Winter storm on the way; Ponzi scheme guilty plea; Measles in Georgia

Summary

Georgia Today Podcast Summary

Episode Date: January 22, 2026
Host: Peter Biello, Georgia Public Broadcasting
Main Topics: Winter storm emergency, Ponzi scheme guilty plea, first 2026 measles case in Georgia

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Episode Overview

This episode of Georgia Today delivers essential updates on three major stories: a severe winter storm prompting a state of emergency across northern Georgia, a high-profile financial crime case resulting in a guilty plea, and the first confirmed case of measles in Georgia in 2026. The show combines commentary from experts, direct quotes from officials, and field reports by GPB News reporters.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Winter Storm Emergency Across North Georgia

• State of Emergency Declared

  • Governor Brian Kemp has declared a state of emergency due to a major winter storm threatening at least 30 counties, including Atlanta’s Fulton County ([01:00]).
  • The order allows suspension of truck weight limits for emergency transport and authorizes up to 500 National Guard troops for response ([03:01–03:26]).

• Forecast and Weather Dynamics

  • Dr. Marshall Shepherd, UGA meteorologist, explains the “wedge” phenomenon bringing cold air down from the southern Appalachians and risking sleet/freezing rain along the I-85 corridor ([01:09]):

    • "What's driving our scenario is something called the wedge...a nose or wedge of cold air that dams up against the southern Appalachians and oozes down the I85 corridor from the Carolinas into Georgia." — Dr. Marshall Shepherd ([01:09])

  • Expect precipitation, 20–30 mph winds, and single-digit temps next week ([01:22]).
  • Early online misinformation may lead some to ignore preparations, while others may have outdated info ([01:22]).

• Preparedness Recommendations

  • Officials urge stocking up on essentials: water, non-perishable food, batteries, light sources ([01:59], [02:18]).
  • Drivers are strongly advised to stay off icy roads ([02:40]).
  • Key safety tips:
    • Do not use ovens to heat homes or bring generators inside due to carbon monoxide risk ([02:40]).
    • Emergency Director Josh Lamb emphasizes acting now:

      • "By being ready for the storm, Georgians can do their part in minimizing risk, reducing the time it takes to recover, and most importantly, prevent the loss of life." — Major General Dwayne Wilson ([02:32])

• Logistics and Response

  • National Guard troops are on standby; trucks will pre-treat roads. Coordination is ongoing among state and local agencies ([03:13–03:43]):

    • "Hopefully we won't [need to call up the National Guard], but we just want to be prepared." — Major General Dwayne Wilson ([03:13])

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2. First Confirmed Measles Case of 2026 in Georgia

• Case Details & Public Health Response

  • Baby too young for routine measles vaccine is first confirmed case this year ([03:43]).
  • Last year saw 10 measles cases in Georgia ([03:43]).

• Expert Interview: Dr. Andy Shane, Pediatrician

  • Measles is extremely contagious, remaining in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves ([04:14]):

    • "Measles is one of the most contagious viruses...if a person with measles is in a room...the measles virus can continue to be present in the room for up to two hours after the individual leaves." — Dr. Andy Shane ([04:14])

  • Unvaccinated contacts: 8–9 out of 10 will likely contract measles ([04:14]).

• Outbreak Management

  • Detecting exposure leads to extensive public health investigations tracking all places an infected person visited ([05:02]).
  • Quarantine vs. Isolation:
    • Quarantine for those exposed but asymptomatic; isolation if symptoms develop ([05:40]).
    • Duration varies (quarantine may last 3–4 weeks) ([05:40]).

• Vaccine Effectiveness

  • One MMR dose: 93–95% effective; two doses: 97–98% ([06:28]):

    • "With two doses, 97% or so, 98% of the population is immune to measles." — Dr. Andy Shane ([07:01])

  • Importance of being up-to-date on vaccination ([07:27]).
  • If exposure suspected and unvaccinated:
    • Monitor for symptoms, seek care if symptoms develop, call ahead before visiting a clinic ([07:27]):

      • "If your child is unvaccinated...the first thing to do is to monitor for symptoms and if symptoms should develop, then seek medical care...call ahead and notify so that you can be seen in a way that you won't expose other people to the measles virus." — Dr. Andy Shane ([07:27])

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3. Legal & Governmental Developments

• Financial Crime: Ponzi Scheme Guilty Plea

  • Georgia financial advisor Todd Burkhalter pleads guilty to wire fraud after bilking over 2,000 people out of $380 million in a Ponzi scheme ([11:21]).
    • Company based in Alpharetta; majority of victims in Atlanta ([11:21]).

