Abortion ban suit returns to court; Congressional town halls; Freedom Seekers exhibit

Summary

Georgia Today Podcast Summary Episode: Abortion Ban Suit Returns to Court; Congressional Town Halls; Freedom Seekers Exhibit
Release Date: February 21, 2025
Host: Peter Biello, Georgia Public Broadcasting

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1. CDC Layoffs in Atlanta: Impact and Political Response

The episode opens with a report on the recent layoffs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta. The exact number of affected employees remains unclear, but thousands of Georgians have lost their federal jobs. GPB’s Sophie Gratis covers the unfolding situation from the state Capitol.

Key Points:

• Affected Employees: Sonia Arundhar, a communications and web design professional at the CDC, expresses disbelief upon receiving her termination letter without prior warning (00:48).

  Sonia Arundhar (00:48): "I couldn't believe it."

  Joy Carter (01:24): "It was just a sh."

• Political Stance: Governor Brian Kemp supports the federal "right sizing" of government, aligning with Republican views. In contrast, state Democrats, including Joy Carter and Sonia Arundhar, urge Governor Kemp and state Republicans to oppose the federal cuts, highlighting the local repercussions of national decisions.

  Governor Kemp (01:25): Supports the "right sizing of the government."

• Public Sentiment: The layoffs have ignited concerns about the future of public health services and the broader implications for federal employment in Georgia.

  Jeff Bruce (01:46): "They may do this in Washington, but it has local effect."

2. Legal Battles Over Georgia’s Abortion Ban

A significant portion of the episode delves into the ongoing legal challenges against Georgia's stringent abortion laws.

Key Points:

• Court Developments: The Georgia Supreme Court has directed a trial court to reassess the legal standing of those challenging the abortion ban. Meanwhile, Judge Robert McBurney’s September ruling that the ban is unconstitutional remains pending.

  Peter Biello (02:05): "A lawsuit challenging Georgia's near ban on abortion is headed back to a trial court."

• Law’s Background: Enacted in 2019 by Republican Governor Brian Kemp, the law restricts abortions to around six weeks, often before many women are aware of their pregnancies. This legislation is part of a broader trend among Republican-controlled states following the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022.

• Broader Context: With a dozen states enforcing total abortion bans and four imposing restrictions at six weeks, the episode highlights Missouri’s recent reversal by voters as a contrasting example.

3. Senate Bill 68: Lawsuit Reform and Political Divide

The episode transitions to a discussion on Senate Bill 68 (SB 68), Georgia's top legislative priority this session, aimed at reforming the state's lawsuit landscape.

Key Points:

• Bill Provisions: SB 68 seeks to cap damages in pain and suffering cases, limit liability for property-related injuries, and restrict damages in medical malpractice to actual medical costs.

• Political Support and Opposition:

  Jeff Bruce (03:40): "It's going to deal with the issue of excessive lawsuits and stabilizing the cost of insurance."

  Sonia Arundhar (03:49): "It's about creating a manufactured crisis to justify stripping away consumer protections and handing even more power to billion-dollar insurance corporations."

• Legislative Outcome: The bill passed with a 33 to 21 vote, featuring bipartisan support with one Democrat and one Republican crossing party lines.

  Sarah Kalis (03:59): "The bill passed 33 to 21, with one Democrat and one Republican crossing party lines."

4. Congressional Town Halls: Constituents’ Concerns and Political Tensions

The podcast covers recent town hall meetings hosted by Republican U.S. Representative Rich McCormick and Democrat Sanford Bishop, highlighting the polarized political climate in Georgia.

Rich McCormick’s Town Hall:

• Outrage Over Trump’s Actions: More than 500 constituents attended, many expressing anger towards former President Donald Trump's statements and policies. McCormick struggled to manage the crowd's intense reactions.

  Rich McCormick (04:22): "I don't think executive privilege should be as strong as it is. I think we're out of balance right now."

• Proposed Remedies: McCormick suggested a bill to grant Congress authority to approve new federal regulations, aiming to counterbalance executive power.

