Georgia

50,000 Fulton County voters received letters saying they may be declared inactive, because they didn’t update the address on their voter registration cards. The Georgia ACLU is filing legal action against the state, claiming it’s actions are in violation of the Voter Registration Act of 1993. But is this simple housekeeping for an elections system, or part of an effort to make it harder for some people to vote? Joining us is Andra Gillespie, Emory University Political Science Professor.

We hope you heard our broadcast from the Historic Douglass Theatre. We celebrated Macon’s musical talent with a live audience. Our opening act was the current generation of that talent – teens who completed this year’s Otis Music Camp for young musicians. Listen to the highlights on this post, or see the whole performance here. 

Today on “Political Rewind,” the effort to repeal and replace Obamacare collapses in the wee hours, after Sen. John McCain delivers the coup de grace and votes NO. Was it payback for that campaign crack when Trump dissed McCain for having been captured during the Vietnam War? What does this legislative loss bode for Senate Leader Mitch McConnell? And is there a prayer that a return to bipartisanship may be borne of this event?

Today’s Music Minute recognizes a rapper who created one of the biggest viral sensations of all time.

On this day in 1990, DeAndre Cortez Way, better known as Soulja Boy, was born.

The Atlanta based rapper is best known for his 2007 hit "Crank That Soulja Boy,” which has nearly 300 million views on YouTube .

The smash hit single even earned the rapper a Grammy nomination in 2008.

Despite his early success, Soulja Boy hasn’t been able to find a hit that equaled his first big breakthrough.

This week on "Two Way Street," Pulitzer Prize-winning author Richard Russo joins us to discuss his latest book, "Trajectory: Stories." 

Looking for some weekend fun? Marianne Ganem Poppell of Savannah Master Calendar and Marcia Banes of Old Savannah Tours have a few suggestions.

Marcia's picks:

-Looking to become an expert mixologist? You can give it a try at the Craft Cocktail Lab at Kitchen 320. Learn to make four different cocktails (and sip on them) and enjoy light hors d'oeuvres. Thursday, 6-8:30 p.m.; $30.

A debate is going on over the operation of immigration detention centers. Georgia’s Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin is one of the largest in the country. It is run by a private company. There are many like it. Critics say those private facilities are problematic. Last year, a Homeland Security Advisory Council said they should be phased out. However, a separate subcommittee wants to continue using private immigrant detention facilities, but that committee wants greater oversight. We talk more about this with Azadeh Shahshahani, the legal and advocacy director with Project South.

A recent report puts Georgia 41st in the nation for its quality of senior health. According to America’s Health Rankings Senior Report, that’s two slots lower than last year. We talk about senior health in the state with Kathy Floyd of the Georgia Council on Aging and Glenn Osster of the Institute of Gerontology at the University of Georgia.

First, a recent report puts Georgia 41st in the nation for its quality of senior health. According to America’s Health Rankings Senior Report, that’s two slots lower than last year. We talk about senior health in the state with Kathy Floyd of the Georgia Council on Aging and Glenn Osster of the Institute of Gerontology at the University of Georgia.

Atlanta band Manchester Orchestra has been going strong since 2004, having performed at big festivals like Shaky Knees, Lollapalooza, and Bonnaroo. But the band reached a new peak in fame after scoring the 2016 cult film “Swiss Army Man” with Daniel Radcliffe and Paul Dano. 

All this week we get additions to the essential Georgia Playlist from musicians playing at Bragg Jam in Macon this weekend, July 28-29. The series is produced by GPB’s Trevor Young. Today’s picks come from Vanessa Briscoe Hay, former frontwoman for the legendary Athens band Pylon.

Today on “Political Rewind,” President Trump does an about-face on an Obama-era ruling allowing transgender people to serve in the military.

This Thursday, July 27, we take our show on the road to the historic Douglass Theatre in downtown Macon. This theater was an important space during the 20th century for African-American artists.

A new report from the Centers for Disease Control shows that 30 million Americans -- nearly 10 percent of the population -- have diabetes. The study also shows nearly a quarter of them -- more than seven million -- are undiagnosed. And the South, Georgia included, has the highest concentration of people with the disease. We talk with Sarah Piper, Senior Program Associate for the Diabetes Training and Technical Assistance Center at Emory University and Andy Miller, President of Georgia Health News.

First, a new report from the Centers for Disease Control shows that 30 million Americans -- nearly 10 percent of the population -- have diabetes. The study also shows nearly a quarter of them -- more than seven million -- are undiagnosed. And the South, Georgia included, has the highest concentration of people with the disease. We talk with Sarah Piper, Senior Program Associate for the Diabetes Training and Technical Assistance Center at Emory University and Andy Miller, President of Georgia Health News.

All this week we get additions to the essential Georgia Playlist from musicians playing at Bragg Jam in Macon this weekend, July 28-29. Today’s picks come from banjoist Mike Savino, also known as Tall Tall Trees. He’s performed with groups like Of Montreal and Kishi Bashi. He brings us music from Jerry Reid and R.E.M.

Tall Tall Trees' Bragg Jam performance will be at the Bearfoot Beer Garden this Saturday at 8:30 p.m.

Wesleyan College in Macon is looking to apologize for past ties to racism, slavery, and the Ku Klux Klan. Information about the school’s history came to light recently through the research of students at Wesleyan. This comes just months after an incident involving racist graffiti on a dorm room wall.

When she was a kid, SaVana Cameron says she loved to sing.

“But I never did voice lessons or anything like that,” she said.

She didn’t get serious until her senior year of high school when she landed a solo in the musical "Annie."

“After I did the solo that night a lot of people came up to me and said ‘You have a really pretty voice,’” she said.

First, the fate of the police department in the small town of Varnell in Whitfield County is suddenly uncertain. Earlier this month, the city council voted to eliminate the department because of costs, with little warning. The mayor ultimately vetoed that move, but the council could override that veto on Tuesday. We talk with reporter Chris Whitfield, who has been covering this story for The Daily Citizen in Dalton.

The fate of the police department in the small town of Varnell in Whitfield County is suddenly uncertain. Earlier this month, the city council voted to eliminate the department because of costs, with little warning. The mayor ultimately vetoed that move, but the council could override that veto on Tuesday.

 Macon native Miles Mashburn likes to poke fun at his hometown. In fact, he’s made a hobby out of it with his Macon Memes Facebook page.

“I’ve always liked making people laugh and particularly I love making memes on my personal Facebook,” Mashburn said. “So I decided to make the page 'Macon Memes' to kind of branch out and get a following and it turned out to be a pretty successful.”

True, if success is defined by having over 13,000 followers.

Kids sing and dance at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Macon. Later, they’ll go swimming or tour the local museum.  

This is no ordinary summer camp, it’s Freedom School. And these kids are here to read.

The original Freedom Schools provided free, alternate education for black students during the Civil Rights Movement. The Children’s Defense Fund re-imagined the program in 1995.

Today’s Freedom Schools exist in 29 states, including Georgia. The program expanded to Macon this year.

Today on “Political Rewind,” Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner testifies in a closed-door session with the Senate Intelligence Committee. No reporters were allowed, but in a prepared statement, Kushner asserted that he has not colluded with Russians. We discuss today's events and his planned appearance tomorrow with House Intelligence Committee another closed-door session. At least one observer opines that Kushner managed to throw Donald Trump Jr. under the bus in his prepared remarks.

For nearly a decade, Atlanta filmmaker Amanda Avery was a sex worker. Her experiences culminated into the short film, "Leaving Charlie." Amanda wrote, directed, and starred in the film. She also made a point of bringing on an all-female and gender nonconforming crew.