The Brief from WABE

Georgia's Court of Appeals deals the state's GOP a blow by refusing to close Saturday voting in the upcoming U.S. Senate runoffs; The City of Atlanta settles with the family of Rayshard Brooks for a million dollars two years after an APD officer shot and killed Brooks in a local Wendy's parking lot; and we return to Atlanta's Benteen Elementary five years after last checking in to see what's changed (spoiler: the answer is a lot. A. LOT.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The late Georgia House Speaker David Ralston will be laid to rest next weekend after lying in state at the Capitol; advocates want more information on widespread medical abuse at the Irwin immigrant detention center; and the Georgia Votes 2022 team discusses how the campaign trail is shaping up for the Senate runoff.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Clayton County's head educator is all like, "Time to go!"; what it will take to get the latino vote in a run-off elelction; and we remember Republican House Speaker David Ralston.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgia House Speaker David Ralston, a Blue Ridge Republican, dies at age 68; Former President Donald Trump's influence on Georgia's U.S. Senate race now that he's announced his candidacy for a second term; and a U.S. Senate investigation finds evidence female detainees at Georgia's Irwin Detention Center were subjected to widespread medical abuse. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgia's abortion ban falls; Kemp testifies before the committee investigating whether Donald Trump influenced the Jan. 6th riot; and an early employee of Atlanta's Tara Theater remembers how it was back in the day. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ga's GOP selects its Gold Dome Gatekeepers; Ossoff investigates alleged medical abuses at ICE facilities; and two box cutters make it onto a Frontier flight, leading to its diversion to Atlanta. The TSA is investigating. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fans and loved ones celebrate the life of Migos rapper Takeoff at State Farm Arena; the highly touted electric vehicle plant to be built by Rivian is delaying the start of production; and the latest episode of Georgia Votes 2022 looks at how the parties will prepare for the upcoming midterm runoffs on December 6.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock and Republican challenger Herschel Walker head to a Dec. 6 runoff, questions arise around which high-profile Republicans will show up on the campaign trail; with voting in the general election come to an end, election officials are now preparing to check the tallies; and new state lawmakers, including at several high-level position, could change the makeup of the Georgia General Assembly.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Republicans keep control of statewide offices in Georgia, even as Senator Raphael Warnock and challenger Republican Herschel Walker are headed to a runoff (...and you thought the commercials going into Election Day were bad.); Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan has some choice words for some in his own party; and COVID cases sharply increase in just a week's time. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this Election Day 2022 you can check WABE.org for all the latest election news, meanwhile in Atlanta inflation is leading to some transportation companies to see higher costs, an Atlanta-area man has been found guilty of a $12 million tax-refund scheme; and a lawsuit has caused the Public Service Commissioner race to not appear on the Nov. 8 ballot. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A judge relaxes Georgia's absentee deadline for a thousand Cobb County voters after their ballots didn't quite make it through the system as intended; Georgia Power is making its case to raise your light bill; and funeral arrangements for the Migos member killed in Houston last week are announced. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgia is one early votin' kinda place. Like, really. We're talking a quarter of the state and it's still days from the election. If it can be done, to pay homage, someone should compose new lyrics for an additional stanza of "Georgia On My Mind" -- something like, "Georgia, Georgia. My vote's for you. For a ballot cast, the future ours, just waiting in that line." OK. So maybe that needs some work. I'll get back to you on it; Clayton County settles a lawsuit that led to a landmark SCOTUS decision protecting LGBTQ people from job discrimination; and in Atlanta, the rent is damn high. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Anytime the government is giving large amounts of money away, you're going to have fraud and abuse and theft," says Gov. Brian Kemp as he defends the roll out of a program giving $350 checks to low-income Georgians; A former Trump aide is behind political ads relying on racism and transphobia to motivate Georgia voters; and after two long months, you're again allowed to get all tooled up with firearms before entering Zoo Atlanta. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kennesew State student among those killed in stampede in Seoul; New email shows how lawyer involved in attempts to reverse Georgia's 2020 election outcome saught to "target" Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas; and the story behind making former incarcerated status a protected class in the city of Atlanta. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SCOTUS tells Sen. Lindsay Graham to start singin'; Member of Atlanta rap group stand-out Migos is killed in Houston; and for the first time in more than a century, Atlanta Medical Center is not saving lives in the city's Old 4th Ward. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Atlanta will have a permanent police chief for the first time since June, and it's a familiar face; what matters to young voters who could make the difference in the upcoming midterm elections; and today is the final day for Atlanta Medical Center, leaving a single level 1 trauma center in the city.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Legendary UGA coach Vince Dooley dies; Obama rallies Dems in Atlanta; and Doraville shows us the Monet.