COMMUNITY TEA

President Joe Biden announced last week that the U.S. will ban the importing of Russian oil, liquefied natural gas, and coal, broadening the economic sanctions leveled against Moscow over its war in Ukraine. The decision to target Russia’s most lucrative industry despite the likelihood of higher energy prices at home comes as bipartisan support in Congress was coalescing behind restrictions on Russian energy.

Former President Barack Obama announced that he has tested positive for Covid-19. “I’ve had a scratchy throat for a couple days, but am feeling fine otherwise,” he said on his official Twitter account. Obama also said that his wife, former first lady Michelle Obama, has tested negative.

“Michelle and I are grateful to be vaccinated and boosted,” the former President said in a Facebook post. “It’s a good reminder that, even as cases go down, you should get vaccinated and boosted if you haven’t already to help prevent more serious symptoms and giving COVID to others.”

Federal officials are extending the requirement for masks on planes and public transportation for one more month — through mid-April — while taking steps that could lead to lifting the rule. The mask mandate was scheduled to expire on March 18, but the Transportation Security Administration said Thursday that it will extend the requirement through April 18. TSA said the extra month will give the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention time to develop new, more targeted policies that will consider the number of cases of COVID-19 nationally and in local communities, and the risk of new variants. 

U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Georgia, has garnered bipartisan support to begin developing new trails and recreation areas along the Chattahoochee River in Cobb. Congress approved $2.5 million to support the second phase of the Chattahoochee Riverlands greenway project. The goal of the project is to better connect communities along the river and the metro Atlanta region by adding an additional mile of greenway trail between Nickajack Creek and Mableton Parkway, a bike/pedestrian bridge over Nickajack Creek, a second bike/pedestrian bridge over an unnamed gully just south of Nickajack Creek, a regional trailhead just south of Mableton Parkway, a greenway trail through or around the privately-held “Maxim Crane” site and a “community-scale” trailhead on the north side of Veterans Memorial Highway.

Although global coronavirus trends are rapidly improving and countries are emerging from surges driven by the variant, we are forced to face a grim and tragic milestone. The number of known COVID- 19 deaths around the world surpassed six million, according to data from the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. Public health experts suggest six million is a vast undercount and that the true devastation will never be precisely known.

According to a report released last week, some minority groups were missed at higher rates in the 2020 U.S. census. Black, Hispanic and American Indian residents were missed at higher rates than a decade ago during the 2020 census, according to a report that evaluated how well the once-a-decade headcount tallied every U.S. resident.

Coca-Cola has joined the exodus of Western corporations pulling out of the Russian market. In a statement published last week, the Atlanta-based beverage giant announced it was suspending its business in Russia. “Our hearts are with the people who are enduring unconscionable effects from these tragic events in Ukraine,” the statement read. “We will continue to monitor and assess the situation as circumstances evolve.” Prior to this announcement, Coke was feeling the pressure from citizens demanding they take a stand. Atlanta’s Ukrainian community organized to pressure Coke into joining the Russian withdrawal. Russia represents roughly 1.5% of Coke’s global beverage sales volume, based on the company’s 2020 annual report.

The IRS announced plans to hire 10,000 new workers to help reduce a massive backlog that the government says will make this tax season the most challenging in history. The agency released a plan to work down the tens of millions of filings that includes speeding up the traditionally slow hiring process, relying more on automated processes, and bringing on more contract workers to help with paper processing.

 To the disappointment of many, the U.S. Supreme Court quietly announced that it would not review Bill Cosby’s sexual assault case, leaving him a free man and ending a two-decade legal drama that shifted the cultural landscape, destroyed the groundbreaking Black actor’s reputation, and sent him to prison for several years late in life. The high court, without comment, declined to review a stunning decision out of Pennsylvania that released Cosby from prison in June over the word of a former prosecutor who said he had made a secret promise to Cosby’s lawyers that he would never be charged.

A movie musical version of “The Color Purple” starring Fantasia Barrino and Danielle Brooks will begin production in Atlanta later this month. The movie is set to shoot from March 21 to June 17, according to productionlist.com. Fantasia who won “American Idol” in 2004, will play Celie. Brooks (“Orange Is the New Black”) will play Sofia. Oprah Winfrey, who portrayed Sofia in the original film, is one of the film’s executive producers. Other cast members include Taraji P. Henson as jazz singer Shug Avery, H.E.R. as Squeak, and Corey Hawkins as Harpo.

The Seahawks and Broncos agreed in principle on a trade sending quarterback Russell Wilson to Denver for a massive haul, including multiple first-round draft picks, plus additional picks and players, per sources informed of the decision. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Falcons have made no moves to change out the aging Matt Ryan, to the disappointment of many season ticket holders who believe Ryan’s best days are behind him.  

