Top Stories for January 17th 

Publish Date: January 17th 

PRE-ROLL: Kia Mall of Georgia

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

Today is Saturday, January 17th and Happy Birthday to James Earle Jones 

I’m Peyton Spurlock and here are your top stories presented by Gwinnett KIA Mall of Georgia. 

1. Gwinnett commission accused of deliberately skipping GOP member for vice chair
2. Kemp proposes money for Highway 316 projects, fighting homelessness
3. GCPS receives grant from the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation 

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: EAGLE THEATRE

STORY 1: Gwinnett commission accused of deliberately skipping GOP member for vice chair 

Drama is brewing in Gwinnett County politics, and it’s all about the vice chairman seat on the county commission. Republicans are accusing the Democratic majority of intentionally skipping over the board’s lone Republican, District 4 Commissioner Matthew Holtkamp, for the ceremonial role. 

For years, the vice chair position rotated among district commissioners—until it didn’t. Holtkamp, now in his fourth year, has never been chosen. Instead, the board voted 4-1 to name Democrat Ben Ku as vice chair, sparking claims of “partisan gamesmanship.” 

Holtkamp, for his part, kept it diplomatic: “I was disappointed but respect the process.” Others? Not so much. Republicans are calling it a blatant snub. 

Democrat Kirkland Carden didn’t mince words, saying Holtkamp’s “partisan antics” cost him the role. But Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson downplayed the drama, calling the vote a routine decision. 

And so, the debate rages on. 

STORY 2: Kemp proposes money for Highway 316 projects, fighting homelessness 

Gov. Brian Kemp has big plans for Georgia this year—think highways and homelessness. At the Georgia Chamber’s Eggs and Issues Breakfast, he laid out his priorities, and for Gwinnett residents, one stands out: $200 million to keep transforming State Route 316 into a limited-access highway. 

“Growth along 316 is incredible,” Kemp said. “We need a safe, efficient expressway.” Work’s already underway at Hi Hope Road, with more interchanges and overpasses coming. 

But that’s not all. Kemp’s also pushing $1.8 billion for permanent express lanes on I-75 in Henry County to ease its infamous traffic jams. 

And homelessness? He’s proposing $50 million for grants to fund shelters, outreach, and mental health services.  

Big moves, big money—Kemp’s aiming to leave a mark. 

STORY 3: GCPS receives grant from the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation 

Gwinnett County Public Schools just scored big—literally. Thanks to a $6.3 million grant from the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation (with help from Atlanta United, the Falcons, and PGA TOUR Superstore), middle and high school sports are getting a major boost. 

What’s the plan? For starters, GCPS will add field lighting at six athletic fields, meaning weekday soccer games—no more cramming everything into Saturdays. Better lighting also means safer, more flexible practices and games. 

The grant will also fund girls’ flag football at 14 middle schools by 2026 and help cover costs for boys’ and girls’ soccer programs, especially in underserved areas. 

The Blank Foundation, founded by Home Depot co-founder Arthur Blank, has donated over $1.5 billion to causes that unite and uplift communities. This grant? Just another example of that mission in action. 

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: Ingles Markets

STORY 4: Fox Theatre delivers chart-topping year 

The Fox Theatre had a banner year in 2025, racking up awards and accolades that cement its place as one of the most beloved venues in the country. From ticket sales to community impact, the recognition poured in.   

The biggest win? Being crowned IEBA’s 2025 Theatre of the Year—an honor that highlights excellence in programming, operations, and artist relations. “This reflects the strength of our team, the artists who grace our stage, and the audiences who keep showing up,” said CEO Allan Vella.   

The Fox also dominated year-end charts: No. 2 Highest Grossing Venue Worldwide (Billboard), No. 1 in ticket sales for its size (VenuesNow), and No. 6 globally for ticket sales (Pollstar).   

Locally, it snagged “Best of Atlanta” honors and a Reader’s Choice Award from the Atlanta Jewish Times.   

Even the leadership shined—Vella made Atlanta Magazine’s “Atlanta 100” and Billboard’s Touring Power Players list, while team members Rachel Bomeli and Faustina Brooks earned industry awards.   

The Fox isn’t just a theatre; it’s a cultural powerhouse. 

STORY 5: Johnson-Morgan named school board chair, Simmons is vice chair 

Gwinnett County’s school board is shuffling its leadership roles for 2026, but keeping familiar faces at the helm. Tarece Johnson-Morgan, last year’s vice chair, is stepping up as chairwoman, while Adrienne Simmons, who served as chair in 2025, will now take on the vice chair role. Both votes? Unanimous. 

Not everyone was thrilled, though. Board member Steve Knudsen voiced frustration that Steve Gasper or Rachel Stone weren’t considered for vice chair—but, notably, he didn’t nominate them during the vote. 

In other business, the board kept its attorney and legal organ the same, readopted policies, and adjusted a few meeting dates for the year. 

We’ll be right back. 

Break 3: GCPL Passport 

STORY 6: Georgia Democratic lawmakers try to rein in ICE 

Georgia Senate Democrats took aim at the Trump administration Tuesday, introducing a flurry of bills targeting immigration enforcement and military deployments. They didn’t hold back, calling Trump’s administration a “rogue regime” and demanding state Republicans step up.   

One flashpoint? ICE. After an officer fatally shot Renee Good in Minneapolis last week, Sen. Josh McLaurin accused ICE of escalating violence. “We’ve all seen the video,” he said. “This isn’t what they’re trained to do.”   

McLaurin’s bill would let citizens sue ICE for civil rights violations. Other proposals include requiring judicial warrants for enforcement at sensitive locations (like schools and hospitals), mandating badges and unmasking ICE officers, and limiting National Guard deployments without the governor’s approval.   

Sen. Kim Jackson didn’t mince words: “If Georgia State Patrol can show their faces, so can ICE. It’s cowardice.”   

But Republicans, like Majority Leader Jason Anavitarte, dismissed the effort, saying, “The state can’t regulate the federal government.”   

STORY 7: Georgia GOP senators target Raffensperger over voter registration lists 

Georgia Republicans are turning up the heat on Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, demanding he hand over the state’s unredacted voter registration list to the Trump administration. But Raffensperger? He’s not budging.   

State law, he says, protects private voter info—Social Security numbers, birthdates, driver’s licenses. Sharing that? Not happening.   

The DOJ, meanwhile, has been pushing all 50 states for voter lists, claiming it’s about accuracy. They even sued Georgia last month.   

The resolution, led by Lt. Gov. Burt Jones’ allies, accuses Raffensperger of “obstruction.” But it’s mostly symbolic—no legal teeth.   

Raffensperger’s office fired back, saying they’ve already complied as far as the law allows. “He won’t risk identity theft for millions of voters,” the statement read.   

The DOJ’s lawsuit heads to federal court in Macon soon. Stay tuned. 

We’ll have closing comments after this  

Break 4: Sugar Hill Ice Skating Rink 

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 

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Produced by the BG Podcast Network
  

Show Sponsors: 

• www.ingles-markets.com   

• www.kiamallofga.com 

• Ice Rink – Downtown Sugar Hill 

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