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Georgia Today: Abortion Law Struck Down; Rockdale County Chemical Fire; 100 Years of Jimmy Carter
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On the Monday, Sept. 30 episode of Georgia Today: Georgia's abortion law has been struck down; a chemical fire in Rockdale County has residents sheltering in place; President Jimmy Carter's grandson, Jason Carter, joins the podcast in celebration of 100 years of Jimmy Carter.
Peter Biello: Welcome to the Georgia Today podcast from GPB News. Today is Monday, Sept. 30. I'm Peter Biello. On today's episode, Georgia's abortion law is struck down. Residents of Rockdale County have been told to shelter in place after a fire at a chemical plant. And we'll talk to Jason Carter, the grandson of Jimmy Carter, as the former president gets ready to make history tomorrow. These stories and more are coming up on this edition of Georgia Today.
Story 1
Peter Biello: A judge has struck down Georgia's abortion law, which took effect two years ago and effectively prohibited abortions beyond about six weeks of pregnancy. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney wrote in his order that liberty in Georgia includes the "power of a woman to control her own body." When the U.S. Supreme Court overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022 and ended a national right to an abortion, it opened the door for state bans. Fourteen states now bar abortion at all stages of pregnancy, with some exceptions. Georgia was one of four where the bands kicked in after about the first six weeks of pregnancy, which is often before women realize they're pregnant. McBurney wrote that his ruling means the law in the state returns to what it was before the law was passed in 2019.
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Peter Biello: More than 90,000 residents in metro Atlanta's Rockdale County have been told to shelter in place a day after a chemical plant fire sent a massive plume of dark smoke high into the sky. A haze and chemical smell spread today over Atlanta. Mayor Andre Dickens says officials are waiting for more guidance from state and federal environmental officials.
Andre Dickens: It's not at exceeding levels — it's not at levels that exceeds where humans can deal with it. But those that are immune — immune challenged, those that have conditions may want to stay indoors or wear a mask out of precaution.
Peter Biello: Authorities say chlorine was detected in the air from the fire at the Biolab plant in Conyers. Some school districts in the area have canceled outdoor games this afternoon. Rockdale County's fire chief says a sprinkler had malfunctioned at the plant on Sunday morning. No injuries were reported.
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Peter Biello: Two controversial new rules passed by the Georgia State Election board are set to face their first test in court and tomorrow will go to a bench trial, meaning a judge, not a jury, will decide the case. The board's Republican majority approved the rules last month after being lauded by former President Donald Trump as "pit bulls fighting for honesty, transparency and victory." Democrats are challenging the rules, saying they could be used to, quote, "upend the legal process for certifying the state's election results.".
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Peter Biello: Georgia Power and Georgia EMCs say half-a-million electric customers were without power as of this afternoon, days after Hurricane Helene ripped across the state. Georgia Power calls the storm the most destructive hurricane in its history. It says Helene took down more than 5,000 power poles and the equivalent of more than 400 miles of wire. Georgia Electric Membership Cooperation representing the state's EMCs says the hardest-hit areas could be without power for a week or more.
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Peter Biello: A month of tragedies in Georgia is expected to push back this year's high school football playoffs. The Georgia High School Association's Dr. Robin Hines and Dr. Tim Scott told GPB's Football Fridays podcast today that schools will be able to use a preplanned week without games in late November to catch up from games canceled because of Hurricane Helene and the Apalachee High School shooting.
Dr. Robin Hines: But most importantly, it's going to give additional options for those people, like, for instance, down in Valdosta who are hurting so badly. And talking with those people, Danny Redshaw, the AD down there — you know, he's called me every day and — and he doesn't know what to do. They don't know what to do. He said, "Right now, we're just in survival mode." And in the way Tim's thinking about this thing is the right way to help those people as much as we possibly can.
