Bernice King speaks out against HUD cuts; Fort Gaines disbands its police department

Summary

Georgia Today Podcast Summary Episode: Bernice King speaks out against HUD cuts; Fort Gaines disbands its police department
Release Date: April 11, 2025
Host: Orlando Montoya

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1. Introduction

In today’s episode of Georgia Today, host Orlando Montoya presents a series of compelling stories impacting Georgia communities. The episode covers Bernice King’s opposition to federal housing cuts, Fort Gaines’ decision to disband its police department, and Columbus’s celebration of the Liberty Theater’s centennial, among other significant local developments.

2. Bernice King Opposes HUD Funding Cuts

Timestamp: 00:30 - 02:26

Bernice King, daughter of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., has publicly spoken out against recent federal funding cuts to public housing. These cuts, implemented by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), involved the cancellation of millions of dollars in grants allocated to nonprofits that address housing discrimination complaints.

Notable Quotes:

• "These policy shifts are not occurring in a vacuum, as we know. They're not just numbers on a budget sheet. They have real devastating consequences for families trying to survive, for communities trying to thrive, and for a nation that claims to stand for justice." — Bernice King [02:10]

In Washington, Bernice King expressed concern that the reductions undermine the Fair Housing Act, emphasizing the real-world impact on marginalized communities. Speaking in Seattle, near the Habitat for Humanity project named after her father, she highlighted the historical significance of the Fair Housing Act's passage, which coincided with Dr. King’s assassination in 1968.

Additional Context: The HUD cuts were temporarily frozen by a judge, providing a brief reprieve for affected nonprofits. Bernice King advocates for the restoration of these funds to continue combating housing discrimination and supporting fair housing initiatives.

3. Release of Intelligence Records on RFK and MLK Assassinations

Timestamp: 00:54 - 02:52

Tulsi Gabbard, U.S. Director of National Intelligence, announced that the Trump administration is preparing to release previously concealed records related to the assassinations of U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy and Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. These documents, which have remained unopened in storage for decades, are expected to be made available through the Atlanta-based King Center in the coming days.

Notable Quotes:

• "They have never been scanned or seen before." — Tonya Moseley [01:26]
• "We'll have those ready to release here." — Unknown Speaker [01:29]

Bernice King has stated her intention to review these files with her family before they are made public, emphasizing the personal significance of these documents to her family's legacy.

4. Fort Gaines Disbands Its Police Department

Timestamp: 02:52 - 04:34

In a significant shift for public safety in Southwest Georgia, the small city of Fort Gaines, with a population of approximately 1,000, has decided to disband its local police department. The city council opted to transfer public safety responsibilities to the Clay County Sheriff's Office due to financial constraints that made maintaining a dedicated police force unsustainable.

Notable Quotes:

• "First responders take a good chunk out of a city's budget, but yeah, for small cities with minimum resources for revenue, it does could create a problem. But we have created an environment here in our community where there is less violent crime than our neighboring counties in Alabama, across the river or even here in the counties that are joining us. So we do have a quiet and safe community." — Mayor Kenneth Sumpter [03:56]

Mayor Sumpter expressed his disagreement with the council's decision but affirmed his commitment to enforcing it. He highlighted that Fort Gaines has maintained a safe and quiet community with lower violent crime rates compared to neighboring areas, attributing this success to effective local governance despite reduced law enforcement staffing.

5. Savannah’s New Medical Campus and Amazon’s Expansion in Columbus

Timestamp: 04:34 - 05:58

Savannah’s St. Joe's Candler Health System has inaugurated a new $10 million medical campus in Bryan County's Ellabelle. This facility aims to serve the expanding communities and workforce along the Interstate 16 corridor, including those employed at Hyundai's new vehicle factory. The campus offers urgent care, occupational medicine, and various other health services.

Amazon’s First Columbus Delivery Center was officially opened, marking a significant economic boost to the city. The 90,000-square-foot facility has created approximately 200 jobs and began operations in December, efficiently handling tens of thousands of packages daily for the Columbus area.

6. Columbus Celebrates the Centennial of the Liberty Theater

Timestamp: 04:34 - 07:19

Columbus is commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Liberty Theater, a historic landmark that has played a pivotal role in the African American cultural scene. Originally opened in 1925 as the city's first black theater, the Liberty Theater became a prominent stage for entertainers who faced segregation in other venues.

