Tifton Talks

From new Georgia laws to national headlines, this week’s episode breaks down what’s happening across Tifton, the state, and beyond — with just the right mix of snark and substance. 🗞️ In This Episode:

• A Georgia audit questions the impact of a $30M child wellness program
• New state laws: trans athlete bans, digital IDs, tax cuts, human composting & more
• Over 1.4M Georgians are getting surplus tax rebates
• GOP infighting over solar tax credits heats up
• Zillow’s crackdown on hidden listings shakes up real estate
• Gen Z women are ditching summer chaos for quiet convent retreats
• Harvard faces federal action over anti-Semitism
• The Dalai Lama eyes a successor — and China’s not thrilled
• NASA teams with Netflix for live space streaming
• Apple’s AR/VR roadmap includes smart glasses by 2027

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In this episode, the discussion focuses on the recent cancellation of nearly $50 million in federal contracts between USAID and Mana Nutrition, a Fitzgerald, Georgia-based nonprofit that produces fortified peanut paste to combat global malnutrition. Despite losing a critical funding source that previously accounted for 90% of its sales, Mana has managed to keep all 135 employees on staff. CEO Mark Moore confirmed the organization's ongoing operations but expressed deep concern over the situation.The decision, justified by USAID as being “not aligned with agency priorities” and “not in the national interest,” has drawn criticism from figures like U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock. He has urged the Trump administration to reinstate the funding, emphasizing both the economic and humanitarian impact on Georgia farmers and workers. Meanwhile, Mana awaits $20 million in unpaid funds for supplies already shipped, with a federal judge ruling that the payments must be settled. However, the Supreme Court has temporarily blocked that order, leaving the nonprofit in limbo.Beyond this immediate issue, the episode delves into a broader discussion about the role of USAID in American foreign aid. Established in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy, USAID has been instrumental in global health initiatives, disaster relief, and socioeconomic development for over six decades. Contrary to popular belief, U.S. foreign aid constitutes less than 1% of the federal budget, though many Americans mistakenly believe it to be as high as 25%. The podcast argues that reducing aid not only harms those in need abroad but also negatively impacts U.S. farmers and industries, particularly in Georgia.The host acknowledges the podcast’s commitment to political neutrality but asserts the importance of speaking out against decisions that undermine America’s global standing. The episode concludes with a reflection on how such policy shifts weaken U.S. influence and credibility on the world stage, emphasizing that regardless of political affiliation, the loss of strategic humanitarian aid should be a concern for all.SourcesTifton GrapevineTrump's permanent USAID cuts slam humanitarian programs worldwide: 'We are being pushed off a cliff'What is USAID, the federal agency the Trump admin is guttingWhat is USAID and why has it become a target for Trump and Musk?

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This week on Tifton Talks, we covered important news for Tifton and beyond:1. **Property Appeals:** Tift County has settled over 1,100 property value appeals out of more than 5,000. The appeals were made after property values went up. Once all appeals are done, the county might lower property tax rates, but this process is delaying tax bills.2. **Phone Outage:** TruVista's phone service in Tifton and Fitzgerald was down for almost three days, affecting local businesses and residents. The cause of the outage is unclear, but it's been fixed now.3. **Juice Recall:** Walmart recalled nearly 10,000 cases of apple juice because they might have unsafe levels of arsenic. The juice has been removed from stores, and no one has gotten sick so far.4. **Election Rules:** Georgia's Governor Kemp is looking into whether he can remove state election board members who passed new, controversial rules for county election boards. These rules could affect how election results are certified.5. **West Nile Virus:** The number of West Nile virus cases in Georgia has tripled recently, mostly around Atlanta. While most people don’t get very sick, some cases can be severe.6. **Early Dinners:** Some parents are feeding their kids dinner as early as 3:45 p.m. to avoid after-school snacking, which they say leads to better behavior and sleep.7. **EEE Virus:** A person in New Hampshire died from a rare, deadly virus called Eastern Equine Encephalitis, spread by mosquitoes. It’s the first death from this virus in the U.S. this year.8. **Home Prices:** U.S. home prices hit a record high in June, though the rate of increase slowed slightly compared to May.If you have news to share, you can email or call Tifton Talks. Thanks for listening!Contact [email protected](229) 234-1307Mentioned in this episode:Listen to Radio TiftEnjoy music from the 80s, 90s and beyond the way any self-respecting Gen X'er would by checking out Radio Tift at https://radiotift.com or installing the Live 365 app on your smartphone and favoriting Radio Tift!Listen to Radio Tift!

