DHS pauses plans to buy warehouses; Property tax reduction; TSA receives backpay

Summary

Georgia Today Podcast Summary Date: April 1, 2026 | Host: Peter Biello, Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB)

Episode Overview

This episode of Georgia Today dives into a series of major statewide and national news stories: the Department of Homeland Security's halt on purchasing warehouses for immigrant detention, a Georgia Senate property tax reduction proposal, unfolding effects from the partial federal shutdown on TSA agents, celebration of America's 250th anniversary at the Georgia Capitol, legal and financial fallout from a Ponzi scheme, updates on Fulton County's 2020 election ballots, a stalled bill for community health worker certification, upcoming FIFA World Cup matches in Atlanta, and a recap of the Braves’ latest homestand.

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Key Discussion Points

DHS Pauses Plans to Buy Warehouses for Immigrant Detention

• [00:30] DHS is halting plans for new immigrant detention warehouses as Secretary Mark Wayne Mullen reviews $38+ billion in contracts made under former Secretary Kristi Noem.
• Eleven warehouses were already purchased across the US, including near Atlanta and Gainesville.
• The expansion faced "intense opposition" from residents and communities, especially regarding ICE's presence and concerns over local infrastructure strain.
• Sec. Mullen wants more collaboration with local leaders:

  “Many communities don’t have adequate infrastructure to support these facilities.” (Paraphrased, [00:58])

Georgia Senate Moves Forward on Property Tax Reduction

• [01:31] Senate passes a measure that would cut homeowner property taxes, introducing a 1% special sales tax within new taxing districts.
• GOP Sen. Chuck Hufstetler:

  "[Virtually every city and county will] reduce their property taxes on city and county taxes by more than half." (Sen. Hufstetler, [02:07])

• Democrats object: The measure shifts the tax burden from property owners to consumers. The bill heads back to the House.

TSA Agents Receive Partial Back Pay and Ongoing Concerns

• [03:17] Despite the ongoing government shutdown, TSA workers began receiving back pay after a 40-day lapse.
• Security wait times stabilized at Atlanta’s airport, but many TSA agents await full pay.
• Union rep Yolanda Keaton expresses concern over retention if funding lapses again:

  “If we're not funded and we go back into acceptance status of non pay, you're going to get more people resigning. That's a definite.” (Yolanda Keaton, [03:55])

• Congressional negotiations on DHS funding are expected April 14.

Celebrating 250 Years of the United States at Georgia Capitol

• [02:36] The “America250” event featured music, prayer, and remarks by Governor Brian Kemp and Major General Dwayne Williams.
• Kemp highlighted the importance of Georgia’s history:

  "We’re not just teaching our young people about the past. We are opening their eyes to what the future can hold." (Gov. Kemp, [02:50])

• Early American documents will be displayed at the Atlanta History Center until April 12.

Legal Resolution in Atlanta Training Center Protest Shooting

• [04:19] A federal judge ruled state troopers acted reasonably in the 2023 killing of protester Manuel Paez Tehran.
• The ruling dismisses the family’s civil rights suit, as evidence proved Tehran fired on troopers first.
• Tehran's death became a rallying point for further protests; family is reportedly "devastated" and considering further legal options.

Progress for Victims in Ponzi Scheme Scandal

• [05:03] Investors in the First Liberty Building and Loan Ponzi scheme will begin to get restitution—Bankers Life agreed to pay $7 million to more than 40 investors.
• Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger urges others to follow suit:

  “While this is the first of these types of agreements, I hope it is not the last. I encourage other involved parties to… return this money to the hardworking Georgians who had their life savings taken.” (Brad Raffensperger, [05:29])

• Advisor Timothy Darnell fined; Bankers Life asserts Darnell acted independently.

Fulton County Election Ballots Lawsuit Ongoing

• [06:04] A federal judge heard arguments on whether Fulton County is entitled to the return of 2020 election ballots seized by the FBI.
• DOJ says valid warrant, argues copies should suffice.
• Election innovation advocate David Becker notes robust election checks:

  “Reconciliations to make sure the ballots match the number of people who voted. Audits to make sure the ballots were counted correctly…” (David Becker, [06:29])

• County attorneys worry a loss might enable further federal raids on election offices.

Stalled Bill for Community Health Worker Certification

• [06:52] A bill to certify Georgia’s community health workers stalled in the Senate.
• Certification would track deployment and allow for insurance reimbursement, particularly in underserved areas.
• Natasha Taylor (Georgia Watch):

  “It helps us kind of put eyes on where our community health workers [are] and then also be able to deploy them into areas where they’re needed most.” (Natasha Taylor, [07:18])

• Sponsors aim to reintroduce the bill next session.

