Lunchtime Reads for National Look Alike Day (April 20)

Happy April 20th, and all that may mean to you. I’m going to highlight National Look Alike Day, though. If you’ve got a doppleganger, today’s your day!

And now, the news.

Pat Conroy

• The Veterans Administration has proposed several changes – including entirely new buildings – for its Georgia hospitals and clinics. (Alternate link.)
• The three men convicted of killing Ahmaud Arbery are scheduled to be sentenced this summer.
• A new report identifies Southern Company (Georgia Power’s parent) as a major obstacle to climate change policy.
• The drop in the number of automatic voter registrations stems from the Department of Driver Services changing its website. (Alternate link.)
• A federal judge has ruled that Georgia voters can proceed with legal efforts seeking to disqualify Marjorie Taylor Greene from running for reelection.
• A hospital system in Tennessee is trying to use Georgia’s CON law to prevent a hospital from being built in Ringgold. (Alternate link.)

Alice Walker

• Most US airlines have dropped their mask mandates.
• The Biden Administration continues to chip away at issues with student loan repayment plans, this time correcting mismanagement in the income-driven repayment program.
• The Tunnel Fire in Arizona is still spreading rapidly.
• Florida Governor Ron DiSantis wants to end Disney’s special governing status. (Alternate link.)
• A New Jersey Catholic diocese has settled sexual abuse claims for $87.5 million.
• The New York Times has an in-depth piece looking at chronic student absences in the wake of the pandemic. (Alternate link.)
• U.S. home prices hit a record high in March. (Alternate link.)
• China is under a new series of COVID lockdowns, including cities that contain the largest and fourth largest ports in the world. Y’all get ready for a recession, depression, or more inflation in 2024… (Alternate link.)
• Here’s what’s happening in Ukraine today. Russia can’t win this war, and yet there’s still fighting.
• The United Kingdom is preparing to extradite Julian Assange to the United States.

Flannery O’Connor

• A chihuahua from Florida has broken the world record for oldest dog.