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In this episode, host Donovan Adkisson discusses the recent town hall meeting regarding significant increases in property assessments in Tifton. Mayor Julie B. Smith encouraged property owners to appeal their new assessments, which were carried out by an external firm (GMAS) due to the county's property values falling below state ratios. The last reassessment was conducted over 20 years ago, affecting all 19,350 parcels in the county.The meeting had a high turnout, with over 200 attendees, and was streamed live. Mayor Smith clarified that the reassessment is not a tax bill and that the city plans to roll back millage rates to mitigate tax increases. Chief Tax Appraiser Hayward Becton explained the reassessment process, addressing concerns about discrepancies between assessed and market values.Residents raised issues about the appeal process and the adequacy of the appraisal company. Many expressed frustrations over their property assessments and potential tax burdens. Donovan shared results from a recent survey of 210 respondents, revealing that 98.6% reported increases in property taxes, with a significant number experiencing increases of 50% or more.Residents were encouraged to engage with legislators about potential property tax reforms. The meeting highlighted the need for transparency and accountability from local officials. Donovan also mentioned the technical difficulties faced during the live stream and efforts to improve audio quality for recordings.Listeners are invited to share their thoughts through a survey or by emailing [email protected]. Donovan emphasizes the importance of civil discourse as the community navigates these challenges together.

• City of Tifton Town Hall Meeting July 13, 2024: Property Tax Revaluation Q&A [Audio]
• Tifton Talks 2024 Assessment Survey

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This is the audio extracted from the live Facebook feed of the town hall meeting the City of Tifton had on July 13, 2024 to discuss the recent revaluation of property for tax purposes in 2024. We attempted to clear up and make the audio as good as we could considering the event was not properly mic'd for streaming/recording purposes.

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In this episode of Tifton Talks, Donovan welcomes Lisa Davis from Sylvester. Lisa finds herself at the heart of a controversy surrounding a mural on a building she recently purchased and renovated for a new business. Not realizing the significance of the mural, Lisa proceeded with her plans to revitalize the building, only to face a storm of criticism.Lisa shares her background, emphasizing her deep connections to the community through various roles like being a former educator, a business owner, and a real estate broker. She discusses her involvement in revitalizing buildings and how she aimed to beautify and upgrade the properties she purchased.The conversation delves into the specifics of the building in question, where a mural was painted. Lisa explains that she had no prior knowledge about any contract or agreement protecting the mural's existence. She highlights the lack of communication about the mural's significance before or after her purchase, expressing surprise at the public's emotional connection to it.Donovan and Lisa discuss the social media uproar, misinformation, and the damage caused by vitriolic comments online. Lisa expresses concern over the negativity and false reviews impacting her business due to this situation. She explains her perspective, stating that while she didn't intend malice, she was simply exercising her rights as a property owner to renovate.They touch on the legal aspects, discussing contracts regarding mural preservation and the responsibility of building owners. Lisa shares her stance on the situation, acknowledging the lack of control over others' perceptions but emphasizing her commitment to improving the community.
The conversation concludes with reflections on the lessons learned, advocating for better communication and a deeper understanding of complex situations before making judgments. Both agree on the importance of respect, the dangers of social media, and the need for individuals to focus on their endeavors without unwarranted interference from others' opinions.
Questions or comments: [email protected] / Text: (229) 234-1307





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In this episode, we've got Brandon Gandy from the Tifton Talks Facebook group. Brandon's been around, did web design for a bit, then switched to driving for Uber and Lyft all around. After the pandemic, he returned to Tifton, where the ride business is a bit different. He discussed the challenges of making a living with Uber in Tifton, mentioning the shutdown of another local cab service.Brandon’s now launched Ride Local Tifton, a competitor to Uber and Lyft. He highlighted the issues with those platforms—low pay for drivers, high charges for riders. Ride Local Tifton aims to change that, offering drivers 80% of fares and 100% of tips, plus cheaper rides for users. Brandon plans to expand this model to other small areas. He shared insights on the challenges and potential strategies for success.RideLocal – Tifton – Local Affordable Rideshare (ridelocaltifton.com)





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This episode has our first Business Spotlight segment which is an interview with Ron Branch of Century 21 Smith Branch & Pope. Ron provides insights into the housing market in 2023, the ups and downs, what challenges perspective home buyers may face, especially with the continuing rise in interest rates across the United States. Before we get into the interview, I share our current membership numbers in the Tifton Talks Facebook Group along with a pet peeve I have considering prices, specifically at certain restaurants. Questions or comments: [email protected]: 762-354-2916

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• (06:43) - Interview Begins
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• (26:09) - Affiliate Ad Begins
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• (27:43) - Affiliate Ad Ends
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• (50:11) - Interview Ends
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Introducing the Tifton Talks Podcast for Tifton, Georgia and the surrounding region!





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Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tifton-talks--6578576/support.

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Voicemail: https://tiftontalks.com/voicemail
Email: [email protected]
Text:  229-234-1307


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