Senate wants to make local govts. cooperate with feds; Trump fires one-tenth of CDC

Summary

Georgia Today Podcast Summary
Episode: "Senate wants to make local govts. cooperate with feds; Trump fires one-tenth of CDC"
Release Date: February 14, 2025

Hosted by: Peter Biello
Produced by: Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB)

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1. Legislative Updates in Georgia

A. Senate Bill 21: Local Government Cooperation with Federal Immigration Authorities

The Georgia Senate has taken a decisive step toward requiring local governments to collaborate with federal immigration authorities. Senate Bill 21 (SB21) was approved with a vote of 33 to 18, predominantly along party lines. This bill empowers the state to penalize counties that refuse to inform federal Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) about undocumented immigrants in their jails by stripping them of sovereign immunity—the legal protection that shields local governments from many lawsuits.

Key Insights:

• Senator Blake Tillery, the bill’s sponsor, emphasized that SB21 "only states that if you're not going to enforce Georgia immigration law, you run the risk of waiving your sovereign immunity" (01:09).
• Senator Nikki Merritt and other Democrats voiced strong opposition, arguing that the bill threatens local law enforcement's ability to maintain community safety without overextending into immigration enforcement.
• Stacey Evans, a Democrat from Atlanta, highlighted concerns, stating, "We are threatening our local law enforcement who are doing the best job that they can to keep our communities safe just with regular crime" (01:35).

The bill now moves to the Georgia House for further consideration.

B. House Bill 36: Expanding Guardianship Determinations

House Bill 36 proposes to broaden the scope of professionals authorized to determine if an individual requires conservatorship or legal guardianship. Currently, only specific professionals can make such determinations, but HB36 includes nurse practitioners, physicians, assistants, and marriage and family therapists.

Key Insights:

• Republican Representative Rob Leverett supported the bill, explaining that existing professionals are often "reluctant to conduct evaluations," leading to delays and stalled cases (02:17).
• Democrat Stacey Evans opposed the measure, cautioning against compromising qualifications in matters of personal freedom, stating, "We cannot go for speed when we are talking about freedom" (02:44).

The bill passed the House with a vote of 99 to 70 and will proceed to the state Senate.

C. House Bill 105: Increasing Awards for Families of Deceased Public School Employees

The Georgia House has also passed House Bill 105, which aims to double the compensation awarded to the spouses and children of public school employees who lose their lives in the line of duty—from $75,000 to $150,000. This aligns the benefits for teachers' families with those provided to law enforcement families.

Key Insights:

• Republican Representative Will Wade underscored the necessity of the bill, stating, "Our public school safety officers deserved it then and our teachers deserve it now, and this remedies that disparity in the law" (03:27).

House Bill 105 will now move to the state Senate for consideration.

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2. Healthcare Challenges in Rural Georgia

A recent report by healthcare consulting firm Chartas sheds light on the precarious state of rural hospitals in Georgia. With nearly two dozen rural hospitals at risk of closure and eleven facilities having ceased inpatient care since 2010, the report highlights a growing crisis of "healthcare deserts" where access to essential medical services is critically limited.

Key Insights:

• Stacey Evans discussed the systemic issues leading to hospital closures, noting that financial instability often results in the loss of vital services. The report recommends investing in preventative care and expanding federally funded insurance programs as potential solutions (03:55).
• Last year, Georgia lawmakers prioritized reforming state laws governing hospital operations, aiming to deregulate and stimulate growth in rural health services.

GPB’s Sophie Gradis provided an in-depth analysis of these challenges, emphasizing the urgent need for sustainable healthcare solutions in Georgia’s rural areas.

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3. Trump Administration’s Reduction of CDC Workforce

In a significant administrative move, the Trump administration has terminated approximately 1,300 employees at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, constituting about one-tenth of the agency's total workforce.

Key Insights:

• The layoffs primarily target probationary workers and veteran staffers who were recently promoted.
• Affected employees are slated to receive four weeks of paid administrative leave.
• This decision was communicated to CDC leadership early this morning, signaling potential shifts in the agency’s operational capacity and focus.

