Senate race goes to runoff; Jones kicks off Gov. campaign; Grady Memorial helicopter

Summary

Georgia Today Podcast – Episode Summary

Date: August 27, 2025
Host: Orlando Montoya
Podcast: Georgia Today (GPB News)
Main Theme:
This episode covers significant political developments in Georgia – including a pivotal state senate runoff, the kicked-off governor’s race on both sides, and a major expansion in Grady Memorial’s critical care response – along with quick updates on legal, business, and community events in the state.

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Senate District Runoff: A Democrat Surges

Key Points:

• The special election to replace outgoing Georgia State Senator Brandon Beach heads to a runoff.
• Democrat Deborah Shigley: Secured 40% of ballots and will be in the September 23rd runoff.
• Republicans Jason Dickerson and Steve West: Dickerson narrowly leads West by 65 votes for the second runoff slot.
• This election signals a potentially competitive district and sets the stage for a high-profile September contest.
  Timestamp: [01:12–01:45]

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Governor’s Race 2026: Campaigns Begin Early

Key Points:

• Although the gubernatorial election is a year away, candidates have launched their campaigns:

Lt. Governor Burt Jones (Republican) – Campaign Launch

• Event: First campaign rally in Butts County, with supporters and American flag backdrops.
• Message: Jones described himself as a “common sense candidate” and did not shy from legal controversies related to the 2020 election.
• Quote:

  “Cause at some point in time, I’ve taken them all on. I’ve taken on the Republican establishment, I’ve taken on Democrats, I’ve taken on rogue DAs even that try to incriminate you. And I’m still standing here, ladies and gentlemen.”
  – Burt Jones, [02:22]

• Context: Jones was investigated for the "fake elector" scheme after the 2020 election but was not charged.
• Opposition: Expected to face Attorney General Kris Carr in the GOP primary.
  Segment: [02:07–02:34]

Akiesha Lance Bottoms (Democrat) – Middle Georgia Tour

• Event: Stops in Warner Robins, meeting party supporters and veterans.
• Focus: Addressed concerns about crime and innovation in prevention strategies.
• Quote:

  “What I’m looking for, a solution to crime, is someone that’s open minded, that’s going to try things that have worked and try some other things that maybe no one’s ever thought of.”
  – Veteran Rodney Conyers, [03:19]

• Policy Stance: Bottoms, along with State Senator Jason Estevez, advocates leveraging Georgia’s $16 billion budget surplus for healthcare and education improvements.
  Segment: [03:02–03:32]

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Grady Memorial Hospital: “Grady Air” Takes Flight

Key Points:

• Purpose: Grady Memorial Hospital launched its own air ambulance, “Grady Air,” for rapid trauma care.
• Capabilities:
  • Paramedic- and nurse-staffed helicopter, fully equipped for ICU-level care.
  • Can respond directly to accident scenes or transfer patients from distant hospitals.
• Impact Quote:

  “It’s really that golden hour where we can turn around and actually save somebody’s life. We can land, take off and what was an hour drive, we just made it into a 10 minute flight.”
  – Pete Powell, Grady trauma nurse, [06:09]

• Launch Date: Grady Air began operations in June 2025.
  Segment: [05:43–06:18]

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Quick News Bites

Skip Stone Academy Incident

• Incident: A student was found with a firearm after a shot was fired in a school bathroom in Spalding County; no injuries but the student left a suicide note.
• Aftermath: Student hospitalized for evaluation; classes canceled for two days.
  Segment: [00:33–01:12]

Legal Highlights

• Carroll County Jury: Deliberating charges against Buchanan Mayor Anthony A.J. Scott for a 2015 crash that killed two teens while he was a state trooper.
• Immigration/Journalism: Federal judge weighs journalist Mario Guevara’s immigration detention following dropped charges.

Business & Policy

• Hyundai Investment: Announced added $5 billion US investment by 2028 (25,000 new jobs expected nationwide), notably with a major EV plant in Southeast Georgia.
  Segment: [06:28]

• Affordable Housing Ruling: Georgia Supreme Court sided with a Lowndes County apartment complex, allowing affordable housing projects to be tax-assessed on projected income, potentially improving financial outcomes for such developments.