Notable Quotes:

• "The Liberty Theater itself was probably, you know, a forerunner in having that opportunity for black performers to perform around the country... some of them still live here, some of them don't live here anymore, but they're all coming back to share and lend their talents for this amazing opportunity for us to kind of brand and rebrand the Liberty so that we can actually build it back better." — Oz Roberts, Gala Committee Chair [05:58]

The city organized a sold-out gala at the Columbus Convention and Trade Center to honor the Liberty Theater’s legacy. Although the theater is currently closed due to structural issues, the community is rallying to restore and reopen the landmark by the end of the year. The event celebrated the theater's rich history, featuring performances by notable artists such as Cab Calloway, Ellen Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, and Gertrude "Ma" Rainey—the latter being a Columbus native known as the “mother of the blues.”

7. Honoring Fred Bennett’s Legacy at the Masters Tournament

Timestamp: 07:51 - 08:57

During the prestigious Masters Tournament in Augusta, attention was given to commemorating Fred Bennett, one of Augusta National’s most esteemed caddies. His son, Lawrence Bennett, shared poignant reflections on the often-overlooked contributions of black caddies who served at Augusta.

Notable Quotes:

• "Until recently, I never thought this would happen, you know, because when the club went from all black caddies to caddie masters enterprises, these people were forgotten." — Lawrence Bennett [08:12]
• "The front office, write a Pennycast for $853.56 per semester. And they paid for me to go to college." — Fred Bennett [08:45]

Fred Bennett’s dedication spanned over five decades at Augusta National, where he held roles such as chauffeur, jacket manager, and dresser for the club chairman. His assistance extended beyond his duties, as he supported others in pursuing higher education, exemplifying his lasting impact on the community and the sport.

8. Atlanta’s 89th Annual Dogwood Festival

Timestamp: 09:15 - 09:43

Atlanta’s Piedmont Park recently hosted the 89th Annual Dogwood Festival, the city’s longest-running fine arts festival. The event featured a diverse array of activities, including a fine art market, live music performances, a 5K race, and family-friendly attractions. Organizers anticipated high attendance due to favorable weather forecasts.

Event Highlights:

• Peter Biello, GPB News correspondent, reported on the vibrant festivities.
• The festival encouraged eco-friendly attendance options, promoting public transportation, biking, and walking.

The festival is free to attend, with VIP experience tickets available for those seeking an enhanced experience. It concluded on Sunday, marking a successful celebration of Atlanta’s cultural heritage.

9. Sports Update: Atlanta Braves Victory

Timestamp: 09:43 - End

In sports news, Atlanta Braves fans experienced a thrilling conclusion to a delayed game, culminating in a dramatic victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.

Game Highlights:

• After nearly a three-hour rain delay, Marcelo Zunino hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 11th inning, securing a 4-2 win for the Braves.
• The victory ended the Phillies’ 16-inning shutout streak, a milestone that had held since starter Spencer Schwellenbach allowed a homer to Kyle Schwaber.
• The Braves now hold a 39-win record as they prepare for a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays, with Bryce Elder slated to start for the Braves.

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Conclusion

Today's episode of Georgia Today delivered a comprehensive overview of significant events and issues affecting Georgia communities. From Bernice King’s advocacy against housing funding cuts and the restructuring of Fort Gaines' public safety services to the cultural celebrations in Columbus and Atlanta, the podcast highlighted the resilience and dynamism of Georgia's diverse population.

For more detailed information on these stories, listeners are encouraged to visit gpb.org/news and subscribe to the Georgia Today podcast for future updates.

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This summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights presented in the April 11, 2025 episode of "Georgia Today." Notable quotes have been included with accurate timestamps to provide context and enhance understanding.

Transcript

[Unknown Speaker]

DBHDD is warning all Georgians that half of all opioid deaths happen at home when people take an oxy or a perk with a glass of alcohol for stress or to sleep. Learn more about protecting families from opioid [e-mail].