• No Prosecution in Georgia Power Notebook Case

  • Former PSC candidate Patty Duran will not be prosecuted for taking a Georgia Power notebook post-meeting; DA Fani Willis says evidence insufficient ([08:36]).

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4. Behavioral & Public Health Policy News

• Federal Oversight of Georgia’s Mental Health Care

  • DOJ and Georgia propose ending 16 years of federal supervision; replacement would require housing 537 more individuals via state vouchers ([09:27]):

    • "The 60 behavioral health provisions will be replaced with a single requirement that we house 537 additional individuals in supportive housing." — Commissioner Kevin Tanner ([09:27])

• Supportive Housing Funding in Fulton County

  • $2.1 million approved for supportive housing—covers 2026, not beyond ([10:08]).
  • Housing advocate stresses need for sustained support:

    • "People need stable housing, affordable housing, and so this would be a long term solution..." — Sojourner Marable Grimmon ([10:34])

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5. Additional Noteworthy Headlines

• Augusta's Culinary Recognition
  • Chef Todd Schaefer of Abel Brown in Augusta nominated for a James Beard Award, alongside nine Atlanta-area semifinalists ([11:21]).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "We have to be okay as a culture, as a society with preparing for things...they were mad the tornado didn’t destroy their house because they actually prepared for it." — Dr. Marshall Shepherd ([01:44])

• "If you have not yet prepared for the storm, do it now. That's according to state officials." — Peter Biello ([02:12])

• "So measles is extremely contagious...unvaccinated...eight to nine...will then acquire measles." — Dr. Andy Shane ([04:14])

• "With two doses, 97% or so, 98% of the population is immune to measles." — Dr. Andy Shane ([07:01])

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• Winter Storm Status & Preparation: [00:31–03:43]
• Measles Case Discussion with Dr. Andy Shane: [03:43–08:35]
• PSC Candidate Legal Update: [08:36]
• Behavioral Health Federal Oversight: [09:27]
• Supportive Housing Funding: [10:08]
• Ponzi Scheme Plea Announcement: [11:21]
• James Beard Award Nomination: [11:21]

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Episode Tone and Style

The tone throughout is calm, urgent when appropriate (notably during weather/emergency updates), and informative, with expert interviews and straightforward delivery from reporters and officials.

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For more details on these stories, visit gpb.org/news.

Transcript

[Peter Biello]

Welcome to the Georgia Today Podcast. Here we bring you the latest reports from the GPB newsroom. On today's episode, the coming winter weather prompts Governor Brian Kemp to declare a state of emergency. A Georgia financial advisor has pleaded guilty in a Ponzi scheme and officials have confirmed a baby has the first case of measles in Georgia in 2026.

[Dr. Andy Shane]

We want everybody, parents and children to check their vaccination status and make sure that they're up to date on their measles.

[Peter Biello]

Vacc is Thursday, January 22nd. I'm Peter Biello and this is Georgia Today. Experts are warning people to keep up with current forecasts as a winter storm approaches. 30 North Georgia counties, including Atlanta's Fulton county, are under the latest Winter Storm Watch issued by the National Weather Service at noon today. But if the storm moves further south, more areas of the state could see dangerous impacts. GPB's Chase McGee has more.

[Chase McGee]

Dr. Marshall shepherd is the director of the Atmospheric Sciences Program at the University of Georgia. He says counties in some places will see sleet or freezing rain.

[Dr. Marshall Shepherd]

What's driving our scenario is something called the wedge. Here in Georgia, we get a nose or wedge of cold air that dams up against the southern Appalachians and oozes down the I85 corridor from the Carolinas into Georgia.

[Chase McGee]

He warns that not only will we see precipitation, but you can also expect 20 to 30 mile an hour winds and then temperatures in the single digits next week as people recover from the storm. Storm Sheppard also warns that because of early online buzz about this storm, some people might have old or bad information about where it's going. Even worse, some people might not know it's coming at all.

