Georgia Today: Macon mental health results; Atlanta bridge reopens; Joro spider behavior

Orlando Montoya: Hello and welcome to the Georgia Today podcast. Here we bring you the latest reports from the GPB newsroom. On today's episode, mental health advocates in Macon have results from a community survey of adverse childhood experiences. After seven years, a bridge in Atlanta reopened to drivers in a rededication ceremony. And a new University of Georgia survey found aggressive behaviors in some Joro spiders.

Andy Davis: And they happened to release two spiders side by side and sure enough, they started fighting each other.

Orlando Montoya: Today is Friday, August 1st. I'm Orlando Montoya, and this is Georgia Today.

Story 1:

Orlando Montoya: Mental health advocates in Macon Bibb County embarked on their second-ever community survey this summer. They measured many of their neighbors' adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs, score. GPB's Sofi Gratas has more on what they found.

Sofi Gratas: This year, the team at Macon Mental Health Matters surveyed 126 adults across 13 ZIP codes in and around Macon, most reported in ACE's score of 0 to 6. The average score for Macon-Bibb proper was 3.53, falling on the lower end of the scale that measures abuse, trauma, and neglect experienced as a kid. But the sample size is still small, survey lead Andrea Cook told city leaders this week.

Andrea Cook: We're happy about the number of respondents — responses that we got, but it would be so much more impactful if we were able to reach more people.

Sofi Gratas: Especially in more vulnerable ZIP codes. For now, the survey offers a way for Cook and others to connect people to resources like counseling or group therapy. For GPB News, I'm Sofi Gratas.

Story 2:

Orlando Montoya: A study from the nonpartisan health care research group KFF says Georgia insurance premiums could rise by 21% next year. A key reason is the expiration of Affordable Care Act subsidies originally passed by Congress in 2021. Those subsidies are expected to expire at the end of the year unless lawmakers extend them. Georgia U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff says federal lawmakers need to act on a solution while Georgians brace for higher costs.

Jon Ossoff: We're talking about thousands of dollars per year more that Georgia families will pay to get health insurance for ourselves and for our kids when folks are already having trouble making ends meet.

Orlando Montoya: The KFF study says Georgia's 21% expected increase is higher than the median 15% expected rise in 20 states.

Story 3:

Orlando Montoya: As students return to class for a new school year, Georgia school districts are implementing a new state law aimed at tackling chronic absenteeism. About 21% of Georgia students, or 360,000 in total, were chronically absent, missing 18 days or more of school last year. A legislative committee including Macon state Sen. John F. Kennedy is studying the issue over the summer, trying to get to the root causes.

John F. Kennedy: I think it can be everything from mental health issues. It can be unstable housing that students are facing. It could be unreliable transportation issues and problems there. And sometimes it may just be a lack of connection that the student has with their school.

Orlando Montoya: The new law creates court-overseen review teams to monitor local absenteeism policies and also prohibits schools from expelling students solely for attendance violations.

Story 4:

Orlando Montoya: The Grand Opera House in Macon is set to undergo renovations. A marketing official for Mercer University, which operates the venue, says the changes will be focused on backstage areas. Funding comes from Macon-Bibb County, which published documents in late July seeking a construction partner.

Story 5:

Orlando Montoya: After seven years and many detours, a downtown Atlanta bridge is finally reopened to traffic. The ribbon-cutting yesterday highlights continued investment in a key corridor linking business and entertainment hubs. GPB's Amanda Andrews reports the bridge also has a new name.

Amanda Andrews: The Spring Street Bridge is now the Ted Turner Bridge, honoring one of the city's most famous business leaders and former owner of CNN. The upgrades include a new viaduct and roadway, focusing on improving traffic flow and safety. The area also features wider crosswalks and new bike lanes, linking businesses and entertainment districts. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens spoke at the project's ribbon-cutting. He says this corridor will support long-term mobility and ongoing efforts to enhance the downtown area. The project was a partnership between the local and state Departments of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. For GPB News, I'm Amanda Andrews.

Story 6:

Orlando Montoya: Atlanta rapper Quavo is launching a new emergency trauma therapy fund through his nonprofit, the Rocket Foundation, after a weekend that saw dozens of shootings in the city of Atlanta. The fund honors two victims with ties to the foundation, 18-year-old Deshaun Johnson, a former Rocket camp attendee, and Aaron "Coach Ball" Hines, a mentor with the Offender Alumni Association. Quavo's Foundation is partnering with local groups to provide trauma-informed therapy for youth and families affected by gun violence. Earlier this week, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens addressed the weekend violence after one person was found dead and 10 others were injured after a shooting in the Sweet Auburn neighborhood of Atlanta.

Story 7:

Orlando Montoya: Former Food Network star Paula Deen has abruptly closed the Savannah restaurant that she started with her two sons nearly three decades ago. In a statement on her social media today, Deen said that she and her sons, Jamie and Bobby Deen, had made the quote, "heartfelt decision" to close the Lady & Sons and another Savannah restaurant, The Chicken Box. No reason was given. For other restaurants that she owns in other states will remain open. The iconic Lady & Sons opened in 1996 and helped launch Dean's fame, bringing more attention and visitors to Savannah. Her Food Network show premiered in 2002 and ran for a decade.

Story 8:

Orlando Montoya: Time now to turn our attention to the creepy-crawlies of living in Georgia. For the better part of the last decade, people here have reported seeing yellow-striped Joro spiders perched on webs. A new study from the University of Georgia finds some of these normally peaceful spiders can be aggressive. GPB's Chase McGee has more.

Chase McGee: Joro spiders aren't native to Georgia, and they're usually unmoving, docile creatures. Andy Davis is a research scientist at the University of Georgia's Odom School of Ecology. He says his team of researchers recently learned that some Joros turn hostile in stressful situations.

Andy Davis: And they happened to release two spiders side by side, and sure enough, they started fighting each other.

Chase McGee: Dr. Davis notes the behavior is an unusual case of cannibalism outside of mating, and so far it's only been observed between female Joro spiders. He says it's worth studying as we learn more about these invasive spiders in our native ecosystems. For GPB News, I'm Chase McGee.

Story 9:

Orlando Montoya: In Georgia sports, the Atlanta Braves will face the Cincinnati Reds tomorrow in the first-ever Major League Baseball game in Tennessee. The Speedway Classic at Bristol Motor Speedway is expected to set a single game regular season attendance record. More than 85,000 tickets have been sold.

Outro:

Orlando Montoya: And that's it for today's edition of Georgia Today. For more Georgia news, visit gpb.org slash news. We always remind you to hit subscribe on this podcast so you stay current with us in your feed and send feedback to georgiatoday@gpb.org. We love constructive criticism and positive comments as well. I'm Orlando Montoya. I hope you have a great weekend. We'll be back again next week with more Georgia Today.

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