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4. Legal Proceedings Highlighting Accountability and Rights

A. Funeral Home Negligence Case

Chris Johnson, a funeral homeowner from Douglas, Georgia, has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges following the discovery of 18 decomposing bodies at his business last October. Facing 62 counts, including abuse of a dead body, theft by deception, and insurance fraud, Johnson opted to waive his right to a formal arraignment and entered his plea on Wednesday. As of now, no trial date has been set.

B. Death Row Inmate’s Lethal Injection Appeal Rejected

Michael Wade Nance, a death row inmate in Georgia, challenged the use of lethal injection, arguing it could inflict excruciating pain due to his medical history. He suggested the adoption of a firing squad as an alternative method of execution. However, a federal judge ruled against his claims, stating that Nance failed to substantiate his allegations. Nance’s lawyer has indicated plans to appeal the decision, although no further comments were provided at this time.

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5. In-Depth Interview with Poet Tony Weeden on "Blu Ray"

Peter Biello sits down with Georgia poet Tony Weeden to discuss his latest poetry collection, "Blu Ray." Written and illustrated over 15 years, the collection intertwines verse and painting, with a significant focus on Weeden’s personal journey through grief following his wife Suzanne’s battle with Parkinson's disease.

Key Highlights:

• Creativity as Self-Discovery: Weeden describes writing as an act of self-exploration, stating, "I can't wait to get to that computer every morning to see what's going to happen and see who I'm going to be. Today" (00:39).
• Themes of Grief and Color: The poetry in "Blu Ray" frequently references the color blue, mirroring his painterly interests, and delves deeply into the emotions surrounding loss and memory.
• Interaction Between Arts: Weeden elaborates on the interplay between poetry, painting, and music, emphasizing how each form complements and enhances his expression (10:09).
• Notable Poem - "Tachycardia": Weeden shares a poignant excerpt from his poem "Tachycardia," illustrating the profound impact of his wife's illness and his coping mechanisms through writing (08:09).

Notable Quote:

"Writing is not just filtering. You're not so much cutting out stuff as you are enhancing it, growing it. And that thing is going to grow in you, just like when you plant a seed in the ground." – Tony Weeden (12:55)

Weeden’s testimonial provides a heartfelt glimpse into how personal adversity shapes artistic creation, making "Blu Ray" a compelling read for those interested in the therapeutic power of poetry.

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6. Special Feature: Herb Alpert on Music and Legacy

In a special segment, GPB’s Christy York Wooten interviews legendary trumpet player Herb Alpert ahead of his Valentine’s Day performance in Augusta. Alpert, who turns 90 next month, reflects on his illustrious career, collaborations, and the enduring influence of music.

Key Insights:

• Authenticity in Music: Alpert emphasizes creating music that resonates personally rather than seeking external approval. "I've always tried to impress myself, you know, try to make music that made me feel like that's the most honest reflection of my talent" (15:10).
• Influential Collaborations: Alpert recounts his early work with Sam Cooke and the creation of the classic hit "Wonderful World," highlighting the authentic approach Cook brought to music.
• Impact of Iconic Albums: Discussing "Whipped Cream and Other Delights," Alpert shares the emotional connection he feels towards the music, which continues to influence his performances.
• Enduring Legacy of The Carpenters: Alpert credits the Carpenters, whom he signed in 1970, as pivotal in putting A&M Records on the global map with hits like "Why Do Birds Suddenly Appear" (17:08).

Notable Quote:

"Music is powerful. I think music is something that gives people hope and the beauty part of being part of the arts because... you are in the moment of your life when you're experiencing that." – Herb Alpert (17:40)

Alpert’s insights underscore the timeless nature of music and its ability to connect and uplift audiences across generations.

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7. Valentine's Day Highlight: Romeo and Juliet Postmarks

In celebration of Valentine's Day, Georgia Today features the unique partnership between the postmasters of Juliet, Georgia, and Romeo, Michigan. Since 1994, these post offices have offered a special pictorial postmark depicting a silhouetted couple in a tender pose with the inscription "Celebrating Love on Valentine's Day." Thousands of letters are sent annually with this romantic touch, and in-person visitors are welcome to obtain the postmark.

