Primary Content
On the Tuesday, Dec. 23rd edition of Georgia Today: An update on the men who escaped the DeKalb County jail; Federal charges have been filed against an Atlanta Housing Authority executive; UGA researchers warn that opioid pain medications may increase infection risk
Peter Biello:Welcome to the Georgia Today podcast. Here, we bring you the latest reports from the GPB newsroom. On today’s episode, the men who escaped from the DeKalb County jail are back in custody. An executive at the Atlanta Housing Authority has been charged with fraudulently collecting Section 8 housing payments, and UGA researchers find your pain medication may reduce your body’s ability to fight infection.
Pooja Gopal: Clinicians need to be aware that the risk might be higher in such patients and need to consider that factor when prescribing opioids.
Peter Biello: Today is Tuesday, Dec. 23. I’m Peter Biello, and this is Georgia Today.
Story 1:
Peter Biello: Three incarcerated men who escaped DeKalb County Jail yesterday are now back in custody. DeKalb County Sheriff Melody Maddox announced that three men were found with intelligence from the U.S. Marshals Service after taking a rideshare car to Miami. The men were reportedly armed and dangerous, but no injuries related to their escape have been reported. Sheriff Maddox did not disclose how the men were able to escape the jail, but alluded to aging infrastructure that the county would need funding to fortify.
Story 2:
Peter Biello: A senior vice president at the Atlanta Housing Authority has been charged with engaging in a scheme to fraudulently collect Section 8 housing payments. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia says Tracy Denise Jones is also charged with pandemic relief fund fraud and mortgage fraud. Housing Authority staff are generally prohibited from receiving Section 8 payments for their own properties. Jones is accused of using shell companies and a fake name to hide Section 8 payment she received for her rental house. Jones was arraigned last week. This case is being investigated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General. Jones is not listed on the Atlanta Housing Authority’s website. The organization did not respond to GPB’s request for comment.
Story 3:
Peter Biello: Opioid medication reduces pain, but it may also reduce the body’s ability to fight infection. That’s according to new research from the University of Georgia. GPB’s Ellen Eldridge reports…