WABE's Week In Review: Georgia's new education laws, Kemp vs. Perdue and saving thousands of bees

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp speaks during a news conference, Aug. 26, 2021, in Marietta, Ga. Gov. Kemp and top Republican challenger David Perdue clashed in two debates over the past week ahead of next month’s gubernatorial primary. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Georgia became the latest state to approve sweeping conservative classroom priorities ahead of the midterm election when Gov. Brian Kemp signed a slew of controversial education bills on Thursday.

The controversial measures include ones that affect how teachers can talk about race, that make it easier for parents to get books reviewed in school libraries and that open the door to prohibiting transgender kids from playing on the sports team that matches their gender identity.

“We weren’t elected by the people of this state to shy away from what some would call controversial,” said Kemp at the bill signing. “The bills we’re signing into law today are about doing the right thing.”