Special and runoff election results; South Korean ambassador visits Georgia

Summary

Georgia Today Podcast Summary

Episode Title: Special and runoff election results; South Korean ambassador visits Georgia
Date: December 3, 2025
Host: Peter Biello, Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB)

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Episode Overview

This episode of Georgia Today provides a comprehensive news roundup focused on Georgia's recent runoff and special elections, a significant diplomatic visit from South Korea's ambassador, public safety updates, economic development news, and local sports headlines. The reporting is brisk, factual, and offers a range of state-centric stories from government and legislation to infrastructure and community welfare.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Election Results Across Georgia

• Runoff and Special Elections:

  • Akbar Ali (Democrat, age 21): Elected to the Georgia House representing Gwinnett, now the youngest lawmaker in the state ([00:45]).
  • Mary Robichaux (Democrat): Defeated incumbent Republican Kurt Wilson in the Roswell mayoral race.
  • Shakina Reeves: Won over incumbent Mayor Jeff Lundy in Fort Valley.
  • Other metro Atlanta cities, including East Point and South Fulton, have elected new mayors.
  • Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul secured a fourth term ([00:45]-[01:20]).

  “Akbar Ali won the runoff to fill former Representative Shelly Hutchinson's Gwinnett seat... making him the youngest lawmaker under the Dome.”
  — Sarah Kalis ([00:45])

2. Voter Assistance Ban Reinstated

• Federal Appeals Court Ruling:
  • The 11th Circuit Court restored Georgia’s ban on giving food and water to voters in line.
  • A previous injunction was vacated due to shifting Supreme Court rulings, sending the case back to a lower court ([01:24]).

3. Georgia Lottery and Education Funding

• Lottery Impact Report:

  • Over 2 million preschoolers have received pre-K education funded by the lottery.
  • More than 2 million college students have benefited from lottery scholarships.
  • Fiscal year 2025: $1.47 billion returned to education ([02:06]).

  "This was our 10th consecutive year over $1 billion in returns."
  — Gretchen Corbin, Georgia Lottery President/CEO ([02:06])

  • Total outlay since 1993 exceeded $30 billion ([02:14]).

4. Traffic Fatalities Surpass Homicides in Metro Atlanta

• Pedestrian Safety Report:
  • 425 deaths from traffic incidents vs. 410 homicides in major Atlanta counties last year.
  • DeKalb had the most fatalities; Fulton led in serious injuries involving pedestrians and cyclists.
  • Traffic deaths down over 9% from 2023 ([02:29]).

5. South Korean Ambassador’s Visit & Economic Ties

• Ambassador Kang Kyung Wha’s Visit:

  • Toured Hyundai plant in Southeast Georgia, highlighting the strengthening alliance.
  • Did not comment on September ICE raids involving Korean workers.
  • Spoke at Georgia Tech security and technology summit, focusing on U.S.-South Korea relations ([03:12]).

  “Korea and the United States have started out on a journey to become a future oriented, comprehensive strategic alliance.”
  — Kang Kyung Wha, South Korean Ambassador ([00:19], [03:35])

  • Ambassador assumed her role after the ICE raids and just before a major trade agreement ([03:51]).

6. Atlanta Rapid Rehousing Initiative

• Waterworks Village Project:

  • 100 affordable, fully accessible apartments for homeless individuals, using repurposed shipping containers.
  • Features on-site medical and mental health support (Project Healing) through partnerships with local hospitals.

  "Going to provide medical and mental health supportive care in-home, keeping those individuals out of the hospital, discharged to a warm bed instead of discharged to the street."
  — Dr. Mark Holzberg ([04:42]–[04:49])

7. Economic Development: Walmart in Valdosta

• Milk Processing Plant:
  • 400 new jobs, $350 million investment, supports regional dairy farmers.
• Drone Delivery Service:
  • Launched in six Atlanta suburbs, delivering packages in five minutes within a 6-mile radius ([05:31]).

8. Healthcare: New Emergency Room in Augusta Suburb

• Doctors Hospital Expansion:
  • First freestanding ER in Columbia County opened; more facilities forthcoming as population grows ([05:58]).

