Fed official says tariffs may raise prices; Students sue over deportation risk; WAYMO

Summary

Georgia Today Podcast Summary: April 15, 2025

Hosted by Peter Biello, Georgia Today provides comprehensive coverage of the latest news and stories impacting Georgians. In this episode, Biello delves into economic forecasts, legal battles faced by foreign students, technological advancements in transportation, cultural revivals on college campuses, and significant developments in sports and local governance.

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1. Federal Reserve Official Warns of Rising Prices Due to Tariffs

The episode begins with insights from Rafael Bostic, President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. Speaking at Emory University, Bostic expressed concerns about economic uncertainty stemming from the Trump administration's policies.

“I think what we have right now is a period where the range of possible outcomes has kind of multiplied and the boundaries and the guardrails that used to have in my head about what could possibly happen have all kind of been blown up,” Bostic stated at [05:48].

Bostic emphasized that consumers should brace for higher prices as tariffs are likely to affect the cost of goods and services, urging caution amidst the unpredictable economic landscape.

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2. Lawsuit by Foreign College Students Over Deportation Risks

A significant portion of the podcast is dedicated to a lawsuit filed by 17 foreign college students against the federal government. Represented by attorney Charles Cook, the students allege that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) improperly deleted their SEVIS records, jeopardizing their legal status to study in the U.S.

“No other administration, of course, would say you're out of status because the police arrested you and later dropped charges because they made a mistake,” Cook explained at [03:17].

Cook detailed that the deletion of SEVIS records without due process renders the students vulnerable to arrest and deportation, despite no actual convictions against them.

“Our immigration laws actually account for this. They require the government to bring them before an immigration judge, make an accusation of which immigration laws they violated, and then prove that before an immigration judge,” Cook elaborated at [03:45].

The legal team is seeking a temporary restraining order to reinstate the students' SEVIS status, ensuring they receive fair treatment under the law. The first federal court hearing is scheduled for the upcoming Thursday in Atlanta, with plans to add approximately 150 more plaintiffs, around 30 of whom are from Georgia ([05:37]).

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3. Governor Brian Kemp Signs Tax Relief Measures

Governor Brian Kemp announced the signing of two tax relief bills aimed at easing the financial burden on Georgia residents. The first law introduces a one-time rebate for taxpayers, while the second accelerates previously approved income tax reductions.

“We know that this is your money, not the government's, and we know that you know best how to spend it,” Kemp remarked while signing the bills in Cobb County at [06:22].

These measures received broad support in the General Assembly, highlighting the bipartisan effort to provide economic relief to Georgians amidst rising prices.

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4. Local Ordinances and Developments

Pet Ordinance in Rome City

The Rome City Council unanimously passed an ordinance requiring pet owners to spay, neuter, and microchip their dogs and cats to align with Floyd County's existing regulations.

“So it's just to make it consistent with the ordinance that the county already has in place,” Commissioner Harry Brock explained at [09:17].

Demolition of Habersham County Courthouse

In Northeast Georgia, the old Habersham County Courthouse is set for demolition after failed redevelopment efforts. Local Commissioner Ty Akins referred to the building as an eyesore that had long been vacant since its construction in 1963.

“It was a bit of an eyesore. A lot of people in Clarksville had nicknamed it the ugliest courthouse in Georgia,” Akins stated at [11:20].

The demolition marks a turning point, with officials optimistic about future investments in the area.

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5. Introduction of Self-Driving Waymo Ubers in Atlanta

Technological advancements in transportation are highlighted with Waymo’s expansion of autonomous vehicles within the Atlanta Uber service. Starting this summer, riders will have the option to be matched with self-driving Waymo vehicles across a 65-square-mile service area from Buckhead to Capitol View.

“Atlanta will be Waymo's largest launch yet,” Biello noted at [10:45].

This initiative follows a year of internal testing and represents a significant step towards integrating self-driving technology into the city's transportation network.

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6. Mercer University Students Revive Stepping Tradition

Mercer University in Macon has seen a revival of the stepping tradition among its students after a 15-year hiatus. Inspired by other institutions, students from various Greek organizations have come together to perform stepping routines, a cultural expression rooted in African American fraternity and sorority life.

