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In covert form, President Biden made an unannounced visit to Kyiv on Monday. Many framed it as an audacious and somewhat risky trip aimed at expressing solidarity with Ukrainians as Russia’s invasion of their country heads into a second year. Biden met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and announced a half a billion dollars of additional assistance to Ukraine — and said there would be new sanctions on Russia — with details to be released in the coming days. “One year later, Kyiv stands. And Ukraine stands. Democracy stands,” Biden said.
President Joe Biden said in a new interview that concerns about his age are “totally legitimate” as questions swirl around whether he will run for reelection in 2024. Biden, 80, was asked whether he is considering his age when deciding whether to run again, to which he replied no. However, he said it is “legitimate” for people to raise concerns about it. “It’s legitimate for people to raise issues about my age. It’s totally legitimate to do that. And the only thing I can say is, ‘Watch me.’ ” “Biden, the oldest president in U.S. history, would be 82 when sworn in if reelected in 2024.
Making another spectacle of herself, U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Rome, tweeted demands for a “national divorce”. She made the call for the big split on Presidents Day, writing: “We need to separate by red states and blue states and shrink the federal government. Everyone I talk to says this. From the sick and disgusting woke culture issues shoved down our throats to the Democrat’s (sic) traitorous America Last policies, we are done.” Democrats and centrist Republicans, such as former U.S. Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger and former GOP Chairman Michael Steele, were quick to criticize Greene. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, the Republican governor of Utah, issued one of the strongest rebukes, writing: “This rhetoric is destructive and wrong and — honestly — evil.” Greene fired back at critics, trying to make a distinction between her suggestion to divide the country and a call for civil war. But she also tweeted that the nation has “tragically” reached the point of “irreconcilable differences,” and then she promoted her theories on what red states could accomplish on their own. Some say her divorce from reality was complete with this comment. Greene showed up on Sean Hannity’s Fox News show to expound on the idea of breaking the country apart. And Hannity quickly picked the idea up and ran with it. This is proof all the nuts are not in cans.
State Sen. Ed Setzler, R-Acworth, has filed a new bill at the Georgia General Assembly seeking to nullify the Cobb Board of Commissioners’ unprecedented move last year to amend its own electoral map. Senate Bill 236 would reinstate Cobb County’s district lines as passed by the Legislature last year. This marks the latest maneuver in the ongoing partisan battle between the county and the state. Setzler says the county lacks the authority to overrule the election map drawn by GOP state lawmakers which drew Democratic Commissioner Jerica Richardson out of her district. Setzler says Cobb County lacks the authority to overrule the Legislature on redistricting.
As the Senate Judiciary Committee panel debated a bill that would create an oversight commission with the authority to discipline, remove or force local elected prosecutors to retire, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis dropped by the meeting. Saying she was curious about the timing of Senate Bill 92, Willis shared her thoughts with the panel saying, “In 2020, we went from having five district attorneys that were minorities to 14 that were minorities, which is historic for any state in the United States. Let’s be even more clear than that. Those district attorneys now represent the majority of the constituents in the state of Georgia.” Her comments were similar to what she shared with the Fulton County legislative delegation. “I’m tired and I’m just going to call it how I see it,” she said. “I, quite frankly, think the legislation is racist. I don’t know what other thing to call it.”
During the NAACP Image Awards, tennis superstar Serena Williams received the Jackie Robinson Sports Award. The winner of 23 Grand Slam singles titles was honored for “high achievement in athletics” along with their pursuit of social justice, civil rights and community involvement. Williams has extensive involvement in philanthropy and a venture capital fund that promotes diversity-led businesses. Previous winners of the award include Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Magic Johnson and sprinter Wilma Rudolph.
The White House said that the Georgia Bulldogs should expect an invitation from President Joe Biden to celebrate the team’s latest college football title. An official said the president “looks forward to welcoming” the team to the White House after an uproar over a possible snub. Still, the timing of any visit is still being worked out and a Biden Administration spokeswoman said more information is forthcoming.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution will cease publication of “Dilbert” based on comments creator Scott Adams made this past week calling for racial separatism. The AJC said, “Adams’ racist comments are incompatible with the AJC’s values and undermine our mission to make Atlanta and the world a better place by serving our community through fact-based news and information and insightful opinion.While we acknowledge his right to free speech and expression, he does not have a right to the AJC’s financial support or our platform.”
The Atlanta Hawks fired Head Coach Nate McMillan, who was unable to follow up on the success of leading the team to the 2021 Eastern Conference finals. Atlanta general manager Landry Fields announcing the firing. The Hawks are 29-30 and in eighth place in the East this season.
More than 2 million air fryers are being recalled due to the possibility they could catch fire, melt or overheat. The recall involves Cosori air fryers sold nationwide in stores and online for places such as Best Buy, Target, Kohl’s, Home Depot, Walmart and Amazon.com, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Distributed by Atekcity Corp. of Anaheim, California, the air fryers were sold June 2018 through December 2022 for between $70 and $130.
The company Bindle Bottle issued a voluntary recall for its insulated bottles, according to a notice published Thursday on the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) website. The recall notice said the affected products “may contain an area of exposed lead located in the bottom storage compartment” that could potentially cause unpackaged food to become contaminated. For those who consume such food, it could “pose health problems,” according to the notice.
Mainstays Three-Wicked Candles in round 14-ounce glass jars sold with Halloween and autumn themes are being recalled. The candles were sold with a metal lid and in seven different names: Jack-O-Lantern, Mystic Fog, Warm Apple Pie, Warm Fall Leaves, Fall Farm House, Pumpkin Spice and Magic Potion. Mainstays and the candle’s name are printed on the side of the candle. The candles are about 4 inches long by 4 inches wide. Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled candles and contact Star Soap Star Candle Prayer Candle to receive a full refund. The firm has received 12 reports of the candle burning too close to the side of the container and the glass cracking, resulting in one report of a minor cut and multiple reports of damage to nearby items. The firm has received one report of a fire.
A recall for eye drops has been expanded over concerns they could be contaminated with dangerous bacteria. Maker Global Pharma Healthcare Private Ltd. has initiated a recall for Delsam Pharma’s Artificial Eye Ointment, according to a Wednesday announcement from the Food and Drug Administration. It’s one of a growing number of recalls linked to an outbreak of drug-resistant infections that have led to vision loss, blindness and death.
Powdered infant formula products Similac, Alimentum and EleCare have been recalled and should not be used. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is investigating consumer complaints of bacterial infections in four infants who consumed powdered infant formula produced in Abbott Nutrition’s facility in Sturgis, Michigan. All four infants had to be hospitalized and the bacterial infection may have contributed to death in two patients. The FDA has published a full list of recalled brands. Recalled products should no longer be available for sale. But if you have these products in your home, check the lot code on the bottom of the package to determine if they are included in the recall. The FDA also is providing additional information for parents and caregivers of infants receiving medical specialty infant formula and individuals using certain medical foods. Because infant formula is the only source of nutrition for many newborns and infants, the FDA understands and shares the concerns parents and caregivers may have.