Public Service Commission runoff results; Election committee; Type-One Diabetes Barbie

Summary

Georgia Today Podcast Summary Release Date: July 16, 2025
Host: Peter Biello

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1. Democratic Runoff Victory: Peter Hubbard Claims Win

Peter Hubbard has emerged victorious over Keisha Waitz in the Democratic runoff for Georgia's Public Service Commission (PSC). The PSC oversees essential utilities, including Georgia Power. The runoff was necessitated as neither candidate secured a majority in the June primary elections.

Peter Biello [00:35]: "Peter Hubbard is claiming victory over Keisha Waitz in the Democratic runoff for Georgia's Public Service Commission."

Hubbard, a strong advocate for green energy and solar power, gained a significant lead in the unofficial returns, particularly excelling in metro Atlanta counties like Fulton and DeKalb. Keisha Waitz, a former state legislator and Atlanta City Council member, has conceded the race. The winner of this runoff will face the Republican incumbent Fitz Johnson in the November elections. Central to their debate was the issue of rising Georgia power bills.

Peter Biello [00:35]: "The debate in the race has focused on rising Georgia power bills."

2. State Lawmakers Convene to Improve Election Procedures

A committee comprised of state lawmakers held its inaugural meeting at the Georgia State Capitol to discuss enhancements to the state's election processes. This committee is tasked with evaluating the role of the state Election Board, voter roll maintenance, and voter registration procedures.

Representative Tim Flemings [01:54]: "We are not here to litigate past elections, but rather to prepare Georgia for the future, to make sure that every legal vote counts, that voters have confidence in the system and that our processes are secure, efficient and fair."

Chaired by Representative Tim Flemings, who is also a candidate for Secretary of State in 2026, the committee plans to conduct five additional meetings before issuing recommendations. These recommendations could translate into legislative bills in the upcoming General Assembly session.

Sarah Kalis [02:10]: "The committee plans to hold five more meetings and then issue recommendations for elections policies that could become bills next year when the General assembly reconvenes."

3. Mattel Releases Type-One Diabetes Barbie

In a heartwarming initiative, Mattel introduced the first Barbie doll representing type-one diabetes (T1D). This collaboration with the nonprofit Breakthrough T1D aims to raise awareness and provide representation for children living with T1D.

Tori Simone Ferris [00:24]: "She is anything that she wants to be and now that they've put diabetes on her and she's really saying to the world that you can do and be anything you want while having diabetes."

The Barbie is equipped with an insulin pump and a continuous glucose monitor, mirroring the real-life experiences of many T1D individuals. The release coincided with a lobbying trip to Washington, D.C., where five Georgian children with T1D advocated for increased funding for medical research.

Ellen Eldredge [06:32]: "Last week, Mattel released the first type 1 diabetes Barbie. They partnered with research and advocacy nonprofit Breakthrough T1D to create the doll."

4. Economic Insights: Impact of Tariffs on Georgia Businesses

David Altig, the Atlanta Fed's chief economic adviser, discussed the hesitancy among Georgia business owners to pass tariff costs onto consumers. Uncertainty surrounding the long-term effects of tariffs, particularly those imposed by the Trump administration, contributes to this reluctance.

David Altig [02:44]: "What we hear is the following sort of story. We have already seen cost pressures. It's already with us. We are reluctant to pass those prices on if we just have to reverse them when the tariffs don't turn out to be what we think they might be."

Altig emphasized that the Atlanta Fed anticipates gaining a clearer understanding of tariff impacts with the forthcoming second-quarter economic data.

5. Immigration Enforcement Escalates in Georgia

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported approximately 4,000 immigration arrests in Georgia for the year, a stark increase compared to previous years. This surge is part of a broader intensification of immigration enforcement under the Trump administration.

Key findings from the Immigration Data Project analysis include:

• Nearly 80% of individuals for whom ICE issued detainer requests in Georgia had no criminal convictions.
• Gwinnett and DeKalb counties in Atlanta, as well as Chatham County in Savannah, saw the highest number of detainer requests.
• Approximately 40% of those arrested by ICE had pending non-immigration related criminal charges.
• Overcrowding is a significant issue, with Georgia's Stuart Detention Center in Lumpkin County housing more than 2,300 individuals as of April, exceeding its contractual capacity by over 300.