Sanford Bishop’s Telephone Town Hall:

• Concerns Over DEI Policies: A constituent from Columbus raised fears that President Trump's actions against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies might negatively impact her son's senior year at a Historically Black College or University (HBCU).

  Constituent: "I'm concerned that the HBCU is DEI, isn't it? And will that be targeted more?"

• Policy Implications: The rollback of DEI policies threatens significant funding cuts for HBCUs, including the suspension of the USDA’s 1890 scholarship program affecting institutions like Fort Valley State University.

5. Judicial Proceedings: Resumption of Executions and Legal Debates

The episode touches upon recent legal arguments regarding the resumption of executions in Georgia.

Key Points:

• Court Arguments: State lawyers argue that conditions set during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the expiration of the emergency and the availability of vaccines, justify resuming executions.

  Peter Biello (05:26): "With these executive orders rolling back DEI policies, HBCUs may face some significant funding cuts."

• Judge's Stance: Fulton County Superior Court Judge Shukura Ingram indicated the complexity of the case, noting that both sides presented substantial arguments for her consideration before issuing a ruling.

6. Environmental Protection: Okefenokee Swamp Mining Debate

A bipartisan effort is underway to protect the Okefenokee Swamp from mining activities.

Key Points:

• Proposed Legislation: Two bills aim to either ban future mining along the swamp’s trail ridge or impose a five-year moratorium for environmental assessment amidst Twin Pines Minerals' application to mine titanium.

  Jeff Bruce (08:44): "Supporters say the pause would help protect one of North America's largest blackwater swamps."

• Stakeholders’ Views:

  • Supporters: Emphasize the ecological significance of the swamp and the need for preservation.
  • Opponents (Twin Pines Minerals): Argue that their mining project is safe and beneficial for economic development.

7. Education and Disability Rights: Controversy Over 504 Plans

Attorney General Chris Carr’s involvement in a multi-state lawsuit has drawn criticism from disability advocates.

Key Points:

• Lawsuit Objectives: The lawsuit targets provisions protecting transgender children under Section 504, aiming to eliminate certain protections and reclassify transgender dysphoria as a disability.

  Advocate (07:53): "Fighting the Biden-Harris administration's obsession with promoting a radical progressive transgender ideology."

• Current Status: The Republican attorneys general involved have requested a stay, anticipating potential rollbacks of transgender protections under previous administrations.

8. Freedom Seekers Exhibit: Illuminating Enslaved People's Lives

One of the standout features of the episode is an in-depth look at the "Freedom Seekers" exhibit at Macon’s Tubman African American Museum, which personalizes the narratives of enslaved individuals.

Key Points:

• Exhibit Details: Curated by Jeff Bruce and Mercer University’s Matt Harper, the exhibit features reprinted and framed runaway slave ads from the Macon Telegraph (1826 to Civil War end), each accompanied by the name of the individual sought.

  Sue Joyce Carter (10:06): "They had everyday problems just like us... reading their stories exemplified the importance of why we need to showcase this."

• Personal Stories: The exhibit highlights the humanity of enslaved people, detailing their skills, families, and aspirations, countering the dehumanizing nature of the original ads.

  Matt Harper (09:34): "The owner will only call him Tom, but he says he goes by Tom Hammonds."

• Educational Impact: Mercer University students actively participate in assembling the exhibit, gaining profound insights into their local and African American heritage.

  Simone Walker and Taylor Boyd (11:21): Mounted panels for famous escapees, emphasizing the personal resilience and agency of individuals like Tom Hammons.

• Visual Consistency: Graphic design student Naluchi Okonkwo notes the uniform iconography in the ads, which aided slave catchers in identifying targets amidst newspaper clutter.

  Naluchi Okonkwo (12:06): "The icons helped hunters cut through the other visual clutter."

9. Community Engagement and Local Initiatives

The podcast also highlights various community-driven projects and initiatives across Georgia.

