Morris Brown College fires president; Georgia students try gene-editing therapy

Summary

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Georgia Today (GPB) – January 13, 2026

Host: Peter Biello
Main Topics: Morris Brown College President Fired, High School Students in Forsyth County Pioneer Gene Editing Therapy, Delta’s Revenue Forecast, Microsoft’s Data Center Pledge, Carter Estate Auction, Falcons’ New President, and Legislative Session Opening

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Episode Overview

This episode of Georgia Today delivers a range of news stories highlighting significant developments across Georgia. Key segments include Atlanta's Morris Brown College abruptly firing its president, high school students in Forsyth County making headlines with an innovative gene-editing project, economic updates from Delta Airlines, Microsoft’s response to data center concerns, the auctioning of memorabilia from the Carter family, Atlanta Falcons' leadership changes, and the opening of the Georgia legislative session.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Water Supply Expansion in Southeast Georgia

• (00:28) Major $146 million project breaks ground west of Savannah, aiming to bolster drinking water infrastructure to support economic and population growth.
• Ron Feldner, Savannah Water Chief:

  "The importance of safe, adequate supply of potable drinking water for human consumption, fire protection and industrial use is essential to any local economy, regional economy and people's health and well being."
  (01:02)

• State funds have also been allocated for upgrades in Effingham and Bryan Counties.

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2. Morris Brown College Fires President

• (01:21) The historically Black college dismissed President Kevin James, expressing thanks but offering no public explanation.
• President Kevin James Statement:
  He was “terminated without cause or explanation and called the action deeply disturbing.”
  • James played a pivotal role in regaining the school’s accreditation in 2022 after a nearly 20-year lapse.
  • The college faces another accreditation reaffirmation review soon.
  • Enrollment last reported at 453 students in the 2023-2024 academic year.

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3. Forsyth County High School Students Pioneer Gene Editing Therapy

• (02:00 - 05:27) Featured Story: Lambert High School students use CRISPR to develop a new, rapid Lyme disease diagnostic tool, earning international recognition.
• Lambert IGEM Lab:
  • Only IGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machine) lab in Georgia, at the state’s largest public school.
  • Students engineered a test strip for Lyme disease, functioning like a COVID-19 rapid test.
  • Added a therapeutic component, showing their commitment and innovation.
• Principal Amanda Thrower:

  "It just shows where their hearts are in the work, which to me is just everything because it's a combination of their brilliance and their character. Right." (03:23)

• Program Advisor Kate Scherer:

  “We are lucky so many students at Lambert are so interested in joining this team that we actually this year had 96 applicants. We only had room for 10 spots on the competition team.” (03:39)
  “Part of this experience is not just being smart... It's collaborating and working together almost the way that a startup would.” (03:55)

• Team Captain, Avani Karthik:

  “The main reason [Lyme is hard to detect] is because the bacteria, it's transmitted by ticks... and the bacteria goes into your bloodstream, it quickly disseminates into your joint or cardiac tissue, and that makes it really hard to detect.” (04:26) “We hope that we can also expand to national parks and areas like that.” (04:45)

• Potential Impact:
  The technology could be adapted for other diseases with identifiable proteins in blood.
• Lab Limitations:
  No manufacturing facility or authority to conduct clinical trials yet.
• Scherer on the Future:

  “I hope that this is something someone would pick up and use. ... At least what we were able to do in our lab looks like it works. I would love to see it work for real.” (05:02)

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4. Delta Airlines’ 2026 Economic Outlook

• (05:27 - 05:54) Atlanta-based Delta projects a 20% rise in earnings for 2026 after closing out $5 billion in profits last year.
• CEO Ed Bastian:

  “We're reminded of the volatility of the industry this past year, and we want to make certain that we have a bit of caution as we project how we'll do.” (05:45)

  • The airline was impacted by a government shutdown, costing $200 million.
  • Will distribute $1.3 billion in profit sharing to employees and plans aircraft purchases.

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5. Microsoft’s “Community Pledge” for Data Centers

• (05:54 - 07:08) Microsoft issues a five-point pledge to communities like those in Georgia, promising water replenishment and no impact on consumer electricity rates.
• Atlanta recently saw a new Microsoft data center open; more are planned though many face local resistance.
• Georgia Public Service Commission approved a plan for almost 10 gigawatts of new capacity, primarily to serve these data centers.

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6. Carter Family Estate Auction

• (07:08 - 07:57) Christie's begins auction of personal items from Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter’s estate.
• Amy Carter (Carter's daughter):

  “I hope these objects paint a fuller picture of them, their lives of service, their devotion to each other and the joy and curiosity that kept them learning and engaged throughout their lives.”

• Notable items: Submarine school photos, a White House love letter, and a painting by Jimmy Carter.
• Auction runs through January 27th.

