Episode Details

On the Monday, Sept. 30 episode of Georgia Today: Georgia's abortion law has been struck down; a chemical fire in Rockdale County has residents sheltering in place; President Jimmy Carter's grandson, Jason Carter, joins the podcast in celebration of 100 years of Jimmy Carter.

GA Today Podcast

Peter Biello: Welcome to the Georgia Today podcast from GPB News. Today is Monday, Sept. 30. I'm Peter Biello. On today's episode, Georgia's abortion law is struck down. Residents of Rockdale County have been told to shelter in place after a fire at a chemical plant. And we'll talk to Jason Carter, the grandson of Jimmy Carter, as the former president gets ready to make history tomorrow. These stories and more are coming up on this edition of Georgia Today.

Story 1

Peter Biello: A judge has struck down Georgia's abortion law, which took effect two years ago and effectively prohibited abortions beyond about six weeks of pregnancy. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney wrote in his order that liberty in Georgia includes the "power of a woman to control her own body." When the U.S. Supreme Court overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022 and ended a national right to an abortion, it opened the door for state bans. Fourteen states now bar abortion at all stages of pregnancy, with some exceptions. Georgia was one of four where the bands kicked in after about the first six weeks of pregnancy, which is often before women realize they're pregnant. McBurney wrote that his ruling means the law in the state returns to what it was before the law was passed in 2019.

Some residents east of Atlanta were evacuated and others told to shelter in place after a fire at a chemical plant.

Caption

Some residents east of Atlanta were evacuated and others told to shelter in place after a fire at a chemical plant.

Credit: Rockdale County via X

Story 2

Peter Biello: More than 90,000 residents in metro Atlanta's Rockdale County have been told to shelter in place a day after a chemical plant fire sent a massive plume of dark smoke high into the sky. A haze and chemical smell spread today over Atlanta. Mayor Andre Dickens says officials are waiting for more guidance from state and federal environmental officials.

Andre Dickens: It's not at exceeding levels — it's not at levels that exceeds where humans can deal with it. But those that are immune — immune challenged, those that have conditions may want to stay indoors or wear a mask out of precaution.

Peter Biello: Authorities say chlorine was detected in the air from the fire at the Biolab plant in Conyers. Some school districts in the area have canceled outdoor games this afternoon. Rockdale County's fire chief says a sprinkler had malfunctioned at the plant on Sunday morning. No injuries were reported.

Story 3

Peter Biello: Two controversial new rules passed by the Georgia State Election board are set to face their first test in court and tomorrow will go to a bench trial, meaning a judge, not a jury, will decide the case. The board's Republican majority approved the rules last month after being lauded by former President Donald Trump as "pit bulls fighting for honesty, transparency and victory." Democrats are challenging the rules, saying they could be used to, quote, "upend the legal process for certifying the state's election results.".

Story 4

Peter Biello: Georgia Power and Georgia EMCs say half-a-million electric customers were without power as of this afternoon, days after Hurricane Helene ripped across the state. Georgia Power calls the storm the most destructive hurricane in its history. It says Helene took down more than 5,000 power poles and the equivalent of more than 400 miles of wire. Georgia Electric Membership Coo