Piedmont Park Conservancy:

• Public Input Sought: The Conservancy invites residents to provide feedback on two proposed renovation plans for Piedmont Park—one focusing on recreational spaces and the other on natural exploration and biodiversity.

  Announcement (15:03): "A virtual meeting scheduled for tomorrow would provide an opportunity for community members to share thoughts."

Alzheimer’s Music Fest:

• Supporting Caregivers: The 11th annual Alzheimer's Music Fest in Atlanta aims to raise funds for caregivers, providing essential equipment and support services.

  Vince Zangaro (15:47): "Proceeds from the show will support the Cherokee County nonprofit Stand Up for Seniors."

Atlanta’s Employee Bill of Rights:

• New Guidelines: In response to the sudden resignation of the city's inspector general, Mayor Andre Dickens announced an employee bill of rights to ensure transparency and accountability within city operations.

  Mayor Andre Dickens (16:37): "The guide is meant to balance transparency and accountability."

Atlanta Quilt Festival:

• Honoring John Lewis: A new book titled "Good Trouble Quilts the Fight, the Progress, The Legacy" celebrates Congressman John Lewis’s civil rights legacy through quilt art, featured at the upcoming festival.

10. Sports Highlights: Trae Young and the Atlanta Braves

The episode concludes with updates from the sports world.

Trae Young’s Criticism of Officials:

• NBA Game Controversy: Following the Hawks' significant loss to the Orlando Magic, All-Star guard Trae Young criticized the officiating, citing biased foul calls and technical penalties.

  Trae Young (Details): Felt officiating was one-sided, impacting the game's outcome.

Atlanta Braves’ Spring Training:

• New Streaming Options: The Braves announce the kickoff of their spring training against the Minnesota Twins, introducing innovative streaming services through FanDuel Sports Network and partnerships with major cable providers to enhance viewer accessibility.

  Announcement (16:37): "Games will be available on multiple platforms with no local blackouts."

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Sophie Gratis (00:38): "Reading their stories and reading that they were running away to families or they had lovers really just exemplified the importance of why we need to showcase this."

• Sonia Arundhar (01:16): "Among those laid off from the CDC in Atlanta is Sonia Arundhar... I couldn't believe it."

• Sophie Gratis (11:54): "Are we too far off? As long as we go the same height, Right? That should just to mark the hype."

• Sophie Gratis (14:11): "The one that sticks out to me the most is the one about Moses, because his name is Moses."

• Joy Carter (12:16): "It's essentially an icon or a set of icons... they were repeating essentially the same exact graphic of the person walking with a stick."

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Conclusion

This episode of "Georgia Today" offers a comprehensive overview of pressing issues within Georgia, from political turmoil and legal battles to cultural exhibits and community initiatives. Host Peter Biello effectively navigates through diverse topics, providing listeners with a nuanced understanding of the state's current affairs. Notably, the "Freedom Seekers" exhibit segment stands out for its poignant portrayal of enslaved individuals' resilience and humanity, underscoring the importance of historical remembrance and education.

For more detailed information and updates, listeners are encouraged to visit gpb.org/news.

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Disclaimer: Timestamps correspond to segments within the provided transcript and may not align precisely with the audio podcast.

Transcript

[Peter Biello]

Foreign welcome to the Georgia Today Podcast from GPB News. Today is Friday, February 21st. I'm Peter Biello. This podcast has the latest reports from the GPB news team. Send feedback or story tips to Georgia todaypb.org on today's episode. A lawsuit challenging Georgia's near ban on abortion is headed back to a trial court. Georgians express fear and outrage at congressional town hall meetings. And a new exhibit at the Tubman African American Museum in Macon shines a new light on the lives of enslaved people.

[Sophie Gratis]

Reading their stories and reading that they were running away to families or they had lovers really just exemplified the importance of why we need to showcase this.

