Georgia Today – November 21, 2025

Host: Peter Biello (Georgia Public Broadcasting)
Main Themes: High-profile jury verdict in Middle Georgia, delays in federal heating assistance funds, Atlanta rebrands its DEI office, and other notable statewide stories.

Episode Overview

This episode of Georgia Today covers several significant developments across Georgia:

• The acquittal of three sheriff's deputies in the 2017 tasing death of Yuri Martin.
• Delays in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program funds post-government shutdown.
• Atlanta’s decision to rebrand and refocus its Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.
• Additional state news including holiday travel, drought conditions, food access for seniors, duck hunting season, and the value of middle school “feeder” football programs.

Sheriff Deputies Found Not Guilty in Yuri Martin Case

[00:35-01:48]

• Case Background: Three former Washington County deputies—Rhett Scott, Michael Howell, and Lee Copeland—were accused of murder after the 2017 tasing death of Yuri Martin, a disabled Black man.
• Trial Outcome:
  • After eight years, one mistrial, and a partial mistrial, a new jury acquitted all three men of felony murder.
  • Jury deliberated seven hours but deadlocked on involuntary manslaughter charges for two deputies.
• Civil Rights Perspective:
  • Frances Johnson, attorney and civil rights activist supporting the Martin family, expressed both pride and resolve:

    "Extremely proud to have stood beside you... and we're not done." — Frances Johnson [01:34]

  • Johnson intends to file federal civil suits against the deputies.

Delay in Federal Heating Assistance Funds

[01:48-02:44]

• Issue: LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) funds have not reached Georgia's local agencies due to government shutdown-related delays.
• Impact:
  • Thousands of Georgians risk going without help this winter.
  • Consuela Thompson, Georgia Community Action Association director, cautioned communities not to expect an immediate restart:

    "The community is thinking, okay, the government shutdown is over, so it's business as usual. But there is a recovery period. But until we receive the funds, we cannot put the money on the account." — Consuela Thompson [02:18]

• Update:
  • DHS hopes funds will be released by the end of November.
  • Agencies are cautious about making promises to clients.

Atlanta Rebrands Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

[02:44-04:04]

• Office Rebranded:
  • Atlanta City Council approved renaming the "Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion" to "Office of One."
  • The office’s express focus on LGBTQ affairs has also been removed from its stated responsibilities.
• Council Reaction:
  • Council member Michael J. Bond explained the change as an "evolution of emphasis":

    "The change is to emphasize how the city is reimagining how we're going to provide opportunities and services to our business community in the city." — Michael J. Bond [03:27]

  • On external influence:

    "There probably would have been continued steady progress and being more inclusive, but it would be dishonest to say that the situation in D.C. didn't hasten that evolution." — Michael J. Bond [03:52]

• Administration Response:
  • Mayor Andre Dickens’ office is “looking into the change.”
• National Context:
  • Part of a broader response to pressure against DEI programs, often connected to federal funding threats prompted by the Trump administration.

Additional Stories

Federal Program Delays & School Absenteeism

[02:44–03:27]

• State lawmakers propose suspending driving and sports privileges for chronically absent students. Excessive truancy is a growing concern post-pandemic.

Senior Produce Vouchers in Fulton County

[04:04-05:14]

• Program Details: 500 fresh produce vouchers for seniors at winter farmers’ markets, filling food access gaps.
• Community Voice:
  • Senior Michael Kelly shared,

    "It felt very enriching and very favorable and exciting that they would take the time out to even think about someone else." — Michael Kelly [04:46]

• Final farmers markets: Monday at Bowdoin Senior Center; Tuesday at Harriet G. Darnell Senior Center.

Holiday Travel & Airport Trends

[05:14-05:54]

• Hartsfield-Jackson projects over 4 million travelers during Thanksgiving.
• Travel bookings at ATL are down 8% vs. last year, possibly linked to earlier government shutdown uncertainty.

Exceptional Drought in Southwest Georgia

[05:54-06:14]

• Decatur, Grady, Thomas, and Brooks counties now at highest drought level, with a bleak forecast for continued dryness—critical for agriculture.

Duck Hunting Season

[06:14-06:26]

• Season opens with unchanged regulations; licenses required.
• Two hunting seasons: Nov 22–30 and Dec 6–Jan 25.

High School Football’s “Feeder” Programs

[07:14-09:16]

• Story spotlights Cambridge feeder football program nurturing players from elementary through high school.
• Player’s Voice:
  • Braxton Palazzo:

    "I've known half these kids for my whole entire life, so it feels awesome just playing with people I know and not just a bunch of random people." — Braxton Palazzo [07:49]

  • Craig Dandridge (future UGA player) on camaraderie:

    "It just made the program that much more special... seeing each other, like transitioning to high school, and now we're all just playing together again." — Craig Dandridge [08:46]

• Coaching Perspective:
  • Coach Austin Reagan:

    "It's really gonna be cool when Coach Tony and I are sitting at the high school game with full gray tops, watching our kids play varsity football and just think about how much fun it was when we coached them in feeder." — Austin Reagan [09:03]

Notable Quotes

• Frances Johnson (Civil Rights Attorney):

  "Extremely proud to have stood beside you... and we’re not done." [01:34]

• Consuela Thompson (Georgia Community Action Association):

  "But until we receive the funds, we cannot put the money on the account." [02:18]

• Michael J. Bond (Atlanta City Council):

  "The change is to emphasize how the city is reimagining how we're going to provide opportunities and services to our business community in the city." [03:27]
  "It would be dishonest to say that the situation in D.C. didn’t hasten that evolution." [03:52]

• Michael Kelly (Senior, on produce):

  "So it felt very enriching and very favorable and exciting that they would take the time out to even think about someone else." [04:46]

• Braxton Palazzo (Feeder Football):

  "I've known half these kids for my whole entire life, so it feels awesome." [07:49]

Key Timestamps

• Sheriff Deputy Verdict & Civil Lawsuit Plans: [00:35-01:48]
• Heating Assistance Delays: [01:48-02:44]
• Atlanta DEI Office Renamed: [02:44-04:04]
• Fulton Co. Senior Produce: [04:04-05:14]
• Thanksgiving Travel Forecast: [05:14-05:54]
• Middle School Football Program: [07:14-09:16]

This episode offers a concise yet comprehensive exploration of critical events in Georgia, balancing hard news with community-driven stories and local voices.