[Orlando Montoya]

Hello and welcome to GEORGIA Today. On this podcast, we feature the latest reports from the GPB news team. On today's episode, the daughter of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Speaks out against federal cuts to public housing. Southwest Georgia's Fort Gaines disbands its police department, and the city of Columbus celebrates the centennial of the Liberty Theater, a treasured historic landmark.

[Unknown Speaker]

The Liberty Theater itself was probably, you know, a forerunner in having that opportunity for black performers to perform around the country.

[Orlando Montoya]

Today is Friday, April 11th. I'm Orlando Montoya, and this is Georgia Today. U.S. director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard says the Trump administration is preparing to release records about the assassinations of US Senator Robert F. Kennedy and the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. At a cabinet meeting yesterday, Gabbard said her agency has had over 100 people working around the clock on the release. These have been sitting in boxes in storage for decades.

[Tonya Moseley]

They have never been scanned or seen before.

[Unknown Speaker]

We'll have those ready to release here.

[Orlando Montoya]

Within the next few days through the Atlanta based King Center. King's daughter, Bernice King, previously said her family's loss remains deeply personal and she hopes the family will be allowed to review the files before they are made public. Separately, Bernice King also is speaking out about the Trump administration's funding cuts in the area of public housing. GP's Devin Zwald has that story.

[Devin Zwald]

In February, the U.S. department of Housing and Urban Development canceled millions of dollars in grants to nonprofits that handle housing discrimination complaints. A judge temporarily froze the terminations. King said yesterday the cuts undermine the Fair Housing Act.

[Unknown Speaker]

These policy shifts are not occurring in a vacuum, as we know. They're not just numbers on a budget sheet. They have real devastating consequences for families trying to survive, for communities trying to thrive, and for a nation that claims to stand for justice.

[Devin Zwald]

King made the remarks in Seattle, near where Habitat for Humanity is building a new condominium that will be named after her father, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Habitat raises awareness about fair housing in April in remembrance of the Fair Housing act passage in 1968, a week after Dr. King's assassination. For GPB News, I'm Devon Zwald.

[Orlando Montoya]

The U.S. marshals Service says a convicted killer who was mistakenly released from a jail in metro Atlanta's Clayton county has been caught two weeks later in Florida, a marshals spokesman said. Katan Guzman was apprehended today. The Clayton County District Attorney's office said he was found at his mother's house. Guzman has admitted to strangling his girlfriend, 19 year old Delilah Grayson, in 2022. The county sheriff has blamed the mistaken release on jail employees who failed to read paperwork carefully. Fort Gaines has disbanded its police department. The Council of the Southwest Georgia city, population 1,000, decided last week to turn its public safety over to the Clay County Sheriff's Office because it no longer can afford its two. The sheriff has about five deputies, according to Fort Gang's mayor, Kenneth Sumpter, who says small towns across Georgia are struggling with staffing law enforcement.

[Kenneth Sumpter]

First responders take a good chunk out of a city's budget, but yeah, for small cities with minimum resources for revenue, it does could create a problem. But we have created an environment here in our community where there is less violent crime than our neighboring counties in Alabama, across the river or even here in the counties that are joining us. So we do have a quiet and safe community.

[Orlando Montoya]

Sumter said he disagreed with the council's decision but will enforce it as mayor. Savannah's St. Joe's Candler Health System has opened a $10 million medical campus in Bryan County. The facility in Ellabelle is aimed at the growing communities and workforce along the Interstate 16 corridor that includes Hyundai's massive new vehicle factory. It includes urgent care, occupational medicine and other services. Global shipping giant Amazon celebrated the opening of a 90,000 square foot delivery center in Columbus yesterday. It's the first Amazon facility in Columbus and has created about 200 jobs. It began operating in December, handling tens of thousands of packages per day in the Columbus area. And the city of Columbus is celebrating the centennial of a treasured historic landmark. A sold out gala tonight will honor the legacy of the Liberty Theater. Opened as a Movie House in 1925, the Liberty was Columbus first black theater and later became a stage for entertainers who weren't allowed to perform in segregated theaters. It closed in 1974, reopened in 1997 and is currently closed again because of structural issues. Oz Roberts chairs the gala committee.

