Georgia
Ossoff’s report could leave Georgia with the same lousy child welfare system – only bigger • Georgia Recorder
As soon as Sen. Jon Ossoff released his report on massive failures at the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services, DFCS fired back, accusing Ossoff of “political gamesmanship.”
Actually, it’s worse.
There is every indication that Ossoff is sincere and genuinely wants to help vulnerable children. But that will only make it harder to persuade him that, because of a critical error in his analysis, his report may trigger a response that makes everything even worse. The report is likely to kick into overdrive the foster-care panic – the sharp sudden spike in needless removals of children – that started in the wake of high-profile news coverage of child abuse deaths in 2022. That year, nationwide, the number of children torn from their families declined by 11%. But in Georgia it increased by the same amount.
A foster-care panic makes everything worse because every problem the report identifies has the same counterintuitive root cause that Ossoff ignored: needless removal of children from homes that are safe or could be made safe if families received the right kinds of help. Often it happens when family poverty is confused with “neglect.”
In 2022, the most recent year for which data are available, 87% of the time Georgia children were placed in foster care in cases where there was not even an allegation of sexual abuse or any form of physical abuse. In 57% of cases there was not even an allegation of substance abuse. In contrast, 47% involved “neglect” which often means poverty. Indeed, in 20% of cases DFCS admits they took away the children because the family lacked housing – a tragedy exposed just weeks ago by WABE Public Radio and ProPublica.
The problem is compounded by the fact that Georgia uses the least harmful form of foster care – placement with relatives instead of strangers – at a rate 40% below the national average.
This does enormous harm to the children needlessly separated – and not just the inherent emotional devastation. Study after study finds abuse in one-quarter to one-third of family foster homes, and the rate of abuse in group homes and institutions is even worse. Ossoff’s own report cites the death of a child killed by his foster parents and the rape of a child in a group home. So it’s no wonder multiple studies find that in typical cases children left in their own homes typically fare better even than comparably-maltreated children forced into foster care.
All the time, money and effort spent harassing impoverished families and taking away their children is, in effect, stolen from finding the relatively few children in real danger. Yet in Ossoff’s entire 64-page report the word “poverty” does not appear even once. Perhaps that’s because birth parents and their lawyers were largely shut out of Ossoff’s investigation.
Consider the other failures Ossoff cites: Runaways? If you take children from poor but loving homes and consign them to the chaos of foster care with strangers, of course they’re more likely to run away. Sex trafficking? Group homes and institutions are magnets for sex traffickers – predators go where the prey is.
But because Ossoff ignored wrongful removal, his report is likely to generate another knee-jerk rush to take away even more children. As entries into foster care escalate, everyone will be even more overwhelmed and even more children in real danger will be missed.
Then DCFS will announce another tired “recruitment campaign” for foster parents and the Legislature might fund a caseworker hiring binge. That never works. All the new caseworkers wind up chasing all the new cases, and all you get is the same lousy system only bigger. Indeed, the last time this was tried, as a result of a class-action lawsuit settlement, DFCS actually took money away from poor people to finance making the family policing system even bigger.
And make no mistake – it is a policing system. It’s hard to imagine any of my fellow progressives issuing a report on policing without mentioning issues like racism and racial bias. But that, too, is entirely missing from Ossoff’s report. Like many other progressives, Ossoff seems to forget everything he believes in about civil liberties and due process as soon as someone whispers the words “child abuse” in his ear.
DFCS is every bit as bad as Ossoff says it is. But fixing it requires taking all the new money that might go to hiring caseworkers and plowing it instead into ameliorating the worst effects of poverty. New hires should work for community-based anti-poverty agencies not connected to the family police. It takes only a little financial help to make a big difference. Georgia also needs to bolster legal representation for families – not to get “bad parents” off, but to craft alternatives to the cookie-cutter “service plans” churned out by DFCS.
If, as I believe, Ossoff really wants to protect our most vulnerable children, he should go back to the drawing board and embrace real solutions.
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Georgia leaders from both political parties are paying tribute to longtime U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham following the South Carolina Republican’s death at age 71, remembering him as a dedicated public servant whose influence stretched far beyond his home state.
U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff said he joined others across the country in mourning Graham’s passing.
“I join in mourning Senator Lindsey Graham and extend my deepest condolences to the Senator’s family, friends, and staff,” Ossoff said.
Ossoff praised Graham’s military service and lengthy congressional career.