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7. Atlanta Falcons Leadership Transition

• (07:57 - 08:40)
  • Former MVP Matt Ryan introduced as new president of football, focusing on leading a search for head coach and GM to reverse Falcons’ losing streak.
  • Matt Ryan:

    “My mission since I was drafted has never changed. You know, it is to help this organization do everything it can to be champions and to win championships. And, you know, there is a sense of unfinished business.” (08:24)

  • Falcons have interviewed six head coach candidates in Ryan's first three days.

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8. Georgia Legislative Session Opening

• (09:05 - 09:59) The legislative session opened with Ms. Georgia Audrey Katillip performing “Georgia On My Mind.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Ron Feldner on water security:

  "Essential to any local economy, regional economy and people's health and well being." (01:02)

• Kevin James, on being fired:

  "[I was] terminated without cause or explanation and called the action deeply disturbing." (01:21)

• Lambert High’s Kate Scherer on the IGEM team:

  "It's collaborating and working together almost the way that a startup would." (03:55)

• Delta’s Ed Bastian on airline volatility:

  "We want to make certain that we have a bit of caution as we project how we'll do." (05:45)

• Matt Ryan on Falcons’ leadership:

  "There is a sense of unfinished business." (08:24)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |----------------------------------------|------------| | Water Infrastructure Project | 00:28–01:21| | Morris Brown College President Fired | 01:21–02:00| | Lambert High’s Gene Editing Lab | 02:00–05:27| | Delta Airlines Economic Update | 05:27–05:54| | Microsoft Data Center Pledge | 05:54–07:08| | Carter Estate Auction | 07:08–07:57| | Falcons Football President Introduction| 07:57–08:40| | Legislative Session Opening Performance| 09:05–09:59|

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Conclusion

This episode covered critical developments in education, science, business, and Georgia’s cultural life. Especially notable was the innovative spirit shown by high schoolers in gene editing and the abrupt leadership change at a historic Atlanta college. The episode blended statewide concerns with moments of personal triumph and transition, all delivered in the straightforward, informative style characteristic of GPB’s Georgia Today.

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Transcript

[A]

Welcome to the Georgia Today podcast. Here we bring you the latest reports from the GPB newsroom. On today's episode, Atlanta's Morris Brown College fires its president. High school students in Forsyth county try their hand at gene editing therapy and Delta Airlines says it expects a significant boost in revenue in the coming year, but remains cautious.

[B]

We're reminded of the volatility of the industry this past year. We want to make certain that we have a bit of caution as we.

[A]

Project how we'll do today's Tuesday, January 13th. I'm Peter Biello and this is Georgia Today. Leaders in southeast Georgia have broken ground on a $146 million project aimed at shoring up the region's water supply for decades. The expansion of a surface water treatment plant just west of Savannah comes as the area welcomes more industries, residents, hotels and other signs of economic growth. The city of Savannah provides the water for a three county region. Ron Feldner is the city's water chief.

[B]

The importance of safe, adequate supply of potable drinking water for human consumption, fire protection and industrial use is essential to any local economy, regional economy and people's health and well being.

[A]

State lawmakers approved state funds for the expansion as well as water upgrades in Effingham and Bryan counties as part of a half billion appropriation last year. Atlanta's Morris Brown College has fired its president. The historically black school yesterday thanked President Kevin James for his service and announced a college trustee would serve as interim president. James said he was terminated without cause or explanation and called the action deeply disturbing. James led Morris Brown to regain its accreditation after nearly 20 years in 2022. He said the college is approaching its accreditation reaffirmation review in a few weeks. Last last year, the College reported having 453 students in the 2023-2024 academic year. Gene editing, essentially making customized changes to DNA, holds incredible promise for the future of medicine. And when you think about who a gene editor might be, you may not imagine a high school student, but at one Forsyth County High School, there's a student lab devoted to the gene editing technique called CRISPR. And as GPB's Ellen Eldredge reports, students from Lambert High are using CRISPR and receiving international recognition.

[C]

The bell rings and a hallway, eight students wide, fills with comfortably dressed teenagers changing classes. Some are carrying milk cartons and snacks as they move through the school's main thoroughfare. With about 3,700 students, this is the largest public school in Forsyth county and one of the largest in the state. And Lambert High School has the only international genetically engineered machine, or IGEM lab in Georgia. The students in the Lambert IGEM lab may have found a faster way to detect Lyme disease, a tick borne illness impacting half a million Americans annually. They did it using the revolutionary gene editing technique known as crispr. Principal Amanda Thrower says the the students went further and included a therapeutic component to their project too.

[D]

It just shows where their hearts are in the work, which to me is just everything because it's a combination of their brilliance and their character. Right.

[C]

Competition to get into the IGEM program is fierce. Kate Scherer has been program advisor for the last three years.

[D]

We are lucky so many students at Lambert are so interested in joining this this team that we actually this year had 96 applicants. We only had room for 10 spots on the competition team.

[C]

She says. The students are brilliant, funny and they work well together.

