Possible new ICE facility; Atlanta heat safety plan; Final FIFA FanFest

Summary

Georgia Today – July 15, 2026
Possible New ICE Facility; Atlanta Heat Safety Plan; Final FIFA FanFest
Host: Sophie Gradas, Georgia Public Broadcasting

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Episode Overview

This episode of "Georgia Today" dives into the fate of a proposed ICE facility in Oakwood, Georgia, and related immigration policy developments; Atlanta’s efforts to address extreme heat with a new safety plan; the swell of activity as campaign season heats up; recent changes in local media ownership; Georgia’s settlement with 23andMe; and a community look-back at Atlanta’s FIFA FanFest. The reporting is direct but takes care to highlight local perspectives and urgent challenges.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

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1. Oakwood's Proposed ICE Facility & Immigration Policy (00:33)

• Uncertainty Over Facility: Oakwood’s city officials remain in the dark regarding the status of a planned ICE detention site. Despite reports suggesting DHS may not proceed, no formal notice has been received.
• Potential Legal Action: Mayor Lamar Scroggs signals readiness to pursue legal action if the project moves forward without consultation.
• Related Immigration Moves: Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office has entered the "287(g) program," which authorizes local law enforcement to perform certain federal immigration duties. Sheriff Greg Countryman downplays impact:

  "Being in the program does not change the way that we work and deputies are not going out looking for anyone." – Sheriff Greg Countryman [00:33]

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2. Mass Production of Plutonium Pits (01:56)

• Site Selection: The US prepares to ramp up plutonium pit manufacturing at Savannah River Site (South Carolina, near Augusta).

• Legal & Environmental Concerns: Ongoing litigation points to incomplete information regarding necessity and safety.

  "There's a question about whether or not the NNSA could just reuse the current pit to avoid making all these new pits...there is a new study...that has not been released at all."
  – Benjamin Cunningham, South Carolina Environmental Law Project [02:31]

• Action Item: Public comment on the environmental impact statement closes midnight July 16.

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3. Campaign Season: Volunteer Engagement Ramps Up (03:01)

• Strategies: Both parties emphasize canvassing, phone, and text outreach.
• Democratic Boost: At a recent training, Maryland Governor Wes Moore energized Georgia volunteers:

  "In politics, there is no lull time. Basically, it's more time and a little bit less time, but we're always working to engage with voters."
  – Wes Moore [03:30]

• Republican Push: GOP chair Josh McCune focuses on turnout:

  "The party that has the better turnout apparatus is the party that ultimately can win the election."
  – Josh McCune [03:45]

• Election Date: November 3rd.

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4. 23andMe Data Breach Settlement (03:57)

• Settlement Details: Georgia receives over $450,000 from a multistate settlement after a major data breach exposed genetic data of 171,000 Georgians (millions globally).
• Findings: Company failed to implement basic cybersecurity safeguards.
• Consumer Action: Users can still request deletion of their data from 23andMe.

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5. Local Media Consolidation: Newspapers Merge with Nonprofit (04:45)

• Historic Transition: The "Macon Telegraph" (nearing its 200th birthday) and "Columbus Ledger Enquirer" are now owned by Georgia Trust, a nonprofit.
• Macon's Local Flavor:

  "The Melody name will not go away. It will become a weekly part of the Telegraph and it will cover the people, the places, the moments that are really the rhythm of Macon."
  – Cynthia Dubose, Georgia Trust Executive Director [05:11]

• Unknowns: Unclear how many existing journalists remain post-merger.

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6. Atlanta’s Heat Safety Plan Advances (06:00)

• Resolution Progress: City Council’s Community Development and Human Services Committee advances a formal heat safety plan.
• Aims: Expand cooling centers, standardize responses, improve public notifications.
• Council Perspective:

  "I think there's a big gap between our ability as a city to really notify people about extreme weather conditions and about the resources that do exist."
  – Council Member Kelsey Bond [06:33]

• Context: Plan spurred by recent dangerous heat waves over July 4th holiday.

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7. Atlanta Real Estate Update (06:45)

• Market Trends: Home sales are up (~3% YoY and MoM), but under-contract listings drop sharply, indicating possible future slowdown.

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8. Savannah Landmark Sale (07:21)

• Property News: Hyatt Savannah Regency sold for $105 million; new owners are Certaris (NY) and Clearview Hotel Capital (CA). The historic hotel is a waterfront staple since 1981.

