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Georgia Today: Court victory for targeted students; Pope Francis dies; Healthy Start expansion
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On the April 21 edition: A victory in court for Georgia international students; Georgians react to Pope Francis' death; 10 counties will soon benefit from Healthy Start program.
Peter Biello: Welcome to Georgia Today. Here we feature the latest reports from the GPB News team. On today's episode, a victory in court for Georgia international students who had their visas canceled. Georgians react to the passing of Pope Francis, and 10 counties will soon benefit from an expansion of the federally funded Healthy Start program.
Carol Banton: It's about building trust with that mom all the way around from the case management to the hands-on part. So hopefully this is gonna be something that's gonna take off like fire.
Peter Biello: Today is Monday, April 21. I'm Peter Biello, and this is Georgia Today.
Story 1:
Peter Biello: Scores of university students on international student visas canceled by the federal government have chalked up their first court victory, with a protective order expiring in two weeks. GPB's Grant Blankenship has more.
Grant Blankenship: 133 international students from around the country, including Georgia, sued when they lost their ability to study when the Department of Homeland Security pulled their records from the government database tracking international students. Last week, they sought a restraining order restoring their visas in Georgia's Northern District Court against Attorney General Pam Bondi and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Federal Judge Victoria Calvert granted the protection because of what she says is the likelihood a higher court will eventually find the visa cancellations broke the law and because the student's lives would be, quote, "irreparably harmed" in the meantime with no way to study or work. Calvert also cited the public's interest in seeing the federal government follow the law. For GPB News, I'm Grant Blankenship.
Story 2:
Peter Biello: Georgia Democrat Jason Esteves says he's running for governor in 2026. The 41-year-old state senator is a lawyer and business owner. Estevez said he will seek to lower the cost of living, including housing costs. He also wants to expand health care, restore abortion rights, and increase school funding. Incumbent Republican Gov. Brian Kemp can't seek reelection. Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has said she plans to run as a Democrat. Republican Attorney General Chris Carr announced his bid last year and Lt. Gov. Burt Jones is expected to announce soon.
Story 3:
Peter Biello: Pope Francis died today at the age of 88. GPB's Chase McGee reports on local reaction to his passing.
Chase McGee: In a statement from the archdiocese in Atlanta, Archbishop Gregory Hartmeyer says, quote, "We have lost a much-loved and respected spiritual father who took the name Francis, in order of my own spiritual father, St. Francis of Assisi, to define his papacy." Archbishop Hartmeyer calls it, quote, "providential that Pope Francis would pass within the Easter Octave" — the eight-day period of remembrance following Easter Sunday. The Diocese of Savannah posted a message online directing followers to the Vatican's page for funeral arrangements, adding, quote, "eternal rest grant unto him." For GPB News, I'm Chase McGee.
Story 4:
Peter Biello: Georgia's Sen. Raphael Warnock used his Easter sermon to reflect on the uncertainty facing American democracy. Warnack serves as senior pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. In his sermon, he connected the themes of resurrection and hope to what he described as a fragile moment in the country's civic life.
Raphael Warnock: Never did I think that a 9-0 Supreme Court ruling would be treated as if it were nothing. Our democracy, our sanity, and our humanity hang in the balance. It's a messed-up moment.
Peter Biello: The Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the Trump administration must facilitate the return of Kilmar Abrego-Garcia, who was wrongly deported to El Salvador. Warnock urged his congregation to act because, quote, "there is power in movement."
Story 5:
Peter Biello: Healthy Start programs aim to give new moms and their babies support during their first year together. The largely federally funded initiative links families with case managers who can help monitor their health and look out for their needs. Ten South Georgia counties will soon benefit from a wider breadth of support. GPB's Sofi Gratas explains.
Sofi Gratas: South Georgia Healthy Start, serving a cluster of counties in Southeast Georgia, will use a recent infusion of $2 million from the United Health Foundation to add doulas to its support staff. Doulas help women before and during birth. Carol Banton is a longtime case manager and is training to become a doula herself.
Carol Banton: It's about building trust with that mom all the way around from the case management to the hands-on part. So hopefully this is gonna be something that's gonna take off like fire.
