Southern Company beats expectations; Life sciences park in Gwinnett; Shutdown continues

Summary

Podcast Summary: Georgia Today – October 30, 2025

Host: Peter Biello, Georgia Public Broadcasting
Episode highlights: Southern Company’s financial results, Gwinnett’s new life sciences park, and deepening impacts of the ongoing government shutdown in Georgia.

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Episode Overview

This episode covers several significant stories affecting Georgia: Southern Company’s financial performance, a major new research park development in Gwinnett, and the severe, growing consequences of a month-long federal government shutdown on local communities and social services. Host Peter Biello and GPB reporters provide updates and deep-dive interviews from affected Georgians, officials, and policy experts.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Prolonged Federal Government Shutdown and Its Impact

[00:40–08:03]

• Shutdown Blame Game & ACA Subsidies:
  The shutdown, now at 30 days, is at a political impasse over the inclusion of Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies.

  • Sen. Raphael Warnock vows to fight for these subsidies.
    • “This is a Republican government shutdown.” ([01:08])
  • Each party blames the other for the stalemate.

• SNAP Benefits in Peril:
  If the shutdown persists, nearly 1 in 8 Georgians face loss of SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits.

  • Ashley Stevenson, a Macon mother, shares her struggle after failing to find food at depleted local pantries:
    • “We’re looking at feeding three kids with barely anything after bills and everything else.” ([02:10])
  • Georgia Governor Brian Kemp refuses to use state surplus funds for food aid, unlike neighboring states, prioritizing an end to the federal shutdown.

• Food Banks & City Measures:
  Atlanta mobilizes local partners and dips into food bank reserves to ease hunger, also announcing moratoriums on evictions and water shutoffs until January 31, 2026.

  • Mayor Andre Dickens:
    • “…if individuals… can’t pay their November 1st rent, then they’re not going to [be] evicted because of that.” ([03:57])

• Vulnerable Social Services in Jeopardy:
  Community action agencies—crucial for food, housing, child care, and utility aid—are at risk as federal funds dry up.

  • Consuela Thompson of Georgia’s Community Action Agencies:
    • “We’ve probably given out over 400,000 diapers.” ([05:30])
  • Volunteer diaper drives highlight the immediate, grassroots response, yet ongoing funding is in doubt.
  • Loss of grants for utility assistance and dwindling Head Start resources threaten to force office closures and layoffs.
  • Lauren Kuntz, YMCA of Metro Atlanta (regarding an $8 million philanthropic bridge loan):
    • “The philanthropic community should not be supplanting federal dollars.” ([07:40])

Notable Quote:

“The rug is getting pulled out from up under people so we can provide just a little relief, a little guidance, a little hope, you know, that's why we're here.”
— Consuela Thompson ([05:57])

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2. Southern Company Exceeds Wall Street Expectations

[08:09–09:12]

• Financial Performance:
  Southern Company, Georgia Power’s parent, reports $1.7 billion in Q3 net income.
  • The report comes as the Georgia Public Service Commission prepares for a significant election (November 4th), with candidates debating rate hikes.
• Political Relevance:
  The energy company’s profits feed into ongoing debates about public utility regulation and consumer impact.

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3. Economic and Community Development

[09:12–12:24]

• Education Job Lawsuit:
  Ashley White, an art teacher in Dublin, sues for wrongful dismissal tied to charter district laws and a fiscal crisis—potentially impacting more staff.

• Downtown Atlanta Redevelopment:
  The Fulton Board approves a $223 million inducement for Forge Atlanta, a major downtown revitalization project poised to create 3,000 jobs.

• Gwinnett’s Life Sciences Research Park:

  • Project Overview:
    The Rowan Center, a planned 2,000-acre life sciences park in Gwinnett County, aims to emulate North Carolina’s Research Triangle, focusing on medicine, agriculture, and environmental innovation.
    • Mason Ailstock, Rowan’s President/CEO:
      • “We need to have places that are intentionally bringing together government, industry, and our higher education partners with a sustained vision to take on global challenges.” ([10:21])
  • Development Timeline:
    • First phase: $100 million, roads/trails built; vertical construction bids underway.
    • Groundbreaking anticipated in early 2026.
    • Expected economic impact: 18,000 jobs by 2035 over 11 counties.
    • Key partners: Georgia universities and major private firms.

