New measles case in Fulton; Hyundai plant construction delayed; MARTA upgrades

Summary

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Georgia Today — September 12, 2025

Main Theme:
This episode delivers key updates on a new measles case in Fulton County, construction delays at the Hyundai plant due to an immigration raid, and MARTA transit upgrades in anticipation of Atlanta hosting World Cup events. Additional segments cover the lingering recovery from Hurricane Helene, threats to HBCUs, rising health insurance rates, and local arts and sports news.

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1. New Measles Case in Fulton County

Key Details:

• The Georgia Department of Public Health reported a new measles case in an unvaccinated Fulton County resident who had not traveled abroad ([00:39]).
• Possible exposure sites from Sept 2–11: Georgia State University, Sweetgreen (Midtown), and Inter Atlanta FC soccer practice.
• Contact tracing is underway.
• Sixth case of the year in Georgia; matches all of 2024’s total.

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2. Political Violence & Senator Warnock’s Response

Discussion Points:

• Senator Raphael Warnock addressed the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, decrying the recent “troubling rise in political violence” ([01:44]).
• Warnock linked attacks to threats against democracy and cited the earlier killing of Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband.

Notable Quote:

“There is nothing more anti democratic than political violence. Democracy is about creating space for competing voices and countervailing visions about who we are as one people.”
— Sen. Raphael Warnock [01:44]

• Warnock urged both parties to “turn down the temperature on rhetoric.”

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3. Hurricane Helene: One Year Later

Lawmakers’ Personal Accounts:

• Sen. Harold Jones II (Augusta):

  • Described hard-hit neighborhoods ("like a war zone"), the difficulty of reaching vulnerable residents, and direct involvement in relief efforts ([02:49–03:52]).
  • Recalled constituents’ surprise at a senator visiting personally.

  Quote:

  “He didn’t think I was coming... people really weren’t kind of looking at them. So that’s why he was so surprised that I was actually coming out there. But I did and so we were able to get those folks some help.”
  — Harold Jones II [03:01]

• Rep. Bill Werkheiser (South Georgia):

  • Hurricane seemed routine at first, but endured three and a half hours of destruction ([04:00]).
  • Described ongoing cleanup, with “mounds and mounds of trees,” blue tarps on houses, and FEMA money running out ([04:23–05:21]).

  Quote:

  “I’ll never forget this lasted three and a half hours of just insane intensity, you know, 80 miles per hour.”
  — Bill Werkheiser [04:00]

  “Donna, you wouldn’t believe the number of houses that still have blue tarps on their roofs.”
  — Werkheiser [04:23]

Local Official Perspective:

“That’s just the life you live as an elected official, though.”
— Harold Jones II, on serving constituents despite also lacking resources [05:29]

Further Listening:

• Complete interviews on the Battleground Ballot Box podcast.

NGO Response One Year Later ([06:21]):

• UMCOR and similar organizations still assisting.

• Kelly Crane (United Methodist Conference): Slow disaster responses may cause depopulation as residents leave for good.

  Quote:

  “We want to help them rebuild quickly and cost effectively so that we can keep kids in schools and businesses open.”
  — Kelly Crane (via Sophie Gradas) [06:45]

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4. HBCU Threats and Law Enforcement Response

• Threats targeted multiple HBCUs, including Clark Atlanta University, leading to lockdowns ([07:08]).
• No injuries reported; FBI is investigating and taking threats seriously.

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5. MARTA Upgrades Ahead of World Cup

Key Upgrades Announced ([07:43]):

• New fare system and gates
• Redesigned bus network
• New trains
• Rollout now delayed to April (originally Jan) to consolidate upgrades and minimize rider disruptions

Quote:

“Let’s all try to target and hit April and have that one impact. That way we can deploy our resources on site across the system to help with bus network redesign through our transit ambassadors.”
— Jonathan Hunt, Interim CEO [08:07]

• Goal: Efficient crowd flow for thousands of visiting soccer fans.
• Atlanta’s first World Cup match: June 11, 2026.

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6. Hyundai Auto Plant Delays After Immigration Raid

Latest Developments ([08:33]):

• Immigration raid at a battery factory under construction delayed Hyundai plant’s opening by 2–3 months.

• Announcement made at Automotive News Congress by Executive Chair Lee Sun Chung.

• 475 arrested/detained (including ~300 Koreans); returned to South Korea.