Tom Brady isn’t finished after all. A few weeks after he announced plans to retire, the seven-time Super Bowl champion quarterback announced today that he will return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the 2022 season, his 23rd in the NFL. He announced the news on social media with a statement that read, “These past two months I’ve realized my place is still on the field and not in the stands. That time will come. But it’s not now. I love my teammates, and I love my supportive family. They make it all possible. I’m coming back for my 23rd season in Tampa. Unfinished business LFG.”

The Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremonies is moving from a prime-time schedule at night to Saturday afternoons. The next enshrinement will take place on Aug. 6 at noon in Canton, Ohio. Being inducted this year are modern-era players Tony Boselli, Sam Mills, LeRoy Butler, Richard Seymour, and Bryant Young; coach Dick Vermiel; contributor Art McNally; and senior candidate Cliff Branch. NFL Network and ESPN will continue to broadcast the proceedings.

Former NFL Hall of Famer and Jackson State coach Deion “Prime Time” Sanders opened up about having two of his toes amputated in a surgery that was necessary to save his entire leg. Concern first arose after Sanders underwent surgery to correct a hammertoe, and his big and second toe turned black. This discoloration was a result of a lack of oxygenated blood getting to the toes. This was due to blood clots in his lower leg—blood clots being a condition that he was previously unaware of which he had a family history of. A doctor reviewing his case said, “When that tissue loses oxygen, that tissue starts to die and necrose and becomes extremely painful. We have to talk about amputation at this point because dead, damaged tissue is a strong site for potential infection. 

Welcome back, baseballers and World Series champion Atlanta Braves. After months of nothing happening, word broke Thursday that the owners and players had agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement.

The all-African American swim team, the South Fulton Swordfish, have 12 swimmers who have qualified to compete at the State Games of America. The State Games of America is a biennial Olympic-style event featuring competition among State Games medal winners from across the nation. This year’s event will be July 27-31 in Des Moines, Iowa. The South Fulton Swordfish was established in 1999 by Coach Elisha “Reno” Bashir. They’re a year-round competitive swim team offering professional coaching and technique instruction for all ages and abilities. The goal of the team is to provide every member an opportunity to improve swimming skills and achieve success at his or her level of ability, from novice to international competitor. Over the years, Bashir and his staff have coached hundreds of swimmers. Currently, the team has 25 swimmers ranging from elementary to high school. The Georgia Local Swimming Committee has named Bashir and the South Fulton Swordfish the Georgia Swimming Diversity Club of the Year.

Kemp Memorial Library’s Homeless Pet Club collects unopened pet food year-round for families in need. Donations benefit the free pet food pantries at Our Giving Garden in South Cobb, the Cobb County Animal Services Shelter; and Kemp Memorial Library in West Cobb. Donation boxes are located at the Kemp Memorial Library, 4029 Due West Road in Marietta; South Cobb Regional Library, 805 Clay Road in Mableton; and Sweetwater Valley Library, 5000 Austell-Powder Springs Road in Austell. Donations can also be dropped off directly at the free pet food pantries: Our Giving Garden, 79 Cooper Lake Road SE in Mableton; Cobb County Animal Services Shelter, 1060 Al Bishop Drive in Marietta; and at Kemp Memorial Library.

As gas prices soar to record levels, Uber said it is implementing a first-of-its-kind fuel surcharge to offset the rising costs for its U.S. drivers. Uber said it plans to implement the 45-to-55- cent charges on ride-hailing trips beginning Wednesday, along with a 35-to-45-cent fee on UberEats deliveries. The fees will remain in place for at least two months, the company said and will vary within those price ranges according to how long trips extend and the gas price increases. The price of gas has soared in response to supply concerns stemming from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

As COVID-19 restrictors have eased, Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas – the world’s largest cruise ship, set off on its inaugural voyage from Fort Lauderdale to Labadee, Haiti; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Nassau and CocoCay, Bahamas. Cruise fans have been patiently waiting for the ship’s debut since its float-out ceremony in September 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic played a factor in the CDC’s no sail order and eventual conditional sailing order for cruise ships, which expired on Jan. 15, 2022. The 18-deck cruise ship set sail on its first seven-night voyage, from Port Everglades. Wonder of the Seas is a record-breaking cruise ship that measures 1,188 feet in length and 210 feet in width, according to Royal Caribbean.

 Want to getaway? A New ‘Star Wars’ Hotel experience has opened at Disney. The cost, is $5,000 for 2 nights.

Have a great week and don’t forget to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on March 17th!