Jon Nelson: Okay. So, Dr. Scott, break this down for me. So the fortunate idea of coming into this season of having that Thanksgiving bye week has turned into something fortunate that you've got as a vehicle now to give folks that leeway to finish that football schedule — and even other sports as well, because it's not just football that's affected here — but football being the, the big, the big marquee event here, you now have that leeway available.
Dr. Tim Scott: Absolutely. That's — that's just what we're looking at. Not just football, but we have, you know, girls flag football, softball, volleyball, cross-country. I mean, we've got several activities that we're looking at, all of them. And I, I think that having that opportunity to push back to give our schools support and — but not just to give our schools more support, but each region of the state gets the opportunity to choose "how can we best use this time to help our community and help ourselves as we move forward?"
Peter Biello: That was the GHSA's doctors Robin Hines and Tim Scott along with GPB's Jon Nelson. According to that conversation, the start of the football playoffs will be pushed back from Nov. 8 to 15, while the state championships in Atlanta will remain from Dec. 16 to 18. A final decision is expected to be announced tomorrow. You can hear the entire conversation on the Football Fridays in Georgia podcast at gpb.org/podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
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Peter Biello: The pace of recovery from Hurricane Helene in Georgia is only beginning to match the human need and hard hit communities like Valdosta. The situation is similar in Augusta, where GPB's Grant Blankenship reports.
Grant Blankenship: By Monday morning, Augusta was in the second day of having no city water, so firefighters and volunteers handed out bottled water at a handful of spots around town.
Unknown: Thank you so much.
Grant Blankenship: Most people put the water in their cars. Not Shaday Collins.
Shaday Collins: We ain't got no car. So right now we just got to make it — make it do what we do. What we can.
Grant Blankenship: She says she's grateful for the help. But into Day 4 after Helene, she says she's struggling, like now, walking for miles, carrying this water on top of her head.
Shaday Collins: We're running out of candles, running out of batteries. Everybody right now is kind of in survival mode because everything is very limited.
Grant Blankenship: That includes food. A lot of that in her refrigerator has spoiled. Collins will walk through Tyrone Hill's neighborhood around east Boundary Street before she makes it home.
Tyrone Hill: Things down there kind of desperate. All our stores down there have been looted and it's not even no food in the community.
Grant Blankenship: The Dollar General was emptied. It's boarded up. The gas station around the corner was emptied last night, too, but the owner is open again. State officials say the National Guard is in the city. Hill's not seen them yet.
Tyrone Hill: There ain't no National Guard out and it's not in — at least not in my community where I live at.
Grant Blankenship: Help is coming. During an Augusta press conference with Gov. Brian Kemp, the Georgia Emergency Management Agency said it's opening 13 more food and water distribution sites around Augusta. Their locations will be listed on the GEMA website. Meanwhile, Georgia Power says it could be Saturday before the power is back on. For GPB News. I'm Grant Blankenship in Augusta.
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Peter Biello: Former president and now candidate Donald Trump visited Valdosta today to see the damage done by Hurricane Helene and talk about relief efforts. GPB's Sarah Kallis reports.
Sarah Kallis: Trump spoke in front of a furniture store that was ravaged by hurricane winds. An entire wall of the building was torn off and bricks littered the ground around it. Trump said he delivered gasoline, water and food to Valdosta to help with relief efforts from Hurricane Helene.
Donald Trump: And we'll be back and we'll be back again soon. And we'll continue to help until you're bigger — I say bigger, better, stronger than ever before. But again, you can't ever discount the fact that people are lost.
Sarah Kallis: Gov. Brian Kemp spoke with President Biden over the weekend who let him know FEMA was sending food, water, gasoline and other supplies to areas hit hard by the storm. For GPB News, I'm Sarah Kallis in Valdosta.
Story 8
Peter Biello: For people without insurance. Updated COVID vaccines might not be affordable. Some reports estimate they could cost over $100. But as GPB's Sofi Gratas reports, there's an alternative route as we approach the busiest season for respiratory virus spread.
