Georgia
Georgia Tech facing backlash over policy banning DEI programs
Georgia Tech removes DEI terms, programs
A new directive to delete any mention of words like “diversity,” “equity,” and “inclusion,” from Georgia Tech’s websites caught the attention of the Georgia NAACP.
ATLANTA – Georgia Tech is ending programs and eliminating websites that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), a spokesperson confirmed to FOX 5.
The decision has drawn criticism from the Georgia NAACP, which is calling for a meeting with school officials.
DEI removal: Georgia Tech community responds
What they’re saying:
“It’s just disappointing. Especially because I was someone who definitely benefited from it,” said one Georgia Tech student of Hispanic heritage, who didn’t wish to be identified by name. “People should be qualified, but it also helps, coming from a more difficult background, to have a little leg up. Especially, getting into colleges like Georgia Tech.”
Georgia NAACP President Gerald Griggs expressed deep concern over the changes.
“We received notice from our local unit there on the college, and definitely wanted to have some questions answered,” Griggs said.
Georgia Tech removes DEI terms, programs
What we know:
Georgia Tech has confirmed it is in the process of eliminating its DEI programs, which has been an effort that has been ongoing since 2023. It did not confirm the veracity of the memo the Georgia NAACP posted, but did confirm its mandates.
Blair Meeks, a spokesperson for Georgia Tech, emailed the following statement:
“In 2023, Georgia Tech made the decision to begin discontinuing DEI programs, which included eliminating positions and realigning funding. As a critical research partner for the federal government, Georgia Tech will ensure compliance with all federal and state rules as well as policies set by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia to continue accelerating American innovation and competitiveness. Efforts to examine and update our web presence are part of this ongoing work.”
The backstory:
The decision follows a broader national trend of restrictions on DEI initiatives. President Donald Trump has ordered that federal funding be eliminated to any program that supports DEI.
Last week, the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was ordered to delete content related to “gender ideology.”
Georgia Tech’s recent decision appears to be part of a broader effort to align with evolving policies on DEI initiatives.
Pastor Jamal Bryant calls for 40-day ‘fast’ from Target over end to DEI policy
Griggs, the Georgia NAACP president, is concerned about the trend, and worries progress will be lost.
“It is an attempt to erase people’s identities and attempt to go back to a far-gone era,” he said. “We’re not going to allow it.”
What’s next:
Griggs has requested a formal meeting with Georgia Tech leadership to discuss the policy change and its implications.
“If it’s just happening on the website, we can only imagine what’s happening internally,” he said. “So we need to have a robust conversation.”
Students remain uncertain about the impact of the changes.
“Removing them from the websites may not actually amount to much,” another student who spoke to FOX 5 said. “But the question is what will come with that?”
The Source: This article is based on original reporting by FOX 5’s Rob DiRienzo on Georgia Tech’s campus in Atlanta. Information was provided by a Georgia Tech spokesperson and the NAACP of Georgia.
SCREVEN COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) – A parasite not seen in the United States since the 1960s is making a comeback, and Georgia cattle producers are watching closely.
The New World Screwworm has been confirmed in Texas and New Mexico, raising alarms across the South. The pest — eradicated in the U.S. more than 60 years ago and driven all the way to Panama — has been working its way back north through Mexico.
Screven County cattle producer Lindy Sheppard says he learned about screwworm in agriculture college and heard stories from his father, who dealt with the parasite in the 1950s and ’60s.
“I never thought I would have to deal with it,” said Sheppard.
Now, with confirmed cases edging closer to Georgia, Sheppard isn’t so sure.
“We hope they keep it on that side of the Mississippi River,” he said. “We don’t want it over here.”
How screwworm spreads
The New World Screwworm spreads through flies whose larvae burrow into the open wounds of living animals. Livestock, horses, pets and wildlife are all at risk. Newborn cattle are especially vulnerable; their exposed navel cords provide an entry point for flies.
Sheppard says calving season, which begins as early as late August in Georgia, is his biggest concern.
“When we start calving in late August, September, because the navel cords are so exposed. That’s a red flag in my mind that it could be a real problem when we start calving this fall,” he said.
Georgia’s response
The Georgia Department of Agriculture is already taking action. Officials are monitoring livestock movement into and out of the state around the clock and have prepared traps ready to deploy if needed.
Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper said the state is stepping up protocol checks on all animals entering Georgia.
Sheppard says he is confident in the state’s leadership.
“We’ve got Tyler Harper, our commissioner of agriculture. He’s all over it,” Sheppard said. “I feel like they’re doing everything they can. I really do.”
Economic concerns
The screwworm threat comes as Georgia’s cattle industry is already under significant pressure. Rising costs, shrinking profit margins, dwindling access to markets and an aging workforce have pushed many farmers to the brink.
Sheppard, 65, notes the average age of a cattle farmer is 58, and says screwworm could be the breaking point for some.
“We’re losing cattle in this state anyway, so that may accelerate it,” he said. “It might be the straw that breaks the camel’s back, it sure might. It makes them go ahead and sell all of the cattle.”
The USDA has allocated $100 million toward screwworm eradication efforts. In South Texas, federal officials are already releasing sterile flies, the same method used to eradicate the parasite in the 1960s.
Food supply not at risk
Despite the growing concern, both Sheppard and state officials say the food supply is not in danger.
“It does not affect the food supply,” Sheppard said. “The quality of the food has nothing to do with it… it only really affects those of us here producing it. And we just have to manage it the best we can.”
What to do if you suspect screwworm
The Georgia Department of Agriculture is urging farmers and pet owners to report any signs of screwworm immediately, including unusual wounds, maggots or strange behavior in livestock or animals.
To report a suspected case, contact the Office of the State Veterinarian:
- Phone: 404-656-3667
- Email: AnimalHealth@agr.georgia.gov
Copyright 2026 WTOC. All rights reserved.
PERRY, Ga. (WALB) — The Georgia National Fair announced ticket pricing changes for 2026 in a Facebook post.
Children ages 3-10 will now require a $5 admission ticket.
Adult tickets purchased with cash at the entry gate will cost $20, excluding discounted admission days. Adults paying with a card at the gate will pay $15.
All online transactions will include a processing fee.
Discounted admission days will be $10 for everyone. Seniors 60 and up are $10 every day.
For more ticket information and fair dates, visit https://www.georgianationalfair.com/p/getconnected/pricing.
Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Let us know. Please include the article’s headline in your message.
To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WALB on Facebook, Instagram and X. For more South Georgia news, download the WALB News app and add WALB as a preferred source on Google.
Copyright 2026 WALB. All rights reserved.
-
Austin, TX3 minutes agoScrewworm medications straining animal shelter budgets across Texas
-
Alabama5 minutes agoLate nights, Father’s day deals and fireworks at Alabama Adventure
-
Alaska11 minutes agoIt’s the Alaska Legislature’s last day in special session. Here’s the latest.
-
Arizona19 minutes agoNew tractors help University of Arizona modernize farming in Yuma
-
Arkansas26 minutes agoAuthorities report 2 Tulsa residents found dead in Arkansas from apparent murder-suicide
-
California29 minutes ago2 Northern California universities made U.S. News ‘Best Global’ list
-
Colorado34 minutes agoPikes Peak or Bust Parade canceled by organizers
-
Connecticut41 minutes agoPerson hospitalized in Westport crash that briefly closed I-95, officials say