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9. FIFA FanFest Finale in Atlanta (07:41)

• Community Gathering: Atlanta hosted final day of FIFA FanFest at Centennial Olympic Park, marking a boost for local soccer culture.
• Fan Perspective:

  "Amazing to see soccer actively become more enjoyed in this country year after year. We're getting bigger stars in the MLS...I would really love to see that continue pace as opposed to falling off like it did in 1994."
  – Joey Maradino, Atlanta fan [07:58]

• Big Numbers & Big Names: Attendance peaked at 20,000 on several days. Closing ceremony featured performances by Big Boi and Jermaine Dupri.

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Notable Quotes

• Sheriff Greg Countryman on 287(g):
  "Being in the program does not change the way that we work and deputies are not going out looking for anyone." [00:33]

• Benjamin Cunningham on Plutonium Pit Expansion:
  "There's a question about whether or not the NNSA could just reuse the current pit to avoid making all these new pits..." [02:31]

• Wes Moore on Campaign Work:
  "In politics, there is no lull time...we're always working to engage with voters." [03:30]

• Kelsey Bond on Heat Safety:
  "There's a big gap between our ability as a city to really notify people about extreme weather conditions and about the resources that do exist." [06:33]

• Joey Maradino on Soccer’s Growth:
  "Amazing to see soccer actively become more enjoyed in this country year after year...I would really love to see that continue pace..." [07:58]

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Important Timestamps

• ICE Facility & Immigration Updates: 00:33–01:56
• Plutonium Pit Production & Legal Challenge: 01:56–03:01
• Election Volunteer Strategies: 03:01–03:57
• 23andMe Data Breach Settlement: 03:57–04:45
• Newspaper Consolidation in Macon/Columbus: 04:45–06:00
• Atlanta Heat Safety Plan & Real Estate: 06:00–07:21
• Savannah Hotel Sale: 07:21–07:41
• FIFA FanFest Community & Closing: 07:41–08:32

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Overall Tone: Informative, concise, attentive to local impact, and seasoned with direct quotes to ground each story in the voices of those at the center.
For More: Listeners are encouraged to visit gpb.org/news for deeper dives.

Transcript

[Sophie Gradas]

Welcome to the Georgia Today Podcast. Here we bring you the latest reports from the GPB newsroom. On today's Episode one Georgia City is still unsure if a new ICE facility is going to be built there. Campaign season is ramping up before the November election and Atlanta is working on a heat safety plan.

[Kelsey Bond]

I think there's a big gap between our ability as a city to really notify people about extreme weather conditions and about the resources that do exist.

[Sophie Gradas]

Today is Wednesday, July 15th. I'm Sophie Gradas and this is Georgia Today. City officials in northeast Georgia's Oakwood say they're still waiting for answers about a proposed ICE facility. News reports last month appeared to indicate the Department of Homeland Security was backing off from plans to build detention sites in two Georgia communities, including Oakwood. At Monday's City Council meeting, Oakwood Mayor Lamar Scroggs said the city hasn't received any formal notice confirming those reports. He said the city remains prepared to file a lawsuit if any land disturbing activity takes place at the site. While Oakwood's fate remains undecided, the Muscogee County Sheriff's Office has joined a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement program to expand cooperation between the two agencies. The office signed an agreement to enter the 287 program last week. The program authorizes the federal agency to delegate certain immigration functions to state and local law enforcement officers, sheriff Greg Countryman told the Columbus Ledger Inquirer. Being in the program, quote, does not change the way that we work and deputies are not, quote, going out looking for anyone. For the first time since the 80s, the US is preparing to mass produce

[Narrator/Reporter]

plutonium pits, the source of nuclear explosions. Most will likely be produced at the

[Sophie Gradas]

Savannah Riverside in South Carolina near Augusta. GPB's Gillian Mactoto has more.

[Jillian Magtoto]

In 2021, the South Carolina Environmental Law Project sued the National Nuclear Security Administration for failing to produce an adequate environmental impact statement. In April this year, the NNSA released that statement, but groups represented by the SCELP argue it lacks critical information on whether or not these pits are needed in the first place. Project attorney Benjamin Cunningham requested that information from the NNSA last week.

[Benjamin Cunningham]

There's a question about whether or not the NNSA could just reuse the current pit to avoid making all these new pits. There is a new study that we believe was completed last year on pit aging and that has not been released at all.

[Jillian Magtoto]

The public comment period for the environmental impact statement ends at midnight on July 16th. For GBB news, I'm Jillian Magtoto.

[Sophie Gradas]

Now past the primary and runoff elections. The Democratic and Republican parties are training volunteers and ramping up campaign season ahead of the 2026 election. GPB's Sarah Kalis reports on their plans.

