Local Matters Podcast

By Local Matters by Janice Allen JacksonGovernment

Local Matters Podcast episodes

August 24, 2022 Another Public Health Emergency? with Dr. Lee Merchen
Dr. Lee Merchen, District 6 Health Director, Georgia Department of Public Health, joins us to discuss Monkeypox, what it is, where it came from, and how it is transmitted. She explains how to determine whether you need to be vaccinated. We also discussed the current variant of covid.
31 min
August 17, 2022 Should we call 911 or 988? with Dawn Peel
Dawn Peel, Director of Crisis Coordination, Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, talks about what to do when someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis. Over 360,000 Georgians have some form of serious mental illness. Learn what to do, and what happens when you call for help.
30 min
August 13, 2022 Caring for Special People with Ron Wakefield
Ron Wakefield, Director, Division of Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities, of the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, discusses how Georgia cares for people with special needs.Some of us are not able to live independently, for a variety of reasons. DBHDD works with school systems and families to identify those who need services and to connect them to services through community based providers or through their state hospitals.
30 min
August 03, 2022 I Live with Disability Everyday with Ann Knighton
Erica Knighton has resided at the Gracewood campus of the East Central Regional Hospital since 1975. Her mother, retired educator Ann Streetman Knighton, discusses her journey as a black, divorced, woman advocating not only for Erica, but for others with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Her advocacy has resulted in change for many, including the passage of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). She describes why in some instances, institutional settings are best.
35 min
July 27, 2022 Being Your Voice, with Sheila Clark Nelson
State Representative Sheila Clark Nelson is completing her third term in the Georgia General Assembly. She has represented East and South Augusta in District 125, and did not seek reelection. She discusses key legislation passed this year, addressing mental health, financial aid for college students, and the professional licensing process for military spouses who are transferred to Georgia. She also describes a day in the life of a legislator.
30 min
July 20, 2022 When Poverty Sends People to Jail with Dr. Donna Marain
A newcomer to Augusta, Dr. Marain has become a one woman band in watching what happens in Richmond County State Court. She sits through court sessions, and we can too. She also captures data and advocates for change in state laws which would relieve the enormous consequences that our most vulnerable neighbors face when they commit even relatively low level offenses. Learn more at https://www.augustajustice.org/.
30 min
July 13, 2022 Is your DA Tough on Crime? or Smart on Crime? Part 2
Jared T. Williams, District Attorney of the Augusta Judicial Circuit, joins Local Matters for the final part of a two-part conversation. This episode focuses on the job of the District Attorney (the chief law enforcement officer of the circuit), and how he approaches it. He provides an explanation of the limitations of the criminal justice system that led him to run, and how he has worked with his staff to prosecute those types of cases that are of utmost importance to him.
30 min
July 06, 2022 Is your DA Tough on Crime? or Smart on Crime? Part 1
Jared T. Williams, District Attorney of the Augusta Judicial Circuit, joins Local Matters for the first of a two part conversation. This episode focuses on the job of the District Attorney (the chief law enforcement official of the circuit), and how he approaches it. He provides an explanation of the limitations of the criminal justice system that led him to run, and how he has worked with his staff to prosecute those types of cases that are of utmost importance to him.
29 min
June 29, 2022 What in the World is a Recall?
Local Matters focuses on preparedness for elections. Today, we focus on what the options are when an elected official violates the oath of office or engages in misconduct. The term "recall" is often thrown around on the news or social media, but most people are not familiar with the particular steps a recall requires.
29 min
June 22, 2022 The Winners: Garnett Johnson, Stacy Pulliam, Wayne Guilfoyle
Another set of Augusta elections is in the books. Voters elected two political newcomers, including our 85th Mayor and a new Commissioner for District 2. They also chose to bring a familiar face, Wayne Guilfoyle, back, this time to serve Super District 10. We explore what sets these candidates apart from their opposition.
30 min

About Local Matters Podcast

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Local and state governments, though often overshadowed by federal government, have tremendous impact on our quality of life. This podcast provides a valuable service by educating people on how to…