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Marietta Daily Journal Podcast

Marietta Daily Journal Podcast

By: BG Podcast Network
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Get the news for Marietta, Kennesaw, Smyrna, and all of Cobb County with the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast.

Marietta Daily Journal - https://www.mdjonline.com

Cobb Life Magazine - www.cobblifemagazine.com

This podcast is produced by BG Ad Group

For advertising inquiries, please email j.southerland@bgadgroup.com

For more information be sure to visit https://www.bgpodcastnetwork.com/

2025 MDJ News Politics & Government
Episodes
  • Steamrolled: McEachern Sends a Message | Playoff Dreams & Penalty Nightmares | Cobb County’s Rushing King Nears 2,000

    Steamrolled: McEachern Sends a Message | Playoff Dreams & Penalty Nightmares | Cobb County’s Rushing King Nears 2,000
    Oct 23 2025

    One team steamrolled a defense that hadn’t allowed more than 13 points all season—find out who and how. In this episode of Cobb Football Friday, Brian Giffin and John Bednarowski break down Week 11’s biggest wins, playoff implications, and standout performances across Cobb County. From McEachern’s dominance to Mason Hollingsworth’s march toward 2,000 rushing yards, it’s all here. Plus, what’s next for teams on the bubble and those chasing region titles? Tune in for expert insights, local pride, and the drama of high school football at its peak.

    Cobb Football Friday

    Chapters

    00:00 Cobb Football Friday Kickoff
    03:02 Week 11 Highlights and Key Matchups
    05:48 Playoff Implications and Team Performances
    08:59 Upcoming Games and Predictions
    11:57 Season Reflections and Player Spotlights
    14:37 Final Thoughts and Community Engagement

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    22 mins
  • State approves Wellstar's application for 230-bed hospital in Acworth

    State approves Wellstar's application for 230-bed hospital in Acworth
    Oct 22 2025
    1 / 4 MDJ Script/ Top Stories for October 22nd Publish Date: October 22nd Commercial: From the BG Ad Group Studio, Welcome to the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast. Today is Wednesday, October 22nd and Happy Birthday to Christopher Llyod I’m Keith Ippolito and here are the stories Cobb is talking about, presented by Times Journal 1. State approves Wellstar's application for 230-bed hospital in Acworth 2. Judge denies request to seal settlement involving Cobb school board vice chair 3. Sixth suspect charged in hotel shooting that killed baby All of this and more is coming up on the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast, and if you are looking for community news, we encourage you to listen and subscribe! BREAK: INGLES 1 STORY 1: State approves Wellstar's application for 230-bed hospital in Acworth Well, it’s official—Wellstar’s getting the green light to build a massive new hospital on Cobb Parkway. The Georgia Department of Community Health gave the thumbs-up to their $1 billion plan for a 230-bed facility in Acworth. Big news, right? Apparently, Wellstar pitched this back in May, saying the area’s bursting at the seams with demand for hospital beds. And yeah, some rival health systems tried to block it—because of course they did—but Wellstar’s exec Matthew O’Connor wasn’t having it. He basically said, “Look, we’re the only ones who can handle this.” The hospital? Eight stories, 675,000 square feet, emergency bays, operating rooms—the works. It’s supposed to ease the load on their Marietta location, which is practically bursting at 98.5% capacity. Plus, it’ll bring 1,500 jobs to the area. STORY 2: Judge denies request to seal settlement involving Cobb school board vice chair So, here’s the deal: a Fulton County judge just said “nope” to sealing the settlement terms in a lawsuit involving Cobb school board VP John Cristadoro. Privacy concerns? Not enough to outweigh the public’s right to know, according to Judge Wesley Tailor. He didn’t mince words—“no reason” to keep it under wraps. The backstory? Cristadoro and his marketing firm were accused of pocketing $250K meant for advertising at sports games. He denied it, of course, but the case dragged on for over a year before both sides finally settled. They wanted the terms sealed. Parents like Heather Tolley-Bauer? Not having it. “Transparency matters,” she said. STORY 3: Sixth suspect charged in hotel shooting that killed baby 2 / 4 A sixth person’s been charged in that awful Cumberland hotel shooting—the one that killed a 9-month-old baby. Nateemah Ware, 32, from Marietta, is accused of hiding two suspects, Jayvian Young and Anthony Smith, in her apartment near the Chattahoochee River. Police say she knew what went down and still helped them. She was arrested on Oct. 6 but got out the same day on an $8,470 bond. The shooting happened Sept. 23 at the Budgetel Inn. A baby girl—just 9 months old—was hit by gunfire. Her mom was there. Can you even imagine? She didn’t make it. We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.799.6810 for more info. We’ll be right back. Break: COBB FALL FESTIVAL STORY 4: Cobb begins second week of early voting So, here’s the scoop: early voting’s kicked off in Cobb County, and so far, just over 6,000 people have cast their ballots. That’s, what, about 3.86% of eligible voters? Not exactly a stampede, but hey, it’s early. Marietta’s leading the charge with more than 2,300 voters showing up at the main office on Roswell Street. Other spots? East Cobb had 1,071, Mableton 950, and so on—Austell brought up the rear with 271. People are trickling in steadily, no lines, no drama. Hamilton Shelfer, a Tampa transplant, said he’s all about staying informed—property taxes are on his radar. Meanwhile, Kassie Jones called voting her “civic duty,” and Guy Williams? He’s just here for the low-stress vibes of early voting. Oh, and if you’re wondering, polls are open through Oct. 31 at seven locations. Bring your ID, check your voter page, and don’t wait till the last minute. STORY 5: Two Hillgrove High School students selected for State Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council Big news for Hillgrove High sophomores Adrianne Marriott and Jillian Taylor—they’ve snagged spots on State Superintendent Richard Woods’ 2025-2026 Student Advisory Council. Out of 1,200+ applicants, only 79 made the cut, and these two are in. Pretty impressive, right? Their job? Sit down with Woods throughout the year, talk about what’s actually happening in classrooms, and give him the real-deal student perspective. They’ll also tackle service projects and act as school ambassadors. Woods said he’s pumped to hear from students directly—“the ones living it every day.” First meeting’s in November in Atlanta. Exciting stuff ahead! Break: 3 / 4 STORY 6: Sheriff’s Office introduces ...
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    9 mins
  • Cobb County Sheriff's Office welcomes newest GED graduates | ACT scores increase in Cobb, dip in Marietta | KSU student arrested after protesting Charlie Kirk memorial