“Senator Graham dedicated his life to the United States, from his service in the U.S. Air Force to his representation of the State of South Carolina in the U.S. House and Senate. Lindsey was an energetic leader who loved South Carolina. May Lindsey’s memory be a blessing.”
Sen. Raphael Warnock also shared condolences, calling Graham a man of faith who served his state with determination.
“I am deeply saddened by the passing of my colleague, Senator Lindsey Graham,” Warnock wrote on X. “He was a man of great faith who served the people of South Carolina with passion and tenacity. I am praying for his family and his loved ones as they mourn this tremendous loss.”
Gov. Brian Kemp described Graham as a patriot and a friend whose impact reached across Washington.
“Senator Lindsey Graham was a patriot, an impactful public servant, and a friend,” Kemp said. “His love of this nation, unyielding belief in its possibilities, and defense of its values made him a true force to be reckoned with in Washington.”
Kemp added that he, First Lady Marty Kemp and their family were praying for Graham’s loved ones and for South Carolina during what he called a difficult time.
Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, who is challenging Ossoff in November’s U.S. Senate election, also reflected on Graham’s legacy.
“Leigh Ann and I are praying for Senator Graham’s loved ones during this time of immeasurable grief and reflecting upon his many years of public service,” Collins said.
Collins added that while he did not know Graham well personally, he admired the senator’s defense of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh during his 2018 confirmation hearings, calling it “a commitment to our nation and the truth that should be admired.”
Graham served South Carolina in the U.S. Senate for more than two decades after previously representing the state in the U.S. House. Throughout his career, he became one of Senate Republican’s leading voices on national security, foreign policy and immigration, while emerging as one of the Republican Party’s most influential lawmakers.
His death has prompted an outpouring of tributes from leaders across the country.
Numerous to widespread thunderstorms capable of producing damaging wind gusts, large hail, frequent lightning, localized flash flooding, and dangerous heat are expected across much of north and central Georgia today and tonight, according to the National Weather Service. A Heat Advisory is also in effect for portions of east central Georgia from noon until 8 p.m., with heat index values up to 106 degrees expected.
The National Weather Service issued a hazardous weather outlook for north and central Georgia for Sunday, July 12, 2026.
Bonus for the more weather-curious among you … To read an article about interpreting a weather news report with some of the typical terminology defined, follow this link.
What is in the Hazardous Weather Outlook?
The hazardous weather outlook states the following:
558 AM EDT Sun Jul 12 2026
This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for north and central Georgia.
.DAY ONE…Today and Tonight…
A few thunderstorms will remain possible through the morning,
capable of producing lightning and brief heavy rainfall.Numerous to widespread thunderstorms are likely this afternoon and
evening. Some storms may become strong to severe and capable of
producing gusty to damaging winds, frequent lightning, large hail,
and localized flash flooding concerns.A Heat Advisory is in effect for portions of east central Georgia
from noon to 8PM. Heat index values up to 106 are expected..DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN…Monday through Saturday…
Numerous to widespread thunderstorms are likely on Monday and
Tuesday. Some storms may become strong to severe and capable of
producing gusty to damaging winds, frequent lightning, and
locally heavy rainfall.Scattered afternoon thunderstorms are likely each day through
Saturday.
Counties included in the alert
- Baldwin
- Banks
- Barrow
- Bartow
- Bibb
- Bleckley
- Butts
- Carroll
- Catoosa
- Chattahoochee
- Chattooga
- Cherokee
- Clarke
- Clayton
- Cobb
- Coweta
- Crawford
- Crisp
- Dade
- Dawson
- DeKalb
- Dodge
- Dooly
- Douglas
- Emanuel
- Fannin
- Fayette
- Floyd
- Forsyth
- Gilmer
- Glascock
- Gordon
- Greene
- Gwinnett
- Hall
- Hancock
- Haralson
- Harris
- Heard
- Henry
- Houston
- Jackson
- Jasper
- Jefferson
- Johnson
- Jones
- Lamar
- Laurens
- Lumpkin
- Macon
- Madison
- Marion
- Meriwether
- Monroe
- Montgomery
- Morgan
- Murray
- Muscogee
- Newton
- North Fulton
- Oconee
- Oglethorpe
- Paulding
- Peach
- Pickens
- Pike
- Polk
- Pulaski
- Putnam
- Rockdale
- Schley
- South Fulton
- Spalding
- Stewart
- Sumter
- Talbot
- Taliaferro
- Taylor
- Telfair
- Toombs
- Towns
- Treutlen
- Troup
- Twiggs
- Union
- Upson
- Walker
- Walton
- Warren
- Washington
- Webster
- Wheeler
- White
- Whitfield
- Wilcox
- Wilkes
- Wilkinson
What is meant by “isolated” and “scattered”?
