Morning Reads for Be a Kid Again Day (July 8)

Good morning, and happy Be a Kid Again Day! Crawl up on the couch in your pajamas, eat your favorite oddly-colored cereal, and watch some cartoons… after work, of course.

Let’s get on to the news, shall we?

Pat Conroy

• Yesterday, we had our second highest day on record for new COVID-19 cases in Georgia.
• Georgia hospital leaders are worried about the rapid increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations around the state within the last week.
• The Georgia Department of Health’s data doesn’t provide information on race or ethnicity in 7 out of 10 confirmed COVID-19 cases through the end of June. (Alternate link.)
• Over 8,000 absentee ballots have arrived at county elections offices since the primary election, meaning these votes didn’t count.
• You now have until July 13th to register to vote in order to participate in the runoff election on August 11th. (Alternate link.)
• Georgia Power will add “COVID-19 costs” to customers’ bills, thanks to a 3-2 vote from the Public Service Commission.

Alice Walker

• The Trump Administration has begun its formal withdrawal from the World Health Organization.
• Speaking of the WHO, airborne transmission of COVID-19 is now possibly a threat indoors. (Alternate link.)
• The Trump Administration’s ruling on international students is being viewed as a way to pressure colleges into holding in-person classes in the fall. (Alternate link.)
• JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America will split between $14.3 billion to $24.6 billion in processing fees from the small business loan program created by the CARES Act. (Alternate link.)
• Several states have sued Secretary Betty DeVos for unlawfully diverting CARES Act funds for public schools to private schools.
• Republicans are split about attending the convention in Jacksonville next month, given the rising COVID-19 cases in Florida. (Alternate link.)

Flannery O’Connor

• A Kentucky man lost a series of arm-wrestling matches with his son, which led to an 8-hour standoff with police.