Georgia Today: Trump campaigns at Georgia Tech; 'Gratuities clause'; GA readies health marketplace

Peter Biello: Welcome to the Georgia Today podcast from GPB News. Today is Tuesday, Oct. 29. I'm Peter Biello. On today's episode, former President Donald Trump campaigns at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. A new state law may be preventing farmers from getting Hurricane Helene relief. And the state prepares to launch its own new marketplace for health care plans. These stories and more are coming up on this edition of Georgia Today.

Story 1:

Peter Biello: Former President Donald Trump returned to Georgia last night to pitch his candidacy once again. As next week's election draws near, the Republican spoke for about an hour. GPB's Sarah Kallis reports.

Sarah Kallis: Trump emphasized Georgia's important role in the election during his rally at Georgia Tech.

Donald Trump: It's a very important place, and it's a very important state. And winning this state, we win this state, we win the whole ball of wax.

Sarah Kallis: Trump focused his speech on tax policy, including a new plan to create a tax credit for caretakers. He also hit on immigration and attacked his political rivals. The rally drew a crowd of Georgia Tech students, including Sutha Kamara, who believes that Trump is resonating with young voters.

Sutha Kamara: It's important as like young voters to come out and just, like, be representative of the community.

Sarah Kallis: Georgia early voting numbers surpassed 3 million on the day of Trump's visit. Vice presidential candidate Tim Walz will also visit Georgia this week. For GPB News, I'm Sarah Kallis in Atlanta.

Story 2:

Peter Biello: Atlanta community leaders gathered downtown to cut the ribbon on a new center that will provide resources that could divert people from jail. GPB's Amanda Andrews reports.

Amanda Andrews: The Center for Diversion and Services is a collaboration between Atlanta, Fulton County, Grady Health System and several local groups. It will offer help to people struggling with issues that can lead to arrest, including extreme poverty, mental health issues and substance abuse. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens says the center will be a welcoming, safe space, open 24/7.

Andre Dickens: People can have their immediate needs met, such as food and clothing and simply someone to talk to while also connecting them to long-term resources if needed.

Amanda Andrews: Police and other first responders will bring individuals to the center. People looking for assistance can also call ATL 311. For GPB News, I'm Amanda Andrews.

Story 3:

Peter Biello: The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has arrested and charged a funeral home owner after officials discovered 18 bodies in, quote, "various stages of decomposition" at a funeral home in South Georgia's Coffee County. The GBI arrested and charged Chris Johnson with 17 counts of abuse of a dead body. The agency says Coffey County deputies found the 18 bodies when they served an eviction notice at Johnson Funeral Home on Saturday. The GBI asks anyone with information to notify them.

Story 4:

Peter Biello: The chief magistrate judge for Glynn County on Georgia's coast is asking county commissioners to boost salaries for the three part-time judges under his supervision. Steve Morgan wants pay increases for the judges who issue criminal arrest warrants and hear civil suits that would match increases approved earlier in the summer for counterparts who preside over juvenile and probate court. Part-time magistrate judges earn $18,000 a year before taxes. Juvenile court judges receive $77,000, and probate judges earn more than $41,000. The county recently approved a budget of $70,000 for a part-time juvenile court prosecutor or a private attorney, after DA Keith Higgins announced his office could no longer represent the state in juvenile court due to budget shortfalls.

Caption

Healthcare

Story 5:

Peter Biello: Starting Monday, Georgians can begin looking for health care plans through Georgia Access, the state's new marketplace exchange. Open enrollment for Georgia Access begins Friday. For the first time since the Affordable Care Act launched, Georgians will be blocked from using the federal website for enrolling in health insurance. The Georgia Access website should allow Georgians to find health care policies that are both affordable and cover basic needs, just like the ACA's website. The state is already making hundreds of millions of dollars from enrollment fees on the site, which previously fed into the federal system. Unlike other state-based agencies, the Georgia Access website emphasizes links that direct people to private web brokers and insurance agents. State officials say many Georgians were already using private options and they will revoke an agent's license if they aren't acting in the consumer's best interest.

Story 6:

Peter Biello: Georgia's constitution bars the state government from giving gifts to individuals without a benefit to taxpayers in return. It's called the "Gratuities Clause" and always has been seen as promoting fiscal responsibility. But now some in Georgia agriculture see it as an obstacle for getting relief from Hurricane Helene. They're asking state lawmakers to consider a constitutional amendment to change the clause to allow direct aid to farmers. Dallas state senator, Republican Jason Anivitarte, said yesterday he's open to it.

Jason Anivitarte: People probably wanted to change that gratuities clause for other reasons that are probably highly inappropriate. But I think if it's a matter of relating to putting food on the table, helping the No. 1 industry in the state sustain, I think we need to have a serious discussion.

Peter Biello: Agriculture leaders say it's needed because federal disaster aid is slow in coming.

Story 7:

Peter Biello: The Georgia Ports Authority is getting nearly $49 million to electrify vessel shore power systems and terminal tractors at the ports of Savannah and Brunswick. The grants will allow the ports to switch large portions of their operations from diesel engines to electric energy, a move aimed at cutting toxic air pollution in surrounding communities. The Biden administration announced the awards today as part of the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Ports program funded by the Inflation Reduction Act.

Story 8:

Peter Biello: Four metro Atlanta restaurants have joined the ranks of Michelin-starred culinary institutions. The prestigious Michelin guide unveiled the company's 2024 Atlanta recommendations in a ceremony that attracted much of the city's hospitality industries attention last night. In all, 57 restaurants were recognized in some way with nine establishments, four of them new, getting one-star honors out of three possible. It was the guide's second year reviewing Atlanta dining options. Michelin's arrival in the city last year was seen as a signal of Atlanta's culinary evolution. Although it was paid for partially by the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau, the guide's reviews are independent and anonymous.

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Arthur Blank

Story 9:

Peter Biello: In sports, Atlanta United owner Arthur Blank is giving away 10,000 tickets to the game scheduled for Saturday. Atlanta United members would have had to request those tickets for the 300 level by 4:00 today. Atlanta United faces a crucial must-win in the Audi 2024 MLS Cup playoffs Round 1 best-of-three series against Inter Miami CF, who won the first game last week. Georgia native Clark Schmidt was the losing pitcher in last night's World Series Game 3 matchup between the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Schmidt gave up three runs in 2 2/3 innings as the Yankees fell 4 to 2 to give the Dodgers a three-games-to-none lead in the series. And the Atlanta Hawks lost to the Washington Wizards last night, 121 to 119.

Peter Biello: And that's 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 a great way to stay on top of election news and all the other news happening in the state of Georgia. And if you've got feedback, we'd love to hear from you. Email us at 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