Search at Fulton elections office; Cell phone ban; Columbus' relationship with ICE

Summary

Georgia Today – January 28, 2026

Host: Peter Biello, Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB)
Main Topics: FBI search at Fulton elections office, debate over cell phone ban in high schools, Columbus' relationship with ICE, and more.

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Episode Overview

This episode delivers a rundown of significant news stories across Georgia, exploring the FBI's search at Fulton County’s elections office, parents’ opinions on banning cell phones in schools, Columbus’s stance on cooperating with ICE, the spread of avian flu, a public health effort around blood pressure awareness, and the profile of Georgia’s youngest legislator.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. FBI Search at Fulton County Elections Office

• [00:32] FBI agents executed a search warrant at Fulton County's main election office in Union City, Atlanta.
• The details remain scarce; spokespersons cited an ongoing investigation.
• The search follows FBI Director Cash Patel’s aggressive pursuit of President Donald Trump’s political grievances, particularly surrounding the 2020 election and Trump’s ongoing claims against Georgia’s election integrity.
• The Trump administration is filing suit to force Georgia to turn over sensitive voter list data—this comes after a recent, similar suit was dismissed.

"The search comes as the FBI, under the leadership of Director Cash Patel, has moved quickly to pursue the political grievances of President Donald Trump."
— Peter Biello, [00:35]

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2. Immigration Enforcement and Local Policy

DeKalb County Debates ICE Cooperation

• [02:12] County commissioners postponed a resolution that would reduce ICE's operations locally.
• Resident Anna Ziering shared the traumatic impacts of ICE activities, referencing events in Minnesota:

"My wife reached out to Evan to ask how he was doing. He asked her to send him new ski goggles. His old ones weren't keeping out the tear gas that fogs the streets."
— Anna Ziering, [02:20]

• Amendments to reject ICE tactics are being considered and will be revisited next week.

Columbus’ Relationship with ICE

• [02:45, 02:55] Mayor Skip Henderson clarified at a city council meeting that police do not seek to detain people solely based on immigration status and only work with ICE if crimes are suspected.

"The only way they'll ever participate with ICE is if there's a warrant, and they are looking to apprehend somebody who's committed a crime in our community or in other areas."
— Mayor Skip Henderson, [02:55]

• Henderson acknowledges local sensitivities about ICE and pledges regular updates.

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3. Avian Flu in Georgia Poultry

• [03:10] Another highly pathogenic avian influenza case confirmed in Hart County—the third in Georgia this year.
• The commercial flock impacted included about 40,000 birds.
• It’s part of a series of outbreaks since 2022.

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4. Proposed Cell Phone Ban in Georgia Public High Schools

• [03:50] Emory University’s survey shows majority parental support for expanding a ban on cell phone use to public high schools, citing improved mental well-being.

"Starting this year, kids in public elementary and middle schools cannot use their phones during school. A bill currently making its way through the Legislature would include high schools and take effect in July 2027."
— Ellen Eldredge, [03:50]

• 70% of supportive parents believe the ban benefits mental health.
• Julia Gazmarian (Emory University) emphasized the ongoing research on the impact of these policies.

"The Emory team is jumping in in terms of doing research on evaluating the impact of those policies... and sharing results of what we're seeing after policies are implemented."
— Julia Gazmarian, [04:11]

• Dissenting parents’ major concern: ability to reach children in emergencies.

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5. Public Health Outreach: Blood Pressure Monitors in Libraries

• [04:39] Augusta University researchers are placing blood pressure monitors in public libraries—now in 20 locations across multiple counties—to address high rates of heart disease and stroke.

"If left unchecked, high blood pressure can lead to heart disease and stroke, both conditions in which Georgia ranks near or higher than the national average..."
— Sophie Gradus, [04:48]

• Brianna McIndoe’s team focuses on ease of access (“just like a library book”) and bridging health awareness gaps, especially among women.