“It's black culture. My name is Teresita Cabral and I am a part of the Megmeet chapter of Zeta Beta Sorority Incorporated,” Cabral shared at [12:10].

The performances aim to educate peers about their heritage and foster a sense of community and brotherhood/sisterhood through synchronized dance and percussion.

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7. FIFA President Visits Atlanta Ahead of Major Soccer Events

Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA, visited Atlanta to underscore the city's role as a host for upcoming international soccer events. Atlanta will host six Club Cup games in 2025 and eight World Cup matches in 2026. During his visit, Infantino announced a $1 million donation to support youth soccer initiatives.

“We’re gonna have a team that’s planning ... engagement opportunities and activities that they can participate in during this summer,” Mayor Andre Dickens discussed the allocation of the funds at [13:32].

The donation aims to promote youth engagement and education in soccer, fostering local talent and enthusiasm ahead of the major events.

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8. ESPN Partners with Savannah Bananas Baseball Team

In a unique sports collaboration, ESPN has partnered with the Savannah Bananas, a baseball team renowned for its unconventional and entertaining gameplay. Ten "banana ball" games will be broadcast on ESPN and ESPN2, featuring marquee matchups in iconic venues such as Fenway Park and NFL stadiums.

“We are going big, the biggest we've ever gone with ESPN,” Jesse Cole, founder and owner of the Savannah Bananas, announced at [13:55].

The partnership aims to bring the Bananas' spirited and engaging brand of baseball to a wider audience, enhancing the team's visibility and popularity.

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9. Additional Sports Updates

Major League Baseball (MLB): Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves secured a victory against the Toronto Blue Jays with standout performances from Austin Riley, who hit two home runs and drove in five runs.

“Third baseman Austin Riley had two home runs and five RBIs as the Braves beat the Blue Jays 8-4 last night for their second road win of the season,” Biello reported at [15:07].

Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA): Atlanta Dream Draft Picks

The Atlanta Dream made significant additions to their roster by drafting South Carolina Gamecocks guard Tahina Powpow and Ohio State forward Taylor Theory, alongside veteran Brittney Griner.

“I think they all really, really want to play for Atlanta, which is really important,” noted Charles Cook at [14:57].

The new players are expected to bring fresh energy and talent to the team as the WNBA season commences in May.

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Closing Remarks

Peter Biello concluded the episode by encouraging listeners to subscribe to the Georgia Today podcast for ongoing updates and to stay informed on the pressing issues and stories covered.

“Follow up your listening by subscribing to this podcast now. That way we'll be there for you tomorrow,” Biello advised at [15:07].

For more information and to engage with the podcast, listeners are invited to visit [e-mail].

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This summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and developments featured in the April 15, 2025 episode of Georgia Today, providing listeners with a comprehensive overview of the day's most important stories.

Transcript

[Peter Biello]

DBHDD has an urgent warning for all Georgians. One of every ten counterfeit pills contains fentanyl, a powerful and very deadly drug. Pills from friends or dealers are unsafe and one pill can cause an overdose. More [e-mail] welcome to the Georgia Today podcast. Here we feature the latest reports from the GPB news team. On today's episode, the head of the Federal Reserve bank of Atlanta says consumers should get ready for higher prices. Self driving cars are coming to Atlanta. And 17 foreign college students sue the federal government for seemingly using their past interactions with police to make them vulnerable to deportation.

[Charles Cook]

They cannot be deported for any of these things. And no other administration, of course, would say you're out of status because the police arrested you and later dropped charges because they made a mistake.

[Peter Biello]

Today is Tuesday, April 15th. I'm Peter Biello and this is Georgia Today. A group of 17 foreign college students, including some from Georgia schools, has sued the federal government for allegedly deleting a record that makes it possible for them to legally study in the U.S. the lawsuit alleges that Immigration and Customs Enforcement deleted the record without due process, leaving them vulnerable to arrest and deportation. Charles Cook is the lead attorney on the case representing the students, and he's with me now. Welcome to the program.

