Olympic bombing; Colt Gray hearing; Baseball Hall of Fame

Summary

Georgia Today Podcast Summary

Episode Date: July 27, 2026
Host: Peter Biello, Georgia Public Broadcasting
Main Topics: 30th Anniversary of the Atlanta Olympic Bombing, Colt Gray Sentencing Hearing, Okefenokee Swamp’s World Heritage Designation, Baseball Hall of Fame Inductions

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Episode Overview

This episode of Georgia Today explores several prominent news and history stories impacting Georgia. Peter Biello hosts conversations and reports on:

• The 30th anniversary of the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games bombing, including a deep-dive interview with journalist Henry Schuster.
• Updates from the sentencing hearing of Colt Gray, the teen perpetrator of the Apalachee High School shooting.
• The designation of the Okefenokee Swamp as Georgia’s first UNESCO World Heritage site.
• Atlanta Braves legend Andrew Jones’s induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame, and additional updates on Braves baseball.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

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1. 30th Anniversary of the Olympic Park Bombing

Guest: Henry Schuster, former CNN journalist, author of Hunting Eric Rudolph

• FBI's Flawed Investigation & The Misidentification of Richard Jewell (01:27–02:45)

  • The FBI operated using outdated profiles from the LA Olympics, where a law enforcement officer once staged a bombing for heroics.
  • A former employer's tip led the FBI down the wrong path, resulting in Richard Jewell being wrongly accused.
  • Quote: “They put two and two together and got seven. And that's how Richard Jewell wrongly got in the frame for 88 days.” – Henry Schuster (02:19)

• Atmosphere in Atlanta Post-Bombing (02:45–03:40)

  • Games resumed quickly but the mood was tense with ongoing anxiety about potential further attacks.
  • The wrongful identification of Jewell initially provided the public with a false sense of security.
  • Quote: “If they had sort of admitted their mistake, there probably, ironically, would have been more anxiety about the fact that the bomber was still out there.” – Henry Schuster (03:24)

• How the FBI Found Eric Rudolph (03:44–05:07)

  • It took several more bombings – including attacks on a clinic, a nightclub, and eventually a bombing in Birmingham – before Rudolph was identified.
  • A vigilant citizen noting a license plate was key to tracking Rudolph.
  • Rudolph evaded capture for five years, living off the grid.

• Eric Rudolph’s Capture and Changing Priorities (05:07–06:45)

  • Rudolph was eventually caught by a deputy in Murphy, North Carolina while dumpster diving.
  • His capture occurred after public and institutional attention had waned.
  • Memorable Moment: Schuster’s personal reflection, confusing the initial call about Rudolph’s arrest with those concerning Saddam Hussein or Osama bin Laden, indicating how far public attention had shifted.

• Lasting Impressions & The “Speedo Boys” (06:45–07:55)

  • Chaos and confusion dominated the immediate aftermath of the attack.
  • The inadvertent actions of a group of teenagers redirected the bomb’s blast upwards, reducing casualties:
  • Quote: “If that had been directed at the crowd, then the loss of life would have been far greater...they thought there might be beer in the backpack. And that simple act saved so many lives.” – Henry Schuster (07:15)

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2. Colt Gray Sentencing Hearing

(08:12–08:48)

• Second day of testimony in the sentencing phase for Colt Gray, the Barrow County teen who killed four people at Apalachee High School in 2024.
• Gray pleaded guilty to 55 counts; faces life with possible parole.
• Forensic psychiatrist Dr. Kevin Richards testified there was no evidence Gray suffered from serious mental illnesses:
  • Quote: “Never thought he was even close on insanity...he did a poor job because I didn’t see any evidence for it.” – Dr. Kevin Richards (08:35)

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3. Biolab Fire & Wrongful Death Lawsuit

(09:04–09:36)

• Shamita Johnson, widow of a Rockdale County official, filed Georgia’s first wrongful death suit over the Biolab chemical plant fire.
• Toxic chemicals from the fire allegedly caused fatal respiratory injuries; hundreds of personal injury suits expected.