9. Sports: Soccer & College Football

• U.S. Men's National Soccer Team:
  • Friendlies scheduled in Atlanta vs. Belgium (March 28) and Portugal (March 31), potentially featuring Cristiano Ronaldo ([06:22]).
• Georgia Tech Football:
  • Coach Brent Key receives a new five-year contract extension ([06:22]).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On U.S.-Korea Relations:

  "Korea and the United States have started out on a journey to become a future oriented, comprehensive strategic alliance."
  — Kang Kyung Wha ([00:19], [03:35])

• On Educational Returns:

  “This was our 10th consecutive year over $1 billion in returns.”
  — Gretchen Corbin ([02:06])

• On Humanitarian Housing:

  “Discharged to a warm bed instead of discharged to the street.”
  — Dr. Mark Holzberg ([04:49])

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Timeline of Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|-----------------------------------------------------| | 00:36 | Election results update | | 01:24 | Voter assistance ban restored | | 02:06 | Georgia Lottery education report | | 02:29 | Traffic fatalities vs. homicides report | | 03:12 | South Korean ambassador’s visit | | 04:03 | Rapid rehousing project in Atlanta | | 05:02 | Walmart’s new Valdosta milk plant | | 05:31 | Walmart drone delivery expansion | | 05:58 | Augusta’s new ER facility | | 06:22 | U.S. Soccer friendlies and Georgia Tech football |

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Tone and Language

The podcast’s tone is professional, concise, and informative with brief but impactful direct quotes from newsmakers and reporters. The pace is brisk, focusing on key facts and timely updates, offering context when major policy shifts (such as the voting line assistance ban) or noteworthy trends (traffic fatalities) arise.

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This episode provides a thorough snapshot of Georgia's local government shake-ups, economic momentum, evolving international ties, community projects, and sports scene—essential listening for anyone wanting an up-to-date pulse on the state.

Transcript

[A]

Welcome to the Georgia Today Podcast. Here we bring you the latest reports from the GPB newsroom. On today's episode, Georgia voters elect new leaders in runoff and special elections across the state. Atlanta traffic deaths outnumbered homicides last year and South Korea's ambassador visits Georgia to promote economic coordination.

[B]

Korea and the United States have started out on a journey to become a future oriented copy comprehensive strategic Alliance.

[A]

Today is Wednesday, December 3rd. I'm Peter Biello and this is Georgia Today.

Georgia voters in several cities and counties elected new leaders in runoff or special elections yesterday. GPB's Sarah Kalis reports on some of the more closely watched races.

[C]

Democrat Akbar Ali won the runoff to fill former Representative Shelly Hutchinson's Gwinnett seat in the Georgia house. Ali is 21 years old, making him the youngest lawmaker under the Dome. Democrat Mary Robichaux beat incumbent Republican Mayor Kurt Wilson in Roswell and in Fort Valley, Shakina Reeves won over incumbent Mayor Jeff Lundy. Several other metro Atlanta cities, including East Point and south Fulton, elected new mayors. SANDY Springs Mayor Rusty Paul won a fourth term against Democratic challenger Dante Carter. For GPB News, I'm Sarah Kalisp.

[A]

A federal appeals court has restored a Georgia ban on giving food and water to people waiting in line to vote. The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday vacated an injunction issued two years ago that stopped the state from enforcing its ban on giving gifts near polling places. The panel of judges wrote that a ruling by the US Supreme Court on another case had changed the legal landscape. The court ordered the case be returned to a lower court. In Atlanta.

The legislative committee that oversees the Georgia Lottery received an update today on how much lottery proceeds are helping Georgia students. Lottery Corporation President and CEO Gretchen Corbin told lawmakers that more than 2 million preschool students have received pre K education through lottery funding.

[D]

So fiscal year 25 we returned $1.47 billion to education. This was our 10th consecutive year over $1 billion in returns.

[A]

More than 2 million college students have received help paying tuition using lottery funded scholarships. Governor Brian Kemp on Monday said the lottery's total outlay for education since 1993 has topped $30 billion.

A new report of metro Atlanta counties says more people died in traffic crashes than by homicide last year. The report from pedestrian safety organization Propel ATL says 425 people died in traffic crashes last year, while 410 people died from homicide. The report covers Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett counties. DeKalb county had the most traffic fatalities of the counties surveyed. Fulton county had the most reported serious injuries, including serious injuries of pedestrians and cyclists. Traffic Deaths in the five county region were down more than 9% from 2023. The report gathered data from the Georgia Department of Transportation, Georgia Bureau of Investigation and other state and federal agencies.

