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  string(134740) "Mark Kooyman is the CEO/Discovery Chief at EXPERIENCE Insight Group, Inc. and a well-regarded market research expert who lives in Atlanta. Kooyman has been preparing daily numbers on COVID-19 for friends and family since the oiutbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. We thank him for allowing Creative Loafing to publish his results.

!!Monday, August 31, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the total number of tracked COVID-19 cases represents 1.83 percent of the U.S. population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.35 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.43 percent of the U.S. population.

The 6,078,455 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down as follows as of this morning::

*Recovered — 4,740,161 individuals, or 78.0 percent or, 77.8 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Active cases — 1,157,387 cases, or 19.0 percent or, 19.2 percent yesterday
*Deaths — 180,907 deaths, or 3.0 percent or, 3.0 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


New cases grew by 33,981 in the past 24 hours. The total number of active cases declined by a small number of 3,321 cases offset by 36,843 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column.

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals 81,830,079, an increase of 724,889 new tests conducted in the past 24 hours.

The five expansion states, the five top states to post the highest counts, account for 31.6 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*California — 3,817 new cases, 3,863 yesterday
*Texas — 2,757 new cases,  4,780 yesterday
*Florida — 2,583 new cases, 3,187 yesterday
*Georgia — 1,215 new cases, 2,386 yesterday
*Arizona — 374 new cases, 629 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 14.4 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*Tennessee — 835 new cases, 1,465 yesterday
*South Carolina — 1,075 new cases, 1,298 yesterday
*North Carolina — 993 new cases, 2,221 yesterday
*Alabama — 1,346 new cases, 1,705 yesterday
*Mississippi — 647 new cases, 735 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 5.9 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*New York — 780 new cases, 680 yesterday
*New Jersey — 153 new cases, 236 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 199 new cases, 446 yesterday
*Michigan — 551 new cases, 839 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 561 new cases, 752 yesterday.


Four more states posted 1,000 or more cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,992 new cases
*Louisiana — 1,624 new cases
*Ohio — 1,013 new cases
*Missouri — 1,161 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 369 as of 12:01am this morning compared to the 954 deaths posted yesterday. Of the deaths,45.5 percent took place yesterday in the five expansion states.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 15,992 as of this morning. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.3 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered now totals 4,741,161, that is 310 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

For those tracking outbreaks in the greater Athens area, including the University of Georgia, here is the updated COVID-19 positive case counts as of 7:30 a.m. this morning as reported by the Georgia Department of Public Health:

*Athens-Clarke County, 572 positive cases today, 585 yesterday.
*Oconee County, 79 positive cases today, 78 yesterday.
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!!Sunday, August 30, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the total number of tracked COVID-19 cases represents 1.83 percent of the population in the United States. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.35 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.42 percent of the U.S. population.

The 6,044,474 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down as follows as of this morning:

*Recovered — 4,703,318 individuals or 77.8 percent, 77.5 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Active Cases — 1,160,618 cases or 19.2 percent, 19.5 percent yesterday
*Deaths — 180,538 deaths or 3.0 percent, 3.0 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


New cases grew by 42,843 in the past 24 hours. The total number of active cases declined by 11,587 cases offset by 53,476 individuals surviving COVID-19. This is now the 35th straight day of higher recovery numbers vs. new cases.

The number of tests administered here in the U.S. now totals 81,105,190, with 802,384 tests completed yesterday.

The five expansion states, the states to post the highest counts, account for 34.6 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*California — 3,863 new cases, 5,406 yesterday
*Texas — 4,780 new cases, 4,987yesterday
*Florida — 3,187 new cases, 3,815 yesterday
*Georgia — 2,386 new cases, 2,298 yesterday
*Arizona — 629 new cases, 519 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 16.9 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hour:

*Tennessee — 1,465 new cases, 1,636 yesterday
*South Carolina — 1,298 new cases, 1,353 yesterday
*North Carolina — 2,221 new cases, 1,550 yesterday
*Alabama — 1,705 new cases, 1,162 yesterday
*Mississippi — 735 new cases, 599 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 6.4 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*New York — 680 new cases, 720 yesterday
*New Jersey — 236 new cases, 339 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 446 new cases, 460 yesterday
*Michigan — 839 new cases, 793 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 752 new cases, 866 yesterday.


Seven other states posted 1,000 or more cases in the past 24 hours. These states account for 19.7 percent of the new cases:

*Illinois — 1,880 new cases
*Ohio — 1,210 new cases
*Virginia — 1,217 new cases
*Indiana — 1,121 new cases
*Minnesota — 1,017 new cases
*Iowa — 1,081 new cases
*Oklahoma — 1,093 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 954 as of this morning, compared to the 1,105 deaths posted yesterday. Of the deaths, 49.3 percent took place yesterday in  California, Florida, Texas, Arizona and Georgia.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 16,025 as of this morning. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.3 percent of the total active cases. This number continues to decline. Last Saturday, more than 16,800 “critical/serious” cases were reported.

The number of those who have recovered now totals 4,703,318, that is 305 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19, or, triple the number of individuals active with COVID-19.

!!Saturday, August 29, 2020
As presented each weekend, here is information specific to metro Atlanta area and the greater Athens area as made up of Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Cobb, and Clayton counties and Clarke, Oconee, Barrow, Jackson, Madison, and Oglethorpe counties, respectively.

The table below provides the number of total COVID-19 cases, active cases based on the U.S. 14-Day National Recovery time, recovered cases based on the U.S. 14-day National Recovery time and deaths as cited either directly or indirectly by local authorities. The number of recovered cases continues to increase in in all three geographic areas since the “top of the bell-curve” occurred back in late July-early August. This is particularly true in the five metro Atlanta counties, where we are now past the “case hump."

INSERT Table 1

The next table provides those numbers above as translated into percentages. Both Atlanta and Athens track on a more positive level than the U.S. nationally.

INSERT Table 2

Here is a specific breakdown of the five core counties that make up the city of Atlanta. The number of active cases continues to decrease.

INSERT TABLE 3

Next are the stats for the six counties of the Greater Athens area. The increased number of deaths in each of the counties in the last week are nearly all among individuals age 65+.

INSERT Table 4

Nationally, new cases grew by 49,601 in the past 24 hours. The total number of active cases declined by 11,749 cases, offset by 60,245 individuals surviving COVID-19.

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals over 80 million — 80,302,806 — an increase of 830,320 new tests conducted in the past 24 hours. The next closest countries to the U.S. in the number of tests conducted are India with 40 million tests followed by Russia with 36 million and China with 34 million.

Based on trending over the past few weeks, I have made a couple of small changes in the grouping below. Georgia is now added to the “expansion states” and Tennessee is added to the “southeastern states.”

The five expansion states, the states to post the highest counts, account for 34.3 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*California — 5,406 new cases, 5,280 yesterday
*Texas — 4,987 new cases, 4,458 yesterday
*Florida — 3,815 new cases, 3,269 yesterday
*Georgia — 2,298 new cases, 2,484 yesterday
*Arizona — 519 new cases, 186 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 12.7 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*Tennessee — 1,636 new cases, 2,484 yesterday
*South Carolina — 1,353 new cases, 505 yesterday
*North Carolina — 1,550 new cases, 2,045 yesterday
*Alabama — 1,162 new cases, 1,769 yesterday
*Mississippi — 599 new cases, 585 yesterday.



The five early case states account for 6.4 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*New York — 720 new cases, 901 yesterday
*New Jersey — 339 new cases, 253 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 460 new cases, 368 yesterday
*Michigan — 793 new cases, 863 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 866 new cases, 635 yesterday.



Five more states posted 1,000 or more cases in the past 24 hours. They account for 17.7 percent of the new cases:

*Illinois — 2,434 new cases
*Ohio — 1,279 new cases
*Iowa — 2,574 new cases
*Virginia — 1,013 new cases
*Missouri — 1,474 new cases.



The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 1,105 as of this morning, compared to the 1,143 deaths posted yesterday. Of the deaths, 47.9 percent of the them took place in California, Florida, Texas, Arizona and Georgia.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 16,184 as of this morning. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.3 percent of the total active cases. This number continues to decline. Last Saturday, more than 16,800 “critical/serious” cases were reported.

The number of those who have recovered now totals 4,649,842 — that is 297 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

!!Friday, August 28, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the total number of tracked COVID-19 cases represents 1.80 percent of the population in the United States. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.36 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.39 percent of the U.S. population.

The 5,952,030 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down as follows as of this morning:

*Recovered — 4,589,597 individuals or 77.1 percent, 76.8 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Active Cases — 1,183,954 cases or 19.9 percent, 20.2 percent yesterday
*Deaths — 178,479 deaths or 3.0 percent, 3.0 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


New cases grew by 46,286 in the past 24 hours. The total number of active cases declined by 9,752 cases offset by 54,895 individuals surviving COVID-19.

The number of tests administered here in the U.S. now totals 79,472,486 — an increase of 835,098 new tests conducted in the past 24 hours.

The four expansion states, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 29.5 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*California — 5,280 new cases, 5,415 yesterday
*Texas — 4,458 new cases, 6,053 yesterday
*Florida — 3,269 new cases, 3,220 yesterday
*Arizona — 680 new cases, 186 yesterday.



The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 15.5 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*Georgia — 2,484 new cases, 2,236 yesterday, the fourth highest state new case count
*Carolina — 505 new cases, 605 yesterday
*Carolina — 2,045 new cases, 1,175 yesterday
*Alabama — 1,769 new cases, 186 yesterday
*Mississippi — 585 new cases, 904 yesterday.



The five early case states account for 6.5 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*New York — 901 new cases, 676 yesterday
*New Jersey — 253 new cases, 259 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 368 new cases, 336 yesterday
*Michigan — 863 new cases, 843 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 635 new cases, 520 yesterday.


Eight other states more posted 1,000 or more cases in the past 24 hours. These eight states account for 24.8 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,707 new cases,
*Tennessee — 1,826 new cases
*Ohio — 1,226 new cases
*Virginia — 1,121 new cases
*Indiana — 1,145 new cases
*Missouri — 1,614 new cases
*Minnesota — 1,614 new cases
*Iowa — 1,566 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 1,143 as of this morning, compared to the 1,289 deaths posted yesterday. Of the deaths, 46.4 percent took place yesterday in the four expansion states. Another 7.2 percent of the deaths took place in Georgia.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 16,231 as of this morning. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.3 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered now totals 4,589,597 — that is 288 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

For those tracking outbreaks in the greater Athens area, including the University of Georgia, here is the updated COVID-19 positive case counts as of 7:30 a.m. this morning as reported by the Georgia Department of Public Health:

*Athens-Clarke County — 489 positive active cases today, 468 yesterday.
*Oconee County — 79 positive cases today, 73 yesterday.
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!!Thursday, August 27, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the total number of racked COVID-19 cases in the United States represents 1.79 percent of the U.S. population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.36 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.37 percent of the U.S. population.

The 5,905,744 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down as follows:

*Recovered — 4,534,702 individuals or 76.8 percent, 76.4 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Active cases — 1,193,706 cases or 20.2, 20.6 percent yesterday
*Deaths — 177,336 deaths or 3.0 percent, 3.0 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


New cases grew by 44,637 in the past 24 hours, the total number of active cases declined by 10,962 cases offset by 54,310 individuals surviving COVID-19. This is now the 31st straight day of higher recovery numbers than new cases.

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals 78,637,388 — an increase of 705,981 new tests conducted in the past 24 hours

David Bradley, who heads up Athens-Clarke County Chamber of Commerce, sent over some very telling national numbers that he has tracked:

*Average daily new cases over a seven-day period on Aug. 5: 59, 570, on Aug. 26: 42,967 —  a decrease of 27.7 percent
*Average daily critical cases over a seven-day period on Aug.5: 18,593, on Aug. 26: 16,700 — a decrease of 10.2 percent
*Average number of deaths over a seven-day period on Aug.5: 1,133, on Aug. 26, 898 — a decrease of 20.7 percent.


I encourage business leadership to embrace creativity and innovation and look back at how your business had survived through the last three to four months and take from it insight to guide your team in 2021 expansion plans. Bradley and his team in Athensshow businesses that have been very creative can survive.

The four expansion states, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 33.3 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*California — 5,415 new cases, 5,862 yesterday
*Texas — 6,053 new cases, 6,803 yesterday
*Florida — 3,220 new cases, 2,673 yesterday
*Arizona — 186 new cases, 859 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 15.5 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*Georgia — 2,236 new cases, 2,101 yesterday
*South Carolina — 605 new cases, 937 yesterday
*North Carolina — 1,175 new cases, 1,456 yesterday
*Alabama — 186 new cases, 532 yesterday
*Mississippi — 904 new cases, 801 yesterday.



The five early case states account for 5.9 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*New York — 676 new cases, 627 yesterday
*New Jersey — 259 new cases, 313 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 336 new cases, 398 yesterday
*Michigan — 843 new cases, 951 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 520 new cases, 557 yesterday.


Five more states have posted one thousand or more cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 2,457 new cases, 4th highest State new case count
*Tennessee — 1,936 new cases
*Ohio — 1,059 new cases
*Missouri — 1,276 new cases
*Kansas — 1,359 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 1,289 compared to the 1,290 deaths posted yesterday. Of the deaths, 46.6 percent took place yesterday in the four expansion states. Another 3.8 percent of the deaths took place in Georgia.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 16,378 as of 12:01am today. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.3 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered from COVID-19 now totals 4,534,702. Tthat is 280 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

For those tracking outbreaks in the greater Athens area, including the University of Georgia, here is the updated COVID-19 positive case counts as of 7:30 a.m. this morning as reported by the Georgia Department of Public Health:

*Athens-Clarke County — 463 positive active cases today, 423 yesterday
*Oconee County — 73 positive active cases today, 76 yesterday.
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!!Wednesday, August 26, 2020
As of12:01 a.m. this morning, the total number of tracked COVID-19 cases in the United States represents 1.76 percent of the population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.37 percent of the population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.34 percent of the population.

The 5,861,107 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down as follows:

*Recovered — 4,480,392 individuals, or 76.4 percent, 76.1 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Active cases — 1,204,668 cases, or 20.6 percent, 20.9 percent yesterday
*Deaths — 176,047 deaths, or 3.0 percent, 3.0 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


New cases grew by 40,098 in the past 24 hours. The total number of active cases declined by 14,508 cases, offset by 53,826 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column. This is now the 30th straight day of higher recovery numbers vs. new cases.

More than a million Americans were tested yesterday. This increase is likely linked to the use of tests to monitor COVID-19 on college campuses and school systems where classes have re-started. The number of tests administered here in the U.S. now totals 77,931,407, an increase of 1,047,928 new tests conducted in the past 24 hours.

The four expansion states, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 40.4 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*California — 5,862 new cases, 6,168 yesterday
*Texas — 6,803 new cases,  4,514 yesterday
*Florida — 2,673 new cases, 2,258 yesterday
*Arizona — 859 new cases, 311 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 14.5 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*Georgia — 2,101 new cases, 2,304 yesterday, fourth highest state new case count
*South Carolina — 937 new cases, 563 yesterday
*North Carolina — 1,456 new cases, 2,093 yesterday
*Alabama — 532 new cases, 1,605 yesterday
*Mississippi — 801 new cases, 511 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 7.1 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*New York — 627 new cases, 531 yesterday
*New Jersey — 313 new cases, 303 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 398 new cases, 662 yesterday
*Michigan — 951 new cases, 878 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 557 new cases, 567 yesterday.


Three more states posted 1,000 or more cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,680 new cases
*Virginia — 1,005 new cases
*Missouri — 1,060 new cases.

The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 1,290 as of 12:01 a.m. this morning, compared to the 510 deaths posted yesterday. Of the deaths, 43.6 percent took place yesterday in the four expansion states. Another 8.2 percent of the deaths took place in Georgia.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 16,468 as of this morning. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.4 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered now totals 4,480,392, that is 272 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

For those tracking outbreaks the greater Athens area, here is the updated COVID-19 positive case counts as of 7:30 a.m. this morning, as reported by the Georgia Department of Public Health:

*Athens-Clarke County — 423 positive active cases today, 417 yesterday
*Oconee County — 76 positive active cases today, 71 yesterday.
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!!Tuesday, August 25, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the total number of tracked COVID-19 cases in the United States represents 1.76 percent of the U.S. population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.37 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.34 percent of the U.S. population.

The 5,821,009 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down as follows:

*Recovered — 4,426,566 individuals, or 76.1 percent, 75.7 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Active cases — 1,219,176 cases, or 20.9 percent, 21.3 percent yesterday
*Deaths — 175,267 deaths, or 3.0 percent, 3.0 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


The number of new cases grew by 41,484 in the past 24 hours. The total number of active cases declined by 8,826, cases offset by 49,800 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column. This is now the 29th straight day of higher recovery numbers vs. new cases!

We will have to watch to see if the trend holds true with the number of active cases continuing to decline as the number of new cases decreases — something to track over the next five to seven days, especially in Florida, Texas, California, Arizona and Georgia.

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals 76,883,479, an increase of 724,101 new tests conducted in the past 24 hours. I will update the percentage on a weekly basis moving forward with the Monday morning releases.

The four expansion states, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 31.9 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*California — 6,168 new cases, 5,096 yesterday
*Texas — 4,514 new cases, 3,335 yesterday
*Florida — 2,258 new cases, 2,974 yesterday
*Arizona — 311 new cases, 208 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 17.1 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*Georgia — 2,304 new cases, 1,727 yesterday — third highest state new case count
*South Carolina — 563 new cases, 693 yesterday
*North Carolina — 2,093 new cases, 1,067 yesterday
*Alabama — 1,605 new cases, 528 yesterday
*Mississippi — 511 new cases, 626 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 7.1 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*New York — 531 new cases, 663 yesterday
*New Jersey — 303 new cases, 203 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 662 new cases, 182 yesterday
*Michigan — 878 new cases, 764 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 567 new cases, 519 yesterday.


Four more states posted 1,000 or more cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,612 new cases
*Indiana — 1,6670 new cases
*Missouri — 1,458 new cases
*Kansas — 1,317 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 510 as of this morning, compared to the 430 deaths posted yesterday. Of the deaths, 47.1 percent took place yesterday in the four expansion states, another 4.7 percent of the deaths took place in Georgia.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 16,483 as of this morning. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.4 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered now totals 4,426,566, that is, 263 percent MORE than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

For those tracking outbreaks the greater Athens area, here is the updated COVID-19 positive case counts as of 7:30 a.m. this morning, as reported by the Georgia Department of Public Health:

*Athens-Clarke County, 417 positive active cases today, 443 cases yesterday
*Oconee County, 71 positive active cases today, 68 cases yesterday.


I guess University of Georgia students are spending time with the text books instead of hanging out among all those contagious peers at the pubs!

!!Monday, August 24, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the total number of tracked COVID-19 cases in the United States represents 1.75 percent of the U.S. population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.37 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 SURVIVOR cases represents 1.32 percent of the U.S. population.

Great news in the morning headlines, “Plasma Treatment for COVID Gets FDA Clearance.” This is not a vaccine, but a combative treatment for hospitalized patients. This is a similar treatment to that used to treat patients during the 2014 Ebola outbreak. Over the course of the next 30 days, expect additional treatments to secure FDA clearance. The article also notes that there are now a dozen COVID-19 vaccines in the last phase of clinical trial testing, and, at least two or three are likely to be released for public access before the end of the year.

The 5,779,525 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down as follows as of this morning:

*Recovered — 4,376,766 individuals, or 75.7 percent, 75.4 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Active cases — 1,228,002 cases, or 21.3 percent, 21.6 percent yesterday
*Deaths — 174,757 deaths, or 3.0 percent, 3.0 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


New cases grew by 32,718 in the past 24 hours, the total number of active cases declined by 13,341 cases, offset by 45,629 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column. This is now the 28th straight day of higher recovery numbers vs. new cases. This is also the first time in the past 45 days in which the number of new cases totaled below 40,000.

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals 76,159,378, with an increase of 684,203 new tests conducted in the past 24 hours. A number of readers asked what is the seven-day average of the percentage of those being tested that are testing COVID-19 positive. Counting today and going back to last Tuesday August 18, the average is 5.9 percent. Between the prior seven-day period — Tuesday, August 11 to Monday, August 17 — the average is 6.6 percent. The percentage is dropping.

The four expansion states, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 35.5 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*California — 5,096 new cases, 5,156 yesterday
*Texas — 3,335 new cases, 3,715 yesterday
*Florida — 2,974 new cases, 4,311 yesterday
*Arizona — 208 new cases, 996 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 14.2 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*Georgia — 1,727 new cases, 2,592 yesterday, fourth highest state new case count
*South Carolina — 693 new cases, 917 yesterday
*North Carolina — 1,067 new cases, 1,157 yesterday
*Alabama — 528 new cases, 1,762 yesterday
*Mississippi — 626 new cases, 945 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 7.1 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*New York — 663 new cases, 701 yesterday
*New Jersey — 203 new cases, 270 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 182 new cases, 144 yesterday
*Michigan — 764 new cases, 1,426 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 519 new cases, 699 yesterday.


Three more states posted 1,000 or more cases in the past 24 hours…

*Illinois — 1,893 new cases
*Tennessee — 1,854 new cases
*Louisiana — 1,223 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 430 as of 12:01 a.m. this morning, compared to the 974 deaths posted yesterday. 40.4 percent of the deaths took place yesterday in the four expansion states. Another 9.3 percent of the deaths took place in Georgia.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 16,717 as of 12:01 a.m this morning. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.2 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered now totals 4,376,766 — that is 256 percent MORE than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

For those tracking the greater Athens area, here is the updated COVID-19 positive case counts as of 7:30 a.m. this morning as reported by the Georgia Department of Public Health for the key counties:

*Athens-Clarke County — 443 active cases today, 449 yesterday
*Oconee County — 68 positive active cases today, 65 yesterday.
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!!Sunday, August 23, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the total number of tracked COVID-19 cases in the United States represents 1.74 percent of the population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.37 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.31 percent of the U.S. population.

The 5,746,807 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down as follows:

*Recovered — 4,331,137 individuals, or 75.4 percent, 75.0 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Active cases — 1,241,343 cases, or 21.6 percent, 22.0 percent yesterday
*Deaths — 172,183 deaths, or 3.0 percent, 3.0 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


New cases grew by 43,829 in the past 24 hours as of this morning, the total number of active cases declined by 10,890 cases, offset by 53,845 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column. This is now the 27th straight day of higher recovery numbers vs. new cases.

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals 75,4765,175, an increase of 756,595 new tests conducted in the past 24 hours.

The four expansion states, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 32.3 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*California — 5,156 new cases, 6,539 yesterday
*Texas — 3,715 new cases, 5,753 yesterday
*Florida — 4,311 new cases, 4,684 yesterday
*Arizona — 996 new cases, 619 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 16.8 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*Georgia — 2,592 new cases, 2,889 yesterday, 4th highest state new case count
*South Carolina — 917 new cases, 1,058 yesterday
*North Carolina — 1,157 new cases, 2,041 yesterday
*Alabama — 1,762 new cases, 321 yesterday
*Mississippi — 945 new cases, 874 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 7.4 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*New York — 701 new cases, 817 yesterday
*New Jersey — 270 new cases, 304 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 144 new cases, 488 yesterday
*Michigan — 1,426 new cases, 526 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 699 new cases, 725 yesterday.


Seven more states posted 1,000 or more cases in the past 24 hours…

*Illinois — 2,356 new cases
*Tennessee — 1,239 new cases
*Louisiana — 1,345 new cases
*Ohio — 1,267 new cases
*Virginia — 1,212 new cases
*Indiana — 1,000 new cases
*Missouri — 1,391 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 974 as of this morning, compared to the 1,170 deaths posted yesterday… 50.2 percent of the deaths took place yesterday in the four expansion states. Another 9.7 percent of the deaths took place in Georgia.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 16,739 as of this morning. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.2 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in mainstream society now totals 4,331,137 — that is 250 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

For those tracking UGA outbreaks, here is the updated COVID-19 positive case counts as of 7:30 a.m. this morning as reported by the Georgia Department of Public Health for the key counties regarding the total population.

*Athens-Clarke County — 449 positive active cases today, 442 yesterday
*Oconee County — 65 positive active cases today, 64 yesterday.
!!  Saturday, August 22, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the total number of tracked COVID-19 cases in the United States represents 1.73 percent of the population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.38 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.29 percent of the U.S. population.

As done each Saturday, a slightly different format is used to present the numbers in two major local areas. The regions highlighted include:

*The five metro counties that primarily make up the metro Atlanta area — Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Cobb, and Clayton counties
*The greater Athens, Georgia, area, including Clarke, Oconee, Barrow, Jackson, Madison, and Oglethorpe counties.


The table below provides the numerical count of totalCOVID-19 cases, the active cases based on the U.S. 14-Day national recovery time, the recovered cases based on the U.S. 14-day national recovery time and deaths, as cited either directly or indirectly by the local authorities. The number of recovered cases has significantly increased in Atlanta since the “top of the bell-curve” occurred back in late July/early August.

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The next table provides the percentage count of totalCOVID-19 cases, the active cases based on the U.S. 14-Day national recovery time, the recovered cases based on the U.S. 14-day national recovery time, and deaths as cited either directly or indirectly by the local authorities.

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Here is a specific breakdown of the stats for the five Atlanta core counties. Note the decrease in active cases this week vs. last week.

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Here is a specific breakdown of the stats for the six greater Athens counties. Note the decrease in active cases this week vs. last week, especially in Athens/Clarke and Oconee Counties.

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Nationally, new cases grew by 50,455 in the past 24 hours. The total number of active cases declined by 14,015 cases, offset by 63,200 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column. This is now the 26th straight day of higher recovery numbers vs. new cases.

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals 74,718580, an increase of 847,601 new tests conducted in the past 24 hours.

The four expansion states, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 34.9 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*California — 6,539 new cases, 6,055 yesterday
*Texas — 5,753 new cases, 5,184 yesterday
*Florida — 4,684 new cases, 4,555 yesterday
*Arizona — 619 new cases, 723 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 14.2 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*Georgia — 2,889 new cases, 2,759 yesterday — fourth highest state new case count
*South Carolina — 1,058 new cases, 909 yesterday
*North Carolina — 2,042 new cases, 1,881 yesterday
*Alabama — 321 new cases, 971 yesterday
*Mississippi — 874 new cases, 894 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 5.7 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*New York — 817 new cases, 679 yesterday
*New Jersey — 304 new cases, 185 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 488 new cases, 313 yesterday
*Michigan — 526 new cases, 527 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 725 new cases, 786 yesterday.


Six more states posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 2,293 new cases
*Tennessee — 1,669 new cases
*Ohio — 1,069 new cases
*Indiana — 1,040 new cases
*Missouri — 1,342 new cases
*Oklahoma — 1,077 new cases.

The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 1,170 as of this morning. compared to the 1,090 deaths posted yesterday. 44.2 percent of the deaths took place yesterday in the four expansion states..

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 16,801 as of this morning.. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.2 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in mainstream society now totals 4,277,292. That is 242 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

Today would have been my father’s 92nd birthday. Mike Kooyman passed away on the Monday before Thanksgiving last year. My Dad was a very-driven businessman. He was persistent and strongly advocated what he believed in. I try to follow in his foot-steps each day!

!!Friday, August 21, 2020
As of today 12:01 a.m. this morning, the total number of tracked COVID-19 cases represents 1.71 percent of the U.S. population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.39 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.28 percent of the U.S. population.

The 5,652,523 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down in terms of status as follows:

*Recovered — 4,214,092 individuals, or 74.6 percent, 74.1 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Active cases — 1,266,248 cases, or 22.4 percent, 22.8 percent yesterday
*Deaths — 172,183 deaths, or 3.0 percent, 3.1 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


New cases grew by 45,341 in the past 24 hours as of this morning, the total number of active cases declined by 14,179 cases, offset by 58,430 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column.  This is now the 25th straight day of higher recovery numbers vs. new cases.

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals 73,870,979 — an increase of 752,638 new tests conducted in the past 24 hours. In the past week, a total of 5.3 million new tests have been conducted here in the U.S.

The four expansion states, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 36.4 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*California — 6,055 new cases … 6,789 yesterday
*Texas — 5,184 new cases …  5,965 yesterday
*Florida — 4,555 new cases … 4,115 yesterday
*Arizona — 723 new cases … 637 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 16.4 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*Georgia — 2,759 new cases … 2,305 yesterday … fourth highest state new case count
*South Carolina — 909 new cases … 739 yesterday
*North Carolina — 1,881 new cases … 1,069 yesterday
*Alabama — 971 new cases … 1,117 yesterday
*Mississippi — 894 new cases … 1,348 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 5.5 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*New York — 679 new cases … 764 yesterday
*New Jersey — 185 new cases … 301 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 313 new cases … 352 yesterday
*Michigan — 527 new cases … 689 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 786 new cases … 664 yesterday.


Four more states posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours…

*Illinois — 1,832 new cases
*Tennessee — 1,375 cases
*Ohio — 1,126
*Missouri — 1,125.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 1,090 as of this morning compared to the 1,263 deaths that posted yesterday… Of the deaths, 46.5 percent took place yesterday in the four expansion states.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 16,817 as of this morning.  The average for the past seven days is down significantly from the average of 18,758 cases the seven previous days. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.2 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered now totals 4,214,092, that is 233 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

For those tracking outbreaks at the University of Georgia in Athens, here is the updated counts of positive COVID-19 cases as of 7:30 a.m. this morning, as reported by the Georgia Department of Public Health for these key counties:

*Athens-Clarke County — 478 active cases yesterday, 462 today
*Oconee County — 69 active cases yesterday, 67 today.
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!!Thursday, August 20, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the total number of tracked COVID-19 cases represents 1.70 percent of the U.S. population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.39 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.26 percent of the U.S. population.

The 5,607,182 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down in terms of status as follows:

*Recovered — 4,155,662 individuals or 74.1 percent, 73.8 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Active cases — 1,280,427 cases or 22.8 percent, 23.2 percent yesterday
*Deaths — 171,093 deaths or 3.1 percent, 3.0 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


New cases grew by 44,957 in the past 24 hours as of 12:01 today, the total number of active cases declined by 11,454 cases offset by 55,148 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column. This is now the 24th straight day of higher recovery numbers than new cases.

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals 73,118,341, an increase of 748,173 new tests conducted in the past 24 hours.

The four expansion states, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 38.9 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*California — 6,789 new cases, 5,350 yesterday
*Texas — 5,965 new cases,  7,872 yesterday
*Florida — 4,115 new cases, 3,838 yesterday
*Arizona — 637 new cases, 915 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 14.6 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*Georgia — 2,305 new cases, 2,816 yesterday — fourth highest state new case count
*South Carolina — 739 new cases, 719 yesterday
*North Carolina — 1,069 new cases, 1,903 yesterday
*Alabama — 1,117 new cases, 1,357 yesterday
*Mississippi — 1,348 new cases, 795 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 6.2 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*New York — 764 new cases, 718 yesterday
*New Jersey — 301 new cases, 330 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 352 new cases, 222 yesterday
*Michigan — 689 new cases, 653 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 664 new cases, 600 yesterday.


Two more states posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 2,295 new cases
*Tennessee — 2,022 cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 1,263, compared to the 1,358 deaths posted yesterday. Of the deaths, 55.0 percent took place in the four expansion states. The highest number of deaths are taking place in Texas and Arizona where most of the deaths are happening in nursing homes.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 16,875 as of this morning. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.2 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the mainstream now totals 4,155,662 — that is 225 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

No readers replied that they could figure out the rationale behind the news stories I questioned yesterday claiming that Georgia was leading the U.S. on the rate of new COVID-19 cases. Surprisingly, after the morning news hour was over, I did not hear nor see anything more about the claim. Maybe someone from the Atlanta Journal Constitution took a moment to read the real news on the Creative Loafing website!

And, in Athens, home of the University of Georgia, there is an uproar that the students on the UGA campus are going to drive the COVID-19 cases higher than the annual football offensive yardage numbers. Here is the updated COVID-19 positive case counts as of 7:30 a.m. this morning as reported by the Georgia Department of Public Health:

*Athens-Clarke County, 548 positive active cases this past Saturday, 478 today
*Oconee County, 85 positive active cases this past Saturday, 69 today.
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!!Wednesday, August 19, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the number of total tracked COVID-19 cases represents 1.68 percent of the U.S. population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.39 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivors represent 1.24 percent of the U.S. population.

The 5,562,225 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down in terms of status as follows:

*Recovered — 4,100,514 individuals, or 73.8 percent, 73.4 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Active cases — 1,291,881 cases, or 23.2 percent, 23.6 percent yesterday
*Deaths — 169,830 deaths, or 3.0 percent, 3.0 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


New cases grew by 43,999 in the past 24 hours. The total number of active cases declined by 11,863 cases, offset by 54,504 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column. This is now the 23rd straight day of higher recovery numbers vs. new cases.

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals 72,370,168, an increase of 680,442 new tests conducted in the past 24 hours.

The four expansion states, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 40.4 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours as of this morning:

*California — 5,350 new cases, 6,925 yesterday
*Texas — 7,872 new cases,  6,446 yesterday
*Florida — 3,838 new cases, 2,678 yesterday
*Arizona — 915 new cases, 468 yesterday.


Georgia is featured in today’s top newspaper and broadcast news stories as being cited as “leading the nation on the rate of new cases.”  This is supposedly based on “the seven day average ending last Friday.”  To be honest, I cannot figure out what numbers are driving the claims, but then again, the media further highlights that the claim is originating out of the “White House."

I encourage readers to track the numbers published each day in this column and see for yourself that Georgia ranked either fourth or fifth in the number of new cases each day. Today, Georgia posts the fourth highest new case count. Publishing a news story about a set of numbers dating back from five days ago is not “breaking news.”

Here is the average daily new case counts between Saturday, August 8, and Friday, August 14:

#California — 8,776 new cases
#Texas — 6,989 new cases
#Florida — 6,678 new cases
#Georgia — 3,392 new cases.


If any readers can figure out how the calculation reported in the news is being made, please let me know and I will feature you in the next release!

Also, the Georgia Department of Public Health has now elected to report “new cases in the past 14 days” in a different format that requires additional steps to see the actual count.

The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 17.3 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*Georgia — 2,816 new cases, 1,831 yesterday — fourth highest state new case count
*South Carolina — 719 new cases, 456 yesterday
*North Carolina — 1,903 new cases, 425 yesterday
*Alabama — 1,357 new cases, 571 yesterday
*Mississippi — 795 new cases, 276 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 5.7 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*New York — 718 new cases, 520 yesterday
*New Jersey — 330 new cases, 425 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 222 new cases, 248 yesterday
*Michigan — 653 new cases, 490 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 600 new cases, 611 yesterday.


Three more states posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,740 new cases
*Tennessee — 1,034 cases
*Missouri — 1,185 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 1,358 as of this morning compared to the 589 deaths that posted yesterday. Of the deaths, 55.0 percent took place yesterday in the four expansion states.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 16,966 as of this morning. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.2 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the mainstream now totals 4,100,514, that is 217 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

!!Tuesday, August 18, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the number of total tracked COVID-19 cases in the United States represents 1.67 percent of the U.S. population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.39 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.22 percent of the U.S. population.