Key Details:

• The postmark remains available until March 3rd, providing an extended opportunity for residents and visitors to send heartfelt messages.
• Tony Weeden playfully mentions the tradition, adding a personal touch to the episode's Valentine’s theme (18:28).

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Conclusion

This episode of Georgia Today provides a comprehensive overview of significant legislative changes in Georgia, pressing healthcare issues in rural areas, notable administrative actions at the federal level, and compelling human interest stories. The in-depth interviews with poet Tony Weeden and music legend Herb Alpert add rich, personal dimensions to the news, while the Valentine's Day feature offers a charming local tradition for listeners to engage with. Whether you’re interested in politics, healthcare, culture, or community stories, this episode delivers a well-rounded and informative listening experience.

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For more episodes and updates, subscribe to Georgia Today on your preferred podcast platform or visit gpb.org.

Transcript

[Tony Weeden]

Foreign.

[Peter Biello]

Welcome to the Georgia Today podcast from GPB News. Today is Friday, February 14th. Happy Valentine's Day. 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. The Georgia Senate wants to force local governments to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. The Trump administration fires one tenth of the employees at the Atlanta based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And for Georgia poet Tony Weeden, writing is an act of self discovery.

[Tony Weeden]

But I can't wait to get to that computer every morning to see what's going to happen and see who I'm going to be. Today.

[Peter Biello]

I'll talk with Tony about his new collection of poetry. That and more on this edition of Georgia Today. The Georgia Senate is taking aim at local governments that don't cooperate with federal immigration authorities. A bill approved yesterday would allow the state to penalize them by exposing them to lawsuits. GPB Sarah Kalis has more.

[Sarah Kalis]

Under Senate Bill 21, counties, which don't make federal Immigration Customs and Enforcement aware of undocumented immigrants in their jails would risk losing sovereign immunity, their protections from many lawsuits. Senator Blake Tillery sponsored the bill.

[Rob Leverett]

All Senate Bill 21 says is that if you're not going to enforce Georgia immigration law, you run the risk of waiving your sovereign immunity.

[Sarah Kalis]

Most Democrats, like Senator Nikki Merritt, opposed SB21.

[Stacey Evans]

We are threatening our local law enforcement who are doing the best job that they can to keep our communities safe just with regular crime.

[Sarah Kalis]

The bill passed through 33 to 18. For GPB news, I'm Sarah Kalis at the state Capitol.

[Peter Biello]

The Georgia House yesterday passed a bill that would impact adults under conservatorship or legal guardianship. House Bill 36 would expand who can determine if someone needs guardianship to include nurse practitioners, physicians, assistants and marriage and family therapists. Elberton State Representative Republican Rob Leverett said professionals currently authorized to make such a determination are are reluctant to conduct evaluations.

[Rob Leverett]

And I'm not trying to blame or censure them at all for that. I don't question their reasons, and I can think of a number of perfectly valid reasons why one of those professions might not be able to provide that evaluation. But the fact is they're not doing it. And as a result the cases are being delayed and sometimes stalled.

[Peter Biello]

Opponents of the measure, including Atlanta State Representative Democrat Stacey Evans, said the bill could have serious consequences, but we cannot.

[Stacey Evans]

Go for speed when we are talking about freedom.

[Peter Biello]

We cannot shirk on qualifications when we are talking about freedom the bill passed 99 to 70, mostly along party lines, sending it to the state Senate for consideration. The Georgia House yesterday passed a bill that would boost awards going to the spouses and children of public school employees who lose their lives at work. The increase, from $75,000 to $150,000, would compensate teachers families at the same rate provided to law enforcement families in the same circumstances. Dawsonville State Representative Republican Will Wade said House Bill 105 is somber but necessary.

[Rob Leverett]

Our public school safety officers deserved it then and our teachers deserve it now, and this remedies that disparity in the law.