[D]

Part of this experience is not just being smart. You can do science fair and just be super smart. It's collaborating and working together almost the way that a startup would.

[C]

The final product works like a COVID.

[D]

Test, so a small strip gives you a band, tells you if you've got Lyme disease.

[C]

This year's work was judged at the Grand Jamboree in Paris alongside projects from around the world. Avani Karthik is one of the team captains. She says they chose Lyme disease because of its prevalence on the east coast and the lack of diagnostic tools.

[E]

And so the main reason for that is because the bacteria, it's transmitted by ticks. And so when the tick bites you and the bacteria goes into your bloodstream, it quickly disseminates into your joint or cardiac tissue, and that makes it really hard to detect.

[C]

The current tests rely on antibodies that are created by the body about three weeks after infection.

[E]

We're thinking of using it in emergency rooms in different hospitals because they really do need a rapid diagnostic. We hope that we can also expand to national parks and areas like that.

[C]

Sharer says they've gotten calls from people interested in supporting the work, but they don't have a manufacturing facility and they can't do clinical trials.

[D]

We'll be in touch with people that can help us navigate this. I hope that this is something someone would pick up and use. I think it could be helpful. At least what we were able to do in our lab looks like it works. I would love to see it work for real.

[C]

Karthik says this diagnostic could be applied to any disease that has proteins in the blood. For GPB News, I'm Ellen Eldredge.

[A]

Atlanta based Delta Airlines says it expects 20% growth in earnings in the coming year. In a call with investors this morning, Delta CEO Ed Bastian says the company finished the year with a $5 billion profit and the current year is starting off strong, too. But he urges caution on reading too much into this month's numbers.

[B]

We're reminded of the volatility of the industry this past year, and we want to make certain that we have a bit of caution as we project how we'll do that.

[A]

Volatility was in large part due to the government shutdown, which cost the company an estimated $200 million. Bastian also announced $1.3 billion in profit sharing with employees and plans to buy more aircraft. Microsoft is trying to win over communities concerned about the rise of data centers. The company today released a five point pledge to communities like those in Georgia skeptical about the energy and water intensive facilities. The pledge mentioned Atlanta in a section promising that Microsoft's data centers would use and replenish more water than they use. The company also says it's committed to pay our way with electricity so consumers don't end up with higher rates. The Georgia Public Service Commission last month approved the Georgia Power plan to add an unprecedented amount, nearly 10 gigawatts to Georgia Power's ability to make electricity, largely for new data centers. Microsoft began operating a new data center in Atlanta in October. State development filings and news reports suggest more of the facilities are on the way across the state. Many of them face opposition in the towns where they're being planned. Starting today, New York auction house Christie's will be selling pieces from Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter's estate. GPB's Chase McGee has more on the sale.

[F]

Christie's announced the American Collector Sale in honor of the United States upcoming 250th anniversary, featuring pieces from noted American families, including former President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn. The Carter's daughter, Amy, said of the auction, I hope these objects paint a fuller picture of them, their lives of service, their devotion to each other and the joy and curiosity that kept them learning and engaged throughout their lives. Items up for auction include a collection of photographs from President Carter's time in submarine school, a love letter on White House stationery to first lady Rosalynn and a painting the former president made of a waterfall near his North Georgia cabin. The Auction runs through January 27th. Online for GPB News, I'm Chase McGee.

[A]

The Atlanta Falcons new president of football says his first priority is leading the team's search for a new coach and general manager Matt Ryan today spoke to the media for the first time since taking the position aimed at turning around the Falcons losing streak. Ryan was the 2016 NFL MVP after he led Atlanta to the super bowl and the highlight of his 14 years as the team quarterback. Still, the Falcons have never won a title. He says he now has the chance to help the team change that.

[B]

My mission since I was drafted has never changed. You know, it is. It is to help this organization do everything it can to be champions and to win championships. And, you know, there is a sense of unfinished business.

[A]

The Falcons have interviewed six head coach candidates in Ryan's first three days on the job. One last note before we go the legislative session opened yesterday and to celebrate the opening, Ms. Georgia Audrey Katillip provided her rendition of our state song, Georgia On My Mind. And it is too good not to play here.

[G]

Georgia, The whole day just no sweet soul keeps Georgia on my mind. I said Georgia, Georgia, a song of.

[F]

You.

[G]

Comes as sweet and clear.

[A]

As.

[G]

Moonlight through the pies.

[A]

That's Miss Georgia Audrey Katila, who now picks up the song with her violin. That is it for Georgia today. Come back tomorrow for more of the latest news. I'm Peter Biello. Thank you for listening.

[H]

How does AI even work? Where does creativity come from? What's the secret to living longer? TED Radio Hour explores the biggest questions with some of the world's greatest thinkers. They will surprise, challenge and even change you. Listen to NPR's TED Radio Hour wherever you get your podcasts.