6. Mental Health Concerns: Shutdown of LGBTQ Youth Suicide Lifeline

The Trump administration announced the termination of tailored support for LGBTQ youth through the 988 National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, effective the day after the podcast's release. This decision has raised alarm among mental health advocates.

Melena Alvarez [03:48]: "The last thing you would want to do is to refer youth to 988 and then not have anybody answer that call. Our concern is that the numbers of suicides will increase."

Despite the shutdown, organizations like The Trevor Project assure the continuation of 24/7 mental health support services.

Peter Biello [03:48]: "...The Trevor Project and other groups will continue to run 24.7 mental health support services and 988 leaders say the hotline will serve anyone who calls with compassion."

7. Memorial for Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter

The National Park Service has opened the Carter Gardens at the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park, allowing the public to pay respects to former President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn Carter. The Carters are interred at their family plot in Plains, Georgia.

The gardens, designed by Rosalynn Carter, feature a pond constructed by the couple and are accessible daily from 10 AM to 4 PM, excluding major holidays. While the garden is open, the Carter residence remains closed but is now part of the national historic park.

8. MLB All-Star Game Highlights and Reactions

The recent MLB All-Star Game at Truist Park in Atlanta featured several notable moments:

• Pitcher Challenge: Detroit Tigers' Tarek Skubel successfully challenged a called ball using the automatic ball strike (ABS) system, striking out San Diego Padres' Manny Machado. This marked one of the few uses of ABS during the game.

  Dave Roberts [08:36]: "I thought it was great. The fans enjoy it. I thought the players had fun with it and there's a strategy to it if it does get to us during the season. But I like it. I think it's good for the game. I'm okay with it."

• Game Conclusion: The game concluded with a tie-breaking home run swing-off, similar to penalty kicks in soccer. Yankees manager Aaron Boone expressed openness to adopting similar tie-breaking methods in regular-season games.

  Aaron Boone [10:40]: "These days there's so much news it can be hard to keep up with what it all means for you, your family and your community..."

Additionally, a tribute to Hank Aaron was performed during the sixth inning, featuring projection mapping and pyrotechnics to commemorate his historic 715th home run.

9. Upcoming Braves Game

The Atlanta Braves are set to resume their regular season on Friday, hosting the New York Yankees in the opening game of a three-game series.

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Conclusion

Peter Biello wrapped up the episode by encouraging listeners to subscribe to the "Georgia Today" podcast for daily updates on Georgia's most pressing issues. He also invited audience feedback and news tips to enhance future episodes.

Peter Biello [07:24]: "That is a wrap on this edition of Georgia Today, but we will be back tomorrow. So make sure you subscribe to this podcast to stay on top all of Georgia's headlines."

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Additional Notes:

• The episode also briefly mentions a chemical fire at the Biolab facility in Conyers and its impact on local residents, as covered in GPB's new podcast "Manufacturing the Biolab Story."
• A promotional segment for NPR's "Consider This" podcast is included at the end of the transcript but was omitted from the summary per instructions to skip non-content sections.

Transcript

[Peter Biello]

Welcome to the Georgia Today podcast. Here we bring you the latest reports from the GPB newsroom. On today's episode, Peter Hubbard claims victory in the Democratic runoff for Georgia's Public Service Commission. State lawmakers hold a committee on how to improve elections, and toymaker Mattel releases the first type 1 diabetes Barbie doll.

[Tori Simone Ferris]

She is anything that she wants to be and now that they've put diabetes on her and she's really saying to the world that you can do and be anything you want while having diabetes.

