Georgia Today: Vigil for protester killed at police center shooting and school civil rights lawsuit

Peter Biello: Welcome to the new Georgia Today podcast from GPB News. Today is Thursday, Jan. 19. I'm Peter Biello. On today's episode, hundreds gather for a vigil after a protester was killed in a Georgia state trooper was shot outside a police training facility. There are more allegations in the federal lawsuit against the Georgia school district for civil rights violations. And an Atlanta hospital has become the very first in the country to be verified as a top tier provider of maternal health services. These stories and more are coming up on this edition of Georgia Today.

Story 1

Peter Biello: Supporters of the effort to stop construction by the city of Atlanta of a law enforcement training center in the DeKalb County Forest gathered last night after one protester was killed by police. GPB's Amanda Andrews has more.

Amanda Andrews: The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is gathering evidence in the confrontation that led to a Georgia state trooper being shot and a protester being killed. Police report the officer fired in self-defense. But activists are calling that narrative into question, saying the Atlanta Police Department has a history of violence against peaceful protesters. Stan Sanders lives in Atlanta and left work to attend the vigil. Sanders says the movement to stop what protesters call "Cop City" is reaching new levels of support.

Stan Sanders: But you can't ignore it anymore. You have to interact with it. You have to face the reality of it. You know, it's not just second nature anymore. It's affecting you. It's affecting loved ones, it's affecting the community. And it's affecting not even just our state, our country.

Amanda Andrews: Local organizers are planning to host another vigil Friday evening and a gathering Saturday to mourn the loss of life. For GPB News, I'm Amanda Andrews.

Credit: Effingham County School District

Story 2

Peter Biello: A former high school student in Southeast Georgia has joined a federal lawsuit against the Effingham County School district alleging racial discrimination and retaliation. GPB's Benjamin Payne has the latest.

Benjamin Payne: As GPB first reported last week, three Black high school students are suing the Effingham County School district, alleging a litany of civil rights violations. On Tuesday, a former student, Isaiah Jobe Winn, added his name to the lawsuit, along with new allegations. Among them Jobe Winn, who is Black, says he reported racist and threatening Snapchat messages sent by white students. He alleges the district retaliated against him by altering his transcripts, such that A's became C's, drastically lowering his GPA. He says the district also added bogus disciplinary infractions to his record. Jobe Winn says Effingham later claimed the alterations were errors which were later corrected, but only after he vigorously challenged the district. GPB requested comment from Effingham County School District Superintendent Yancy Ford. He says the district has not yet been served with the lawsuit and that they would respond to the allegations in court. For GPB News, I'm Benjamin Payne.

Caption

Data from the National Perinatal COVID-19 Registry suggests approximately 2% of infants born to women who test positive for COVID-19 near the time of delivery have tested positive in the first 24 to 96 hours after birth.

Credit: Photo by MART PRODUCTION from Pexels

Story 3

Peter Biello: Northside Hospital in Atlanta is the first in the country to be verified as a top tier provider of maternal health services under a new program from the Joint Commission. The maternal levels of care program designates hospitals based on available services for moms and babies. Though the designation is not mandatory in Georgia, maternal health experts hope the program results in better patient outcomes. GPB's Sofi Gratas has more.

Sofi Gratas: Data shows 87% of Georgia's pregnancy-related deaths that occurred between 2015 and 2017 were preventable. Review and designation of perinatal care services can make those odds better. Shannon Stevenson is a board member for the state advocacy group Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies.

Shannon Stevenson: You can look objectively at these qualifications that they use to make their designations. And match patients to the type of care and a level of care that they need to have the best outcome for them and baby.

Sofi Gratas: At Northside Atlanta, which delivers more babies than any other hospital in the U.S., a level four verification from the Joint Commission means the facility can handle the most complex patients. So far, Georgia has four verified maternal facilities for GPB News, I'm Sofi Gratas.

Story 4

Peter Biello: State University System Chancellor Sonny Perdue says he's concerned with the growing number of Georgia students that choose to go to college out of state. Making his budget presentation to lawmakers on Tuesday, Perdue said the higher education agency is trying to do more with less money.

Sonny Perdue: And they are now. It's a buyer's market out there. They are customers now and we've got to recruit them as customers because there's a lot of competition among our neighboring states for our Georgia students.

Peter Biello: The governor's budget proposal includes money to raise the HOPE Scholarship to fully cover tuition. That's up from 60%. Budget hearings were scheduled through today.

Story 5

Peter Biello: The Wall Street Journal ranks Atlanta-based Delta as the nation's top airline, despite having a year that company CEO Ed Bastian, described as one of Delta's worst operationally. The company came out on top in the newspaper's annual rankings for on-time arrivals, involuntary bumping and other categories. Alaska Airlines ranked No. 2.