[Dr. Marshall Shepherd]

We have to be okay as a culture, as a society with preparing for things. You know, I've seen scenarios where, you know, tornado watch was issued for folks and it didn't actually happen. And it was almost like they were mad the tornado didn't destroy their house because they actually prepared for it.

[Chase McGee]

Emergency officials say people need to have essentials on hand, including water, shel, stable food, batteries and light sources, regardless of what the forecast says. Right now for GPB news, I'm Chase McGee.

[Peter Biello]

If you have not yet prepared for the storm, do it now. That's according to state officials. GPB's Sarah Kalis has more.

[Sarah Kalis]

Georgia Emergency Management Director Josh Lamb says it's time for residents to stock up on food, gas and other essentials before the storm brings ice and snow to the northern part of the state.

[Major General Dwayne Wilson]

By being ready for the storm, Georgians can do their part in minimizing risk, reducing the time it takes to recover, and most importantly, prevent the loss of life.

[Sarah Kalis]

Lamm also says people should not use the oven to warm up their house or bring a generator inside because of carbon monoxide poisoning. Risk officials are also telling drivers to stay off the roads if they are icy and to drive slowly. If you must drive, they say to use extra caution. For GPB News, I'm Sarah Kalis.

[Peter Biello]

Governor Brian Kemp has declared a state of emergency. The order suspends truck weight limits to allow emergency response services to move fuel and supplies around the state and authorizes the call of 500 National Guard troops.

[Major General Dwayne Wilson]

Obviously, we do not have a need for those folks right now. Hopefully we won't, but we just want to be prepared. In case we do that, we can move and get General Wilson and his team responding as quick as possible.

[Peter Biello]

Major General Dwayne Wilson leads the Georgia National Guard. The troops could help clear the roads and move equipment if needed. He says trucks will start brining roads late Friday, and local and state emergency management services will monitor the storm. 247 the Georgia Department of Public Health.

[Andy Shane]

Last week confirmed a case of measles in a baby who was too young to receive the routine measles vaccination. It's the first case of measles identified in Georgia this year, and last year in Georgia, there were 10. For more information on measles and how to best protect yourself, let's turn to Andy Shane. She's professor of pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine and a physician at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

[Peter Biello]

Welcome to the program.

[Dr. Andy Shane]

Thank you. It's a pleasure to be here. Peter.

[Andy Shane]

So measles is extremely contagious. Can you spell out what it takes for the virus to spread from person to person?

[Dr. Andy Shane]

Yeah. So measles is one of the most contagious viruses that we know of, and it spreads via the airborne route primarily. And so, unfortunately, if a person with measles is in a room and leaves the room, the measles virus can continue to be present in the room for up to two hours after the individual leaves the room. And also if you have unvaccinated people who are in a room with somebody who has measles or comes back into the room after someone with measles has left, between eight to nine of those individuals who are unvaccinated will then acquire measles.

[Andy Shane]

So when doctors learn about a potential exposure situation, how do they go about tracking people down to let them know they might have been exposed?

[Dr. Andy Shane]

So this is a collaborative team effort. When this occurs between public health and the clinician who is involved. These outbreak investigations are a huge effort, require a tremendous number of resources, and involve the public health agencies working together with the clinician, basically tracking everywhere that an individual who is infectious has been within a certain period of time.

[Andy Shane]

Once someone's alerted that they may have been infected, what's next? Do they have to isolate themselves and monitor for symptoms? And if they have to isolate, about how long do they have to isolate for?

[Dr. Andy Shane]

So it depends on the exposure and the extent of the exposure. We have two situations. One is quarantine. When an individual is asked to not go out into the environment after they've been exposed, that individual who's been exposed is not symptomatic. And so they have to be in their home for a period of time after the last infectious exposure. And that can vary depending on the situation between three to four weeks. If a person is exposed and becomes symptomatic, then they also go into what we call isolation, where they have to remain at home or in a home environment for a period of time as well.

[Andy Shane]

How effective is the measles vaccine at preventing serious illness?

[Dr. Andy Shane]

So the MMR vaccine, and that's the vaccine that is available in the United States, it contains protection against measles. One of the M stems for measles, one of the M stands for mumps, and the other, and the R stands for rubella. What we know is that in a population who receives one dose of the measles vaccine, it's between 93 to 95% effective, and that's after the receipt of one dose. In the United States, we recommend that everybody receive a second dose, and that additional dose provides additional protection in that 5 to 7% who may not have mounted protection to the original vaccine. And so with two doses, 97% or so, 98% of the population is immune to measles.

