Update on Fort Stewart shooting; Two former Augusta COs indicted for inmate's death

Summary

Georgia Today Podcast Summary - August 7, 2025

Hosted by Peter Biello, Georgia Today delivers comprehensive and engaging coverage of the most significant news stories impacting Georgia. In the August 7th episode, listeners were informed about critical updates on the Fort Stewart shooting, legal proceedings involving former Augusta corrections officers, housing challenges in Macon-Bibb County, new research on childhood adversity, employment developments, and the inauguration of a national tradition honoring first ladies.

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1. Political Showdown: Attorney General Chris Carr Sues Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones

Attorney General Chris Carr's gubernatorial campaign has taken legal action against Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, alleging misuse of leadership committee funds intended for campaign activities. Carr's team is requesting a federal court to intervene and prevent Jones from accessing these funds.

Key Insights:

• Sarah Kallas reports:
  "Carr's campaign is asking a federal court to stop Jones from using his leadership committee funds for his campaign." [01:00]

• Context: Leadership committees, established in 2021, allow top officials to raise funds with fewer restrictions. Carr's spokesperson accuses Jones of attempting to bypass standard campaign fundraising regulations.

• Response: Jones’s campaign spokeswoman counters, stating that Carr has previously supported such laws and has now altered his stance. This lawsuit echoes past challenges, including a 2022 federal ruling against Governor Brian Kemp and legal issues faced by former Senator David Perdue.

Quote: "This isn't the first time leadership committees have been challenged in court." — Sarah Kallas [01:17]

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2. Heroic Response to Fort Stewart Shooting

Six soldiers are being commended for their bravery in responding to a shooting incident at Fort Stewart in Southeast Georgia, where five soldiers were injured.

Key Insights:

• Orlando Montoya reports:
  "Speaking at Fort Stewart this morning, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll praised the soldiers who responded to the incident under stress and under fire." [02:19]

• Actions Taken:

  • One soldier tackled the shooter, displaying immense courage.
  • Another secured the assailant by jumping on him, ensuring his arrest.
  • Remaining soldiers provided medical assistance to the injured.

• Investigation Focus: Authorities are examining how Sergeant Cornelius Radford was able to bring a personal weapon into his workspace. Radford was facing DUI charges for an alleged traffic violation in May, raising concerns about his mental state prior to the incident.

Expert Commentary:

• Scott Sweedow, security consultant:
  "As a civilian, you can get in big trouble because you can't carry a firearm like that into a federal installation... Certainly it appears he wasn't doing that." [03:17]

Quote: "The real question is what caused him to spiral." — Orlando Montoya [03:34]

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3. Legal Action Against Former Augusta Corrections Officers

Robert Robertson and Marcus Phillips, former correctional officers at Augusta State Medical Prison, have been indicted for their involvement in the death of an inmate in 2020. The indictment alleges that the officers violated the inmate’s constitutional rights by showing deliberate indifference during a fire in his cell.

Key Insights:

• Peter Biello reports:
  "Robert Robertson and Marcus Phillips are charged with violating the man's constitutional rights by showing deliberate indifference to a fire in his cell that caused his death." [03:57]

• Allegations: The officers noticed a smoldering fire but failed to take appropriate action, such as extinguishing the fire, evacuating the inmate, or calling emergency services. Instead, they left the inmate in a locked cell for hours, leading to his death from smoke inhalation.

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4. Addressing Housing Shortage in Macon-Bibb County

Macon-Bibb County officials are actively seeking input from residents to develop effective strategies to combat the ongoing housing shortage. A comprehensive survey has been launched to gather data on residents' living situations, housing preferences, and perceived obstacles to obtaining housing.

Key Insights:

• Grant Blankenship reports:
  "Macon-Bibb County Planning and Zoning is floating the survey... Jeff Ruggieri heads Bibb County Planning and Zoning. He says the survey is an important first step for formulating a comprehensive plan for a community that's now adding people." [04:42]

• Jeff Ruggieri explains:
  "Running out of greenfield type developments so redevelopment and reusing existing housing stock and how we do that most effectively and affordably for people is another question that we're looking to get answered." [05:06]

• Call to Action: Residents are encouraged to complete the housing survey by August 18th to contribute to shaping future housing policies in Macon-Bibb County.

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5. Study Reveals Long-Term Health Impacts of Childhood Adversity

Research conducted by the University of Georgia highlights the significant impact of environmental unpredictability during childhood on long-term health outcomes, including mental health disorders and cardiovascular diseases.