Sofi Gratas: Every county in Georgia has a public health department, and there, uninsured individuals can get their vaccines for a small fee of around $20. The Department of Public Health says it ordered around 33,000 doses of the updated COVID vaccine from the CDC for those in the state without insurance. That vaccine is being recommended for anyone over six months old. Of that state supply, immunization director Paige Lightsey in Savannah says each county in her public health district has received around 50 doses.
Paige Lightsey: I see that increasing over time, but we have to make sure the entire state of Georgia has vaccine initially.
Sofi Gratas: Other counties may have more or less, so Lightsey says it's good to check locally. For GPB News, I'm Sofi Gratas.
Story 9
Peter Biello: Workers at the Port of Savannah and the Port of Brunswick are expected to go on strike starting tomorrow as part of a larger walkout across the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico. GPB's Benjamin Payne reports.
Benjamin Payne: The International Longshoremen's Association is seeking higher wages for its workers, as well as restrictions to automation. A shutdown of ILA-staffed ports from Maine to Texas is estimated to cost the U.S. economy up to $5 billion per day, according to JP Morgan. Here's ILA President Harold Daggett speaking in a video posted by the union.
Harold Daggett: These greedy companies have made billions in the past few years, especially during COVID. We never shut the ports down. ILA members lost their lives. My men went to the docks every day up and down the coast to keep those ships going.
Benjamin Payne: The U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents port employers, did not respond to a request for comment. The Port of Savannah is the second busiest port on the East Coast, behind only the port of New York and New Jersey. For GPB News, I'm Benjamin Payne in Savannah.
Story 10
Peter Biello: Dikembe Mutombo has died. The basketball Hall of Famer was one of the best defensive players in the game's history and a long time global ambassador of basketball. He died today from brain cancer. He was 58 years old. His family revealed two years ago that he was undergoing treatment in Atlanta for a brain tumor. The NBA said he died surrounded by his family. Mutombo spent 18 seasons in the NBA, including five with the Atlanta Hawks. Mutombo last played in 2009 and then devoted his time after retirement to charitable and humanitarian causes. He spoke nine languages and founded the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation in 1997, concentrating on improving health, education and quality of life for people in the Congo.
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Peter Biello: Former President Jimmy Carter is set to make history tomorrow by reaching the century. Mark Carter, already the longest living president, will spend the day with his family in his home town of Plains. With me now is his grandson and the chair of the board of trustees of the Carter Center, Jason Carter. Thank you so much for speaking with me.
Jason Carter: Thanks for having me.
Peter Biello: What does this milestone mean for your family?
Jason Carter: You know, I think when you think about my grandfather having lived for 100 years, there's so many things packed into that. It's really unbelievable just to imagine this century and what he has seen in his life, the transformation of our world in so many ways. Obviously, the — the arc of his life is an incredible one. But when we look back on these 100 years for him, we see a life of faith and a life of service. And it's been remarkable for us to get a chance to really do that reflecting.
Peter Biello: And how is he now?
Jason Carter: ...He's been in hospice for 19 months and he hasn't had any real health change. He's been very physically diminished. It's difficult for him to do sort of the daily things in life. And so he's really constrained by that. But he's still emotionally active and he's paying attention to the world and having experiences that that continue to be rewarding.
Peter Biello: What's bringing him joy these days?
Jason Carter: He's still doing the things that that he loves, right? He loves watching the Braves play.
Peter Biello: Even this year?
Jason Carter: Yeah. Well, you know, he's frustrated by the injuries, just like the rest of us. But I'm sure he was glad to see Michael Harris come back and Ozzie Albies come back. But in all seriousness, he really has been spending a lot of time watching baseball and being with his family. You know, my uncle Chip and Jeff, my Aunt Amy, have really spent — and my Aunt Becky — have spent an enormous amount of time down there over the last couple of years at his side. And it's been a time of extended reflection for them on their relationship. And I think that's really been — been great for him.