• Land Stewardship:
  The design honors local agricultural heritage:

  • “This is land that was stewarded by families in Georgia for generations. They sold their land because they believed in the vision of Rowan…” ([11:22])

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4. Quick Updates & Human Interest

[12:24–13:19]

• Shaquille O’Neal’s $180,000 Range Rover Stolen:
  A custom vehicle intended for Shaq is missing during transport, with a $10,000 reward for information. Authorities probe a potential transport system hack.

• Atlanta Dogwood Festival Saved:
  Community, corporate, and municipal support allows the festival to return for its 90th year, charging a small entry fee to help secure its future.

• Sports:
  Atlanta Hawks’ Trae Young suffers a knee sprain—preliminary tests show no ACL tear after a victory over the Brooklyn Nets.

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Shutdown impact and SNAP crisis: [00:40–08:03]
• Southern Company financial news: [08:09–09:12]
• Atlanta and statewide development projects: [09:12–12:24]
• Human interest news (Shaq’s car, Dogwood Festival, sports): [12:24–13:19]

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Memorable Moments and Quotes

• “This is a Republican government shutdown.”
  — Unnamed official ([01:08])

• “We’re looking at feeding three kids with barely anything after bills and everything else.”
  — Ashley Stevenson, Macon mother ([02:10])

• “If there is no federal action, Georgia can take action to provide state funds to help people eat.”
  — Ife Flinch Floyd, Georgia Budget & Policy Institute ([02:51])

• “The rug is getting pulled out from up under people so we can provide just a little relief, a little guidance, a little hope, you know, that’s why we’re here.”
  — Consuela Thompson, Georgia Community Action Agencies ([05:57])

• “…the philanthropic community should not be supplanting federal dollars.”
  — Lauren Kuntz, YMCA of Metro Atlanta ([07:40])

• “We need to have places that are intentionally bringing together government, industry, and our higher education partners with a sustained vision to take on global challenges.”
  — Mason Ailstock, Rowan CEO ([10:21])

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Tone and Style

The tone throughout is urgent, empathetic, and community-focused, reflecting a Georgia grappling with real, tangible fallout from federal policy gridlock and simultaneously pushing forward with ambitious local development. Firsthand accounts and expert commentary drive home both frustration over bureaucratic inertia and optimism about the state’s innovative future.

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For more details and continuous coverage, visit gpb.com.

Transcript

[Host/Reporter]

Georgia is the new hotbed for musical talent, and the music industry knows it. Record executives are turning their eyes to the Peach State to discover the next big thing. On GPB's Peach Jam podcast, you'll hear those rising Georgia artists before anyone else listen and discover the sound of what's next on the Peace Jam Podcast from Georgia Public Broadcasting.

[Peter Biello]

Welcome to the Georgia Today Podcast. Here we bring you the latest reports from the GPB newsroom. On today's episode, the parent company of Georgia Power beats Wall street expectations. Gwinnett county will soon get a new life sciences research park and frustration builds as the government shutdown continues.

[Reporter Sophie Gradis]

Unfortunately, the government is not doing its.

[Host/Reporter]

Job and the people are being screwed because of it.

[Peter Biello]

Today is Thursday, October 30th. I'm Peter Biello, and this is Georgia. The federal government has been shut down for 30 days as Republicans and Democrats in the Senate continue to spar over the plan to fund the government. Democratic US Senator Raphael Warnock says he'll keep fighting for a plan that extends Affordable Care act subsidies.

[Host/Reporter]

This is a Republican government shutdown.

[Interviewee/Official]

They have the White House, they have.

[Host/Reporter]

The House, they have the Senate. They can open up government anytime they want, but this is a choice that they have made.