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4. Local Government Lawsuit over Redistricting Bill

(09:43–10:22)

• Holly Springs is suing the state over House Bill 1029, which redraws city boundaries and changes council elections.
• Concerns about residents paying taxes but losing a voice in city government.
  • Quote: “What I do not want to see is a resident... paying taxes towards the city but doesn’t have an equal voice.” – Michael Zenchuk (10:09)

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5. Okefenokee Becomes World Heritage Site

(10:48–11:22)

• The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• Kim Bednarek of Okefenokee Swamp Park emphasized its ecological importance in her acceptance:
  • Quote: “The Okefenokee is a place where nature still reigns... reminding us that conservation is about protecting the natural systems that sustain life itself.” – Kim Bednarek (11:06)

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6. Veteran Support Through “Heroes on the Water”

(11:49–12:19)

• The nonprofit provides kayaking and fishing outings for veterans as a means of community and mental health support.
• Chapter Coordinator and veteran Josh Back underscored the informal, restorative value.
  • Quote: “It’s not therapy, it’s just, hey, I’m out here, me, a couple my friends, we’re out here paddling around, having a good time, cutting up and fishing.” – Josh Back (12:07)

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7. Baseball Hall of Fame: Andrew Jones, Carlos Beltran & Jeff Kent

(12:45–13:50)

• Andrew Jones, Atlanta Braves icon and Curacao native, was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
  • Honored his late father:
    Quote: “I’m not standing here in Cooperstown without his constant coaching that we did it.” – Andrew Jones (12:59)
  • Honored Braves manager Bobby Cox:
    Quote: “Nobody in the Braves organization had a bigger impact on me than manager Bobby Cox. He put a 19 year old in the World Series lineup and believed in me.” – Andrew Jones (13:23)
• Jane Forbes Clark, Hall of Fame chair, remembered Cox’s legacy and fiery reputation:
  • Quote: “His calm but very fiery demeanor led him to a major league record of 162 ejections.” – Jane Forbes Clark (13:50)

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8. Braves Updates: Ronald Acuna Jr. Returns

(14:11–14:50)

• Acuna returns from injury, expected to start against the Mets.
• His season has been marred by injury, but team performance is rebounding.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Henry Schuster: “The FBI put two and two together and got seven.” (02:19)
• Kim Bednarek: “The Okefenokee is a place where nature still reigns across more than 400,000 acres...” (11:06)
• Andrew Jones: “Nobody in the Braves organization had a bigger impact on me than manager Bobby Cox.” (13:23)
• Jane Forbes Clark: “His calm but very fiery demeanor led him to a major league record of 162 ejections.” (13:50)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Olympic Bombing Retrospective w/ Henry Schuster: 01:25–07:55
• Colt Gray Sentencing Hearing Update: 08:12–08:48
• Biolab Fire Lawsuit: 09:04–09:36
• Local Election Lawsuit (Holly Springs): 09:43–10:22
• Okefenokee World Heritage Announcement: 10:48–11:22
• Veterans’ Kayaking Program: 11:49–12:19
• Andrew Jones Hall of Fame Induction: 12:45–13:39
• Cox Remembrance & Other Baseball Inductees: 13:39–13:50
• Ronald Acuna Jr. Returns: 14:11–14:50

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Summary

This episode provided historical context, in-depth reporting, and personal stories illuminating Georgia’s ongoing news, from the historic Atlanta bombing’s misunderstood investigation, to ecological achievement in the Okefenokee, to sports milestones and personal courage. Its blend of journalistic retrospection and current events gives listeners a full-scope view of Georgia’s past, present, and future.

Transcript

[Peter Biello]

Welcome to the Georgia TODAY podcast. Here we bring you the latest reports from the GPB newsroom. On today's episode. It's the second day of testimony in the sentence hearing for Colt Gray. The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is now Georgia's first world Heritage site. And Atlanta Braves center fielder Andrew Jones has finally been inducted into the Baseball hall of Fame.

