that could make Daylight Saving Time permanent in the state.
• Additional local stories, including the aftermath of a courthouse fire, a traveling exhibit of founding documents, and Atlanta music icon India Arie’s reflection on her career.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

ICE and TSA at Atlanta Airport

[00:35–01:42]

• Amid ongoing government shutdown, TSA agents remain unpaid, leading to staffing shortages and long security lines.
• ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents have been deployed, but their role and necessity are questioned.
• On the Ground: Most ICE agents were seen patrolling rather than assisting TSA directly.
  • Sam Rosales (Traveler):

    "It's very unsettling to have them in the presence of everyday stuff, not really protecting borders in Atlanta." (01:12)

• Public Protest:
  • Around 40 people protested the ICE presence, with City Councilperson Kelsey Bond also denouncing a new detention center.
    • Kelsey Bond:

      "We want to be proactive and send a message before there's a massive ICE..." (01:29)

• City Leadership: Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens clarified that ICE reports to TSA while stationed there.

Notable Quote:

• State Senator Bo Hatchet (regarding Daylight Saving, repeated here but also relevant for government disruption):

  "The evidence that this system does what it was originally intended to do is weak and at best. But the evidence that it disrupts people's lives, that is overwhelming." (00:24, 03:48)

Congressional Services and TSA Delays

[01:42–02:45]

• Delta Air Lines suspends special services (including airport escorts) for Congress members due to strains caused by the shutdown.
  • "Taking care of our people and customers...has become increasingly difficult in the current environment."
• TSA agent call-outs severely impact traveler wait times; over 37% of agents at Atlanta called out.
• Senate voted to halt Congress members’ ability to skip security, intensifying lines, with no resolution in sight.

Legal Doubts Surrounding Abortion-Related Murder Charge

[02:45–03:48]

• Camden County’s Alexia Moore is the first Georgia mother to face a murder charge under new abortion laws.
• Judicial Response:
  • The judge voiced skepticism that a conviction was possible and set bail at $1.
  • The prosecutor labeled the charge “problematic,” noting it came from police without his office’s backing.
• Emotional toll noted as Moore was visibly distressed during her court appearance.

Daylight Saving Time: Move to Permanent DST

[03:48–03:58 & 03:48–03:58, 03:48–03:58]

• Georgia State Senate passes a bill to adopt year-round Daylight Saving Time by moving from Eastern to Atlantic Time Zone (thus avoiding needing Congressional approval), needing only the U.S. Secretary of Transportation’s sign-off.

• Bo Hatchet (Senator, Republican):

  "The evidence that this system does what it was originally intended to do is weak at best, but the evidence that it disrupts people's lives that is overwhelming." (03:48)

• Would make Georgia two hours ahead of Alabama; bill now goes to the House.

Local News Highlights

Floyd County Courthouse Fire

[04:30–04:48]

• Fire destroyed Rome’s historic courthouse (built in 1892); no injuries reported.
• County officials uncertain if anything can be salvaged.
  • Wright Bagby (Former Chairman):

    “You don’t want to lose your history and that’s a strong part of our history.” (04:30)

Founding Era Documents on Display

[05:20–05:54]

• Nine historic documents (incl. 1789 Senate markup of Bill of Rights) arrive in Atlanta for the country’s 250th anniversary exhibit.
• Sheffield Hale (Atlanta History Center CEO):

  "Atlanta has become an emblem of the 21st-century South...doing the hard work of attempting to meet the ideals first set forth on paper 250 years ago." (05:41)

• Over 14,000 already registered to attend.

Inland Port and Braves’ TV Deal

[06:08–07:13]

• Georgia Ports’ $134M inland port in Gainesville opens May 4 to boost rail links, cut truck traffic.
• Atlanta Braves launch “Braves Vision” cable channel—over 140 games in 2026, new streaming plan with no blackouts.

India Arie’s “Acoustic Soul” 25th Anniversary

[07:13–10:50]

• India Arie reflects on her breakthrough 2001 album and Atlanta’s music scene before 9/11 and social media.

  • India Arie:

    “We were a collective of young people on the same wavelength...just learning, but with the backdrop of us all being very serious about our music.” (07:37)

• On songwriting with late collaborator Blue Miller:

  • “He did that all the time...that round part—’come back, come back, come back to the middle’—that was Blue.” (08:34)

• Discussed honoring ancestors and musical influences (Marvin Gaye, Donny Hathaway, Stevie Wonder).

  • “When times get hard, call on them. And so doing it musically just ended up being a me thing, this confluence of all the things that I was.” (09:18)

  • On Stevie Wonder:

    “He was the blueprint for a lot of us—still is. I remember thinking, I could do that first. I need to do this before somebody else does it.” (10:08)

• Reflects on meaning of the album 25 years later:

  • “Maybe at 25 years, I can [take all my flowers].” (10:35)

• India Arie to perform “Acoustic Soul” in its entirety at Atlanta’s Center Stage Theater (March 29 & April 3).

Memorable Quotes

• Sam Rosales (Traveler, on ICE at ATL):

  "It's very unsettling to have them in the presence of everyday stuff, not really protecting borders in Atlanta." (01:12)

• Sen. Bo Hatchet:

  "The evidence that this system does what it was originally intended to do is weak at best, but the evidence that it disrupts people's lives that is overwhelming." (00:24, 03:48)

• Wright Bagby (On Courthouse Fire):

  "...you don't want to lose your history and that's a strong part of our history." (04:30)

• India Arie:

  “We were a collective of young people on the same wavelength and later we ended up being called Neo Soul...it was just all about the craft and learning how to be in community with people.” (07:37)
  “He [Blue Miller] did that all the time...that round part—‘come back, come back, come back to the middle’—that was Blue.” (08:34)
  “He [Stevie Wonder] was the blueprint for a lot of us—still is. I remember thinking, I could do that first.” (10:08)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• ICE & TSA at ATL: [00:35–01:42]
• Congressional Airport Perks/Shutdown Impact: [01:42–02:45]
• Georgia Abortion Law/Murder Charge Doubts: [02:45–03:48]
• Daylight Saving Time Bill: [03:48–03:58]
• Floyd County Courthouse Fire: [04:30–04:48]
• Founding Documents in Atlanta: [05:20–05:54]
• Inland Port/Braves TV launch: [06:08–07:13]
• India Arie’s Retrospective: [07:13–10:50]

Tone

The episode balances sober reporting on contentious and impactful state issues with moments of local pride and cultural reflection, consistent with GPB’s community-oriented, in-depth tone. India Arie’s segment adds warmth and a personal, reflective note to close out the edition.

For further information, visit gpb.org/news and access updates and community news.