Georgia Today – January 2, 2026
Episode Theme:
This episode of Georgia Today, hosted by Peter Biello, delivers a multifaceted look at news from around the state, focusing on record blue-collar job losses in Georgia, local resistance to a proposed federal immigration detention center in Social Circle, and a roundup of major legislative and community developments as the new year begins.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Georgia’s Legislative Landscape for 2026
- Returning and New Bills
(00:53)- Possible revisits: School zone traffic camera restrictions/ban, diversity program bans at universities, limits on transgender medical care, and limits on using song lyrics in court cases.
- Quote: “Lawmakers could also go back to a bill that would ban diversity, equity and inclusion programs in public universities.” – Sarah Kallis [00:59]
- New Enacted Laws
(01:35)- State income tax reduction to 5.09%, with continued yearly reductions.
- Catastrophe savings accounts now tax-deductible.
- Digital court hearings enabled.
- Updates to vehicle registration, including e-issued temporary tags.
- New "America First" license plate option.
2. Record Blue-Collar Job Losses
- Extent and Sectors Affected
(02:20)- Over 15,400 WARN-notified blue-collar jobs lost in 2025—the most since COVID cutbacks in 2020.
- Major losses: 4,000+ from US Cellular, significant layoffs in logistics, timber, manufacturing.
- Final warning of 2025: 75 layoffs at Coca Cola Atlanta HQ (marketing department).
- Insight: “The leftover layoffs alone still exceed any other year since the pandemic.” – Grant Blankenship [02:40]
3. Resistance to Proposed Federal Immigration Center in Social Circle
- Community and Official Response
(03:09)- The Trump administration is planning new immigration detention centers, with a Social Circle warehouse among possible sites.
- Mayor David Keener voices deep concern:
- Quote: “Detention like that would triple the size of our population. We're sitting right at 5,000 people now.” – David Keener [03:33]
- Insufficient housing, lack of police/infrastructure.
- Quote: “We don't have the police force to support this.” – David Keener [03:37]
- City officials, including City Manager Eric Taylor, were blindsided; now seeking answers from state and federal contacts (White House, DHS, Gov. Kemp, Sen. Ossoff).
- Quote: “He had calls into the White House, but he had not heard back from them yet.” – David Keener [04:13]
- Water/sewer systems deemed inadequate for a large detention facility.
- Nearby Jefferson also considered for a smaller processing site.
4. Business and Community Updates
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Major Bank Merger Completed
(04:57)- Pinnacle (Nashville) and Synovus (Columbus) merge into Georgia’s largest bank holding company.
- Consolidation signals expanding commitment to community and employees.
-
Delta Air Lines: Top On-Time Performer
(05:24)- Delta recognized as North America’s most on-time airline for the 5th year running – 81% punctuality in 2025.
- Ranked 10th globally; Aeromexico ranked first.
- Insight: Partnership with Delta challenged by Trump administration over antitrust.
-
New Bus Service Between Albany and Atlanta
(06:16)- Marcia Meadows launches “VIP Express,” offering a weekday shuttle for those priced out of flights.
- Anticipated service via refurbished church bus, coordinated with Albany downtown bus station.
- Quote: “We leave about 7, we'll get to Atlanta about 10, and … get back around 8 or 9 o'clock.” – Marcia Meadows [06:38]
5. Arts and Culture
- Public Art for Grief in Atlanta
(07:10)- “Atlanta Wind Phone” installed in Oakland Cemetery, allowing visitors to ‘speak’ to lost loved ones.
- Sasha Demirjian, Grief House co-founder:
- Quote: “It's not just I can do it, but it's invited, it's welcomed, it's wanted, which so many people don't feel like. That's the case for the hard stuff.” – Devin Zwald quoting Demirjian [07:41]
6. Science & Education Innovation
- Kennesaw State VR Project in Science Education
(08:05)- Professors developing VR learning for DNA repair – students ‘become’ proteins, interact with AI.
- Quote: “It's kind of like a passive learning. Normally, active learning will be more engaging.” – Prof. Lei Zhang [08:28]
- Quote: “We create a story and user will take different roles of the proteins in the story so they will collaborate and to complete some tests.” – Prof. Lei Zhang [08:47]
7. Arts Going into Public Domain
- Hoagy Carmichael’s "Georgia on My Mind"
(09:07)- Now in public domain—open for use/adaptation.
- Quote: “It has a Southern tradition of a melody. You would think that Ogie Carmichael was a Southerner.” – Teddy Adams [10:10]
- Notable additions: original Betty Boop, first Nancy Drew books.
8. Sports Update
- Georgia Bulldogs Exit Playoffs
(11:01)- Georgia loses College Football Playoff quarterfinal to Ole Miss, 39-34, ending season.
- Second consecutive year ending at the Sugar Bowl.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Detention Center Impact:
“Detention like that would triple the size of our population. We're sitting right at 5,000 people now.”
— Mayor David Keener [03:33] -
On Active Learning in VR:
“Normally active learning will be more engaging. People can learn more by doing something, right? Yeah. So that's what comes to the VR learning.”
— Prof. Lei Zhang [08:28] -
On Remembering Through Art:
“It's not just I can do it, but it's invited, it's welcomed, it's wanted, which so many people don't feel like. That's the case for the hard stuff.”
— Sasha Demirjian (quoted by Devin Zwald) [07:41] -
On the Enduring Power of ‘Georgia on My Mind’:
“It has a Southern tradition of a melody. You would think that Ogie Carmichael was a Southerner.”
— Teddy Adams [10:10]
Key Timestamps
- 00:53 — Sarah Kallis on bills returning to the legislature
- 02:20 — Grant Blankenship on blue-collar job losses
- 03:33 — Mayor Keener on Social Circle’s resistance to detention center
- 04:13 — City strategy: contacting officials for answers
- 05:24 — Delta Air Lines on-time performance
- 06:16 — Orlando Montoya on new Albany-Atlanta bus service
- 07:10 — Amanda Andrews on the Atlanta Wind Phone
- 08:05 — Devin Zwald on Kennesaw State VR project
- 09:07 — Marching Cats perform in London; ‘Georgia on My Mind’ enters public domain
- 11:01 — Georgia football season concludes with playoff loss
Overall Tone
The episode presents a newsy, measured tone, balancing fact-driven reporting with human perspectives from local leaders, community members, and educators. There are moments of concern (job losses, local governments overwhelmed by federal actions), hope (public art, new tech in education), and resilience (creative responses to transit needs, celebrations of culture and sports).
This summary captures the full range of topics, offering context and highlights for listeners interested in Georgia’s current events at the start of 2026.