[Andrew Jones]

Aaron Jones was a legend in Curacao, a great player in his own right. And I'm not standing here in Cooperstown without his constant coaching that we did

[Peter Biello]

it Today is Monday, July 27th. I'm Peter Biello, and this is Georgia Today. 30 years ago this week, all eyes were on Atlanta as Georgia hosted the Centennial Olympic Games. It was just a week into the games when nighttime revelers in the newly completed Olympic park were rocked by a deadly terrorist explosion. It resulted in the deaths of two people and more than 100 others were injured. Then CNN journalist Henry Shuster was working at the CNN headquarters just yards from the bomb attack. He and the CNN team worked around the clock on the story. A suspect was quickly and wrongly identified, and it would take eight years to bring the right man to justice. Henry Shuster is also a former 60 Minutes producer and author of the book Hunting Eric Rudolph. He joins me now. Welcome to the program.

[Henry Schuster]

Thank you, Peter.

[Peter Biello]

So you were among those who first reported on Richard Jewell, the man who found the suspicious backpack that eventually detonated. For those who weren't following this story, 30 years ago, how would you describe what went wrong with the FBI's initial investigation?

[Henry Schuster]

So much went wrong. They were operating off of a playbook from the Los Angeles Olympics. During the Los Angeles Olympics, there had been a law enforcement official who had identified what he said was a bomb being planted on a bus full of Turkish athletes. Turns out he, he was the guy who planted the device himself. And then he called it in and got that. So the FBI had built that into their profile. And then the day after, well, actually, it was right after the bombing, we had worked around the clock. We had heard about this security guard, Richard Jewell, and we got him into CNN center and we brought him in there for an interview. And amongst the people watching that interview was a man who had been his employer, the president of Piedmont College in North Georgia. He calls the FBI and says, you know, there was something strange about this guy. So the FBI put two and two together and got seven. And that's how Richard Jewell wrongly got in the frame for 88 days.

[Peter Biello]

That was a very difficult time for Richard Jewell. And that's been documented, well documented in the public sphere. I want to ask you about something else, though, which is the mood in Atlanta after the bombing, because I've been told by some that the games did resume and they resumed rather quickly. But I can't imagine that things felt the same after the bombing.

[Henry Schuster]

Well, they did and they didn't. I mean, there was a great deal of consternation. There was a lot of anxiety. Was the bomber going to strike again? Who was the bomber? You know, in one sense, the wrongful identification of Richard Jewell calmed a lot of the anxiety because people thought, okay, we've got a suspect thread over. Let's just move on. But of course, they got it wrong. And if. If they had sort of admitted their mistake, there probably, ironically, would have been more anxiety about the fact that the bomber was still out there.

[Peter Biello]

Hmm. So how did the FBI first get on the trail of Eric Rudolph?

[Henry Schuster]

It took three more incidents. It took the bombing of a clinic in Sandy Springs. It took the bombing at a gay nightclub in the Piedmont on Piedmont Road. And then even after that, they were still coming up short. They were doing all sorts of forensic analysis. They got a letter claiming responsibility, but they were still stuck. And it was only after another bombing that took place early on a morning in Birmingham, Alabama, at an abortion clinic. That led to the. Quickly, the chain of events that led to Eric Rudolph being identified. Somebody had sort of tailed him, gotten a license plate number. They called that in. An APB was put out. They traced that. They went looking for Eric Rudolph. They didn't really have a good address for him. By the time they showed up at his trailer the next day, he was ready. He had dropped off some, Returned some videos to a video store. You know, he went through a drive through, got burger and fries. He went to the Bilo grocery store where he was in North Carolina, did a lot of shopping. They paid careful attention to the shopping list. And then by the time they knocked on his trailer, he was gone. And he was gone for five years.

[Peter Biello]

Wow. And so what ultimately led to his capture?