Key Insights:

• Ellen Eldredge reports:
  "The study from the University of Georgia looked at how environmental unpredictability impacts health." [05:30]

• Professor Kelsey Koss elaborates:
  "We were interested in unpredictability in part because it may leave children with a kind of loss of a sense of control, their ability to make predictions about what will happen next, which is really important for self-regulation skills." [05:59]

• Methodology: The study utilized data from the Child Well-Being Study, which recruited thousands of families with newborns between 1998 and 2000, underscoring the crucial role of stable family environments in fostering healthy development.

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6. Employment and Legal Developments

a. Job Losses at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Approximately 400 employees working with Unifi Aviation, a contractor providing commissary services for Delta Airlines, are slated to lose their jobs. Delta has notified Unifi Aviation that their services are no longer required, with layoffs expected by the end of September.

b. Disability Discrimination Lawsuit Settlement

A Columbus-based health services provider has agreed to pay $70,000 to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit. The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) revealed that the Zoe Center for Pediatric and Adolescent Health terminated an employee the day after they requested remote work accommodations due to a disability.

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7. Honoring First Ladies: A New National Tradition in Plains, Georgia

In Plains, Georgia, a groundbreaking national tradition is being established to honor the legacies of America's first ladies. On what would have been Rosalynn Carter's 97th birthday, the National First Ladies Day Commission will lay a wreath at Carter Gardens, part of the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park. This Aug. 18 ceremony is the first of its kind, aiming to recognize former first ladies with the same reverence typically reserved for their presidential spouses. Descendants from other presidential families are expected to attend, marking the beginning of this respectful acknowledgment.

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For more detailed coverage and daily updates, visit gpb.org/news. Subscribe to the Georgia Today podcast to receive the latest reports directly to your device every weekday afternoon.

Transcript

[NPR Host]

These days there's so much news it can be hard to keep up with what it all means for you, your family and your community. The Consider this Podcast from NPR features our award winning journalism. Six days a week we bring you a deep dive on a news story and provide the context and analysis that helps you make sense of the news. We get behind the headlines. We get to the truth. Listen to the Consider this podcast from npr.

[Peter Biello]

Welcome to the Georgia Today podcast. Here we bring you the latest reports from the GPB newsroom. On today's episode. We'll have the latest on yesterday's shooting at Fort Stewart in Southeast Georgia. Also, two former corrections officers at an Augusta prison are charged in connection with the man's death. And Maconbib county officials ask residents for.

[Jeff Ruggieri]

Help handling the housing shortage, redevelopment and reusing existing housing stock. And how we do that most effectively and affordably for people is another question that we're looking to get answered in this study.

[Peter Biello]

Today is Thursday, August 7th. I'm Peter Biello and this is Georgia Today. Attorney General Chris Carr's gubernatorial campaign said today that it is suing Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones. Rival campaign GPB's Sarah Kalis reports.

[Sarah Kallas]

Carr's campaign is asking a federal court to stop Jones from using his leadership committee funds for his campaign. Leadership committees were established in 2021. Only a few top officials have access to the committees, which allow them to raise money with fewer restrictions than other elected officials. A spokesperson for Carr alleges that Jones is trying to circumvent campaign fundraising laws by using his leadership committee. Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for Jones campaign says that Carr has defended the law in the past and has switched positions. This isn't the first time leadership committees have been challenged in court. In 2022, a federal judge ruled that Governor Brian Kemp could not use his leadership committee funds in his primary race. Then former Senator David Perdue. For GPB News, I'm Sarah Kallas.

[Peter Biello]

Six soldiers who stopped an armed assailant during yesterday's shooting at a Southeast Georgia army base are being hailed as heroes. Today, a gunman shot five soldiers at Fort Stewart. GPB's Orlando Montoya reports.

[Orlando Montoya]

Speaking at Fort Stewart this morning, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll praised the soldiers who responded to the incident under stress and under fire.

[Scott Sweedow]

One of the soldiers tackled the person. So just think about this. They were unarmed and ran at and tackled an armed person who they knew was actively shooting their buddies, their colleagues, their fellow soldiers.

[Orlando Montoya]

Another soldier jumped on top of the assailant, ensuring his arrest. And the others started taking care of those injured, the wounded soldiers were expected to recover. Meanwhile, attention is turning to how the suspect and army sergeant Cornelius Radford was able to bring a personal weapon into his workspace at Fort Stewart. The army is still investigating that question and others. Scott Sweedow is a security consultant and former senior official with the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. He says carrying a weapon into a military base is a strictly regulated privilege, not a right.