[Charles Cook]

Appreciate the opportunity to talk about this.

[Peter Biello]

So the students, some of whom attend Kennesaw State, Georgia Tech and uga, allege that the government deleted what's called their Sevis records. What are those?

[Charles Cook]

Sevis Records is a program that were created, created after 911 because we weren't tracking the hijackers. And it tracks foreign students in the United States. It's run by ICE and is the precursor to obtaining student status in the United States when it's very strictly controlled and getting into it and getting off of it, have very specific regulations.

[Peter Biello]

And the consequence of having those records deleted without due process is simply that they're open to or vulnerable to arrest and deportation, correct?

[Charles Cook]

That is correct. Ending Sevis registration means their underlying student status is no longer valid, rendering them.

[Peter Biello]

Out of status, broadly speaking. How would you describe the students at the center of this lawsuit?

[Charles Cook]

Most of them are just regular what you would think about college students who occasionally do a dumb thing or occasionally get caught up in a bureaucratic system that puts them at jeopardy. Of all the plaintiffs we currently have pending, others that will be joining a lawsuit later today, several of them have been arrested, for example, for failing to pay a speeding ticket. One of our clients from Tech lent his car to a friend and the friend ran a red camera light and our friend never got the ticket. And so he was arrested for not paying a ticket he didn't know about, and that was not his. None of our clients, however, have a conviction of any kind that renders them deportable from the United States. And just being arrested by the police, of course, doesn't make somebody deportable, because many people are aware the police do arrest innocent people.

[Peter Biello]

So you're saying, generally speaking, under a different administration, the things that these students have allegedly done would not be cause for deportation or call into question their immigration status or their status as a student.

[Charles Cook]

Even under this administration, they cannot be deported for any of these things. And no other administration, of course, would say, you're out of status because the police arrested you and later dropped charges because they made a mistake.

[Peter Biello]

Do foreign students have the same constitutional rights to due process as American citizens, assuming they have a proper visa?

[Charles Cook]

Yes, they do. They're covered by the full panoply of due process rights in our Constitution.

[Peter Biello]

So what must the government do if it were to follow due process and challenge a foreign student's legal ability to study here?

[Charles Cook]

Our immigration laws actually account for this. They require the government to bring them before an immigration judge, make an accusation of which immigration laws they violated, and then prove that before an immigration judge. Currently they're trying to circumvent that process by getting rid of the Sevis registration and then saying leave. This is all part of the administration's plan to make foreign nationals leave the United States even when they have a legal right to be here.

[Peter Biello]

In other words, creating the conditions where they're so stressed out, as you allege in the lawsuit, that they are. That they self deport, that they don't want to be subject to any kind.

[Charles Cook]

Of maltreatment, that that is exactly what's going on. And we've had a couple people decline to go in the lawsuit and just leave the United States because they were afraid of being detained. It is tragic set of circumstances that we have here, but we believe we will be successful in court this week.

[Peter Biello]

You said you're going to add more plaintiffs. About how many?

[Charles Cook]

We'll be adding about 150 plaintiffs this morning, later today. And there are many more that want to join, but we're trying to get an order in place so we can set a precedent here in the south on these cases.

[Peter Biello]

And about how Many of those 150 are from Georgia, would you say?

[Charles Cook]

About 30 are from Georgia. Every university has been affected in the state, including many private universities. If only 1% of foreign students had been involved, that would be between 7 and 8,000 students around the United States.

[Peter Biello]

What role do colleges have here, if any? Are they empowered in any way to protect these students?

[Charles Cook]

They are not and they're very frustrated by that, I'm sure. But no, this is literally on the backs of ICE and now on the courts.

[Peter Biello]

The first hearing in federal court is scheduled for Thursday in Atlanta. What will you be asking the court to do?

[Charles Cook]

We're asking for a temporary restraining order to restore the students to the status that they held before these notices went out so that they can be dealt with justly and correctly and in a process that fulfills the requirements of due process.