Take a moment, raise your glass, and toast the survivors. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases now totals over four million, 4,046,010 as of this morning. It is unfortunate that the mainstream media fails to celebrate the four million who have fought the battle and won.

The University of Georgia is featured in the morning news with a set of new rules it is enacting today. Classes resume on Thursday, August 19, with the University moving forward with in-person classes.  As of 8 a.m. this morning, Georgia Department of Public Healths posts 499 Active COVID cases in Athens-Clarke County. That number also includes any UGA students tested in Athens-Clarke County. The 499 Active COVID-19 cases represent 0.39 percent of the Athens Clarke County population.

The new set of rules at UGA includes a requirement that all UGA students install a COVID-19 Monitoring and Tracking App on their smart phones. If a student tests positive, the University is going to post the student’s name on the App. In addition, any administration member, professor or student can track exactly where the COVID-19-active student is at any time of the day. The reporters did not share how long the person’s name stays on the App.

My mother, Ruth Marie Kooyman, who passed away 18 months ago, hand stitched a saying that I have hanging in my bedroom with a quote from William Blake: “If the doors of perception were cleansed today, everything would appear to man as it is, infinite. For man has closed himself up ’til he sees all things through the narrow chinks of his cavern.”  Each day when I get up, I make a pledge to my mom that I will work to widen some of the chinks in the work I do.

I am sure that the University of Georgia is not the only high academic institution enacting the “Big Brother” rules going into the 2020-2021 college year.

Now, back to real life.

The 5,477,614 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down in terms of status as follows:

*Recovered — 4,046,010 individuals or 73.4 percent, 73.0 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Active cases — 1,303,744 cases or 23.6 percent, 24.4 percent yesterday
*Deaths — 168,472 deaths or 3.0 percent, 3.0 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


New cases grew by 40,612 in the past 24 hours. The total number of active cases declined by 8,589 cases, offset by 48,612 individuals moving into the recovered column. This is the 22nd straight day of higher recovery numbers vs. new cases.

The Wall Street Journal has a set of COVID-19 articles this morning with each one acknowledging that the COVID-19 summer outbreaks are on a decline.

What is most interesting is that the articles highlight that a sizable majority of the cases are hitting the Hispanic-Latino community and that the younger folks — initially aligned with college kids on the beach — are actually a workforce that continues to work jobs whether they are COVID-19 positive or not.

Too bad that the reporters did not report that perspective about 60-days ago when the outbreak started.

The number of tests administered here in the U.S. now totals 71,689,726 — an increase of 727,727 new tests in the past 24 hours.

The four expansion states, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 40.7 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:…

*California — 6,925 new cases, 6,520 yesterday
*Texas — 6,446 new cases,  2,841 yesterday
*Florida — 2,678 new cases, 3,779 yesterday
*Arizona — 468 new cases, 883 yesterday.
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The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 8.8 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*Georgia — 1,831 new cases, 1,862 yesterday — fifth highest state new case count
*South Carolina — 456 new cases, 615 yesterday
*North Carolina — 425 new cases, 927 yesterday
*Alabama — 571 new cases, 853 yesterday
*Mississippi — 276 new cases, 381 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 5.6 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*New York — 520 new cases, 659 yesterday
*New Jersey — 425 new cases, 407 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 248 new cases, 394 yesterday
*Michigan — 490 new cases, 477 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 611 new cases, 544 yesterday.


Four more states posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,773 new cases
*Tennessee — 1,036 cases
*Missouri — 1,903 new cases
*Kansas- 1,128 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 589 as of this morning, compared to the 522 deaths posted yesterday. 55.0 percent of the deaths took place yesterday in the four expansion states.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 17,291 as of this morning.  The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.2 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the mainstream now totals 4,046,010, that is 210 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

!!Monday, August 17, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the number of total tracked COVID-19 cases in the United States represents 1.66 percent of the U.S. population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.40 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.21 percent of the U.S. population.

The 5,477,614 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down in terms of status as follows as of this morning:

*Recovered — 3,997,398 individuals or 73.0 percent, 72.6 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Active cases — 1,312,333 cases or 24.4 percent, 24.4 percent yesterday
*Deaths — 167,883 deaths or 3.0 percent, 3.0 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


New cases grew by 36,843 in the past 24 hours. The total number of active cases declined by 12,717 cases, offset by 49,038 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column.  This is now the 21st straight day of higher recovery numbers vs. new cases.

The number of tests administered here in the U.S. now totals 70,961,999 — an increase of 737,689 in the past 24 hours.

I receive a lot of questions sent in about age and racial/ethnicity classifications regarding COVID-19.  Below is a chart that was published this morning in the Wall Street Journal based on a set of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tracking information. It does a great job of illustrating the age skew as well as the Hispanic-Latino skew in the percentage of all deaths.

 

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The four expansion states, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 38.1 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*California — 6,520 new cases, 8,625 yesterday
*Texas — 2,841 new cases,  8,058 yesterday
*Florida — 3,779 new cases, 6,353 yesterday
*Arizona — 883 new cases, 933 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 16.6 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*Georgia — 1,862 new cases, 3,273 yesterday, fifth highest new case state count
*South Carolina — 615 new cases, 1,041 yesterday
*North Carolina — 927 new cases, 2,472 yesterday
*Alabama — 853 new cases, 1,271 yesterday
*Mississippi — 381 new cases, 825 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 6.5 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*New York — 659 new cases, 791 yesterday
*New Jersey — 407 new cases, 416 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 394 new cases, 471 yesterday
*Michigan — 477 new cases, 1,058 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 544 new cases, 757 yesterday.


Five more states posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,562 new cases
*Louisiana — 1,181 cases
*Tennessee — 1,961 new cases, fourth highest state new case count
*Missouri — 1,078 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 522 as of this morning, compared to the 1,071 deaths that posted yesterday. 47.3 percent of the deaths took place in the four expansion states.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 17,236 as of 12:01 a.m. this morning. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.2 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the mainstream now totals 3,997,398 — that is 205 percent — or more than double the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19. It is disappointing that the mainstream media refuse to acknowledge the number of Americans who have recovered from  COVID-19.

!!Sunday, August 16, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the number of total tracked COVID-19 cases in the United States represents 1.65 percent of the U.S. population. The number of active tracked COVID-19 cases represents 0.40 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.20 percent of the U.S. population.

The 5,440,771 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down in terms of status as follows:

*Recovered — 3,948,360 individuals or 72.6 percent, 72.2 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Active cases — 1,325,050 cases or 24.4 percent, 24.7 percent yesterday
*Deaths — 167,361 deaths or 3.0 percent, 3.1 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


While new cases grew by 53,523 in the past 24 hours, the total number of active cases DECLINED by 5,980 cases, offset by 58,429 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column. This is now the 20h straight day of higher recovery numbers vs. new cases.

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals 70,229,310, an increase of 867,301 in the past 24 hours. Close to 30 percent of U.S. adults 18+ have taken a COVID-19 test.

In addition to the 24 hour cases numbers, you will also see the number of active COVID-19 cases as of 12:01 a.m. this morning and the percentage that the active cases represent of the the populations. As cited above, nationally, active COVID-19 cases represents 0.40 percent of the U.S. population.

The four expansion states, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 44.8 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours.

*California — 8,625 new cases, 10,316 yesterday, for a total of 248,650 active cases or 0.62 percent of the population
*Texas — 8,058 new cases, 8,690 yesterday, for a total of 153,807 active cases or 0.52 percent of the population
*Florida — 6,353 new cases, 6,148 yesterday, for a total of 193,676 active cases or 0.88 percent of the population
*Arizona — 933 new cases, 927 yesterday, for a total of 65,502 active cases or 0.90 percent of the population.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 16.6 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours.

*Georgia — 3,273 new cases, 3,227 yesterday, for a total of 79,957 active cases or 0.74 percent of the population
*South Carolina — 1,041 new cases, 932 yesterday, for a total of 35,999 active cases or 0.70 percent of the population
*North Carolina — 2,472 new cases, 452 yesterday, for a total of 25,297 active cases or 0.24 percent of the population
*Alabama — 1,271 new cases, 752 yesterday, for a total of 36,577 active cases or 0.75 percent of the population
*Mississippi — 825 new cases, 944 yesterday, for a total of 19,839 active cases or 0.27 percent of the population


The five early case states account for 6.5 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours.

*New York — 791 new cases, 816 yesterday, for a total of 70,333 active cases or 0.36 percent of the population
*New Jersey — 416 new cases, 529 yesterday, for a total of 19,769 active cases or 0.22 percent of the population
*Massachusetts — 471 new cases, 305 yesterday, for a total of 13,887 active cases or 0.20 percent of the population
*Michigan — 1,058 new cases, 868 yesterday, for a total of 27,418 active cases or 0.27 percent of the population
*Pennsylvania — 757 new cases, 824 yesterday, for a total of 24,420 active cases or 0.19 percent of the population.


Five more states posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,828 new cases
*Louisiana — 1,750 cases
*Tennessee — 1,289 new cases
*Ohio — 1,117 new cases
*Indiana — 1,044 new cases.

The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 1,071 as of 12:01 a.m. today compared to 1,120 deaths that posted yesterday… 44.8 percent of the deaths took place in the four expansion states.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 17,186 as of this morning.  The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.3 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the mainstream now totals 3,948,360, that is 198 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

!!Saturday, August 15, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the number of total tracked COVID-19 cases represents 1.63 percent of the U.S. population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.40 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.18 percent of the U.S. population.

Three weeks ago, when daily COVID-19 cases in the U.S. averaged 70,000+ new cases a day, mainstream media reported that by today, August 15, the total number of COVID-19 direct and indirect deaths would reach 200,000. As of this morning, according to Johns Hopkins University, that number is 168,458 — and the percentage of deaths of individuals testing positive with COVID-19 continues to decline.

This morning, paging through today’s Wall Street Journal and New York Times, both newspapers ran articles reporting that the “pace rate" of COVID-19 “spreading” is declining. The articles quoted numbers similar to the ones posted here daily, but nowhere is there any acknowledgement of the number of those surviving.

In addition, the articles cite that “in severe cases of COVID-19, patients are remaining in intensive care for weeks.” Those cases are few and are reflected in the numbers reported here, as tracked by Johns Hopkins. Many of those individuals remaining in intensive care for weeks do so because of  other health challenges they battle that have been intensified by COVID-19.

As with each Saturday, local COVID-19 numbers are tracked in somewhat of a different format. In addition to national numbers, the five county metro Atlanta region — including Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Cobb and Clayton counties — and the greater Athens area: Clarke, Oconee, Barrow, Jackson, Madison, and Oglethorpe counties.

The table below provides the number of total COVID-19 cases, active cases based on the U.S. 14-day national recovery time, recovered cases based on the U.S. 14-day national recovery time, and deaths as cited either directly or indirectly by the local authorities. All of the active case numbers are lower than reported last week.

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The next table provides the percentage of total COVID-19 cases, active cases based on the U.S. 14-day national recovery time, recovered cases based on the U.S. 14-day national recovery time, and deaths as cited either directly or indirectly by the local authorities. Year-to-date, 75 of those COVID-19 cases in greater Athens have now recovered.

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Here is a specific breakdown for the five core Atlanta counties.

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Here is a specific breaks of the stats for the six greater Athens counties.

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Nationally, while new cases grew by 60,600 in the past 24 hours, the total number of active cases declined by 11,352 cases, offset by 70,829 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into recovery. This is now the 19th straight day of higher recovery numbers vs. new cases.

The number of COVID-19 tests administered in the U.S. now totals 69,362,009.

The four expansion states, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 43.0 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours.

*California — 10,316 new cases, 7,876 yesterday
*Texas — 8,690 new cases,  7,236 yesterday
*Florida — 6,148 new cases, 6,236 yesterday
*Arizona — 927 new cases, 1,351 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 10.5 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours.

*Georgia — 3,227 new cases, 2,515 yesterday
*South Carolina — 932 new cases, 935 yesterday
*North Carolina — 452 new cases, 2,657 yesterday
*Alabama — 752 new cases, 771 yesterday
*Mississippi — 944 new cases, 612 yesterday.
The five early case states account for 5.5 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours.

*New York — 816 new cases, 823 yesterday
*New Jersey — 529 new cases, 361 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 305 new cases, 423 yesterday
*Michigan — 868 new cases, 1,167 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 824 new cases, 987 yesterday.


Nine more states posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 2,296 new cases
*Louisiana — 1,298 cases
*Tennessee — 1,947 new cases
*Ohio — 1,126new cases
*Virginia — 1,216 new cases
*Indiana — 1,067 new cases
*Wisconsin — 1,021 new cases
*Nevada — 1,099 new cases
*Kansas — 1,192 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 1,120 compared to the 1,284 deaths posted yesterday. Of those, 58.9 of the deaths took place in the four expansion states.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 17,217. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.3 of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the mainstream now totals 3,889,931 — that is 192 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

!!Friday, August 14, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the total number of tracked COVID-19 cases represents 1.601 percent of the U.S. population.  The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.41 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.16 percent of the U.S. population.

Reported in the Wall Street Journal this morning is news that there are more than 500 clinical trials underway world-wide in the race to find an effective treatment for COVID-19.

The public at-large believes that a “vaccine” is the only way to control COVID-19. Yet there are other treatments being investigated as well, with one approach using “message signaling cells,” or MSCs, something found in the blood vessels in our bodies.  MSCs sport what the article calls a “one-two-three punch” in that these cells eliminate the COVID-19 virus, but also calm over-reaction of the immune system and repair damaged cells.

Mount Sinai Hospital in New York has used MSCs to treat patients on ventilators, with more than 80 percent of individuals who otherwise would have died now recovered. The expansion of MSC treatments to other hospitals is expected before the end of September.

The statistics for today… and by-the-way, the recovered cases will be posted first moving forward since recovered cases as a percentage are nearly thee times the number of active cases!

The 5,326,651 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down in terms of status as follows as of this morning:

*Recovered cases — 3,819,102 individuals or 71.7 percent, 71.1 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Active cases — 1,342,382 cases or 25.2 percent, 25.8 percent yesterday
*Deaths — 165,170 deaths or 3.1 percent, 3.1 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


While new cases grew by 55,364 in the past 24 hours as of 12:01 today, the total number of active cases DECLINED by 18,867 cases offset by a daily record-setting high of 72,950 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column.  This is now the 18th straight day of higher recovery numbers vs. new cases!

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals 68,524,602, with close to a million tests, 966,974, completed in the last 24 hours. Ignore the news media reporting that the number of tests conducted in the U.S. is declining.  The stories are not true. In the last seven days, 5.4 million COVID-19 tests were completed in the U.S.

The four expansion states, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 41.0 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These four states account for 29.9 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, today they index at 137 — or 37 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID cases.

*California — 7,876 new cases, 9,090 yesterday
*Texas — 7,236 new cases,  6,305 yesterday
*Florida — 6,236 new cases, 8,109 yesterday
*Arizona — 1,351 new cases, 706 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 13.5 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 9.5 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, they index at  142 — or 42 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*Georgia — 2,515 new cases, 3,565 yesterday
*South Carolina — 935 new cases, 844 yesterday
*North Carolina — 2,657 new cases, 249 yesterday — 4th highest state count today, but there was an apparently delay in the reporting yesterday — see yesterday’s count
*Alabama — 771 new cases, 935 yesterday
*Mississippi — 612 new cases, 1,081 yesterday.



The five early case states account for 6.8 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 17.6 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, they index at 39, or 61 percent below proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*New York — 823 new cases, 773 yesterday
*New Jersey — 361 new cases, 372 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 423 new cases, 293 yesterday
*Michigan — 1,167 new cases, 476 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 987 new cases, 902 yesterday.



Seven more states posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,834 new cases
*Louisiana — 1,135 cases
*Tennessee — 2,118 new cases
*Ohio — 1,191 new cases
*Virginia — 1,101 new cases
*Indiana — 1,043 new cases
*Missouri — 1,491 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 1,284 . compared to the 1,386 deaths that posted yesterday. 44.5 percent of the deaths took place in the four expansion states.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 17,239. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.3 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the mainstream now totals 3,819,102 — that is 185 percent MORE than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

!!Thursday, August 13, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the number of total tracked COVID-19 cases in the United States represents 1.60 percent of the population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.41 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.13 percent of the U.S. population.

The 5,271,287 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date break down in terms of status as follows:

*Active cases — 1,361,249 cases or 25.8 percent, 26.4 percent yesterday
*recovered cases — 3,745,152 individuals or 70.5 percent, 70.1 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*deaths — 163,886 deaths or 3.1 percent, 3.1 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


When you hear about the 5.2 Million COVID-19 cases being bounced around by the mainstream media, as of today, divide that number by four and that’s close to the number of actual active cases.

While new cases grew by 54,345 in the past 24 hours, the total number of active cases declined by 13,562 cases, offset by the 66,521 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column. This is now the 17th straight day of higher recovery numbers vs. new cases!

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals 67,555,728, with 614,133 tests completed in the last 24 hours.

Dividing all the tests conducted to-date by the number of positive COVID-19 cases identified, for every 100 tests administered, 8 individuals have tested positive. On June 1, approximately 75 days ago, for every 100 tests administered, 17 individuals tested positive for COVID-19. That is a dramatic drop. However, back in June, an individual essentially had to be experiencing symptoms to be tested whereas today, any one that wants to be tested can be tested.  That said, the incidence level of COVID-19 has declined among those being tested.

Also, FYI, on June 1, the number of tests completed in the U.S. totaled just over 17 million.  Between then and today, 50 million more tests have been conducted.

The four expansion states,, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 44.5 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These four states account for 29.9 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, today they index at 149, or 49 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID cases.

*California — 9,090 new cases, 11,945 yesterday
*Texas — 6,305 new cases,  7,976 yesterday
*Florida — 8,109 new cases, 5,831 yesterday
*Arizona — 706 new cases, 1,214 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 12.3 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 9.5 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, they index at  129 — or 29 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

Georgia — 3,565 new cases, 3,536 yesterday — fourth highest state count today

*South Carolina — 844 new cases, 972 yesterday
*North Carolina — 249 new cases, 1,430 yesterday
*Alabama — 935 new cases, 831 yesterday
*Mississippi — 1,081 new cases, 644 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 5.2 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 17.6 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, they index at 30 — or 70 percent below proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*New York — 773 new cases, 711 yesterday
*New Jersey — 372 new cases, 360 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 293 new cases, 392 yesterday
*Michigan — 476 new cases, 907 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 902 new cases, 792 yesterday.


Five more states posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,645 new cases
*Louisiana — 1,179 cases
*Tennessee — 1,478 new cases
*Missouri — 1,472 new cases
*Kentucky — 1,152 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 1,386 compared to the 1,504 deaths posted yesterday. 44.5 percent of the deaths took place in the four expansion states.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 17,320 as of 12:01am today.  The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.2 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the main stream of society now totals 3,746,152 — that is 175 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

!!Wednesday, August 12, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the number of total tracked COVID-19 cases in the United States represents 1.58 percent of the population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.41 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.11 percent of the U.S. population.

The 5,216,942 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down in terms of status as follows:

*Active cases — 1,374,811 cases or 26.4 percent, 26.8 percent yesterday
*Recovered cases — 3,679,631 individuals or 70.5 percent, 70.1 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Death — 162,500 deaths or 3.1 percent, 3.1 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


While new cases grew by 54,519 in the past 24 hours, the total number of active cases declined by 11,014 cases offset by the 64,029 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column. This is now the 16th straight day of higher recovery numbers vs. new cases!

The number of tests administered here in the U.S. now totals 66,944,595, with 765,980 tests completed in the last 24 hours.

The four expansion states,, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 49.5 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These four states account for 29.9 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, today they index at 166 — or 66 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID cases.

*California — 11,945 new cases, 10,752 yesterday
*Texas — 7,976 new cases,  6,401 yesterday
*Florida — 5,831 new cases, 4,155 yesterday
*Arizona — 1,214 new cases, 600 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 13.6 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 9.5 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, they index at  143 — or 43 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

Georgia — 3,536 new cases, 2,429 yesterday, the fourth highest state count today

*South Carolina — 972 new cases, 724 yesterday
*North Carolina — 1,430 new cases, 1,164 yesterday
*Alabama — 831 new cases, 1,686 yesterday
*Mississippi — 644 new cases, 476 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 5.8 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 17.6 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, they index at 33 — or 67 percent Below Proportionate “Average” in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*New York — 711 new cases, 593 yesterday
*New Jersey — 360 new cases, 472 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 392 new cases, 275 yesterday
*Michigan — 907 new cases, 580 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 792 new cases, 957 yesterday.


Five more states posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,549 new cases
*Louisiana — 1,164 cases
*Tennessee — 1,001 new cases
*Ohio — 1,093 new cases
*Missouri — 1,031 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 1,504 compared to the 569 deaths that posted yesterday, 49.5 percent of the deaths took place in the four expansion states. Nursing homes in Texas and Florida are contributing a sizable portion of the deaths.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 17,339. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.2 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered now totals 3,379,631, that is 168 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

!!Tuesday, August 11, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the number of total tracked COVID-19 cases in the United States represents 1.56 percent of the population.  The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.41 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.09 percent of the U.S. population.

Yesterday, a person I greatly admire sent some rich observations based on the numbers published in this column each day.  David Bradley serves as the President/CEO of the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce.

David observed in yesterday's numbers:

*The least active cases since July 17th
*The least new cases since July 6th
*Fourteen straight days of higher recovery numbers vs. new cases.


He is smack on target with the observations. Athens is a haven of creativity and innovation and it is that asset — creativity and innovation — that will drive business growth post-COVID!

Here are today’s numbers:

The 5,162,423 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down in terms of status as follows as of 12:01 a.m. ET:

*Active cases — 1,385,825 cases or 26.8 percent, 27.3 percent yesterday
*Recovered cases — 3,615,602 individuals or 70.1 percent, 69.6 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Deaths — 160,996 deaths or 3.1 percent, 3.1 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


While new cases grew by 49,800 in the past 24 hours as of this morning, the total number of active cases declined by 12,340 cases, offset by the 61,671 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column.  This is now the fifteenth straight day of higher recovery numbers vs. new cases!

The number of tests administered here in the U.S. now totals 66,178,615, with 745,364 tests completed in the last 24 hours.

The four expansion states,, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 44.0 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These four states account for 29.9 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, today they index at 147, or 47 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*California — 10,752 new cases, 6,836 yesterday
*Texas — 6,401 new cases,  5,803 yesterday
*Florida — 4,155 new cases, 6,229 yesterday
*Arizona — 600 new cases, 816 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 13.0 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 9.5 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, they index at  137, or 37 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*Georgia — 2,429 new cases, 3,169 yesterday — the fourth highest state count again today
*South Carolina — 724 new cases, 975 yesterday
*North Carolina — 1,164 new cases, 1,166 yesterday
*Alabama — 1,686 new cases, 1,161 yesterday
*Mississippi — 476 new cases, 527 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 5.8 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 17.6 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, they index at 33, or 67 percent aelow proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*New York — 593 new cases, 604 yesterday
*New Jersey — 472 new cases, 192 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 275 new cases, 329 yesterday
*Michigan — 580 new cases, 535 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 957 new cases, 646 yesterday.


Three more states posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,319 new cases
*Tennessee — 1,202 new cases
*Missouri — 1,682 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 569, compared to the 534 deaths posted yesterday. 52.7 percent of the deaths took place in the four expansion states.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 17,589.. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.3 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the mainstream now totals 3,615,602, that is 161 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

Support creative and innovative businesses!

!!Monday, August 10, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the number of total tracked COVID-19 cases represents 1.55 percent of the population of the United States. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.42 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.08 percent of the U.S. population.

Today, the mainstream media could be Chicken Little with the cry, “The sky is falling, the sky is falling!” MSM is obsessed with announcing that the U.S. COVID cases tops over five million individuals. Too bad they will not acknowledge the rest of the story — that of those five million individuals, nearly 70 percent — 3.5 million —have recovered! The number of active cases is now below 1.4 million and the percentage of individuals passing has dropped to 3.2 percent.

The 5,112,623 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. this morning breaks down in terms of status as follows:

*Active cases — 1,398,165 cases or 27.3 percent, 27.8 percent yesterday
*Recovered cases — 3,554,031 individuals or 69.6 percent, 69.1 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Deaths — 160,427 deaths or 3.1 percent, 3.1 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


While new cases grew by 47,849 in the past 24 hours as of this morning, the total number of active cases declined by 8,885 cases offset by the 56,200 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column.

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals 65,433,251, with 733,704 tests completed in the last 24 hours.

Over the weekend I posted a “thank you” to all the healthcare workers treating COVID-19 patients. This week, let’s take a moment and thank not only all of the healthcare workers, but the other personnel, whether directing traffic, keeping people in line, or running the testing centers. Think, too, about the individuals in the labs processing the tests and those clerical workers in the offices making sure you are notified of your test results!

The four expansion states, or, the four top states to recently post the highest counts, account for 41.1 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These four states account for 29.9 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, today they index at 137, or 37 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID cases.

*California — 6,836 new cases, 7,031 yesterday
*Texas — 5,803 new cases,  6,892 yesterday
*Florida — 6,229 new cases, 8,502 yesterday
*Arizona — 816 new cases, 1,054 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 14.6 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 9.5 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, they index at  154, or 54 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*Georgia — 3,169 new cases, 4,423 yesterday, fourth highest state count today
*South Carolina — 975 new cases, 1,241 yesterday
*North Carolina — 1,166 new cases, 1,699 yesterday
*Alabama — 1,161 new cases, 1,800 yesterday
*Mississippi — 527 new cases, 1,210 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 4.8 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 17.6 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, they index at 27, or 73 percent below proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*New York — 604 new cases, 837 yesterday
*New Jersey — 192 new cases, 256 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 329 new cases, 420 yesterday
*Michigan — 535 new cases, 721 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 646 new cases, 588 yesterday.


There are four more states that have posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,382 new cases
*Louisiana — 2,653 new cases
*Tennessee — 2,127 new cases
*Indiana — 1,041 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 534 as of 12:01 a.m. this morning compared to the 976 deaths that posted yesterday. 48.7 percent of the deaths took place in the four expansion states. FYI, in both Wall Street Journal and New York Times, there are stories about significant increases in nursing home deaths in Texas and Florida.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 17,812 as of 12:01 a.m. today.  The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.3 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the mainstream now totals 3,554,031, that is, 154 percent more than the number of individuals currently active with COVID-19.

Just as we celebrate and acknowledge cancer survivors, the next time you are out in public, take a moment and share, “Let’s celebrate the 3.5 million+ individuals who are now COVID-19 virus-free survivors.”

Was Chicken Little ever known to be right?

!!Sunday, August 9, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning the number of total tracked COVID-19 cases represents 1.52 percent of the population of the United States. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.42 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.06 percent of the U.S. population.

This next week will be interesting!

Active cases will likely dip below 1.3 million. Recovered cases will cross over 3.5 million. And the projected number of COVID-19 deaths issued by numerous sources and quoted throughout the mainstream media predicted to top over 200,000 by August 15 will not take place.

In terms of percentages, the number of COVID-19 recoveries post over 70 percent and the number of active cases will continue to decline. It is very possible that that the percentage of deaths among the cases tracked will decline nationally below three percent.

The number of tests this week will top over 65 million — that translates to one out-of-every four adults 18+ in the U.S. will have been tested.

Here are the specific stats for today:

The 5,064,774 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down in terms of status as follows as of 12:01 a.m. this morning:

*Active cases — 1,407,050 cases, or 27.8 percent, 28.3 percent yesterday
*Recovered cases — 3,497,831 individuals, or 69.1 percent, 68.5 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Deaths — 159,893 deaths, or 3.1 percent, 3.2 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


While new cases grew by 54,139 in the past 24 hours, the total number of active cases declined by 14,200 cases offset by the 67,413 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into recovery

The number of tests administered here in the U.S. now totals 64,610,547, with 711,189 tests completed in the last 24 hours.

The four expansion states, or, the four top states to recently post the highest counts, account for 43.3 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These four states account for 29.9 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, today they index at 145, or 45 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID cases.

*California — 7,031 new cases, 7,904 yesterday
*Texas — 6,892 new cases, 7,675 yesterday
*Florida — 8,502 new cases, 7,686 yesterday
*Arizona — 1,054 new cases, 1,406 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 19.1 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 9.5 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, they index at 201, or 101 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*Georgia — 4,423 new cases, 4,109 yesterday; fourth highest state count today
*South Carolina — 1,241 new cases, 1,422 yesterday
*North Carolina — 1,699 new cases, 1,778 yesterday
*Alabama — 1,800 new cases, 1,709 yesterday
*Mississippi — 1,210 new cases, 1,036 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 5.2 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 17.6 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, they index at 29, or 71 percent below proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*New York — 837 new cases, 823 yesterday
*New Jersey — 256 new cases, 320 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 420 new cases, 417 yesterday
*Michigan — 721 new cases, 814 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 588 new cases, 784 yesterday.


There are seven more states that have posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 2,190 new cases
*Louisiana — 1,756 new cases
*Tennessee — 1,803 new cases
*Ohio — 1,289 new cases
*Virginia — 1,307 new cases
*Indiana — 1,033 new cases
*Wisconsin — 1,165 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 976 compared to 1,290 deaths that posted yesterday. 52.0 percent of the deaths took place in the four expansion states.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 18,020. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.2 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the mainstream now totals 3,497,831, that is 149 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

!!Saturday, August 8, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning the number of total tracked COVID-19 cases represents 1.42 percent of the U.S. population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.43 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.04 percent of the U.S. population.

As done each Saturday, a slightly different format is used to expand on the local numbers. In addition to national numbers, the region's area comprised of the following is highlighted:

The primary five counties of the Greater Atlanta area — Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Cobb and Clayton counties — and the six counties of the Greater Athens area — Clarke, Oconee, Barrow, Jackson, Madison, and Oglethorpe counties.

Below is a table that provides the numerical count of total COVID-19 cases: active cases based on the U.S. 14-day national recovery time, recovered cases based on the U.S. 14-day national recovery time, and deaths either directly or indirectly attributed to COVID-19, according to local authorities.

::::

The next table provides the percentage count of total COVID-19 cases, active cases based on the U.S. 14-day national recovery time, recovered cases based on the U.S. 14-day national recovery time, and deaths either directly or indirectly attributed to COVID-19, according to local authorities. More than 70 percent of year-to-date COVID-19 cases in Greater Athens have now recovered.

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Here is a specific breakdown of the stats for the Atlanta five core counties.

::::

Here is a specific breaks of the stats for the six Greater Athens counties.

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Nationally, while new cases grew by 63,246 in the past 24 hours, the total number of active cases declined by 15,984 cases, offset by the 77,940 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into recovery.

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals 63,899,358, with 756,238 tests completed in the last 24 hours. In the last week, the number of tests completed in the U.S. increased by 5,619,258.

Please take a moment today and in the coming week to let the healthcare workers you know — and the healthcare workers you see in public — that they are championed as heroes! And they are!

The four expansion states, or, the four top states to recently post the highest counts, account for 39.0 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These four states account for 29.9 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, today they index at 130, or 30 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID cases.

*California — 7,904 new cases, 8,505 yesterday
*Texas — 7,675 new cases, 7,330 yesterday
*Florida — 7,686 new cases, 7,650 yesterday
*Arizona — 1,406 new cases, 1,444 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 15.9 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 9.5 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, they index at 167, or 67 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*Georgia — 4,109 new cases, 3,182 yesterday — fourth highest state count today
*South Carolina — 1,422 new cases, 1,325 yesterday
*North Carolina — 1,778 new cases, 1,782 yesterday
*Alabama — 1,709 new cases, 1,938 yesterday
*Mississippi — 1,036 new cases, 956 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 5.0 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 17.6 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, they index at 30, or 70 percent below proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*New York — 823 new cases, 789 yesterday
*New Jersey — 320 new cases, 377 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 417 new cases, 231 yesterday
*Michigan — 814 new cases, 763 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 784 new cases, 802 yesterday.


There are seven more states that have posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 2,106 new cases
*Louisiana — 1,500 new cases
*Tennessee — 2,432 new cases
*Ohio — 1,204 new cases
*Virginia — 2,015 new cases
*Indiana — 1,239 new cases
*Arkansas — 1,011 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 1,290 compared to 1,203 deaths that posted yesterday. 52.3 percent of the deaths took place in the four expansion states.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 18,202. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.2 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the mainstream now totals 3,430,418, that is 141 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

!!Friday, August 7, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the number of total tracked COVID-19 cases represents 1.50 percent of the U.S. population.The number of active COVID-19 cases represents 0.43 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.04 percent of the U.S. population.

The 4,947,339 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down in terms of status as follows:

*Active cases — 1,437,234 cases or 29.1 percent, 29.6 percent yesterday, this is the 10th day in a row of a continued decline of active cases!
*Recovered cases — 3,352,478 individuals or 67.8 percent, 67.2 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Deaths — 157,627 deaths or 3.1 percent, 3.2 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


While new cases grew by 58,611 in the past 24 hours, the total number of active cases declined by 11,449 cases offset, by the 68,857 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column.

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals 63,143,120, with 761,825 tests completed in the last 24 hours.

The mainstream media is struggling to find news COVID-19 headline stories. Appearing in the Wall Street Journal this morning is a story titled, “Questions Over Testing Cloud Improving Case Count.”I thought the story was about reporting issues that happened earlier this week in a couple of districts in California with public testing site locations, but I was wrong. The story asserts that the declining COVID case counts are because the number of individuals being tested overall “could” be declining.

The average number of tests being completed in the U.S. now averages 750,000+. Last Saturday more than 1 million tests were completed in 24 hours.

The four expansion states, or, the four top states to recently post the highest counts, account for 42.5 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours as of 12:01 a.m. today. These four states account for 29.9 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, today they index at 142, or 42 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID cases.

*California — 8,505 new cases, 5,559 yesterday
*Texas — 7,330 new cases …9,625 yesterday
*Florida — 7,650 new cases, 5,409 yesterday
*Arizona — 1,444 new cases, 1,698 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 15.7 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 9.5 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, they index at 165, or 65 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*Georgia — 3,182 new cases, 3,765 yesterday; fourth highest state count today
*South Carolina — 1,325 new cases, 1,282 yesterday
*North Carolina — 1,782 new cases, 1,144 yesterday
*Alabama — 1,938 new cases, 952 yesterday
*Mississippi — 956 new cases, 1,245 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 5.1 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours These five states account for 17.6 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, they index at 29, or 61 percent below proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*New York — 789 new cases, 688 yesterday
*New Jersey — 377 new cases, 513 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 231 new cases, 440 yesterday
*Michigan — 763 new cases, 718 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 802 new cases, 727 yesterday.


There are six more states that have posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,953 new cases
*Louisiana — 1,303 new cases
*Tennessee — 2,252 new cases
*Ohio — 1,165 new cases
*Indiana — 1,040 new cases
*Missouri — 1,179 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 1,203 compared to the 1,311 deaths that posted yesterday. 42.5 percent of the deaths took place in the four expansion states — California, Florida, Texas and Arizona.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 18,296 as of this morning.The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.2 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the mainstream now totals 3,352,478, that is, 133 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

!!Thursday, August 6, 2020
Yesterday, I spoke with a regular reader of this column. He specifically asked how COVID-19 deaths stack up against deaths from ongoing threats like cancer, cardiac arrest, and stroke in the United States. He noted that you rarely hear the other conditions mentioned on the news and in public dialogue.