Community & Sports

• Atlanta United’s Brad Guzan & Mercedes-Benz USA: Hosting a volunteer event to build furniture for Atlanta’s needy, helping replenish supplies lost in a warehouse fire.
  Segment: [07:30]

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Notable Quotes

• “I’ve taken on the Republican establishment… rogue DAs, even that try to incriminate you. And I’m still standing here, ladies and gentlemen.”
  – Lt. Governor Burt Jones ([02:22])
• “What I’m looking for… is someone that’s open minded, that’s going to try things that have worked and try some other things that maybe no one’s ever thought of.”
  – Rodney Conyers, veteran ([03:19])
• “We can land, take off, and what was an hour drive, we just made it into a 10 minute flight.”
  – Pete Powell, Grady trauma nurse ([06:09])

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Episode Flow and Tone

The episode maintains a concise and informative tone, delivering breaking and ongoing news with serious attention to Georgia’s political landscape, public safety, and community progress. Political coverage features both direct speech and reported summaries, allowing listeners to hear candidates’ positions in their own words. Stories are presented in a clear, rapid-fire format covering a wide array of issues.

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This summary captures the essential events, political dynamics, and community milestones from the August 27, 2025 episode of Georgia Today, serving listeners who need the latest updates without time for a full listen.

Transcript

[A]

Hello and welcome to the Georgia Today Podcast. Here we bring you the latest reports from the GPB newsroom. On today's episode, the race to replace Georgia State Senator Brandon beach is headed to a runoff. Lt. Governor Burt Jones kicks off his campaign for governor in Butts County. And Grady Memorial celebrates the liftoff of its new airbound trauma care unit.

[B]

We can turn around and actually save somebody's life. We can land, take off and what was an hour drive, we just made it into a 10 minute flight.

[A]

Today is Wednesday, August 27th. I'm Orlando Montoya and this is Georgia Today. Spalding county deputies responded to a report of a shot fired inside a bathroom at Skip Stone Academy this afternoon. Deputies found the student inside the bathroom and have taken the student into custody. A firearm was recovered. No students were injured. Spaulding Sheriff Daryl Dix says the student left a suicide note but did not kill himself. The student has been transported to the hospital for evaluation. Parents are reunited with their children. Classes at Skipstone have been cancelled tomorrow and Friday. The race to replace Georgia State Senator Brandon beach is headed to a runoff with a Democrat taking 40% of the vote in Tuesday's election. Democrat Deborah Shigley easily advanced to a September runoff as the top GOP candidates fought for second place. Republican Jason Dickerson held a slim 65 vote edge over Steve west and appeared to be poised for the runoff against Shigley on September 23rd. Georgia is still over a year out from electing its next governor, but candidates already are campaigning. Lieutenant Governor Brett Jones kicked off his campaign for governor in Butts County Tuesday evening. GPB Sarah Kalis reports.

[C]

Jones addressed a cheering crowd of hundreds in front of an American flag at his first rally. He called himself a, quote, common sense candidate and, and did not shy away from past legal challenges surrounding his support for President Donald Trump in the 2020 election.

[D]

Cause at some point in time, I've taken them all on. I've taken on the Republican establishment, I've taken on Democrats, I've taken on rogue das, even that try to incriminate you. And I've. And I'm still standing here, ladies and gentlemen.

[C]

Jones was investigated for his role in the alleged fake elector scheme tied to the 2020 election, but was ultimately not charged. Jones will face Attorney General Kris Carr in the Republican primary. For GPB News, I'm Sarah Kalis in Budds County.

[A]

And Democratic gubernatorial candidate and former Atlanta Mayor Akiesha Lance Bottoms made a campaign stop in Middle Georgia. GPB's Grant Blankenship has that story.

[E]

Lance Bottoms visited an American Legion hall in Warner Robbins before lunch ahead of meeting with Democratic Party faithful from around the region. Later in the evening, veteran Rodney Conyers met Lance Bottoms at the Legion Hall. He says he wants the next governor to get creative about what he sees as the state's most important crime prevention.

[B]

But what I'm looking for, a solution to crime, is someone that's open minded, that's going to try things that have worked and try some other things that maybe no one's ever thought of.