[Peter Biello]

Charles Cook, thank you so much for speaking with me. You're welcome.

[Charles Cook]

Have a great day. Bye bye.

[Peter Biello]

The head of the Federal Reserve bank of Atlanta is urging caution amid economic uncertainty. Fed President and CEO Rafael Bostic spoke at Emory University yesterday. He said the economy has gone into a, quote, big pause because people are waiting to see how the Trump administration's policies will pan out. I think what we have right now is a period where the range of possible outcomes has kind of multiplied and the boundaries and the guardrails that used to have in my head about what could possibly happen have all kind of been blown up, bostic said. Tariffs were likely to increase prices. Governor Brian Kemp signed into law a pair of tax relief measures today. One of the new laws provides a one time rebate to Georgia taxpayers. The other accelerates income tax reductions approved by state lawmakers last year. Kemp signed the bill surrounded by top state political leaders in Cobb County. We know that this is your money, not the government's, and we know that you know best how to spend it. I'm proud to put this money back where it belongs and entrust hardworking Georgians with their own funds. The General assembly approved the rebates without opposition, while the income tax cuts passed mostly along party lines. The Rome City Council passed an ordinance last night to require pet owners to spay, neuter and microchip their dogs and cats. Commissioner Harry Brock says the ordinance mirrors one passed by Floyd county about a year and a half ago, where there are dog runs in a next door neighbor's yard that's in the county and one that's in the city. So it's just to make it consistent with the ordinance that the county already has in place. The measure passed unanimously. Northeast Georgia's old Habersham County Courthouse is being torn down. After years of discussion and hope that the structure could be Repurposed A private developer's plan for retail, office and restaurant spaces in the building fell through last year. County Commissioner Ty Akins says the demolition is a turning point for the county. It was a bit of an eyesore. A lot of people in Clarksville had nicknamed it the ugliest courthouse in Georgia. And so something really needs to be done. So it's really not Sad. Built in 1963, the building had been vacant for years. Local officials still believe the location is ripe for investment. Autonomous Ubers are coming to Atlanta Starting this summer, Uber riders may be matched with a self driving Waymo vehicle, part of a major expansion in the city. The 65 square mile service area stretches from Buckhead to Capitol View. Waymo has been testing its driverless cars in Atlanta for about a year, but until now, only with employees. Now Uber users can opt in through the app for early access. Atlanta will be Waymo's largest launch yet. It's been almost 15 years since the historically black fraternities and sororities at Macon's Mercer University came together for one big yard show. This year that changed. Inspired by their peers at other schools, student groups created routines in the uniquely African American tradition of percussion and dance called stepping to perform for everyone on campus. Why? To tell their classmates a little more about who they are. GPB's Lauren Redish brings us this audio postcard. Well, the history behind stepping really is kind of the same thing as, you know, Divine nine shore. It's black culture. My name is Teresita Cabral and I am a part of the Megmeet chapter of the oh so marvelous. I'm a human chapter of Zeta 5 Beta Sorority Incorporated 192 oh it's us performing for ourselves, not for others. And just, you know, having that space of brotherhood or sisterhood, whether it's fraternity or sorority, of coming together to do a performance is really nice. It was in 1920 there was a dream to create a sorority that reigns supreme. With scholarship, service and mysterious love, God's world came to together to evolve the duck. Hi, my name is Caleb Blue O Gardner. I am a brother of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated. A large amount of the campus doesn't really know about us and I feel like this is a very, very, very good opportunity to show the cool things that we do. Just letting everyone know what our history is. Especially since we're just coming back from a 15 year hiatus. We're going above I y'all did start getting your elbows open. My name is Devin Spencer. I am a member of Alpha 5 fraternity incorporated your elbows, not your hands. So now we're going, like, picking it up like this. It's kind of like a flaring up. So with strolling, you can work on timing, but you can kind of do a little bit different things in their strolls and stuff like that. So it kind of makes it a little bit different so you can, like, have a different sound to it, have a different vibe, have a different look. Let's try it again. Pick up the