He asks a very good question.

As of this morning the number of deaths directly and indirectly related to COVID-19 totals 156,424. This daily tally has been tracked and reported in the U.S. since January, 2020.

Keep in mind, this also includes “indirectly-related” deaths. A share of deaths triggered by cardiac failure and/or strokes are being counted in the 156,424 number because the individual might also have been COVID-19 active.

Between January 1st and July 31st, here in the U.S.:

*377,416 individuals have died from heart disease
*354,013 individuals have died from cancer
*81,670 individuals have died from a stroke
*41,405 individuals have died from a drug overdose
*28,764 individuals have died from an auto accident.


These counts come from 2020 numbers released by CDC, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association and the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

As of this morning, the number of TOTAL tracked COVID-19 cases represents 1.48 percent of the U.S. population.  The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.43 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.04 percent of the U.S. population. The number of tracked flu cases in 2019-2020 represented 16.92 percent of the U.S. population.

The 4,888,728 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down in terms of status as follows as of 12:01 a.m. this morning:

*Active cases — 1,448,683 cases  or 29.6 percent, 30.3 percent yesterday
*Recovered cases — 3,283,621 individuals or 67.2 percent, 66.5 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Deaths — 156,424 deaths or 3.2 percent, 3.2 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


While new cases grew by 55,148 in the past 24 hours, the total number of active cases declined by 17,697 cases, offset by the 71,534 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column.

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals 62,381,295, with 759,379 tests completed in the last 24 hours.

The four expansion states, or, the four top states to recently post the highest counts, account for 40.4 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours as of 12:01 a.m. this morning… these four States account for 29.9 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, this morning they index at 135 — or 35 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID cases.

*California — 5,559 new cases, 5,156 yesterday
*Texas — 9,625 new cases,  11,210 yesterday
*Florida — 5,409 new cases, 5,446 yesterday
*Arizona — 1,698 new cases, 1,008 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 15.2 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours as of 12:01 a.m. this morning… these five States account for 9.5 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, they index at 160 — or 60 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*Georgia — 3,765 new cases, 2,413 yesterday — 4th highest state count this morning
*South Carolina — 1,282 new cases, 1,239 yesterday
*North Carolina — 1,144 new cases, 2,117 yesterday
*Alabama — 952 new cases, 1,041 yesterday
*Mississippi — 1,245 new cases, 1,034 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 5.6 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours as of 12:01 a.m. this morning… these five States account for 17.6 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, they index at 32 — or 68 percent below proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*New York — 688 new cases, 850 yesterday
*New Jersey — 513 new cases, 179 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 440 new cases, 546 yesterday
*Michigan — 718 new cases, 801 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 727 new cases, 828 yesterday.


There are six more states that have posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours…

*Illinois — 1,759 new cases
*Louisiana — 1,482 new cases
*Tennessee — 1,657 new cases
*Ohio — 1,189 new cases
*Missouri — 1,111 new cases
*Oklahoma — 1,101 new cases.
+
+ 
The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 1,311 as of 12:01 a.m. this morning compared to the 1,362 deaths that posted yesterday. 53.5 percent of the deaths took place in the four expansion states There are a number of sources reporting that the death counts have risen largely as a result of COVID-19 affecting nursing homes in Florida, South Texas and parts of California.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 18,424 as of this morning.  The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.2 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the mainstream now totals 3,283,621, that is 127 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19. For every person that has died of COVID-19 to-date, 21 individuals have survived.

!!Wednesday, August 5, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the number of total tracked COVID-19 cases represents 1.46 percent of the population in the United States. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.44 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 0.98 percent of the U.S. population.

The 4,833,580 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down in terms of status as follows:

*Active cases — 1,466,380 cases or 30.3 percent, 31.0 percent yesterday
*Recovered cases — 3,212,087 individuals or 66.5 percent, 65.8 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Deaths — 155,113 deaths or 3.2 percent, 3.3 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


While new cases grew by 54,504 in the past 24 hours, the total number of active cases declined by 13,737 cases, offset by the 66,879 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column.

The number of tests administered here in the U.S. now totals 61,621,916 — 682,194 tests completed in the last 24 hours.

The four expansion states, or, the four top states to recently post the highest counts, account for 41.9 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours as of 12:01 a.m. this morning. These four states account for 29.9 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, this morning they index at 140, or 40 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID cases.

*California — 5,156 new cases, 6,344 yesterday
*Texas — 11,210 new cases, 6,997 yesterday
*Florida — 5,446 new cases, 4,752 yesterday
*Arizona — 1,008 new cases, 1,030 yesterday.
+
+ 
The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 14.6 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours as of 12:01 a.m. this morning. These five states account for 9.5 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, they index at 154, or 54 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*Georgia — 2,413 new cases, 2,258 yesterday, the fourth highest state count this morning
*South Carolina — 1,239 new cases, 1,163 yesterday
*North Carolina — 2,117 new cases, 981 yesterday — fifth highest state count this morning
*Alabama — 1,041 new cases, 1,217 yesterday
*Mississippi — 1,034 new cases, 572 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 5.9 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours as of 12:01 a.m. this morning. These five states account for 17.6 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, they index at 34, or 66 percent below proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*New York — 850 new cases, 695 yesterday
*New Jersey — 179 new cases, 418 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 546 new cases, 199 yesterday
*Michigan — 801 new cases, 613 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 828 new cases, 899 yesterday.


There is a set of six more states that have posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,471 new cases
*Louisiana — 1,873 new cases
*Tennessee — 1,806 new cases
*Virginia — 1,145 new cases
*Missouri — 1,352 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 totaled 1,362 as of 12:01 a.m. this morning compared to 568 deaths that posted yesterday. 52.3 percent of the deaths took place in the four expansion states.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 18,407 as of 12:01 a.m. this morning. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.2 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the mainstream now totals 3,212,087, that is 119 percent MORE than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

!!Tuesday, August 4, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the total number of tracked COVID-19 cases represents 1.45 percent of the population in the United States. The number of active tracked COVID-19 cases represents 0.45 percent of the U.S. population. The number of survivors of COVID-19 represents 0.95 percent of the U.S. population.

The 4,779,076 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date now breaks down in terms of status as follows:

*Active cases — 1,494,443 cases or 31.6 percent, 31.6 percent yesterday
*Fully-recovered — 3,082,828 individuals or 65.2 percent, 65.8 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Deaths — 153,183 deaths or 3.3 percent, 3.3 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


While new cases grew by 48,622 in the past 24 hours, the total number of active cases declined by 14,326 cases offset by the 62,380 individuals who survived COVID-19 and have been moved into recovery.

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals just shy of 61 million, with more than a million — 1,004,214 — completed in the past 24 hours.

The four expansion states, or, the four top states to recently post the highest counts, account for 39.3 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These four states account for 29.9 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, today they index at 131 or 31 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID cases.

*California — 6,344 new cases, 9,397 yesterday
*Texas — 6,997 new cases,  4,618 yesterday
*Florida — 4,752 new cases, 7,104 yesterday
*Arizona — 1,030 new cases, 1,465 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 12.7 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 9.5 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, they index at 134 or 34 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*Georgia — 2,258 new cases, 3,165 yesterday, fourthth highest state count today
*South Carolina — 1,163 new cases, 1,189 yesterday
*North Carolina — 981 new cases, 1,673 yesterday
*Alabama — 1,217 new cases, 2,095 yesterday
*Mississippi — 572 new cases, 672 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 5.8 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours, they account for 17.6 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, they index at 33 or 67 percent below proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*New York — 695 new cases, 467 yesterday
*New Jersey — 418 new cases, 245 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 199 new cases, 418 yesterday
*Michigan — 613 new cases, 429 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 899 new cases, 570 yesterday.


There are six more states that have posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,298 new cases
*Louisiana — 1,099 new cases
*Tennessee — 1,009 new cases
*Virginia — 1,324 new cases
*Washington — 1,085 new cases
*Missouri — 1,593 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 totaled 568. compared to 467 deaths that posted yesterday. 54.6 percent of the deaths took place in California, Florida, Texas and Arizona.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 18,725..  The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.3 percent of the total ACTIVE cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the main stream of society now totals 3,145,208 — that is 112 percent MORE than the number of individuals that are currently ACTIVE with COVID-19.

The number of individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 will likely reach a new record number tomorrow with two-thirds of all COVID-19 patients tracked having battled COVID-19 and survived.

By the way, in this morning’s Wall Street Journal, a UCLA physician who has been very involved working with COVID-19 wrote an editorial. He concludes with this message, “And what should be done about the mass media and public derision that is haunting leaders and vexing citizens?  Everyone needs to simply stop participating. We need to get off this treadmill.”

!!Monday, August 3, 2020
To anchor readers again, the numbers reported in this column are derived from a combination of real-time updates received from Johns Hopkins, CDC, World Health Organization, United Nations COVID Tracking Reports and Worldometer. On an individual state level, each state’s Department of Public Health is resourced. The EXPERIENCE team tracks these numbers multiple times over the course of a day.

As of today 12:01 a.m. this morning, the total number of tracked COVID-19 cases represents 1.43 percent of the U.S. population. The number of active COVID-19 cases represents 0.45 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 0.93 percent of the U.S. population.

The 4,730,454 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down in terms of status as follows as of 12:01 a.m. this morning:

*Active cases — 1,494,443 cases or 31.6 percent, 32.3 percent yesterday
*Fully-recovered — 3,082,828 individuals or 65.2 percent, 63.9 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Deaths — 153,183 deaths or 3.3 percent, 3.3 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


While new cases grew by 49,038 in the past 24 hours, the total number of active cases declined by 16,708 cases, offset by the 65,279 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into recovery.

Last Monday a total of 1,539,063 active cases was cited in this column. Today, the number of active cases has declined to 1,494,443, or, a decline of 44,620 cases

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals 59,935,508 to-date. A total of 708,699 tests were completed in the U.S. in the past 24 hours.

The four expansion states, or, the four top states to recently post the highest counts, account for 46.1 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These four states account for 29.9 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, today they index at 154 — or 54 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID cases.

*California — 9,397 new cases, 7,382 yesterday
*Texas — 4,618 new cases,  6,720 yesterday
*Florida — 7,104 new cases, 9,642 yesterday
*Arizona — 1,465 new cases, 2,992 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 17.9 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 9.5 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, they index at 188 — or 88 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*Georgia — 3,165 new cases, 3,660 yesterday
*South Carolina — 1,189 new cases, 1,583 yesterday
*North Carolina — 1,673 new cases, 1,264yesterday
*Alabama — 2,095 new cases, 1,625 yesterday
*Mississippi — 672 new cases, 1,134 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 4.3 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 17.6 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, they index at 24 — or 76 percent below proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*New York — 467 new cases, 643 yesterday
*New Jersey — 245 new cases, 269 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 418 new cases, 438 yesterday
*Michigan — 429 new cases, 758 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 570 new cases, 681 yesterday.


There are four more states that have posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,467 new cases
*Louisiana — 3,467 new cases — 4th highest state count today
*Tennessee — 1,443 new cases
*Nevada — 1,131 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 total 467 as of this morning, compared to the 1,123 deaths posted yesterday. 41.3 percent of the deaths took place in the four expansion states — California, Florida, Texas and Arizona.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 18,673 as of this morning. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.2 percent of the total active cases.

Those who have recovered and are back in the mainstream now total 3,082,828, that is 106 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

!!Sunday, August 2, 2020
As of this morning, the number of TOTAL tracked COVID-19 cases in the United States represents 1.42 percent of the population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.45 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 0.91 percent of the U.S. population.

The 4,622,987 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. break down in terms of status as follows:

*Active cases — 1,511,151 cases or 32.3 percent, 33.4 percent yesterday
*Fully-recovered — 3,017,549 individuals or 63.9 percent, 63.3 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Deaths — 152,716 deaths or 3.3 percent, 3.3 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


While new cases grew by 58,429 in the past 24 hours, the total number of active cases declined by 5,923 cases, offset by the 673,259 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into recovery.

The number of tests administered here in the U.S. now totals 59,226,909 to-date. A total of 635,857 tests were completed in the U.S. in the past 24 hours.

The four expansion states, or, the four top states to recently post the highest counts, account for 45.7 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These four states account for 29.9 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, today they index at 153 — or 53 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*California — 7,382 new cases, 7,878 yesterday
*Texas — 6,720 new cases, 9,750 yesterday
*Florida — 9,642 new cases, 9,007 yesterday
*Arizona — 2,992 new cases, 3,212 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 15.9 percent of the new cases in the past 24. These five states account for 9.5 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, they index at 167 or 67 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*Georgia — 3,660 new cases, 4,066 yesterday — 4th highest state count again today
*South Carolina — 1,583 new cases, 1,444 yesterday
*North Carolina — 1,264 new cases, 2,012 yesterday
*Alabama — 1,625 new cases, 1,961 yesterday
*Mississippi — 1,134 new cases, 1,168 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 4.8 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours as of 12:01 a.m. this morning. These five states account for 17.6 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, they index at 27 — or 73 percent below proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*New York — 643 new cases, 745 yesterday
*New Jersey — 269 new cases, 559 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 428 new cases, 514 yesterday
*Michigan — 758 new cases, 793 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 681 new cases, 934 yesterday.


There are seven more states that have posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,639 new cases
*Louisiana — 1,352 new cases
*Maryland — 1,019 new cases
*Wisconsin — 1,062 new cases
*Oklahoma — 1,244 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 totaled 1,123 as of this morning, compared to 1,462 deaths that posted yesterday. More than half, 56.7 percent, of the deaths took place in the four expansion states.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 18,750 as of 12:01 a.m. this morning.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the main stream of society now totals 3,017,549, double the number of individuals than are currently active with COVID-19.

!!Saturday, August 1, 2020
As of this morning, the number of total tracked COVID-19 cases in the United States represents 1.40 percent of the population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.45 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 SURVIVOR cases represents 0.89 percent of the U.S. population.

With every Saturday I offer presentation of the local numbers by breaking down those of two major areas — the greater Atlanta metro area and its five primary counties — Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Cobb and Clayton — and greater Athens including its six contributing counties — Clarke, Oconee, Barrow, Jackson, Madison, and Oglethorpe.

The table below provides the number of total COVID-19 cases, active cases based on the U.S. 14-day national recovery time, recovered cases based on the U.S. 14-day national recovery time, and deaths as cited either directly or indirectly by the local authorities.

The number of cases year-to-date in the five Atlanta counties account for 35.1 percent of the 186,352 COVID-19 cases tracked to-date statewide in Georgia. The five Atlanta counties account for 35.7 percent of the Georgia population.

The number of cases year-to-date in the six greater Athens counties account for 2.4 percent of the 186,352 COVID-19 cases tracked to-date statewide in Georgia. As a group, the six greater Athens counties account for 3.4 percent of the Georgia population.

Recovered cases in greater Athens represent more than double the number of active cases as of this morning!.

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The next table provides the percentage count of total COVID-19 cases, active cases based on the U.S. 14-Day national recovery time, recovered cases based on the U.S. 14-day national recovery time and deaths as cited either directly or indirectly by the local authorities. Nearly two-thirds of year-to-date COVID-19 cases in greater Athens have now recovered.

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Here is a specific breakdown of the stats for the five Atlanta counties. Note that the number of active cases in all the counties has declined in the past week (August 1 vs. July 25), similar to what is happening country-wide in the U.S.

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Here is a specific breaks of the stats for the greater Athens six counties. The number of active cases has declined in Athens-Clarke County, Oconee and Oglethorpe counties as compared to the active count posting last Saturday July 25.

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On a national level, the total number of new cases tracked in the past 24 hours as of 12:01 a.m. this morning has increased by 70,904 new active COVID-19 cases. However, the total number of new cases tracked has been offset by the 74,388 individuals who moved into RECOVERY based on the national 14-day recovery period. The number of active COVID-19 cases again decreased by 4,946 individuals — a daily decrease that has taken place four days in a row.

A new record number of tests completed in 24 hours took place yesterday in the U.S. Over one million tests were conducted in the past 24 hour — 1,067,190. The total number of test completed in the U.S. now tops out over 58 million — 58,591,052. Essentially one out of every four adults have taken a COVID-19 test.

The four expansion states, or, the four top states to recently post the highest counts, account for 42.1 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours as of 12:01 a.m. this morning. These four states account for 29.9 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, this morning they index at 141, or 41 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID cases.

*California — 7,878 new cases, 8,174 yesterday
*Texas — 9,750 new cases,  8,843 yesterday
*Florida — 9,007 new cases, 9,956 yesterday
*Arizona — 3,212 new cases, 2,525 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 15.0 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours as of 12:01 a.m. this morning. These five states account for 9.5 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, they index at 158, or 58 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

Georgia — 4,066 new cases, 3,936 yesterday — 4th highest state count again this morning

*South Carolina — 1,444 new cases, 1,726 yesterday
*North Carolina — 2,012 new cases, 2,588 yesterday
*Alabama — 1,961 new cases, 1,980 yesterday
*Mississippi — 1,168 new cases, 1,775 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 5.0 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours as of 12:01 a.m. this morning. These five states account for 17.6 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, they index at 28, or 72 percent below proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*New York — 745 new cases, 940 yesterday
*New Jersey — 559 new cases, 432 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 514 new cases, 414 yesterday
*Michigan — 793 new cases, 807 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 934 new cases, 869 yesterday.


There are seven more states that have posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours.

*Illinois — 1,980 new cases
*Louisiana — 1,799 new cases
*Tennessee — 3,088 new cases
*Ohio — 1,531 new cases
*Maryland — 1,169 new cases
*Missouri — 1,547 new cases
*Nevada — 1,264 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 total 1,462 as of 12:01 a.m. this morning compared to 1,465 deaths that posted yesterday… More than half — 55.4 percent — of the deaths took place in the four expansion states — California, Florida, Texas and Arizona.

The number of “critical/serious” cases total 17,958 as of 12:01 a.m. this morning.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the main stream of society now totals 2,954,290 — that is 95 percent more individuals that have recovered than are currently active with COVID-19."
  ["tracker_field_contentWikiPage_raw"]=>
  string(136192) "''Mark Kooyman is the CEO/Discovery Chief at [http://www.experiencediscovery.com/|EXPERIENCE Insight Group, Inc.] and a well-regarded market research expert who lives in Atlanta. Kooyman has been preparing daily numbers on COVID-19 for friends and family since the oiutbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. We thank him for allowing ''Creative Loafing'' to publish his results.''

!!Monday, August 31, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the total number of tracked COVID-19 cases represents 1.83 percent of the U.S. population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.35 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.43 percent of the U.S. population.

The 6,078,455 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down as follows as of this morning::

*Recovered — 4,740,161 individuals, or 78.0 percent or, 77.8 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Active cases — 1,157,387 cases, or 19.0 percent or, 19.2 percent yesterday
*Deaths — 180,907 deaths, or 3.0 percent or, 3.0 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


New cases grew by 33,981 in the past 24 hours. The total number of active cases declined by a small number of 3,321 cases offset by 36,843 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column.

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals 81,830,079, an increase of 724,889 new tests conducted in the past 24 hours.

The five expansion states, the five top states to post the highest counts, account for 31.6 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*California — 3,817 new cases, 3,863 yesterday
*Texas — 2,757 new cases,  4,780 yesterday
*Florida — 2,583 new cases, 3,187 yesterday
*Georgia — 1,215 new cases, 2,386 yesterday
*Arizona — 374 new cases, 629 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 14.4 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*Tennessee — 835 new cases, 1,465 yesterday
*South Carolina — 1,075 new cases, 1,298 yesterday
*North Carolina — 993 new cases, 2,221 yesterday
*Alabama — 1,346 new cases, 1,705 yesterday
*Mississippi — 647 new cases, 735 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 5.9 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*New York — 780 new cases, 680 yesterday
*New Jersey — 153 new cases, 236 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 199 new cases, 446 yesterday
*Michigan — 551 new cases, 839 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 561 new cases, 752 yesterday.


Four more states posted 1,000 or more cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,992 new cases
*Louisiana — 1,624 new cases
*Ohio — 1,013 new cases
*Missouri — 1,161 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 369 as of 12:01am this morning compared to the 954 deaths posted yesterday. Of the deaths,45.5 percent took place yesterday in the five expansion states.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 15,992 as of this morning. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.3 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered now totals 4,741,161, that is 310 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

For those tracking outbreaks in the greater Athens area, including the University of Georgia, here is the updated COVID-19 positive case counts as of 7:30 a.m. this morning as reported by the Georgia Department of Public Health:

*Athens-Clarke County, 572 positive cases today, 585 yesterday.
*Oconee County, 79 positive cases today, 78 yesterday.
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!!Sunday, August 30, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the total number of tracked COVID-19 cases represents 1.83 percent of the population in the United States. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.35 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.42 percent of the U.S. population.

The 6,044,474 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down as follows as of this morning:

*Recovered — 4,703,318 individuals or 77.8 percent, 77.5 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Active Cases — 1,160,618 cases or 19.2 percent, 19.5 percent yesterday
*Deaths — 180,538 deaths or 3.0 percent, 3.0 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


New cases grew by 42,843 in the past 24 hours. The total number of active cases declined by 11,587 cases offset by 53,476 individuals surviving COVID-19. This is now the 35th straight day of higher recovery numbers vs. new cases.

The number of tests administered here in the U.S. now totals 81,105,190, with 802,384 tests completed yesterday.

The five expansion states, the states to post the highest counts, account for 34.6 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*California — 3,863 new cases, 5,406 yesterday
*Texas — 4,780 new cases, 4,987yesterday
*Florida — 3,187 new cases, 3,815 yesterday
*Georgia — 2,386 new cases, 2,298 yesterday
*Arizona — 629 new cases, 519 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 16.9 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hour:

*Tennessee — 1,465 new cases, 1,636 yesterday
*South Carolina — 1,298 new cases, 1,353 yesterday
*North Carolina — 2,221 new cases, 1,550 yesterday
*Alabama — 1,705 new cases, 1,162 yesterday
*Mississippi — 735 new cases, 599 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 6.4 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*New York — 680 new cases, 720 yesterday
*New Jersey — 236 new cases, 339 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 446 new cases, 460 yesterday
*Michigan — 839 new cases, 793 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 752 new cases, 866 yesterday.


Seven other states posted 1,000 or more cases in the past 24 hours. These states account for 19.7 percent of the new cases:

*Illinois — 1,880 new cases
*Ohio — 1,210 new cases
*Virginia — 1,217 new cases
*Indiana — 1,121 new cases
*Minnesota — 1,017 new cases
*Iowa — 1,081 new cases
*Oklahoma — 1,093 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 954 as of this morning, compared to the 1,105 deaths posted yesterday. Of the deaths, 49.3 percent took place yesterday in  California, Florida, Texas, Arizona and Georgia.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 16,025 as of this morning. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.3 percent of the total active cases. This number continues to decline. Last Saturday, more than 16,800 “critical/serious” cases were reported.

The number of those who have recovered now totals 4,703,318, that is 305 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19, or, ''triple'' the number of individuals active with COVID-19.

!!Saturday, August 29, 2020
As presented each weekend, here is information specific to metro Atlanta area and the greater Athens area as made up of Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Cobb, and Clayton counties and Clarke, Oconee, Barrow, Jackson, Madison, and Oglethorpe counties, respectively.

The table below provides the number of total COVID-19 cases, active cases based on the U.S. 14-Day National Recovery time, recovered cases based on the U.S. 14-day National Recovery time and deaths as cited either directly or indirectly by local authorities. The number of recovered cases continues to increase in in all three geographic areas since the “top of the bell-curve” occurred back in late July-early August. This is particularly true in the five metro Atlanta counties, where we are now past the “case hump."

INSERT Table 1

The next table provides those numbers above as translated into percentages. Both Atlanta and Athens track on a more positive level than the U.S. nationally.

INSERT Table 2

Here is a specific breakdown of the five core counties that make up the city of Atlanta. The number of active cases continues to decrease.

INSERT TABLE 3

Next are the stats for the six counties of the Greater Athens area. The increased number of deaths in each of the counties in the last week are nearly all among individuals age 65+.

INSERT Table 4

Nationally, new cases grew by 49,601 in the past 24 hours. The total number of active cases declined by 11,749 cases, offset by 60,245 individuals surviving COVID-19.

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals over 80 million — 80,302,806 — an increase of 830,320 new tests conducted in the past 24 hours. The next closest countries to the U.S. in the number of tests conducted are India with 40 million tests followed by Russia with 36 million and China with 34 million.

Based on trending over the past few weeks, I have made a couple of small changes in the grouping below. Georgia is now added to the “expansion states” and Tennessee is added to the “southeastern states.”

The five expansion states, the states to post the highest counts, account for 34.3 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*California — 5,406 new cases, 5,280 yesterday
*Texas — 4,987 new cases, 4,458 yesterday
*Florida — 3,815 new cases, 3,269 yesterday
*Georgia — 2,298 new cases, 2,484 yesterday
*Arizona — 519 new cases, 186 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 12.7 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*Tennessee — 1,636 new cases, 2,484 yesterday
*South Carolina — 1,353 new cases, 505 yesterday
*North Carolina — 1,550 new cases, 2,045 yesterday
*Alabama — 1,162 new cases, 1,769 yesterday
*Mississippi — 599 new cases, 585 yesterday.



The five early case states account for 6.4 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*New York — 720 new cases, 901 yesterday
*New Jersey — 339 new cases, 253 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 460 new cases, 368 yesterday
*Michigan — 793 new cases, 863 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 866 new cases, 635 yesterday.



Five more states posted 1,000 or more cases in the past 24 hours. They account for 17.7 percent of the new cases:

*Illinois — 2,434 new cases
*Ohio — 1,279 new cases
*Iowa — 2,574 new cases
*Virginia — 1,013 new cases
*Missouri — 1,474 new cases.



The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 1,105 as of this morning, compared to the 1,143 deaths posted yesterday. Of the deaths, 47.9 percent of the them took place in California, Florida, Texas, Arizona and Georgia.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 16,184 as of this morning. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.3 percent of the total active cases. This number continues to decline. Last Saturday, more than 16,800 “critical/serious” cases were reported.

The number of those who have recovered now totals 4,649,842 — that is 297 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

!!Friday, August 28, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the total number of tracked COVID-19 cases represents 1.80 percent of the population in the United States. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.36 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.39 percent of the U.S. population.

The 5,952,030 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down as follows as of this morning:

*Recovered — 4,589,597 individuals or 77.1 percent, 76.8 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Active Cases — 1,183,954 cases or 19.9 percent, 20.2 percent yesterday
*Deaths — 178,479 deaths or 3.0 percent, 3.0 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


New cases grew by 46,286 in the past 24 hours. The total number of active cases declined by 9,752 cases offset by 54,895 individuals surviving COVID-19.

The number of tests administered here in the U.S. now totals 79,472,486 — an increase of 835,098 new tests conducted in the past 24 hours.

The four expansion states, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 29.5 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*California — 5,280 new cases, 5,415 yesterday
*Texas — 4,458 new cases, 6,053 yesterday
*Florida — 3,269 new cases, 3,220 yesterday
*Arizona — 680 new cases, 186 yesterday.



The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 15.5 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*Georgia — 2,484 new cases, 2,236 yesterday, the fourth highest state new case count
*Carolina — 505 new cases, 605 yesterday
*Carolina — 2,045 new cases, 1,175 yesterday
*Alabama — 1,769 new cases, 186 yesterday
*Mississippi — 585 new cases, 904 yesterday.



The five early case states account for 6.5 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*New York — 901 new cases, 676 yesterday
*New Jersey — 253 new cases, 259 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 368 new cases, 336 yesterday
*Michigan — 863 new cases, 843 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 635 new cases, 520 yesterday.


Eight other states more posted 1,000 or more cases in the past 24 hours. These eight states account for 24.8 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,707 new cases,
*Tennessee — 1,826 new cases
*Ohio — 1,226 new cases
*Virginia — 1,121 new cases
*Indiana — 1,145 new cases
*Missouri — 1,614 new cases
*Minnesota — 1,614 new cases
*Iowa — 1,566 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 1,143 as of this morning, compared to the 1,289 deaths posted yesterday. Of the deaths, 46.4 percent took place yesterday in the four expansion states. Another 7.2 percent of the deaths took place in Georgia.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 16,231 as of this morning. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.3 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered now totals 4,589,597 — that is 288 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

For those tracking outbreaks in the greater Athens area, including the University of Georgia, here is the updated COVID-19 positive case counts as of 7:30 a.m. this morning as reported by the Georgia Department of Public Health:

*Athens-Clarke County — 489 positive active cases today, 468 yesterday.
*Oconee County — 79 positive cases today, 73 yesterday.
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!!Thursday, August 27, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the total number of racked COVID-19 cases in the United States represents 1.79 percent of the U.S. population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.36 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.37 percent of the U.S. population.

The 5,905,744 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down as follows:

*Recovered — 4,534,702 individuals or 76.8 percent, 76.4 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Active cases — 1,193,706 cases or 20.2, 20.6 percent yesterday
*Deaths — 177,336 deaths or 3.0 percent, 3.0 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


New cases grew by 44,637 in the past 24 hours, the total number of active cases declined by 10,962 cases offset by 54,310 individuals surviving COVID-19. This is now the 31st straight day of higher recovery numbers than new cases.

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals 78,637,388 — an increase of 705,981 new tests conducted in the past 24 hours

David Bradley, who heads up Athens-Clarke County Chamber of Commerce, sent over some very telling national numbers that he has tracked:

*Average daily new cases over a seven-day period on Aug. 5: 59, 570, on Aug. 26: 42,967 —  a decrease of 27.7 percent
*Average daily critical cases over a seven-day period on Aug.5: 18,593, on Aug. 26: 16,700 — a decrease of 10.2 percent
*Average number of deaths over a seven-day period on Aug.5: 1,133, on Aug. 26, 898 — a decrease of 20.7 percent.


I encourage business leadership to embrace creativity and innovation and look back at how your business had survived through the last three to four months and take from it insight to guide your team in 2021 expansion plans. Bradley and his team in Athensshow businesses that have been very creative can survive.

The four expansion states, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 33.3 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*California — 5,415 new cases, 5,862 yesterday
*Texas — 6,053 new cases, 6,803 yesterday
*Florida — 3,220 new cases, 2,673 yesterday
*Arizona — 186 new cases, 859 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 15.5 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*Georgia — 2,236 new cases, 2,101 yesterday
*South Carolina — 605 new cases, 937 yesterday
*North Carolina — 1,175 new cases, 1,456 yesterday
*Alabama — 186 new cases, 532 yesterday
*Mississippi — 904 new cases, 801 yesterday.



The five early case states account for 5.9 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*New York — 676 new cases, 627 yesterday
*New Jersey — 259 new cases, 313 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 336 new cases, 398 yesterday
*Michigan — 843 new cases, 951 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 520 new cases, 557 yesterday.


Five more states have posted one thousand or more cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 2,457 new cases, 4th highest State new case count
*Tennessee — 1,936 new cases
*Ohio — 1,059 new cases
*Missouri — 1,276 new cases
*Kansas — 1,359 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 1,289 compared to the 1,290 deaths posted yesterday. Of the deaths, 46.6 percent took place yesterday in the four expansion states. Another 3.8 percent of the deaths took place in Georgia.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 16,378 as of 12:01am today. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.3 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered from COVID-19 now totals 4,534,702. Tthat is 280 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

For those tracking outbreaks in the greater Athens area, including the University of Georgia, here is the updated COVID-19 positive case counts as of 7:30 a.m. this morning as reported by the Georgia Department of Public Health:

*Athens-Clarke County — 463 positive active cases today, 423 yesterday
*Oconee County — 73 positive active cases today, 76 yesterday.
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!!Wednesday, August 26, 2020
As of12:01 a.m. this morning, the total number of tracked COVID-19 cases in the United States represents 1.76 percent of the population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.37 percent of the population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.34 percent of the population.

The 5,861,107 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down as follows:

*Recovered — 4,480,392 individuals, or 76.4 percent, 76.1 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Active cases — 1,204,668 cases, or 20.6 percent, 20.9 percent yesterday
*Deaths — 176,047 deaths, or 3.0 percent, 3.0 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


New cases grew by 40,098 in the past 24 hours. The total number of active cases declined by 14,508 cases, offset by 53,826 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column. This is now the 30th straight day of higher recovery numbers vs. new cases.

More than a million Americans were tested yesterday. This increase is likely linked to the use of tests to monitor COVID-19 on college campuses and school systems where classes have re-started. The number of tests administered here in the U.S. now totals 77,931,407, an increase of 1,047,928 new tests conducted in the past 24 hours.

The four expansion states, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 40.4 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*California — 5,862 new cases, 6,168 yesterday
*Texas — 6,803 new cases,  4,514 yesterday
*Florida — 2,673 new cases, 2,258 yesterday
*Arizona — 859 new cases, 311 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 14.5 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*Georgia — 2,101 new cases, 2,304 yesterday, fourth highest state new case count
*South Carolina — 937 new cases, 563 yesterday
*North Carolina — 1,456 new cases, 2,093 yesterday
*Alabama — 532 new cases, 1,605 yesterday
*Mississippi — 801 new cases, 511 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 7.1 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*New York — 627 new cases, 531 yesterday
*New Jersey — 313 new cases, 303 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 398 new cases, 662 yesterday
*Michigan — 951 new cases, 878 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 557 new cases, 567 yesterday.


Three more states posted 1,000 or more cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,680 new cases
*Virginia — 1,005 new cases
*Missouri — 1,060 new cases.

The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 1,290 as of 12:01 a.m. this morning, compared to the 510 deaths posted yesterday. Of the deaths, 43.6 percent took place yesterday in the four expansion states. Another 8.2 percent of the deaths took place in Georgia.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 16,468 as of this morning. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.4 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered now totals 4,480,392, that is 272 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

For those tracking outbreaks the greater Athens area, here is the updated COVID-19 positive case counts as of 7:30 a.m. this morning, as reported by the Georgia Department of Public Health:

*Athens-Clarke County — 423 positive active cases today, 417 yesterday
*Oconee County — 76 positive active cases today, 71 yesterday.
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!!Tuesday, August 25, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the total number of tracked COVID-19 cases in the United States represents 1.76 percent of the U.S. population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.37 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.34 percent of the U.S. population.

The 5,821,009 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down as follows:

*Recovered — 4,426,566 individuals, or 76.1 percent, 75.7 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Active cases — 1,219,176 cases, or 20.9 percent, 21.3 percent yesterday
*Deaths — 175,267 deaths, or 3.0 percent, 3.0 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


The number of new cases grew by 41,484 in the past 24 hours. The total number of active cases declined by 8,826, cases offset by 49,800 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column. This is now the 29th straight day of higher recovery numbers vs. new cases!

We will have to watch to see if the trend holds true with the number of active cases continuing to decline as the number of new cases decreases — something to track over the next five to seven days, especially in Florida, Texas, California, Arizona and Georgia.

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals 76,883,479, an increase of 724,101 new tests conducted in the past 24 hours. I will update the percentage on a weekly basis moving forward with the Monday morning releases.