• US and Korean officials working to improve “complicated” visa policies.

  Quote:

  “The visa regulation is very complicated and I hope we can make together a better system.”
  — Hyundai Executive Chair Lee Sun Chung (as reported by Sophie Gradas) [09:02]

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7. Georgia Health Insurance Premium Increases

Key Points ([09:46]):

• Health advocates warn of significant insurance premium hikes next year.

• Continuation of federal budget cuts and the end of COVID-19 tax credits fueling increases.

• Example: A 60-year-old making $65k/year may see rates rise from $460/month (with tax credit) to over $1,400/month.

  Quote:

  “Without the premium tax credit that shoots up not just to the $1,000 a month of a few years ago, but now more than $1,400 a month.”
  — Anthony Wright, Families USA [09:46]

• Impacts a wide range of self-employed and gig economy workers.

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8. Atlanta Dream Partnerships and WNBA Playoffs

• Atlanta Dream announces new business partnerships ahead of playoffs ([10:03]).
• Local bars/restaurants, including McCrae’s Tavern, Jolene Jolene, and Brake Pad, signed on.
• Dream is only WNBA franchise in Southeast; expected playoffs boost for local business.

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9. Georgia Symphony Orchestra Season Openers

Arts Update ([11:20]):

• Orchestras across the state launching their concert seasons.

• Savannah Philharmonic highlighted, opening with Barber’s Adagio for Strings—which gained prominence at JFK’s funeral and has multiple arrangements.

  Quote:

  “Beautiful, beautiful piece. No matter the orchestration.”
  — John Lemley [11:20]

• More details and previews available at GPB’s website.

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Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• “This is the sixth case of measles reported in Georgia so far this year, matching the total number reported in 2024.”
  — Sophie Gradas [00:39]
• “Democracy is about creating space for competing voices...”
  — Sen. Raphael Warnock [01:44]
• “It was really bad. I mean, probably the best way to put it was like a war zone.”
  — Harold Jones II [02:49]
• “Donna, you wouldn’t believe the number of houses that still have blue tarps on their roofs.”
  — Bill Werkheiser [04:23]
• “We want to help them rebuild quickly and cost effectively so that we can keep kids in schools and businesses open.”
  — Kelly Crane [06:45]
• “Let’s all try to target and hit April and have that one impact...”
  — Jonathan Hunt [08:07]
• “Without the premium tax credit that shoots up... now more than $1,400 a month.”
  — Anthony Wright [09:46]
• “Beautiful, beautiful piece. No matter the orchestration.”
  — John Lemley [11:20]

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Additional Resources

• In-depth hurricane interviews: Battleground Ballot Box podcast
• Storm prep info: gpb.org
• Arts coverage, orchestra previews: gpb.org

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This episode reflects GPB’s commitment to reporting on public health, infrastructure, disaster recovery, legislative updates, and culture—all through a local Georgia lens.

Transcript

[Sophie Gradas]

Welcome to the Georgia Today Podcast. Here we bring you the latest reports from the GPB newsroom. On today's episode, the Georgia Health Department reports a new case of measles in Fulton County. Construction is delayed for the Southeast Georgia Hyundai plant raided by immigration officials last week and Atlanta's transit system, MARTA, is getting some upgrades ahead of next year's World Cup.

[Jonathan Hunt]

Let's all try to target and hit April and have that one impact. That way we can deploy our resources across the system to help with bus network redesign through our transit ambassadors.

[Sophie Gradas]

Today is Friday, September 12th. I'm Sophie Gradas and this is Georgia Today. The Georgia Department of Public Health is reporting a new case of measles today in an unvaccinated resident of Fulton County. They say the resident was not vaccinated and that they had not traveled outside of the country. They the DPH says this person may have exposed others to measles while they were infectious. Places of possible exposure between September 2nd and 11th include Georgia State University, a sweet green restaurant in Midtown, and during soccer practice held with the Inter Atlanta fc. Contacting people who may have been exposed is part of the Public Health Department's contact tracing. This is the sixth case of measles reported in Georgia so far this year, matching the total Number reported in 2024. Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock is condemning the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk as part of what he called a troubling rise in political violence. Warnock said attacks like these put democracy itself at risk.

[Jonathan Hunt]

There is nothing more anti democratic than political violence. Democracy is about creating space for competing voices and countervailing visions about who we are as one people.