[Peter Biello]

Today is Wednesday, July 16th. I'm Peter Biello, and this is Georgia Today. Peter Hubbard is claiming victory over Keisha Waitz in the Democratic runoff for Georgia's Public Service Commission. The commission oversees utilities, including Georgia Power. The runoff yesterday was necessary because neither candidate won a majority in June's primary. Waits is conceding the race to Hubbard. The winner will face Republican incumbent Fitz Johnson in November. Debate in the race has focused on rising Georgia power bills. Hubbard is a green energy advocate who supports solar power. Waits is a former state legislator and Atlanta City Council member. Hubbard built a strong lead in unofficial returns. He showed strength in the core metro Atlanta counties of Fulton and DeKalb. A committee of state lawmakers examining how elections are run held its first meeting yesterday at the state Capitol GPB Sarah Kalis reports.

[Sarah Kalis]

The House of Representatives Study Committee on Election Procedures heard from state officials on the role of the state Election board, Georgia's voter roll maintenance process and voter registration procedures. Representative Tim Flemings, who was also running for secretary of State in 2026, chairs the committee.

[Representative Tim Flemings]

We are not here to litigate past elections, but rather to prepare Georgia for the future, to make sure that every legal vote counts, that voters have confidence in the system and that our processes are secure, efficient and fair.

[Sarah Kalis]

The committee plans to hold five more meetings and then issue recommendations for elections policies that could become bills next year when the General assembly reconvenes. For GPB News, I'm Sarah Kallis.

[Peter Biello]

A senior official at the Atlanta Federal Reserve says many business owners in Georgia are wary of passing tariff costs onto consumers because of uncertainty over exactly how the levies will play out. Speaking at Savannah State University yesterday, Atlanta Fed chief economic adviser David Altig shared a general trend from recent surveys conducted with business leaders.

[David Altig]

What we hear is the following sort of story. We have already seen cost pressures. It's already with us. We are reluctant to pass those prices on if we just have to reverse them when the tariffs don't turn out.

[Peter Biello]

To be what we think they might be, altig says. The Atlanta Fed will get a clearer view of how the Trump administration's tariffs are impacting the economy once second quarter data is released next month. We want to note that the following story includes references to suicide the Trump administration is shutting down a national suicide lifeline for LGBTQ youth effective tomorrow. The move was signaled last month when the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration announced an end to tailored support for LGBTQ Youth through the 988 National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. LGBTQ youth are four times more likely to attempt suicide than other young people. Melena Alvarez of Lost and Found Youth, an Atlanta LGBTQ youth support organization, is worried.

[Melena Alvarez]

The last thing you would want to do is to refer youth to 988 and then not have anybody answer that call. Our concern is that the numbers of suicides will increase.

[Peter Biello]

The Trevor Project and other groups will continue to run 24. Seven mental health support services and 988 leaders say the hotline will serve anyone who calls with compassion. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has made about 4,000 immigration arrests in Georgia so far this year, numbers from the Immigration Data Project show. The agency now has made nearly twice as many immigration arrests in the first half of this year than in all of 2024 and five times more than in 2023. They demonstrate how rapidly the Trump administration has ramped up immigration enforcement and how Georgia fits into it, among other findings in a GPB analysis of the data. The vast majority of people for whom ICE issued detainer requests in Georgia and 80% had no criminal convictions. A detainer request is made to a local law enforcement agency to delay an individual's release from jail so that ICE can take custody of them. Atlanta's Gwinnett and DeKalb counties and Savannah's Chatham county had the highest number of such requests. Separately, only about 40% of those arrested by ICE had pending non immigration related criminal charges. Many taken into ICE custody in Georgia end up at one of the nation's most overcrowded immigration detention centers North. Numbers released last week by a Syracuse University based immigration data clearinghouse shows South Georgia's Stuart Detention center in Lumpkin county held more than 2,300 people as of April. That was more than 300 people over its contractual capacity. Both data sets were based on publicly released data, including through Freedom of Information act requests.

[Melena Alvarez]

When a massive chemical fire erupted at the Biolab facility in Conyers, thick smoke filled the air, forcing evacuation. But for many, it wasn't the first time, and it wouldn't be the last. I'm Pamela Kirkland in GPB's new podcast, Manufacturing the Biolab Story, I investigate what caused the fire, the response and what it means for Conyers residents today. [e-mail] podcast or wherever you get your podcast.