[Henry Schuster]

You know, I think it was more exhaustion on his part. It was five years later. A deputy was. Was driving behind a grocery store in Murphy, N.C. saw some scruffy guy who looked like he was dumpster diving, Put his blinders on, put his brights on, hauled him in. And pretty soon, it became evident this was Eric Rudolph. You have to imagine by the time Eric Rudolph was caught, attention had shifted away from him. Remember, now it's 2003. So when I got the call that Eric Rudolph had been caught. And this was only a few hours after he had been identified. I get a call early Saturday morning, and I hear a voice say, we got him. And I'm thinking, we got who? And at first it's like, is it Saddam? Because I had just come back from Kuwait and Iraq. Is it Osama? Because he's been gone since Tora Bora. And then when I heard the accent, I realized they were talking about Eric Rudolph, which shows you how much priorities it shifted at the time that he disappeared. The FBI was saying this was the biggest manhunt, you know, across the mountains in the Appalachian Mountains, in that part of North Carolina. But that had all pretty much gone away. There was only a very small squad based in Atlanta that was looking for Eric Rudolph at that point. And I won't say they were doing the minimum, but they certainly weren't doing the maximum.

[Peter Biello]

So when you reflect on that time, the time of the Olympics 30 years ago, and what happened in the aftermath of the bombing, what comes to mind first for you? What stands out prominently?

[Henry Schuster]

The confusion, the chaos. There had been a group of kids, teenagers, they got called the Speedo boys because they had come from a speedo exhibit. And they checked out the backpack, apparently, and they knocked it over on its side. And what that did was that caused the bomb, when it went off for the explosion, to go upwards. So there were nails embedded across the street, four and five stories up. If that had been directed at the crowd, then the loss of life would have been far greater. The damage would have been far greater. So that was those guys, the speedo guys. Fortunately, they thought there might be beer in the backpack. And that simple act saved so many lives. This could have been so much worse.

[Peter Biello]

Henry Schuster is a former CNN journalist and author of the book Hunting Eric Rudolph. Thank you very much for speaking with me. I appreciate it.

[Henry Schuster]

My pleasure.

[Peter Biello]

Testimony continued for a second day in the sentencing hearing for Colt Gray, the Barrow county teenager who shot and killed four people at Apalachee High School in 2024. Gray pleaded guilty to 55 counts, including murder, on Friday and faces a maximum of life in prison with the possibility for parole. Attorneys spent this morning questioning forensic psychiatrist Kevin Richards, who interviewed Gray.

[Kevin Richards]

Never thought he was even close on insanity. Never thought he had schizophrenia, never thought he had bipolar disorder. So if he was trying to convince me he had them, he did a poor job because I didn't see any evidence for it.

[Peter Biello]

The judge will decide Gray's sentence after also hearing from defense witnesses. The widow of a rockdale county official has filed the first wrongful death lawsuit stemming from the Biolab fire in Conyers. In GPB's Pamela Kirkland reports, Shamita Johnson

[Pamela Kirkland]

alleges toxic chemicals released after the 2024 fire caused respiratory injuries that led to the death of her husband, Kenny Johnson. Johnson collapsed after testifying before state lawmakers nine days after the fire Attorney Mindy Bish doesn't represent the Johnson family, but she is preparing personal injury cases on behalf of other residents. Asked how many people her firm represents, Bish said, I think at this point

[Kim Bednarek]

we have almost 500 residents. I expect that that will grow.

[Pamela Kirkland]

Biolab and its parent company declined to comment on the lawsuit. For GPB News, I'm Pamela Kirkland.

[Peter Biello]

The metro Atlanta city of Holly Springs is filing a lawsuit against the state of Georgia over a bill passed by the Legislature and signed by Governor Brian Kemp earlier this year. GPB's Sarah Kalis reports.

[Sarah Kalis]

Holly Springs Mayor Pro Tem Michael Zenchuk says House Bill 1029 is creating confusion about how the city will run elections in November. He says the changes remove some residents from city limits in 2027 and change how council members are elected.

[Michael Zenchuk]

What I do not want to see is a resident of the city of Holly Springs who is responsible for paying taxes towards the city but doesn't have an equal voice to be able to choose his or her government.

[Sarah Kalis]

The bill, sponsored by lawmakers from Cherokee county, redraws corporate boundaries in the city and adjusts the structure of City Council. The Cherokee county delegation released a letter in support of the law and said that the city is wasting taxpayer dollars on unnecessary litigation. For GPB news, I'm Sarah Kal.