[Sophie Gradas]

Warnock, a pastor of Atlanta's Ebenezer Baptist Church, also cited the killing of Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband in June. Charlie Kirk was shot and killed while speaking at Utah Valley University on Wednesday. Warnock encouraged both Republicans and Democrats to turn down the temperature on rhetoric. Natural disasters serve as a stark reminder for elected officials of their purpose in office, as GPB's Donna Lowry shares in this week's Lawmakers huddle in challenging times, constituents seek out their representatives for support, guidance and basic needs.

[Donna Lowry]

Senate Minority Leader Harold Jones II says Augusta's urban areas had never experienced anything like the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

[Harold Jones II]

It was really bad. I mean, probably the best way to put it was like a war zone.

[Donna Lowry]

He and Representative Carlton Howard drove to a county with power to help Augusta residents without it and to buy them water later.

[Harold Jones II]

And so I remember a young man called me and he said, I Heard you're our state senator and we need help out here in this particular neighborhood. And so I said, okay, well give me your address and I'll come out there. He didn't think I was coming. So when I called him and said, hey, I'm here, he was like, you're here? I was like, yeah. He said, let me get dressed. I said, man, don't worry about that. Just tell me where you are. And so what it was was actually an area that had been really hit. And because they didn't have communications that much, we actually had a young lady, actually an older lady, she was homeless because it had hit her trailer. She had spent the night in her car. So we were able to get her assistance to actually get her out of her car. Other people had been devastated and so where they were was kind of off the beaten path. So people really weren't kind of looking at them. So that's why he was so surprised that I was actually coming out there. But I did and so we were able to get those folks some help.

[Donna Lowry]

In South Georgia, Representative Bill Werkheiser recalls thinking about Helene's approach like he did with any other hurricane warning.

[Anthony Wright]

We'll watch it, but it won't affect me because we've had high winds and tornadoes and things from storms before and you know, it's a, you know, count for rough five or six minutes. I'll never forget this lasted three and a half hours of just insane intensity, you know, 80 miles per hour.

[Donna Lowry]

Werkheiser says a year later, remnants of Helene's destruction linger.

[Anthony Wright]

In fact, it wasn't until about a month ago that I finally got up the last tree from our yard. It was about a 50 foot tree and went through a lot of chainsaw saws, chains. Jeff Davis and Coffee county were two of the worst hit. I thought our area was bad until I read of their. They're still cleaning up. They're still just have mounds and mounds of trees. And you know, there's been a lot of from federal on the federal level where FEMA money has run out. And so there was a, there was a period where we were getting a lot of calls about cleanup. Donna, you wouldn't believe the number of houses that still have blue tarps on their, on their roofs. And so there's still cleanup being done.

[Donna Lowry]

He has worked hard to help his constituents get back to some sense of normalcy. Just like Senator Jones, I have no.

[Harold Jones II]

Power, so it's kind of interesting. I'm coming back pass not water, passing out food, but I'm going back to a house with no water and no food. So that's just, that's the life you live as an elected official, though.

[Donna Lowry]

To hear much more of what both legislators have to say about Hurricane Helene and listen to my interview with Senator Russ Goodman on the subject, go to the Battleground Ballot Box podcast for a lawmaker's huddle. I'm Donna Lowery.

[Sophie Gradas]

As part of GPB's Hurricane Preparedness Week, you can find more resources and tips on our website over [e-mail] Storms after Hurricane Helene last year, various non governmental organizations joined the disaster response efforts. Among those was the United Methodist Committee on Relief and it's still helping victims a year later. GPB's Chase McGee has more.

[Chase McGee]

Nearly a year after Helene tore through 61 counties in Georgia, there's still homes and businesses to repair. Volunteer organizations like UMCOR are still trying to help on the ground while they prepare for the next natural disaster. Kelly Crane is the disaster response coordinator for South Georgia's United Methodist Conference. She says slow responses to disasters like Helene can push people out of their towns and cities for good.

[Sophie Gradas]

When major disasters devastate a community, we don't want people to move away and find somewhere else to live. We want to help them rebuild quickly and cost effectively so that we can keep kids in schools and businesses open.

[Chase McGee]

But they're still dependent on volunteer laborer, skilled or unskilled to do everything, everything from repairing homes to coordinating meals. For GPB news, I'm Chase McGee.