Caption

Atlanta United forward Josef Martinez (7) kicks a shot on goal as New England Revolution midfielder Scott Caldwell follows during round one of an MLS Cup playoff soccer game Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019, in Atlanta. Josef Martinez, the 2018 MVP and centerpiece of Atlanta United's rise to prominence in Major League Soccer, was released by the team on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023, and quickly signed a deal with Inter Miami.

Credit: AP Photo/John Amis, File

Story 6

Peter Biello: Yesterday, we told you that Atlanta United star striker Josef Martinez was released from the club and had signed with Inter Miami. It's a blow that is reverberating both inside and outside the passionate base of Georgia soccer fans that hailed Martinez as simply "the king." To understand what he meant for the team and beyond, GPB's Orlando Montoya spoke with sportswriter Felipe Cardenas, who reports on Atlanta United for The Athletic.

Felipe Cardenas: Josef Martinez represented a lot more than just the goals that he scored for Atlanta United. And that's that's what made him such a big star here in the city and a huge star in MLS. But let's not kid about that. He was a massive star. He's still a big star in Major League Soccer. But coming in to the league in 2017 when Atlanta United with a brand new club, no history. You know, he put them on the map. He became the face of the franchise very quickly. And he was an unsung signing. He wasn't a star signing at the time. And so for seven years, literally, the history of this club has been built around Josef Martinez. And even when he was injured and he wasn't playing as much, there was still an expectation that he could save the club. And so him leaving really leaves a mark on the city and it will be looked back on as a key moment in the club's history.

Orlando Montoya: This had been sort of rumored and reported before, so there — it was not unexpected, but it's still a shock nonetheless. Or at least maybe it's retraumatizing for for fans to hear about it again.

Felipe Cardenas: Yes, I think perhaps what's shocking to fans is the way that it played out. You know, this is like like I mentioned, this is an icon for Atlanta United. He became a well-known personality within the pop culture of Atlanta as well. Like he was up there courtside at Hawks games with very — with famous rappers and key moguls of the city. He was, you know, compared to Matt Ryan, Trae Young, Julio Jones at the time, like, he was up there as a player and an athlete. That was that significant to the fabric of Atlanta. And so with that being said, the fact that he didn't have a farewell game, as they say in South America, left through the back door, which is sort of a sign of disrespect, that is what fans I think are really grasping on to as something that is something that they cannot forget.

Orlando Montoya: And so going forward, this leaves a big hole, something that really cannot be replaced. Do you think that when he eventually does come back playing for Miami, he might get the same kind of respectful return and welcome as maybe, you know, Messi or Ronaldo got when they transferred teams and they came back to their old hometown team?

Felipe Cardenas: Absolutely. I mean, first of all, today, Carlos Bocanegra said that, you know, Josef Martinez is not a player that can be replaced. And so that's important to note, because it's true. I mean, you're talking about a player that scored over 100 goals. He won three MVP awards in one season. He was the MLS MVP. He was the MLS All-Star MVP and he was the MLS Cup MVP. It was really an incredible run. That same year and 2018, he broke an MLS scoring record and then the following year he scored, I think, he scored in over 15 consecutive games, which is another record, I believe, at a global stage. And so, yeah, I absolutely think that because he wasn't given that proper farewell, I can expect fans here in Atlanta, they probably have already circled that date in September — I believe it's Sept. 16 when Inter Miami visits Atlanta — as their moment to truly show their love, their support, and really thank this player, Josef Martinez, that has given them so much joy.

Orlando Montoya: Well, thank you very much again for your expertise and thanks for making a few minutes for me.

Felipe Cardenas: Any time, Orlando, thanks for reaching out.

Story 7

Peter Biello: A comet known as C/2022-E3, or comet ZTF, or just the 'green comet' because of its bright green nucleus and its long faint tail is on display in the sky, possibly for the first time ever, or at least for thousands of years. Spectators may spot the comet's faint glow in the morning sky as it heads northwest, but there's no guarantee you're going to get to see it. A clear dark sky before dawn without the light pollution of cities would be ideal for seeing it. Early Saturday morning may be a good time. So maybe a trip to Tallulah Falls, Providence Canyon or Jekyll Island is in order. After its brief appearance to us on Earth, it's unclear where it may go. Scientists have only recently begun to track its path. It's possible it may gain enough energy to fling out of our solar system, but then again, it might remain bound to its elliptical orbit for another trip around the sun.

Comets go away. Sometimes they come back around. We hope you will come back around to this Georgia Today podcast. The best way to ensure you do that is to subscribe. So take a moment right now. Subscribe to Georgia Today and we'll be with you again tomorrow. Got feedback? We'd love to hear it. Send us an email. Well, the address is GeorgiaToday@GPB.org.

I'm Peter Biello. Thanks again for listening. We'll see you again soon.

GPB's Georgia Today newsletter hits your inbox on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays with top stories from around the state. Featuring news, politics and more. Subscribe here.