Georgia Today: Former Ga. insurance commissioner sentenced; Savannah solar panels; Pesticide drift

Orlando Montoya: Hello and welcome to the Georgia Today podcast from GPB News. Today is Friday, July 12; I'm Orlando Montoya. On today's episode, a former Georgia insurance commissioner is convicted of money laundering and health care fraud. Savannah steps up their renewable energy efforts with the installation of solar panels in some municipal buildings, and Georgia joins a nationwide effort to save bees. These stories and more coming up on this edition of Georgia Today.

Story 1:

Orlando Montoya: Former Georgia Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine has been sentenced to more than three and a half years in prison for conspiring to commit health care fraud and money laundering. U.S. District Judge Steve Jones sentenced Oxendine this morning after the Johns Creek Republican pleaded guilty to the scheme in March. Keri Farley is the FBI's Atlanta special agent in charge.

Keri Farley: John Oxendine was motivated more by personal greed than his duty to patients and the citizens of Georgia, whom he used to represent. Not only do the former state insurance commissioner line his pockets offer unnecessary tests, he also directed another to lie to federal agents to try and cover up the fraud. Health care fraud is not victimless. Schemes like this increase health care costs for everyone and violate the trust of all patients.

Orlando Montoya: Oxendine also was ordered to pay $760,000 in restitution. He served as the elected state insurance commissioner from 1995 to 2011. He ran for governor in 2010, but lost the Republican primary.

Story 2:

Orlando Montoya: Atlanta's Fulton County has approved a plan for an independent monitor to oversee this year's general election. The county Board of Registration and Elections yesterday considered two monitor proposals and voted to accept one and to reject the other. Georgia's most populous county has had a history of voting problems and was a focus of former President Donald Trump's efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss. This will be Fulton County's second consecutive presidential election conducted under the watch of an independent monitor. The proposal now goes to the State Election Board for approval.

Story 3:

Orlando Montoya: The sheriff in Fulton County spoke out today against a decision by the county commission not to build a new county jail. GPB's Amanda Andrews reports, Sheriff Patrick Labat calls the move "shortsighted".

Amanda Andrews: The Board of Commissioners voted 4 to 3 this week to spend $300 million on renovations for the jail, instead of building a new $2 billion facility. Overpopulation issues at the facility contributed to 10 inmate deaths last year. Sheriff Patrick Labat says officers are working to keep people safe, but there have to be improvements at the jail.

Patrick Labat: It doesn't matter if we spend $1 billion, if we don't move toward the future with respect to not just how we treat people, but the increase in technology, a forward-thinking process, people are going to continue to die.

Amanda Andrews: The facility is under investigation by the Department of Justice and a state Senate subcommittee. For GPB News, I'm Amanda Andrews.

Caption

Solar farm

Story 4:

Orlando Montoya: More than a dozen municipal buildings in Savannah soon will feature solar panel arrays. GPB's Benjamin Payne reports the city is pursuing an ambitious goal for renewable energy.

Benjamin Payne: Savannah council members on Thursday unanimously approved a $5.75 million expansion of its existing solar contract with Atlanta-based Cherry Street Energy. The new deal will add about 1.25 MW of solar capacity across 14 city-owned properties that roughly double Savannah's previous contract with Cherry Street Energy, which was first signed two years ago. Alderman Nick Palumbo:

Nick Palumbo: Not only does it pay for itself, but it returns a $1.4 million net benefit to residents here to the city. So super honored to keep the ball rolling as we pursue our clean energy goals.

Benjamin Payne: That goal is to generate 100% of the city's electricity through renewable energy by 2035. For GPB News, I'm Benjamin Payne in Savannah.

Story 5:

Orlando Montoya: All westbound lanes of Interstate 16 just west of Savannah will be closed this weekend after a vehicle carrying an excavator struck a bridge yesterday afternoon. The Georgia Department of Transportation is inspecting and repairing the bridge at Chatham Parkway. The bridge remains closed in both directions. The agency says the I-16 westbound detour is expected to end by Monday morning, but the Chatham Parkway reopening is yet to be determined.

Story 6:

Orlando Montoya: The state ended its 2024 fiscal year with lower tax revenues than the previous year. The Georgia Department of Revenue said today the state brought in a little less than $33 billion during the fiscal year that ended in June. That was down one half of 1% compared to fiscal year 2023 — not accounting for the state not collecting gas taxes for more than half of the last fiscal year. When that's taken into account, net revenues were down 3.4%. Georgia has plenty of cushion to weather the downturn with a $16 billion budget surplus.

Story 7:

Orlando Montoya: Pollinators like bees are critical to our food supply, but many farmers rely on pesticides, which can kill bees. To help beekeepers and farmers work together, Georgia has become the 25th state to join a nationwide online mapping tool aimed at reducing pesticide drift from farms to beehives. Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper says the tool, FieldWatch, helps farmers make more informed application decisions.