[Peter Biello]

The bill now moves to the state Senate. While Georgia's rural hospitals face an uphill battle to stay financially sustainable, they're still fighting to overcome gaps in healthcare access. That's according to a report out this week from the healthcare consulting firm Chartas. GPB's Sophie Gradis has more.

[Stacey Evans]

The report, based on a mix of data collected by chartas and from federal healthcare agencies, describes stretches of rural Georgia where a cycle of unmet needs creates so called healthcare deserts. According to the report, Georgia almost two dozen rural hospitals at risk of closure 11 facilities have stopped offering inpatient care since 2010. Hundreds of rural hospitals cannot meet their bottom line, and that financial instability means the shuttering of some critical services. The report suggests that investing in preventative care and expanding federally funded insurance could help. Meanwhile, last year, Georgia lawmakers made a top priority of reforming state laws about where and how hospitals can operate in the hopes that deregulation would create a boom in rural health options. For GPB news, I'm Sophie Gradis.

[Peter Biello]

The Trump administration is forcing out nearly 1300 employees at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That's about a tenth of the Atlanta based agency's total workforce. The decision, shared with CDC leadership this morning, targets probationary workers, generally those who have less than a year on the job, or veteran staffers who were recently promoted. Affected workers are supposed to get four weeks paid administrative leave. The South Georgia funeral homeowner accused of neglecting human corpses after 18 decomposing bodies were found at his business has pleaded not guilty to scores of charges. Chris Johnson of Douglas waived his right to a formal arraignment and entered his plea on Wednesday. Johnson faces 62 counts, including abuse of a dead body, theft by deception and insurance fraud. After the shocking discovery last October, no trial date has been set. A federal judge has ruled against a man on George's death row who argued that lethal injection could cause him excruciating pain and suggested a firing squad. As an alternative, Michael Wade Nance argued that because of his medical history, lethal injection could cause him severe pain in violation of his constitutional rights. A judge ruled yesterday that Nance had failed to prove that. Nance's lawyer today declined to comment on the ruling, but said an appeal is being planned. In his new collection of poetry, writer Tony Weedon combines two of his artistic verse and painting. Written over the course of 15 years, Blu Ray offers lyric poems that capture color the way a painter would. It also explores the grief left after the death of his wife. Recently, I stopped by his home in the coastal Georgia city of Darien to talk about his latest work.

[Tony Weeden]

Tony Weeden, thanks so much for inviting me into your backyard for this conversation. I really appreciate it.

So good to see you. Thank you so much.

So, Blu Ray this book opens with a poem about the color blue mostly as it's used in painting, and that is a theme throughout. Can you tell us a little bit about the intersection of poetry and painting in this book?

Well, I've just always been interested in the sort of intersectionality between the three arts. Also music. I'm a musician and so the idea of playing with words as you would play with sounds is part of what I'm doing. But you know, it's interesting because these poems were written in Blu Ray over a period of about 15 years. A lot of them are very recent. Most recent ones are about losing my wife to Parkinson's a few years ago. So there's that tinge of grief through everything. Even the joyful moments have that. But in some ways I feel the book is unified in that it's, you know, it's got color and it's got blue in it, but it's also unified by grief. But I don't seem it's. I'm not celebrating grief because there's a lot of lot to be happy about.

This book is dedicated to Suzanne, who I should mention I had the pleasure of meeting. Wonderful woman, very kind, very fun to be around. What was it like for you to grapple with that grief in the poems in this book?

Why don't I read a poem because that's the only way I can really handle that.

[Peter Biello]

What poem?

[Tony Weeden]

Okay, this is Tachycardia. The storm came fast and was nearly gone before I went out to check the damage. A patio table tossed over, a sweet princess of a garden statue ensnared in vines, A wild down home rocker of a low country storm. And I felt your heart, your poor heart beating next to me, your breath coming way too Fast, a slash of lightning preceded by throat clearing rumbles somewhere west of the marsh. Then you were awake, your voice soft as a prayer. Nothing's to be done about it, you said, and promptly fell back to sleep. Lay there awake till dawn.

