“Community TEA” for April 11, 2021

After a series of mass shootings around the US, President Joe Biden announced several gun-control focused executive actions including expanding background checks for certain types of guns, regulating stabilizing braces built for pistols, making new investments in intervention programs for violence-prone communities, and creating model “red flag” legislation for states to pass.

Gov. Brian Kemp continued his media blitz Saturday with an appearance at a Cobb County restaurant where he told his supporters that Democrats are to be blamed for Major League Baseball’s decision to pull its All-Star game from Truist Park.

About two dozen protesters turned out near Augusta National to object to Georgia’s new voting law during the third round of the Masters. The group held signs that said, “Let Us Vote” and “Protect Georgia Voting Rights,” drawing both jeers and cheers from motorists on busy Washington Road.

The American Rescue Plan, a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill, waived federal tax on up to $10,200 of jobless benefits to individuals and couples whose income was less than $150,000. However, Georgia is among several states that will not give jobless workers the tax break.

Noting the difficulty of the assignments on the George Floyd Murder case, the National Association of Black Journalists has called on news organizations to make resources available to help employees cope – suggesting reporters covering the trial may be susceptible to trauma tied to their own experiences or previous stories about encounters between police and Black people, said Dorothy Tucker, NABJ president.

In another case of alleged police misconduct, a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army is suing two Virginia police officers over a traffic stop last December during which the officers drew their guns, pointed them at him, and used a slang term to suggest he was facing execution before pepper-spraying him, knocking him to the ground, and handcuffing him. Body camera footage shows 2nd Lt. Caron Nazario, who is Black and Latino, dressed in uniform with his hands held in the air outside the driver’s side window as he told the armed officers, “I’m honestly afraid to get out.” Police in Windsor, located in southeast Virginia, have yet to issue any comment about the incident and the officers remain on duty. The lawsuit says, “These cameras captured footage of behavior consistent with a disgusting nationwide trend of law enforcement officers, who, believing they can operate with complete impunity, engage in unprofessional, discourteous, racially biased, dangerous and sometimes deadly abuses of authority,” the lawsuit said. The suit also claims that after questioning Nazario, the officers threatened to derail his military career.

Alcee Hastings, crusading civil rights lawyer, the first Black federal judge in Florida and dean of Florida’s U.S. congressional delegation during a tumultuous career that took him from the segregated lunch counters of the Deep South to Capitol Hill, died after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 84.

Hip-hop rapper and actor, DMX, whose distinctively gruff voice and thoughtful messages in his rhymes made him one of rap’s biggest stars, died at the age of 50 suffering “catastrophic cardiac arrest.” DMX, whose birth name was Earl Simmons, died with relatives by his side after several days on life support.

Prince Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II, passed away at the age of 99. Known as the Duke of Edinburgh, Philip and Elizabeth were married for 73 years. He will be remembered for his charitable work and his dedication to public service.

The Cobb Police Department has a new five-story headquarters at 430 Commerce Park Drive, just off Fairground Street, better known as the (former) LGE Community Credit Union building.

A public health alert has been issued for approximately 211,406 pounds of raw ground turkey products potentially linked to salmonella hadar illness.

Tyler Perry has agreed to create a Madea origin story series for Showtime called “Mabel”, while Bishop T.D. Jakes and Lifetime will partner to create films based on the seven deadly sins.

200,000 people have signed a petition for LeVar Burton to become the next host of ‘Jeopardy’ following the death of long-time host Alex Trebek.

Shaq made a young man’s day this week by paying for his engagement ring at Zales in McDonough.

The Atlanta Braves played their first game in 18 months this weekend against the Phillies, welcoming 13,000 eager fans back to the ballpark. The Braves are going for a sweep as they conclude their three-game series tonight.

After a pollen count of over 4,600 on Friday, heavy rains and wind brought much needed relief to allergy suffers during the weekend, bringing the pollen count under 1000.

Today is National Pet Day, so enjoy your special members of the family.