FIFA World Cup & Braves Baseball Updates

• [07:42] Atlanta to host 8 FIFA World Cup matches, including recently finalized group-stage fixtures (Czechia vs. South Africa on June 18; Congo vs. Uzbekistan on June 27).
• Anticipated “massive economic boost” to the city.
• Braves conclude season-opening homestand with a 5–1 win over the Athletics; Drake Baldwin and Chris Sale star.
• Next up: road games against the Diamondbacks and Angels; home again April 10 for Cleveland series.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Yolanda Keaton on TSA funding uncertainty ([03:55]):
  “If we're not funded and we go back into acceptance status of non pay, you're going to get more people resigning. That's a definite because people have [been] saying… if we don't get paid after this, we can't hang around.”

• Sen. Chuck Hufstetler on property tax cuts ([02:07]):
  "Reduce their property taxes on city and county taxes by more than half."

• Governor Brian Kemp on America250 ([02:50]):
  “We’re not just teaching our young people about the past. We are opening their eyes to what the future can hold.”

• Brad Raffensperger on investor restitution ([05:29]):
  “While this is the first of these types of agreements, I hope it is not the last.”

• David Becker on election safeguards ([06:29]):
  “Reconciliations to make sure the ballots match the number of people who voted. Audits to make sure the ballots were counted correctly…”

• Natasha Taylor on community health workers ([07:18]):
  “It helps us… put eyes on where our community health workers [are] and… deploy them into areas where they’re needed most.”

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Segment Timestamps

• [00:30] DHS warehouse plan pause and local opposition
• [01:31] Georgia Senate property tax reduction bill
• [02:36] America250 celebration at state capitol
• [03:17] TSA agents receive back pay amid partial shutdown
• [04:19] Federal judge ruling on Atlanta training center protest shooting
• [05:03] Ponzi scheme investor restitution announced
• [06:04] Lawsuit over Fulton County 2020 election ballots
• [06:52] Community health worker certification bill stalls
• [07:42] FIFA World Cup matches set for Atlanta; Braves home opener recap

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This summary provides a thorough outline of the episode’s news, issues, and highlights as covered by GPB’s reporting team and credited speakers.

Transcript

[A]

Welcome to the Georgia Today Podcast. Here we bring you the latest reports from the GPB newsroom. On today's episode the Department of Homeland Security is pausing plans to buy new warehouses for immigrant detention. The Georgia Senate attempts to reduce property taxes, and though TSA agents are getting some back pay, the future remains uncertain.

[B]

I do believe that if we're not funded and we go back into acceptance status of non pay, you're going to get more people retiring. That's a definite.

[A]

Today is Wednesday, April 1st. I'm Peter Biello and this is Georgia Today. The Department of Homeland Security is pausing plans to buy new warehouses for immigrant detention as the agency reviews contracts signed under former Secretary Kristi Noem. The Associated Press is reporting DHS also is rechecking warehouse deals it has already made. The agency has bought 11 warehouses so far, including one east of Atlanta and one south of Gainesville. New Homeland Security Secretary Mark Wayne Mullen, who was sworn in last week, inherited the more than $38 billion plan to boost detention capacity to 92,000 beds nationally. The plan immediately ran into intense opposition around the country by residents and communities opposed to such large Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities in their neighborhoods, including in Georgia. Many objected on moral grounds to ice's presence in their neighborhoods, while others questioned whether the facilities would be a drain on local resources such as sewer and water systems. Mullins says he wants to work with community leaders and be good partners, noting that many communities don't have adequate infrastructure to support these facilities. The Georgia Senate passed a measure yesterday that would reduce homeowner property taxes by creating a new sales tax in exchange. The measure came from the House as a cap on property tax valuation increases. The Senate's version would create new special taxing districts, and those districts could implement a 1% sales tax. The the revenue would go toward reducing property taxes. ROME Republican State Senator Chuck Hufstetler presented the bill and virtually every city and county will reduce their property taxes on

[C]

city and county taxes by more than half.

[A]

Democrats objected, saying it just passes the tax burden from homeowners to consumers. The bill passed along party lines and now goes back to the House for final approval. Political leaders, lawmakers and the public celebrated the 250th anniversary of the United States founding and Georgia's role in it at the State Capitol today, GPB Sarah Kalis reports.

[D]

The patriotic celebration at the Capitol included music, prayers and addresses from governor Brian Kemp and Georgia National Guard general Dwayne Williams. Kemp said commemorating Georgia's history can inspire a future generation.

[A]

Georgia is American history in this Georgia 250 day we just aren't teaching our young people about the past. We are opening their eyes to what the future can hold.

[D]

More events are planned around the state this year for America250 documents from the nation's founding will be on display until April 12th at the Atlanta History Center. For GPB News, I'm Sarah Kallis at the state Capitol.

[A]

The partial government shutdown continues, but TSA agents are starting to receive some back pay after more than 40 days without a check. That's despite showing up for work. GPB's Amanda Andrews reports. Union members in Atlanta say there's still a lot to be done.