That image nearly knocked me off my feet. Can you tell me about where this poem came from?

Who knows? It came from. My wife had Parkinson's, and when you have Parkinson's, you fall down. And she fell down a lot. And we didn't have any caregiver. I was the caregiver and did a lot of picking her up. So that's sort of part of it. Interestingly enough, last year I fell down and broke my femur. Now other people have to pick me up, but I haven't felt falling down in a year. And I continue to write and play music. But also, I think, you know, it's about, you know, the conversation with somebody who's injured. Nothing is to be done about it, you said, and promptly fell back to sleep. And meanwhile, I'm thinking, what. What happened, you know, and so is there kind of shock in any kind of trauma like that?

I wanted to ask you about Persona because these poems, I thought on first reading some of them might not be you, but a creation that you've made on the page. You've done so much traveling, and I know when you travel, you tend to become a different version of yourself when you're in a new country. So maybe you tell me, what do you make of the different Persona in this book?

One of the things you ask yourself when you're writing poetry is who's. What's the real me? And how is it being expressed here? And you get up, you come up with nothing. What you come up with are a series of palimpsets that are images of you, but not you itself. You know, it's really complicated. I lived in. I've lived in France for a few years. I've lived in Greece for a year. I lived in Mexico, visited, you know, scores of countries. And each time I found something new. Not. And it wasn't just discovering a new self. I was discovering something new about myself and something that touched a different sensibility. Now, you could say that we have different sensibilities. Not. They're all just separate glimmers of the self. I lived in northern Vermont in a cabin. I wrote a book about it called Drunk in the Woods. And I was recovering from alcoholism. And during that particular time, I went through all kinds of transformations because of huge cold winters with 30 below and the struggle of surviving Being poor, that was another self. But it was really just not an embellishment, but an enlargement of myself.

Well, do you feel like you've reached that version of your authentic self with this book?

Absolutely not. And thank God, I think I will one day when I'm dead. But I'm not looking forward to that. I'm looking forward to writing more poetry right now. For example, today an image came to mind of living in Paris and walked into a cafe, and there the great piano player Bud Powell was playing the piano. Bud Powell in Paris. Good God, he was one of my favorite jazz piano players. Well, Bud Powell was mentally ill, and he was crouched over the piano, playing brilliantly, but absolutely crazy as a loon. And that image always stayed with me. And I started thinking about that today, and I wrote, what's this poem going to be about? It's going to be about Bud Powell in Paris. Now, what's happening is, of course, it's not Bud Powell in Paris. It's me remembering about Bud Powell in Paris, me trying to enhance what I saw before through all the years. So in a way, writing about the past is inaccurate. It's not the past, it's your take on it, but it's really a developing development of your impression of that time. So writing is a way of not just filtering. You're not so much cutting out stuff as you are enhancing it, growing it. And that thing is going to grow in you, just like when you plant a seed in the ground.

You gave me a piece of writing advice. It must have been 10 years ago, and that advice was so simple. It was, the work is its own reward. Writing is its own reward. Do you remember giving me that advice?

All the things we've talked about in this interview about finding out about yourself by finding out different layers of yourself, of different incarnations, as it were, are part of the process. And it's its own reward. That's the reward you get. It's a complex one, but each one of us, and each day we do, may be a different reward. But I can't wait to get to that computer every morning to see what's going to happen and see who I'm going to be today.

Well, Tony, thanks so much for speaking to me about Blu Ray and writing. Really do appreciate it.

Thanks again.

Tony's work will be featured on an.

[Peter Biello]

Upcoming edition of Narrative Edge, a podcast about books with Georgia connections, hosted by me and Orlando Montoya. You can find Narrative Edge at gpb.org Narrative Edge or wherever you get your podcasts. Augusta has a vibrant music scene. And this Valentine's Day weekend, Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass Band are coming to town. GPB's Christy York Wooten spoke with the legendary trumpet player to learn more.