[Peter Biello]

Meanwhile, Republicans in the US Senate blame Democrats for the shutdown and say they could also end the shutdown by voting for the Republican continuing resolution that reopens the government without extending aca subsidies. About 1 in 8 people in Georgia are preparing to cope with the looming pause of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP benefits if the federal government shutdown does not end. GPB's Grant Blankenship has more.

[Reporter Grant Blankenship]

South Carolina and Louisiana have plans to spend to cover some part of the SNAP gap, But so far, Governor Brian Kemp says he won't dip into Georgia's $14.6 billion budget surplus to help feed people during the shutdown. Meanwhile, food banks have already been struggling with shortages since a $1 billion cut to USDA programs in March. Working mom Ashley Stevenson couldn't find any food at either of the two pantries she checked in the city of Macon.

[Host/Reporter]

We're looking at feeding three kids with.

[Reporter Sophie Gradis]

With barely anything after bills and everything else. Unfortunately, the government is not doing its.

[Host/Reporter]

Job and the people are being screwed because of it.

[Reporter Grant Blankenship]

Stevenson says she doesn't know what her next move will be. For GPB News, I'm Grant Blankenship in Macon.

[Peter Biello]

Analysts at the nonprofit Georgia Budget and Policy Institute say Gov. Brian Kemp should use state funds to bridge the gap if SNAP benefits run out. GBPI director of economic Justice Ife Flinch Floyd says Georgia's elected officials need to step in to ensure people don't go hungry.

[Host/Reporter]

If our federal leaders do not take action, our state leaders should be planning to support Georgians who will lose snap. If there is no federal action, Georgia can take action to provide state funds to help people eat.

[Peter Biello]

The GBPI says Kemp could declare a state of emergency, call a special legislative session or or support food banks. As we heard from GPP's Grant Blankenship, Governor Brian Kemp says he won't use state funds for food aid. He says ending the federal shutdown remains the objective. A Memo from the U.S. department of Agriculture sent to states says they will not be reimbursed if they use state funding to pay for snap. The city of Atlanta is pooling its resources and leveraging partnerships to provide food and financial relief to residents affected by the government shutdown. City partners with ATL Cares like the Atlanta Community Food bank and Gooder Grocery Stores will expand services to feed more families, seniors and federal workers. The food bank will also spend $5 million in reserves to purchase more food. Mayor Andre Dickens also announced a temporary hold on evictions in city properties. All of the city entities that have.

[Interviewee/Official]

Housing, we are placing a moratorium on them from evictions. So if individuals and let's say they don't get paid right now as a federal employee and they can't pay their November 1st rent, then they're not going to evicted because of that.

[Peter Biello]

The city also suspended water shut offs for any customers who can't pay their bill. The moratoriums will last until January 31, 2026. In communities around the country, there are little known nonprofits that provide often crucial services to thousands of struggling families. These community action agencies do everything from get meals to seniors, run early child care programs and and even help people cut their utility bills. In big cities and in small towns that work is funded by the federal government, which means that whole constellation of services is under threat during the shutdown too, as GPB's Sophie Gradis explains Good.

[Interviewee/Official]

Morning, how are you?

[Reporter Grant Blankenship]

Good morning.

[Reporter Sophie Gradis]

On a recent cloudy Saturday near Macon's downtown, volunteers in bright yellow vests crowd around pallets of diapers.

[Host/Reporter]

1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

[Reporter Sophie Gradis]

A line of cars, some which arrived at the crack of dawn, waits to meet them. Here's some wipes for you right here.

[Host/Reporter]

Thank you.

[Reporter Sophie Gradis]

Every car that pulls up gets 100 diapers and some wipes. The supplies are passed through open car windows. This diaper drive is a one day event, but it's part of a larger program run out of Georgia's community action agencies, which are essentially one stop shops for basic needs. Consuela Thompson, who oversees the state's Community action Agency organization, says this year alone.

[Host/Reporter]

We'Ve probably given out over 400,000 diapers.

[Reporter Sophie Gradis]

The diaper program is funded by a grant from the federal government that Thompson says has not only let them host drives like this, but to also enroll families in a whole host of other services like early childhood education at the Head Start Center.