[Peter Biello]

These stories and more are coming up on this edition of Georgia today. The exact number of employees fired by the Atlanta based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is still unclear. But a week after thousands of Georgians have lost their federal jobs, some Georgia Democrats are imploring governor Brian Kemp and state Republicans to voice their support and oppose the federal cuts. GPB's Sophie Gratis has more from the state Capitol.

[Sonia Arundhar]

Among those laid off from the CDC in Atlanta is Sonia Arundhar, who worked in communications and web design. I couldn't believe it.

[Joy Carter]

It was just a sh.

[Sonia Arundhar]

She got the same termination letter as other federal employees without warning. Governor Kemp has reiterated in a statement to GPB that he supports the, quote, right sizing of the government lining the Capitol steps. On Friday, some state Democrats and their constituents, including Joy Carter, said they'll keep raising the alarm about potential fallout of the layoffs.

[Jeff Bruce]

They may do this in Washington, but.

[Peter Biello]

It has local effect and I think.

[Sonia Arundhar]

The people that are in this building.

[Jeff Bruce]

Need to pay attention to that.

[Sonia Arundhar]

Carter's daughter, who worked in vaccine safety, was also laid off last week. From the CDC for GPB News, I'm Sophie Gradas.

[Peter Biello]

A lawsuit challenging Georgia's near ban on abortion is headed back to a trial court. The Georgia Supreme Court voted 6 to 1 yesterday to require the trial court judge to reexamine whether the people who want to overturn the law have legal standing to sue. In the meantime, Fulton County Superior court judge Robert McBurney's ruling from September striking down the abortion law remains on hold. McBurney had ruled in September that Georgia unconstitutionally prohibits abortions beyond about six weeks of pregnancy, often before women realize they're pregnant. McBurney reasoned that privacy rights under Georgia's state constitution include the right to make personal health care decisions. Georgia's law, signed by Republican Gov. Brian Kemp in 2019, was one of a wave of restrictive abortion measures that took effect in Republican controlled states after the U.S. supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. A dozen U.S. states are now enforcing bans on abortion at all stages of pregnancy, and four states ban abortions around the sixth week of pregnancy. Voters in Missouri overturned a near total ban on abortions in November and abortions resumed there last week. Lawsuit reform Governor Kemp's top priority this session finally made its way to the senate floor today. GPB's Sarah Kalis reports.

[Sarah Kalis]

SB 68 would cap the amount of damages awarded in pain and suffering cases, limit liability for injuries that occur on an owner's property, and limit damages in medical malpractice suits to actual medical costs. Republicans like Senate President Pro Tempore John Kennedy generally supported the bill.

[Peter Biello]

It's going to deal with the issue.

[Jeff Bruce]

Of excessive lawsuits and stabilizing the cost of insurance.

[Sarah Kalis]

Democrats like Senator Nabila Islam Parks mostly opposed it.

[Sonia Arundhar]

It's about creating a manufactured crisis to justify stripping away consumer protections and handling even more power to billion dollar insurance corporations.

[Sarah Kalis]

The bill passed 33 to 21, with one Democrat and one Republican crossing party lines. For GPB News, I'm Sarah Kalis at the State capitol.

[Peter Biello]

More than 500 constituents turned out in Roswell last night for a town hall Hosted by Republican U.S. representative Rich McCormick, and many, many expressed outrage over President Donald Trump's recent statements and actions. At times, McCormick struggled to contain the crowd's outbursts, many of which disparaged Trump's recent statements. Likening himself to royalty, McCormick said he agreed with some of the constituents who said the presidency has grown too powerful. I don't think executive privilege should be.

[Sarah Kalis]

As strong as it is. I think we're out of balance right now.

[Peter Biello]

I think your direct representation, whether you.

[Sarah Kalis]

Like me or not, I'm the closest thing you have to represent.

[Peter Biello]

McCormick says a potential remedy is a bill designed to give Congress the power to approve new federal regulations. His town hall comes as the executive branch's decisions to fire thousands of people are challenged in court. At the same time Rich McCormick faced constituents, Democrat Sanford Bishop, representing the 8th congressional district in southwest Georgia, took questions during a telephone town hall. One mother from Columbus asked Bishop if President Trump's actions against DEI policies could affect her son's senior year at a historically black university, university, or hbcu. I'm concerned that the HBCU is dei, isn't it? And will that be targeted more?