The four expansion states, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 31.9 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*California — 6,168 new cases, 5,096 yesterday
*Texas — 4,514 new cases, 3,335 yesterday
*Florida — 2,258 new cases, 2,974 yesterday
*Arizona — 311 new cases, 208 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 17.1 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*Georgia — 2,304 new cases, 1,727 yesterday — third highest state new case count
*South Carolina — 563 new cases, 693 yesterday
*North Carolina — 2,093 new cases, 1,067 yesterday
*Alabama — 1,605 new cases, 528 yesterday
*Mississippi — 511 new cases, 626 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 7.1 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*New York — 531 new cases, 663 yesterday
*New Jersey — 303 new cases, 203 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 662 new cases, 182 yesterday
*Michigan — 878 new cases, 764 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 567 new cases, 519 yesterday.


Four more states posted 1,000 or more cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,612 new cases
*Indiana — 1,6670 new cases
*Missouri — 1,458 new cases
*Kansas — 1,317 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 510 as of this morning, compared to the 430 deaths posted yesterday. Of the deaths, 47.1 percent took place yesterday in the four expansion states, another 4.7 percent of the deaths took place in Georgia.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 16,483 as of this morning. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.4 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered now totals 4,426,566, that is, 263 percent MORE than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

For those tracking outbreaks the greater Athens area, here is the updated COVID-19 positive case counts as of 7:30 a.m. this morning, as reported by the Georgia Department of Public Health:

*Athens-Clarke County, 417 positive active cases today, 443 cases yesterday
*Oconee County, 71 positive active cases today, 68 cases yesterday.


I guess University of Georgia students are spending time with the text books instead of hanging out among all those contagious peers at the pubs!

!!Monday, August 24, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the total number of tracked COVID-19 cases in the United States represents 1.75 percent of the U.S. population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.37 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 SURVIVOR cases represents 1.32 percent of the U.S. population.

Great news in the morning headlines, “Plasma Treatment for COVID Gets FDA Clearance.” This is not a vaccine, but a combative treatment for hospitalized patients. This is a similar treatment to that used to treat patients during the 2014 Ebola outbreak. Over the course of the next 30 days, expect additional treatments to secure FDA clearance. The article also notes that there are now a dozen COVID-19 vaccines in the last phase of clinical trial testing, and, at least two or three are likely to be released for public access before the end of the year.

The 5,779,525 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down as follows as of this morning:

*Recovered — 4,376,766 individuals, or 75.7 percent, 75.4 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Active cases — 1,228,002 cases, or 21.3 percent, 21.6 percent yesterday
*Deaths — 174,757 deaths, or 3.0 percent, 3.0 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


New cases grew by 32,718 in the past 24 hours, the total number of active cases declined by 13,341 cases, offset by 45,629 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column. This is now the 28th straight day of higher recovery numbers vs. new cases. This is also the first time in the past 45 days in which the number of new cases totaled below 40,000.

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals 76,159,378, with an increase of 684,203 new tests conducted in the past 24 hours. A number of readers asked what is the seven-day average of the percentage of those being tested that are testing COVID-19 positive. Counting today and going back to last Tuesday August 18, the average is 5.9 percent. Between the prior seven-day period — Tuesday, August 11 to Monday, August 17 — the average is 6.6 percent. The percentage is dropping.

The four expansion states, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 35.5 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*California — 5,096 new cases, 5,156 yesterday
*Texas — 3,335 new cases, 3,715 yesterday
*Florida — 2,974 new cases, 4,311 yesterday
*Arizona — 208 new cases, 996 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 14.2 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*Georgia — 1,727 new cases, 2,592 yesterday, fourth highest state new case count
*South Carolina — 693 new cases, 917 yesterday
*North Carolina — 1,067 new cases, 1,157 yesterday
*Alabama — 528 new cases, 1,762 yesterday
*Mississippi — 626 new cases, 945 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 7.1 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*New York — 663 new cases, 701 yesterday
*New Jersey — 203 new cases, 270 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 182 new cases, 144 yesterday
*Michigan — 764 new cases, 1,426 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 519 new cases, 699 yesterday.


Three more states posted 1,000 or more cases in the past 24 hours…

*Illinois — 1,893 new cases
*Tennessee — 1,854 new cases
*Louisiana — 1,223 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 430 as of 12:01 a.m. this morning, compared to the 974 deaths posted yesterday. 40.4 percent of the deaths took place yesterday in the four expansion states. Another 9.3 percent of the deaths took place in Georgia.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 16,717 as of 12:01 a.m this morning. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.2 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered now totals 4,376,766 — that is 256 percent MORE than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

For those tracking the greater Athens area, here is the updated COVID-19 positive case counts as of 7:30 a.m. this morning as reported by the Georgia Department of Public Health for the key counties:

*Athens-Clarke County — 443 active cases today, 449 yesterday
*Oconee County — 68 positive active cases today, 65 yesterday.
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!!Sunday, August 23, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the total number of tracked COVID-19 cases in the United States represents 1.74 percent of the population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.37 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.31 percent of the U.S. population.

The 5,746,807 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down as follows:

*Recovered — 4,331,137 individuals, or 75.4 percent, 75.0 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Active cases — 1,241,343 cases, or 21.6 percent, 22.0 percent yesterday
*Deaths — 172,183 deaths, or 3.0 percent, 3.0 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


New cases grew by 43,829 in the past 24 hours as of this morning, the total number of active cases declined by 10,890 cases, offset by 53,845 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column. This is now the 27th straight day of higher recovery numbers vs. new cases.

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals 75,4765,175, an increase of 756,595 new tests conducted in the past 24 hours.

The four expansion states, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 32.3 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*California — 5,156 new cases, 6,539 yesterday
*Texas — 3,715 new cases, 5,753 yesterday
*Florida — 4,311 new cases, 4,684 yesterday
*Arizona — 996 new cases, 619 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 16.8 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*Georgia — 2,592 new cases, 2,889 yesterday, 4th highest state new case count
*South Carolina — 917 new cases, 1,058 yesterday
*North Carolina — 1,157 new cases, 2,041 yesterday
*Alabama — 1,762 new cases, 321 yesterday
*Mississippi — 945 new cases, 874 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 7.4 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*New York — 701 new cases, 817 yesterday
*New Jersey — 270 new cases, 304 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 144 new cases, 488 yesterday
*Michigan — 1,426 new cases, 526 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 699 new cases, 725 yesterday.


Seven more states posted 1,000 or more cases in the past 24 hours…

*Illinois — 2,356 new cases
*Tennessee — 1,239 new cases
*Louisiana — 1,345 new cases
*Ohio — 1,267 new cases
*Virginia — 1,212 new cases
*Indiana — 1,000 new cases
*Missouri — 1,391 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 974 as of this morning, compared to the 1,170 deaths posted yesterday… 50.2 percent of the deaths took place yesterday in the four expansion states. Another 9.7 percent of the deaths took place in Georgia.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 16,739 as of this morning. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.2 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in mainstream society now totals 4,331,137 — that is 250 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

For those tracking UGA outbreaks, here is the updated COVID-19 positive case counts as of 7:30 a.m. this morning as reported by the Georgia Department of Public Health for the key counties regarding the total population.

*Athens-Clarke County — 449 positive active cases today, 442 yesterday
*Oconee County — 65 positive active cases today, 64 yesterday.
!! %%% __Saturday, August 22, 2020__
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the total number of tracked COVID-19 cases in the United States represents 1.73 percent of the population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.38 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.29 percent of the U.S. population.

As done each Saturday, a slightly different format is used to present the numbers in two major local areas. The regions highlighted include:

*The five metro counties that primarily make up the metro Atlanta area — Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Cobb, and Clayton counties
*The greater Athens, Georgia, area, including Clarke, Oconee, Barrow, Jackson, Madison, and Oglethorpe counties.


The table below provides the numerical count of totalCOVID-19 cases, the active cases based on the U.S. 14-Day national recovery time, the recovered cases based on the U.S. 14-day national recovery time and deaths, as cited either directly or indirectly by the local authorities. The number of recovered cases has significantly increased in Atlanta since the “top of the bell-curve” occurred back in late July/early August.

::{img fileId="32600" imalign="center" max="800px" responsive="y" button="popup"}::

The next table provides the percentage count of totalCOVID-19 cases, the active cases based on the U.S. 14-Day national recovery time, the recovered cases based on the U.S. 14-day national recovery time, and deaths as cited either directly or indirectly by the local authorities.

::{img fileId="32601" imalign="center" max="800px" responsive="y" button="popup"}::

Here is a specific breakdown of the stats for the five Atlanta core counties. Note the decrease in active cases this week vs. last week.

::{img fileId="32602" imalign="center" max="800px" responsive="y" button="popup"}::

Here is a specific breakdown of the stats for the six greater Athens counties. Note the decrease in active cases this week vs. last week, especially in Athens/Clarke and Oconee Counties.

::{img fileId="32603" imalign="center" max="800px" responsive="y" button="popup"}::

 

Nationally, new cases grew by 50,455 in the past 24 hours. The total number of active cases declined by 14,015 cases, offset by 63,200 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column. This is now the 26th straight day of higher recovery numbers vs. new cases.

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals 74,718580, an increase of 847,601 new tests conducted in the past 24 hours.

The four expansion states, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 34.9 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*California — 6,539 new cases, 6,055 yesterday
*Texas — 5,753 new cases, 5,184 yesterday
*Florida — 4,684 new cases, 4,555 yesterday
*Arizona — 619 new cases, 723 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 14.2 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*Georgia — 2,889 new cases, 2,759 yesterday — fourth highest state new case count
*South Carolina — 1,058 new cases, 909 yesterday
*North Carolina — 2,042 new cases, 1,881 yesterday
*Alabama — 321 new cases, 971 yesterday
*Mississippi — 874 new cases, 894 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 5.7 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*New York — 817 new cases, 679 yesterday
*New Jersey — 304 new cases, 185 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 488 new cases, 313 yesterday
*Michigan — 526 new cases, 527 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 725 new cases, 786 yesterday.


Six more states posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 2,293 new cases
*Tennessee — 1,669 new cases
*Ohio — 1,069 new cases
*Indiana — 1,040 new cases
*Missouri — 1,342 new cases
*Oklahoma — 1,077 new cases.

The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 1,170 as of this morning. compared to the 1,090 deaths posted yesterday. 44.2 percent of the deaths took place yesterday in the four expansion states..

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 16,801 as of this morning.. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.2 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in mainstream society now totals 4,277,292. That is 242 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

Today would have been my father’s 92nd birthday. Mike Kooyman passed away on the Monday before Thanksgiving last year. My Dad was a very-driven businessman. He was persistent and strongly advocated what he believed in. I try to follow in his foot-steps each day!

!!Friday, August 21, 2020
As of today 12:01 a.m. this morning, the total number of tracked COVID-19 cases represents 1.71 percent of the U.S. population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.39 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.28 percent of the U.S. population.

The 5,652,523 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down in terms of status as follows:

*Recovered — 4,214,092 individuals, or 74.6 percent, 74.1 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Active cases — 1,266,248 cases, or 22.4 percent, 22.8 percent yesterday
*Deaths — 172,183 deaths, or 3.0 percent, 3.1 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


New cases grew by 45,341 in the past 24 hours as of this morning, the total number of active cases declined by 14,179 cases, offset by 58,430 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column.  This is now the 25th straight day of higher recovery numbers vs. new cases.

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals 73,870,979 — an increase of 752,638 new tests conducted in the past 24 hours. In the past week, a total of 5.3 million new tests have been conducted here in the U.S.

The four expansion states, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 36.4 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*California — 6,055 new cases … 6,789 yesterday
*Texas — 5,184 new cases …  5,965 yesterday
*Florida — 4,555 new cases … 4,115 yesterday
*Arizona — 723 new cases … 637 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 16.4 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*Georgia — 2,759 new cases … 2,305 yesterday … fourth highest state new case count
*South Carolina — 909 new cases … 739 yesterday
*North Carolina — 1,881 new cases … 1,069 yesterday
*Alabama — 971 new cases … 1,117 yesterday
*Mississippi — 894 new cases … 1,348 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 5.5 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*New York — 679 new cases … 764 yesterday
*New Jersey — 185 new cases … 301 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 313 new cases … 352 yesterday
*Michigan — 527 new cases … 689 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 786 new cases … 664 yesterday.


Four more states posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours…

*Illinois — 1,832 new cases
*Tennessee — 1,375 cases
*Ohio — 1,126
*Missouri — 1,125.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 1,090 as of this morning compared to the 1,263 deaths that posted yesterday… Of the deaths, 46.5 percent took place yesterday in the four expansion states.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 16,817 as of this morning.  The average for the past seven days is down significantly from the average of 18,758 cases the seven previous days. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.2 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered now totals 4,214,092, that is 233 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

For those tracking outbreaks at the University of Georgia in Athens, here is the updated counts of positive COVID-19 cases as of 7:30 a.m. this morning, as reported by the Georgia Department of Public Health for these key counties:

*Athens-Clarke County — 478 active cases yesterday, 462 today
*Oconee County — 69 active cases yesterday, 67 today.
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!!Thursday, August 20, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the total number of tracked COVID-19 cases represents 1.70 percent of the U.S. population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.39 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.26 percent of the U.S. population.

The 5,607,182 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down in terms of status as follows:

*Recovered — 4,155,662 individuals or 74.1 percent, 73.8 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Active cases — 1,280,427 cases or 22.8 percent, 23.2 percent yesterday
*Deaths — 171,093 deaths or 3.1 percent, 3.0 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


New cases grew by 44,957 in the past 24 hours as of 12:01 today, the total number of active cases declined by 11,454 cases offset by 55,148 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column. This is now the 24th straight day of higher recovery numbers than new cases.

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals 73,118,341, an increase of 748,173 new tests conducted in the past 24 hours.

The four expansion states, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 38.9 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*California — 6,789 new cases, 5,350 yesterday
*Texas — 5,965 new cases,  7,872 yesterday
*Florida — 4,115 new cases, 3,838 yesterday
*Arizona — 637 new cases, 915 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 14.6 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*Georgia — 2,305 new cases, 2,816 yesterday — fourth highest state new case count
*South Carolina — 739 new cases, 719 yesterday
*North Carolina — 1,069 new cases, 1,903 yesterday
*Alabama — 1,117 new cases, 1,357 yesterday
*Mississippi — 1,348 new cases, 795 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 6.2 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*New York — 764 new cases, 718 yesterday
*New Jersey — 301 new cases, 330 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 352 new cases, 222 yesterday
*Michigan — 689 new cases, 653 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 664 new cases, 600 yesterday.


Two more states posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 2,295 new cases
*Tennessee — 2,022 cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 1,263, compared to the 1,358 deaths posted yesterday. Of the deaths, 55.0 percent took place in the four expansion states. The highest number of deaths are taking place in Texas and Arizona where most of the deaths are happening in nursing homes.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 16,875 as of this morning. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.2 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the mainstream now totals 4,155,662 — that is 225 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

No readers replied that they could figure out the rationale behind the news stories I questioned yesterday claiming that Georgia was leading the U.S. on the rate of new COVID-19 cases. Surprisingly, after the morning news hour was over, I did not hear nor see anything more about the claim. Maybe someone from the ''Atlanta Journal Constitution'' took a moment to read the real news on the ''Creative Loafing'' website!

And, in Athens, home of the University of Georgia, there is an uproar that the students on the UGA campus are going to drive the COVID-19 cases higher than the annual football offensive yardage numbers. Here is the updated COVID-19 positive case counts as of 7:30 a.m. this morning as reported by the Georgia Department of Public Health:

*Athens-Clarke County, 548 positive active cases this past Saturday, 478 today
*Oconee County, 85 positive active cases this past Saturday, 69 today.
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!!Wednesday, August 19, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the number of total tracked COVID-19 cases represents 1.68 percent of the U.S. population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.39 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivors represent 1.24 percent of the U.S. population.

The 5,562,225 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down in terms of status as follows:

*Recovered — 4,100,514 individuals, or 73.8 percent, 73.4 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Active cases — 1,291,881 cases, or 23.2 percent, 23.6 percent yesterday
*Deaths — 169,830 deaths, or 3.0 percent, 3.0 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


New cases grew by 43,999 in the past 24 hours. The total number of active cases declined by 11,863 cases, offset by 54,504 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column. This is now the 23rd straight day of higher recovery numbers vs. new cases.

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals 72,370,168, an increase of 680,442 new tests conducted in the past 24 hours.

The four expansion states, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 40.4 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours as of this morning:

*California — 5,350 new cases, 6,925 yesterday
*Texas — 7,872 new cases,  6,446 yesterday
*Florida — 3,838 new cases, 2,678 yesterday
*Arizona — 915 new cases, 468 yesterday.


Georgia is featured in today’s top newspaper and broadcast news stories as being cited as “leading the nation on the rate of new cases.”  This is supposedly based on “the seven day average ending last Friday.”  To be honest, I cannot figure out what numbers are driving the claims, but then again, the media further highlights that the claim is originating out of the “White House."

I encourage readers to track the numbers published each day in this column and see for yourself that Georgia ranked either fourth or fifth in the number of new cases each day. Today, Georgia posts the fourth highest new case count. Publishing a news story about a set of numbers dating back from five days ago is not “breaking news.”

Here is the average daily new case counts between Saturday, August 8, and Friday, August 14:

#California — 8,776 new cases
#Texas — 6,989 new cases
#Florida — 6,678 new cases
#Georgia — 3,392 new cases.


If any readers can figure out how the calculation reported in the news is being made, please let me know and I will feature you in the next release!

Also, the Georgia Department of Public Health has now elected to report “new cases in the past 14 days” in a different format that requires additional steps to see the actual count.

The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 17.3 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*Georgia — 2,816 new cases, 1,831 yesterday — fourth highest state new case count
*South Carolina — 719 new cases, 456 yesterday
*North Carolina — 1,903 new cases, 425 yesterday
*Alabama — 1,357 new cases, 571 yesterday
*Mississippi — 795 new cases, 276 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 5.7 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*New York — 718 new cases, 520 yesterday
*New Jersey — 330 new cases, 425 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 222 new cases, 248 yesterday
*Michigan — 653 new cases, 490 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 600 new cases, 611 yesterday.


Three more states posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,740 new cases
*Tennessee — 1,034 cases
*Missouri — 1,185 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 1,358 as of this morning compared to the 589 deaths that posted yesterday. Of the deaths, 55.0 percent took place yesterday in the four expansion states.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 16,966 as of this morning. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.2 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the mainstream now totals 4,100,514, that is 217 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

!!Tuesday, August 18, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the number of total tracked COVID-19 cases in the United States represents 1.67 percent of the U.S. population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.39 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.22 percent of the U.S. population.

Take a moment, raise your glass, and toast the survivors. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases now totals over four million, 4,046,010 as of this morning. It is unfortunate that the mainstream media fails to celebrate the four million who have fought the battle and won.

The University of Georgia is featured in the morning news with a set of new rules it is enacting today. Classes resume on Thursday, August 19, with the University moving forward with in-person classes.  As of 8 a.m. this morning, Georgia Department of Public Healths posts 499 Active COVID cases in Athens-Clarke County. That number also includes any UGA students tested in Athens-Clarke County. The 499 Active COVID-19 cases represent 0.39 percent of the Athens Clarke County population.

The new set of rules at UGA includes a requirement that all UGA students install a COVID-19 Monitoring and Tracking App on their smart phones. If a student tests positive, the University is going to post the student’s name on the App. In addition, any administration member, professor or student can track exactly where the COVID-19-active student is at any time of the day. The reporters did not share how long the person’s name stays on the App.

My mother, Ruth Marie Kooyman, who passed away 18 months ago, hand stitched a saying that I have hanging in my bedroom with a quote from William Blake: “If the doors of perception were cleansed today, everything would appear to man as it is, infinite. For man has closed himself up ’til he sees all things through the narrow chinks of his cavern.”  Each day when I get up, I make a pledge to my mom that I will work to widen some of the chinks in the work I do.

I am sure that the University of Georgia is not the only high academic institution enacting the “Big Brother” rules going into the 2020-2021 college year.

Now, back to real life.

The 5,477,614 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down in terms of status as follows:

*Recovered — 4,046,010 individuals or 73.4 percent, 73.0 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Active cases — 1,303,744 cases or 23.6 percent, 24.4 percent yesterday
*Deaths — 168,472 deaths or 3.0 percent, 3.0 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


New cases grew by 40,612 in the past 24 hours. The total number of active cases declined by 8,589 cases, offset by 48,612 individuals moving into the recovered column. This is the 22nd straight day of higher recovery numbers vs. new cases.

The ''Wall Street Journal'' has a set of COVID-19 articles this morning with each one acknowledging that the COVID-19 summer outbreaks are on a decline.

What is most interesting is that the articles highlight that a sizable majority of the cases are hitting the Hispanic-Latino community and that the younger folks — initially aligned with college kids on the beach — are actually a workforce that continues to work jobs whether they are COVID-19 positive or not.

Too bad that the reporters did not report that perspective about 60-days ago when the outbreak started.

The number of tests administered here in the U.S. now totals 71,689,726 — an increase of 727,727 new tests in the past 24 hours.

The four expansion states, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 40.7 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:…

*California — 6,925 new cases, 6,520 yesterday
*Texas — 6,446 new cases,  2,841 yesterday
*Florida — 2,678 new cases, 3,779 yesterday
*Arizona — 468 new cases, 883 yesterday.
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The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 8.8 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*Georgia — 1,831 new cases, 1,862 yesterday — fifth highest state new case count
*South Carolina — 456 new cases, 615 yesterday
*North Carolina — 425 new cases, 927 yesterday
*Alabama — 571 new cases, 853 yesterday
*Mississippi — 276 new cases, 381 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 5.6 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*New York — 520 new cases, 659 yesterday
*New Jersey — 425 new cases, 407 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 248 new cases, 394 yesterday
*Michigan — 490 new cases, 477 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 611 new cases, 544 yesterday.


Four more states posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,773 new cases
*Tennessee — 1,036 cases
*Missouri — 1,903 new cases
*Kansas- 1,128 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 589 as of this morning, compared to the 522 deaths posted yesterday. 55.0 percent of the deaths took place yesterday in the four expansion states.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 17,291 as of this morning.  The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.2 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the mainstream now totals 4,046,010, that is 210 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

!!Monday, August 17, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the number of total tracked COVID-19 cases in the United States represents 1.66 percent of the U.S. population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.40 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.21 percent of the U.S. population.

The 5,477,614 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down in terms of status as follows as of this morning:

*Recovered — 3,997,398 individuals or 73.0 percent, 72.6 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Active cases — 1,312,333 cases or 24.4 percent, 24.4 percent yesterday
*Deaths — 167,883 deaths or 3.0 percent, 3.0 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


New cases grew by 36,843 in the past 24 hours. The total number of active cases declined by 12,717 cases, offset by 49,038 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column.  This is now the 21st straight day of higher recovery numbers vs. new cases.

The number of tests administered here in the U.S. now totals 70,961,999 — an increase of 737,689 in the past 24 hours.

I receive a lot of questions sent in about age and racial/ethnicity classifications regarding COVID-19.  Below is a chart that was published this morning in the ''Wall Street Journal'' based on a set of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tracking information. It does a great job of illustrating the age skew as well as the Hispanic-Latino skew in the percentage of all deaths.

 

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The four expansion states, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 38.1 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*California — 6,520 new cases, 8,625 yesterday
*Texas — 2,841 new cases,  8,058 yesterday
*Florida — 3,779 new cases, 6,353 yesterday
*Arizona — 883 new cases, 933 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 16.6 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*Georgia — 1,862 new cases, 3,273 yesterday, fifth highest new case state count
*South Carolina — 615 new cases, 1,041 yesterday
*North Carolina — 927 new cases, 2,472 yesterday
*Alabama — 853 new cases, 1,271 yesterday
*Mississippi — 381 new cases, 825 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 6.5 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*New York — 659 new cases, 791 yesterday
*New Jersey — 407 new cases, 416 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 394 new cases, 471 yesterday
*Michigan — 477 new cases, 1,058 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 544 new cases, 757 yesterday.


Five more states posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,562 new cases
*Louisiana — 1,181 cases
*Tennessee — 1,961 new cases, fourth highest state new case count
*Missouri — 1,078 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 522 as of this morning, compared to the 1,071 deaths that posted yesterday. 47.3 percent of the deaths took place in the four expansion states.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 17,236 as of 12:01 a.m. this morning. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.2 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the mainstream now totals 3,997,398 — that is 205 percent — or more than double the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19. It is disappointing that the mainstream media refuse to acknowledge the number of Americans who have recovered from  COVID-19.

!!Sunday, August 16, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the number of total tracked COVID-19 cases in the United States represents 1.65 percent of the U.S. population. The number of active tracked COVID-19 cases represents 0.40 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.20 percent of the U.S. population.

The 5,440,771 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down in terms of status as follows:

*Recovered — 3,948,360 individuals or 72.6 percent, 72.2 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Active cases — 1,325,050 cases or 24.4 percent, 24.7 percent yesterday
*Deaths — 167,361 deaths or 3.0 percent, 3.1 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


While new cases grew by 53,523 in the past 24 hours, the total number of active cases DECLINED by 5,980 cases, offset by 58,429 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column. This is now the 20h straight day of higher recovery numbers vs. new cases.

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals 70,229,310, an increase of 867,301 in the past 24 hours. Close to 30 percent of U.S. adults 18+ have taken a COVID-19 test.

In addition to the 24 hour cases numbers, you will also see the number of active COVID-19 cases as of 12:01 a.m. this morning and the percentage that the active cases represent of the the populations. As cited above, nationally, active COVID-19 cases represents 0.40 percent of the U.S. population.

The four expansion states, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 44.8 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours.

*California — 8,625 new cases, 10,316 yesterday, for a total of 248,650 active cases or 0.62 percent of the population
*Texas — 8,058 new cases, 8,690 yesterday, for a total of 153,807 active cases or 0.52 percent of the population
*Florida — 6,353 new cases, 6,148 yesterday, for a total of 193,676 active cases or 0.88 percent of the population
*Arizona — 933 new cases, 927 yesterday, for a total of 65,502 active cases or 0.90 percent of the population.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 16.6 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours.

*Georgia — 3,273 new cases, 3,227 yesterday, for a total of 79,957 active cases or 0.74 percent of the population
*South Carolina — 1,041 new cases, 932 yesterday, for a total of 35,999 active cases or 0.70 percent of the population
*North Carolina — 2,472 new cases, 452 yesterday, for a total of 25,297 active cases or 0.24 percent of the population
*Alabama — 1,271 new cases, 752 yesterday, for a total of 36,577 active cases or 0.75 percent of the population
*Mississippi — 825 new cases, 944 yesterday, for a total of 19,839 active cases or 0.27 percent of the population


The five early case states account for 6.5 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours.

*New York — 791 new cases, 816 yesterday, for a total of 70,333 active cases or 0.36 percent of the population
*New Jersey — 416 new cases, 529 yesterday, for a total of 19,769 active cases or 0.22 percent of the population
*Massachusetts — 471 new cases, 305 yesterday, for a total of 13,887 active cases or 0.20 percent of the population
*Michigan — 1,058 new cases, 868 yesterday, for a total of 27,418 active cases or 0.27 percent of the population
*Pennsylvania — 757 new cases, 824 yesterday, for a total of 24,420 active cases or 0.19 percent of the population.


Five more states posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,828 new cases
*Louisiana — 1,750 cases
*Tennessee — 1,289 new cases
*Ohio — 1,117 new cases
*Indiana — 1,044 new cases.

The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 1,071 as of 12:01 a.m. today compared to 1,120 deaths that posted yesterday… 44.8 percent of the deaths took place in the four expansion states.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 17,186 as of this morning.  The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.3 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the mainstream now totals 3,948,360, that is 198 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

!!Saturday, August 15, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the number of total tracked COVID-19 cases represents 1.63 percent of the U.S. population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.40 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.18 percent of the U.S. population.

Three weeks ago, when daily COVID-19 cases in the U.S. averaged 70,000+ new cases a day, mainstream media reported that by today, August 15, the total number of COVID-19 direct and indirect deaths would reach 200,000. As of this morning, according to Johns Hopkins University, that number is 168,458 — and the percentage of deaths of individuals testing positive with COVID-19 continues to decline.

This morning, paging through today’s ''Wall Street Journal'' and ''New York Times'', both newspapers ran articles reporting that the “pace rate" of COVID-19 “spreading” is declining. The articles quoted numbers similar to the ones posted here daily, but nowhere is there any acknowledgement of the number of those surviving.

In addition, the articles cite that “in severe cases of COVID-19, patients are remaining in intensive care for weeks.” Those cases are few and are reflected in the numbers reported here, as tracked by Johns Hopkins. Many of those individuals remaining in intensive care for weeks do so because of  other health challenges they battle that have been intensified by COVID-19.

As with each Saturday, local COVID-19 numbers are tracked in somewhat of a different format. In addition to national numbers, the five county metro Atlanta region — including Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Cobb and Clayton counties — and the greater Athens area: Clarke, Oconee, Barrow, Jackson, Madison, and Oglethorpe counties.

The table below provides the number of total COVID-19 cases, active cases based on the U.S. 14-day national recovery time, recovered cases based on the U.S. 14-day national recovery time, and deaths as cited either directly or indirectly by the local authorities. All of the active case numbers are lower than reported last week.

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The next table provides the percentage of total COVID-19 cases, active cases based on the U.S. 14-day national recovery time, recovered cases based on the U.S. 14-day national recovery time, and deaths as cited either directly or indirectly by the local authorities. Year-to-date, 75 of those COVID-19 cases in greater Athens have now recovered.

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Here is a specific breakdown for the five core Atlanta counties.

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Here is a specific breaks of the stats for the six greater Athens counties.

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Nationally, while new cases grew by 60,600 in the past 24 hours, the total number of active cases declined by 11,352 cases, offset by 70,829 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into recovery. This is now the 19th straight day of higher recovery numbers vs. new cases.

The number of COVID-19 tests administered in the U.S. now totals 69,362,009.

The four expansion states, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 43.0 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours.

*California — 10,316 new cases, 7,876 yesterday
*Texas — 8,690 new cases,  7,236 yesterday
*Florida — 6,148 new cases, 6,236 yesterday
*Arizona — 927 new cases, 1,351 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 10.5 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours.

*Georgia — 3,227 new cases, 2,515 yesterday
*South Carolina — 932 new cases, 935 yesterday
*North Carolina — 452 new cases, 2,657 yesterday
*Alabama — 752 new cases, 771 yesterday
*Mississippi — 944 new cases, 612 yesterday.
The five early case states account for 5.5 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours.

*New York — 816 new cases, 823 yesterday
*New Jersey — 529 new cases, 361 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 305 new cases, 423 yesterday
*Michigan — 868 new cases, 1,167 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 824 new cases, 987 yesterday.


Nine more states posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 2,296 new cases
*Louisiana — 1,298 cases
*Tennessee — 1,947 new cases
*Ohio — 1,126new cases
*Virginia — 1,216 new cases
*Indiana — 1,067 new cases
*Wisconsin — 1,021 new cases
*Nevada — 1,099 new cases
*Kansas — 1,192 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 1,120 compared to the 1,284 deaths posted yesterday. Of those, 58.9 of the deaths took place in the four expansion states.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 17,217. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.3 of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the mainstream now totals 3,889,931 — that is 192 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

!!__Friday, August 14, 2020__
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the total number of tracked COVID-19 cases represents 1.601 percent of the U.S. population.  The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.41 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.16 percent of the U.S. population.

Reported in the ''Wall Street Journal'' this morning is news that there are more than 500 clinical trials underway world-wide in the race to find an effective treatment for COVID-19.

The public at-large believes that a “vaccine” is the only way to control COVID-19. Yet there are other treatments being investigated as well, with one approach using “message signaling cells,” or MSCs, something found in the blood vessels in our bodies.  MSCs sport what the article calls a “one-two-three punch” in that these cells eliminate the COVID-19 virus, but also calm over-reaction of the immune system and repair damaged cells.

Mount Sinai Hospital in New York has used MSCs to treat patients on ventilators, with more than 80 percent of individuals who otherwise would have died now recovered. The expansion of MSC treatments to other hospitals is expected before the end of September.

The statistics for today… and by-the-way, the recovered cases will be posted first moving forward since recovered cases as a percentage are nearly thee times the number of active cases!

The 5,326,651 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down in terms of status as follows as of this morning:

*Recovered cases — 3,819,102 individuals or 71.7 percent, 71.1 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Active cases — 1,342,382 cases or 25.2 percent, 25.8 percent yesterday
*Deaths — 165,170 deaths or 3.1 percent, 3.1 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


While new cases grew by 55,364 in the past 24 hours as of 12:01 today, the total number of active cases DECLINED by 18,867 cases offset by a daily record-setting high of 72,950 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column.  This is now the 18th straight day of higher recovery numbers vs. new cases!

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals 68,524,602, with close to a million tests, 966,974, completed in the last 24 hours. Ignore the news media reporting that the number of tests conducted in the U.S. is declining.  The stories are not true. In the last seven days, 5.4 million COVID-19 tests were completed in the U.S.

The four expansion states, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 41.0 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These four states account for 29.9 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, today they index at 137 — or 37 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID cases.

*California — 7,876 new cases, 9,090 yesterday
*Texas — 7,236 new cases,  6,305 yesterday
*Florida — 6,236 new cases, 8,109 yesterday
*Arizona — 1,351 new cases, 706 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 13.5 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 9.5 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, they index at  142 — or 42 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*Georgia — 2,515 new cases, 3,565 yesterday
*South Carolina — 935 new cases, 844 yesterday
*North Carolina — 2,657 new cases, 249 yesterday — 4th highest state count today, but there was an apparently delay in the reporting yesterday — see yesterday’s count
*Alabama — 771 new cases, 935 yesterday
*Mississippi — 612 new cases, 1,081 yesterday.



The five early case states account for 6.8 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 17.6 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, they index at 39, or 61 percent below proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*New York — 823 new cases, 773 yesterday
*New Jersey — 361 new cases, 372 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 423 new cases, 293 yesterday
*Michigan — 1,167 new cases, 476 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 987 new cases, 902 yesterday.



Seven more states posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,834 new cases
*Louisiana — 1,135 cases
*Tennessee — 2,118 new cases
*Ohio — 1,191 new cases
*Virginia — 1,101 new cases
*Indiana — 1,043 new cases
*Missouri — 1,491 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 1,284 . compared to the 1,386 deaths that posted yesterday. 44.5 percent of the deaths took place in the four expansion states.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 17,239. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.3 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the mainstream now totals 3,819,102 — that is 185 percent MORE than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

!!Thursday, August 13, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the number of total tracked COVID-19 cases in the United States represents 1.60 percent of the population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.41 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.13 percent of the U.S. population.

The 5,271,287 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date break down in terms of status as follows:

*Active cases — 1,361,249 cases or 25.8 percent, 26.4 percent yesterday
*recovered cases — 3,745,152 individuals or 70.5 percent, 70.1 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*deaths — 163,886 deaths or 3.1 percent, 3.1 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


When you hear about the 5.2 Million COVID-19 cases being bounced around by the mainstream media, as of today, divide that number by four and that’s close to the number of actual ''active'' cases.

While new cases grew by 54,345 in the past 24 hours, the total number of active cases declined by 13,562 cases, offset by the 66,521 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column. This is now the 17th straight day of higher recovery numbers vs. new cases!

