Georgia Today: Dept. of Corrections held in contempt; Tick map; School choice bill becomes law

Peter Biello: Welcome to the Georgia Today podcast from GPB News. Today is Tuesday, April 23. I'm Peter Biello. On today's episode, the Georgia Department of Corrections is in trouble for failing to fix certain practices deemed unconstitutional. A new map lists the locations of Georgia's most common tick species, and Gov. Brian Kemp signs into law a controversial school choice bill. These stories and more are coming up on this edition of Georgia Today.

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Solitary confinement

Story 1:

Peter Biello: A federal judge has found the Georgia Department of Corrections in contempt of court over conditions in the state's most extreme solitary confinement unit. GPB's Grant Blankenship reports the agency made an agreement in 2019 with attorneys for people incarcerated there.

Grant Blankenship: Five years ago. GDC agreed that conditions in the Special Management Unit, or SMU, and Georgia Diagnostic Prison in Jackson, did violate inmates constitutional rights as the inmates claimed, and that the prison system would take steps to provide things like more time to bathe, minimal time in an outdoor exercise pen and access to books. And his order released last week. Chief U.S. District Judge for Georgia's Middle District Mark Treadwell found the prison system did not live up to their agreement. Now, the court will appoint an independent monitor in the unit at the prison system's expense and will fine GDC $75,000 a month until they comply with court terms. For GPB News, I'm Grant Blankenship in Macon.

Story 2:

Peter Biello: Gov. Brian Kemp signed a controversial school choice bill into law today. GPB's Sarah Kallis reports.

Sarah Kallis: Senate Bill 233 allows students attending the lowest-performing public schools to receive a $6,500 stipend to attend a private school. Critics say it could weaken public schools and cut funding. Supporters of the bill surrounded Kemp as he signed it at the state Capitol. Kimberly Lafayette has two children with dyslexia who left public school to attend private school.

Kimbery Lafayette: We want to see our kids succeed any way possible, and we want to do our best as parents to give them every opportunity. And this bill gives us, as parents, the opportunity to make the best choices for our families.

Sarah Kallis: Kemp also signed a bill that requires age verification for social media, and requires users to be at least 16 to use it. For GPB News, I'm Sarah Kallis in Atlanta.

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Yikes!

Story 3:

Peter Biello: Emory University researchers have created a map that shows where lone star ticks are in Georgia. GPB's Devon Zwald reports.

Devon Zwald: The lone star is the most commonly encountered tick species in Georgia. It transmits diseases like the heartland virus, first discovered in 2009, that has infected more than 60 people nationwide. The lone star tick may also be associated with a dangerous allergy to red meat, according to the CDC. Steph Bellman, an M.D./Ph.D. student at Emory, says the map can give researchers clues to understanding tick-borne diseases while also showing the public where they're likely to encounter the lone star tick, especially in peak months between April and August.

Steph Bellman: I hope it will help people know that if they're in this area of higher risk, to be more careful when they're out enjoying nature and just be more cognizant of their potential.

Devon Zwald: Tick risk hotspots run through the Piedmont and coastal regions of Georgia, from Atlanta to Augusta to Tifton. For GPB News, I'm Devon Zwald.

Story 4:

Peter Biello: The University of Georgia broke ground Friday on a new medical education and research building. UGA says the $100 million building will expand teaching and research capabilities at the university's future School of Medicine. Earlier this year, state lawmakers passed funding for the new school. It will be Georgia's second public medical school after the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. The building is expected to take UGA's first medical students in 2026.

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Ambulance

Story 5:

Peter Biello: Hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal funds may help improve some emergency services in Georgia. GPB's Sofi Gratas has more from Macon.

Sofi Gratas: About $600,000 secured by U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff will help Atrium Health Navicent purchase four new ambulances to serve Macon and neighboring Twiggs, Jones, Baldwin and Treutlen counties. Atrium is one of two EMS providers in Macon. EMS Director Tony Brown says these vehicles are more efficient and have an automatic lift that's less taxing for EMTs to operate. He also says that now ambulance coverage can be more consistent.

Tony Brown: Call volumes in Macon-Bibb County are so astronomically higher than they are in those rural counties, but we we still have a responsibility to those citizens as well. With the addition of these, we — it will solidify our fleet.

Sofi Gratas: About 30% of Atriums ambulances run outside of Macon daily. For GPB News, I'm Sofi Gratas in Macon.

Story 6:

Peter Biello: More green jobs are coming to Georgia. A California-based recycling company said today it plans to build $1 billion facility to turn use plastic into new plastic in Upson County between Macon and Columbus. Brightmark says the factory in Thomaston will keep more than 400,000 tons of plastic per year out of landfills, incinerators and waterways. The company promises 200 advanced manufacturing jobs and $20 million in public infrastructure improvements. Construction is expected to begin next year, with a projected opening date in 2027.

Story 7:

Peter Biello: President Joe Biden will be the commencement speaker at Atlanta's Morehouse College on May 19. The White House today confirmed the plans, giving the president a key election-year platform on one of the nation's preeminent historically Black campuses. Polls suggest Biden has work to do to shore up the racially diverse coalition that propelled him to the Oval Office in 2020. Some Morehouse leaders are concerned that Biden could face protests around his visit. Apart from the Morehouse commencement, the president also has plans to address the graduating class at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point on May 25.

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Pope Francis

Story 8:

Peter Biello: Sen. Raphael Warnock met with Pope Francis at the Vatican over the weekend. According to his office, the two discussed conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan, and the need for peace. Warnock also participated in other meetings with international aid organizations and representatives of the World Food Program. The senator cut his visit to Rome short to return to Washington as the Senate prepares to vote on aid packages to Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan.

Story 9:

Peter Biello: In sports: in baseball, the Braves and the Marlins face off again for the second of a three-game series at Truist Park. Catcher Travis d'Arnaud is looking to extend his hot streak. He homered in the fourth inning yesterday to put the Braves on the board, as they beat the Marlins 3 to nothing, and that was his fifth home run since Friday. D'Arnaud says his productivity at the plate lately has been "wild."

Travis d'Arnaud: I don't know how to explain it, except I'm just gonna keep riding this wave and, not try to do too much. And the main thing is, that we won today, and we're up 1-0 in the series.

Peter Biello: Bryce Elder made his first start for the Braves this season, throwing 6 2/3 solid innings. Elder was picked for the National League All-Star team last year, when he made 31 starts for Atlanta and finished 12 and 4 with a 3.81 E.R.A. But he struggled in the second half of the season, got hit hard in the playoffs, and began this season in the minors. Also, Ronald Acuña Jr. stole his 194th base yesterday, setting a new Braves franchise record. Max Freed is scheduled to start for the Braves this evening.

Peter Biello: And that is it for this edition of Georgia Today. If you want to learn more about any of these stories, visit GPB.org/news. And remember to subscribe to this podcast. It's the best way to ensure that we will pop up automatically in your podcast feed tomorrow. And if you have feedback or a story idea, we'd love to hear from you. Let us know what's going on in your community. Our email address is GeorgiaToday@GPB.org. I'm Peter Biello. Thanks for listening. We'll see you tomorrow.

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For more on these stories and more, go to GPB.org/news