[Peter Biello]

The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is now Georgia's first World Heritage site. The United nations cultural agency UNESCO over the weekend made the designation official at a meeting in South Korea, Kim Bednarek of the Okefenokee Swamp park highlighted the massive wetlands diverse ecosystem in an acceptance speech.

[Kim Bednarek]

The Okefenokee is a place where nature still reigns across more than 400,000 acres. Water, fire, peat and time continue to shape an intact way wetland, reminding us that conservation is about protecting the natural systems that sustain life itself.

[Peter Biello]

The designation places the Okefenokee alongside natural wonders like the Grand Canyon and important historic sites like the Great Wall of China. Its boosters say the designation will increase tourism and education. A North Georgia nonprofit is turning kayaks and fishing rods into opportunities for veterans to find peace and camaraderie. The group Heroes on the Water gets veterans out for afternoons on The Chattahoochee River GPB's Ellen Eldredge reports.

[Ellen Eldredge]

While access to mental health care can be a challenge, an afternoon of free kayaking and fishing has been lifting veterans spirits for years. Josh Back is the Heroes Chapter Coordinator for the Chattahoochee Valley River Area. He's also a combat veteran who served in Iraq and still struggles with traumatic memories, but not on river days.

[Henry Schuster]

It's not therapy, it's just, hey, I'm out here, me, a couple my friends, we're out here paddling around, having a good time, cutting up and fishing.

[Ellen Eldredge]

The most recent Data available estimate 200 veterans die by suicide every year in Georgia. For GPB News, I'm Ellen Eldridge.

[Peter Biello]

Longtime Atlanta Braves center fielder Andrew Jones was inducted into the Baseball hall of Fame over the weekend. Jones is the first native of Curacao to reach the hall of Fame. In his speech yesterday, he honored Curacao and his father who died 10 years ago for teaching him to play.

[Andrew Jones]

Aaron Jones was a legend in Curacao, a great player in his own right and I'm not standing here in Cooperstown without his constant coaching that we did it.

[Peter Biello]

In Jones debut season with the Braves, he became the youngest player to homer in World Series history when he homered twice against the Yankees in Game 1. For his dozen years with the Braves, Bobby Cox, who died earlier this year, managed the team. Jones thanked Cox yesterday.

[Andrew Jones]

Nobody in the Braves organization had a bigger impact on me than manager Bobby Cox. He put a 19 year old in the World Series in lineup and believe in me.

[Peter Biello]

Cox also was remembered by the hall of Fame at the ceremony. Jane Forbes Clark, chairman Board of Directors of the National Baseball hall of Fame Museum said this known as the ultimate

[Jane Forbes Clark]

players manager, his calm but very fiery demeanor led him to a major league record of 162 ejections. A member of the Class of 2014, he became one of the game's most revered managers.

[Peter Biello]

Carlos Beltran and Jeff Kent also were inducted into the hall of Fame this weekend. Now a story about another Braves outfielder. Ronald Acuna Jr. Is coming off the injured list today after missing almost seven weeks with the left hamstring strain. Acuna is expected to be available for tonight's opener of a three game road series against the New York Mets. The five time All Star is hitting.251 with seven home runs, 22 RBIs and 15 steals so far this season. His season has been shortened by two hamstring injuries. He missed 15 games in May with the same injury when Acuna was placed on the injured list on June 9, the Braves topped the majors with a 4523 record and they led the NL east by eight games over Philadelphia. Atlanta struggled in June without Acuna, but has rebounded somewhat since the All Star break. Acuna also has suffered two serious knee injuries over his career. Braves manager Walt Weiss recently said he expects Acuna will play primarily in right field, his normal position. That's a wrap. Thank you so much for listening. We've got a lot more coming your way this week so you won't want to miss a thing. Make sure you subscribe and check out gpb.org news for the latest updates to the stories you heard on the podcast today. Now, if you know about something cool going on in your community, something newsworthy, we'd love to know about it. Send us your news tips as well as your feedback on this podcast to Georgia todaypb.org I'm Peter Biello. Thank you again for listening. We will see you tomorrow.