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals 67,555,728, with 614,133 tests completed in the last 24 hours.

Dividing all the tests conducted to-date by the number of positive COVID-19 cases identified, for every 100 tests administered, 8 individuals have tested positive. On June 1, approximately 75 days ago, for every 100 tests administered, 17 individuals tested positive for COVID-19. That is a dramatic drop. However, back in June, an individual essentially had to be experiencing symptoms to be tested whereas today, any one that wants to be tested can be tested.  That said, the incidence level of COVID-19 has declined among those being tested.

Also, FYI, on June 1, the number of tests completed in the U.S. totaled just over 17 million.  Between then and today, 50 million more tests have been conducted.

The four expansion states,, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 44.5 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These four states account for 29.9 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, today they index at 149, or 49 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID cases.

*California — 9,090 new cases, 11,945 yesterday
*Texas — 6,305 new cases,  7,976 yesterday
*Florida — 8,109 new cases, 5,831 yesterday
*Arizona — 706 new cases, 1,214 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 12.3 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 9.5 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, they index at  129 — or 29 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

Georgia — 3,565 new cases, 3,536 yesterday — fourth highest state count today

*South Carolina — 844 new cases, 972 yesterday
*North Carolina — 249 new cases, 1,430 yesterday
*Alabama — 935 new cases, 831 yesterday
*Mississippi — 1,081 new cases, 644 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 5.2 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 17.6 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, they index at 30 — or 70 percent below proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*New York — 773 new cases, 711 yesterday
*New Jersey — 372 new cases, 360 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 293 new cases, 392 yesterday
*Michigan — 476 new cases, 907 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 902 new cases, 792 yesterday.


Five more states posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,645 new cases
*Louisiana — 1,179 cases
*Tennessee — 1,478 new cases
*Missouri — 1,472 new cases
*Kentucky — 1,152 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 1,386 compared to the 1,504 deaths posted yesterday. 44.5 percent of the deaths took place in the four expansion states.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 17,320 as of 12:01am today.  The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.2 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the main stream of society now totals 3,746,152 — that is 175 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

!!Wednesday, August 12, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the number of total tracked COVID-19 cases in the United States represents 1.58 percent of the population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.41 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.11 percent of the U.S. population.

The 5,216,942 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down in terms of status as follows:

*Active cases — 1,374,811 cases or 26.4 percent, 26.8 percent yesterday
*Recovered cases — 3,679,631 individuals or 70.5 percent, 70.1 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Death — 162,500 deaths or 3.1 percent, 3.1 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


While new cases grew by 54,519 in the past 24 hours, the total number of active cases declined by 11,014 cases offset by the 64,029 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column. This is now the 16th straight day of higher recovery numbers vs. new cases!

The number of tests administered here in the U.S. now totals 66,944,595, with 765,980 tests completed in the last 24 hours.

The four expansion states,, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 49.5 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These four states account for 29.9 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, today they index at 166 — or 66 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID cases.

*California — 11,945 new cases, 10,752 yesterday
*Texas — 7,976 new cases,  6,401 yesterday
*Florida — 5,831 new cases, 4,155 yesterday
*Arizona — 1,214 new cases, 600 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 13.6 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 9.5 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, they index at  143 — or 43 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

Georgia — 3,536 new cases, 2,429 yesterday, the fourth highest state count today

*South Carolina — 972 new cases, 724 yesterday
*North Carolina — 1,430 new cases, 1,164 yesterday
*Alabama — 831 new cases, 1,686 yesterday
*Mississippi — 644 new cases, 476 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 5.8 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 17.6 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, they index at 33 — or 67 percent Below Proportionate “Average” in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*New York — 711 new cases, 593 yesterday
*New Jersey — 360 new cases, 472 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 392 new cases, 275 yesterday
*Michigan — 907 new cases, 580 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 792 new cases, 957 yesterday.


Five more states posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,549 new cases
*Louisiana — 1,164 cases
*Tennessee — 1,001 new cases
*Ohio — 1,093 new cases
*Missouri — 1,031 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 1,504 compared to the 569 deaths that posted yesterday, 49.5 percent of the deaths took place in the four expansion states. Nursing homes in Texas and Florida are contributing a sizable portion of the deaths.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 17,339. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.2 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered now totals 3,379,631, that is 168 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

!!Tuesday, August 11, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the number of total tracked COVID-19 cases in the United States represents 1.56 percent of the population.  The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.41 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.09 percent of the U.S. population.

Yesterday, a person I greatly admire sent some rich observations based on the numbers published in this column each day.  David Bradley serves as the President/CEO of the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce.

David observed in yesterday's numbers:

*The least active cases since July 17th
*The least new cases since July 6th
*Fourteen straight days of higher recovery numbers vs. new cases.


He is smack on target with the observations. Athens is a haven of creativity and innovation and it is that asset — creativity and innovation — that will drive business growth post-COVID!

Here are today’s numbers:

The 5,162,423 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down in terms of status as follows as of 12:01 a.m. ET:

*Active cases — 1,385,825 cases or 26.8 percent, 27.3 percent yesterday
*Recovered cases — 3,615,602 individuals or 70.1 percent, 69.6 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Deaths — 160,996 deaths or 3.1 percent, 3.1 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


While new cases grew by 49,800 in the past 24 hours as of this morning, the total number of active cases declined by 12,340 cases, offset by the 61,671 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column.  This is now the fifteenth straight day of higher recovery numbers vs. new cases!

The number of tests administered here in the U.S. now totals 66,178,615, with 745,364 tests completed in the last 24 hours.

The four expansion states,, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 44.0 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These four states account for 29.9 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, today they index at 147, or 47 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*California — 10,752 new cases, 6,836 yesterday
*Texas — 6,401 new cases,  5,803 yesterday
*Florida — 4,155 new cases, 6,229 yesterday
*Arizona — 600 new cases, 816 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 13.0 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 9.5 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, they index at  137, or 37 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*Georgia — 2,429 new cases, 3,169 yesterday — the fourth highest state count again today
*South Carolina — 724 new cases, 975 yesterday
*North Carolina — 1,164 new cases, 1,166 yesterday
*Alabama — 1,686 new cases, 1,161 yesterday
*Mississippi — 476 new cases, 527 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 5.8 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 17.6 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, they index at 33, or 67 percent aelow proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*New York — 593 new cases, 604 yesterday
*New Jersey — 472 new cases, 192 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 275 new cases, 329 yesterday
*Michigan — 580 new cases, 535 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 957 new cases, 646 yesterday.


Three more states posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,319 new cases
*Tennessee — 1,202 new cases
*Missouri — 1,682 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 569, compared to the 534 deaths posted yesterday. 52.7 percent of the deaths took place in the four expansion states.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 17,589.. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.3 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the mainstream now totals 3,615,602, that is 161 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

Support creative and innovative businesses!

!!Monday, August 10, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the number of total tracked COVID-19 cases represents 1.55 percent of the population of the United States. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.42 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.08 percent of the U.S. population.

Today, the mainstream media could be Chicken Little with the cry, “The sky is falling, the sky is falling!” MSM is obsessed with announcing that the U.S. COVID cases tops over five million individuals. Too bad they will not acknowledge the rest of the story — that of those five million individuals, nearly 70 percent — 3.5 million —have recovered! The number of active cases is now below 1.4 million and the percentage of individuals passing has dropped to 3.2 percent.

The 5,112,623 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. this morning breaks down in terms of status as follows:

*Active cases — 1,398,165 cases or 27.3 percent, 27.8 percent yesterday
*Recovered cases — 3,554,031 individuals or 69.6 percent, 69.1 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Deaths — 160,427 deaths or 3.1 percent, 3.1 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


While new cases grew by 47,849 in the past 24 hours as of this morning, the total number of active cases declined by 8,885 cases offset by the 56,200 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column.

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals 65,433,251, with 733,704 tests completed in the last 24 hours.

Over the weekend I posted a “thank you” to all the healthcare workers treating COVID-19 patients. This week, let’s take a moment and thank not only all of the healthcare workers, but the other personnel, whether directing traffic, keeping people in line, or running the testing centers. Think, too, about the individuals in the labs processing the tests and those clerical workers in the offices making sure you are notified of your test results!

The four expansion states, or, the four top states to recently post the highest counts, account for 41.1 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These four states account for 29.9 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, today they index at 137, or 37 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID cases.

*California — 6,836 new cases, 7,031 yesterday
*Texas — 5,803 new cases,  6,892 yesterday
*Florida — 6,229 new cases, 8,502 yesterday
*Arizona — 816 new cases, 1,054 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 14.6 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 9.5 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, they index at  154, or 54 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*Georgia — 3,169 new cases, 4,423 yesterday, fourth highest state count today
*South Carolina — 975 new cases, 1,241 yesterday
*North Carolina — 1,166 new cases, 1,699 yesterday
*Alabama — 1,161 new cases, 1,800 yesterday
*Mississippi — 527 new cases, 1,210 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 4.8 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 17.6 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, they index at 27, or 73 percent below proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*New York — 604 new cases, 837 yesterday
*New Jersey — 192 new cases, 256 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 329 new cases, 420 yesterday
*Michigan — 535 new cases, 721 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 646 new cases, 588 yesterday.


There are four more states that have posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,382 new cases
*Louisiana — 2,653 new cases
*Tennessee — 2,127 new cases
*Indiana — 1,041 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 534 as of 12:01 a.m. this morning compared to the 976 deaths that posted yesterday. 48.7 percent of the deaths took place in the four expansion states. FYI, in both ''Wall Street Journal'' and ''New York Times'', there are stories about significant increases in nursing home deaths in Texas and Florida.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 17,812 as of 12:01 a.m. today.  The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.3 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the mainstream now totals 3,554,031, that is, 154 percent more than the number of individuals currently active with COVID-19.

Just as we celebrate and acknowledge cancer survivors, the next time you are out in public, take a moment and share, “Let’s celebrate the 3.5 million+ individuals who are now COVID-19 virus-free survivors.”

Was Chicken Little ever known to be right?

!!Sunday, August 9, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning the number of total tracked COVID-19 cases represents 1.52 percent of the population of the United States. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.42 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.06 percent of the U.S. population.

This next week will be interesting!

Active cases will likely dip below 1.3 million. Recovered cases will cross over 3.5 million. And the projected number of COVID-19 deaths issued by numerous sources and quoted throughout the mainstream media predicted to top over 200,000 by August 15 will ''not'' take place.

In terms of percentages, the number of COVID-19 recoveries post over 70 percent and the number of active cases will continue to decline. It is very possible that that the percentage of deaths among the cases tracked will decline nationally below three percent.

The number of tests this week will top over 65 million — that translates to one out-of-every four adults 18+ in the U.S. will have been tested.

Here are the specific stats for today:

The 5,064,774 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down in terms of status as follows as of 12:01 a.m. this morning:

*Active cases — 1,407,050 cases, or 27.8 percent, 28.3 percent yesterday
*Recovered cases — 3,497,831 individuals, or 69.1 percent, 68.5 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Deaths — 159,893 deaths, or 3.1 percent, 3.2 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


While new cases grew by 54,139 in the past 24 hours, the total number of active cases declined by 14,200 cases offset by the 67,413 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into recovery

The number of tests administered here in the U.S. now totals 64,610,547, with 711,189 tests completed in the last 24 hours.

The four expansion states, or, the four top states to recently post the highest counts, account for 43.3 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These four states account for 29.9 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, today they index at 145, or 45 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID cases.

*California — 7,031 new cases, 7,904 yesterday
*Texas — 6,892 new cases, 7,675 yesterday
*Florida — 8,502 new cases, 7,686 yesterday
*Arizona — 1,054 new cases, 1,406 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 19.1 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 9.5 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, they index at 201, or 101 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*Georgia — 4,423 new cases, 4,109 yesterday; fourth highest state count today
*South Carolina — 1,241 new cases, 1,422 yesterday
*North Carolina — 1,699 new cases, 1,778 yesterday
*Alabama — 1,800 new cases, 1,709 yesterday
*Mississippi — 1,210 new cases, 1,036 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 5.2 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 17.6 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, they index at 29, or 71 percent below proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*New York — 837 new cases, 823 yesterday
*New Jersey — 256 new cases, 320 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 420 new cases, 417 yesterday
*Michigan — 721 new cases, 814 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 588 new cases, 784 yesterday.


There are seven more states that have posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 2,190 new cases
*Louisiana — 1,756 new cases
*Tennessee — 1,803 new cases
*Ohio — 1,289 new cases
*Virginia — 1,307 new cases
*Indiana — 1,033 new cases
*Wisconsin — 1,165 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 976 compared to 1,290 deaths that posted yesterday. 52.0 percent of the deaths took place in the four expansion states.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 18,020. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.2 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the mainstream now totals 3,497,831, that is 149 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

!!Saturday, August 8, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning the number of total tracked COVID-19 cases represents 1.42 percent of the U.S. population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.43 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.04 percent of the U.S. population.

As done each Saturday, a slightly different format is used to expand on the local numbers. In addition to national numbers, the region's area comprised of the following is highlighted:

The primary five counties of the Greater Atlanta area — Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Cobb and Clayton counties — and the six counties of the Greater Athens area — Clarke, Oconee, Barrow, Jackson, Madison, and Oglethorpe counties.

Below is a table that provides the numerical count of total COVID-19 cases: active cases based on the U.S. 14-day national recovery time, recovered cases based on the U.S. 14-day national recovery time, and deaths either directly or indirectly attributed to COVID-19, according to local authorities.

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The next table provides the percentage count of total COVID-19 cases, active cases based on the U.S. 14-day national recovery time, recovered cases based on the U.S. 14-day national recovery time, and deaths either directly or indirectly attributed to COVID-19, according to local authorities. More than 70 percent of year-to-date COVID-19 cases in Greater Athens have now recovered.

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Here is a specific breakdown of the stats for the Atlanta five core counties.

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Here is a specific breaks of the stats for the six Greater Athens counties.

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Nationally, while new cases grew by 63,246 in the past 24 hours, the total number of active cases declined by 15,984 cases, offset by the 77,940 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into recovery.

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals 63,899,358, with 756,238 tests completed in the last 24 hours. In the last week, the number of tests completed in the U.S. increased by 5,619,258.

Please take a moment today and in the coming week to let the healthcare workers you know — and the healthcare workers you see in public — that they are championed as heroes! And they are!

The four expansion states, or, the four top states to recently post the highest counts, account for 39.0 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These four states account for 29.9 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, today they index at 130, or 30 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID cases.

*California — 7,904 new cases, 8,505 yesterday
*Texas — 7,675 new cases, 7,330 yesterday
*Florida — 7,686 new cases, 7,650 yesterday
*Arizona — 1,406 new cases, 1,444 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 15.9 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 9.5 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, they index at 167, or 67 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*Georgia — 4,109 new cases, 3,182 yesterday — fourth highest state count today
*South Carolina — 1,422 new cases, 1,325 yesterday
*North Carolina — 1,778 new cases, 1,782 yesterday
*Alabama — 1,709 new cases, 1,938 yesterday
*Mississippi — 1,036 new cases, 956 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 5.0 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 17.6 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, they index at 30, or 70 percent below proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*New York — 823 new cases, 789 yesterday
*New Jersey — 320 new cases, 377 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 417 new cases, 231 yesterday
*Michigan — 814 new cases, 763 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 784 new cases, 802 yesterday.


There are seven more states that have posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 2,106 new cases
*Louisiana — 1,500 new cases
*Tennessee — 2,432 new cases
*Ohio — 1,204 new cases
*Virginia — 2,015 new cases
*Indiana — 1,239 new cases
*Arkansas — 1,011 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 1,290 compared to 1,203 deaths that posted yesterday. 52.3 percent of the deaths took place in the four expansion states.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 18,202. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.2 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the mainstream now totals 3,430,418, that is 141 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

!!Friday, August 7, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the number of total tracked COVID-19 cases represents 1.50 percent of the U.S. population.The number of active COVID-19 cases represents 0.43 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.04 percent of the U.S. population.

The 4,947,339 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down in terms of status as follows:

*Active cases — 1,437,234 cases or 29.1 percent, 29.6 percent yesterday, this is the 10th day in a row of a continued decline of active cases!
*Recovered cases — 3,352,478 individuals or 67.8 percent, 67.2 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Deaths — 157,627 deaths or 3.1 percent, 3.2 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


While new cases grew by 58,611 in the past 24 hours, the total number of active cases declined by 11,449 cases offset, by the 68,857 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column.

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals 63,143,120, with 761,825 tests completed in the last 24 hours.

The mainstream media is struggling to find news COVID-19 headline stories. Appearing in the ''Wall Street Journal'' this morning is a story titled, “Questions Over Testing Cloud Improving Case Count.”I thought the story was about reporting issues that happened earlier this week in a couple of districts in California with public testing site locations, but I was wrong. The story asserts that the declining COVID case counts are because the number of individuals being tested overall “could” be declining.

The average number of tests being completed in the U.S. now averages 750,000+. Last Saturday more than 1 million tests were completed in 24 hours.

The four expansion states, or, the four top states to recently post the highest counts, account for 42.5 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours as of 12:01 a.m. today. These four states account for 29.9 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, today they index at 142, or 42 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID cases.

*California — 8,505 new cases, 5,559 yesterday
*Texas — 7,330 new cases …9,625 yesterday
*Florida — 7,650 new cases, 5,409 yesterday
*Arizona — 1,444 new cases, 1,698 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 15.7 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 9.5 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, they index at 165, or 65 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*Georgia — 3,182 new cases, 3,765 yesterday; fourth highest state count today
*South Carolina — 1,325 new cases, 1,282 yesterday
*North Carolina — 1,782 new cases, 1,144 yesterday
*Alabama — 1,938 new cases, 952 yesterday
*Mississippi — 956 new cases, 1,245 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 5.1 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours These five states account for 17.6 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, they index at 29, or 61 percent below proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*New York — 789 new cases, 688 yesterday
*New Jersey — 377 new cases, 513 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 231 new cases, 440 yesterday
*Michigan — 763 new cases, 718 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 802 new cases, 727 yesterday.


There are six more states that have posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,953 new cases
*Louisiana — 1,303 new cases
*Tennessee — 2,252 new cases
*Ohio — 1,165 new cases
*Indiana — 1,040 new cases
*Missouri — 1,179 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 1,203 compared to the 1,311 deaths that posted yesterday. 42.5 percent of the deaths took place in the four expansion states — California, Florida, Texas and Arizona.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 18,296 as of this morning.The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.2 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the mainstream now totals 3,352,478, that is, 133 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

!!Thursday, August 6, 2020
Yesterday, I spoke with a regular reader of this column. He specifically asked how COVID-19 deaths stack up against deaths from ongoing threats like cancer, cardiac arrest, and stroke in the United States. He noted that you rarely hear the other conditions mentioned on the news and in public dialogue.

He asks a very good question.

As of this morning the number of deaths directly and indirectly related to COVID-19 totals 156,424. This daily tally has been tracked and reported in the U.S. since January, 2020.

Keep in mind, this also includes “indirectly-related” deaths. A share of deaths triggered by cardiac failure and/or strokes are being counted in the 156,424 number because the individual might also have been COVID-19 active.

Between January 1st and July 31st, here in the U.S.:

*377,416 individuals have died from heart disease
*354,013 individuals have died from cancer
*81,670 individuals have died from a stroke
*41,405 individuals have died from a drug overdose
*28,764 individuals have died from an auto accident.


These counts come from 2020 numbers released by CDC, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association and the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

As of this morning, the number of TOTAL tracked COVID-19 cases represents 1.48 percent of the U.S. population.  The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.43 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.04 percent of the U.S. population. The number of tracked flu cases in 2019-2020 represented 16.92 percent of the U.S. population.

The 4,888,728 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down in terms of status as follows as of 12:01 a.m. this morning:

*Active cases — 1,448,683 cases  or 29.6 percent, 30.3 percent yesterday
*Recovered cases — 3,283,621 individuals or 67.2 percent, 66.5 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Deaths — 156,424 deaths or 3.2 percent, 3.2 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


While new cases grew by 55,148 in the past 24 hours, the total number of active cases declined by 17,697 cases, offset by the 71,534 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column.

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals 62,381,295, with 759,379 tests completed in the last 24 hours.

The four expansion states, or, the four top states to recently post the highest counts, account for 40.4 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours as of 12:01 a.m. this morning… these four States account for 29.9 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, this morning they index at 135 — or 35 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID cases.

*California — 5,559 new cases, 5,156 yesterday
*Texas — 9,625 new cases,  11,210 yesterday
*Florida — 5,409 new cases, 5,446 yesterday
*Arizona — 1,698 new cases, 1,008 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 15.2 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours as of 12:01 a.m. this morning… these five States account for 9.5 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, they index at 160 — or 60 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*Georgia — 3,765 new cases, 2,413 yesterday — 4th highest state count this morning
*South Carolina — 1,282 new cases, 1,239 yesterday
*North Carolina — 1,144 new cases, 2,117 yesterday
*Alabama — 952 new cases, 1,041 yesterday
*Mississippi — 1,245 new cases, 1,034 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 5.6 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours as of 12:01 a.m. this morning… these five States account for 17.6 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, they index at 32 — or 68 percent below proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*New York — 688 new cases, 850 yesterday
*New Jersey — 513 new cases, 179 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 440 new cases, 546 yesterday
*Michigan — 718 new cases, 801 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 727 new cases, 828 yesterday.


There are six more states that have posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours…

*Illinois — 1,759 new cases
*Louisiana — 1,482 new cases
*Tennessee — 1,657 new cases
*Ohio — 1,189 new cases
*Missouri — 1,111 new cases
*Oklahoma — 1,101 new cases.
+
+ 
The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 1,311 as of 12:01 a.m. this morning compared to the 1,362 deaths that posted yesterday. 53.5 percent of the deaths took place in the four expansion states There are a number of sources reporting that the death counts have risen largely as a result of COVID-19 affecting nursing homes in Florida, South Texas and parts of California.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 18,424 as of this morning.  The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.2 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the mainstream now totals 3,283,621, that is 127 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19. For every person that has died of COVID-19 to-date, 21 individuals have survived.

!!Wednesday, August 5, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the number of total tracked COVID-19 cases represents 1.46 percent of the population in the United States. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.44 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 0.98 percent of the U.S. population.

The 4,833,580 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down in terms of status as follows:

*Active cases — 1,466,380 cases or 30.3 percent, 31.0 percent yesterday
*Recovered cases — 3,212,087 individuals or 66.5 percent, 65.8 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Deaths — 155,113 deaths or 3.2 percent, 3.3 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


While new cases grew by 54,504 in the past 24 hours, the total number of active cases declined by 13,737 cases, offset by the 66,879 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column.

The number of tests administered here in the U.S. now totals 61,621,916 — 682,194 tests completed in the last 24 hours.

The four expansion states, or, the four top states to recently post the highest counts, account for 41.9 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours as of 12:01 a.m. this morning. These four states account for 29.9 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, this morning they index at 140, or 40 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID cases.

*California — 5,156 new cases, 6,344 yesterday
*Texas — 11,210 new cases, 6,997 yesterday
*Florida — 5,446 new cases, 4,752 yesterday
*Arizona — 1,008 new cases, 1,030 yesterday.
+
+ 
The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 14.6 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours as of 12:01 a.m. this morning. These five states account for 9.5 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, they index at 154, or 54 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*Georgia — 2,413 new cases, 2,258 yesterday, the fourth highest state count this morning
*South Carolina — 1,239 new cases, 1,163 yesterday
*North Carolina — 2,117 new cases, 981 yesterday — fifth highest state count this morning
*Alabama — 1,041 new cases, 1,217 yesterday
*Mississippi — 1,034 new cases, 572 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 5.9 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours as of 12:01 a.m. this morning. These five states account for 17.6 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, they index at 34, or 66 percent below proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*New York — 850 new cases, 695 yesterday
*New Jersey — 179 new cases, 418 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 546 new cases, 199 yesterday
*Michigan — 801 new cases, 613 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 828 new cases, 899 yesterday.


There is a set of six more states that have posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,471 new cases
*Louisiana — 1,873 new cases
*Tennessee — 1,806 new cases
*Virginia — 1,145 new cases
*Missouri — 1,352 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 totaled 1,362 as of 12:01 a.m. this morning compared to 568 deaths that posted yesterday. 52.3 percent of the deaths took place in the four expansion states.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 18,407 as of 12:01 a.m. this morning. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.2 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the mainstream now totals 3,212,087, that is 119 percent MORE than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

!!Tuesday, August 4, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the total number of tracked COVID-19 cases represents 1.45 percent of the population in the United States. The number of active tracked COVID-19 cases represents 0.45 percent of the U.S. population. The number of survivors of COVID-19 represents 0.95 percent of the U.S. population.

The 4,779,076 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date now breaks down in terms of status as follows:

*Active cases — 1,494,443 cases or 31.6 percent, 31.6 percent yesterday
*Fully-recovered — 3,082,828 individuals or 65.2 percent, 65.8 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Deaths — 153,183 deaths or 3.3 percent, 3.3 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


While new cases grew by 48,622 in the past 24 hours, the total number of active cases declined by 14,326 cases offset by the 62,380 individuals who survived COVID-19 and have been moved into recovery.

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals just shy of 61 million, with more than a million — 1,004,214 — completed in the past 24 hours.

The four expansion states, or, the four top states to recently post the highest counts, account for 39.3 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These four states account for 29.9 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, today they index at 131 or 31 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID cases.

*California — 6,344 new cases, 9,397 yesterday
*Texas — 6,997 new cases,  4,618 yesterday
*Florida — 4,752 new cases, 7,104 yesterday
*Arizona — 1,030 new cases, 1,465 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 12.7 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 9.5 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, they index at 134 or 34 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*Georgia — 2,258 new cases, 3,165 yesterday, fourthth highest state count today
*South Carolina — 1,163 new cases, 1,189 yesterday
*North Carolina — 981 new cases, 1,673 yesterday
*Alabama — 1,217 new cases, 2,095 yesterday
*Mississippi — 572 new cases, 672 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 5.8 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours, they account for 17.6 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, they index at 33 or 67 percent below proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*New York — 695 new cases, 467 yesterday
*New Jersey — 418 new cases, 245 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 199 new cases, 418 yesterday
*Michigan — 613 new cases, 429 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 899 new cases, 570 yesterday.


There are six more states that have posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,298 new cases
*Louisiana — 1,099 new cases
*Tennessee — 1,009 new cases
*Virginia — 1,324 new cases
*Washington — 1,085 new cases
*Missouri — 1,593 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 totaled 568. compared to 467 deaths that posted yesterday. 54.6 percent of the deaths took place in California, Florida, Texas and Arizona.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 18,725..  The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.3 percent of the total ACTIVE cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the main stream of society now totals 3,145,208 — that is 112 percent MORE than the number of individuals that are currently ACTIVE with COVID-19.

The number of individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 will likely reach a new record number tomorrow with two-thirds of all COVID-19 patients tracked having battled COVID-19 and survived.

By the way, in this morning’s Wall Street Journal, a UCLA physician who has been very involved working with COVID-19 wrote an editorial. He concludes with this message, “And what should be done about the mass media and public derision that is haunting leaders and vexing citizens?  Everyone needs to simply stop participating. We need to get off this treadmill.”

!!Monday, August 3, 2020
To anchor readers again, the numbers reported in this column are derived from a combination of real-time updates received from Johns Hopkins, CDC, World Health Organization, United Nations COVID Tracking Reports and Worldometer. On an individual state level, each state’s Department of Public Health is resourced. The EXPERIENCE team tracks these numbers multiple times over the course of a day.

As of today 12:01 a.m. this morning, the total number of tracked COVID-19 cases represents 1.43 percent of the U.S. population. The number of active COVID-19 cases represents 0.45 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 0.93 percent of the U.S. population.

The 4,730,454 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down in terms of status as follows as of 12:01 a.m. this morning:

*Active cases — 1,494,443 cases or 31.6 percent, 32.3 percent yesterday
*Fully-recovered — 3,082,828 individuals or 65.2 percent, 63.9 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Deaths — 153,183 deaths or 3.3 percent, 3.3 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


While new cases grew by 49,038 in the past 24 hours, the total number of active cases declined by 16,708 cases, offset by the 65,279 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into recovery.

Last Monday a total of 1,539,063 active cases was cited in this column. Today, the number of active cases has declined to 1,494,443, or, a decline of 44,620 cases

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals 59,935,508 to-date. A total of 708,699 tests were completed in the U.S. in the past 24 hours.

The four expansion states, or, the four top states to recently post the highest counts, account for 46.1 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These four states account for 29.9 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, today they index at 154 — or 54 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID cases.

*California — 9,397 new cases, 7,382 yesterday
*Texas — 4,618 new cases,  6,720 yesterday
*Florida — 7,104 new cases, 9,642 yesterday
*Arizona — 1,465 new cases, 2,992 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 17.9 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 9.5 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, they index at 188 — or 88 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*Georgia — 3,165 new cases, 3,660 yesterday
*South Carolina — 1,189 new cases, 1,583 yesterday
*North Carolina — 1,673 new cases, 1,264yesterday
*Alabama — 2,095 new cases, 1,625 yesterday
*Mississippi — 672 new cases, 1,134 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 4.3 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 17.6 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, they index at 24 — or 76 percent below proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*New York — 467 new cases, 643 yesterday
*New Jersey — 245 new cases, 269 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 418 new cases, 438 yesterday
*Michigan — 429 new cases, 758 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 570 new cases, 681 yesterday.


There are four more states that have posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,467 new cases
*Louisiana — 3,467 new cases — 4th highest state count today
*Tennessee — 1,443 new cases
*Nevada — 1,131 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 total 467 as of this morning, compared to the 1,123 deaths posted yesterday. 41.3 percent of the deaths took place in the four expansion states — California, Florida, Texas and Arizona.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 18,673 as of this morning. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.2 percent of the total active cases.

Those who have recovered and are back in the mainstream now total 3,082,828, that is 106 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

!!Sunday, August 2, 2020
As of this morning, the number of TOTAL tracked COVID-19 cases in the United States represents 1.42 percent of the population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.45 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 0.91 percent of the U.S. population.

The 4,622,987 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. break down in terms of status as follows:

*Active cases — 1,511,151 cases or 32.3 percent, 33.4 percent yesterday
*Fully-recovered — 3,017,549 individuals or 63.9 percent, 63.3 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Deaths — 152,716 deaths or 3.3 percent, 3.3 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


While new cases grew by 58,429 in the past 24 hours, the total number of active cases declined by 5,923 cases, offset by the 673,259 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into recovery.

The number of tests administered here in the U.S. now totals 59,226,909 to-date. A total of 635,857 tests were completed in the U.S. in the past 24 hours.

The four expansion states, or, the four top states to recently post the highest counts, account for 45.7 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These four states account for 29.9 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, today they index at 153 — or 53 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*California — 7,382 new cases, 7,878 yesterday
*Texas — 6,720 new cases, 9,750 yesterday
*Florida — 9,642 new cases, 9,007 yesterday
*Arizona — 2,992 new cases, 3,212 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 15.9 percent of the new cases in the past 24. These five states account for 9.5 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, they index at 167 or 67 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*Georgia — 3,660 new cases, 4,066 yesterday — 4th highest state count again today
*South Carolina — 1,583 new cases, 1,444 yesterday
*North Carolina — 1,264 new cases, 2,012 yesterday
*Alabama — 1,625 new cases, 1,961 yesterday
*Mississippi — 1,134 new cases, 1,168 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 4.8 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours as of 12:01 a.m. this morning. These five states account for 17.6 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, they index at 27 — or 73 percent below proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*New York — 643 new cases, 745 yesterday
*New Jersey — 269 new cases, 559 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 428 new cases, 514 yesterday
*Michigan — 758 new cases, 793 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 681 new cases, 934 yesterday.


There are seven more states that have posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,639 new cases
*Louisiana — 1,352 new cases
*Maryland — 1,019 new cases
*Wisconsin — 1,062 new cases
*Oklahoma — 1,244 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 totaled 1,123 as of this morning, compared to 1,462 deaths that posted yesterday. More than half, 56.7 percent, of the deaths took place in the four expansion states.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 18,750 as of 12:01 a.m. this morning.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the main stream of society now totals 3,017,549, double the number of individuals than are currently active with COVID-19.

!!Saturday, August 1, 2020
As of this morning, the number of total tracked COVID-19 cases in the United States represents 1.40 percent of the population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.45 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 SURVIVOR cases represents 0.89 percent of the U.S. population.

With every Saturday I offer presentation of the local numbers by breaking down those of two major areas — the greater Atlanta metro area and its five primary counties — Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Cobb and Clayton — and greater Athens including its six contributing counties — Clarke, Oconee, Barrow, Jackson, Madison, and Oglethorpe.

The table below provides the number of total COVID-19 cases, active cases based on the U.S. 14-day national recovery time, recovered cases based on the U.S. 14-day national recovery time, and deaths as cited either directly or indirectly by the local authorities.

The number of cases year-to-date in the five Atlanta counties account for 35.1 percent of the 186,352 COVID-19 cases tracked to-date statewide in Georgia. The five Atlanta counties account for 35.7 percent of the Georgia population.

The number of cases year-to-date in the six greater Athens counties account for 2.4 percent of the 186,352 COVID-19 cases tracked to-date statewide in Georgia. As a group, the six greater Athens counties account for 3.4 percent of the Georgia population.

Recovered cases in greater Athens represent more than double the number of active cases as of this morning!.

::{img fileId="32245" imalign="center" max="800px" responsive="y" button="popup"}::

The next table provides the percentage count of total COVID-19 cases, active cases based on the U.S. 14-Day national recovery time, recovered cases based on the U.S. 14-day national recovery time and deaths as cited either directly or indirectly by the local authorities. Nearly two-thirds of year-to-date COVID-19 cases in greater Athens have now recovered.

::{img fileId="32244" imalign="center" max="800px" responsive="y" button="popup"}::

Here is a specific breakdown of the stats for the five Atlanta counties. Note that the number of active cases in all the counties has declined in the past week (August 1 vs. July 25), similar to what is happening country-wide in the U.S.

::{img fileId="32246" imalign="center" max="800px" responsive="y" button="popup"}::

Here is a specific breaks of the stats for the greater Athens six counties. The number of active cases has declined in Athens-Clarke County, Oconee and Oglethorpe counties as compared to the active count posting last Saturday July 25.

::{img fileId="32243" imalign="center" max="800px" responsive="y" button="popup"}::

On a national level, the total number of new cases tracked in the past 24 hours as of 12:01 a.m. this morning has increased by 70,904 new active COVID-19 cases. However, the total number of new cases tracked has been offset by the 74,388 individuals who moved into RECOVERY based on the national 14-day recovery period. The number of active COVID-19 cases again decreased by 4,946 individuals — a daily decrease that has taken place four days in a row.

A new record number of tests completed in 24 hours took place yesterday in the U.S. Over one million tests were conducted in the past 24 hour — 1,067,190. The total number of test completed in the U.S. now tops out over 58 million — 58,591,052. Essentially one out of every four adults have taken a COVID-19 test.

The four expansion states, or, the four top states to recently post the highest counts, account for 42.1 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours as of 12:01 a.m. this morning. These four states account for 29.9 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, this morning they index at 141, or 41 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID cases.

