Top Stories for January 15th 

Publish Date: January 15th 
 

From the BG AD Group Studio Welcome to the Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast. 

Today is Thursday, January 15th and Happy birthday to Martin Luther King Jr. 


I’m Peyton Spurlock and here are your top stories presented by KIA Mall of Georgia. 
Dinosaur World Live returns to Gwinnett's Gas South Theater
Gwinnett service organizations look to Families First model to better help others
Ethics board dismisses complaint over Holtkamp's transit videos 

  Plus, Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on raw milk 

All of this and more is coming up on the Gwinnett Daily Post podcast, and if you are looking for community news, we encourage you to listen daily and subscribe! 


Break 1: Sugar Hill Ice Skating Rink 


STORY 1: Dinosaur World Live returns to Gwinnett's Gas South Theater 

Dinosaur World Live is back—bigger, bolder, and fresh off its 2024 Olivier Award win for Best Family Entertainment. And guess what? It’s stomping into Gas South Theater on Feb. 7 for two shows. 

This isn’t your average dino show. Think jaw-dropping puppetry, life-sized dinosaurs so real you’ll swear they’re breathing, and a lineup that includes the mighty T. Rex, Triceratops, and more. 

The story? Miranda, daughter of paleontologists, grew up on a remote island surrounded by dinosaurs. Now, she’s bringing her prehistoric pals to meet you—just don’t get too close. Some of them bite. Tickets at GasSouthDistrict.com. 


STORY 2: Gwinnett service organizations look to Families First model to better help others 

LaShawna Edwards has always been a giver. It’s in her DNA. Helping others was just what her family did. So when life flipped the script and she found herself needing help? That was hard. 

“We’ve always been the ones giving,” she said. “To be on the other side of it? It’s rough.” 

Edwards, 50, had been juggling two jobs, raising her teenage sister, and caring for her mom, whose health was failing. Then came the rent hike—73%—and suddenly, they were living out of their car. 

What came next was Families First, a nonprofit that doesn’t just help—it acts. Edwards calls her caseworker, Angela Wylie, her “angel.” Wylie helped her find housing, food, and job resources.  

Edwards is still in a hotel, still searching for stability, but she’s hopeful.  


STORY 3: Ethics board dismisses complaint over Holtkamp's transit videos 

Gwinnett County Commissioner Matthew Holtkamp got some relief Tuesday when an ethics panel ruled he didn’t violate county rules by filming a video on a Ride Gwinnett bus urging voters to reject the 2024 T-SPLOST referendum. 

“I’ve been completely vindicated,” Holtkamp said. “This had no merit, and it’s unfortunate we had to waste resources on it.” 

The complaint, filed by a resident in Holtkamp’s district, claimed he improperly used county property for personal advocacy. But Holtkamp argued he paid his bus fare and had a friend—not county staff—film the video. 

The ethics board agreed, saying his actions didn’t break the rules. 

We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.874.3200 for more info. 


We’ll be right back 


Break 2: Kia Mall of Georgia - GCPL Passport


STORY 4:   Gwinnett County, Lawrenceville get federal funds for water and police projects 

Gwinnett County and Lawrenceville just scored over $2 million in federal funding for water upgrades and public safety improvements. U.S. Rep. David Scott announced the approval, with $1.09 million earmarked for Snellville’s water infrastructure—upgrading a booster station’s electrical system and adding backup power—and $1.03 million heading to the Lawrenceville Police Department. 

The police funds? They’ll cover new patrol cars, trauma kits, breaching tools, and other gear to boost safety for both officers and the public. 

“This $2.12 million investment will make a real difference,” Scott said. “Better water, safer streets—I’m proud to deliver for Gwinnett.” 


STORY 5: Dacula Boys Basketball Seizes Region Lead with Victory at Central Gwinnett 

Dacula’s boys basketball team just keeps rolling. With a nail-biting 60-57 win over Central Gwinnett on Tuesday, the Falcons snagged first place in Region 8-AAAAAA and stretched their win streak to 11 games. 

Now sitting at 16-1 overall and 5-0 in the region, Dacula handed Central its first region loss, dropping them to 5-1. 

Case Presley led the charge with 21 points, eight boards, and three assists. Josh Brown notched a double-double (10 points, 10 rebounds), while Kenny LaRue chipped in 10 points and some clutch playmaking. George Fajemirokun added six points and steady contributions all around. 

FALCONS: The Atlanta Falcons officially introduced Matt Ryan as their new president of football on Tuesday, and honestly, it feels like a full-circle moment. 

At the press conference in Flowery Branch, Ryan—who spent 14 seasons as the face of the franchise—spoke about his “unfinished business” with the team. “Since I was drafted, my mission’s been the same: help this organization win championships. We came close, had some success, but I believe we’ll get there,” he said. 

After retiring and working as a CBS Sports analyst, Ryan said he wasn’t looking for a new job—unless it was with the Falcons. Now, he’ll report directly to owner Arthur Blank, focusing on hiring a head coach and GM who share a unified vision. 


We’ll be right back. 