[D]

Security wait times at Hartsfield Jackson International Airport have returned to normal. However, many TSA agents are still waiting to receive their final two full paychecks. An executive order signed last week by President Trump guaranteed TSA will be paid until the shutdown ends. Yolanda Keaton is a member of the federal workers union. She says so far most TSA agents are staying on the job.

[B]

I do believe that if we're not funded and we go back into acceptance status of non pay, you're going to, you're going to get more people resigning. That's a definite because people have saying like listen, if we don't get paid after this, we can't hang around.

[D]

Congress is expected to return to negotiate funding the Department of Homeland Security April 14. For GPB news, I'm Amanda Andrews.

[A]

A federal judge has ruled that Georgia state troopers acted reasonably when they shot and killed an environmental activist who is protesting the construction of an Atlanta public safety training center. The judge's order on Monday dismisses a civil rights lawsuit filed by the parents of 26 year old Manuel Paez Tehran. Their 2023 shooting was a galvanizing moment for a wide range of protesters who continued to invoke their name. The judge noted that Tehran fired at the troopers, wounding one of them, making their lethal response objectively reasonable. The training center Tehran was protesting officially opened about a year ago. A lawyer for Tehran's family says they are devastated by the result and are reviewing all their legal options. Nine months after the collapse of an alleged Ponzi scheme that touched the top ranks of Republican politics in Georgia, some investors are now set to get their money back. Federal investigators have accused the now defunct First Liberty Building and Loan of defrauding at least 300 investors out of $140 million or more. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger today said financial services company Bankers Life had agreed to pay more than 40 investors about $7 million. While this is the first of these types of agreements, I hope it is not the last. I encourage other involved parties to follow suit and return this money to the hard working Georgians who had their life savings taken. Former Bankers Life Advisor and GOP activist Timothy Darnell has been fined for his role in the alleged scheme. Raffensperger said Darnell acted independently without Bankers Life's knowledge, but but the company chose to do the right thing. Fulton county election officials are still waiting for a federal judge to rule in a lawsuit demanding the return of ballots from the 2020 election following a seizure by the FBI. GPB's Chase McGee has more.

[C]

Judge JP Boule in Georgia's Northern District heard from attorneys representing the Department of Justice last week. They argued the FBI had a valid search warrant and Fulton county should be satisfied with copies of ballots to answer public records requests and other pending litigation. David Becker is the founder of the center for Election Innovation and Research. He says elections offices already have checks and balances necessary to prevent fraud. But then the process continues.

[A]

Reconciliations to make sure the ballots match the number of people who voted. Audits to make sure the ballots were counted correctly with recounts when they're appropriate.

[C]

With so many different processes and procedures and checks, Fulton county attorneys argue that a verdict in their favor could stop the FBI from raiding other state election offices with little evidence For GPB news, I'm Chase McGee.

[A]

A bill to certify community health care workers who help bridge gaps between people and healthcare systems has stalled in a key committee of the state senate. GPB's Sophie Gratis has more on what comes next for this public health initiative.

[E]

There are already thousands of community health care workers in Georgia trained here at medical schools by the state Department of Public Health or by national organizations. The bill would have formalized training for them and, says Natasha Taylor with the consumer advocacy group Georgia Watch, it helps

[D]

us kind of put eyes on where our community health workers and then also be able to deploy them into areas where they're needed most.

[E]

Certification would also open the door to reimbursement by insurance. Taylor says they'll reintroduce the bill next session, emphasizing community health care workers roles in rural and underserved areas. For GPB News, I'm Sophie Gradis.

[A]

The final teams in the summer's 48 team FIFA World cup are now set, including the last two Georgia matchups to be determined in the tournament's group stage after playoffs yesterday. Czechia will face South Africa on June 18 and Congo will face Uzbekistan on June 27 in Atlanta. The city will host eight games altogether, including five in the group stage when teams are determined by complicated rules and three in later rounds when teams are advanced by tournament play. All of the games are expected to bring tens of thousands of visitors and a massive economic boost. And in baseball, Drake Baldwin drove in four runs with a pair of two out hits. Green Crissale pitched one hit ball over six innings and the Atlanta Braves wrapped up their season opening homestand with a 51 victory over the struggling Athletics. Baldwin had a two run single in the second against Athletic starter Luis Severino and added a two run double in the fourth to give Chris Sale some breathing room. The Braves now head to Arizona for a four game series against the Diamondbacks, followed by three games against the Angels. They return home on Friday, April 10th for a three game series against Cleveland. And that's a wrap on Georgia Today. Thanks so much as always for tuning in. We appreciate you choosing GPB as your source of news. And remember, you can check our website gpb.org news for the latest headlines as well as any updates to the stories you heard on the podcast today. Now, your feedback powers this podcast. We do appreciate it. We also value your story ideas. Let us know what's going on in your community. The email address is george todaypb.org and yes it does go to the whole team. Again. Georgia Todaypb.org Remember to subscribe to this podcast because we will be back in your podcast feed tomorrow afternoon. I'm Peter Biello. Thanks again for listening. We will see you tomorrow.