[Sophie Gradas]

A series of reported threats toward historically black colleges and universities across the US Yesterday included Clark Atlanta University and led to lockdown orders. Authorities did not elaborate on the type of threats that were made and no injuries have been reported. The FBI told the Associated Press that that they are taking the threat seriously. Officials with Atlanta's public transit agency MARTA say several upgrades to the system will be in place by next spring ahead of the World Cup. GPB's Amanda Andrews reports on what changes riders can expect.

[Amanda Andrews]

MARTA will have a new fare system, new fare gates, a redesigned bus network and new trains in place by April. The changes are all designed to help improve the flow of crowds for the thousands of soccer fans and visitors and in Atlanta for the World Cup. The upgrades were originally scheduled to roll out in phases starting in January. Interim CEO Jonathan Hunt says the delays are designed to minimize impact to riders.

[Jonathan Hunt]

Instead, we decided, no, let's gather this up, all try to target and hit April and have that one impact. That way we can deploy our resources on site across the system to help with bus network redesign through our transit ambassadors.

[Amanda Andrews]

The first World cup game in Atlanta takes place on June 11, 2026. For GPB news, I'm Amanda Andrews.

[Sophie Gradas]

Last week's immigration raid at a battery factory under construction at Hyundai's sprawling auto plant in southeast Georgia will delay the factory's opening by two to three months. Company officials announced the delay on Thursday at the Automotive News Congress in Detroit. Speaking to a news outlet, Hyundai Executive Chair Lee Sun Chung said US And South Korean officials are working closely to improve immigration policies.

[Chase McGee]

The visa regulation is very complicated and.

[Sophie Gradas]

I hope we can make together a better system. About 300 Koreans were among the 475 people that were arrested and detained. They returned to their country on Friday. Hundreds of journalists gathered at the airport in Incheon to cover their arrival. Health care advocates warned on Thursday that Georgia residents who have to find their own insurance in the government marketplace should expect significant rate increases next year. Anthony Wright, executive director of Families usa, said insurance companies are filing rate increase requests with regulators, arguing that federal budget cuts and the end of COVID 19 tax credits are driving up costs.

[Anthony Wright]

So let's take a 60 year old in Georgia who makes $65,000 a year right now and they might pay $460 a month without the premium tax credit that shoots up not just to the $1,000 a month of a few years ago, but now more than $1,400 a month, Wright said.

[Sophie Gradas]

Affected workers include retail and restaurant employees, ride hail and food delivery drivers, barbers, plumbers and other self employed workers. The Atlanta Dream has announced business partnerships ahead of the WNBA playoffs beginning on Sunday. The Dream is having a record setting year and fans are expected to bring energy and dollars to the team's partner bars and restaurants. Among the businesses involved are McCrae's Tavern in Midtown, the woman owned sports bar Jolene Jolene and Brake Pad in College Park. The Atlanta Dream is the only WNBA franchise in the Southeast. From Rome to Valdosta, Augusta to Savannah, Macon, Atlanta and beyond, Georgia's symphony orchestras are kicking off their concert seasons this month. GPB's classical music host John Lenley spoke to GPB's digital news director and arts culture reporter Christy Yorke Wooten about this year's season open openers. Among other offerings, Laemmle highlighted Saturday's first concert of the new Savannah Philharmonic season featuring Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings.

[Chase McGee]

It actually began as a movement from a string quartet, then the orchestral version that first came to prominence at the funeral of President Kennedy and then Barber himself arranged it for chorus. Beautiful, beautiful piece. No matter the orchestration.

[Sophie Gradas]

You can read or hear John and Christie's preview of orchestra season [e-mail] news that's it for today's edition of Georgia Today. Thanks for listening. If you would like to hear or learn more about these stories, visit gpb.org if you haven't yet subscribed to this podcast, you can do that right now and keep us current in your podcast feed. If you have feedback, we would love to hear it. You can email us@georgia todaypb.org I'm Sophie Gradas and we'll see you next week. It's rare to find a podcast that can actually change your life, but when the show's called Life Kit, that's kind of the whole point. Marielle Segarra Three times a week on the Life Kit podcast, we guide you through a topic we could all use help with, from personal development to healthy living to managing your dinero with takeaways so you can start living what you learn right away. Escucha El Life Kit Podcast from NPR.