South Korea's ambassador to the United States has wrapped up a visit to Georgia to promote economic cooperation. Yesterday, the ambassador, Kang Kyung Wha, toured the Hyundai Motor Vehicle plant in Southeast Georgia, where an ICE raid in September rounded up hundreds of Korean workers who were later sent back to their home country. Kang did not address the raid when she spoke at a security and technology summit at Georgia Tech on Monday.

[B]

Thanks to the bountiful outcome of the summit agreement between the two presidents, Korea and the United States have started out on a journey to become a future oriented, comprehensive strategic alliance.

[A]

Kang became Korea's top envoy to the US A month after the raid and weeks before President Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung finalized a trade agreement.

The latest installment in Atlanta's rapid rehousing program will offer 100 units of affordable housing for the city's homeless residents. GPB's Amanda Andrews has more on the development.

[D]

The Waterworks Village includes two buildings made of shipping containers with three floors of studio apartments. The project was a collaboration with Atlanta Watershed to develop underused property near the Westside Reservoir. All 100 units are wheelchair accessible and include a full size refrigerator. A third of units will also have access to on site medical care through Project Healing. Dr. Mark Holzberg Co chairs the project. He says it's a collaboration with six Atlanta area hospitals and Project Heal is.

[A]

Going to provide medical and mental health supportive care in home, keeping those individuals out of the hospital discharged to a.

[D]

Warm bed instead of discharged to the street. This is the city's third rapid rehousing project for unhoused residents. For GPB news, I'm Amanda Andrews.

[A]

Walmart cut the ribbon yesterday on a milk processing facility in Valdosta. The company says the plant will create 400 jobs and strengthen the retail giant's supply chain. The 300,000 square foot facility represents a $350 million investment using milk produced by local dairy farmers. The Valdosta facility will ready for sale a variety of products including whole 2%, 1% skim and chocolate milk for Walmart's Great Value and Sam's Club member's Mark Brands.

Drones will be able to deliver Walmart packages to your house if you live near one of six Walmart supercenters in the Atlanta suburbs. The retail giant and drone delivery company Wing today announced the new service in Conyers, Dallas, Hiram, Loganville, McDonough and Woodstock Wing. A subsidiary of Google parent Alphabet says its 12 pound white and yellow drones can range up to six miles at a cruising speed of 60 miles per hour. The delivering packages in five minutes.

Doctors Hospital of Augusta has opened its first freestanding emergency room in Columbia county, the hospital said. The ER in Evans opened yesterday. It's the first of two new ers coming to the rapidly growing county and Augusta suburb. Wellstar is expected to open a hospital in Grovetown in the fall of next year.

Atlanta will host the U.S. men's national soccer team for two of its final friendlies before next year's World Cup. U.S. soccer yesterday announced the matches at Mercedes Benz Stadium against Belgium on March 28 and against Portugal three days later. The latter friendly brings the possibility of Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo, the all time leading scorer in men's international soccer history, playing in the US for the first time since 2014. It also brings soccer fans in the Southeast two opportunities to see the US team, including stars Christian Pulisic and Tyler Adams, before the World Cup. The tournament's group draw is Friday with venue assignments Saturday. In football, Georgia Tech has announced a new five year contract for coach Brent Key. The school has rewarded the coach with an extension for the second consecutive year. He led Georgia Tech to a 93 regular season. The deal runs through the 2030 season. A former Georgia Tech player, Kee, has led the yellowjackets to a 2719 record in three plus seasons. The yellowjackets closed the regular season with losses in three of their last four games, including Friday's 169 loss to UGA.

And that's a wrap on Georgia Today. Thanks for listening. We appreciate that you choose Georgia Today as one of perhaps many sources of news. Thanks for choosing us. And remember, you can check gpb.org news for updates to any of the stories you heard on the podcast. Podcast today. And remember, we're going to be back tomorrow afternoon with all the latest headlines. You won't want to miss a minute, so subscribe now and you won't miss a thing. Your feedback is important to us, so send it to us by email. If you have any story ideas, welcome too at the same address, which is Georgia todaypb.org I'm Peter Biello. Thanks again for listening. We will see you tomorrow.