*California — 7,878 new cases, 8,174 yesterday
*Texas — 9,750 new cases,  8,843 yesterday
*Florida — 9,007 new cases, 9,956 yesterday
*Arizona — 3,212 new cases, 2,525 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 15.0 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours as of 12:01 a.m. this morning. These five states account for 9.5 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, they index at 158, or 58 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

Georgia — 4,066 new cases, 3,936 yesterday — 4th highest state count again this morning

*South Carolina — 1,444 new cases, 1,726 yesterday
*North Carolina — 2,012 new cases, 2,588 yesterday
*Alabama — 1,961 new cases, 1,980 yesterday
*Mississippi — 1,168 new cases, 1,775 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 5.0 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours as of 12:01 a.m. this morning. These five states account for 17.6 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, they index at 28, or 72 percent below proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*New York — 745 new cases, 940 yesterday
*New Jersey — 559 new cases, 432 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 514 new cases, 414 yesterday
*Michigan — 793 new cases, 807 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 934 new cases, 869 yesterday.


There are seven more states that have posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours.

*Illinois — 1,980 new cases
*Louisiana — 1,799 new cases
*Tennessee — 3,088 new cases
*Ohio — 1,531 new cases
*Maryland — 1,169 new cases
*Missouri — 1,547 new cases
*Nevada — 1,264 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 total 1,462 as of 12:01 a.m. this morning compared to 1,465 deaths that posted yesterday… More than half — 55.4 percent — of the deaths took place in the four expansion states — California, Florida, Texas and Arizona.

The number of “critical/serious” cases total 17,958 as of 12:01 a.m. this morning.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the main stream of society now totals 2,954,290 — that is 95 percent more individuals that have recovered than are currently active with COVID-19."
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  string(135090) " Drump Crop  2020-09-16T20:04:02+00:00 Drump crop.jpeg     covid-page Tallying the cost Drump Crop   2020-08-31T13:20:00+00:00  Coronavirus: The Numbers — August 2020 tony.paris Tony Paris Mark Kooyman mkooyman (Mark Kooyman) 2020-08-31T13:20:00+00:00 Mark Kooyman is the CEO/Discovery Chief at EXPERIENCE Insight Group, Inc. and a well-regarded market research expert who lives in Atlanta. Kooyman has been preparing daily numbers on COVID-19 for friends and family since the oiutbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. We thank him for allowing Creative Loafing to publish his results.

!!Monday, August 31, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the total number of tracked COVID-19 cases represents 1.83 percent of the U.S. population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.35 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.43 percent of the U.S. population.

The 6,078,455 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down as follows as of this morning::

*Recovered — 4,740,161 individuals, or 78.0 percent or, 77.8 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Active cases — 1,157,387 cases, or 19.0 percent or, 19.2 percent yesterday
*Deaths — 180,907 deaths, or 3.0 percent or, 3.0 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


New cases grew by 33,981 in the past 24 hours. The total number of active cases declined by a small number of 3,321 cases offset by 36,843 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column.

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals 81,830,079, an increase of 724,889 new tests conducted in the past 24 hours.

The five expansion states, the five top states to post the highest counts, account for 31.6 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*California — 3,817 new cases, 3,863 yesterday
*Texas — 2,757 new cases,  4,780 yesterday
*Florida — 2,583 new cases, 3,187 yesterday
*Georgia — 1,215 new cases, 2,386 yesterday
*Arizona — 374 new cases, 629 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 14.4 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*Tennessee — 835 new cases, 1,465 yesterday
*South Carolina — 1,075 new cases, 1,298 yesterday
*North Carolina — 993 new cases, 2,221 yesterday
*Alabama — 1,346 new cases, 1,705 yesterday
*Mississippi — 647 new cases, 735 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 5.9 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*New York — 780 new cases, 680 yesterday
*New Jersey — 153 new cases, 236 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 199 new cases, 446 yesterday
*Michigan — 551 new cases, 839 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 561 new cases, 752 yesterday.


Four more states posted 1,000 or more cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,992 new cases
*Louisiana — 1,624 new cases
*Ohio — 1,013 new cases
*Missouri — 1,161 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 369 as of 12:01am this morning compared to the 954 deaths posted yesterday. Of the deaths,45.5 percent took place yesterday in the five expansion states.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 15,992 as of this morning. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.3 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered now totals 4,741,161, that is 310 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

For those tracking outbreaks in the greater Athens area, including the University of Georgia, here is the updated COVID-19 positive case counts as of 7:30 a.m. this morning as reported by the Georgia Department of Public Health:

*Athens-Clarke County, 572 positive cases today, 585 yesterday.
*Oconee County, 79 positive cases today, 78 yesterday.
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!!Sunday, August 30, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the total number of tracked COVID-19 cases represents 1.83 percent of the population in the United States. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.35 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.42 percent of the U.S. population.

The 6,044,474 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down as follows as of this morning:

*Recovered — 4,703,318 individuals or 77.8 percent, 77.5 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Active Cases — 1,160,618 cases or 19.2 percent, 19.5 percent yesterday
*Deaths — 180,538 deaths or 3.0 percent, 3.0 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


New cases grew by 42,843 in the past 24 hours. The total number of active cases declined by 11,587 cases offset by 53,476 individuals surviving COVID-19. This is now the 35th straight day of higher recovery numbers vs. new cases.

The number of tests administered here in the U.S. now totals 81,105,190, with 802,384 tests completed yesterday.

The five expansion states, the states to post the highest counts, account for 34.6 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*California — 3,863 new cases, 5,406 yesterday
*Texas — 4,780 new cases, 4,987yesterday
*Florida — 3,187 new cases, 3,815 yesterday
*Georgia — 2,386 new cases, 2,298 yesterday
*Arizona — 629 new cases, 519 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 16.9 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hour:

*Tennessee — 1,465 new cases, 1,636 yesterday
*South Carolina — 1,298 new cases, 1,353 yesterday
*North Carolina — 2,221 new cases, 1,550 yesterday
*Alabama — 1,705 new cases, 1,162 yesterday
*Mississippi — 735 new cases, 599 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 6.4 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*New York — 680 new cases, 720 yesterday
*New Jersey — 236 new cases, 339 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 446 new cases, 460 yesterday
*Michigan — 839 new cases, 793 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 752 new cases, 866 yesterday.


Seven other states posted 1,000 or more cases in the past 24 hours. These states account for 19.7 percent of the new cases:

*Illinois — 1,880 new cases
*Ohio — 1,210 new cases
*Virginia — 1,217 new cases
*Indiana — 1,121 new cases
*Minnesota — 1,017 new cases
*Iowa — 1,081 new cases
*Oklahoma — 1,093 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 954 as of this morning, compared to the 1,105 deaths posted yesterday. Of the deaths, 49.3 percent took place yesterday in  California, Florida, Texas, Arizona and Georgia.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 16,025 as of this morning. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.3 percent of the total active cases. This number continues to decline. Last Saturday, more than 16,800 “critical/serious” cases were reported.

The number of those who have recovered now totals 4,703,318, that is 305 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19, or, triple the number of individuals active with COVID-19.

!!Saturday, August 29, 2020
As presented each weekend, here is information specific to metro Atlanta area and the greater Athens area as made up of Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Cobb, and Clayton counties and Clarke, Oconee, Barrow, Jackson, Madison, and Oglethorpe counties, respectively.

The table below provides the number of total COVID-19 cases, active cases based on the U.S. 14-Day National Recovery time, recovered cases based on the U.S. 14-day National Recovery time and deaths as cited either directly or indirectly by local authorities. The number of recovered cases continues to increase in in all three geographic areas since the “top of the bell-curve” occurred back in late July-early August. This is particularly true in the five metro Atlanta counties, where we are now past the “case hump."

INSERT Table 1

The next table provides those numbers above as translated into percentages. Both Atlanta and Athens track on a more positive level than the U.S. nationally.

INSERT Table 2

Here is a specific breakdown of the five core counties that make up the city of Atlanta. The number of active cases continues to decrease.

INSERT TABLE 3

Next are the stats for the six counties of the Greater Athens area. The increased number of deaths in each of the counties in the last week are nearly all among individuals age 65+.

INSERT Table 4

Nationally, new cases grew by 49,601 in the past 24 hours. The total number of active cases declined by 11,749 cases, offset by 60,245 individuals surviving COVID-19.

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals over 80 million — 80,302,806 — an increase of 830,320 new tests conducted in the past 24 hours. The next closest countries to the U.S. in the number of tests conducted are India with 40 million tests followed by Russia with 36 million and China with 34 million.

Based on trending over the past few weeks, I have made a couple of small changes in the grouping below. Georgia is now added to the “expansion states” and Tennessee is added to the “southeastern states.”

The five expansion states, the states to post the highest counts, account for 34.3 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*California — 5,406 new cases, 5,280 yesterday
*Texas — 4,987 new cases, 4,458 yesterday
*Florida — 3,815 new cases, 3,269 yesterday
*Georgia — 2,298 new cases, 2,484 yesterday
*Arizona — 519 new cases, 186 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 12.7 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*Tennessee — 1,636 new cases, 2,484 yesterday
*South Carolina — 1,353 new cases, 505 yesterday
*North Carolina — 1,550 new cases, 2,045 yesterday
*Alabama — 1,162 new cases, 1,769 yesterday
*Mississippi — 599 new cases, 585 yesterday.



The five early case states account for 6.4 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*New York — 720 new cases, 901 yesterday
*New Jersey — 339 new cases, 253 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 460 new cases, 368 yesterday
*Michigan — 793 new cases, 863 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 866 new cases, 635 yesterday.



Five more states posted 1,000 or more cases in the past 24 hours. They account for 17.7 percent of the new cases:

*Illinois — 2,434 new cases
*Ohio — 1,279 new cases
*Iowa — 2,574 new cases
*Virginia — 1,013 new cases
*Missouri — 1,474 new cases.



The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 1,105 as of this morning, compared to the 1,143 deaths posted yesterday. Of the deaths, 47.9 percent of the them took place in California, Florida, Texas, Arizona and Georgia.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 16,184 as of this morning. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.3 percent of the total active cases. This number continues to decline. Last Saturday, more than 16,800 “critical/serious” cases were reported.

The number of those who have recovered now totals 4,649,842 — that is 297 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

!!Friday, August 28, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the total number of tracked COVID-19 cases represents 1.80 percent of the population in the United States. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.36 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.39 percent of the U.S. population.

The 5,952,030 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down as follows as of this morning:

*Recovered — 4,589,597 individuals or 77.1 percent, 76.8 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Active Cases — 1,183,954 cases or 19.9 percent, 20.2 percent yesterday
*Deaths — 178,479 deaths or 3.0 percent, 3.0 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


New cases grew by 46,286 in the past 24 hours. The total number of active cases declined by 9,752 cases offset by 54,895 individuals surviving COVID-19.

The number of tests administered here in the U.S. now totals 79,472,486 — an increase of 835,098 new tests conducted in the past 24 hours.

The four expansion states, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 29.5 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*California — 5,280 new cases, 5,415 yesterday
*Texas — 4,458 new cases, 6,053 yesterday
*Florida — 3,269 new cases, 3,220 yesterday
*Arizona — 680 new cases, 186 yesterday.



The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 15.5 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*Georgia — 2,484 new cases, 2,236 yesterday, the fourth highest state new case count
*Carolina — 505 new cases, 605 yesterday
*Carolina — 2,045 new cases, 1,175 yesterday
*Alabama — 1,769 new cases, 186 yesterday
*Mississippi — 585 new cases, 904 yesterday.



The five early case states account for 6.5 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*New York — 901 new cases, 676 yesterday
*New Jersey — 253 new cases, 259 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 368 new cases, 336 yesterday
*Michigan — 863 new cases, 843 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 635 new cases, 520 yesterday.


Eight other states more posted 1,000 or more cases in the past 24 hours. These eight states account for 24.8 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,707 new cases,
*Tennessee — 1,826 new cases
*Ohio — 1,226 new cases
*Virginia — 1,121 new cases
*Indiana — 1,145 new cases
*Missouri — 1,614 new cases
*Minnesota — 1,614 new cases
*Iowa — 1,566 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 1,143 as of this morning, compared to the 1,289 deaths posted yesterday. Of the deaths, 46.4 percent took place yesterday in the four expansion states. Another 7.2 percent of the deaths took place in Georgia.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 16,231 as of this morning. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.3 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered now totals 4,589,597 — that is 288 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

For those tracking outbreaks in the greater Athens area, including the University of Georgia, here is the updated COVID-19 positive case counts as of 7:30 a.m. this morning as reported by the Georgia Department of Public Health:

*Athens-Clarke County — 489 positive active cases today, 468 yesterday.
*Oconee County — 79 positive cases today, 73 yesterday.
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!!Thursday, August 27, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the total number of racked COVID-19 cases in the United States represents 1.79 percent of the U.S. population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.36 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.37 percent of the U.S. population.

The 5,905,744 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down as follows:

*Recovered — 4,534,702 individuals or 76.8 percent, 76.4 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Active cases — 1,193,706 cases or 20.2, 20.6 percent yesterday
*Deaths — 177,336 deaths or 3.0 percent, 3.0 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


New cases grew by 44,637 in the past 24 hours, the total number of active cases declined by 10,962 cases offset by 54,310 individuals surviving COVID-19. This is now the 31st straight day of higher recovery numbers than new cases.

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals 78,637,388 — an increase of 705,981 new tests conducted in the past 24 hours

David Bradley, who heads up Athens-Clarke County Chamber of Commerce, sent over some very telling national numbers that he has tracked:

*Average daily new cases over a seven-day period on Aug. 5: 59, 570, on Aug. 26: 42,967 —  a decrease of 27.7 percent
*Average daily critical cases over a seven-day period on Aug.5: 18,593, on Aug. 26: 16,700 — a decrease of 10.2 percent
*Average number of deaths over a seven-day period on Aug.5: 1,133, on Aug. 26, 898 — a decrease of 20.7 percent.


I encourage business leadership to embrace creativity and innovation and look back at how your business had survived through the last three to four months and take from it insight to guide your team in 2021 expansion plans. Bradley and his team in Athensshow businesses that have been very creative can survive.

The four expansion states, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 33.3 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*California — 5,415 new cases, 5,862 yesterday
*Texas — 6,053 new cases, 6,803 yesterday
*Florida — 3,220 new cases, 2,673 yesterday
*Arizona — 186 new cases, 859 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 15.5 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*Georgia — 2,236 new cases, 2,101 yesterday
*South Carolina — 605 new cases, 937 yesterday
*North Carolina — 1,175 new cases, 1,456 yesterday
*Alabama — 186 new cases, 532 yesterday
*Mississippi — 904 new cases, 801 yesterday.



The five early case states account for 5.9 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*New York — 676 new cases, 627 yesterday
*New Jersey — 259 new cases, 313 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 336 new cases, 398 yesterday
*Michigan — 843 new cases, 951 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 520 new cases, 557 yesterday.


Five more states have posted one thousand or more cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 2,457 new cases, 4th highest State new case count
*Tennessee — 1,936 new cases
*Ohio — 1,059 new cases
*Missouri — 1,276 new cases
*Kansas — 1,359 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 1,289 compared to the 1,290 deaths posted yesterday. Of the deaths, 46.6 percent took place yesterday in the four expansion states. Another 3.8 percent of the deaths took place in Georgia.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 16,378 as of 12:01am today. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.3 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered from COVID-19 now totals 4,534,702. Tthat is 280 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

For those tracking outbreaks in the greater Athens area, including the University of Georgia, here is the updated COVID-19 positive case counts as of 7:30 a.m. this morning as reported by the Georgia Department of Public Health:

*Athens-Clarke County — 463 positive active cases today, 423 yesterday
*Oconee County — 73 positive active cases today, 76 yesterday.
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!!Wednesday, August 26, 2020
As of12:01 a.m. this morning, the total number of tracked COVID-19 cases in the United States represents 1.76 percent of the population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.37 percent of the population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.34 percent of the population.

The 5,861,107 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down as follows:

*Recovered — 4,480,392 individuals, or 76.4 percent, 76.1 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Active cases — 1,204,668 cases, or 20.6 percent, 20.9 percent yesterday
*Deaths — 176,047 deaths, or 3.0 percent, 3.0 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


New cases grew by 40,098 in the past 24 hours. The total number of active cases declined by 14,508 cases, offset by 53,826 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column. This is now the 30th straight day of higher recovery numbers vs. new cases.

More than a million Americans were tested yesterday. This increase is likely linked to the use of tests to monitor COVID-19 on college campuses and school systems where classes have re-started. The number of tests administered here in the U.S. now totals 77,931,407, an increase of 1,047,928 new tests conducted in the past 24 hours.

The four expansion states, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 40.4 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*California — 5,862 new cases, 6,168 yesterday
*Texas — 6,803 new cases,  4,514 yesterday
*Florida — 2,673 new cases, 2,258 yesterday
*Arizona — 859 new cases, 311 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 14.5 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*Georgia — 2,101 new cases, 2,304 yesterday, fourth highest state new case count
*South Carolina — 937 new cases, 563 yesterday
*North Carolina — 1,456 new cases, 2,093 yesterday
*Alabama — 532 new cases, 1,605 yesterday
*Mississippi — 801 new cases, 511 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 7.1 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*New York — 627 new cases, 531 yesterday
*New Jersey — 313 new cases, 303 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 398 new cases, 662 yesterday
*Michigan — 951 new cases, 878 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 557 new cases, 567 yesterday.


Three more states posted 1,000 or more cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,680 new cases
*Virginia — 1,005 new cases
*Missouri — 1,060 new cases.

The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 1,290 as of 12:01 a.m. this morning, compared to the 510 deaths posted yesterday. Of the deaths, 43.6 percent took place yesterday in the four expansion states. Another 8.2 percent of the deaths took place in Georgia.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 16,468 as of this morning. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.4 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered now totals 4,480,392, that is 272 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

For those tracking outbreaks the greater Athens area, here is the updated COVID-19 positive case counts as of 7:30 a.m. this morning, as reported by the Georgia Department of Public Health:

*Athens-Clarke County — 423 positive active cases today, 417 yesterday
*Oconee County — 76 positive active cases today, 71 yesterday.
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!!Tuesday, August 25, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the total number of tracked COVID-19 cases in the United States represents 1.76 percent of the U.S. population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.37 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.34 percent of the U.S. population.

The 5,821,009 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down as follows:

*Recovered — 4,426,566 individuals, or 76.1 percent, 75.7 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Active cases — 1,219,176 cases, or 20.9 percent, 21.3 percent yesterday
*Deaths — 175,267 deaths, or 3.0 percent, 3.0 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


The number of new cases grew by 41,484 in the past 24 hours. The total number of active cases declined by 8,826, cases offset by 49,800 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column. This is now the 29th straight day of higher recovery numbers vs. new cases!

We will have to watch to see if the trend holds true with the number of active cases continuing to decline as the number of new cases decreases — something to track over the next five to seven days, especially in Florida, Texas, California, Arizona and Georgia.

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals 76,883,479, an increase of 724,101 new tests conducted in the past 24 hours. I will update the percentage on a weekly basis moving forward with the Monday morning releases.

The four expansion states, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 31.9 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*California — 6,168 new cases, 5,096 yesterday
*Texas — 4,514 new cases, 3,335 yesterday
*Florida — 2,258 new cases, 2,974 yesterday
*Arizona — 311 new cases, 208 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 17.1 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*Georgia — 2,304 new cases, 1,727 yesterday — third highest state new case count
*South Carolina — 563 new cases, 693 yesterday
*North Carolina — 2,093 new cases, 1,067 yesterday
*Alabama — 1,605 new cases, 528 yesterday
*Mississippi — 511 new cases, 626 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 7.1 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*New York — 531 new cases, 663 yesterday
*New Jersey — 303 new cases, 203 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 662 new cases, 182 yesterday
*Michigan — 878 new cases, 764 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 567 new cases, 519 yesterday.


Four more states posted 1,000 or more cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,612 new cases
*Indiana — 1,6670 new cases
*Missouri — 1,458 new cases
*Kansas — 1,317 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 510 as of this morning, compared to the 430 deaths posted yesterday. Of the deaths, 47.1 percent took place yesterday in the four expansion states, another 4.7 percent of the deaths took place in Georgia.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 16,483 as of this morning. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.4 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered now totals 4,426,566, that is, 263 percent MORE than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

For those tracking outbreaks the greater Athens area, here is the updated COVID-19 positive case counts as of 7:30 a.m. this morning, as reported by the Georgia Department of Public Health:

*Athens-Clarke County, 417 positive active cases today, 443 cases yesterday
*Oconee County, 71 positive active cases today, 68 cases yesterday.


I guess University of Georgia students are spending time with the text books instead of hanging out among all those contagious peers at the pubs!

!!Monday, August 24, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the total number of tracked COVID-19 cases in the United States represents 1.75 percent of the U.S. population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.37 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 SURVIVOR cases represents 1.32 percent of the U.S. population.

Great news in the morning headlines, “Plasma Treatment for COVID Gets FDA Clearance.” This is not a vaccine, but a combative treatment for hospitalized patients. This is a similar treatment to that used to treat patients during the 2014 Ebola outbreak. Over the course of the next 30 days, expect additional treatments to secure FDA clearance. The article also notes that there are now a dozen COVID-19 vaccines in the last phase of clinical trial testing, and, at least two or three are likely to be released for public access before the end of the year.

The 5,779,525 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down as follows as of this morning:

*Recovered — 4,376,766 individuals, or 75.7 percent, 75.4 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Active cases — 1,228,002 cases, or 21.3 percent, 21.6 percent yesterday
*Deaths — 174,757 deaths, or 3.0 percent, 3.0 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


New cases grew by 32,718 in the past 24 hours, the total number of active cases declined by 13,341 cases, offset by 45,629 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column. This is now the 28th straight day of higher recovery numbers vs. new cases. This is also the first time in the past 45 days in which the number of new cases totaled below 40,000.

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals 76,159,378, with an increase of 684,203 new tests conducted in the past 24 hours. A number of readers asked what is the seven-day average of the percentage of those being tested that are testing COVID-19 positive. Counting today and going back to last Tuesday August 18, the average is 5.9 percent. Between the prior seven-day period — Tuesday, August 11 to Monday, August 17 — the average is 6.6 percent. The percentage is dropping.

The four expansion states, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 35.5 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*California — 5,096 new cases, 5,156 yesterday
*Texas — 3,335 new cases, 3,715 yesterday
*Florida — 2,974 new cases, 4,311 yesterday
*Arizona — 208 new cases, 996 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 14.2 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*Georgia — 1,727 new cases, 2,592 yesterday, fourth highest state new case count
*South Carolina — 693 new cases, 917 yesterday
*North Carolina — 1,067 new cases, 1,157 yesterday
*Alabama — 528 new cases, 1,762 yesterday
*Mississippi — 626 new cases, 945 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 7.1 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*New York — 663 new cases, 701 yesterday
*New Jersey — 203 new cases, 270 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 182 new cases, 144 yesterday
*Michigan — 764 new cases, 1,426 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 519 new cases, 699 yesterday.


Three more states posted 1,000 or more cases in the past 24 hours…

*Illinois — 1,893 new cases
*Tennessee — 1,854 new cases
*Louisiana — 1,223 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 430 as of 12:01 a.m. this morning, compared to the 974 deaths posted yesterday. 40.4 percent of the deaths took place yesterday in the four expansion states. Another 9.3 percent of the deaths took place in Georgia.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 16,717 as of 12:01 a.m this morning. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.2 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered now totals 4,376,766 — that is 256 percent MORE than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

For those tracking the greater Athens area, here is the updated COVID-19 positive case counts as of 7:30 a.m. this morning as reported by the Georgia Department of Public Health for the key counties:

*Athens-Clarke County — 443 active cases today, 449 yesterday
*Oconee County — 68 positive active cases today, 65 yesterday.
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!!Sunday, August 23, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the total number of tracked COVID-19 cases in the United States represents 1.74 percent of the population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.37 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.31 percent of the U.S. population.

The 5,746,807 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down as follows:

*Recovered — 4,331,137 individuals, or 75.4 percent, 75.0 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Active cases — 1,241,343 cases, or 21.6 percent, 22.0 percent yesterday
*Deaths — 172,183 deaths, or 3.0 percent, 3.0 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


New cases grew by 43,829 in the past 24 hours as of this morning, the total number of active cases declined by 10,890 cases, offset by 53,845 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column. This is now the 27th straight day of higher recovery numbers vs. new cases.

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals 75,4765,175, an increase of 756,595 new tests conducted in the past 24 hours.

The four expansion states, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 32.3 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*California — 5,156 new cases, 6,539 yesterday
*Texas — 3,715 new cases, 5,753 yesterday
*Florida — 4,311 new cases, 4,684 yesterday
*Arizona — 996 new cases, 619 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 16.8 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*Georgia — 2,592 new cases, 2,889 yesterday, 4th highest state new case count
*South Carolina — 917 new cases, 1,058 yesterday
*North Carolina — 1,157 new cases, 2,041 yesterday
*Alabama — 1,762 new cases, 321 yesterday
*Mississippi — 945 new cases, 874 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 7.4 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*New York — 701 new cases, 817 yesterday
*New Jersey — 270 new cases, 304 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 144 new cases, 488 yesterday
*Michigan — 1,426 new cases, 526 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 699 new cases, 725 yesterday.


Seven more states posted 1,000 or more cases in the past 24 hours…

*Illinois — 2,356 new cases
*Tennessee — 1,239 new cases
*Louisiana — 1,345 new cases
*Ohio — 1,267 new cases
*Virginia — 1,212 new cases
*Indiana — 1,000 new cases
*Missouri — 1,391 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 974 as of this morning, compared to the 1,170 deaths posted yesterday… 50.2 percent of the deaths took place yesterday in the four expansion states. Another 9.7 percent of the deaths took place in Georgia.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 16,739 as of this morning. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.2 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in mainstream society now totals 4,331,137 — that is 250 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

For those tracking UGA outbreaks, here is the updated COVID-19 positive case counts as of 7:30 a.m. this morning as reported by the Georgia Department of Public Health for the key counties regarding the total population.

*Athens-Clarke County — 449 positive active cases today, 442 yesterday
*Oconee County — 65 positive active cases today, 64 yesterday.
!!  Saturday, August 22, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the total number of tracked COVID-19 cases in the United States represents 1.73 percent of the population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.38 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.29 percent of the U.S. population.

As done each Saturday, a slightly different format is used to present the numbers in two major local areas. The regions highlighted include:

*The five metro counties that primarily make up the metro Atlanta area — Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Cobb, and Clayton counties
*The greater Athens, Georgia, area, including Clarke, Oconee, Barrow, Jackson, Madison, and Oglethorpe counties.


The table below provides the numerical count of totalCOVID-19 cases, the active cases based on the U.S. 14-Day national recovery time, the recovered cases based on the U.S. 14-day national recovery time and deaths, as cited either directly or indirectly by the local authorities. The number of recovered cases has significantly increased in Atlanta since the “top of the bell-curve” occurred back in late July/early August.

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The next table provides the percentage count of totalCOVID-19 cases, the active cases based on the U.S. 14-Day national recovery time, the recovered cases based on the U.S. 14-day national recovery time, and deaths as cited either directly or indirectly by the local authorities.

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Here is a specific breakdown of the stats for the five Atlanta core counties. Note the decrease in active cases this week vs. last week.

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Here is a specific breakdown of the stats for the six greater Athens counties. Note the decrease in active cases this week vs. last week, especially in Athens/Clarke and Oconee Counties.

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Nationally, new cases grew by 50,455 in the past 24 hours. The total number of active cases declined by 14,015 cases, offset by 63,200 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column. This is now the 26th straight day of higher recovery numbers vs. new cases.

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals 74,718580, an increase of 847,601 new tests conducted in the past 24 hours.

The four expansion states, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 34.9 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*California — 6,539 new cases, 6,055 yesterday
*Texas — 5,753 new cases, 5,184 yesterday
*Florida — 4,684 new cases, 4,555 yesterday
*Arizona — 619 new cases, 723 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 14.2 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*Georgia — 2,889 new cases, 2,759 yesterday — fourth highest state new case count
*South Carolina — 1,058 new cases, 909 yesterday
*North Carolina — 2,042 new cases, 1,881 yesterday
*Alabama — 321 new cases, 971 yesterday
*Mississippi — 874 new cases, 894 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 5.7 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*New York — 817 new cases, 679 yesterday
*New Jersey — 304 new cases, 185 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 488 new cases, 313 yesterday
*Michigan — 526 new cases, 527 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 725 new cases, 786 yesterday.


Six more states posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 2,293 new cases
*Tennessee — 1,669 new cases
*Ohio — 1,069 new cases
*Indiana — 1,040 new cases
*Missouri — 1,342 new cases
*Oklahoma — 1,077 new cases.

The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 1,170 as of this morning. compared to the 1,090 deaths posted yesterday. 44.2 percent of the deaths took place yesterday in the four expansion states..

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 16,801 as of this morning.. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.2 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in mainstream society now totals 4,277,292. That is 242 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

Today would have been my father’s 92nd birthday. Mike Kooyman passed away on the Monday before Thanksgiving last year. My Dad was a very-driven businessman. He was persistent and strongly advocated what he believed in. I try to follow in his foot-steps each day!

!!Friday, August 21, 2020
As of today 12:01 a.m. this morning, the total number of tracked COVID-19 cases represents 1.71 percent of the U.S. population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.39 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.28 percent of the U.S. population.

The 5,652,523 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down in terms of status as follows:

*Recovered — 4,214,092 individuals, or 74.6 percent, 74.1 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Active cases — 1,266,248 cases, or 22.4 percent, 22.8 percent yesterday
*Deaths — 172,183 deaths, or 3.0 percent, 3.1 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


New cases grew by 45,341 in the past 24 hours as of this morning, the total number of active cases declined by 14,179 cases, offset by 58,430 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column.  This is now the 25th straight day of higher recovery numbers vs. new cases.

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals 73,870,979 — an increase of 752,638 new tests conducted in the past 24 hours. In the past week, a total of 5.3 million new tests have been conducted here in the U.S.

The four expansion states, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 36.4 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*California — 6,055 new cases … 6,789 yesterday
*Texas — 5,184 new cases …  5,965 yesterday
*Florida — 4,555 new cases … 4,115 yesterday
*Arizona — 723 new cases … 637 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 16.4 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*Georgia — 2,759 new cases … 2,305 yesterday … fourth highest state new case count
*South Carolina — 909 new cases … 739 yesterday
*North Carolina — 1,881 new cases … 1,069 yesterday
*Alabama — 971 new cases … 1,117 yesterday
*Mississippi — 894 new cases … 1,348 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 5.5 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*New York — 679 new cases … 764 yesterday
*New Jersey — 185 new cases … 301 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 313 new cases … 352 yesterday
*Michigan — 527 new cases … 689 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 786 new cases … 664 yesterday.


Four more states posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours…

*Illinois — 1,832 new cases
*Tennessee — 1,375 cases
*Ohio — 1,126
*Missouri — 1,125.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 1,090 as of this morning compared to the 1,263 deaths that posted yesterday… Of the deaths, 46.5 percent took place yesterday in the four expansion states.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 16,817 as of this morning.  The average for the past seven days is down significantly from the average of 18,758 cases the seven previous days. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.2 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered now totals 4,214,092, that is 233 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

For those tracking outbreaks at the University of Georgia in Athens, here is the updated counts of positive COVID-19 cases as of 7:30 a.m. this morning, as reported by the Georgia Department of Public Health for these key counties:

*Athens-Clarke County — 478 active cases yesterday, 462 today
*Oconee County — 69 active cases yesterday, 67 today.
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!!Thursday, August 20, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the total number of tracked COVID-19 cases represents 1.70 percent of the U.S. population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.39 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.26 percent of the U.S. population.

The 5,607,182 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down in terms of status as follows:

*Recovered — 4,155,662 individuals or 74.1 percent, 73.8 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Active cases — 1,280,427 cases or 22.8 percent, 23.2 percent yesterday
*Deaths — 171,093 deaths or 3.1 percent, 3.0 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


New cases grew by 44,957 in the past 24 hours as of 12:01 today, the total number of active cases declined by 11,454 cases offset by 55,148 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column. This is now the 24th straight day of higher recovery numbers than new cases.

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals 73,118,341, an increase of 748,173 new tests conducted in the past 24 hours.

The four expansion states, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 38.9 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*California — 6,789 new cases, 5,350 yesterday
*Texas — 5,965 new cases,  7,872 yesterday
*Florida — 4,115 new cases, 3,838 yesterday
*Arizona — 637 new cases, 915 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 14.6 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*Georgia — 2,305 new cases, 2,816 yesterday — fourth highest state new case count
*South Carolina — 739 new cases, 719 yesterday
*North Carolina — 1,069 new cases, 1,903 yesterday
*Alabama — 1,117 new cases, 1,357 yesterday
*Mississippi — 1,348 new cases, 795 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 6.2 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*New York — 764 new cases, 718 yesterday
*New Jersey — 301 new cases, 330 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 352 new cases, 222 yesterday
*Michigan — 689 new cases, 653 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 664 new cases, 600 yesterday.


Two more states posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 2,295 new cases
*Tennessee — 2,022 cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 1,263, compared to the 1,358 deaths posted yesterday. Of the deaths, 55.0 percent took place in the four expansion states. The highest number of deaths are taking place in Texas and Arizona where most of the deaths are happening in nursing homes.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 16,875 as of this morning. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.2 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the mainstream now totals 4,155,662 — that is 225 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

No readers replied that they could figure out the rationale behind the news stories I questioned yesterday claiming that Georgia was leading the U.S. on the rate of new COVID-19 cases. Surprisingly, after the morning news hour was over, I did not hear nor see anything more about the claim. Maybe someone from the Atlanta Journal Constitution took a moment to read the real news on the Creative Loafing website!

And, in Athens, home of the University of Georgia, there is an uproar that the students on the UGA campus are going to drive the COVID-19 cases higher than the annual football offensive yardage numbers. Here is the updated COVID-19 positive case counts as of 7:30 a.m. this morning as reported by the Georgia Department of Public Health:

*Athens-Clarke County, 548 positive active cases this past Saturday, 478 today
*Oconee County, 85 positive active cases this past Saturday, 69 today.
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!!Wednesday, August 19, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the number of total tracked COVID-19 cases represents 1.68 percent of the U.S. population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.39 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivors represent 1.24 percent of the U.S. population.

The 5,562,225 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down in terms of status as follows:

*Recovered — 4,100,514 individuals, or 73.8 percent, 73.4 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Active cases — 1,291,881 cases, or 23.2 percent, 23.6 percent yesterday
*Deaths — 169,830 deaths, or 3.0 percent, 3.0 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


New cases grew by 43,999 in the past 24 hours. The total number of active cases declined by 11,863 cases, offset by 54,504 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column. This is now the 23rd straight day of higher recovery numbers vs. new cases.

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals 72,370,168, an increase of 680,442 new tests conducted in the past 24 hours.

The four expansion states, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 40.4 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours as of this morning:

*California — 5,350 new cases, 6,925 yesterday
*Texas — 7,872 new cases,  6,446 yesterday
*Florida — 3,838 new cases, 2,678 yesterday
*Arizona — 915 new cases, 468 yesterday.


