Georgia Today: Legislative session begins; Deadly altercation at state prison leaves 3 people dead

Peter Biello: Welcome to the Georgia Today podcast. Here we bring you the latest reports from the GPB newsroom. On today's episode, the issue of affordability figures prominently as the state legislative session begins. Flu continues to spread rapidly in Georgia, and a deadly altercation at a Georgia state prison leaves three dead, including one man whose sentence had only days remaining. 

Michelle Lett: He was excited. Every other day he was calling, "I'm on my way home. I'm all my way. I can't wait to see y'all. I'm so glad I'm coming home."

Peter Biello: Today is Monday, Jan. 12. I'm Peter Biello, and this is Georgia Today. 

Story 1:

Peter Biello: Leaders of the state House and Senate gaveled in the 2026 General Assembly this morning, and as it is in national politics, affordability is going to play a central role in state legislation. So says House Majority Leader, Mulberry Republican Chuck Efstration. 

Chuck Efstration: It's a big deal right now. I think that increasing inflation expenses — a lot of times D.C. policy is squeezing our wallets here in the state and so as state legislators there are limited areas where we can really work to address affordability and that's where we're bearing down. 

Peter Biello: He says homeownership and insurance premiums are areas where state law can make a difference. 

Story 2:

Peter Biello: And as state lawmakers return to the Gold Dome today, so did activists for a number of causes, as GPB's Sarah Kallis reports. 

Sarah Kallis: On Day 1 of the legislative session, the ACLU of Georgia held their quote, "Pack the Capitol" event where they urged lawmakers to consider their constituents when making decisions. ACLU Georgia Executive Director Andrea Young encouraged Georgia residents to reach out their lawmakers and encourage lawmakers to listen. 

Andrea Young: When our legislature listens to the people, listens to the majority, we will have a Georgia that is worthy of the sacrifices of Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter and Martin and Coretta King. 

Sarah Kallis: Advocates said they want expanded Medicaid and more civil and environmental protections. The legislative session runs until early April. For GPB News, I'm Sarah Kallis at the state Capitol. 

Story 3:

Peter Biello: If you went to the Capitol for the first day of the session today, you may have noticed some changes to the building itself. Renovations have been underway since 2024 to the tune of nearly $400 million. All that cash has added a new HVAC system, carpets, sturdy chairs, and gold leaf on ceilings where there had been gold paint. House Speaker Jon Burns thanked the workers responsible. 

Jon Burns: Our capitol, as we all know, is one of the most beautiful capitols in the country. But what the work's been done here just really brings us back to a state of art. And it's the craftsman's that work for you guys — a big shout of thank you goes out to them. 

Peter Biello: Renovations are expected to continue through next year. 

And for more news from the state Capitol, tune in to GPB's Lawmakers Monday through Thursday at 7 p.m. when the legislature is in session or anytime at GPB.org/news. 

Story 4:

Peter Biello: Seth Clark of Macon has entered the race for Georgia lieutenant governor. He becomes only the second Democrat in the race after Sandy Springs state Sen. Josh McLaurin. Clark recently resigned from the Macon Bibb County Commission and will face McLaurin in the May 19th primary. Five Republicans are seeking their party's nomination. The final winner in November will succeed Republican Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who is running for governor. Clark is pledging in his announcement today to focus on affordability, public schools, and health care. McLaurin welcomes Clark to the race but says he has the necessary experience and is a proven fighter for working people. 

Credit: GPB / File

Story 5:

Peter Biello: The Georgia Department of Public Health has confirmed the state's first case of measles this year, GPB's Sofi Gratas reports. 

Sofi Gratas: The positive measles case reported on Monday in the coastal public health district headquartered in Savannah is in a baby too young to be vaccinated, the public health department said. The baby got measles from international travel. There were 10 reported cases of measles in Georgia last year and all except one were among unvaccinated people. Most contracted the virus from international travel. The CDC recommends that babies at least 6 months old traveling overseas get a single-dose measles vaccine, before the traditional schedule of between 12 and 15 months old. The Georgia Department of Public Health said it's still tracking down everyone who has come in contact with the infected baby. For GPB News, I'm Sofi Gratas. 

Story 6:

Peter Biello: Meanwhile, DPH continues to report dangerously high levels of flu activity. During the first week in January, there were slightly fewer people hospitalized with flu in Georgia from the previous week, but six more people were reported dead from flu-related complications during that period. And Georgia has the highest volume of people sick with the year's top strain, known as Flu A. Young children, young adults and middle-aged people have been hospitalized the most with respiratory illnesses this season. For free and low-cost flu vaccines and testing, people can visit their local public health department. 

Story 7:

Peter Biello: Official details are still scant about a spate of deadly mass violence at George's Washington State Prison yesterday. GPB's Grant Blankenship has more. 

Grant Blankenship: Three people were killed and a dozen more hospitalized after altercations at the prison halfway between Macon and Augusta. Washington County coroner E.K. May says that's more dead at the prison than he normally sees in a year. Jimmy Trammell was one of those killed. His aunt Michelle Lett says his 10-year prison sentence was only days from ending. 

Michelle Lett: Three days out, we was planning for him to come home. He was glad, he was excited. Every other day he was calling, "I'm on my way home. I'm on my way home. I can't wait to see y'all. I'm so glad I'm coming home."

Grant Blankenship: The Georgia Department of Corrections has not confirmed the incident. The prison system was the subject of a federal civil rights investigation during the Biden administration. For GPB News, I'm Grant Blankenship in Macon. 