Break 3: EAGLE THEATRE


And now here is Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on raw milk 
 

We’ll have closing comments after this  


Break 5: Ingles Markets


Signoff –  

Thanks again for hanging out with us on today’s Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, or the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties. Read more about all our stories and get other great content at www.gwinnettdailypost.com 

Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Giving you important news about our community and telling great stories are what we do. Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or your Google Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. 

Produced by the BG Podcast Network 

Show Sponsors: 
www.ingles-markets.com   
www.kiamallofga.com 
Ice Rink – Downtown Sugar Hill 
Team GCPS 

News Podcast, Current Events, Top Headlines, Breaking News, Podcast News, Trending, Local News, Daily, News, Podcast, Interviews 

Top Stories for January 15th&nbsp;
Publish Date:&nbsp;January&nbsp;15th&nbsp; &nbsp;
From the&nbsp;BG&nbsp;AD Group&nbsp;Studio Welcome to the Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast.&nbsp;
Today is&nbsp;Thursday,&nbsp;January&nbsp;15th&nbsp;and Happy birthday to&nbsp;Martin Luther King Jr.&nbsp;
 I&rsquo;m Peyton Spurlock and here are your top stories presented by KIA Mall of Georgia.&nbsp;
<ol>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="%1." data-font="" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:0,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[65533,0],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;%1.&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Dinosaur World Live returns to Gwinnett's Gas South Theater</li>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="%1." data-font="" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:0,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[65533,0],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;%1.&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Gwinnett service organizations look to Families First model to better help others</li>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="%1." data-font="" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:0,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[65533,0],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;%1.&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Ethics board dismisses complaint over Holtkamp's transit videos&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
&nbsp;&nbsp;Plus, Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on&nbsp;raw milk&nbsp;
All of this and more is coming up on the Gwinnett Daily Post podcast, and if you are looking for community news, we encourage you to listen daily and subscribe!&nbsp;
 Break 1: <a href="https://downtownsugarhill.com/ice-rink/">Sugar Hill Ice Skating Rink</a>&nbsp;
 STORY 1: <a href="https://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/entertainment/dinosaur-world-live-returns-to-gwinnetts-gas-south-theater/article_31e263e9-caf9-488c-a0bf-f02eb0100437.html">Dinosaur World Live returns to Gwinnett's Gas South Theater</a>&nbsp;
Dinosaur World Live is back&mdash;bigger, bolder, and fresh off its 2024 Olivier Award win for Best Family Entertainment. And guess what? It&rsquo;s stomping into Gas South Theater on Feb. 7 for two shows.&nbsp;
This&nbsp;isn&rsquo;t&nbsp;your average dino show.&nbsp;Think&nbsp;jaw-dropping puppetry, life-sized dinosaurs so real&nbsp;you&rsquo;ll&nbsp;swear&nbsp;they&rsquo;re&nbsp;breathing, and a lineup that includes the mighty T. Rex, Triceratops, and more.&nbsp;
The story? Miranda, daughter of paleontologists, grew up on a remote island surrounded by dinosaurs. Now,&nbsp;she&rsquo;s&nbsp;bringing her prehistoric&nbsp;pals&nbsp;to meet you&mdash;just&nbsp;don&rsquo;t&nbsp;get too close. Some of them bite. Tickets at GasSouthDistrict.com.&nbsp;
 STORY 2:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/local/gwinnett-service-organizations-look-to-families-first-model-to-better-help-others/article_09e3f62c-1cc4-485a-946d-184fd7684e94.html">Gwinnett service organizations look to Families First model to better help others</a>&nbsp;
LaShawna Edwards has always been a giver. It&rsquo;s in her DNA. Helping others was just what her family did. So when life flipped the script and she found herself needing help? That was hard.&nbsp;
&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve always been the ones giving,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;To be on the other side of it?&nbsp;It&rsquo;s&nbsp;rough.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Edwards, 50, had been juggling two jobs, raising her teenage sister, and caring for her mom, whose health was failing. Then came the rent hike&mdash;73%&mdash;and suddenly, they were living out of their car.&nbsp;
What came next was Families First, a nonprofit that&nbsp;doesn&rsquo;t&nbsp;just help&mdash;it acts. Edwards calls her caseworker, Angela Wylie, her &ldquo;angel.&rdquo; Wylie helped her find housing, food, and job resources.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Edwards is still in a hotel, still searching for stability, but&nbsp;she&rsquo;s&nbsp;hopeful.&nbsp;&nbsp;
 STORY 3:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/local/ethics-board-dismisses-complaint-over-holtkamps-transit-videos/article_a530a1a2-80d5-4879-b14a-02874812fd12.html">Ethics board dismisses complaint over Holtkamp's transit videos</a>&nbsp;