[Sarah Kalis]

Yes.

[Peter Biello]

With these executive orders rolling back DEI policies, HBCUs may face some significant funding cuts. Already, one U.S. department of Agriculture scholarship program for HBCU students. The 1890 program has been suspended. Georgia's Fort Valley State University is a participating school. Lawyers for the state of Georgia argued in court yesterday executions of certain people on death row should resume because the conditions of a COVID 19 pandemic related agreement have been met. The 2021 agreement stated that some executions would not be scheduled until the expiration of the COVID 19 emergency, the resumption of normal visitation at state prisons and the availability of the COVID vaccine. To quote all members of the public, the vaccine is still not approved for infants under six months. The state argues vaccine antibodies can be transferred from a pregnant mother to a fetus and therefore it is available to everyone. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Shukura Ingram said yesterday the two sides gave her a lot to think about and would issue a ruling. A bipartisan group of Georgia lawmakers is backing new efforts to protect the Okefenokee swamp from mining. The two bills introduced yesterday would either ban future mining along the swamp's trail ridge or impose a five year moratorium while experts assess environmental risks. The move comes as Twin Pines Minerals seeks final approval to mine for titanium near the refuge. Supporters say the pause would help protect one of North America's largest blackwater swamps. Twin Pines argues the project is safe and should move forward. Disability advocates say they are unhappy with Attorney General Chris Carr's decision to join a multi state lawsuit that threatens 504 plans. 504 plans help ensure students with disabilities have equal access to educational opportunities that includes kids with dyslexia or adhd. Carr says he wants to eliminate provisions protecting children who are transgender. Make no mistake, our lawsuit is all about one Fighting the Biden Harris administration's obsession with promoting a radical progressive transgender ideology. At every turn, they tried to dismantle Section 504 by labeling transgender dysphoria as a disability. A17 Republican attorneys general that filed the lawsuit now say they never intended to get rid of all protections under 504. They've asked the court for a continued stay of the lawsuit, effectively putting it on pause with the expectation that President Donald Trump will roll back recent protections for transgender children through close to 35,000 documented sea voyages. More than 9 million people were taken from Africa to bondage in the New World. That's according to the Transatlantic Slave Trade Database, a project of universities across north and South America. What can get lost in such massive numbers is the texture of the lives of the enslaved people themselves, their individual stories. Now an exhibit called Freedom Seekers at Macon's Tubman African American Museum sheds some light on those stories through old newspaper ads. GPB's Grant Blankenship explains.

[Jeff Bruce]

Tubman, museum curator Jeff Bruce and Mercer University professor of Africana studies Matt Harper are still installing the exhibit a few days before it opens.

[Matt Harper]

Are you worried about crowding? We've got 18 ads on this wall.

[Jeff Bruce]

The ads lining the narrow gallery are from the Macon telegraph run between 1826 and the end of the Civil War. Each was paid for and placed in the paper by a slave owner seeking the return of an enslaved person who'd escaped who ran away. It's the exhibit name Freedom Seekers. Each ad is reprinted and framed, and above each of the ads is the name of the person who was sought. Typically just a first name. Ann Sandy Moses. Matt Harper points out the lone exception. Tom Hammonds.

[Matt Harper]

The owner will only call him Tom, but he says he goes by Tom.

[Jeff Bruce]

Hammons under circumstances he could control. The man seeking Tom Hammons, he's not.

[Matt Harper]

Gonna give him his last name, but.

[Jeff Bruce]

If you're really trying to find a person, it helps to tell other people exactly who you're looking for. And so when Tom Hammons, a boathand on the Utmulgee river, ran, he took control of his name. He forced the man he ran away from to acknowledge his name and share it with the larger world in his campus office. Harper says it's the kind of detail he hoped his students would encounter when they began researching so called runaway slave ads last year.