[Christy York Wooten]

Who can forget that sound? The mellow trumpet of Herb Alpert. From mixing mariachi stylings with big band Boom on the Lonely Bull to singing the lush Burt Bacharach ballad this Guy's in Love with you and grooving up the charts with the instrumental Rise.

[Tony Weeden]

Herb.

[Christy York Wooten]

Alpert's music has touched generations. And his latest tour tour will spotlight his 50th album, released in 2024. Alpert, who turns 90 years old next month, admits he's never been one to showboat.

[Herb Alpert]

You know, I think there are a lot of musicians that they try to wow you. They have a terrific technique and a terrific energy, but that a lot of musicians play for other musicians, you know, they. They want to be acknowledged. I. I've always tried to impress myself, you know, try to make music that made me feel like that's the most honest reflection of my. My talent. I remember distinctly listening to the Whipped Cream and Other Delights album after it was finished, and the album gave me goosebumps. It was singing like, wow, that's the music I'm going to be making in this concert. That music that made me feel good, and I think a lot of people will enjoy it.

[Christy York Wooten]

Albert says working with Mississippi soul singer Sam Cooke early in his career changed him. Along with Lou Adler, Cook and Alpert, wrote the classic hit wonderful world in 1959.

[Herb Alpert]

History don't know my. I learned a lot from him. He didn't know he was teaching me anything, but I just liked the way he approached his music. It was very authentic. He used to walk around with this notebook and he showed me this one lyric and he said, hoodie. We said, what do you think of this lyric? To myself, I said, man, this is the corniest lyric I've ever seen. It just. That doesn't make any sense to me. So he picked up his guitar, started playing. All of a sudden, I got it. I got the feeling. I know what he was trying to convey. I try to use Sam's advice. Close your eyes. Don't get sidetracked by if somebody's really beautiful or they can dance real well, just listen to the music. Listen to it and see if it touches you.

[Christy York Wooten]

With Jerry Moss, Albert co founded A and M Records and worked closely with artists like Janet Jackson and the Police. But it was the Brother Sister duo the Carpenters, who became a worldwide sensation and put the label on the map.

[Tony Weeden]

Why birds suddenly appear.

[Herb Alpert]

I recorded that song thinking I was going to use it as a follow up to this guy's in love with you. I signed the Carpenters in 1970, gave him that song. It, you know, turned into magic. And it took a while, but that record was on the launching pad for the Carpenters, who, by the way, still sell records. I mean, they're popular all over the world.

[Christy York Wooten]

A lifelong resident of Southern California, Albert says the recent fires have brought the importance of music to the forefront across the country.

[Herb Alpert]

Music is powerful. I think music is something that gives people hope and the, and the beauty part of being part of the arts because, you know, I paint and sculpt make music, the thing that's so beautiful about it. And even when you're listening to it, you are in the moment of your life when you're experiencing that. And I think that's the place where we all would love to be at. The only moment that really exists for us is that moment, very moment that we're in.

[Christy York Wooten]

For GPB News, I'm Christy York Wooten.

[Tony Weeden]

Today is Valentine's Day, which is a.

[Peter Biello]

Big deal to the Middle Georgia town of Juliet. Since 1994, the postmasters in Juliet, Georgia, and Romeo, Michigan, north of Detroit, have partnered to offer postal customers a unique pictorial postmark. It features a silhouette of a man and woman in a tender pose, along with the words celebrating love on Valentine's Day. Thousands of letters and some in person visitors come to Romeo and Juliet each year for the cancellation, as the post office calls it. And if you missed it today, there's still time to send your valentine mail with a romantic touch. The post offices in Romeo and Juliet offer the postmark until March 3rd.

[Tony Weeden]

And.

That is a wrap on this edition of Georgia today.

[Peter Biello]

We love having you as a listener and we hope you'll come back on Monday. We'll have more news in your podcast feed. So the best thing to do now is to subscribe. And remember, we're going to have more news posted as it [e-mail] news. Thanks again for listening.

[Tony Weeden]

I'm Peter Biello.

[Peter Biello]

Have a great weekend.

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