[Peter Biello]

Five children from Georgia living with type 1 diabetes were among 170 kids who traveled to the nation's capital last week to lobby Congress to fund T1D medical research. But they also came home with a now sold out toy that's making them feel a little less alone. GPB's Ellen Eldredge reports.

[Ellen Eldredge]

Last week, Mattel released the first type 1 diabetes Barbie. They partnered with research and advocacy nonprofit Breakthrough T1D to create the dollar. More than a million people in the US live with the autoimmune disorder. It requires lifelong insulin because the body can no longer produce it. 15 year old Tori Simone Ferris from Atlanta attended Children's Congress where she was also given a Barbie. She says it feels good to be represented.

[Tori Simone Ferris]

She is an actor, an astronaut, a doctor, a nurse. She is anything that she wants to be. And now that they've put diabetes on her, she's really saying to the world that you can do and be anything you want while having diabetes.

[Ellen Eldredge]

Each Barbie wears an insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor, like many children and adults living with T1D. For GPB news, I'm Ellen Eldredge.

[Peter Biello]

The public can now pay their respects at the final resting place of former president Jimmy Carter and first Lady Rosalynn Carter, the National Park Service announced this week. The Carter Gardens at the Jimmy Carter National Historical park is now open. The Carters were laid to rest at their former home in Plains, Georgia. The former president was buried next to his lifelong sweetheart at their family plot in January. Rosalynn Carter died in November 2023. The gravesite garden, designed by Rosalynn Carter and overlooking a pond built by the couple, is open daily from 10am to 4pm except on major holidays. While the Carter home remains closed since their passing, the residence is now part of Jimmy Carter National Historic Park. At last night's All Star game at Truist park in Atlanta for the first time in midsummer Classic history, a pitcher challenged a call by the home plate umpire. Tarek Skubel of the Detroit Tigers, starting for the American League, successfully challenged a called ball and struck out San Diego Padres star Manny Machado. It wasn't last night's only use of what's known as the automatic ball strike system or abs, and none of its uses would have changed the outcome of the game game, but it got a positive review from Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who served as skipper for last night's winning National League team.

[Dave Roberts]

I thought it was great. The fans enjoy it. I thought the players had fun with it and there's a strategy to it if it does get to us during the season. But I like it. I think it's good for the game. I'm okay with it.

[Peter Biello]

Last night's All Star Game ended in a tie breaking home run swing off which functioned like soccer's penalty kick shootout. Yankees manager Aaron Boone, who led the American League team, says he wouldn't be surprised if people start talking about using the swing off to break ties in the regular season.

[David Altig]

Obviously, you know, I don't think that should happen necessarily or would anytime in the near future. But I gotta say, you know, it was pretty exciting.

[Peter Biello]

The Atlanta Braves resume their regular season on Friday as they host the New York Yankees for the start of a three game series. One more note about last night's MLB All Star Game. Following the sixth inning, the stadium lights dimmed as a projection recreated Hank Aaron's historic 715th home run, the one that broke Babe Ruth's record in 1974. The moment played out on the field and video board using projection mapping and pyrotechnics. Aaron's widow, Billy Aaron, stood and waved to a cheering crowd after the tribute. That is a wrap on this edition of Georgia Today, but we will be back tomorrow. So make sure you subscribe to this podcast to stay on top all of Georgia's headlines. And if you've got a headline that we should be making but we haven't yet, let us know by email. We love your news tips. Send them to Georgia todaypb.org that's also where we take your feedback, by the way. So let us know what you like about the podcast and what we could do better again. Georgia todaypb.org all the latest headlines are available for your Viewing [e-mail] News we hope you make frequent use of that page. I'm Peter Biello. Thanks again for listening. We'll see you tomorrow.

[Aaron Boone]

These days there's so much news it can be hard to keep up with what it all means for you, your family and your community. You the Consider this Podcast from NPR features our award winning journalism. Six days a week we bring you a deep dive on a news story and provide the context and analysis that helps you make sense of the news. We get behind the headlines. We get to the truth. Listen to the Consider this podcast from NPR.