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MARTA gets new top leader; a local school system will give its students free healthcare; and it's a good time to be a Georgia-based utility megacorporation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New revelations about another alleged abortion are further complicating the candidacy of Republican U.S. Senate nominee Herschel Walker; former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows is the latest that will be hauled in front of a Fulton County grand jury; and a federal jury has convicted Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill on six counts of civil rights violations.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One thing Republicans and Democrats in Georgia seem able to agree on... the importance of electric vehicle manufacturing; Georgia's Secretary of State's office is taking steps to protect poll workers; and Georgia's 2019 abortion law enters its second day of trial pitting the state against abortion rights advocates.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Early voting turnout continues to reach record numbers as big-name individuals arrive in Georgia for the high-profile battleground races; a trial over the state's abortion law gets started as patients and doctors wonder how the new law will affect other medical treatments; and Atlanta residents can breathe a little easier after a drop in ozone levels. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Officials with Georgia's Secretary of State's office say that voters are turning out in record numbers for early-voting; A federal appeals court says U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham must appear before Fulton County's special grand jury into Trump-backed attempts to overturn the 2020 election; and this week's Georgia Votes 2022 podcast takes a deep dive into recent allegations that U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock's church owns a building which has evicted tenants. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WABE's own Rahul Bali joins NPR politics reporters Susan Davis and Asma Khalid for a live taping of the NPR Politics podcast ahead of the midterm elections; the creator of everyone's favorite historical hip-hop musical joins high-profile Democrats campaigning in Georgia; plus, nuclear disarmament expert and former Georgia Senator Sam Nunn offers his assessment on the threat of nuclear attack from Russia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a tumultuous 2020 election cycle, the Department of Justice has appointed a lead attorney to handle issues that come up on election day; a bank branch in Stone Mountain is one of many that will begin offering financial literacy services; and the Hawks look to get off to a strong start in Wednesday's season opener. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Candidates are in the thick of debate season with the first gubernatorial matchup between Republican Governor Brian Kemp and Democrat Challenger Stacey Abrams on MOnday, and many others scheduled for this week; Georgians turning out to vote early are breaking record numbers for a midterm; and a Georgia organization is hoping to use some of the extra space along highways for a more practicical purpose. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Early voting day one breaks records; what in the voting process concerns former Democratic U.S. Senator Sam Nunn about the future of our democracy; and a local college gets millions in grant money to back students in a one-year classroom residency. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Atlanta Medical Center locks its ER doors; all eyes are on Georgia for tonight's U.S. Senate debate; and fire up that (double-the-original-price-but-who-is-counting) new nuclear reactor! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Feds come after Bartow County claiming officials fired two Black employees based on their race (Bartow says that's 'outrageous.'); Sen. Warnock (D-Ga) sends Wellstar's CEO a letter encouraging her to act right about allowing employees to accept new jobs; and victory this election cycle could come from the 'burbs, because, you know, they're "purple or whatever." See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A poll of Georgia voters shows when it comes to choosing a U.S. Senate or gubenatorial candidate, it can be complicated. Very complicated; Georgia DNR to the official state reptile: "Get off my list!"; and apparently some men who are good at throwing things while wearing kilts are going to be in full effect this weekend, or at least that's what "How Do You Atlanta?" tells me. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lawsuit accuses Clayton County of racial profiling, and at the worst place and time; Two times. One Day. Amazon warehouse workers give the company a prime middle finger; And no brotherly love for the Braves in game one of the division playoffs. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Russia hacks airport websites, potentially including Atlanta's Hartsfied-Jackson; the deadline for absentee ballots is quickly approaching; and apparently folks got the message because they hate most. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

By just about any account, Herschel Walker had a very bad week; Drivers who venture on the Northside Perimeter starting Saturday will have a very bad weekend; and Donald Trump's cronies are likely to have a very bad upcoming few months courtesy of Fulton County's DA. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A second trial for the Atlanta Spa shooter is postponed until January; Herschel Walker says he didn't pay for a former girlfriend's abortion, but if he did, it would be okay; and Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr's advice about buying a used car. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fighting over the future of the Fulton County Jail; Georgia ranks among the top of states for polluted water, according to a new report; and the debut of, 'How do you Atlanta?'See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A national media outlet publishes a report claiming Herschel Walker, the GOP nominee for one of Georgia's U.S. Senate seats, paid for a girlfriend to have an abortion; Issues, what? Why they won't matter so much in who gets elected; and after a year of getting drunk on equity, Atlanta homeowners are getting a sobering wake-up call. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gov. Brian Kemp extends Georgia's gas tax suspension for another month (To quote the late, great Gomer Pyle of Andy Griffith Show fame, "Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!"), allowing drivers to keep an extra 29-cents for every gallon of petrol they combust through Nov. 11th. That's a full 72-hours past Election Day. "Shazamm!"; You wouldn't think going from four lanes to three would be enough to turn Atlanta drivers' homicidal. If you don't keep off a stretch of the northside perimeter for the next eight months, G-DOT predicts you'll become a full-fledged serial killer; and a Georgia Republican says because the pandemic is 'over' [air quotes], time to return to the good ol' days when landlords need not wait 30 days to kick late-paying renters to the curb. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Not perfect, but not unconstitutional. That's what an Atlanta federal judge ruled today in the years-long legal challenge to Georgia's regulations on voting; 'This time, we really really mean it!' is kinda how the conversation might go between Delta's pilots and airline management after its union, ALPA, opened a strike authorization vote; and Rivian: Unplugged. A local judge essentially pumps the brakes on Georgia's largest-ever economic development effort, putting into question the future of the $5-billion + project. Oh. And. Happy Birthday, Mr. President! The ever-spry Jimmy Carter turns 98 on Saturday. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellstar speeds up its timeline for shutting down Atlanta Medical Center; Hurricane Ian leaves massive amounts of destruction in Florida but has little effect on metro Atlanta's weather; and Herschel Walker's lack of commitment kills a televised U.S. Senate debate in one of Georgia's smaller TV markets. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ian could bring widespread devastation to coastal Georgia; The FBI steps in to investigate Coffee County's vote tampering scheme; and what does it say when you're running for elected office and a group of influential voters picks its endorsements but skips you? ...Don't answer. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgia emergency officials "aren't worried" about devastation from Hurricane Ian, although they figured all 159 counties should be under a state of emergency anyway; Georgia Power feels it's time for you to cough up more cash each month to keep the lights on, so it's asking the powers that be (AKA Georgia PSC) for permission to up your bill by about $170 a year, on average; and got a fetus? Has it ever had a heartbeat? If you said, "Yes!", the State of Georgia has $3k for you. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite the throngs of salivating developers, the soon-to-be-vacant Atlanta Medical Center in the Old 4th Ward is off-limits. For now.; Georgia preps for Ian; and it only took thirty years, but those who live around Lake Lanier now have a contractual guarantee to water (what now, Alabama and Florida?!). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Coffee County gets new voting machines to replace its new voting machines; The Home Depot's workers at a Philly store aren't feeling HQ's brotherly love, which prompted a petition to unionize; and a $5.5-billion dollar commitment to build electric vehicles in the U-S apparently isn't good enough to win favorable treatment from the federal government. That's prompted Democratic U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock to step in on behalf of South Korean auto manufacturer Hyundai. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Atlanta's main post office gets close to a heroic rename; Sen, John Ossoff addresses safety at U.S. prisons; and summer goes out with a bangSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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An Atlanta attorney gets life in prison for a road rage murder conviction; Sen. John Ossoff (D-Ga) challenges the U.S. Dept. of Justice to accurately report the number of inmate deaths on its watch; and limbo competition or debate for a U.S. Senate seat? Why the, "Aw, shucks..." strategy could be political suicide.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The first verdict in more than a thousand total pending lawsuits against Sterigenics' release of ethylene oxide finds the company on the hook for more than $350-million; the Carter Center gives U.S. politicians, officials and voters alike the chance to promise to do right in upcoming elections; and The Home Depot is all like, "We got this" if there's a real economic downturn.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dear Forsyth County GOP: Um....; Welcome to the land of "Take this job and shove it!"; and many GOP hopefuls in other states are pulling back from abortion as an issue, afraid of igniting a crowd of voters who might angrily cast a ballot against them. Notice the use of the word, "other" in that previous sentence. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another month. Another record number of jobs for Georgians; Gov. Kemp announces $130-million to boost Grady Memorial Hospital as it prepares to absorb a loss the closure of Atlanta Medical Center will create. And while it's a lot of money, his Democratic challenger Stacy Abrams says it's only a temporary Band-Aid.; and Dugdown part deuce. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of two Cobb County law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty is laid to rest as hundreds join the funeral procession; health advocates continue to bring attention to the void Atlanta Medical Center's closure will cause in the city's urban core, and Molly Samuel starts a deep dive into the beginnings of an ambitious conservation project known as the Dugdown Corridor.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bracing for the closure of one of Atlanta's largest safety net hospitals; how the looming rail strike could ripple through Georgia's fragile supply chain; and WABE mourns the loss of longtime legal analyst Page Pate, who died Sunday in a drowning accident off the coast of St. Simon's Island. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.