Sofi Gratas: There's evidence that doulas can help mitigate infant and maternal deaths. Over 1,000 moms, kids and dads are enrolled in South Georgia Healthy Start from Appling to Jefferson County. The program is one of a few in Georgia whose funding from the Federal Health Resources and Services Administration was renewed for another five years last fall. For GPB News, I'm Sofi Gratas.
Story 6:
Peter Biello: Officials in Savannah have launched a new online survey for input on how future sales tax dollars should be spent in the Hostess City. GPB's Benjamin Payne reports.
Benjamin Payne: The survey asks people to rank their preferences among six buckets of spending, parks, public safety and transportation, among other categories. The revenue would come from a proposed 1% sales tax levied in Savannah's Chatham County, but it first needs to get approved by voters later this year. It would be the eighth edition of the county's penny sales tax to fund capital improvement, things like stormwater drainage systems and new fire trucks. Speaking at a press conference, Savannah Mayor Van Johnson urged Chatham residents to vote yes in November.
Van Johnson: I guarantee you that you have come across, used, utilized, been impacted by one of these projects in your daily life and you probably didn't even know it.
Benjamin Payne: Savannah's sales tax survey is open to residents and nonresidents alike and can be filled out on the city's website through mid-May. For GPB News, I'm Benjamin Payne in Savannah.
Story 7:
Peter Biello: Georgia's unemployment rate held steady at 3.6% last month, and the number of jobs rose by 6,900. The sectors with the most growth were health care and social assistance, while transportation and warehousing lost jobs last month.
Story 8:
Peter Biello: Google has given the city of Atlanta $300,000 to boost the city's Weatherize ATL program. That initiative helps fund energy efficiency and healthy home upgrades to single-family, owner-occupied homes and neighborhoods with high energy bills. Mayor Andre Dickens says the funding will help expand home energy efficiency improvements and workforce training opportunities for Atlanta residents. The nonprofit Partners in Action for Healthy Living has been selected as the on-the-ground team to implement the funding.
Story 9:
Peter Biello: And Caribou Coffee says it plans to open eight new locations in Georgia. The cafe chain first opened in Georgia in 1995. The new locations and development include Griffin, Athens, Woodstock, Smyrna, Lawrenceville, Snellville, Augusta and Covington. All are scheduled to open this summer.
Story 10:
Peter Biello: A Delta Air Lines airplane caught fire today before it was scheduled to leave Orlando, Fla., for Atlanta. Airport officials had no report of any injuries. All nearly 300 people were evacuated. A recent spate of aviation disasters and close calls in the U.S. has stoked fears about air travel. On-the-ground accidents included a plane that crashed and flipped over upon landing in Toronto and a Japan Airlines plane that clipped a parked Delta plane while it was taxiing at the Seattle airport. Atlanta-based Delta says maintenance teams will look into the cause of today's fire.
Story 11:
Peter Biello: Braves right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. went to social media to criticize his own team's manager. It started with a swing by Jarred Kelenic, who was trotting to first Saturday night when the ball he thought was a homer actually stayed in the park. Kelenic then began to run hard, but was thrown out at second base. Kelenic remained in the game, but in 2019 Acuña did the same thing, jogging to first as what he thought a home run settled into the park, Acuña got a single but manager Brian Snitker benched him for his lack of hustle. That Kelenic didn't receive the same treatment prompted Acuña to post on X, "If it were me, they would take me out of the game." Speaking after yesterday's 6-2 win over the Twins, Snitker said every situation is different. So, he handled Kelenic differently.
Brian Snitker: I don't look for him to not do it because he plays with his hair on fire all the time and he's laying out and I didn't know it till I saw this morning. I went in and I looked at it when I got here and then I had a discussion with him and we got it squared away.
Peter Biello: Acuña's social media comment was removed after about an hour, and the comments come as the Braves struggle to get out of the basement. All of the Braves' regular starting lineup, with the exception of Marcel Ozuna, are hitting below .300, and team's 8-13 record is among the worst in the National League.
Peter Biello: You are now all caught up on Georgia news. Thanks for listening to Georgia Today. Our reporters are working on stories for tomorrow morning and tomorrow afternoon. You can find all those at GPB.org/news when they're ready. And you can also find them here on Georgia Today. Make sure you subscribe so you won't miss a thing and send your feedback to GeorgiaToday@GPB.org. I'm Peter Biello. We'll see you tomorrow.
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