Hello and happy Wednesday! We’re almost half of the way through the week, and it’s National Cocktail Day. Forbes has a list of 10 cocktails to try (but maybe not all today). If mocktails are more your thing, WCCB out of Charlotte has you covered.
Last night, Georgia’s own Flannery O’Connor (who I reference every week in my version of the Morning Reads) was the topic of an American Masters episode, which you can see in full here. Hooray for public television, am I right? Bonus: Alice Walker is in it, too!
Let’s get on to the news, shall we?
Pat Conroy
- If you are over the age of 16, you are eligible to get a COVID shot in Georgia starting Thursday, so sign up now before all the slots are gone. (Alternate link.)
- Governor Kemp signed a small tax cut into law yesterday, though it may be negated due to the fact Georgia will accept federal stimulus funds.
- Georgians will now get to vote next year on whether or not we should continue paying two insurance commissioners, even though only one is doing the job. The only correct answer is “no.” (Alternate link.)
- Here’s where the voting restriction bills stand in the state legislature as of now.
- The CDC is unable to accurately track vaccine distribution at pharmacies in Georgia due to incompatible systems.
Alice Walker
- After multiple mass shootings in the United States this week, President Biden has called for Congress to pass tighter gun laws.
- While we’ve been primed to believe shootings stopped during the pandemic, 2020 was the most violent year on record for U.S. gun deaths in several decades. (Alternate link.)
- A new report has found that Facebook waited too late to implement its campaign to tackle misinformation about the 2020 election.
- The Justice Department has filed new evidence showing coordination between the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys during the January 6th insurrection.
- Bipartisan support for the Democrats’ voting rights package in the Senate is highly unlikely.
- Health and Human Services has asked to house unaccompanied migrant minors at two military bases in Texas.
- There are two main reasons for the surge at the border, according to migrants who have recently crossed: COVID and the 2020 hurricane season.
- The huge container ship currently blocking the Suez Canal will likely cause a spike in oil prices. (Alternate link.)
- The Myanmar junta freed hundreds of anti-coup protestors in hopes of placating them. Then, they shot and killed a seven year-old.
- It looks like Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will fall short of the votes needed to stay in power.
- The New York Times has looked into how China illegally provides North Korea with oil. (Alternate link.)
- Two UK studies released today have found that women in their 40s and 50s are more likely to suffer longterm symptoms from COVID, particularly fatigue and brain fog. Can confirm, folks. Can confirm…
Flannery O’Connor
- A Georgia man will serve a year in jail for chopping down 100-year old oak trees in Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park for their lumber.