[Sarah Kalis]

Both parties say it will be critical to engage with voters directly through canvassing, phone calls and text campaigns. Democratic Party of Georgia 6 district chair Joel Cope attended a canvass training Tuesday where Maryland governor Wes Moore fired up the volunteers.

[Wes Moore]

In politics, there is no lull time. Basically, it's basically more time and a little bit less time, but we're always working to engage with voters.

[Sarah Kalis]

Republican Party of Georgia chairman Josh McCune says their party is also training volunteers to reach out to voters.

[Benjamin Cunningham]

The party that has the better turnout apparatus is the party that ultimately can win the election.

[Sarah Kalis]

Election day is November 3rd. For GPB news, I'm Sarah Kallas.

[Sophie Gradas]

Georgia will receive more than $450,000 as part of a multi state settlement with genetic testing company 23andMe following a 2023 data breach. Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr made the announcement on Tuesday, saying the breach exposed genetic information belonging to nearly 171,000 Georgians and millions of customers worldwide. A coalition of 42 attorneys general found the company failed to implement basic cybersecurity safeguards before the attack. The settlement comes as 23andMe moves through bankruptcy proceedings. Consumers can still request that their genetic data be deleted from the company's database. Two of Georgia's oldest newspapers have been sold to a national NonProfit News Company. GPB's Grant Blankenship has more.

[Grant Blankenship]

The Macon Telegraph will mark its 200th birthday later this year. The Columbus Ledger Enquirer is only two years younger now. Both newspapers have been sold by California based and hedge fund owned McClatchy Media to the nonprofit Georgia Trust. For local news, Georgia Trust executive director Cynthia Dubose says in Macon, the deal means a merger of the Macon Telegraph and the Georgia Trust's own news startup, the Macon Melody, into one news outlet.

[Cynthia Dubose]

The Melody name will not go away. It will become a weekly part of the Telegraph and it will cover the people, the places, the moments that are really the rhythm of Macon.

[Grant Blankenship]

It's unclear how many of the remaining Telegraph journalists may stay through the merger. For GPB News, I'm Grant Blankenship in Macon.

[Cynthia Dubose]

Each story you hear on Planet Money starts with a 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.

[Sophie Gradas]

The city of Atlanta is one step closer to creating a formal heat safety plan. The City Council's Community Development and Human Services Committee voted yesterday to advance a resolution directing the city to develop a coordinated response to extreme heat. The resolution was introduced by Council Member Kelsey Bond. It would create a citywide heat safety plan including expanded cooling center access and a more standardized process for responding to dangerous temperatures. Bond says the city needs a more reliable system as extreme heat becomes more common.

[Kelsey Bond]

I think there's a there's a big gap between our ability as a city to really notify people about extreme weather conditions and about the resources that do exist.

[Sophie Gradas]

Atlanta experienced several days of extreme heat over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, with heat index values topping triple digits. The resolution now heads to the full City Council for consideration. The Atlanta housing market remains healthy, but a leading indicator of future closings is showing signs of decline. That's according to the latest data from Multiple listing service. Georgia MLS the data shows sales volumes increased by about 3% month over month and year over year over year, while under contract listings declined sharply. One of Savannah's most recognizable hotels has been sold, property records show. New York based Certaris and California based Clearview Hotel Capital bought the Hyatt Savannah Regency in June for $105 million. The 1981 hotel sits next to City hall and looms over Savannah's historic waterfront.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Atlanta soccer fans gathered in Centennial Olympic park for the last day of the FIFA fan festival. Argentina and England jerseys filled the park during the semifinal match. Joey Maradino is an Atlanta resident rooting for England. He says he'll miss the community atmosphere of the fan festival.

[Joey Maradino]

Amazing to see soccer actively become more enjoyed in this country year after year. We're getting bigger stars in the mls. We're getting bigger notoriety over the world. People want to maybe come and play with us. I mean, it's just awesome to see the culture starting to thrive around here and I would really love to see that continue pace as opposed to falling off like it did in 1994.

[Narrator/Reporter]

FanFest reached its 20,000 ticket maximum on multiple days during the tournament closing ceremonies. Tonight will include performances by Big Boi and Jermaine Dupre.

[Sophie Gradas]

That's it for today's edition of Georgia Today. If you would like to learn more about these stories, visit gpb.org news and if you haven't yet hit subscribe on this podcast. Take a moment right now and keep us current in your podcast feed. If you have feedback, we would love to hear it. Please email us at georgia today pb.org. i'm Sophie Gradas, and we will see you tomorrow.