    Cobb County Sheriff's Office welcomes newest GED graduates | ACT scores increase in Cobb, dip in Marietta | KSU student arrested after protesting Charlie Kirk memorial
    Oct 17 2025
    ===== MDJ Script/ Top Stories for October 17th Publish Date:  October 17th    Commercial: From the BG AD Group Studio, Welcome to the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast.    Today is Friday, October 17th and Happy Birthday to Alan Jackson I’m Keith Ippolito and here are the stories Cobb is talking about, presented by Times Journal Cobb County Sheriff's Office welcomes newest GED graduatesACT scores increase in Cobb, dip in MariettaKSU student arrested after protesting Charlie Kirk memorial Plus, Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on grass fed beef All of this and more is coming up on the Marietta Daily Journal Podcast, and if you are looking for community news, we encourage you to listen and subscribe!  BREAK: Ingles Markets 10 STORY 1: Cobb County Sheriff's Office welcomes newest GED graduates The Cobb County Sheriff’s Office hosted its third GED graduation of the year on Oct. 8, right inside the Adult Detention Center. Seven detainees walked away with diplomas in hand—proof that change is possible, even behind bars. Since the program launched in March 2024, over 30 detainees have earned their GEDs. The ceremony was heartfelt, with speeches from Chief Deputy Rhonda Anderson, Col. Michael Williams, and Dr. Kim Kranzlin of Cobb Adult Education. The program isn’t easy—four subjects, a minimum score of 145, and 40+ hours of study. But for these seven, it’s a step toward something better. STORY 2: ACT scores increase in Cobb, dip in Marietta  ACT scores are in, and Cobb County is celebrating its highest average in four years, while Marietta High saw a slight dip. Cobb’s average jumped to 23.7 (up 0.9 points), while Marietta landed at 22.2 (down 0.5). Both still outpaced state (21.4) and national (19.4) averages. Wheeler High led Cobb with a stellar 28.5 average, even climbing 2.5 points from last year. Meanwhile, Marietta students continued to outperform state and national peers in every subject, despite the slight drop. “Success takes time,” said Marietta Superintendent Grant Rivera. “Hard work and curiosity drive our students forward.” Georgia students, for the ninth year, beat the national average. STORY 3: KSU student arrested after protesting Charlie Kirk memorial  A protest at Kennesaw State University’s memorial for conservative activist Charlie Kirk ended in chaos Tuesday night, with one student, Luca Compiani, 18, arrested on charges of battery and obstruction. According to police, Compiani “intentionally” bumped into KSU Police Capt. Timothy Murphy in a “provoking manner” and fled when confronted. Protesters, however, claim the situation was escalated unnecessarily, calling the arrest “a gross abuse of authority.” The memorial, hosted by Young Americans for Liberty, drew both supporters and protesters. Some shouted chants, others threw ketchup at a flag. Despite the tension, organizers said the event achieved its goal: promoting free speech—even amid dissent. We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.799.6810 for more info.  We’ll be right back. Break: Ingles Markets 10 STORY 4: 1,100+ voters cast ballots on Day 1 of early voting  Nearly 1,200 Cobb County voters turned out Monday for the first day of early voting, with Marietta leading the charge. Of the 1,193 ballots cast, 481 came from the Cobb Elections Main Office, while Mableton saw 221 voters at the South Cobb Community Center. Michael D’Itri, acting director of Cobb Elections, said turnout usually starts strong, dips mid-period, then surges in the final days. For Marietta voter Chris Danos, 28, the mayoral race is top of mind. “We need better transportation options,” he said. Meanwhile, Dan and Vicki Rupnow, who moved from Atlanta, love Marietta’s walkability and lighter traffic. “It’s perfect for us,” they said. STORY 5: OUT AND ABOUT: 5 things to do this weekend in Cobb County — Oct. 17 - 19 Marietta HarvestFest Marietta Square is the place to be this Saturday for HarvestFest—think scarecrows, costumes, games, and all the fall vibes. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., you can wander Glover Park, shop the craft show, or dive into a pie-eating contest (messy, but worth it). Oh, and don’t miss the Big Chicken Cornerback’s Coop—a college football watch party. Bring a lawn chair and settle in. Smyrna Spooky Festival Market Village gets spooky Saturday night, 6–9 p.m., with trick-or-treating, a live DJ spinning Halloween jams, and a free outdoor showing of Hotel Transylvania. Costumes? Highly encouraged. Witches & Friends Paddle At Cauble Park in Acworth, Halloween hits the water! Decorate your kayak, canoe, or paddleboard and join the fun Saturday at 9 a.m. Registration’s $45, and spectators watch for free. Powder Springs Trunk-or-Treat Thurman Springs Park transforms into a candy wonderland Saturday at 10 a.m. Trick-or-treat, ...
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    11 mins
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