The Brief for Tuesday, July 28, 2026
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Transcript
29 segmentsThe Appalachie school shooter will spend the rest of his days in prison, life without parole, the sentence for cold gray. The state's largest health outfit says layoffs are coming in the hundreds. And the state says the city of Atlanta is responsible for a massive fish kill last month. Nuh, says the city. Those are just a few of the stories you'll hear coming up. Give us 10 minutes. We'll give you Atlanta. The brief is next. Support for WAB comes from Northside Hospital Cancer Institute with the most cancer center locations and board certified oncologist in Georgia, treating every type of cancer. Northside Hospital Cancer Institute is built to beat cancer. There's a southern city where people have emerged from the brutality of Jim Crow to build a bustling, inclusive region that continues to strive for greater equality and justice. I felt like Atlanta influences everything was a true statement because I saw it change lives. There is a sense of hope that's happening here. That's like an elixir. I'm Angela Glover Blackwell, host of reimagining democracy for a good life, which looks to U.S. cities for inspiration on how to build a real democracy. Out now, wherever you get your podcast. For Tuesday, July the 28th, 2026, it's the brief from WABE. I'm Jim Burris. The teenager who shot and killed four people at Appalachie High School has been sentenced to life without parole. Just days after he pleaded guilty to all 55 charges against him. W.A.B. Shamin Cruz reports. Colt Gray was 14 years old in 2024 when he brought the assault style rifle that his father gifted him for Christmas to school and opened fire. Both the prosecution and the defense agree that the teen had a bad upbringing. But the local district attorney Brad Smith says Gray's motive was to mimic other mass shooters for fame and notoriety within the true crime community. I want everyone to realize this is not harmless. The things they're doing online are not harmless. And we need to pay attention to when these kids start doodling these things on their notebooks. The teen's father, Colin Gray, is set to be sentenced later this week for second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter. Shemaine Cruz, WABE News, the Barrow County Courthouse. Georgia's largest health care system is cutting hundreds of jobs. WABE's Jess Maydor reports. Wellstar has announced its cutting 761 jobs, amounting to about 2% of its workforce. In a statement, a Wellstar spokesman says the layoffs are intended to streamline operations. They affect its corporate, shared services, and administrative offices. The cuts are not affecting frontline health care workers, officials say. The workforce reduction follows several years of growth for Wellstar, with a number of new medical centers open or under construction, including in Paulding County and Ackworth, and the closure of Atlanta Medical Center hospitals in the Old Fourth Ward and East Point in 2022. Wellstar officials say all employees affected by the layoffs have already been notified. Jess Maydor, WABE News.
After weeks of investigation, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources says the city of Atlanta is at fault for a late June fish kill in the South River. But as WABE's Marissa Mecky reports, the city disagrees. In a report released Monday, the DNR's Wildlife Resources Division stated approximately 1,200 fish died in the South River due to a chemical spill from the city of Atlanta's South River Water Reclamation Center. A local resident reported the fish kill on June 27th. But the city of Atlanta is pushing back. A Department of Watershed Management spokesperson wrote in a statement to WAB, the report is based on circumstantial evidence. Jackie Eccles, director of the South River Watershed Alliance, says she's surprised the city is rejecting the state's findings. It's very detailed report. Obviously, a lot more fish were killed than I even imagine. 1,200 fish in the South River in the head borders is a lot. She said the city hasn't provided an alternative explanation for what caused the fish kill. Meanwhile, the Wildlife Resources Division concluded the city is at fault based on field observations, water quality patterns, and a documented spill of ferric chloride reported by the city that most likely reached the river via a storm drain. They did their due diligence is evident. in the report and they did it right. But she says there's always more work to be done to protect the South River. And this fish kill is only a small part of the larger enforcement battles happening in the river basin. The Georgia Environmental Protection Division did not specify what comes next. However, in many cases like this, the state proposes a fine and comes to a settlement with the city, including payments or necessary changes. Marissa Mecki. WAPE News. A committee at the state capitol is set to start meeting next week to make recommendations about Georgia's next voting machines. It's made up of six lawmakers picked by the governor, state senate and state house speaker, including state representative Tim Fleming, who is the Republican nominee for Secretary of State and State Representative Scott Holcomb, the only Democrat. Legislation passed during last month's special session mandates... that the state must get brand new voting machines before the 28 election. Its recommendations, though, are ultimately non-binding. Georgia congressman and Republican nominee for U.S. Senate Mike Collins publicly responded this weekend to CNN reporting regarding his son-in-law's anti-Semitic and white nationalist online posts. That's while Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff uses that connection to attack his opponent on the campaign trail. WABEs Raul Bally explains. David Allen Shear II is a social media influencer with more than 1.5 million followers across multiple platforms, according to CNN. Reporters there highlighted posts supporting anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, retaking America for Christian white men and imagery of Nazi propaganda. Speaking after a campaign event in Atlanta Friday, Jon Ossoff, whose Jewish challenged Susan Collins.
