The Brief from WABE

Omicron continues its rapid rampage across Georgia, with the National Guard on standby to help at state testing centers; a warning from top health officials and the state's attorney general about fake COVID tests; and the area could see a lot of rain as strong storms move through the region in the coming days.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Omicron's spread leads to the single biggest day for new COVID-19 infections so far this pandemic, with Fulton County reporting more than 14,000 cases; the peach will have to wait another year to drop; and implicit racial bias and its potential influence on Georgia's high infant mortality rates.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Omicron promises to fuel an exponential increase of COVID-19 infections in metro Atlanta; Gov. Kemp seeks to make Juneteenth a state holiday; and metro Atlantans tell us how their yuletide celebrations look different amid the pandemic and its latest variant.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Atlanta is bringing back a mask mandate. Georgia is not; Georgia's Gov and Atty General sue the Biden Administration. Again; and the state looks to educate a workforce to fit the electric vehicle wave coming. It's all in today's Brief from WABE.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgia lawmakers from both sides of the isle remember former U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson as a statesman invested in reaching common ground. This, a day after the Republican died at the age of 76; COVID's latest variant is coming in a big way; and federal officials give the green light to Camden County to move forward with a spaceport.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oh, my! [cron] Officials predict the latest COVID variant could spread extremely quickly, especially with holiday gatherings upon us; GOP Senate hopeful Herschel Walker never graduated from the Univ. of Georgia, although you'd think otherwise if you'd read his website; and the "Super Bowl of HBCUs" is back in Atlanta after a year off for COVID. Want a ticket? Too late. Seats are sold out, promising one of the biggest events yet for Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgia announces it's wooed the biggest car company you've never heard of; if there ever was a time to be jobless in Atlanta, November was it; and it's taken two years to clean up one shipwreck, but Georgia (finally) bids adieu to the Golden Ray.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Infectious disease experts are urging Georgians to get a Covid-19 booster to help better protect themselves from the omicron variant. Feral hogs, a nuisance on the Georgia coast for years, are now being blamed for making marshes more vulnerable to climate change. An Atlanta actor discusses the state of the film industry in Georgia; and ground is broken near city hall for a memorial to the victims of the Atlanta Child Murders.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Six million Georgia residents have received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine over the past year, but state health officials are still hoping to persuade millions more to roll up their sleeves as holiday travel season continues. Georgia’s Republican House Speaker previews the upcoming legislative session; and a new center in Atlanta will help address those who stutter, thanks to the financial support of Atlanta United and Falcons’ owner Arthur M. Blank.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hospitalizations from Covid-19 are on the rise across Georgia, especially in the northwest part of the state. The Red Cross says Georgians can help tornado relief efforts across the South and Midwest by donating blood. Gov. Brian Kemp faces a primary challenge in 2022 after falling out of favor with former President Donald Trump. And Atlanta’s Peach Bowl returns to full capacity Dec. 30th, meaning an uptick in short-term rentals.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.