[E]

Bottoms is part of a crowded field of Democrats vying to become governor. She joins State Senator Jason Estevez in saying Georgia should spend some of its $16 billion budget surplus on issues like health care and education. For GPB News, I'm Grant Blankenship and Warner Robbins.

[A]

Jury deliberations in Carroll county are continuing today in the trial of a Georgia mayor and former state trooper in connection with a deadly crash. Buchanan Mayor Anthony A.J. scott is charged in a 2015 crash that killed two teenagers. He was a state trooper at the time. 16 year old Isabella Chinchilla and 17 year old Kylie Lindsay died in the crash. Closing arguments concluded on Tuesday. A federal judge is questioning whether a Spanish language journalist arrested at a June protest can remain in immigration detention after charges against him were dropped. Attorneys for journalist Mario Guevara told a federal magistrate judge in Georgia on Wednesday that U.S. immigration and customers Enforcement is keeping Mario Guevara in custody because he's a journalist who frequently records and livestreams activities of ICE agents and other law officers. They're calling for Guevara's immediate release. Attorneys for the US Government argue that ICE has wide discretion to detain Guevara because the El Salvador native is deportable. US Magistrate Judge Benjamin Chesbrough hasn't ruled yet. Cracker Barrel restaurants, including more than 20 in Georgia, will be sporting their original logo after the company quickly ditched plans for a streamlined redesign. The redo was met with falling stock prices, public outcry and even a post on social media from President Trump. Cracker Barrel confirms that its beloved old timer leaning on a barrel isn't going anywhere. Metro Atlanta's primary trauma hospital, Grady Memorial, celebrated the launch of its airbound trauma care on Wednesday. GP's Sophie Granas has more on how the new helicopter will be used as.

[F]

A Level one trauma center. Grady has for years received critically ill and injured patients from air transports with their own aircraft. A helicopter outfitted for intensive care, Grady can respond directly to accident scenes and transfer patients from far away hospitals that need higher levels of care. They call the service Grady Air on every flight is a paramedic and a nurse like longtime nurse Pete Powell. He says a shorter transport means better results for the patient.

[B]

It's really that golden hour where we can turn around and actually save somebody's life. We can land, take off and what was an hour drive, we just made it into a 10 minute flight.

[F]

Brady Air got started with its first flights this June. For GPB News, I'm Sophie Gradis in Atlanta.

[A]

Turning now to business stories, Hyundai Motor Group is stepping up its investment in the United States. The Korean automaker announced plans Yesterday to invest $5 billion through 2028, on top of the $21 billion the company already has committed to US operations. Hyundai opened a huge electric vehicle manufacturing plant in southeast Georgia last March. Tuesday's announcement did not specify how much of the new investment will go to its facilities in Bryan county, but it's expected to create around 25,000 new jobs nationwide. And the Georgia Supreme Court has sided with an apartment complex in Hehira, north of Valdosta, in a ruling that could affect the supply of affordable housing in Georgia. The case dealt with how tax assessors estimate the fair market value of properties that qualify for low income housing tax credits. The complex, Gateway Pines, challenged their tax assessment by Lowndes County. The high court's decision, announced yesterday, means affordable housing developments that use certain tax credits can be assessed based on projected income and In SPORTS Atlanta United star and Mercedes Benz brand ambassador Brad Guzan will help build furniture for the needy at an event taking place tomorrow night at Atlanta's Mercedes Benz Stadium. Guzan and more than 700 Mercedes Benz USA employees will work to replenish the Furniture bank of Metro Atlanta, a non profit providing donations of furniture and other household items to families and individuals in need. As part of the MBUSA employee Labor Day cookout, a warehouse fire recently devastated their supply. Brad Guzan will also conduct soccer drills for families in attendance. That's at 5pm tomorrow night at Mercedes Benz Stadium. And I want to thank you for downloading and listening to this episode of Georgia Today. As always, we remind you that the stories that you hear on Georgia Today, many of them can be found on our GPP website, gpb.org news. Many more details there. If you haven't yet hit subscribe on this podcast, we ask you to do that. Take a moment now to keep us current in your podcast feed. Feedback is welcome. Send us your comments to Georgia Today at Garage, I'm Orlando Montoya and we'll be back again tomorrow with another edition of Georgia today.