WABE’s Week In Review: Voting Bills Aim To Change Georgia’s Election System And Remembering Ahmaud Arbery

Alex Helmick | WABE

February 26th, 2021

Georgia lawmakers are considering some 75 voting bills that would change the way we vote in this state. Republicans, who support the changes, say the moves are needed for voter security, even though claims of widespread fraud in the state were unfounded. Opponents of the moves say it amounts to voter suppression. Our Christopher Alston broke it down with host Jim Burress.

The pushback … 

Dozens of demonstrators rallied Thursday across the street from the Georgia Capitol, protesting GOP voting bills.
Dozens of demonstrators rallied Thursday across the street from the Georgia Capitol, protesting GOP voting bills. (Emil Moffatt/WABE)

As Georgia Republican lawmakers continue to advance those bills that would change the voting laws, opponents are pushing back — both inside and outside the capitol building.

Teachers next to get vaccinated … 

Gov. Brian Kemp, shown speaking to reporters earlier this month, announced Thursday that he will allow child care workers and K-12 school employees and teachers to be vaccinated, but he said that college teachers wouldn't be eligible for now.
Gov. Brian Kemp, shown speaking to reporters earlier this month, announced Thursday that he will allow child care workers and K-12 school employees and teachers to be vaccinated. (John Bazemore/AP)

On Thursday, Gov. Brian Kemp announced that starting March 8 many teachers in Georgia will qualify for the COVID-19 vaccination. The expanded eligibility will include public and private pre-K through 12th-grade teachers, as well as adults with disabilities and their caregivers, and adults who care for severely ill children.

“While vaccine supplies have been so limited, the vaccine had to be prioritized to those who are most vulnerable,” Kemp said. “Our team feels confident we will continue to see steady increases in our allotment over the next several weeks.”

Remembering Ahmaud Arbery … 

A group of protesters march from the Glynn County Courthouse to a police station after a May 16 rally to protest the shooting of Ahmaud Arbery in Brunswick, Georgia. Hank Klibanoff, host of the “Buried Truths” podcast, joined "Closer Look” to discuss why he and a group of his students at Emory University chose to dedicate season 3 of the podcast to investigate the killing of Arbery.
A group of protesters march from the Glynn County Courthouse to a police station after a May 16 rally to protest the shooting of Ahmaud Arbery in Brunswick, Georgia. (Stephen B. Morton/AP)

It was a  year ago on Tuesday when Ahmaud Arbery was chased, shot and killed on a coastal Georgia street. It would be months before most of the world heard about Arbery’s death and before those responsible were even arrested. Emma Hurt looked back at what’s happened since in Arbery’s community.

And get more on the life and death of Ahmaud Arbery here.

Heading a powerful congressional committee … 

Congressman David Scott
Congressman David Scott plans to have Black farmers speak to Congress about challenges they face. (Charles Dharapak/AP)

Georgia Congressman David Scott now chairs the U.S.  House Agriculture Commission and is the first African American to serve in that role. He represents the 13th District that consists mainly of DeKalb County, which doesn’t have a lot of farming. Some may find his new role odd for that reason, as his immediate concerns are now for rural areas, small family farms, specialty crops and nutrition.

Scott told WABE’s Lisa Rayam these are some of the basic needs of our country and his community.

Loeffler out as Dream owner … 

It was announced Friday that Kelly Loeffler, left, and Mary Brock (shown in 2011) have sold the Atlanta Dream. During a summer of protests calling for racial justice, Loeffler drew criticism for denouncing the WNBA's support of Black Lives Matter.
Kelly Loeffler, left, and Mary Brock (shown in 2011) have sold the Atlanta Dream. During a summer of protests calling for racial justice, Loeffler drew criticism for denouncing the WNBA’s support of Black Lives Matter. (David Tulis/AP)

Former Georgia U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler is selling her stake in the Atlanta Dream. Loeffler came under fire even from her own WNBA players after she blasted the Black Lives Matter movement while she was running to keep her seat in the Senate. Her team even openly supported her Democratic opponent Raphael Warnock. The team is being sold to a three-person investor group that includes former Dream player Renee Montgomery.

For a deeper exploration of Ahmaud Arbery’s story, listen to WABE’s podcast, “Buried Truths.” Hosted by journalist, professor, and Pulitzer-prize-winning author Hank Klibanoff, season three of “Buried Truths” explores the Arbery murder and its direct ties to racially motivated murders of the past in Georgia.

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