Gwinnett County Commissioner Matthew Holtkamp got some relief Tuesday when an ethics panel ruled he didn&rsquo;t violate county rules by filming a video on a Ride Gwinnett bus urging voters to reject the 2024 T-SPLOST referendum.&nbsp;
&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been completely vindicated,&rdquo; Holtkamp said. &ldquo;This had no merit, and it&rsquo;s unfortunate we had to waste resources on it.&rdquo;&nbsp;
The complaint, filed by a resident in Holtkamp&rsquo;s district, claimed he improperly used county property for personal advocacy. But Holtkamp argued he paid his bus fare and had a friend&mdash;not county staff&mdash;film the video.&nbsp;
The ethics board agreed, saying his actions&nbsp;didn&rsquo;t&nbsp;break the rules.&nbsp;
We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.874.3200 for more info.&nbsp;
 We&rsquo;ll&nbsp;be right back&nbsp;
 Break 2: <a href="https://www.kiamallofga.com/">Kia Mall of Georgia</a> - <a href="https://www.gwinnettpl.org/passportservices/">GCPL Passport</a>
 STORY&nbsp;4:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/local/gwinnet-county-lawrenceville-get-federal-funds-for-water-and-police-projects/article_cae3abc1-c873-4555-a353-33543a6b7ad5.html">Gwinnett County, Lawrenceville get federal funds for water and police projects</a>&nbsp;
Gwinnett County and Lawrenceville just scored over $2 million in federal funding for water upgrades and public safety improvements. U.S. Rep. David Scott announced the approval, with $1.09 million earmarked for Snellville&rsquo;s water infrastructure&mdash;upgrading a booster station&rsquo;s electrical system and adding backup power&mdash;and $1.03 million heading to the Lawrenceville Police Department.&nbsp;
The police&nbsp;funds?&nbsp;They&rsquo;ll&nbsp;cover new patrol cars, trauma kits, breaching tools, and other gear to boost safety for both officers and the public.&nbsp;
&ldquo;This $2.12 million investment will make a real difference,&rdquo; Scott said. &ldquo;Better water, safer streets&mdash;I&rsquo;m proud to deliver for Gwinnett.&rdquo;&nbsp;
 STORY&nbsp;5:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/sports/prep/dacula-boys-basketball-seizes-region-lead-with-victory-at-central-gwinnett/article_9c6b617c-2d45-4253-8c12-e45951ffaf9b.html">Dacula Boys Basketball Seizes Region Lead with Victory at Central Gwinnett</a>&nbsp;
Dacula&rsquo;s&nbsp;boys&nbsp;basketball team just keeps rolling. With a nail-biting 60-57 win over Central Gwinnett on Tuesday, the Falcons snagged first place in&nbsp;Region&nbsp;8-AAAAAA and stretched their win streak to 11 games.&nbsp;
Now sitting at 16-1 overall and 5-0 in the region, Dacula handed&nbsp;Central&nbsp;its first region loss, dropping them to 5-1.&nbsp;
Case Presley led the charge with 21 points, eight boards, and three assists. Josh Brown notched a double-double (10 points, 10 rebounds), while Kenny LaRue chipped in 10 points and some clutch playmaking. George&nbsp;Fajemirokun&nbsp;added six points and steady contributions all around.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/matt-ryan-has-unfinished-business-his-new-role-falcons-president-football/EYDCERH4LVCD3FCVJB426UI7II/">FALCONS:</a>&nbsp;The Atlanta Falcons officially introduced Matt Ryan as their new president of football on Tuesday, and honestly, it feels like a full-circle moment.&nbsp;
At the press conference in Flowery Branch, Ryan&mdash;who spent 14 seasons as the face of the franchise&mdash;spoke about his &ldquo;unfinished business&rdquo; with the team. &ldquo;Since I was drafted, my mission&rsquo;s been the same: help this organization win championships. We came close, had some success, but&nbsp;I believe we&rsquo;ll&nbsp;get there,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;
After retiring and working as a CBS Sports analyst, Ryan said he&nbsp;wasn&rsquo;t&nbsp;looking for a new job&mdash;unless it was with the Falcons. Now,&nbsp;he&rsquo;ll&nbsp;report directly to owner Arthur Blank, focusing on hiring a head coach and GM who share a unified vision.&nbsp;
 We&rsquo;ll&nbsp;be right back.&nbsp;
 Break&nbsp;3: <a href="https://www.eagleatsugarhill.com/events-tickets/">EAGLE THEATRE</a>
 And now here is Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on raw milk&nbsp; &nbsp;
We&rsquo;ll&nbsp;have closing comments after this&nbsp;&nbsp;
 Break 5: <a href="https://www.ingles-markets.com/">Ingles Markets</a>
 Signoff &ndash;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Thanks again for hanging out with us on today&rsquo;s Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other&nbsp;offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger Podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, or the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties. Read more about all our stories and get other great content at www.gwinnettdailypost.com&nbsp;
Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? Giving you important news about our community and telling&nbsp;great stories&nbsp;are what we do. Make sure you join us for our next episode and be sure to share this podcast on social media with your friends and family. Add us to your Alexa Flash Briefing or&nbsp;your Google&nbsp;Home Briefing and be sure to like, follow, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.bgpodcastnetwork.com/">Produced by the BG Podcast Network</a>&nbsp;
Show Sponsors:&nbsp;
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Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast

Dinosaur World Live Returns to Gwinnett's Gas South Theater | Gwinnett Service Organizations Look to Families First Model to Better Help Others | Ethics Board Dismisses Complaint over Holtkamp's Transit Videos