Morning Reads for World Wildlife Day (March 3)

Good morning! It’s World Wildlife Day, which celebrates wild plants and animals. The theme this year is “Forests and Livelihoods: Sustaining People and Planet,” calling attention to the fact that forests sustain life for hundreds of millions of people around the world. Here are some suggestions for participating in World Wildlife Day for all levels of engagement.

Also, on this day in 1931, the “Star-Spangled Banner” became the official anthem of the United States. That happened on my grandfather’s 11th birthday. It’s kind of wild to think about how short of a time it’s actually been official, isn’t it? The song itself has been around for much, much longer — over 100 years.

It’s Read Across America Week, and I’ll give my two cents about the Dr. Seuss kerfuffle in another post. But, please do read things this week in celebration, including all of our posts (obviously).

Let’s get to the news.

Pat Conroy

• Civil rights activist and former Clinton advisory Vernon Jordan passed away yesterday.
• So did former state Rep. Louise McBee (who was a fixture at UGA for decades).
• In one of those “Never Knew this Needed to be a Law until it Had to Be” instances, the Georgia Senate will soon consider bills to stop paying elected officials who are suspended from their jobs while facing felony indictments. Until now, such individuals have had the decency to resign, but now there’s Jim Beck. (Alternate link.)
• State Sen. Bill Stephens is still trying to get the horse racing bill passed before Crossover Day, and now he’s added money to HOPE in hopes of garnering additional support.
• MARTA has settled with Shyanne Lord over her sexual harassment claims with its biggest payout ever. This failure to take sexual harassment claims seriously looks like it’s becoming at pattern at the organization. (Alternate link.)
• 77% of Georgians surveyed accept that climate change is occurring, including 59% of Republicans. (Alternate link.)
• Richard Barron may get a final decision today on whether or not he’ll remain on as the Fulton County Elections Director.
• WABE has a story focusing on some of the Georgians who make our elections possible through their work at the county level.
• The Hapeville Dwarf House will be closed for a remodel starting March 15th, so prepare accordingly.
• Because I’m half Tar Heel and my dad’s a Yellow Jacket, it’s critically important to point out that Tech beat Duke for the first time in 11 years last night! (Alternate link.)

Alice Walker

• A second hearing is being held today on the January 6th insurrection at the Capitol. (Alternate link.)
• Capitol security is being increased ahead of tomorrow’s “true election,” which is when Q-Anon conspiracy theorists believe former President Donald Trump will return to power.
• President Joe Biden has promised enough vaccines to vaccinate all American adults by the end of May. (Alternate link.)
• Today, the Biden Administration will announce a new initiative with health insurers to ensure high-risk customers get COVID shots.
• Neera Tanden’s nomination to be the White House budget chief has been withdrawn.
• The Department of Defense has released a scathing review of Rep. Ronny Jackson’s time serving as White House physician to President Trump.
• Federal authorities have launched a human smuggling investigation in the wake of the crash that killed 13 people in California yesterday.
• U.S. manufacturing is being slowed down by shortages of critical components and labor.
• The Associated Press has found that most of the lawmakers proposing legislation to ban transgender girls from high school sports cannot cite an instance in their state where this has been an issue.
• Some Republican campaign consultants have found ways to profit handsomely from the right’s “outrage machine.” (Alternate link.)
• At least 10 rockets struck an Iraqi military base that hosts 2,000 American troops.
• Myanmar security forces have killed eight protesters today, after killing 18 on Sunday.
• The Islamic State has taken responsibility for the deaths of three female journalists in Afghanistan.
• Germany has placed the far right AfD (Alternative for Germany) under surveillance for extremism. (Alternate link.)

Flannery O’Connor

• Dolly Parton has received the first dose of the COVID vaccine she helped fund, and she sang about it.