Tyler Harper: It helps us address those off target drift applications and ensure that we have a collaborative effort at knowing where each of us are to continue to allow us to be successful across the entire spectrum of agriculture in our state.

Orlando Montoya: Although use of the free registry is voluntary, many precision agriculture platforms include it in their software packages. Georgia's participation in FieldWatch is part of a larger yearslong program to reduce pesticide drift.

Story 8:

Orlando Montoya: Oglethorpe Power is going all in on natural gas as a source of electrical generation. The utility, based in Tucker, east of Atlanta, announced plans yesterday to build two new natural gas projects in Monroe and Talbot counties, both west of Macon. Oglethorpe power serves 38 electric cooperatives and says the new facilities represent more than $2 billion in investments. The company says the expansion is needed to keep up with increasing electrical demand.

Story 9:

Orlando Montoya: To a lot of people, a day at the beach is an essential summer activity, but oceanfront isn't available to everyone in Georgia. Well, you can still find a beach to have fun at no matter where you are, if you know where to look. GPB's Taleen Hanna brings us this audio postcard from the beach at Lake Tobesofkee in Bibb County.

Bianca Fields: My name is Bianca Fields.

And you gotta make sure you hold your breath, my dear.

This is pretty much why we moved to Georgia. Fresh air. I feel safe here with me and the kids. Peaceful. Yeah. They like sandcastles, playing in the water. So right now where they want to do multi levels today. So we're going to try to get an entrance going into two tiers, a two tier castle, today. That is what they're aiming for.

Gabrielle Evans: My name is Gabrielle Evans. This is my first time here. I didn't know about this place and I got down here, and it's seeming to be very fun. I come in here because it's a cool vibe, it's fun, and it's just a nice place to spend time with family.

Jeff Scarborough: My name is Jeff Scarborough. We just come out with the family, typically, and the kids, and they get to jet ski and boat with us, so it's a good time.

Steve McConnell: I'm Steve McConnell. I mean, I'm here with a legend. I can't — I mean, that's who he is. He's a legend.

Taleen Hannah: You guys jet ski together?

Steve McConnell: Not on the same one.

Keri Farley: Do you guys race or anything?

Jeff Scarborough: We go out and pleasure ride. That's all.

Jaden Wright: My name is Jaden Wright.

Ameris Hobson-Farris: My name is Ameris Hobson-Farris.

Jeff Scarborough: We're with the family right now so we're having a good little time. We chillin'.

Ameris Hobson-Farris: It's, you know, it's nice.

Bianca Fields: It's a hidden gem, definitely. It's worth — wherever you're coming from, it's worth the drive. Wherever you're coming from. It's really — it's really nice.

Orlando Montoya: You heard from people enjoying the beach at Lake Tobesofkee in Macon. That piece was produced by GPB's Taleen Hanna.

Story 10:

Orlando Montoya: In Georgia sports, the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Atlanta Braves 1 to 0 in Phoenix last night. The Diamondbacks' Brandon Pfaadt outpitched the Braves' Max Fried in six strong innings. Pfaadt scattered three hits and struck out four while Freed allowed a run on five hits in six innings. The lone run was a homer in the fifth inning by Eugenio Suarez. The Diamondbacks' Jake McCarthy also made a leaping grab at the wall in the ninth inning.

Story 11:

Orlando Montoya: Sunny weather is expected around the state this weekend, so if you can handle the heat, we have a few ideas for you to get out and enjoy this weekend. This weekend is your last chance to experience Athens Restaurant Week. Back by popular demand, dozens of Athens' best restaurants will tempt you with lunch and dinner menus at special prices all week long. It's the perfect way to get a taste of the Athens culinary scene. Little ones will enjoy the Junior Ranger Challenge in Mitchell, Ga. There's a fun worksheet on Hamburg's history and a special prize given to kids who can complete it. That runs through July 31 at the Hamburg State Park in Mitchell. Visitors can stop by the park office to participate. And finally, in La Grange, Ga., they have the Founder's Day Celebration, coinciding with the 154th birthday of textile magnate Fuller Calloway Sr. This free event includes a tour of the Calloway family home and gardens, a storytelling workshop, and fresh squeezed lemonade at the Pool Terrace. That's tonight at the Hill and Dales Estate in La Grange.

Orlando Montoya: And that's it for today's edition of Georgia Today. Here's a reminder to visit our web page, GPB.org/news, to find the latest from around Georgia and many of the stories that we feature here on the podcast. Get a little bit more in-depth treatment there. If you haven't yet hit subscribe on this podcast, do that right now. We always tell you to do that so you can keep up with us in your podcast feed. Send us feedback. We always like to hear what you think, good, bad or otherwise. Email us at GeorgiaToday@GPB.org. I'm Orlando Montoya. It's been a pleasure sitting in for Peter Biello this week and talking to you all. Wherever you're listening, I'm glad you're here today. Have a great weekend.

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