Section Branding
Header Content
Georgia Today: Bottoms files for governor run; Kemp signs education bills; Funding cuts for research
Primary Content
On the Monday April 28th edition of Georgia Today: Former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms makes plans to run for governor; Governor Kemp signs several education bills into law; And public health research is the latest target of the federal government's efforts to reduce the national budget.
Peter Biello: Welcome to the Georgia Today podcast. Here, we bring you the latest reports from the GPB newsroom. On today's episode, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms makes plans to run for governor. Gov. Brian Kemp signs several education bills into law, and public health research is the latest target of the federal government's efforts to reduce the national budget.
Dan Whittaker: We just have to keep plugging away and do what we can do with the resources we have available.
Peter Biello: Today is Monday, April 28. I'm Peter Biello, and this is Georgia Today.
Story 1:
Peter Biello: Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms is taking steps to run for governor. Bottoms said today she's filed paperwork to form a campaign committee and looks forward to making an announcement in the coming weeks. Bottoms served as mayor from 2018 to 2022 and then served as an advisor to President Biden. Atlanta state Sen. Jason Estevez is already in the race. Metro Atlanta Democratic congresswoman Lucy McBath also filed paperwork to run, but suspended her campaign to focus on her husband's health. The Republican race for governor so far includes Attorney General Chris Carr, with Lt. Gov. Burt Jones widely expected to run as well. Republican Gov. Brian Kemp is term limited and cannot run again, and has not announced whether he'll run for U.S. Senate.
Story 2:
Peter Biello: Gov. Kemp signed seven education bills during a ceremony this afternoon at the State Capitol. Among those was House Bill 268, aimed at increasing school safety. A section of the bill will install panic buttons in classrooms, and is named after Ricky Aspinwall, a coach who died in the Appalachee High School shooting in Barrow County last year. Richard Aspinwall, Ricky's father, attended the signing ceremony.
Richard Aspinwall: I don't want anybody else to have to go through this. You see it happening all over the country, and it's got to stop. Some way or another, it's gotta stop.
Peter Biello: Other bills signed include a ban on transgender girls participating in girl sports, increased literacy initiatives, and investigations into chronic absenteeism.
Story 3:
Peter Biello: The National Rifle Association held its annual meeting in Atlanta over the weekend. GPB's Sarah Kallis reports.
Sarah Kallis: The 2025 NRA exhibits included 14 acres of guns and accessories at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. The event drew thousands of gun enthusiasts from around the country. Dusty Clements owns Brothers Precision Firearms in Warner Robins. This year marks his fifth NRA gathering, and he says he feels good about the state of the Second Amendment.
Dusty Clements: Here in the state of Georgia, we already got the "Constitutional carry," so we don't have to have a carry license, and I wish every state would go to that.
Sarah Kallis: This is the first NRA annual meeting in 10 years that President Donald Trump has not attended. For GPB News, I'm Sarah Kallis in Atlanta.
Story 4:
Peter Biello: Public health research has been caught in the crosshairs as the federal government tries to reduce its budget. That means millions of dollars could be canceled or put on hold for many of Georgia's universities. GPB's Sofi Gratas has more from one school feeling the squeeze.
Sofi Gratas: At Georgia State University's third annual Public Health Research Day, students and faculty presented projects on tobacco use, HIV prevention, and mental health. As Dan Whittaker, associate dean for research at the School of Public Health, puts it:
Dan Whittaker: I mean, the topics are as broad as public health itself.
Sofi Gratas: There was even a case made for mapping public toilet access in Atlanta.
[UNIDENTIFIED] Very disappointed on what that looks like...
Sofi Gratas: Because sanitation is public health, too. GSU's research budget is much smaller than other universities, but around two-thirds of it is federally funded. Whitaker says recent cuts mean they will have to pivot.
Dan Whittaker: We just have to keep plugging away and do what we can do with the resources we have available.
Sofi Gratas: Some in the classroom are feeling the tension, like graduate student Ariel Dube.
Ariel Dube: I do feel a bit threatened, like, job market-wise.
Sofi Gratas: She knows people swept up in the reductions in force at health agencies. But Dubé's not discouraged.
Ariel Dube: For me, it's knowing that our administration isn't forever. I'll still be here, you know, when it's over.
Sofi Gratas: When she could be needed even more, she says. For GPB News, I'm Sofi Gratas in Atlanta.
Story 5:
Peter Biello: The nonprofit foundation affiliated with the world's largest asset management company is investing a million dollars in manufacturing and construction workforce development in Georgia. The BlackRock Foundation today announced the gift to the Technical College System of Georgia. The new funding is expected to provide access to skills training to more than 1,000 Georgians.
Story 6:
Peter Biello: As the weather warms up and you spend more time outdoors, keep an eye out for the Asian needle ant, an invasive species of ant that can cause serious problems in your yard. GPB's Chase McGee has more.
Chase McGee: From a distance, it might look like any other ant, but the Asian needle ant is unique, and you won't see them marching in a line up a tree. University of Georgia Orkin Entomologist Dr. Dan Suiter says these ants travel alone, and they have a venomous bite that can result in a simple sting, or in some people, more serious problems.
Dr. Dan Suiter: Last year, I fielded three questions from homeowners who suffered anaphylactic shock from being stung by this ant.
Chase McGee: Not all people who get bit will go into shock, but their bites are painful. And as soon as they fade, the pain can come back. Dr. Suiter says you can prevent them by keeping lawns clear of debris, using preventive pest control treatments, and if you find an ant you need to identify, contact your county extension agent. For GPB News, I'm Chase McGee.
Story 7:
Peter Biello: The Health Department in southeast Georgia's Liberty County is alerting residents and visitors that a bobcat has tested positive for rabies. In a statement today, Health Department officials said a person was attacked by a bobcat in Midway on Thursday. The animal tested positive rabies and the individual is receiving follow-up medical care. The officials remind residents to avoid contact with unfamiliar animals and to keep pets up to date on their rabies vaccination.
Story 8:
Peter Biello: The Braves kick off a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies out West tonight. The Bravers are coming off a 6-4 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks yesterday. Alex Verdugo, who came over from the Yankees on a late off-season deal, has been a surprising bright spot for an Atlanta team marked by a disappointing offense. He finished yesterday with four hits and two RBIs and so far is batting .333, although with far fewer at-bats than the rest of the regular lineup. That said, he could stand out on a team where only one other player is hitting above .300: designated hitter Marcel Ozuna. Bryce Elder will get the start for the Braves tonight in Colorado.
Story 9:
Peter Biello: The Atlanta rap duo Outkast will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The announcement last night puts the pair, Andre 3000 and Big Boi, in the same 2025 class of inductees as Cyndi Lauper and Joe Cocker, among others. Outkast has six Grammy Awards and a reputation for pushing the boundaries of hip hop. The induction ceremony is scheduled to take place in Los Angeles this fall.
And that's a wrap. Thank you very much for listening to Georgia Today. More coming your way tomorrow, though, so make sure you subscribe. That way we'll pop up automatically in your podcast feed. And don't forget to check out GPB.org/news for the latest updates. Your feedback powers this podcast. Send your tips as well as your suggestions for improvement to GeorgiaToday@GPB.org. I'm Peter Biello. Thanks again for listening. We'll see you tomorrow.
---
For more on these stories and more, go to GPB.org/news.
Secondary Content
Author