[Matt Harper]

I mean, as much as the enslavers wanted to get a return on their investment, they had lost property and they're writing about people as property.

[Jeff Bruce]

But they couldn't stop there.

[Matt Harper]

They can't help if they actually want to get these people back. Describe them as people, right? This is who they are. This is who their family members are. These are the things they like to do. This is what they're good at. This is how you'll know them. Their loves, their talents come through.

[Jeff Bruce]

Isaac is described as a good carpenter fleeing on a sorrel mare in his blue satinette round coat. Bill as a wagoner on the road between Augusta and Macon who took with him a season's earnings. Jim is described as missing a finger and likely on the way to his mother. Judy and her daughter Unity escaped together. The mother's right arm said to be disfigured from being broken. The child described by the man seeking them both as, quote, almost white.

[Sophie Gratis]

Are we too far off? As long as we go the same height, Right? That should just to mark the hype.

[Joy Carter]

So we Should.

[Jeff Bruce]

Back in the gallery, Mercer University students Simone Walker and Taylor Boyd mount the panels for the most famous people to escape slavery and make it Ellen and William Kraft. Boyd says the details in the ads imbue the people being sought with humanity.

[Sophie Gratis]

They had everyday problems just like us. You know, sometimes it's easy just to simplify their story. But reading their stories and reading that they were running aways to families or they had lovers really just exemplified the importance of why we need to showcase this.

[Jeff Bruce]

Newspapers everywhere ran runaway slave ads, especially after the passage of the federal Fugitive slave Act of 1850. And as graphic design student Naluchi Okonkwo found, the ads had a consistent look.

[Joy Carter]

It's essentially an icon or a set of icons. I found a lot of them were repeating essentially the same exact graphic of the person walking with a stick.

[Jeff Bruce]

That's for men, that's for women. Showed a bindle tied to the stick on their shoulder. The Fugitive Slave act made it illegal for anyone to offer sanctuary to someone escaping slavery. It also gave everyone the opportunity to make money as a bounty hunter. That started with appeal through the newspaper ads. Bellucci Okonkwo says the icons helped hunters cut through the other visual clutter.

[Joy Carter]

So that way, these. What do you call it, slave catchers, if you will, for lack of a better term, know that, oh, you're looking for a man this time. Oh, you're looking for a woman, or oh, you're looking for a man and a woman, or oh, you're looking for an older man, or oh, you're looking for a more sprightly man, or any of those things.

[Jeff Bruce]

And when you think about it, these icons wouldn't have been an effective visual shorthand if people weren't seeing them all the time. The way we see apples and swooshes.

[Joy Carter]

And lowercase Fs today, that shows how prevalent slavery was.

[Jeff Bruce]

Professor Matt Harper.

[Matt Harper]

Students were really surprised by how frequent the ads were that they were on every single issue, multiple ads per issue. Some were surprised about how long someone. Someone might be looking for someone for two years, three years. Keep running the ads over and over again in the paper.

[Sophie Gratis]

There were just so many, and often they were all on one page.

[Jeff Bruce]

That definitely struck student Tamiya Morrison. Even now, months after the class, she still thinks about the ads a lot.

[Sophie Gratis]

Oh, definitely. Because my family is from Macon. I think this class has really put a lot into perspective as far as my, not only my Macon heritage, but like, my southern black heritage in general. Because, like, this is really how I got here. And it's like it makes so many things make sense.

[Jeff Bruce]

And among all the ads, there's one she finds particularly ironic.

[Sophie Gratis]

I think the one that sticks out to me the most is the one about Moses, because his name is Moses.

[Jeff Bruce]

Of course, even to slave holding Christians, of which there were many, Moses was known for leading his people from slavery. And so Morrison asks, how can you.

[Sophie Gratis]

Hold a slave named Moses? But I mean, he still manages to escape and gain his freedom on Christmas Day.