Story 8:

Peter Biello: Savannah's Telfair Museum is reducing its workforce by about 15%. The nonprofit organization, one of the largest in Chatham County, said today the move was aimed at shoring up its resources while serving its constituency's needs. It said community outreach and education programs will not be affected. The organization runs the Jepson Center, Owens-Thomas House and Telfair Academy, all landmark buildings and institutions in Savannah. 

Story 9:

Peter Biello: Sam Nunn is the third-longest tenured senator from the state of Georgia. And over the course of his career, he held massive sway over American foreign policy. In the latest installment of GPB TV's Georgia Legends, which focuses on prominent figures in our state's history, GPB's Jeff Hullinger speaks with the former senator about his life and legacy. That program airs tonight at 9:00. And Jeff is with me now. Jeff, welcome to the program. 

Jeff Hullinger: Peter, good to be with you. 

Peter Biello: So Jeff, why did Sam Nunn stand out to you as a perfect guest for this program? 

Jeff Hullinger: He is such an incredible man, an incredible life that began in Perry, Ga., and he has excelled at absolutely everything he has touched in his 87 years in our state. I've always found it fascinating that Jimmy Carter in Plains and Sam Nunn in Perry, from rural Georgia and two men that were contemporaries and two men that often times were at odds, but ultimately had great respect for each other — that Georgia red clay could yield two of these titans of the 20th century. 

Peter Biello: On Georgia Legends, you focus for a bit on his early life and upbringing. Can you talk a little bit about his childhood and how that shaped the man he became? 

Jeff Hullinger: You know, when you think about Sam Nunn, you really don't think about him being a great athlete and he was. I mean, you think of Sen. Nunn in the context of his intellect and what he has represented in the U.S. Senate. But he grew up as a really fine athlete. He was an outstanding baseball player and played on a state championship basketball team in Georgia. Also was at Georgia Tech playing basketball. So one of the great lessons of sports, I think for any of us who have played, is that sort of communal aspect of sport, of the collective trying to accomplish a singular goal. And with that comes a lot of different people. You meet a lot different kinds of individuals. His whole life is about teamwork and his ability to bring different kinds of people together. And and we saw that the U.S. Senate certainly with his work of of trying to pare down the threat of nuclear arms 

Peter Biello: So when he was a young lawyer, he was working on the staff of the House Armed Services Committee, and he had an opportunity to go on an Air Force trip to NATO, and that's when the Cuban Missile Crisis breaks out, and here's how he described that experience to you on Georgia Legends. 

Sam Nunn: Right there in the Wiesbaden Air Force Base right at the peak of the danger; we thought the war was going to happen any time. Made a huge impression on me in so many different ways. For one, how short the decision time was, how crucial the decisions were. And then, of course, the next day, we were in Norway: Khrushchev backed off the crisis, the world breathed a huge sigh of relief, and so did we. 

Peter Biello: So, Jeff, what did you learn about how that trip and his experiences with possible nuclear war? 

Jeff Hullinger: Talking to him about that subject, you could sense how it had touched his his psyche and his soul about how close we were to the use of nuclear weapons in the Cuban Missile Crisis. And that was something that certainly has created an impact on him for the rest of his life. I mean, it has been a driving force in his life. 

Peter Biello: Sam Nunn announced his retirement from the Senate in 1995. What would you say he's gonna be most remembered for as a senator? 

Jeff Hullinger: I think that's a good question in that I think you have to talk about his involvement with the U.S. military, obviously his expertise on issues relating to nuclear weaponry to the military. In fact, in 2026, a U.S. Naval ship will be commissioned that will bear his name. And that's something he's very, very proud of. And at the time that we talked to him, he viewed that as, you know, one of the great honors of his life. I think there's also an element that all of my adult life, it seems as though someone was writing a story about Sam Nunn would be the next American president and we would see him in the White House. And that's something that never really materialized. I mean, it rolled all the way to 2008 when there was great support in this country for him to be the vice presidential pick of then-Sen. Obama. There was support from — gosh, from Peggy Noonan to Jimmy Carter, that's about as diverse as you certainly can get. But it did not happen. And I think it sort of illustrates that the other issue of the White House not happening for him. You know, just when you think you know Sam Nunn or you make assumptions about Sam Nunn, that is not necessarily true. 

Peter Biello: GPB's Jeff Hullinger is the host of Georgia Legends on GPB TV, an episode featuring the life and legacy of former Sen. Sam Nunn runs tonight at 9:00. Jeff, thank you so much for speaking with me. 

Jeff Hullinger: Thank you, Peter. 

Peter Biello: And that is it for this edition of Georgia Today. As we mentioned, today marks the start of Georgia's 2026 legislative session and GPB is gonna be there for all 40 days. On our nightly television show, Lawmakers, host Donna Lowry and team will provide in-depth coverage of the Georgia General Assembly, interviewing key lawmakers and reporting on the issues affecting your taxes, jobs, schools and environment. Tune into the first episode of Lawmakers, now on its 56th season, tonight at 7  on GPB television. You can learn more about the stories you heard on this episode of Georgia Today by visiting GPB.org/news. And if you haven't subscribed to the podcast, make sure you do it now. We'll pop up in your feed automatically tomorrow afternoon, just in time for your commute home. If you've got feedback, we would love to hear from you. Send us an email. That's the best way to reach us. An email goes to the whole team. When you send it to GeorgiaToday@GPB.org. I'm Peter Biello. Thanks again for listening. We will see you tomorrow. 

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