"You just need a library card. You go in, check it out and it's just like a library book."
— Unnamed researcher, [05:15-05:19]

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6. Youngest Georgia Legislator: Akbar Ali

• [06:02] Rep. Akbar Ali (D–Lawrenceville), Georgia’s youngest legislator, turns 22 and discusses his legislative goals: improving affordability, public education, and HOA reform.

"Right now, people are craving a new vision. People are craving a new energy, that new drive just to have some fresher ideas, and I'm very proud to be the tip of the spear of that in this very moment."
— Akbar Ali, [06:20]

"Overreach is rampant. There's not enough guardrails here. That's why I'm working with several of my colleagues... to put in some guardrails here."
— Akbar Ali, [06:39]

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Notable Quotes

• Mayor Skip Henderson (on ICE cooperation):
  "The only way they'll ever participate with ICE is if there's a warrant and they are looking to apprehend somebody who's committed a crime in our community or in other areas." [02:55]

• Anna Ziering (on ICE impacts):
  "He asked her to send him new ski goggles. His old ones weren't keeping out the tear gas that fogs the streets." [02:20]

• Julia Gazmarian, Emory University (on cell phone policy research):
  "The Emory team is jumping in... doing research on evaluating the impact of those policies and continuing to work closely with the schools..." [04:11]

• Rep. Akbar Ali (on representing change):
  "I'm very proud to be the tip of the spear of that in this very moment." [06:20]

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Important Timestamps

• 00:32: FBI search at Fulton County elections office
• 02:12: DeKalb County ICE resolution and public comment
• 02:45/02:55: Mayor Skip Henderson on ICE cooperation policy
• 03:10: Avian flu case in Hart County
• 03:50: Cell phone ban survey and legislative update
• 04:39: Public blood pressure monitors in libraries
• 06:02: Profile of Rep. Akbar Ali

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This summary captures the comprehensive news landscape in Georgia as reported by Peter Biello and GPB News, highlighting developments in election security, immigration, public health, and youth representation in state government.

Transcript

[A]

Welcome to the Georgia Today podcast. Here we bring you the latest reports from the GPB newsroom. On today's episode, FBI agents are executing a search warrant at a Fulton county elections office. Parents seem open to banning cell phones in public high schools, and the mayor of Columbus describes his police department's relationship with ice.

[B]

The only way they'll ever participate with ICE is if there's a warrant and they are looking to apprehend somebody who's committed a crime in our community or in other areas.

[A]

Today is Wednesday, January 28th. I'm Peter Biello, and this is Georgia Today. FBI agents executed a search warrant today at the Fulton county elections office near Atlanta. An agency spokesperson confirmed the search took place at the county's main election office in Union City. A spokesperson declined to provide further details, citing an ongoing matter. The search comes as the FBI, under the leadership of Director Cash Patel, has moved quickly to pursue the political grievances of President Donald Trump. That includes working with the U.S. justice Department to investigate several of Trump's perceived adversaries. Trump has long made Georgia a central target for his complaints about the 2020 election, which he lost in part because of his narrow defeat in the state of last week. Referring to the 2020 election, he said that people will soon be prosecuted for what they did. It was not clear what he was referring to. The Trump administration is suing Georgia once again for the state's voter list, including sensitive personal data, days after a federal judge dismissed a similar lawsuit filed in the wrong court. The U.S. justice Department's filing yesterday is the latest attempt to force Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to turn over the information in an effort aimed at election integr. Raffensperger's office has said state law requires him to protect voters, driver's license numbers, Social Security numbers and birth dates. DeKalb county commissioners decided to delay a vote on a resolution calling for reduced Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in the county. The resolution, sponsored by Commissioner Ted Terry, would call for the immediate withdrawal of ICE from the county. Speaking before the board, resident Anna Ziering described the impact she's seen in her brother in law's Minnesota community this weekend.

[C]

My wife reached out to Evan to ask how he was doing. He asked her to send him new ski goggles. His old ones weren't keeping out the tear gas that fogs the streets.

