Morning Reads for National Love People Day (September 30)

Happy National Love People Day! It’s a day to remember that we should be kind to one another, and a good way to celebrate is through random acts of kindness. Here’s a video about National Love People Day to get us all in the spirit of unconditional love:

Now, on to the news!

Pat Conroy

• Here are the results from yesterday’s election to temporarily fill Rep. John Lewis’ seat for the rest of the year.
• A new Quinnipiac University poll out yesterday has Vice President Biden three points ahead of President Trump in Georgia. Both Senate races are also close.
• The Secretary of State’s office has released an app that will allow voters to track the status of their absentee ballots. (You can also do this on the My Voter Page.)
• The Secretary of State’s office also says it will be able to fix the error that is causing half of the candidates in the special election for U.S. Senate to not appear on some voters’ ballots.
• Governor Deal has formally endorsed Doug Collins in that special election. (Teri covered President Carter’s endorsement yesterday.)(Alternate link.)
• The Diocese of Savannah is facing a lawsuit alleging it covered up abuse by a former priest.

Alice Walker

• All you wanted to know – and didn’t want to know – about last night’s debate.
• Over 1 million voters have already cast their ballots in the 2020 election.
• President Trump has ordered ICE to carry out an “immigration enforcement blitz” next month just ahead of the election. (Alternate link.)
• The Trump campaign reportedly targeted 3.5 million African American voters during the 2016 campaign to deter them from voting.
• Disney will lay off 28,000 employees due to low park attendance during COVID-19.
• TIME has a fascinating look at the history of vote-by-mail, from 1775 to the present.

Flannery O’Connor

• Some foul-mouthed parrots at Lincolnshire Wildlife Park in England had to be moved after they cursed at visitors.