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Georgia Today: Fani Willis called to testify; Soldier honored in Savannah; Youth violence in Macon
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On the Thursday, Feb. 1 edition of Georgia Today: Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is called to testify over claims she had an improper relationship with a special prosecutor; a Georgia Army reservist killed in Jordan this week is honored in her hometown of Savannah; and officials in Macon say efforts to address youth violence are working.
Peter Biello: Welcome to the Georgia Today podcast from GPB news. Today is Thursday, Feb. 1. I'm Peter Biello. On today's episode. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has been called to testify at a hearing over claims she had an improper relationship with a special prosecutor. A Georgia Army reservist killed in Jordan this week is honored in her hometown of Savannah. And officials in Macon say efforts to address youth violence are working. These stories and more are coming up on this edition of Georgia Today.
Story 1:
Peter Biello: Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has been called to testify at a hearing over claims she had an improper relationship with the special prosecutor. She hired special prosecutor Nathan Wade for the Georgia election interference case against former President Donald Trump. Wade also has been issued a subpoena in the case. Lawyer Ashley Merchant, who represents Trump codefendant Michael Roman, filed a motion Jan. 8 seeking to toss the Roman indictment and to remove Willis and Wade from the case. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee, who's presiding over the election case, has ordered Willis' team to respond by Friday to the motion to remove Willis from the prosecution. A hearing is scheduled for Feb. 15.
Story 2:
Peter Biello: Students and staff at a high school in Savannah gathered this morning to pay tribute to Sergeant Breonna Moffett. The 23-year-old Windsor Forest High School graduate was one of three Georgia soldiers killed last weekend at a military base in Jordan. GPB's Benjamin Payne reports.
Benjamin Payne: As a young adult, Moffett served her country with the U.S. Army Reserve. But as a teenager, she earned her stripes with the Windsor Forest JROTC. Lt. Col. Michael Busteed was her instructor there. He remembers Moffett as not just one of his top cadets, but also a deeply caring soul.
Michael Busteed: I tell my students, you need to choose your friends wisely. They can either bring you forward or pull you back. And everyone that chose Breonna as a friend was brought forward.
Benjamin Payne: Even after Moffett graduated in 2019, Busteed says she would return to Windsor Forest to help JROTC cadets learn their drill and prepare for competitions. For GPB News, I'm Benjamin Payne in Savannah.
Story 3:
Peter Biello: Fulton County Schools are investigating a computer security incident that involved one or more students. District officials told parents yesterday they believe there was unauthorized access to its systems, and they're working to determine the scope of the data accessed. The statement says the incident involved students at the county's Innovation Academy, and is unrelated to a security breach that disrupted Fulton County services this week.
Story 4:
Peter Biello: Macon-Bibb County officials say a nearly $2 million investment over two years to address youth violence is working. GPB's Sofi Gratas has more.
Sofi Gratas: Dozens of local nonprofit organizations have been funded under Macon's Violence Prevention Program, or MVP, formed in response to a rise in crime during the pandemic. Homicides in Macon hit a record high in 2022, with 70 people murdered, a rate higher than cities like Atlanta, Columbus and Savannah. They drop nationally last year, including in Macon. Sheriff David Davis says mentoring afterschool clubs and other MVP programs are certainly a factor here.
David Davis: 30 fewer homicides. Something happened that law enforcement didn't get that call. That community intercession, that community involvement has, has paid off.
Sofi Gratas: So has funding for tools like surveillance cameras and neighborhood watch programs, says Davis. For GPB News, I'm Sophie Gratas in Macon.
Story 5:
Peter Biello: State senators passed a measure today that could create a new city in Gwinnett County. Senate Bill 333 will allow voters of the proposed city to decide on creating the city of Mulberry during the May 21 primary. The municipality would be the second largest and most affluent in Gwinnett County. Supporters say the new city will be able to control development, claiming it will lessen traffic and prevent crowded schools. Gwinnett County Sen. Nickie Merritt says residents haven't been given the chance to fully understand the impacts yet.