[A]

Commissioners are hoping to add amendments that reject ice tactics. DeKalb commissioners will revisit the immigration resolution next week. Columbus Mayor Skip Henderson says city police are not looking for people who may be in the country illegally. Who? His comments came at last night's council meeting when asked about the city's relationship with ice. Henderson says local police have talked with the agency in the past but do not seek out people who don't have a visa.

[B]

The only way they'll ever participate with ICE is if there's a warrant, and they are looking to apprehend somebody who's committed a crime in our community or in other areas.

[A]

Henderson says he's aware of the growing sensitivity around ice, and he's committed to giving more frequent updates about their activities. In Columbus, state agriculture officials have confirmed another case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a Georgia poultry flock. The detection, announced today in northeast Georgia's Hart county, is the third this year and the sixth since the nationwide avian flu outbreak began in 2022. The commercial operation has about 40,000 birds. Emory University's annual survey of Georgia parents finds most are in favor of a ban on cell phones in the state's public high schools. GPB's Ellen Eldredge has more. Emory's center for Child Health Policy learned as lawmakers consider expanding an existing ban.

[D]

Starting this year, kids in public elementary and middle schools cannot use their phones during school. A bill currently making its way through the Legislature would include high schools and take effect in July 2027. Nearly 70% of Georgia parents in favor of a ban say it improves student mental health and well being. Julia Gazmarian is with Emory University.

[E]

The Emory team is jumping in in terms of doing research on evaluating the impact of those policies and continuing to work closely with the schools and Department of Education and legislators and sharing results of what we're seeing after policies are implemented.

[D]

Most Georgia parents opposed to a ban worry about communication with their child in the event of a school emergency. For GPB News, I'm Ellen Eldredge.

[A]

Researchers at Augusta University are putting blood pressure monitors in public libraries as a way to improve education around a leading cause of death in the state, gpb. Sophie Gradus has more.

[F]

If left unchecked, high blood pressure can lead to heart disease and stroke, both conditions in which Georgia ranks near or higher than the national average, with low income and rural areas unequally affected. With a five year grant from the National Institutes of Health, Brianna McIndoe and others at Augusta University want to address the first step in prevention. They've so far put blood pressure monitors in 20 public libraries in Augusta and Habersham, Morgan and Jefferson counties. They the key is simplicity.

[A]

You just need a library card. You go in check it out and.

[C]

It'S just like a library book.

[F]

The monitors also don't need wifi. The research team would like to reach at least one in five female patrons since NIH and CDC research suggest gaps in heart health awareness among women. For GPB News, I'm Sophie Gradas.

[G]

How does AI even work? Where does creativity come from? What's the secret to living longer? TED Radio Hour explores the biggest questions with some of the world's greatest thinkers. They will surprise, challenge and even change. You listen to NPR's Ted Radio Hour wherever you get your podcasts.

[A]

The youngest member of the Georgia legislature turns 22 years old tomorrow Lawrenceville State Representative Akbar Ali won his seat in a December runoff election, earning his place as one of the General Assembly's newest members. The Democrat focused his campaign on issues like lowering the cost of living and supporting public schools.

[H]

Right now, people are craving a new vision. People are craving a new energy, that new drive just to have some fresher ideas, and I'm very proud to be the tip of the spear of that in this very moment.

[A]

He told GPB's lawmakers that his legislative colleagues have been welcoming and that one issue he hopes to champion this year is reform of homeowners associations.

[H]

Overreach is rampant. There's not enough guardrails here. That's why I'm working with several of my colleagues who've been fighting this fight for a while now to put in some limited some guardrails here.

[A]

Keep up with the latest action under the Gold Dome on lawmakers on GPB TV each evening at 7 when the legislature is in session. That is it for Georgia today. Thank you so much for tuning in. Be sure to check for updates to any of the stories you heard [e-mail] news. And remember, we will be back in your podcast feed tomorrow afternoon if you subscribe to this podcast. If you've got feedback, we'd love to hear from you. Email georgia todaypb.org I'm Peter Biello. Thanks again for listening. We will see you tomorrow.