elbows, please. What stepping? You have to be in unison. Alphas are here. We're here for a good time and a long time. And we're here just to have fun. And we're here to show people what we about. Cause we not trying to play no games. So last regional conference, we went to their stepping stro yard show that they had. My name is Taylor Wilson. I AM A fall 23 initiative of the IO Data chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority Incorporated. Girl, can you believe they're racist today? Yes, sis. We seriously have luck there. So while looking at them, we saw they did dancing, they did a few talking parts, they did some, like, videography, stuff like that. Are y'all seriously nervous? This will be easy considering we are the first and the finest Girl, yes, we are the first. Just coming together in general in one show, like, yes, we're showing a performance. We're showing, like, all the history of Divine nine and black people and black excellence in a way, but bringing those people together, no matter what color, race, anything you just heard. Students at Mercer University in Megan on the importance of the step show. The president of the world soccer governing body, FIFA, visited Atlanta yesterday as the city prepares to host millions of soccer fans over the next two summers. GPB's Amanda Andrews has more from his visit with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens at Mercedes Benz Stadium. FIFA president Gianni Infantino joined Dickens to celebrate the growing passion for soccer in the city. Atlanta will host six Club cup games in 2025 and eight World cup games in 2026. Infantino announced FIFA will also donate $1 million to the city of Atlanta for youth initiatives as a host city. Dickens says the money will go towards engaging and educating kids. We're gonna have a team that's planning, you know, where do we place this? Do we create little soccer fields, or do we go out here and create, you know, engagement opportunities and activities that they can participate in during this summer? But whatever we come up with, we're going to come up with it soon and start activating it. The first World cup club games will begin in Atlanta on June 14th. For GPB news, I'm Amanda Andrews. ESPN announced a partnership yesterday with Georgia's viral baseball sensations the Savannah Bananas to broadcast several of their games later this year. GPB's Benjamin Payne reports. 10 so called banana ball games will air on either ESPN or ESPN2 with simultaneous streams on Disney and ESPN. They'll include marquee matchups in major league ballparks such as Fenway park in Boston, as well as the NFL stadiums of the Tennessee Titans and Carolina Panthers. The Bananas are known for their unorthodox approach to baseball, full of trick plays and zany rules, the most notable being that if a fan catches a foul ball, the batter is out. Savannah Bananas founder and owner Jesse Cole announced the ESPN deal on a video posted to social media with two hosts of SportsCenter, we are going big, the biggest we've ever gone with ESPN. Let's do it boys. The first broadcast will air on ESPN2 next Saturday when the Bananas play before a sold out crowd of over 80,000 fans at the football stadium of Clemson University in South Carolina. For GPB News, I'm Benjamin Payne in Savannah and in Major League Baseball, the Braves face the Blue Jays in Toronto tonight. Spencer Schwellenbach gets the start. Third baseman Austin Riley had two home runs and five RBIs as the Braves beat the Blue Jays 84 last night for their second road win of the season. Braves right hander Grant Holmes didn't allow a hit until Miles Straw homered to begin the bottom of the sixth tomorrow. Spencer Strider is expected to make his long awaited return after UCL surgery took him out of the game for most of last season. The Atlanta Dream drafted South Carolina Gamecocks guard Tahina Powpow and Ohio State forward Taylor Theory and the WNBA draft last night. The Dream has some new faces this year, including veteran Brittney Griner. General manager Dan Padover says he's excited about the group that's come together.

[Charles Cook]

I think they all really, really want to play for Atlanta, which is really important. They're proud of this city, they love our fans and they want to make something electric here in this city. So I think that's what the main.

[Peter Biello]

Thing we're all excited about. The WNBA season starts in May. That is it for today, but we will be staying on top of some of the stories you heard today as we pursue the follow up stories. Follow up your listening by subscribing to this podcast now. That way we'll be there for you tomorrow. No reminder required. And our reporters are often posting updates as soon as they learn [e-mail] news if you've got feedback, we'd love to hear from you. Send us an email. The address is Georgia todaypb.org I'm Peter Biello. Thanks for listening. We'll see you tomorrow. 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 whyyy.