Community “TEA” July 13, 2021

An executive order signed Friday by President Joe Biden cracking down on anti-competitive practices includes airline fees. The order directs the U.S. Department of Transportation to consider requiring airlines to refund fees when baggage is delayed or when the plane’s Wi-Fi is broken, according to a fact sheet released by the White House. Biden’s executive order, signed Friday afternoon, also directs the DOT to consider issuing rules to require clear disclosure of fees for baggage, changes and cancellations. Today, airlines are required to refund baggage fees only if a bag is declared lost by the airline. 

Haiti is on the brink of chaos and requesting US help after Haiti President Jovenel Moise was assassinated and his wife injured. Dozens of suspects from Columbia were arrested. Among them were two Americans who say they were hired as translators and were set up. 

The death toll of the devastating partial collapse of a 12-story residential building in Surfside, Florida last month rose to 86, officials announced Saturday The recovery effort entered its 17th day on Saturday and officials said 62 victims are now identified, 211 people are accounted for, and 43 are potentially unaccounted for.

Charlottesville Virginia is removing statues of confederate generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas Stonewall Jackson this weekend. Four years ago, the statues were the focus of a white supremacist rally that turned deadly and left one woman dead and dozens injured. 

An attorney for Breonna Taylor’s family has filed a lawsuit claiming Louisville Metro Police may have given the public “misinformation” about the existence of some body camera footage from the raid of Taylor’s home. The lawsuit, filed against LMPD in Jefferson Circuit Court on Wednesday, claims police are also improperly withholding public records that would prove whether there are additional body camera videos from the night Taylor was shot and killed by officers

A federal judge Wednesday threw out a challenge to portions of Georgia’s controversial new election law as poorly timed. U.S. District Judge J.P. Boulee ruled that with runoff elections for vacant state House seats in Cobb County and southeast Georgia set for next Tuesday, it’s too late to change provisions in the current law. “The underlying elections have already occurred, and Plaintiffs seek an order that would mandate different rules for the related runoff elections,” Boulee wrote in an 11-page order. Election administrators have prepared to implement the challenged rules, have implemented them at least to some extent and now would have to grapple with a different set of rules in the middle of the election.”

Vaccinated teachers and students don’t need to wear masks inside school buildings, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday in relaxing its COVID-19 guidelines. The changes come amid a national vaccination campaign in which children as young as 12 are eligible to get shots, as well as a general decline in COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths.

Georgia is way below COVID-19 vaccine averages for the country with only 39% vaccinate, while Kemp is tight lipped on the subject as he launched his campaign for reelection. Fully vaccinated in Georgia is at 39%, while those having received a single dose is at 44%. 

Former President Jimmy Carter and wife Rosalynn celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary on Saturday in Plains, Georgia, where hundreds of people, including Former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Senator Raphael Warnock, gathered to honor them.

Gov. Brian Kemp won a straw poll, but got booed when he took the stage at the Cobb GOP’s annual Independence Day celebration on Saturday. 

Not willing to allow the truth to get in their way, Kemp and other Republicans have tried to pin the blame on MLB’s decision to leave Georgia on Stacey Abrams, even as MLB officials dispute their claims. Kemp nonetheless is using this in his recent campaign ad, as he blames her specifically for the decision of Major League Baseball to move the All Star game — previously set to be staged in metro Atlanta next week. The truth is that MLB yanked the game in protest of the state’s restrictive election law, which Republicans pushed through the General Assembly in March and Kemp immediately signed into law.

As Georgia job seekers hit the job market, scammers are trying to take advantage by posting fake jobs listings along with real jobs opportunities. Red flag – if they ask you to pay them money, buy gift cards, or sit on a check they send you, it is a clear sign of a scam. You should be to talking to someone about a job. Chat or email only communications is another sign. 

A surge of interstate shootings in metro Atlanta have been reported since January. With rode rage being a factor, more than 30 shootings have been reported with 13 of them being deadly incidents. 

Eviction crisis fears are rising along with housing insecurities for many families as Federal Renters Assistance is scheduled to expire. As the Moratorium comes to an end July 31, 7 million renters are behind in payments because only a fraction of the 46 billion dollars Congress allocated has reached those most in need per data from the Treasury Department data. 

Gas prices are anticipated to increase between 10 cents to 20 cents by the end of August due to increased demand and failed attempts to reach expansion agreements between the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its partners. Motorists have already noticed an increase in gas prices in the past week, but a report from AAA shows the spike has yet to reach its peak.

General Motors is recalling over 400 thousand trucks because the side airbags can explode without warning and spew parts into the cabin. The recall covers certain 2015 and 2016 Chevrolet and GMC Sierra 1500, 2500, and 3500 trucks. 

The billionaire space race started today with Richard Branson and Virgin Galactic Space Flight blasting off fron Newe Mexico earlier today. Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin Space Company will blast off July 20. Blue Origin will go farther – 62 miles into space, while Branson will go 55 miles. Branson already has FAA approval to fly customers passengers to space and about 700 people have already bought seats costing $250 thousand each. Some say these are joy rides for the rich to space, while others say it is opening space up to the public. 

Atlanta rapper Lil Baby was released by Paris police Friday after fining him for having cannabis in his car, according to the city prosecutor’s office. He was stopped along with NBA star James Harden, who was frisked but not detained. Lil Baby’s arrest on one of the French capital’s most upscale avenues shocked fans of both high-profile Americans. The two were in town for Paris Fashion Week. It also resurfaced questions about racial profiling in France.

While under renovations for damages caused by fire, Shak’s Krispy Kreme Donuts shop in Atlanta has caught fire again. Police believe both incidents were arson. 

The American Customer Satisfaction Index announced its annual rankings of America’s fast food. Defending Champion Chick Fil A topped the list, with Dominos coming in second place, and KFC taking third place. 

Have a wonderful week….