– Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024 –
Good morning. We’re reporting on two court cases across Coastal Georgia, one involving a fatal high-speed Savannah chase and the other on a prominent defendant dismissed in a lawsuit stemming from Ahmaud Arbery’s murder.
After that we look at how mental health counselors are stepping up in the wake of tragedy, like that of the Apalachee High School shooting in Barrow County.
Questions, comments or story ideas? We want to hear from you. Reach out to staff@thecurrentga.org.
NEWS: COURTS
High court hears appeal in Savannah killings
Georgia Supreme Court justices appeared skeptical as a lawyer for Jerry Chambers, convicted of killing three people during a chase through downtown Savannah in 2017, sought to have his conviction vacated.
The appeal arguments on Tuesday centered around whether Chatham County prosecutors introduced enough evidence during a March 2020 jury trial that the Savannah Police Department officers who chased Chambers properly presented themselves as police officers, a requirement under Georgia law.
The district attorney’s office said they did, and justices asked critical questions of Chambers attorney, Kaitlyn Walker, who is also a Chatham public defender.
The case was important for Savannahians. Chambers fatally struck Scott Waldrup in the early morning hours after the July 4 fireworks downtown in 2017. Waldrup was the general manager for The Grey, a Savannah restaurant, and his death devastated his many friends and colleagues in the city.
NEWS: COURTS
Bryan to be dismissed in Arbery civil suit
The mother of Ahmaud Arbery agreed to dismiss William “Roddie” Bryan from her civil lawsuit alleging widespread institutional failures allowed three men, including Bryan, to chase and kill her jogging son in February 2020.
The filing on Sept. 5 does not indicate whether a settlement with Bryan was reached. The judge has not signed off yet on the request from the legal team for Wanda Cooper Jones, Arbery’s mother.
Bryan, along with Gregory and Travis McMichael, are serving life sentences for murder and federal hate crimes. Bryan is currently incarcerated in Valdosta State Prison.
He has often sought to separate his actions from the McMichael father and son since Arbery’s murder; while the McMichaels chased and killed Arbery, Bryan did not fire a gun. He did help block Arbery’s escape and filmed the encounter. In August 2022, a federal judge saved some of her harshest words for Bryan, whom she said did not “deserve a light sentence,” after his lawyers asked for one.
Cooper Jones’ civil case is still intact against the McMichaels, Glynn County Police Department, and Jackie Johnson, the former district attorney.
NEWS: PUBLIC SAFETY & PUBLIC HEALTH
Mental health care in wake of disaster
A government response to a public safety disaster no longer only includes first responders and extra supplies.
Georgia emergency officials rolled out a week-long recovery center in Barrow County, following the school shooting that killed four at Apalachee High School two weeks ago.
The center served as a place for school employees, students, victims’ families, first responders, and concerned people in the community could connect with counselors, according to reporting from MindSite News, a nonprofit news outlet reporting on mental health. Churches offered spiritual care, health organizations provided on-site therapy and psychological first aid, and pet therapy organizations brought emotional support dogs.
The effort to provide mental health care in addition to traditional disaster responses signals the increased acceptance of mental health services. It also highlights how emergency officials are trying to get ahead of potential impacts. Trauma begets trauma, and one way to counter this is by providing care.
GA Supreme Court skeptical in appeal by man convicted of killing 3 in Savannah car chase
GA justices will hear oral arguments Tuesday in an appeal stemming from a deadly chase through downtown Savannah in 2017, killing a pedestrian who was the former general manager of The Grey.
Beyond thoughts and prayers: Counselors step up to help a Georgia community after deadly school shooting
Georgia emergency officials opened a week-long Community Recovery Center in a recreation center, using the gym as a place where school employees, students, victims’ families, first responders, and concerned people in the community could connect with counselors.
Water system upgrades could require more than $1 trillion over next 20 years
Upgrades to U.S. stormwater, wastewater and drinking water systems are estimated to cost $1.2 trillion.
State auditors flag Georgia’s driver’s ed program for outdated lessons, lack of rigor
Georgia’s 40 hours of supervised driving time is below both the national median and recommended standard of 50 hours.
First year of Georgia’s Medicaid work requirement mired in red tape
The $40 million endeavor has forced participants to navigate bureaucratic hurdles rather than support employment. The state would not confirm whether it could even verify if people in the program are working.
Georgia lawmakers about to focus on private water systems
Private water systems became an issue earlier this year when the Republican-controlled General Assembly voted largely along party lines to allow private utilities to provide water in areas where no public service can be provided within 18 months.
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