[Scott Sweedow]

As a civilian, you can get in big trouble because you can't carry a firearm like that into a federal installation. But working there, he has the mechanism to do it, but he has to actually follow the military laws and regulations and certainly it appears he wasn't doing that.

[Orlando Montoya]

He says it would be impossible to prevent a gun from being snuck onto the base because so many cars go in and out of it. And the real question is what caused him to spiral? Radford was facing a charge of driving under the influence for an alleged traffic violation in May. 4 GPB News News I'm Orlando Montoya.

[Peter Biello]

Two former correctional officers at Augusta State Medical Prison have been indicted in connection with the death of an incarcerated man in 2020. Robert Robertson and Marcus Phillips are charged with violating the man's constitutional rights by showing deliberate indifference to a fire in his cell that caused his death. The indictment this week alleges that the two officers noticed a smoldering fire in the man's cell. The but rather than putting out the fire, evacuating the man or calling emergency services, the officers are accused of leaving the man in the locked cell for hours while he slowly died from smoke inhalation. Residents of Macon Bibb county are being asked to participate in a survey to help local leaders decide how to tackle the challenge of housing scarcity. GPB's Grant Blankenship has more.

[Grant Blankenship]

Maconbib County Planning and Zoning is floating the survey. It asks residents where they live, where they'd like to live, whether they own or rent, and even what things they see as biggest obstacles to finding housing in Macon. Jeff Ruggieri heads Bibb County Planning and Zoning. He says the survey is an important first step for formulating a comprehensive plan for a community that's now adding people. After decades of population loss, we are.

[Jeff Ruggieri]

Running out of greenfield type developments so redevelopment and reusing existing housing stock and how we do that most effectively and affordably for people is another question that we're looking to get answered. And in this study, Macon Residents have.

[Grant Blankenship]

Until the 18th of August to complete the housing survey. For GPB News, I'm Grant Blankenship in Macon.

[Peter Biello]

Research on childhood adversity shows that kids with unstable environments are more likely to develop mental health disorders and even cardiovascular disease. GPB's Ellen Eldredge has more.

[Ellen Eldredge]

The study from the University of Georgia looked at how environmental unpredictability impacts health. This includes things like kids without family routines, consistent bedtimes and economically stable caregivers. Kelsey Koss is an associate professor of human development and family science at the University of Georgia.

[Kelsey Koss]

And we were interested in unpredictability in part because it may leave children with a kind of loss of a sense of control, their ability to make predictions about what will happen next, which is really important for self regulation skills.

[Ellen Eldredge]

UGA's study used data from the Child well Being study that recruited thousands of families with newborns between 1998 and 2000. For GPB News, I'm Ellen Eldredge.

[Peter Biello]

About 400 people who work at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport are going to lose their jobs with a company that provides commissary services for Delta Airlines. A Delta contractor, Unifi Aviation, told state officials on Tuesday that Delta has given it notice the airline no longer needs its services. The workers are expected to be laid off by the end of September. A Columbus health services provider has agreed to pay $70,000 to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit. The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said on Tuesday that its case against the Zoe center for Pediatric and Adolescent Health involved remote work. The agency said an employee requested to work remotely several days a week because of a disability and was fired the next day. In former President Jimmy Carter's hometown of Plains, Georgia, a new national tradition will begin this month honoring the legacies of America's first ladies. On what would have been Rosalynn Carter's 97th birthday, the National First Ladies Day Commission will lay a wreath at Carter Gardens, part of the Jimmy Carter national historical park. The Aug. 18 ceremony is the first of its kind, recognizing former first ladies with the same reverence often given to their presidential spouses. Descendants from other presidential families are expected to attend. And that's a wrap on Georgia Today. We hope you'll come back tomorrow and check gpb.org news for updates. Subscribe to this podcast, too. So we pop up in your feed automatically every weekday afternoon. And if you've got feedback or a story idea, our email box is waiting for you. Message send it to Georgia todaypb.org I'm Peter Biello. Thanks again for listening. We'll see you tomorrow.

[NPR Host]

These days there's so much news it can be hard to keep up with what it all means for you, your family and your community. The Consider this Podcast from NPR features our award winning journalism. Six days a week we bring you a deep dive on a news story and provide the context and analysis that helps you make sense of the news. We get behind the headlines. We get to the truth. Listen to the Consider this Podcast from NPR.