The NWS defines “isolated” as follows:
A National Weather Service convective precipitation descriptor for a 10 percent chance of measurable precipitation (0.01 inch). Isolated is used interchangeably with few.
“Scattered” has the following definition:
When used to describe precipitation (for example: “scattered showers”) – Area coverage of convective weather affecting 30 percent to 50 percent of a forecast zone(s).
Isolated thunderstorms and scattered thunderstorms are two terms used to describe different distributions of thunderstorm activity within a particular area. The main difference lies in the extent of coverage and how the thunderstorms are spatially distributed:
- Isolated Thunderstorms:
- Isolated thunderstorms are relatively rare occurrences that happen sporadically and are generally confined to a limited area.
- These thunderstorms are often characterized by being few and far between, with significant gaps between individual storm cells.
- Typically, isolated thunderstorms cover less than 20% of the forecast area.
- Despite their isolated nature, these storms can still be intense and may produce heavy rain, lightning, gusty winds, and possibly hail.
- Scattered Thunderstorms:
- Scattered thunderstorms are more widespread than isolated thunderstorms and cover a larger portion of the forecast area.
- In a scattered thunderstorm scenario, numerous individual thunderstorms develop, but they are not continuous or widespread enough to be classified as a “line” or “cluster” of storms.
- Scattered thunderstorms generally cover between 30% to 50% of the forecast area.
- Although scattered thunderstorms are more widespread, they still leave considerable gaps between storm cells, and not everyone within the forecast area will necessarily experience a thunderstorm.
In summary, isolated thunderstorms are fewer in number and more localized, covering a smaller area with significant gaps between storms, while scattered thunderstorms are more widespread, covering a larger area with numerous individual storms occurring somewhat randomly across the forecast area.
About the National Weather Service
The National Weather Service (NWS) is a part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The NWS describes its role as follows:
The National Weather Service (NWS) provides weather, water, and climate forecasts and warnings for the United States, its territories, adjacent waters and ocean areas, for the protection of life and property and the enhancement of the national economy.
These services include Forecasts and Observations, Warnings, Impact-based Decision Support Services, and Education in an effort to build a Weather-Ready Nation. The ultimate goal is to have a society that is prepared for and responds to weather, water and climate events.
HOOVER, AL – MAY 21: A general view of a Georgia Bulldogs baseball glove during the 2024 SEC Baseball Tournament game between the Georgia Bulldogs and the LSU Tigers on May 21, 2024 at the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Hoover, Alabama. (Photo by Mic
ATHENS, Ga. – Three University of Georgia baseball stars were selected on the first day of the MLB Draft on Saturday, capping off a historic season for the baseball program.
Major League Baseball selections
What we know:
Bulldog catcher Daniel Jackson, pitcher Joey Volchko and outfielder Rylan Lujo were all chosen during the first four rounds of the draft in Philadelphia.
Jackson was selected 37th overall in the first round by the Colorado Rockies.
The Chicago White Sox drafted Volchko in the third round with the 77th pick, and the Los Angeles Angels took Lujo in the fourth round with the 109th pick.
Jackson, a Sandy Springs native, swept every major award this past season, including the Golden Spikes Award and Dick Howser Trophy. He hit .379 with 32 home runs and 87 RBI.
Volchko served as the team’s pitching ace, going 11-2 with 119 strikeouts, while Lujo started 52 games in centerfield and hit .358.
The draft choices follow a school-record 53-win season where Georgia captured the SEC regular season and tournament titles before finishing third at the College World Series.
Draft rounds and rules
The draft featured four rounds and 135 total picks on Saturday. Major league teams have until 5 p.m. July 27 to sign players drafted out of high schools and four-year colleges. Georgia has now had at least one player selected in the draft every year since 1987.
What we don’t know:
Officials have not yet confirmed the financial details of the minor league contracts or signing bonuses for the three drafted players. It is also unknown if any additional Georgia players will be selected during the later rounds of the draft.
What’s next:
The draft will conclude Sunday with rounds 5 through 20.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from the University of Georgia Sports Communications, which released the official draft results and player statistics.
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