[Host/Reporter]

And all they came for was the diapers. And we're now addressing all these other situations that are happening within the household, she says.

[Reporter Sophie Gradis]

This year has been tough on families.

[Host/Reporter]

The rug is getting pulled out from up under people so we can provide just a little relief, a little guidance, a little hope, you know, that's why we're here.

[Reporter Sophie Gradis]

Thompson says meeting people's basic needs has never felt controversial, but now she's worried money for the diaper program won't be included in next year's federal budget. Already, the Trump administration has axed funding for a program under the community action agency umbrella that that helps people pay their power bills. Right now, the government shutdown poses the most immediate threat to that kind of help, says Tammy Sosby in Warner Robbins.

[Host/Reporter]

A lot of times we get people that they're not poor, maybe they're just hit a bump in the road.

[Reporter Sophie Gradis]

Sosby says the Middle Georgia Community Action Agency can last about two more months under the shutdown before she has to start laying off staff in her 22 county service area.

[Host/Reporter]

And we would have to close those offices, those, those grassroots offices where people come, they know to come for the.

[Reporter Sophie Gradis]

Assistance, assistance with getting basic needs like food and shelter.

[Host/Reporter]

I had a lady show up this week to one of my offices. She thought she was going to be evicted and we were able to help her. It happens on a daily basis, different, different situations.

[Reporter Sophie Gradis]

While she worries about their inability to continue that work at neighborhood centers, Sosby says her Head Start program has funds through January. Another Head Start in Waycross in southeast Georgia will run out of money this week. Philanthropy is keeping three Head Start agencies on a different grant cycle in metro Atlanta open until mid December. Lauren Kuntz from the YMCA of metro Atlanta calls the $8 million bridge loan a radical move to support a program that's historically had bipartisan support.

[Host/Reporter]

But let's be very clear, the philanthropic community should not be supplanting federal dollars.

[Reporter Sophie Gradis]

The bridge loan only begins to cover expenses for Head Start compared to federal.

[Host/Reporter]

This is just a temporary reprieve, much.

[Reporter Sophie Gradis]

Like the packages of diapers getting these middle Georgia families through one more week.

[Peter Biello]

I need a 3, 4, 5 and pull up.

[Host/Reporter]

I got you.

[Reporter Sophie Gradis]

For GPB news, I'm Sophie Gradas in Macon.

[Peter Biello]

The parent company of Georgia Power is reporting earnings that beat Wall street expectations. Southern Company today reported third quarter net income of more than $1.7 billion. News of these profits comes ahead of an election for 2 SE on the Georgia Public Service Commission, which has approved a series of Georgia Power rate hikes in recent years. Two Democrats are challenging two incumbent Republicans. Election Day is Tuesday, November 4th. A Georgia elementary school teacher let go during a fiscal crisis in her district is suing to get her job back. Ashley White was the only art teacher at Hillcrest Elementary School in Dublin. She says the district broke the law when she was asked to resign earlier this month. The state Department of Education has put Dublin City Schools, which is a charter system, on a financial improvement plan as million dollar budget shortfalls have come to light. White's lawyers argue that the district had no right to fire her because state laws permitting such terminations do not apply to charter districts. The decision in the case could have ramifications for other Dublin City Schools employees who are set to be terminated before their contracts run the develop Fulton Board of directors has approved an inducement resolution to support the first phase of Forge Atlanta. Forge Atlanta is a downtown development that will include hotels, event spaces, shops, entertainment and other amenities. Developers say they're planning for open public green spaces, walkable corridors and transit oriented design. An inducement resolution is a declaration of intent to issue tax exempt bonds to finance a project and reimburse prior expenses. The inducement approves more than $223 million. The project is expected to create 3,000 jobs, 900 of which would be permanent. A planned 2,000 acre life sciences research park is moving forward in metro Atlanta's Gwinnett County. GPB's Orlando Montoya reports. The project is modeled after North Carolina's.

[Reporter Grant Blankenship]

Research Triangle, about halfway between universities in Athens and Atlanta. The Rowan center plans to bring together innovators in medicine and agriculture and the environment. Mason Ailstock is the project's president and CEO.

