Top Stories for September 23rd Publish Date: September 23rd From The BG AD Group Studio, Welcome to the Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast. Today is Tuesday, September 23rd and Happy Birthday to Ray Charles I’m Peyton Spurlock and here are your top stories presented by KIA Mall of Georgia Gwinnett's Public Safety Festival set for Sept. 27 Duluth native Riona Harris returns to Gas South Arena as part of Disney On Ice's 'Jump In!' show Immigration board orders Mario Guevara's deportation 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 and subscribe! Break 1: Kia MOG STORY 1: Gwinnett's Public Safety Festival set for Sept. 27 So, here’s the deal: the 16th annual Public Safety Fall Festival is happening September 27, and honestly, it sounds like a blast. Coolray Field’s the spot—10 a.m. to 2 p.m., if you’re marking your calendar. It’s not just another festival. It’s a chance to actually meet the folks who keep Gwinnett running—police, fire, EMS, even the sheriff’s office. Ever wanted to climb inside a SWAT truck? Or see a fire engine up close? Yeah, they’ve got that. Oh, and the Peach State Rodeo is back! Cops on motorcycles doing wild stunts? Yes, please. Food trucks, face painting, giveaways—what’s not to love? STORY 2: Duluth native Riona Harris returns to Gas South Arena as part of Disney On Ice's 'Jump In!' show Riona Harris is coming home. Duluth’s own, now 24, is about to skate onto the Gas South Arena stage—not as a kid at halftime, but as a pro. Disney on Ice’s “Jump In!” kicks off Thursday, Sept. 25, and she’s in it. Eight shows. Big deal? Oh, absolutely. Riona’s been skating since she was 8, dreaming of this moment since a Disney show she saw with her mom. Now? She’s living it. Polar bears, flying donkeys, Moana villagers—she’s all in. Catch her while you can. STORY 3: Immigration board orders Mario Guevara's deportation Mario Guevara’s life is hanging by a thread. A journalist, a father, a Gwinnett County resident—he’s now sitting in an ICE detention center, facing deportation to El Salvador. Why? For doing his job. For reporting on immigration raids. He’s been in custody since June, after being arrested while covering a protest. Charges? Dropped. But ICE swooped in, digging up a 13-year-old immigration case. His lawyers say he’s here legally, on a work permit, with a path to residency. ICE says otherwise. The ACLU calls it retaliation. Journalism groups agree. And now? He could be deported any day. 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: It's that time again — Ghost Tours back in Lawrenceville Downtown Lawrenceville’s about to get spooky—like, lanterns, ghosts, and bawdy songs kind of spooky. Aurora Theatre’s Haunted Happenings 2025 kicks off Sept. 19 and runs through Nov. 1, and honestly? There’s something for everyone. The Ghost Tour? A 90-minute stroll through the historic Square, packed with eerie tales and paranormal vibes. Feeling braver? The Haunted Cemetery Tour dives into one of the Southeast’s oldest graveyards—chilling stories included. For the grown-ups, there’s Brews & Boos (Oct. 3–30). Drinks, bawdy humor, and haunted history. Enough said. Oh, and don’t miss the Halloween Magic Show (Oct. 18) or the hilariously ridiculous 0.5K Fun Run (Oct. 11). STORY 5: Lawmakers urged to expedite move to new voting system Lawmakers looking to shake up Georgia’s voting system got an earful Thursday. The message? Hurry up—and don’t forget the money. Here’s the deal: a new law, pushed by Republicans, bans the QR codes used by voting machines to record votes. Starting July 1, poll workers need a new system. But what is it? No one knows yet. And, surprise, there’s no funding either. Election officials are stressed. Meanwhile, experts like UC Berkeley’s Philip Stark are calling for hand-marked ballots—cheaper, safer, and easier to audit. Georgia’s current system? Touchscreens, QR codes, and digital records. Stark says it’s flawed. Public opinion? All over the place. Some trust the system, others don’t. One speaker even forgot her point after four hours of debate. Next hearing? Oct. 2 in Covington. Stay tuned. STORY 6: Real work to find new GCPS superintendent begins The hunt for Gwinnett County’s next superintendent is in full swing, and, wow, it’s a process. Alma Advisory Group, the firm leading the search, says they’re listening—like, really listening. There’s a survey online (already 1,400+ responses), and community meetings are happening all over. They’re casual, no-pressure ev
