GDP Script/ Top Stories for February 27th Publish Date: February 27th From the BG AD Group Studio Welcome to the Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast. Today is Thursday, February 27th and Happy birthday to Josh Groban ***02.27.25 - BIRTHDAY – JOSH BROGAN*** I’m Peyton Spurlock and here are your top stories presented by KIA Mall of Georgia. Arrief McKenzie pleads guilty to murder of his wife, faces additional murder charge in Gwinnett GCPS Director of Artificial Intelligence And Computer Science Honored For Dedication To Innovation AROUND TOWN: Georgia Gwinnett College Honors 'Pillars' Of The Community Plus, Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on fast food 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 daily and subscribe! Break 1: 07.14.22 KIA MOG STORY 1: Arrief McKenzie pleads guilty to murder of his wife, faces additional murder charge in Gwinnett Arrief Lamont McKenzie, 55, pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including malice murder, for fatally stabbing his wife, Niki McKenzie, in 2020. The attack occurred in Newton County shortly after McKenzie allegedly killed another woman, Jillian Myles-Walters, in Gwinnett County. Both murders happened within an hour. McKenzie, previously under court orders for family violence, was arrested with the murder weapon in his vehicle. He faces a maximum sentence of life without parole, with sentencing set for March 24-25. The case involved multiple law enforcement agencies and victim advocacy support. STORY 2: GCPS Director of Artificial Intelligence And Computer Science Honored For Dedication To Innovation Sallie Holloway, Director of Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science for Gwinnett County Public Schools, has been honored with the District Administration Woman of Distinction award. Recognized for her innovative contributions to education, Holloway was nominated by Digital Promise for her dedication to AI-Ready learning, equitable access to technology, and future-focused education. She expressed gratitude for the recognition and emphasized her passion for preparing students for the future through initiatives like AI-Ready learning and CS for All. Holloway joins a group of accomplished leaders celebrated for transforming education. STORY 3: AROUND TOWN: Georgia Gwinnett College Honors 'Pillars' Of The Community Georgia Gwinnett College hosted its inaugural Four Pillars Scholarship Gala, raising over $275,000 to support student scholarships and emergency funds. Held at the new Convocation Center, the event welcomed 500 guests and featured a silent auction. President Dr. Jann L. Joseph emphasized the critical role scholarships play for students facing financial challenges. Five students shared inspiring stories of perseverance. Four community leaders were honored: John D. Stephens (Visionary Award), Judy Jordan Johnson (Community Champion Award), Jonelle Faal (Alumni Legacy Award), and Dr. Daniel J. Kaufman (President Emeritus Medallion). The gala highlighted GGC's commitment to student success and community impact. 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: GCPS STORY 4: Legislators moving to raise homestead exemption on Gwinnett school taxes Gwinnett County legislators have introduced House Bill 539 to increase the homestead exemption on school property taxes from $8,000 to $10,000, providing potential relief for homeowners. The bipartisan bill, led by Rep. Matt Reeves and supported by 23 legislators, requires voter approval in a 2026 referendum. A companion bill, HB 540, proposes expanding a $2,000 exemption for public service employees to include disabled veterans and all Gwinnett school employees. Both measures aim to reduce the tax burden while balancing school funding. Gwinnett County Public Schools supports the bills, estimating a manageable $6-8 million annual revenue impact. STORY 5: 2 Gwinnett teachers named STEM award winners Michelle Morgan of Hull Middle School and Abby Paul of Berkmar Middle School have been named 2025 Don Cargill STEM Scholars, recognizing their innovative STEM teaching. Sponsored by the Georgia Youth Science and Technology Centers, the award honors educators integrating science, technology, engineering, and math into engaging, hands-on learning. Both teachers expressed pride in inspiring students to solve real-world problems and fostering curiosity in STEM fields. As the only Gwinnett County recipients among 25 statewide honorees, they each received $500 for classroom projects and were celebrated at the State Capitol. Their dedication continues to impact students and the community. Break 3: Ingles Markets 4 And now here is Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on fast food *** INGLES ASK LEAH 5 FAST FOOD*** We’ll have closing comments after this Break 4: GCPS ...