[Interviewee/Official]

The reason behind Rowan is that we need to have places that are intentionally bringing together government, industry and our higher education partners with a sustained vision to take on global challenges, Ailstock said.

[Reporter Grant Blankenship]

Land and phase one spending amount to a $100 million investment. So far. Roads, trails and underground infrastructure are already in place. Rowan announced this month that bidding has begun for the site's first vertical construction, an anchor building for a future campus that was first conceived almost 20 years ago.

[Interviewee/Official]

This isn't a one year project. This is a multi decade, multi generational project. So Rowan will have this vision and purpose of curating those partnerships and leaning into global challenges with all of these collaborators for decades ahead.

[Reporter Grant Blankenship]

Rowan's first priority was accumulating the land it needed along US Highway 29 into Cula, Ailstock said. Respecting that land is a core concept of the Phase one design.

[Interviewee/Official]

This is land that was stewarded by families in Georgia for generations. They sold their land because they believed in the vision of Rowan and what this could mean for other generations coming behind. So we are respecting that with the architecture. You saw that in the design. The theme that our architect worked with was barns and bridges.

[Reporter Grant Blankenship]

The Rowan Village eventually is expected to include residential, retail, meeting and performance spaces, along with its research and academic facilities. Once complete, it's expected to have a huge impact on an 11 county region. The Rowan center says it could amount to 18,000 jobs by 2035. The project's partners so far include educational institutions like Emory University, Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia, as well as companies like Intuitive Surgical, Agco and Meissner. Groundbreaking is expected in early 2026. For GPB news, I'm Orlando Montoya.

[Peter Biello]

A $180,000 Range Rover customized for NBA legend Shaquille O' Neal has been reported stolen in Georgia. The car was supposed to be transported to Baton Rouge but never arrived. The car was being customized for Shaq's height and other upgrades, and Effortless Motors is offering $10,000 for information to help find the vehicle. Multiple businesses were involved in its transport, and authorities are looking into a potential hack of the transport company's system.

[Host/Reporter]

Sources and methods the crown jewels of the intelligence community. Shorthand for how do we know what's real? Who told us? If you have those answers, you're on the inside and NPR wants to bring you there. From the Pentagon to the State Department to spy agencies, listen to understand what's really happening and what it means for you. Sources and Methods the new National Security Podcast from NPR.

[Peter Biello]

The Atlanta Dogwood Festival will return for its 90th year after facing significant financial challenges. Festival officials said yesterday they received incredible support from the community, corporate partners and the city of Atlanta. As of yesterday, the festival said it raised more than $71,000, and the city of Atlanta agreed to allow the festival to charge a nominal entrance fee. They'll charge $5 on Friday and $10 on Saturday and Sunday. The Dogwood Festival takes place every spring at Atlanta's Piedmont park and is one of Georgia's longest running arts and music festivals. Officials said they will continue their fundraising efforts to secure the dogwoods long term future in Sports in the NBA, Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young has sprained his right knee yesterday in a game against the Brooklyn Nets. Coach Quinn Snyder says Young will get an mri, adding that early tests have found Young did not tear his ACL. The Hawks beat the Nets 117 to 112, and the Hawks now head to Indiana to face the Pacers tomorrow. That is a wrap on Georgia Today. As always, we appreciate you tuning in and we hope you'll come back tomorrow. So make sure you subscribe to this podcast and if you're looking for updates to any of the stories you heard today or you just want to read the latest news, go to gpb.com we always welcome your feedback and we'd love to hear from you by email. When you email georgia todaypb.org it's going to go to the whole team. Again, that email address georgia todaypb.org I'm Peter Biello. Thanks so much for listening. We'll see you tomorrow.

[Host/Reporter]

Georgia is the new hotbed for musical talent and the music industry knows it. Record executives are turning their eyes to the Peach State to discover the next big thing thing on GPB's Peach Jam podcast, you'll hear those rising Georgia artists before anyone else listen and discover the sound of what's next on the Peach Jam Podcast from Georgia Public Broadcasting.