[Jeff Bruce]

Yes, many of the ads depict suffering.

[Sophie Gratis]

She says, but even through the suffering, you're able to see the resilience of the people. And I think that's something really special.

[Jeff Bruce]

As they attempted and often succeeded in leaving suffering behind. The Freedom Seekers exhibit at Macon's Tubman African American museum goes through March 22. For GPB news, I'm Grant Blankenship.

[Peter Biello]

Atlanta's Piedmont Park Conservancy is inviting the public to weigh in on draft plans for major park renovations. A virtual meeting scheduled for tomorrow would provide an opportunity for community members to share thoughts on one of two paths forward. One plan introduces new opportunities to play and gather, while the other emphasizes natural exploration and scenic views. Proposed improvements for both plans include dedicated bike and scooter paths, enhanced entrances and increased biodiversity. Tomorrow's feedback session, held virtually begins at 1:00. A music festival in Atlanta this weekend aims to raise support and awareness for the caregivers of those living with Alzheimer's, GPB's Ellen Eldredge explains.

[Sarah Kalis]

The 11th annual Alzheimer's Music Fest, organized by advocates Vince Zangaro and Carissa Rumsey, will raise money for caregivers to buy the things they need, things like wheelchairs and hospital beds that aren't always covered by insurance. Zangaro says proceeds from the show will support the Cherokee county nonprofit Stand up for Seniors.

[Peter Biello]

So working with Cherokee Senior Services and other senior services throughout the country is kind of the direction that Karissa and I are going through. Let's work straight with them. They have the infrastructure. Let's raise the money, create all these programs just like we have in the past. Respite care, free medical equipment, education, support groups.

[Sarah Kalis]

Zangara says the music festival takes place at Smith's Old Bar in Atlanta, and they plan to expand it to Savannah, Athens and other Georgia cities in the future. For GPB News, I'm Ellen Eldredge.

[Peter Biello]

The city of Atlanta has released what it's calling an employee bill of rights. Mayor Andre Dickens says the guide is meant to balance transparency and accountability. Its release comes in the wake of the abrupt resignation earlier this week of the city's inspector general, who said upon her resignation that recent changes to her office hindered her ability to investigate corruption. The city says the Office of Inspector General will remain independent. The Bill of Rights includes, among other things, any employee's right to quash subpoenas issued by the city's inspector general. A new book honoring the legacy of Congressman John Lewis is celebrating civil rights through quilting. The Atlanta Quilt Festival, in partnership with South Fulton Arts, has released Good Trouble Quilts the Fight, the Progress, The Legacy, a 200 page photo book featuring quilt art inspired by Lewis's life. The book, available now, will be the centerpiece of this year's Atlanta Quilt Festival in August with a book signing on Opening day. In Sports and the NBA Hawks All Star guard Trae Young had some pointed comments about the officials following Atlanta's 15014 to 108 loss to the Orlando Magic last night. Young, who was tagged with a technical foul early in the fourth quarter, said he felt the officiating was one sided in the matchup of teams jockeying for playoff seating in the Eastern Conference. The Hawks were whistled for 25 fouls in the Magic 22, but Orlando had 38 free throw attempts to Atlanta's 28. The Hawks were also called for three technical fouls and the Magic won. And the Atlanta Braves kick off their spring training games tomorrow against the Minnesota Twins. And the season begins with new ways to watch the team. FanDuel Sports Network will be streaming games throughout Braves country with no local blackouts. Fans can get monthly, seasonal or annual subscriptions. Games will also be available on Charter Spectrum, comcast, Xfinity, Cox, DirecTV, DirecTV, Stream, Fubo, MediaCom and U Verse TV. That's it for this edition of Georgia Today. Thanks so much for tuning in. I'm going to be taking some time off. I'm expected to become a dad next week, so I'll spend time with my new child. I will be back with you in April. You will be in good hands. In the meantime, you can always check gpb.org news for updates. I'm Peter Biello. Thanks again for listening. We'll be back next week.