About this episode
Today's top headlines:
Kemp: Emergency declaration in effect until July 12. Summer school, overnight camps, pro sports practices OK'd; bars open Monday. Groups of 25 or more allowed.
Positive cases in Northwest Georgia hits 1,006, up 62% since April 30. State death toll at 1,973, up 80% in a month. It will top 2,000 by late Friday or Saturday.
GBI: Cartersville man, 55, charged with possession and distribution of child pornography as part of Bartow County Sheriff's Office investigation.
Politics: Advance voting for the primaries this Saturday only, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Ware Mechanical Weather Center: Low 80s all weekend with rain, storms possible today and Saturday. Sunday looks perfect.
Truett's Chick-fil-A Sports Update: High school association offers some clarity as conditioning resumes a week from Monday.
RANT OF THE DAY: Doubling down on downtown.
As temperature checks are part of today's pandemic lifestyle, let's do one on downtown Rome:
The issue of the hour is whether to let customers stroll about with drinks in hand, suggested again as a way to help reeling restaurants even as more of them resume something close to normal operation. Look for a June 8 City Commission vote.
There have been some surprise closings but also openings, including John Henry's Grill and Tortaco (pending in Magretta Hall).
The River District's zoning has been flipped to encourage development and at least one serious entrepreneur has taken the bait.
There's major competition brewing, with ample parking, where Kmart once stood. East Bend is still happening, a cinder block at a time.
And then there's an overall pandemic recovery, especially with downtown Saturday events 0 for 1 on the 2020 season with another due next week.
So what's the temperature? Not exactly 98.6 degrees -- but neither is it at serious fever level yet.
With the resignation of the downtown director in hand, the city has a crucial hire to make if it wants Broad Street to evolve. We can't afford to fumble this one -- and the City Commission needs to be involved right from the start.