He needs to provide information that Georgia voters deserve to know. And if he continues to refuse to answer these questions. Have he or his businesses or his campaign or his office been paying this neo-Nazi propagandist? Following a campaign event in Forsythe County Saturday, Susan Collins answered questions about CNN's reporting. Listen, nobody speaks for me and I don't speak for anybody else. There's no room in this world in this country for any anti-Semitism. I've always denounced it. I don't care where the source is from. Susan Collins said he's always voted to support Israel while arguing that Assov hasn't. And when asked if Shear had been involved in his campaign... He is not involved with our campaign at all. No. Susan Collins himself has a history of writing or reposting controversial content on social media. Raoul Valley, W.A.B.E. News. Federal authorities say a multi-agency operation to combat human trafficking across Metro Atlanta during the World Cup led to the arrest of more than 150 people. WABEs Christopher Alston as more. It was called Operation Red Card and included the Homeland Security Investigations Atlanta office as well as scores of sheriffs and police departments around the metro. Officials say the 33-day operation led to the rescue of 54 victims. The arrests include two doctors, a nurse, and four members of the military. The release from HSIs say the charges include human trafficking, child exploitation, and gun offenses. The cases are now with the county DAs to decide next steps. Christopher Alston, WABE News.
Coca-Cola CEO says the Atlanta-based drinks giant saw a big boost during the World Cup, despite customers cutting back on snacks and beverages in the face of economic uncertainty. WABE's Marlon Hyde reports. While some major food and drink brands are seeing consumers pull back, the Coca-Cola company saw global volume grow 5% and net revenues of over $13 billion. During the company's earnings call, CEO Henrique Braun credits this summer's World Cup for lifting sales of its signature soda and sports drinks. Activating around the FIFA World Cup contributed to trademark Coca-Cola volume growth of 5% for the quarter. It is the strongest volume growth in 17 years, excluding COVID recovery. Meanwhile, Koch says following a pause in U.S. production of its milk brand, Fair Life, operations are starting again. Officials say the hack had no impact to sales. Marlon Hyde, WAB News. The University of Georgia says its alumni gave more than $324 million in donations over the last fiscal year. That set a new school record. Alex Helmick has more. The school says its three-year rolling donor average is now $300 million, the highest ever. This year, the total came from nearly 70,000 donors, with the school saying the funds will help more than 10,000 students through privately funded scholarships. Some donations also went to what the school called athletic initiatives. It comes at a time when state lawmakers during the legislative session cuts some funding to the university system of Georgia, which includes UGA and 25 other schools, by readjusting the formula for online classes, giving less because they said online learning was cheaper to run. Alex Helmick, WAB News. That's it for the brief. More local news is always available online at wabE.org. Christopher Alston is our producer. Melissa Fato is our editor. I'm Jim Burris. Amplifying Atlanta, this is WABE. Thanks for listening.
WABE's Insider Access Giveaways, sponsored by Live Nation, connect you with unforgettable experiences, amplifying Atlanta. You can win tickets to John Batiste at Sinovis Bank Amphitheater at Chastain Park on August 23rd. Enter now at wabee.aB.org slash giveaway. The fatal shooting of a teenager at a protest in Seattle has gone unsolved for six years. This is open in your face. How are there no answers? Our investigation has uncovered new evidence and witnesses who say they've never talked to police. Did police ever call you? Not once. Listen to We Keep Us Safe, a new true crime series on the Embedded podcast from NPR.