[Andy Shane]

So what should you do if you think your child may have been exposed to someone who has a confirmed case of measles?

[Dr. Andy Shane]

So, first of all, we want everybody, parents and children, to check their vaccination safety status and make sure that they're up to date on their measles vaccine. So that's the one thing that everybody can do. If we're up to date for age on measles vaccination, then the chances that you will acquire measles after being exposed are extremely low. If your child is unvaccinated or unable to be vaccinated, and you hear or concerned that they may have been exposed to someone with measles. The first thing to do is to monitor for symptoms and if symptoms should develop, then seek medical care. It's also important before going to a physician's office if you think that you have measles, to call ahead and notify so that you can be seen in a way that you won't expose other people to the measles virus if you in fact do have measles.

[Andy Shane]

Well, thank you so much for this information. Andy Shane is professor of pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine and a physician at Children's Health Care of Atlanta. Thank you so much for speaking with me.

[Dr. Andy Shane]

My pleasure.

[Peter Biello]

The state will not prosecute a former candidate for the Georgia Public Service Commission who is arrested and charged with stealing Georgia Powered trade secrets. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis wrote in a court filing yesterday that the evidence doesn't support further prosecution of consumer advocate Patty Duran. The Democrat was arrested after an October PSC meeting when she took a Georgia Powered notebook that was left unattended at a podium for hours. The Trump administration wants to release Georgia's mental health care system from federal supervision after 16 years. The state Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities yesterday announced a joint court filing with the U.S. department of Justice. If the court approves it, Department Commissioner Kevin Tanner says the agency no longer would have to abide by more than 60 provisions of a 2010 settlement.

[Major General Dwayne Wilson]

The 60 behavioral health provisions will be replaced with a single requirement that we house 537 additional individuals in supportive housing. These will need to be provided through 404 Georgia housing vouchers.

[Peter Biello]

The original settlement was meant to avoid a lawsuit over accusations that the state violated the Americans with Disabilities Act. Tanner said funding for those housing vouchers are included in the department's latest proposed budget. He credits the development to years of investment in Georgia's behavioral health system. Fulton county commissioners have approved funding for supportive housing after a public outcry from residents and leaders of the city of Atlanta by GPB's Amanda Andrews reports. The money approved will last only through this year.

[Amanda Andrews]

Fulton county voted to approve $2.1 million for supportive housing projects addressing chronic homelessness. Atlanta housing organizations are expected to open 230 new units of supportive housing this year. Funding covers the cost of social services through 2026, but funds for 2027 and beyond are not a given. Sojourner Marable Grimmon is a housing advocate. She says sustained help would be ideal.

[Sarah Kalis]

People need stable housing, affordable housing, and so this would be a long term.

[Amanda Andrews]

Solution for me, an effort that I.

[Sarah Kalis]

Believe that the Board of Commissioners need to look down the road, if you will.

[Amanda Andrews]

Fulton county passed its 2026 budget in a 4 to 3 split vote. For GPB News, I'm Amanda Andrews.

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[Peter Biello]

A Georgia financial advisor has pleaded guilty in a Ponzi scheme that bilked more than 2,000 people out of $380 million. Federal prosecutors say 54 year old Todd Burkhalter entered the plea yesterday to wire fraud. Burkhalter was accused of marketing fraudulent investment schemes and pocketing the money. His company was based in Alpharetta, north of Atlanta, and the FBI says many of his victims lived in the Atlanta area. Augusta has its first ever James Beard Award nominated chef. The awards, often called the Oscars of the food world, yesterday announced semifinalists for its 2026 honors along with nine Atlanta area restaurants or chefs. This year's nominees include Todd schaefer of the 12 year old Abel Brown, Southern Kitchen and Oyster Bar in August. And that is it for this edition of Georgia Today.

[Andy Shane]

If you want to learn more about.

[Peter Biello]

Any of these stories, visit gpb.org news and if you haven't yet hit subscribe on this podcast. Make sure you do it now. Keep us current in your podcast feed and send us feedback if you've got any. The best way to reach us is by email. The address is Georgia todaypb.org I'm Peter Biello. Thanks again for listening. We will see you tomorrow.