Peter Biello: My understanding is that there is a naturalization ceremony scheduled for his birthday that he's particularly excited about. What makes that such a special way to mark his birthday?
Jason Carter: So my grandfather was the president for four years and the governor for four years, and the other 92 years in his life, he was a citizen. And he has always just considered that title to be the highest title in America, right? That that is who runs our our government. It is what our belief system and our economy and everything else is based on: It's being a citizen. And I think that he has always loved the naturalization ceremonies because it's always been a big deal for him to see other people join him as an American citizen.
Peter Biello: People often mention your grandfather's grit and tenacity. What qualities does he have that may have helped him reach this 100-year milestone?
Jason Carter: When you're talking about milestones like this, it really makes us all realize that we're not in charge of how much time we get on the earth. And he believes that this is a part of his faith journey that is fundamental to who he is. And so I think that in this moment, the reflection that we all have, even though we thought when he first went into hospice, it was going to be a matter of days and here it has turned into a matter of years. I think that really what he would attribute that to is God's plan for him, whatever that may be.
Peter Biello: A few months ago, it was mentioned that he wanted to make it to 100 so he could vote in this upcoming presidential election. In your view, has that played a role? He just wants to see how this plays out and he wants to participate.
Jason Carter: I think like a lot of the rest of us, he is engaged in our politics right now. He's excited to cast a ballot for Kamala Harris — for a host of reasons, right? I mean, his 100 years on this earth would be — It's a remarkable capstone there if she gets elected president, given how far we've come as a nation. But he also is ready to turn the page on Donald Trump and that era of our politics that we all, I think, are sort of ready to go back to normal. But I do think he's engaged. Again, that citizenship part of his life is the most important to him. And so if there is an election, certainly he's going to be voting in it.
Peter Biello: Well, with the understanding that he's very physically limited lately, how's he going to be spending his birthday?
Jason Carter: Our family is going to go down for his birthday on Oct. 1. He's going to watch the broadcast on Georgia Public Broadcasting of his 100th birthday concert celebration, which we loved. That's going to be broadcast on Oct. 1 and he'll definitely be watching. And other than that, it's just going to be a family day. There's going to be some festivities in Plains where people are celebrating. But for him, I think it's going to be spent with family and with exciting celebrations of his love for music.
Peter Biello: Well, Jason Carter, thank you so much for speaking with. We really do appreciate it.
Jason Carter: Thanks, Peter.
Peter Biello: That's Jason Carter, grandson of former President Jimmy Carter and the chair of the board of trustees of the Carter Center. The Carter Library is open to the public and we invite you to join us there for a special live broadcast of All Things Considered tomorrow, beginning at four. You could also listen on GPB Radio or at GPB.org. And you can tune in to GPBTV tomorrow evening at seven for Carter 100. A celebration in Song.
Story 12
Peter Biello: Georgia students showed strong improvement on this year's Georgia Milestones math tests. The State Department of Education said today that scores increased on six of the seven assessments, including eight-point increases in eighth grade math and high school algebra. This comes after the state overhauled math standards in the 2023-2024 school year. While the math results were higher, less than half the students in all grade levels were proficient or above in math. Results for English and language arts, science and social studies were released two months ago.
Story 13
Peter Biello: In baseball, after an exciting back and forth in which the Braves blew a 3 to nothing lead and then recaptured it with a late game rally, the Braves lost to the Mets 8 to 7 in the first of a doubleheader. The Braves need one win today to ensure a wild card spot. If the Braves lose the second game, the Arizona Diamondbacks will punch their postseason ticket and the offseason will begin for Atlanta.
Thanks so much for listening to this edition of Georgia Today. If you want to learn more about any of these stories, visit GPB.org/News. And if you have feedback or a story idea for us, we would love to hear from you. Email us. The address is GeorgiaToday@gpb.org. And remember to subscribe to this podcast if you haven't already. That way we'll pop up automatically in your podcast feed tomorrow. I'm Peter Biello. Thanks again for listening. We'll see you tomorrow.
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