Nickie Merritt: There may be potential adverse effects on the county's economy. Again, we don't know. County hasn't had adequate time to do their own feasibility study and a rush-through proposal like this will affect all residents.
Peter Biello: The Gwinnett Board of Commissioners says Mulberry could cause the county to lose over $9 million in annual revenue.
Story 6:
Peter Biello: Three members of Georgia's congressional delegation are urging the U.S. Justice Department to prioritize its investigation into Atlanta's Fulton County Jail. U.S. Sens. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, and Atlanta congresswoman Nikema Williams pushed the agency in a letter yesterday — three weeks after a jailed detainee was found unresponsive in his cell. 36-year-old Michael Anthony Holland was the first person to die this year at the facility, which has been troubled by overcrowding and deteriorating conditions. Ten people died in Fulton County custody last year. The Justice Department launched an investigation last year into living conditions and excessive use of force, among other concerns.
Story 7:
Peter Biello: The state Senate has passed a bill to allow sports gambling. The proposed legislation now moves to the House for more debate, but only after senators decided today to require a separate state constitutional amendment. That throws into doubt the bill's chances for final passage, since an amendment needs the support of two-thirds of both the House and the Senate. The move shows many lawmakers support sports gambling but disagree on what kind of gambling should be added and by what legal means.
Story 8:
Peter Biello: Members of a union representing Georgia University System faculty and staff gathered at the state capitol earlier this week, seeking policy changes and better treatment for employees. GPB's Amanda Andrews has more on the United Campus Workers of Georgia's demands.
Amanda Andrews: The three key issues the group wants addressed are cuts to higher education funding, collective bargaining rights and academic freedom. Union members are lobbying lawmakers to pass Senate Bill 166, allowing public employees to bargain on wages, hours and employment conditions. UCWGA co-president Jill Pin says the budget cuts aren't just affecting the faculty and staff.
Jill Pin: State underfunding of higher education forces students to pay more for an education of a quality less than what we are capable of delivering, and below what students deserve.
Amanda Andrews: Union members are also supporting Senate Bill 25, raising the state's minimum wage to $15 an hour. For GPB News, I'm Amanda Andrews.
Story 9:
Peter Biello: American Express is rolling out several updates to its Delta SkyMiles credit cards to give additional benefits to its users. The company is eager to soothe sore customers of Delta Air Lines. Atlanta-based Delta last year changed its SkyMiles loyalty program in a fiasco that caused a backlash against both Delta and its credit card partner, American Express. The updates unveiled today come with a higher annual fee, which American Express says the new benefits will more than pay for.
Story 10:
Peter Biello: Officials with Macon-Bibb County and global sports and entertainment firm Oakview Group announced the name for the region's new amphitheater this week. The new Atrium Health Amphitheater will present its inaugural concert, Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top, on March 24. The $43 million project includes the 12,000-seat amphitheater and other improvements at the Macon Mall.
Story 11:
Peter Biello: Atlanta native Chris Eubanks is making his debut in the Davis Cup today. The former Georgia Tech tennis star is replacing an injured Taylor Fritz, the top-ranked American male in the lineup for the U.S., against Ukraine in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius. Eubanks reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon in matches that many Georgians followed closely last year. In other sports news, the Atlanta Vibe play their first home game tonight against the San Diego Mojo. The Vibe are currently 2 and 0 in its inaugural season in the Pro Volleyball Federation.
Peter Biello: And that is it for this edition of Georgia Today. If you want to learn more about these stories, visit gpb.org/news. And please do subscribe to this podcast. That way we'll pop up automatically in your podcast feed tomorrow. If you've got feedback, send us an email. The address is GeorgiaToday@GPB.org. I'm Peter Biello. Thanks again for listening. We'll see you tomorrow.
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For more on these stories and more, go to GPB.org/news
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