Georgia is featured in today’s top newspaper and broadcast news stories as being cited as “leading the nation on the rate of new cases.”  This is supposedly based on “the seven day average ending last Friday.”  To be honest, I cannot figure out what numbers are driving the claims, but then again, the media further highlights that the claim is originating out of the “White House."

I encourage readers to track the numbers published each day in this column and see for yourself that Georgia ranked either fourth or fifth in the number of new cases each day. Today, Georgia posts the fourth highest new case count. Publishing a news story about a set of numbers dating back from five days ago is not “breaking news.”

Here is the average daily new case counts between Saturday, August 8, and Friday, August 14:

#California — 8,776 new cases
#Texas — 6,989 new cases
#Florida — 6,678 new cases
#Georgia — 3,392 new cases.


If any readers can figure out how the calculation reported in the news is being made, please let me know and I will feature you in the next release!

Also, the Georgia Department of Public Health has now elected to report “new cases in the past 14 days” in a different format that requires additional steps to see the actual count.

The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 17.3 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*Georgia — 2,816 new cases, 1,831 yesterday — fourth highest state new case count
*South Carolina — 719 new cases, 456 yesterday
*North Carolina — 1,903 new cases, 425 yesterday
*Alabama — 1,357 new cases, 571 yesterday
*Mississippi — 795 new cases, 276 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 5.7 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*New York — 718 new cases, 520 yesterday
*New Jersey — 330 new cases, 425 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 222 new cases, 248 yesterday
*Michigan — 653 new cases, 490 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 600 new cases, 611 yesterday.


Three more states posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,740 new cases
*Tennessee — 1,034 cases
*Missouri — 1,185 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 1,358 as of this morning compared to the 589 deaths that posted yesterday. Of the deaths, 55.0 percent took place yesterday in the four expansion states.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 16,966 as of this morning. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.2 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the mainstream now totals 4,100,514, that is 217 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

!!Tuesday, August 18, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the number of total tracked COVID-19 cases in the United States represents 1.67 percent of the U.S. population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.39 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.22 percent of the U.S. population.

Take a moment, raise your glass, and toast the survivors. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases now totals over four million, 4,046,010 as of this morning. It is unfortunate that the mainstream media fails to celebrate the four million who have fought the battle and won.

The University of Georgia is featured in the morning news with a set of new rules it is enacting today. Classes resume on Thursday, August 19, with the University moving forward with in-person classes.  As of 8 a.m. this morning, Georgia Department of Public Healths posts 499 Active COVID cases in Athens-Clarke County. That number also includes any UGA students tested in Athens-Clarke County. The 499 Active COVID-19 cases represent 0.39 percent of the Athens Clarke County population.

The new set of rules at UGA includes a requirement that all UGA students install a COVID-19 Monitoring and Tracking App on their smart phones. If a student tests positive, the University is going to post the student’s name on the App. In addition, any administration member, professor or student can track exactly where the COVID-19-active student is at any time of the day. The reporters did not share how long the person’s name stays on the App.

My mother, Ruth Marie Kooyman, who passed away 18 months ago, hand stitched a saying that I have hanging in my bedroom with a quote from William Blake: “If the doors of perception were cleansed today, everything would appear to man as it is, infinite. For man has closed himself up ’til he sees all things through the narrow chinks of his cavern.”  Each day when I get up, I make a pledge to my mom that I will work to widen some of the chinks in the work I do.

I am sure that the University of Georgia is not the only high academic institution enacting the “Big Brother” rules going into the 2020-2021 college year.

Now, back to real life.

The 5,477,614 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down in terms of status as follows:

*Recovered — 4,046,010 individuals or 73.4 percent, 73.0 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Active cases — 1,303,744 cases or 23.6 percent, 24.4 percent yesterday
*Deaths — 168,472 deaths or 3.0 percent, 3.0 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


New cases grew by 40,612 in the past 24 hours. The total number of active cases declined by 8,589 cases, offset by 48,612 individuals moving into the recovered column. This is the 22nd straight day of higher recovery numbers vs. new cases.

The Wall Street Journal has a set of COVID-19 articles this morning with each one acknowledging that the COVID-19 summer outbreaks are on a decline.

What is most interesting is that the articles highlight that a sizable majority of the cases are hitting the Hispanic-Latino community and that the younger folks — initially aligned with college kids on the beach — are actually a workforce that continues to work jobs whether they are COVID-19 positive or not.

Too bad that the reporters did not report that perspective about 60-days ago when the outbreak started.

The number of tests administered here in the U.S. now totals 71,689,726 — an increase of 727,727 new tests in the past 24 hours.

The four expansion states, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 40.7 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:…

*California — 6,925 new cases, 6,520 yesterday
*Texas — 6,446 new cases,  2,841 yesterday
*Florida — 2,678 new cases, 3,779 yesterday
*Arizona — 468 new cases, 883 yesterday.
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The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 8.8 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*Georgia — 1,831 new cases, 1,862 yesterday — fifth highest state new case count
*South Carolina — 456 new cases, 615 yesterday
*North Carolina — 425 new cases, 927 yesterday
*Alabama — 571 new cases, 853 yesterday
*Mississippi — 276 new cases, 381 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 5.6 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*New York — 520 new cases, 659 yesterday
*New Jersey — 425 new cases, 407 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 248 new cases, 394 yesterday
*Michigan — 490 new cases, 477 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 611 new cases, 544 yesterday.


Four more states posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,773 new cases
*Tennessee — 1,036 cases
*Missouri — 1,903 new cases
*Kansas- 1,128 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 589 as of this morning, compared to the 522 deaths posted yesterday. 55.0 percent of the deaths took place yesterday in the four expansion states.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 17,291 as of this morning.  The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.2 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the mainstream now totals 4,046,010, that is 210 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

!!Monday, August 17, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the number of total tracked COVID-19 cases in the United States represents 1.66 percent of the U.S. population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.40 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.21 percent of the U.S. population.

The 5,477,614 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down in terms of status as follows as of this morning:

*Recovered — 3,997,398 individuals or 73.0 percent, 72.6 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Active cases — 1,312,333 cases or 24.4 percent, 24.4 percent yesterday
*Deaths — 167,883 deaths or 3.0 percent, 3.0 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


New cases grew by 36,843 in the past 24 hours. The total number of active cases declined by 12,717 cases, offset by 49,038 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column.  This is now the 21st straight day of higher recovery numbers vs. new cases.

The number of tests administered here in the U.S. now totals 70,961,999 — an increase of 737,689 in the past 24 hours.

I receive a lot of questions sent in about age and racial/ethnicity classifications regarding COVID-19.  Below is a chart that was published this morning in the Wall Street Journal based on a set of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tracking information. It does a great job of illustrating the age skew as well as the Hispanic-Latino skew in the percentage of all deaths.

 

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The four expansion states, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 38.1 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*California — 6,520 new cases, 8,625 yesterday
*Texas — 2,841 new cases,  8,058 yesterday
*Florida — 3,779 new cases, 6,353 yesterday
*Arizona — 883 new cases, 933 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 16.6 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*Georgia — 1,862 new cases, 3,273 yesterday, fifth highest new case state count
*South Carolina — 615 new cases, 1,041 yesterday
*North Carolina — 927 new cases, 2,472 yesterday
*Alabama — 853 new cases, 1,271 yesterday
*Mississippi — 381 new cases, 825 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 6.5 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours:

*New York — 659 new cases, 791 yesterday
*New Jersey — 407 new cases, 416 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 394 new cases, 471 yesterday
*Michigan — 477 new cases, 1,058 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 544 new cases, 757 yesterday.


Five more states posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,562 new cases
*Louisiana — 1,181 cases
*Tennessee — 1,961 new cases, fourth highest state new case count
*Missouri — 1,078 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 522 as of this morning, compared to the 1,071 deaths that posted yesterday. 47.3 percent of the deaths took place in the four expansion states.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 17,236 as of 12:01 a.m. this morning. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.2 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the mainstream now totals 3,997,398 — that is 205 percent — or more than double the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19. It is disappointing that the mainstream media refuse to acknowledge the number of Americans who have recovered from  COVID-19.

!!Sunday, August 16, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the number of total tracked COVID-19 cases in the United States represents 1.65 percent of the U.S. population. The number of active tracked COVID-19 cases represents 0.40 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.20 percent of the U.S. population.

The 5,440,771 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down in terms of status as follows:

*Recovered — 3,948,360 individuals or 72.6 percent, 72.2 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Active cases — 1,325,050 cases or 24.4 percent, 24.7 percent yesterday
*Deaths — 167,361 deaths or 3.0 percent, 3.1 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


While new cases grew by 53,523 in the past 24 hours, the total number of active cases DECLINED by 5,980 cases, offset by 58,429 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column. This is now the 20h straight day of higher recovery numbers vs. new cases.

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals 70,229,310, an increase of 867,301 in the past 24 hours. Close to 30 percent of U.S. adults 18+ have taken a COVID-19 test.

In addition to the 24 hour cases numbers, you will also see the number of active COVID-19 cases as of 12:01 a.m. this morning and the percentage that the active cases represent of the the populations. As cited above, nationally, active COVID-19 cases represents 0.40 percent of the U.S. population.

The four expansion states, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 44.8 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours.

*California — 8,625 new cases, 10,316 yesterday, for a total of 248,650 active cases or 0.62 percent of the population
*Texas — 8,058 new cases, 8,690 yesterday, for a total of 153,807 active cases or 0.52 percent of the population
*Florida — 6,353 new cases, 6,148 yesterday, for a total of 193,676 active cases or 0.88 percent of the population
*Arizona — 933 new cases, 927 yesterday, for a total of 65,502 active cases or 0.90 percent of the population.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 16.6 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours.

*Georgia — 3,273 new cases, 3,227 yesterday, for a total of 79,957 active cases or 0.74 percent of the population
*South Carolina — 1,041 new cases, 932 yesterday, for a total of 35,999 active cases or 0.70 percent of the population
*North Carolina — 2,472 new cases, 452 yesterday, for a total of 25,297 active cases or 0.24 percent of the population
*Alabama — 1,271 new cases, 752 yesterday, for a total of 36,577 active cases or 0.75 percent of the population
*Mississippi — 825 new cases, 944 yesterday, for a total of 19,839 active cases or 0.27 percent of the population


The five early case states account for 6.5 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours.

*New York — 791 new cases, 816 yesterday, for a total of 70,333 active cases or 0.36 percent of the population
*New Jersey — 416 new cases, 529 yesterday, for a total of 19,769 active cases or 0.22 percent of the population
*Massachusetts — 471 new cases, 305 yesterday, for a total of 13,887 active cases or 0.20 percent of the population
*Michigan — 1,058 new cases, 868 yesterday, for a total of 27,418 active cases or 0.27 percent of the population
*Pennsylvania — 757 new cases, 824 yesterday, for a total of 24,420 active cases or 0.19 percent of the population.


Five more states posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,828 new cases
*Louisiana — 1,750 cases
*Tennessee — 1,289 new cases
*Ohio — 1,117 new cases
*Indiana — 1,044 new cases.

The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 1,071 as of 12:01 a.m. today compared to 1,120 deaths that posted yesterday… 44.8 percent of the deaths took place in the four expansion states.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 17,186 as of this morning.  The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.3 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the mainstream now totals 3,948,360, that is 198 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

!!Saturday, August 15, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the number of total tracked COVID-19 cases represents 1.63 percent of the U.S. population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.40 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.18 percent of the U.S. population.

Three weeks ago, when daily COVID-19 cases in the U.S. averaged 70,000+ new cases a day, mainstream media reported that by today, August 15, the total number of COVID-19 direct and indirect deaths would reach 200,000. As of this morning, according to Johns Hopkins University, that number is 168,458 — and the percentage of deaths of individuals testing positive with COVID-19 continues to decline.

This morning, paging through today’s Wall Street Journal and New York Times, both newspapers ran articles reporting that the “pace rate" of COVID-19 “spreading” is declining. The articles quoted numbers similar to the ones posted here daily, but nowhere is there any acknowledgement of the number of those surviving.

In addition, the articles cite that “in severe cases of COVID-19, patients are remaining in intensive care for weeks.” Those cases are few and are reflected in the numbers reported here, as tracked by Johns Hopkins. Many of those individuals remaining in intensive care for weeks do so because of  other health challenges they battle that have been intensified by COVID-19.

As with each Saturday, local COVID-19 numbers are tracked in somewhat of a different format. In addition to national numbers, the five county metro Atlanta region — including Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Cobb and Clayton counties — and the greater Athens area: Clarke, Oconee, Barrow, Jackson, Madison, and Oglethorpe counties.

The table below provides the number of total COVID-19 cases, active cases based on the U.S. 14-day national recovery time, recovered cases based on the U.S. 14-day national recovery time, and deaths as cited either directly or indirectly by the local authorities. All of the active case numbers are lower than reported last week.

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The next table provides the percentage of total COVID-19 cases, active cases based on the U.S. 14-day national recovery time, recovered cases based on the U.S. 14-day national recovery time, and deaths as cited either directly or indirectly by the local authorities. Year-to-date, 75 of those COVID-19 cases in greater Athens have now recovered.

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Here is a specific breakdown for the five core Atlanta counties.

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Here is a specific breaks of the stats for the six greater Athens counties.

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Nationally, while new cases grew by 60,600 in the past 24 hours, the total number of active cases declined by 11,352 cases, offset by 70,829 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into recovery. This is now the 19th straight day of higher recovery numbers vs. new cases.

The number of COVID-19 tests administered in the U.S. now totals 69,362,009.

The four expansion states, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 43.0 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours.

*California — 10,316 new cases, 7,876 yesterday
*Texas — 8,690 new cases,  7,236 yesterday
*Florida — 6,148 new cases, 6,236 yesterday
*Arizona — 927 new cases, 1,351 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 10.5 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours.

*Georgia — 3,227 new cases, 2,515 yesterday
*South Carolina — 932 new cases, 935 yesterday
*North Carolina — 452 new cases, 2,657 yesterday
*Alabama — 752 new cases, 771 yesterday
*Mississippi — 944 new cases, 612 yesterday.
The five early case states account for 5.5 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours.

*New York — 816 new cases, 823 yesterday
*New Jersey — 529 new cases, 361 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 305 new cases, 423 yesterday
*Michigan — 868 new cases, 1,167 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 824 new cases, 987 yesterday.


Nine more states posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 2,296 new cases
*Louisiana — 1,298 cases
*Tennessee — 1,947 new cases
*Ohio — 1,126new cases
*Virginia — 1,216 new cases
*Indiana — 1,067 new cases
*Wisconsin — 1,021 new cases
*Nevada — 1,099 new cases
*Kansas — 1,192 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 1,120 compared to the 1,284 deaths posted yesterday. Of those, 58.9 of the deaths took place in the four expansion states.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 17,217. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.3 of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the mainstream now totals 3,889,931 — that is 192 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

!!Friday, August 14, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the total number of tracked COVID-19 cases represents 1.601 percent of the U.S. population.  The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.41 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.16 percent of the U.S. population.

Reported in the Wall Street Journal this morning is news that there are more than 500 clinical trials underway world-wide in the race to find an effective treatment for COVID-19.

The public at-large believes that a “vaccine” is the only way to control COVID-19. Yet there are other treatments being investigated as well, with one approach using “message signaling cells,” or MSCs, something found in the blood vessels in our bodies.  MSCs sport what the article calls a “one-two-three punch” in that these cells eliminate the COVID-19 virus, but also calm over-reaction of the immune system and repair damaged cells.

Mount Sinai Hospital in New York has used MSCs to treat patients on ventilators, with more than 80 percent of individuals who otherwise would have died now recovered. The expansion of MSC treatments to other hospitals is expected before the end of September.

The statistics for today… and by-the-way, the recovered cases will be posted first moving forward since recovered cases as a percentage are nearly thee times the number of active cases!

The 5,326,651 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down in terms of status as follows as of this morning:

*Recovered cases — 3,819,102 individuals or 71.7 percent, 71.1 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Active cases — 1,342,382 cases or 25.2 percent, 25.8 percent yesterday
*Deaths — 165,170 deaths or 3.1 percent, 3.1 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


While new cases grew by 55,364 in the past 24 hours as of 12:01 today, the total number of active cases DECLINED by 18,867 cases offset by a daily record-setting high of 72,950 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column.  This is now the 18th straight day of higher recovery numbers vs. new cases!

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals 68,524,602, with close to a million tests, 966,974, completed in the last 24 hours. Ignore the news media reporting that the number of tests conducted in the U.S. is declining.  The stories are not true. In the last seven days, 5.4 million COVID-19 tests were completed in the U.S.

The four expansion states, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 41.0 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These four states account for 29.9 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, today they index at 137 — or 37 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID cases.

*California — 7,876 new cases, 9,090 yesterday
*Texas — 7,236 new cases,  6,305 yesterday
*Florida — 6,236 new cases, 8,109 yesterday
*Arizona — 1,351 new cases, 706 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 13.5 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 9.5 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, they index at  142 — or 42 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*Georgia — 2,515 new cases, 3,565 yesterday
*South Carolina — 935 new cases, 844 yesterday
*North Carolina — 2,657 new cases, 249 yesterday — 4th highest state count today, but there was an apparently delay in the reporting yesterday — see yesterday’s count
*Alabama — 771 new cases, 935 yesterday
*Mississippi — 612 new cases, 1,081 yesterday.



The five early case states account for 6.8 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 17.6 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, they index at 39, or 61 percent below proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*New York — 823 new cases, 773 yesterday
*New Jersey — 361 new cases, 372 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 423 new cases, 293 yesterday
*Michigan — 1,167 new cases, 476 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 987 new cases, 902 yesterday.



Seven more states posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,834 new cases
*Louisiana — 1,135 cases
*Tennessee — 2,118 new cases
*Ohio — 1,191 new cases
*Virginia — 1,101 new cases
*Indiana — 1,043 new cases
*Missouri — 1,491 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 1,284 . compared to the 1,386 deaths that posted yesterday. 44.5 percent of the deaths took place in the four expansion states.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 17,239. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.3 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the mainstream now totals 3,819,102 — that is 185 percent MORE than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

!!Thursday, August 13, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the number of total tracked COVID-19 cases in the United States represents 1.60 percent of the population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.41 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.13 percent of the U.S. population.

The 5,271,287 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date break down in terms of status as follows:

*Active cases — 1,361,249 cases or 25.8 percent, 26.4 percent yesterday
*recovered cases — 3,745,152 individuals or 70.5 percent, 70.1 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*deaths — 163,886 deaths or 3.1 percent, 3.1 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


When you hear about the 5.2 Million COVID-19 cases being bounced around by the mainstream media, as of today, divide that number by four and that’s close to the number of actual active cases.

While new cases grew by 54,345 in the past 24 hours, the total number of active cases declined by 13,562 cases, offset by the 66,521 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column. This is now the 17th straight day of higher recovery numbers vs. new cases!

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals 67,555,728, with 614,133 tests completed in the last 24 hours.

Dividing all the tests conducted to-date by the number of positive COVID-19 cases identified, for every 100 tests administered, 8 individuals have tested positive. On June 1, approximately 75 days ago, for every 100 tests administered, 17 individuals tested positive for COVID-19. That is a dramatic drop. However, back in June, an individual essentially had to be experiencing symptoms to be tested whereas today, any one that wants to be tested can be tested.  That said, the incidence level of COVID-19 has declined among those being tested.

Also, FYI, on June 1, the number of tests completed in the U.S. totaled just over 17 million.  Between then and today, 50 million more tests have been conducted.

The four expansion states,, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 44.5 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These four states account for 29.9 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, today they index at 149, or 49 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID cases.

*California — 9,090 new cases, 11,945 yesterday
*Texas — 6,305 new cases,  7,976 yesterday
*Florida — 8,109 new cases, 5,831 yesterday
*Arizona — 706 new cases, 1,214 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 12.3 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 9.5 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, they index at  129 — or 29 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

Georgia — 3,565 new cases, 3,536 yesterday — fourth highest state count today

*South Carolina — 844 new cases, 972 yesterday
*North Carolina — 249 new cases, 1,430 yesterday
*Alabama — 935 new cases, 831 yesterday
*Mississippi — 1,081 new cases, 644 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 5.2 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 17.6 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, they index at 30 — or 70 percent below proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*New York — 773 new cases, 711 yesterday
*New Jersey — 372 new cases, 360 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 293 new cases, 392 yesterday
*Michigan — 476 new cases, 907 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 902 new cases, 792 yesterday.


Five more states posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,645 new cases
*Louisiana — 1,179 cases
*Tennessee — 1,478 new cases
*Missouri — 1,472 new cases
*Kentucky — 1,152 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 1,386 compared to the 1,504 deaths posted yesterday. 44.5 percent of the deaths took place in the four expansion states.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 17,320 as of 12:01am today.  The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.2 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the main stream of society now totals 3,746,152 — that is 175 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

!!Wednesday, August 12, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the number of total tracked COVID-19 cases in the United States represents 1.58 percent of the population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.41 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.11 percent of the U.S. population.

The 5,216,942 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down in terms of status as follows:

*Active cases — 1,374,811 cases or 26.4 percent, 26.8 percent yesterday
*Recovered cases — 3,679,631 individuals or 70.5 percent, 70.1 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Death — 162,500 deaths or 3.1 percent, 3.1 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


While new cases grew by 54,519 in the past 24 hours, the total number of active cases declined by 11,014 cases offset by the 64,029 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column. This is now the 16th straight day of higher recovery numbers vs. new cases!

The number of tests administered here in the U.S. now totals 66,944,595, with 765,980 tests completed in the last 24 hours.

The four expansion states,, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 49.5 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These four states account for 29.9 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, today they index at 166 — or 66 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID cases.

*California — 11,945 new cases, 10,752 yesterday
*Texas — 7,976 new cases,  6,401 yesterday
*Florida — 5,831 new cases, 4,155 yesterday
*Arizona — 1,214 new cases, 600 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 13.6 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 9.5 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, they index at  143 — or 43 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

Georgia — 3,536 new cases, 2,429 yesterday, the fourth highest state count today

*South Carolina — 972 new cases, 724 yesterday
*North Carolina — 1,430 new cases, 1,164 yesterday
*Alabama — 831 new cases, 1,686 yesterday
*Mississippi — 644 new cases, 476 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 5.8 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 17.6 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, they index at 33 — or 67 percent Below Proportionate “Average” in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*New York — 711 new cases, 593 yesterday
*New Jersey — 360 new cases, 472 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 392 new cases, 275 yesterday
*Michigan — 907 new cases, 580 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 792 new cases, 957 yesterday.


Five more states posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,549 new cases
*Louisiana — 1,164 cases
*Tennessee — 1,001 new cases
*Ohio — 1,093 new cases
*Missouri — 1,031 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 1,504 compared to the 569 deaths that posted yesterday, 49.5 percent of the deaths took place in the four expansion states. Nursing homes in Texas and Florida are contributing a sizable portion of the deaths.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 17,339. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.2 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered now totals 3,379,631, that is 168 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

!!Tuesday, August 11, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the number of total tracked COVID-19 cases in the United States represents 1.56 percent of the population.  The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.41 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.09 percent of the U.S. population.

Yesterday, a person I greatly admire sent some rich observations based on the numbers published in this column each day.  David Bradley serves as the President/CEO of the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce.

David observed in yesterday's numbers:

*The least active cases since July 17th
*The least new cases since July 6th
*Fourteen straight days of higher recovery numbers vs. new cases.


He is smack on target with the observations. Athens is a haven of creativity and innovation and it is that asset — creativity and innovation — that will drive business growth post-COVID!

Here are today’s numbers:

The 5,162,423 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down in terms of status as follows as of 12:01 a.m. ET:

*Active cases — 1,385,825 cases or 26.8 percent, 27.3 percent yesterday
*Recovered cases — 3,615,602 individuals or 70.1 percent, 69.6 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Deaths — 160,996 deaths or 3.1 percent, 3.1 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


While new cases grew by 49,800 in the past 24 hours as of this morning, the total number of active cases declined by 12,340 cases, offset by the 61,671 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column.  This is now the fifteenth straight day of higher recovery numbers vs. new cases!

The number of tests administered here in the U.S. now totals 66,178,615, with 745,364 tests completed in the last 24 hours.

The four expansion states,, the four top states to post the highest counts, account for 44.0 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These four states account for 29.9 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, today they index at 147, or 47 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*California — 10,752 new cases, 6,836 yesterday
*Texas — 6,401 new cases,  5,803 yesterday
*Florida — 4,155 new cases, 6,229 yesterday
*Arizona — 600 new cases, 816 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 13.0 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 9.5 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, they index at  137, or 37 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*Georgia — 2,429 new cases, 3,169 yesterday — the fourth highest state count again today
*South Carolina — 724 new cases, 975 yesterday
*North Carolina — 1,164 new cases, 1,166 yesterday
*Alabama — 1,686 new cases, 1,161 yesterday
*Mississippi — 476 new cases, 527 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 5.8 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 17.6 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, they index at 33, or 67 percent aelow proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*New York — 593 new cases, 604 yesterday
*New Jersey — 472 new cases, 192 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 275 new cases, 329 yesterday
*Michigan — 580 new cases, 535 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 957 new cases, 646 yesterday.


Three more states posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,319 new cases
*Tennessee — 1,202 new cases
*Missouri — 1,682 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 569, compared to the 534 deaths posted yesterday. 52.7 percent of the deaths took place in the four expansion states.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 17,589.. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.3 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the mainstream now totals 3,615,602, that is 161 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

Support creative and innovative businesses!

!!Monday, August 10, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the number of total tracked COVID-19 cases represents 1.55 percent of the population of the United States. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.42 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.08 percent of the U.S. population.

Today, the mainstream media could be Chicken Little with the cry, “The sky is falling, the sky is falling!” MSM is obsessed with announcing that the U.S. COVID cases tops over five million individuals. Too bad they will not acknowledge the rest of the story — that of those five million individuals, nearly 70 percent — 3.5 million —have recovered! The number of active cases is now below 1.4 million and the percentage of individuals passing has dropped to 3.2 percent.

The 5,112,623 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. this morning breaks down in terms of status as follows:

*Active cases — 1,398,165 cases or 27.3 percent, 27.8 percent yesterday
*Recovered cases — 3,554,031 individuals or 69.6 percent, 69.1 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Deaths — 160,427 deaths or 3.1 percent, 3.1 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


While new cases grew by 47,849 in the past 24 hours as of this morning, the total number of active cases declined by 8,885 cases offset by the 56,200 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column.

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals 65,433,251, with 733,704 tests completed in the last 24 hours.

Over the weekend I posted a “thank you” to all the healthcare workers treating COVID-19 patients. This week, let’s take a moment and thank not only all of the healthcare workers, but the other personnel, whether directing traffic, keeping people in line, or running the testing centers. Think, too, about the individuals in the labs processing the tests and those clerical workers in the offices making sure you are notified of your test results!

The four expansion states, or, the four top states to recently post the highest counts, account for 41.1 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These four states account for 29.9 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, today they index at 137, or 37 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID cases.

*California — 6,836 new cases, 7,031 yesterday
*Texas — 5,803 new cases,  6,892 yesterday
*Florida — 6,229 new cases, 8,502 yesterday
*Arizona — 816 new cases, 1,054 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 14.6 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 9.5 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, they index at  154, or 54 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*Georgia — 3,169 new cases, 4,423 yesterday, fourth highest state count today
*South Carolina — 975 new cases, 1,241 yesterday
*North Carolina — 1,166 new cases, 1,699 yesterday
*Alabama — 1,161 new cases, 1,800 yesterday
*Mississippi — 527 new cases, 1,210 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 4.8 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 17.6 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, they index at 27, or 73 percent below proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*New York — 604 new cases, 837 yesterday
*New Jersey — 192 new cases, 256 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 329 new cases, 420 yesterday
*Michigan — 535 new cases, 721 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 646 new cases, 588 yesterday.


There are four more states that have posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,382 new cases
*Louisiana — 2,653 new cases
*Tennessee — 2,127 new cases
*Indiana — 1,041 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 534 as of 12:01 a.m. this morning compared to the 976 deaths that posted yesterday. 48.7 percent of the deaths took place in the four expansion states. FYI, in both Wall Street Journal and New York Times, there are stories about significant increases in nursing home deaths in Texas and Florida.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 17,812 as of 12:01 a.m. today.  The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.3 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the mainstream now totals 3,554,031, that is, 154 percent more than the number of individuals currently active with COVID-19.

Just as we celebrate and acknowledge cancer survivors, the next time you are out in public, take a moment and share, “Let’s celebrate the 3.5 million+ individuals who are now COVID-19 virus-free survivors.”

Was Chicken Little ever known to be right?

!!Sunday, August 9, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning the number of total tracked COVID-19 cases represents 1.52 percent of the population of the United States. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.42 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.06 percent of the U.S. population.

This next week will be interesting!

Active cases will likely dip below 1.3 million. Recovered cases will cross over 3.5 million. And the projected number of COVID-19 deaths issued by numerous sources and quoted throughout the mainstream media predicted to top over 200,000 by August 15 will not take place.

In terms of percentages, the number of COVID-19 recoveries post over 70 percent and the number of active cases will continue to decline. It is very possible that that the percentage of deaths among the cases tracked will decline nationally below three percent.

The number of tests this week will top over 65 million — that translates to one out-of-every four adults 18+ in the U.S. will have been tested.

Here are the specific stats for today:

The 5,064,774 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down in terms of status as follows as of 12:01 a.m. this morning:

*Active cases — 1,407,050 cases, or 27.8 percent, 28.3 percent yesterday
*Recovered cases — 3,497,831 individuals, or 69.1 percent, 68.5 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Deaths — 159,893 deaths, or 3.1 percent, 3.2 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


While new cases grew by 54,139 in the past 24 hours, the total number of active cases declined by 14,200 cases offset by the 67,413 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into recovery

The number of tests administered here in the U.S. now totals 64,610,547, with 711,189 tests completed in the last 24 hours.

The four expansion states, or, the four top states to recently post the highest counts, account for 43.3 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These four states account for 29.9 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, today they index at 145, or 45 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID cases.

*California — 7,031 new cases, 7,904 yesterday
*Texas — 6,892 new cases, 7,675 yesterday
*Florida — 8,502 new cases, 7,686 yesterday
*Arizona — 1,054 new cases, 1,406 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 19.1 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 9.5 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, they index at 201, or 101 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*Georgia — 4,423 new cases, 4,109 yesterday; fourth highest state count today
*South Carolina — 1,241 new cases, 1,422 yesterday
*North Carolina — 1,699 new cases, 1,778 yesterday
*Alabama — 1,800 new cases, 1,709 yesterday
*Mississippi — 1,210 new cases, 1,036 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 5.2 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 17.6 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, they index at 29, or 71 percent below proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*New York — 837 new cases, 823 yesterday
*New Jersey — 256 new cases, 320 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 420 new cases, 417 yesterday
*Michigan — 721 new cases, 814 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 588 new cases, 784 yesterday.


There are seven more states that have posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 2,190 new cases
*Louisiana — 1,756 new cases
*Tennessee — 1,803 new cases
*Ohio — 1,289 new cases
*Virginia — 1,307 new cases
*Indiana — 1,033 new cases
*Wisconsin — 1,165 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 976 compared to 1,290 deaths that posted yesterday. 52.0 percent of the deaths took place in the four expansion states.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 18,020. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.2 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the mainstream now totals 3,497,831, that is 149 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

!!Saturday, August 8, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning the number of total tracked COVID-19 cases represents 1.42 percent of the U.S. population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.43 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.04 percent of the U.S. population.

As done each Saturday, a slightly different format is used to expand on the local numbers. In addition to national numbers, the region's area comprised of the following is highlighted:

The primary five counties of the Greater Atlanta area — Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Cobb and Clayton counties — and the six counties of the Greater Athens area — Clarke, Oconee, Barrow, Jackson, Madison, and Oglethorpe counties.

Below is a table that provides the numerical count of total COVID-19 cases: active cases based on the U.S. 14-day national recovery time, recovered cases based on the U.S. 14-day national recovery time, and deaths either directly or indirectly attributed to COVID-19, according to local authorities.

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The next table provides the percentage count of total COVID-19 cases, active cases based on the U.S. 14-day national recovery time, recovered cases based on the U.S. 14-day national recovery time, and deaths either directly or indirectly attributed to COVID-19, according to local authorities. More than 70 percent of year-to-date COVID-19 cases in Greater Athens have now recovered.

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Here is a specific breakdown of the stats for the Atlanta five core counties.

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Here is a specific breaks of the stats for the six Greater Athens counties.

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Nationally, while new cases grew by 63,246 in the past 24 hours, the total number of active cases declined by 15,984 cases, offset by the 77,940 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into recovery.

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals 63,899,358, with 756,238 tests completed in the last 24 hours. In the last week, the number of tests completed in the U.S. increased by 5,619,258.

Please take a moment today and in the coming week to let the healthcare workers you know — and the healthcare workers you see in public — that they are championed as heroes! And they are!

The four expansion states, or, the four top states to recently post the highest counts, account for 39.0 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These four states account for 29.9 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, today they index at 130, or 30 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID cases.

*California — 7,904 new cases, 8,505 yesterday
*Texas — 7,675 new cases, 7,330 yesterday
*Florida — 7,686 new cases, 7,650 yesterday
*Arizona — 1,406 new cases, 1,444 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 15.9 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 9.5 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, they index at 167, or 67 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*Georgia — 4,109 new cases, 3,182 yesterday — fourth highest state count today
*South Carolina — 1,422 new cases, 1,325 yesterday
*North Carolina — 1,778 new cases, 1,782 yesterday
*Alabama — 1,709 new cases, 1,938 yesterday
*Mississippi — 1,036 new cases, 956 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 5.0 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 17.6 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, they index at 30, or 70 percent below proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*New York — 823 new cases, 789 yesterday
*New Jersey — 320 new cases, 377 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 417 new cases, 231 yesterday
*Michigan — 814 new cases, 763 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 784 new cases, 802 yesterday.


There are seven more states that have posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 2,106 new cases
*Louisiana — 1,500 new cases
*Tennessee — 2,432 new cases
*Ohio — 1,204 new cases
*Virginia — 2,015 new cases
*Indiana — 1,239 new cases
*Arkansas — 1,011 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 1,290 compared to 1,203 deaths that posted yesterday. 52.3 percent of the deaths took place in the four expansion states.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 18,202. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.2 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the mainstream now totals 3,430,418, that is 141 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

!!Friday, August 7, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the number of total tracked COVID-19 cases represents 1.50 percent of the U.S. population.The number of active COVID-19 cases represents 0.43 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.04 percent of the U.S. population.

The 4,947,339 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down in terms of status as follows:

*Active cases — 1,437,234 cases or 29.1 percent, 29.6 percent yesterday, this is the 10th day in a row of a continued decline of active cases!
*Recovered cases — 3,352,478 individuals or 67.8 percent, 67.2 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Deaths — 157,627 deaths or 3.1 percent, 3.2 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


While new cases grew by 58,611 in the past 24 hours, the total number of active cases declined by 11,449 cases offset, by the 68,857 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column.

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals 63,143,120, with 761,825 tests completed in the last 24 hours.