[Unknown Speaker]

You know, there were places like the Apollo Theater that most people are familiar with, but the Apollo Theater actually opened up 10 years after the Liberty Theater. So the Liberty Theater itself was probably, you know, a forerunner in having that opportunity for black performers to perform around the country. But you know, we had the likes of, you know, Cab Calloway, Ellen Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Gertrude Ma Rainey, who was born and raised in Columbus as well, and Ma Rainey was known as the mother of the blues. And tonight we've got the gala. And the gala is an opportunity for us to showcase the incredible talent that we have here in Columbus. Some of them still live here, some of them don't live here anymore, but they're all coming back to share and lend their talents for this amazing opportunity for us to kind of brand and rebrand the Liberty so that we can actually build it back better. The Liberty Theater itself is closed right now because it has some structural issues. And so this is an opportunity for the community to know that we're going to bring the Liberty back and the things that they can look forward to seeing at the Liberty once those doors do reopen.

[Orlando Montoya]

Tonight's gala will be at the Columbus Convention and Trade Center. The Columbus government took over the building in 2023 and hopes to reopen it by the end of this year.

[Tonya Moseley]

This is Tonya Moseley, co host of Fresh air. You'll see your favorite actors, directors and comedians on late night TV shows or YouTube, but what you get with FRESH AIR is a deep dive. Spend some quality time with people like Billie Eilish, Questlove, Ariana Grande, Stephen Colbert, and so many more. We ask questions you won't hear asked anywhere else. Listen to the Fresh Air podcast from NPR and whyy.

[Orlando Montoya]

As the Masters tournament unfolds in Augusta, one man is reflecting on the legacy of those who helped shape the sport. Fred Bennett was one of Augusta National's best known caddies. His son Lawrence Bennett, says for years, black caddies like his father were largely forgotten. Until recently, I never thought this would.

[Unknown Speaker]

Happen, you know, because when the club went from all black caddies to caddie masters enterprises, these people were forgotten.

[Orlando Montoya]

Until 1982, every golfer playing in the Masters had to use an Augusta national caddy from their all black caddy core. Bennett followed in his father's footsteps, working at the club for more than 50 years as a chauffeur, a jacket manager and even dressing club chairman. And when he needed help paying for college, the club manager said, go to.

[Unknown Speaker]

The front office, write a Pennycast for $853.56 per semester. And they paid for me to go to college.

[Orlando Montoya]

He says honoring his father's legacy during this Masters week feels like coming full circle. The 89th annual Dogwood Festival kicked off today in Atlanta's Piedmont Park. GPB's Peter Biello was there.

[Peter Biello]

As the dogwoods bloom, Piedmont park will play host to Atlanta's longest running fine arts festival. It in addition to the fine art market, there will be live music, a 5K race and a variety of family friendly activities. With clear skies in the forecast, the festival is expected to be well attended and festival organizers say the best way to get to the festival is without a car, either through public transportation, by bike or on foot. The festival is free to attend with VIP experience tickets available. The festival wraps up Sunday. For GPB News, I'm Peter Biello in.

[Orlando Montoya]

Piedmont park and I'll be at the festival tomorrow, tomorrow Saturday alongside one of the co hosts of the PBS travel photography program Viewfinders. And we have an interview with the Festival's [e-mail] News in Sports Atlanta Braves fans waited out nearly a three hour rain delay last night to see Marcelo Zuna hit a walk off homer in the bottom of the 11th inning to lift the Braves to victory 42 over the Philadelphia Phillies. It happened just before 1:00 in the morning. Starter Spencer Schwellenbach gave up a homer to the Phillies Kyle Schwaber, ending a shutout inning streak at 16. The Braves are now 39 heading into a three game series starting tonight against the Tampa Bay Rays. Bryce Elder is scheduled to start for the Braves. And that's it for today's edition of Georgia Today. If you'd like to learn more about these stories, visit gpb.org news that's where many of the stories that you hear on this podcast live in a longer digital format that you can read hit subscribe on this podcast if you haven't done so already. That helps you to keep us current in your feed and it helps us because you'll hear us more. If you like to send us feedback, we welcome that and we we do respond to questions and concerns@georgia todaypb.org I'm Orlando Montoya. Looking forward to a great weekend. I hope you have one and join us again on Monday for another Georgia Today.