The mainstream media is struggling to find news COVID-19 headline stories. Appearing in the Wall Street Journal this morning is a story titled, “Questions Over Testing Cloud Improving Case Count.”I thought the story was about reporting issues that happened earlier this week in a couple of districts in California with public testing site locations, but I was wrong. The story asserts that the declining COVID case counts are because the number of individuals being tested overall “could” be declining.

The average number of tests being completed in the U.S. now averages 750,000+. Last Saturday more than 1 million tests were completed in 24 hours.

The four expansion states, or, the four top states to recently post the highest counts, account for 42.5 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours as of 12:01 a.m. today. These four states account for 29.9 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, today they index at 142, or 42 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID cases.

*California — 8,505 new cases, 5,559 yesterday
*Texas — 7,330 new cases …9,625 yesterday
*Florida — 7,650 new cases, 5,409 yesterday
*Arizona — 1,444 new cases, 1,698 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 15.7 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 9.5 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, they index at 165, or 65 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*Georgia — 3,182 new cases, 3,765 yesterday; fourth highest state count today
*South Carolina — 1,325 new cases, 1,282 yesterday
*North Carolina — 1,782 new cases, 1,144 yesterday
*Alabama — 1,938 new cases, 952 yesterday
*Mississippi — 956 new cases, 1,245 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 5.1 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours These five states account for 17.6 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, they index at 29, or 61 percent below proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*New York — 789 new cases, 688 yesterday
*New Jersey — 377 new cases, 513 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 231 new cases, 440 yesterday
*Michigan — 763 new cases, 718 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 802 new cases, 727 yesterday.


There are six more states that have posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,953 new cases
*Louisiana — 1,303 new cases
*Tennessee — 2,252 new cases
*Ohio — 1,165 new cases
*Indiana — 1,040 new cases
*Missouri — 1,179 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 1,203 compared to the 1,311 deaths that posted yesterday. 42.5 percent of the deaths took place in the four expansion states — California, Florida, Texas and Arizona.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 18,296 as of this morning.The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.2 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the mainstream now totals 3,352,478, that is, 133 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

!!Thursday, August 6, 2020
Yesterday, I spoke with a regular reader of this column. He specifically asked how COVID-19 deaths stack up against deaths from ongoing threats like cancer, cardiac arrest, and stroke in the United States. He noted that you rarely hear the other conditions mentioned on the news and in public dialogue.

He asks a very good question.

As of this morning the number of deaths directly and indirectly related to COVID-19 totals 156,424. This daily tally has been tracked and reported in the U.S. since January, 2020.

Keep in mind, this also includes “indirectly-related” deaths. A share of deaths triggered by cardiac failure and/or strokes are being counted in the 156,424 number because the individual might also have been COVID-19 active.

Between January 1st and July 31st, here in the U.S.:

*377,416 individuals have died from heart disease
*354,013 individuals have died from cancer
*81,670 individuals have died from a stroke
*41,405 individuals have died from a drug overdose
*28,764 individuals have died from an auto accident.


These counts come from 2020 numbers released by CDC, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association and the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

As of this morning, the number of TOTAL tracked COVID-19 cases represents 1.48 percent of the U.S. population.  The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.43 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 1.04 percent of the U.S. population. The number of tracked flu cases in 2019-2020 represented 16.92 percent of the U.S. population.

The 4,888,728 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down in terms of status as follows as of 12:01 a.m. this morning:

*Active cases — 1,448,683 cases  or 29.6 percent, 30.3 percent yesterday
*Recovered cases — 3,283,621 individuals or 67.2 percent, 66.5 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Deaths — 156,424 deaths or 3.2 percent, 3.2 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


While new cases grew by 55,148 in the past 24 hours, the total number of active cases declined by 17,697 cases, offset by the 71,534 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column.

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals 62,381,295, with 759,379 tests completed in the last 24 hours.

The four expansion states, or, the four top states to recently post the highest counts, account for 40.4 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours as of 12:01 a.m. this morning… these four States account for 29.9 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, this morning they index at 135 — or 35 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID cases.

*California — 5,559 new cases, 5,156 yesterday
*Texas — 9,625 new cases,  11,210 yesterday
*Florida — 5,409 new cases, 5,446 yesterday
*Arizona — 1,698 new cases, 1,008 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 15.2 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours as of 12:01 a.m. this morning… these five States account for 9.5 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, they index at 160 — or 60 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*Georgia — 3,765 new cases, 2,413 yesterday — 4th highest state count this morning
*South Carolina — 1,282 new cases, 1,239 yesterday
*North Carolina — 1,144 new cases, 2,117 yesterday
*Alabama — 952 new cases, 1,041 yesterday
*Mississippi — 1,245 new cases, 1,034 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 5.6 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours as of 12:01 a.m. this morning… these five States account for 17.6 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, they index at 32 — or 68 percent below proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*New York — 688 new cases, 850 yesterday
*New Jersey — 513 new cases, 179 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 440 new cases, 546 yesterday
*Michigan — 718 new cases, 801 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 727 new cases, 828 yesterday.


There are six more states that have posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours…

*Illinois — 1,759 new cases
*Louisiana — 1,482 new cases
*Tennessee — 1,657 new cases
*Ohio — 1,189 new cases
*Missouri — 1,111 new cases
*Oklahoma — 1,101 new cases.
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The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 in the past 24 hours totaled 1,311 as of 12:01 a.m. this morning compared to the 1,362 deaths that posted yesterday. 53.5 percent of the deaths took place in the four expansion states There are a number of sources reporting that the death counts have risen largely as a result of COVID-19 affecting nursing homes in Florida, South Texas and parts of California.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 18,424 as of this morning.  The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.2 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the mainstream now totals 3,283,621, that is 127 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19. For every person that has died of COVID-19 to-date, 21 individuals have survived.

!!Wednesday, August 5, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the number of total tracked COVID-19 cases represents 1.46 percent of the population in the United States. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.44 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 0.98 percent of the U.S. population.

The 4,833,580 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down in terms of status as follows:

*Active cases — 1,466,380 cases or 30.3 percent, 31.0 percent yesterday
*Recovered cases — 3,212,087 individuals or 66.5 percent, 65.8 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Deaths — 155,113 deaths or 3.2 percent, 3.3 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


While new cases grew by 54,504 in the past 24 hours, the total number of active cases declined by 13,737 cases, offset by the 66,879 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into the recovered column.

The number of tests administered here in the U.S. now totals 61,621,916 — 682,194 tests completed in the last 24 hours.

The four expansion states, or, the four top states to recently post the highest counts, account for 41.9 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours as of 12:01 a.m. this morning. These four states account for 29.9 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, this morning they index at 140, or 40 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID cases.

*California — 5,156 new cases, 6,344 yesterday
*Texas — 11,210 new cases, 6,997 yesterday
*Florida — 5,446 new cases, 4,752 yesterday
*Arizona — 1,008 new cases, 1,030 yesterday.
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The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 14.6 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours as of 12:01 a.m. this morning. These five states account for 9.5 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, they index at 154, or 54 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*Georgia — 2,413 new cases, 2,258 yesterday, the fourth highest state count this morning
*South Carolina — 1,239 new cases, 1,163 yesterday
*North Carolina — 2,117 new cases, 981 yesterday — fifth highest state count this morning
*Alabama — 1,041 new cases, 1,217 yesterday
*Mississippi — 1,034 new cases, 572 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 5.9 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours as of 12:01 a.m. this morning. These five states account for 17.6 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, they index at 34, or 66 percent below proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*New York — 850 new cases, 695 yesterday
*New Jersey — 179 new cases, 418 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 546 new cases, 199 yesterday
*Michigan — 801 new cases, 613 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 828 new cases, 899 yesterday.


There is a set of six more states that have posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,471 new cases
*Louisiana — 1,873 new cases
*Tennessee — 1,806 new cases
*Virginia — 1,145 new cases
*Missouri — 1,352 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 totaled 1,362 as of 12:01 a.m. this morning compared to 568 deaths that posted yesterday. 52.3 percent of the deaths took place in the four expansion states.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 18,407 as of 12:01 a.m. this morning. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.2 percent of the total active cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the mainstream now totals 3,212,087, that is 119 percent MORE than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

!!Tuesday, August 4, 2020
As of 12:01 a.m. this morning, the total number of tracked COVID-19 cases represents 1.45 percent of the population in the United States. The number of active tracked COVID-19 cases represents 0.45 percent of the U.S. population. The number of survivors of COVID-19 represents 0.95 percent of the U.S. population.

The 4,779,076 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date now breaks down in terms of status as follows:

*Active cases — 1,494,443 cases or 31.6 percent, 31.6 percent yesterday
*Fully-recovered — 3,082,828 individuals or 65.2 percent, 65.8 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Deaths — 153,183 deaths or 3.3 percent, 3.3 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


While new cases grew by 48,622 in the past 24 hours, the total number of active cases declined by 14,326 cases offset by the 62,380 individuals who survived COVID-19 and have been moved into recovery.

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals just shy of 61 million, with more than a million — 1,004,214 — completed in the past 24 hours.

The four expansion states, or, the four top states to recently post the highest counts, account for 39.3 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These four states account for 29.9 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, today they index at 131 or 31 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID cases.

*California — 6,344 new cases, 9,397 yesterday
*Texas — 6,997 new cases,  4,618 yesterday
*Florida — 4,752 new cases, 7,104 yesterday
*Arizona — 1,030 new cases, 1,465 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 12.7 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 9.5 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, they index at 134 or 34 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*Georgia — 2,258 new cases, 3,165 yesterday, fourthth highest state count today
*South Carolina — 1,163 new cases, 1,189 yesterday
*North Carolina — 981 new cases, 1,673 yesterday
*Alabama — 1,217 new cases, 2,095 yesterday
*Mississippi — 572 new cases, 672 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 5.8 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours, they account for 17.6 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, they index at 33 or 67 percent below proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*New York — 695 new cases, 467 yesterday
*New Jersey — 418 new cases, 245 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 199 new cases, 418 yesterday
*Michigan — 613 new cases, 429 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 899 new cases, 570 yesterday.


There are six more states that have posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,298 new cases
*Louisiana — 1,099 new cases
*Tennessee — 1,009 new cases
*Virginia — 1,324 new cases
*Washington — 1,085 new cases
*Missouri — 1,593 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 totaled 568. compared to 467 deaths that posted yesterday. 54.6 percent of the deaths took place in California, Florida, Texas and Arizona.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 18,725..  The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.3 percent of the total ACTIVE cases.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the main stream of society now totals 3,145,208 — that is 112 percent MORE than the number of individuals that are currently ACTIVE with COVID-19.

The number of individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 will likely reach a new record number tomorrow with two-thirds of all COVID-19 patients tracked having battled COVID-19 and survived.

By the way, in this morning’s Wall Street Journal, a UCLA physician who has been very involved working with COVID-19 wrote an editorial. He concludes with this message, “And what should be done about the mass media and public derision that is haunting leaders and vexing citizens?  Everyone needs to simply stop participating. We need to get off this treadmill.”

!!Monday, August 3, 2020
To anchor readers again, the numbers reported in this column are derived from a combination of real-time updates received from Johns Hopkins, CDC, World Health Organization, United Nations COVID Tracking Reports and Worldometer. On an individual state level, each state’s Department of Public Health is resourced. The EXPERIENCE team tracks these numbers multiple times over the course of a day.

As of today 12:01 a.m. this morning, the total number of tracked COVID-19 cases represents 1.43 percent of the U.S. population. The number of active COVID-19 cases represents 0.45 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 0.93 percent of the U.S. population.

The 4,730,454 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 to-date breaks down in terms of status as follows as of 12:01 a.m. this morning:

*Active cases — 1,494,443 cases or 31.6 percent, 32.3 percent yesterday
*Fully-recovered — 3,082,828 individuals or 65.2 percent, 63.9 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Deaths — 153,183 deaths or 3.3 percent, 3.3 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


While new cases grew by 49,038 in the past 24 hours, the total number of active cases declined by 16,708 cases, offset by the 65,279 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into recovery.

Last Monday a total of 1,539,063 active cases was cited in this column. Today, the number of active cases has declined to 1,494,443, or, a decline of 44,620 cases

The number of tests administered in the U.S. now totals 59,935,508 to-date. A total of 708,699 tests were completed in the U.S. in the past 24 hours.

The four expansion states, or, the four top states to recently post the highest counts, account for 46.1 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These four states account for 29.9 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, today they index at 154 — or 54 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID cases.

*California — 9,397 new cases, 7,382 yesterday
*Texas — 4,618 new cases,  6,720 yesterday
*Florida — 7,104 new cases, 9,642 yesterday
*Arizona — 1,465 new cases, 2,992 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 17.9 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 9.5 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, they index at 188 — or 88 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*Georgia — 3,165 new cases, 3,660 yesterday
*South Carolina — 1,189 new cases, 1,583 yesterday
*North Carolina — 1,673 new cases, 1,264yesterday
*Alabama — 2,095 new cases, 1,625 yesterday
*Mississippi — 672 new cases, 1,134 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 4.3 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These five states account for 17.6 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, they index at 24 — or 76 percent below proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*New York — 467 new cases, 643 yesterday
*New Jersey — 245 new cases, 269 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 418 new cases, 438 yesterday
*Michigan — 429 new cases, 758 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 570 new cases, 681 yesterday.


There are four more states that have posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,467 new cases
*Louisiana — 3,467 new cases — 4th highest state count today
*Tennessee — 1,443 new cases
*Nevada — 1,131 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 total 467 as of this morning, compared to the 1,123 deaths posted yesterday. 41.3 percent of the deaths took place in the four expansion states — California, Florida, Texas and Arizona.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 18,673 as of this morning. The number of “critical/serious” cases represents 1.2 percent of the total active cases.

Those who have recovered and are back in the mainstream now total 3,082,828, that is 106 percent more than the number of individuals that are currently active with COVID-19.

!!Sunday, August 2, 2020
As of this morning, the number of TOTAL tracked COVID-19 cases in the United States represents 1.42 percent of the population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.45 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 survivor cases represents 0.91 percent of the U.S. population.

The 4,622,987 individuals in the U.S. that have been tracked with having encountered COVID-19 as of 12:01 a.m. break down in terms of status as follows:

*Active cases — 1,511,151 cases or 32.3 percent, 33.4 percent yesterday
*Fully-recovered — 3,017,549 individuals or 63.9 percent, 63.3 percent yesterday (based on 14-day U.S. universal recovery time)
*Deaths — 152,716 deaths or 3.3 percent, 3.3 percent yesterday (COVID-19 direct and indirect cause of death).


While new cases grew by 58,429 in the past 24 hours, the total number of active cases declined by 5,923 cases, offset by the 673,259 individuals surviving COVID-19 and moving into recovery.

The number of tests administered here in the U.S. now totals 59,226,909 to-date. A total of 635,857 tests were completed in the U.S. in the past 24 hours.

The four expansion states, or, the four top states to recently post the highest counts, account for 45.7 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours. These four states account for 29.9 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, today they index at 153 — or 53 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*California — 7,382 new cases, 7,878 yesterday
*Texas — 6,720 new cases, 9,750 yesterday
*Florida — 9,642 new cases, 9,007 yesterday
*Arizona — 2,992 new cases, 3,212 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 15.9 percent of the new cases in the past 24. These five states account for 9.5 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, they index at 167 or 67 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*Georgia — 3,660 new cases, 4,066 yesterday — 4th highest state count again today
*South Carolina — 1,583 new cases, 1,444 yesterday
*North Carolina — 1,264 new cases, 2,012 yesterday
*Alabama — 1,625 new cases, 1,961 yesterday
*Mississippi — 1,134 new cases, 1,168 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 4.8 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours as of 12:01 a.m. this morning. These five states account for 17.6 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, they index at 27 — or 73 percent below proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*New York — 643 new cases, 745 yesterday
*New Jersey — 269 new cases, 559 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 428 new cases, 514 yesterday
*Michigan — 758 new cases, 793 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 681 new cases, 934 yesterday.


There are seven more states that have posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours:

*Illinois — 1,639 new cases
*Louisiana — 1,352 new cases
*Maryland — 1,019 new cases
*Wisconsin — 1,062 new cases
*Oklahoma — 1,244 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 totaled 1,123 as of this morning, compared to 1,462 deaths that posted yesterday. More than half, 56.7 percent, of the deaths took place in the four expansion states.

The number of “critical/serious” cases totaled 18,750 as of 12:01 a.m. this morning.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the main stream of society now totals 3,017,549, double the number of individuals than are currently active with COVID-19.

!!Saturday, August 1, 2020
As of this morning, the number of total tracked COVID-19 cases in the United States represents 1.40 percent of the population. The number of tracked active COVID-19 cases represents 0.45 percent of the U.S. population. The number of COVID-19 SURVIVOR cases represents 0.89 percent of the U.S. population.

With every Saturday I offer presentation of the local numbers by breaking down those of two major areas — the greater Atlanta metro area and its five primary counties — Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Cobb and Clayton — and greater Athens including its six contributing counties — Clarke, Oconee, Barrow, Jackson, Madison, and Oglethorpe.

The table below provides the number of total COVID-19 cases, active cases based on the U.S. 14-day national recovery time, recovered cases based on the U.S. 14-day national recovery time, and deaths as cited either directly or indirectly by the local authorities.

The number of cases year-to-date in the five Atlanta counties account for 35.1 percent of the 186,352 COVID-19 cases tracked to-date statewide in Georgia. The five Atlanta counties account for 35.7 percent of the Georgia population.

The number of cases year-to-date in the six greater Athens counties account for 2.4 percent of the 186,352 COVID-19 cases tracked to-date statewide in Georgia. As a group, the six greater Athens counties account for 3.4 percent of the Georgia population.

Recovered cases in greater Athens represent more than double the number of active cases as of this morning!.

::::

The next table provides the percentage count of total COVID-19 cases, active cases based on the U.S. 14-Day national recovery time, recovered cases based on the U.S. 14-day national recovery time and deaths as cited either directly or indirectly by the local authorities. Nearly two-thirds of year-to-date COVID-19 cases in greater Athens have now recovered.

::::

Here is a specific breakdown of the stats for the five Atlanta counties. Note that the number of active cases in all the counties has declined in the past week (August 1 vs. July 25), similar to what is happening country-wide in the U.S.

::::

Here is a specific breaks of the stats for the greater Athens six counties. The number of active cases has declined in Athens-Clarke County, Oconee and Oglethorpe counties as compared to the active count posting last Saturday July 25.

::::

On a national level, the total number of new cases tracked in the past 24 hours as of 12:01 a.m. this morning has increased by 70,904 new active COVID-19 cases. However, the total number of new cases tracked has been offset by the 74,388 individuals who moved into RECOVERY based on the national 14-day recovery period. The number of active COVID-19 cases again decreased by 4,946 individuals — a daily decrease that has taken place four days in a row.

A new record number of tests completed in 24 hours took place yesterday in the U.S. Over one million tests were conducted in the past 24 hour — 1,067,190. The total number of test completed in the U.S. now tops out over 58 million — 58,591,052. Essentially one out of every four adults have taken a COVID-19 test.

The four expansion states, or, the four top states to recently post the highest counts, account for 42.1 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours as of 12:01 a.m. this morning. These four states account for 29.9 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, this morning they index at 141, or 41 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID cases.

*California — 7,878 new cases, 8,174 yesterday
*Texas — 9,750 new cases,  8,843 yesterday
*Florida — 9,007 new cases, 9,956 yesterday
*Arizona — 3,212 new cases, 2,525 yesterday.


The five southeastern states previously identified as experiencing a rise in COVID-19 cases account for 15.0 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours as of 12:01 a.m. this morning. These five states account for 9.5 percent of the U.S. population.  As a group, they index at 158, or 58 percent above proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

Georgia — 4,066 new cases, 3,936 yesterday — 4th highest state count again this morning

*South Carolina — 1,444 new cases, 1,726 yesterday
*North Carolina — 2,012 new cases, 2,588 yesterday
*Alabama — 1,961 new cases, 1,980 yesterday
*Mississippi — 1,168 new cases, 1,775 yesterday.


The five early case states account for 5.0 percent of the new cases in the past 24 hours as of 12:01 a.m. this morning. These five states account for 17.6 percent of the U.S. population. As a group, they index at 28, or 72 percent below proportionate average in the posting of new COVID-19 cases.

*New York — 745 new cases, 940 yesterday
*New Jersey — 559 new cases, 432 yesterday
*Massachusetts — 514 new cases, 414 yesterday
*Michigan — 793 new cases, 807 yesterday
*Pennsylvania — 934 new cases, 869 yesterday.


There are seven more states that have posted more than 1,000 cases in the past 24 hours.

*Illinois — 1,980 new cases
*Louisiana — 1,799 new cases
*Tennessee — 3,088 new cases
*Ohio — 1,531 new cases
*Maryland — 1,169 new cases
*Missouri — 1,547 new cases
*Nevada — 1,264 new cases.


The number of deaths either directly or indirectly linked to COVID-19 total 1,462 as of 12:01 a.m. this morning compared to 1,465 deaths that posted yesterday… More than half — 55.4 percent — of the deaths took place in the four expansion states — California, Florida, Texas and Arizona.

The number of “critical/serious” cases total 17,958 as of 12:01 a.m. this morning.

The number of those who have recovered and are back in the main stream of society now totals 2,954,290 — that is 95 percent more individuals that have recovered than are currently active with COVID-19.       0,0,10    covid-page                       Coronavirus: The Numbers — August 2020 "
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  string(2559) "It won’t be live and in person at the Park Tavern, but the blues department at WRFG, the community station responsible for over 20 hours of weekly local blues programming, isn’t going to let a world pandemic get in the way of its annual Labor Day Blues BBQ. The blues has survived wars and various upheavals throughout its history, with its mojo intact. Celebration of the genre will not be stopped by COVID-19. Credit those true believers at WRFG for thinking outside the box as the world grapples with a debilitating virus that shows little signs of easing its attack.

While this year the concert will not take place in front of hundreds of blues fans, the show will go on — virtually, of course — for what is the event’s 35th anniversary.

To celebrate, and hopefully raise some much needed operational dollars, the station — 89.3 on your FM dial — will be broadcasting pre-recorded performances created especially for this virtual Labor Day concert, Monday, September 7, from 1-8:30 p.m. Those away from their radios may catch videos of the  performances on the station's website, Facebook page, and YouTube channel.

The lineup of 23 local and nationally known musicians and bands (as of press time) is impressive and, like the station’s programming, diverse. Each will play two to five songs with WRFG’s all-volunteer veteran DJs handling between-set introductions and announcements.

According to DJ Rich Pettit, “Everything is video, almost all … recorded exclusively for this event and ones that were not (Delta Moon, Frankie's Blues Mission) are pre-COVID concert performances with a new introduction by the artist or a band member.”

It won’t be as much fun as slinging back a few cold ones and chomping on tasty ribs with a tent full of boisterous blues lovers, but it’ll do until next year when things (hopefully) will be back to normal. Or some semblance of it.

Check the WRFG 2020 Blues BBQ webpage for updates as the event gets closer. For now, the list of performers, in alphabetical order, includes: 

*Geoff Achison 
*Baatin (pronounced bah-teen) 
*Selwyn Birchwood 
*The Blues Dude, Stephen Duncan 
*Ben Bostick 
*Churchwood 
*Colin Alvarez 
*Delta Moon 
*Eddie 9 Volt 
*Tinsley Ellis 
*Jeff Evans (of Chickens and Pigs) 
*Frankie's Blues Mission 
*The Hickoids 
*Peter Karp 
*The Little G Weevil Acoustic Band 
*Michelle Malone 
*Lisa Mills 
*Mudcat 
*The Radio Ramblers   
*Seth Walker 
*Stagga Lee’s Goodtime 
*Mandi Strachota 
*The Wasted Potential Brass Band
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  string(3591) "~~black:It won’t be live and in person at the Park Tavern, but the blues department at [business-2925-wrfg-radio-free-georgia|WRFG], the community station responsible for over 20 hours of weekly local blues programming, isn’t going to let a world pandemic get in the way of its annual [content-476093-wrfg-annual-labor-day-blues-bbq|Labor Day Blues BBQ]. The blues has survived wars and various upheavals throughout its history, with its mojo intact. Celebration of the genre will not be stopped by COVID-19. Credit those true believers at WRFG for thinking outside the box as the world grapples with a debilitating virus that shows little signs of easing its attack.~~

~~black:~~black:~~black:While this year the concert will not take place in front of hundreds of blues fans, the show will go on — virtually, of course — for what is the event’s 35th anniversary.~~~~~~

~~black:~~black:~~black:~~black:~~black:To celebrate, and hopefully raise some much needed operational dollars, the station — 89.3 on your FM dial — will be broadcasting pre-recorded performances created especially for this virtual Labor Day concert, Monday, September 7, from 1-8:30 p.m. Those away from their radios may catch videos of the  performances on the station's [https://wrfg.org|website], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/WRFG89.3|page], and YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4d5cB6hFyA5N8Fmwl2GXng|channel].~~~~~~~~~~

~~black:~~black:~~black:~~black:~~black:~~black:~~black:The lineup of 23 local and nationally known musicians and bands (as of press time) is impressive and, like the station’s programming, diverse. Each will play two to five songs with WRFG’s all-volunteer veteran DJs handling between-set introductions and announcements.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~black:~~black:~~black:~~black:~~black:~~black:~~black:~~black:~~black:According to DJ Rich Pettit, “Everything is video, almost all … recorded exclusively for this event and ones that were not (Delta Moon, Frankie's Blues Mission) are pre-COVID concert performances with a new introduction by the artist or a band member.”~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~black:~~black:~~black:~~black:~~black:~~black:~~black:~~black:~~black:~~black:~~black:It won’t be as much fun as slinging back a few cold ones and chomping on tasty ribs with a tent full of boisterous blues lovers, but it’ll do until next year when things (hopefully) will be back to normal. Or some semblance of it.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~black:~~black:~~black:~~black:~~black:~~black:~~black:~~black:~~black:~~black:~~black:~~black:~~black:Check the WRFG 2020 Blues BBQ [https://wrfg.org/2020-blues-bbq/|webpage] for updates as the event gets closer. For now, the list of performers, in alphabetical order, includes:~~black: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*~~black:[person-476094-geoff-achison|Geoff Achison] ~~
*~~black:Baatin (pronounced bah-teen) ~~
*~~black:Selwyn Birchwood ~~
*~~black:The Blues Dude, Stephen Duncan ~~
*~~black:Ben Bostick ~~
*~~black:Churchwood ~~
*~~black:Colin Alvarez ~~
*~~black:Delta Moon ~~
*~~black:Eddie 9 Volt ~~
*~~black:Tinsley Ellis ~~
*~~black:Jeff Evans (of Chickens and Pigs) ~~
*~~black:Frankie's Blues Mission ~~
*~~black:The Hickoids ~~
*~~black:Peter Karp ~~
*~~black:The Little G Weevil Acoustic Band ~~
*~~black:Michelle Malone ~~
*~~black:Lisa Mills ~~
*~~black:[group-426789-danny-mudcat-dudek|Mudcat] ~~
*~~black:The Radio Ramblers   ~~
*~~black:Seth Walker ~~
*~~black:Stagga Lee’s Goodtime ~~
*~~black:Mandi Strachota ~~
*~~black:The Wasted Potential Brass Band~~
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  string(3140) " BLUES ONLINE Jontavious BBQ  2020-09-02T17:37:40+00:00 BLUES_ONLINE_Jontavious_BBQ.jpg     blues&beyond Even this pandemic can’t stop WRFG’s annual Labor Day Blues throwdown BLUES ONLINE Jontavious BBQ   2020-09-02T17:22:54+00:00  Coronavirus Labor Day Blues jim.harris Jim Harris Hal Horowitz hal2222 (Hal Horowitz) 2020-09-02T17:22:54+00:00 It won’t be live and in person at the Park Tavern, but the blues department at WRFG, the community station responsible for over 20 hours of weekly local blues programming, isn’t going to let a world pandemic get in the way of its annual Labor Day Blues BBQ. The blues has survived wars and various upheavals throughout its history, with its mojo intact. Celebration of the genre will not be stopped by COVID-19. Credit those true believers at WRFG for thinking outside the box as the world grapples with a debilitating virus that shows little signs of easing its attack.

While this year the concert will not take place in front of hundreds of blues fans, the show will go on — virtually, of course — for what is the event’s 35th anniversary.

To celebrate, and hopefully raise some much needed operational dollars, the station — 89.3 on your FM dial — will be broadcasting pre-recorded performances created especially for this virtual Labor Day concert, Monday, September 7, from 1-8:30 p.m. Those away from their radios may catch videos of the  performances on the station's website, Facebook page, and YouTube channel.

The lineup of 23 local and nationally known musicians and bands (as of press time) is impressive and, like the station’s programming, diverse. Each will play two to five songs with WRFG’s all-volunteer veteran DJs handling between-set introductions and announcements.

According to DJ Rich Pettit, “Everything is video, almost all … recorded exclusively for this event and ones that were not (Delta Moon, Frankie's Blues Mission) are pre-COVID concert performances with a new introduction by the artist or a band member.”

It won’t be as much fun as slinging back a few cold ones and chomping on tasty ribs with a tent full of boisterous blues lovers, but it’ll do until next year when things (hopefully) will be back to normal. Or some semblance of it.

Check the WRFG 2020 Blues BBQ webpage for updates as the event gets closer. For now, the list of performers, in alphabetical order, includes: 

*Geoff Achison 
*Baatin (pronounced bah-teen) 
*Selwyn Birchwood 
*The Blues Dude, Stephen Duncan 
*Ben Bostick 
*Churchwood 
*Colin Alvarez 
*Delta Moon 
*Eddie 9 Volt 
*Tinsley Ellis 
*Jeff Evans (of Chickens and Pigs) 
*Frankie's Blues Mission 
*The Hickoids 
*Peter Karp 
*The Little G Weevil Acoustic Band 
*Michelle Malone 
*Lisa Mills 
*Mudcat 
*The Radio Ramblers   
*Seth Walker 
*Stagga Lee’s Goodtime 
*Mandi Strachota 
*The Wasted Potential Brass Band
     Rich Pettit GEORGIA BLUE: Jontavious Willis performing at 2018’s WRFG Blues BBQ in 2018.  0,0,10  2022 WRFG Annual Labor Day Blues BBQ cl issue september 2020 blues&beyond                       Coronavirus Labor Day Blues "
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  string(5942) "The Atlanta Film Festival

The Atlanta Film Festival usual takes place in April, but the pandemic caused it to be postponed to September 17-27. (It seemed reasonable to assume that the virus would have abated by then.) The 44th Atlanta Film Festival, along with the 10th annual Creative Conference, will feature up to 150 short and feature-length narrative films and documentaries via drive-ins and digital screenings, as well as virtual educational events. While the schedule was being finalized at press time due to the format change, the program should include films from 40 countries, including 20 percent with Georgia connections.


Films with local hooks include The Outside Story, a wry character study starring “Atlanta”’s Brian Tyree Henry. Zach Lamplugh of Adult Swim directs a comedy with the memorable title 15 Things You Didn't Know About Bigfoot: Number 1 Will Blow Your Mind, in which a Vice-style web journalist reluctantly pursues a story with a Bigfoot expert in the North Georgia mountains. It’s a little like a Christopher Guest comedy by way of The Blair Witch Project. In addition, the shorts program “Stomping Grounds” also showcases Georgia productions.

Films already acclaimed through limited release include Flannery, a documentary about legendary Georgia author Flannery O’Connor, and Lucky Grandma, about an ornery, chain-smoking grandmother making an unexpected trek through the underworld of New York’s Chinatown.

Go to atlantafilmfestival.com for schedule, ticketing and other information.

Out on Film Festival


The ATLFF rescheduling means that it will overlap for the first weekend of this year’s Out on Film Festival, held September 24-October 4. The 33rd Atlanta celebration of LGBTQ cinema will include about 45 feature films and documentaries as well as 15 shorts programs. Local highlights include Surviving the Silence from Atlanta director Cindy L. Abel. The documentary profiles Col. Pat Thompson, who presided over Col. Margarethe Cammermeyer’s famous Army discharge hearing for being gay, although Thompson herself was a closeted lesbian at the time. The festival will host a 40th-anniversary screening of Fame, the musical drama directed by the recently deceased Alan Parker.



Go to outonfilm.org for schedule, ticketing and other information.

Atlanta Jewish Film Festival

While some smaller festivals, such as the November Buried Alive Film Festival, have been bumped to 2021, submissions are open for the 21st Atlanta Jewish Film Festival. (The dates have not yet been announced, but it’s normally held in February.) The annual showcase of films by Jewish filmmakers or about the Jewish experience reliably conveys a sense of glitz and glamor to rival any other film event on the calendar.

And 5. The Plaza Theatre and Videodrome

Each historic in their own way, these Poncey-Highland neighbors serve as the intersection for the most passionate but unpretentious facets of Atlanta film culture. The Plaza Theatre is Atlanta’s oldest continuously-operating movie house, while Videodrome remains an impeccably curated, brick-and-mortar video rental shop. Not to be missed are their “Plazadrome” collaborative film screenings of vintage cult movies, including the likes of 1988’s The Blob at socially-distant “pop-up” drive-in screenings. (But don’t overlook The Starlight Drive-In as a great option for seeing movies on a clear night.)

The Fabulous Fox Theatre

Currently best known as a live performance venue, this luxurious movie palace dating to 1929 conveys the old-fashioned grandeur of cinema’s golden age. In non-COVID times, every Atlantan should check out at least one screening at the Fox’s summer movie series, which regularly feature cartoons and a performance at the “Mighty Mo” pipe organ, as well as the chance to take in the theater’s breathtaking architectural flourishes.

IMAX Screens

Many cinemas claim to have IMAX theaters or high-resolution formats, which despite the upsell, can offer a better way to see a film compared to standard format. But in the Atlanta area, the Fernbank Museum has the only true combination of IMAX projection and a giant screen for a viewing experience that’s reliably breathtaking. While Fernbank’s nature documentaries are always impressive, the Mall of Georgia’s IMAX screen is worth the drive for first-run films crafted to take full advantage of the format.

Atlanta Film Tours

If you can’t go to the movies, a safe substitute can be to take a tour of Atlanta film and television locations. Over just a few blocks in downtown for instance, you can cross the paths of chases seen in “The Walking Dead,” Venom, Baby Driver, Ant-Man and the Wasp and more. atlantamovietours.com offers virtual tours as well as bus tours that take safety precautions.

Tyler Perry Studios

Tyler Perry’s films aren’t necessarily for everyone — but that’s exactly the point. The self-made media mogul (and Madea alter ego) crafted films and television series for underserved Black audiences and helped build a local film infrastructure long before Hollywood came calling in Georgia.

Local HBO Productions

While waiting for Donald Glover’s “Atlanta” to return, perhaps the two most important productions of film or television are two ambitious, complex HBO programs. While “Watchmen” (which garnered the most Emmy nominations of any show this year) looked at superheroes, and “Lovecraft Country” took on pulp horror, both used popular genres to address uncomfortable truths about race, police, and the American Dream. It’s hard to think of any works from the past few years that have so effectively planted themselves in the current zeitgeist while being on the right side of history. Plus, you can pay a visit to, say, the Decatur Square and feel like you’re in “Watchmen”’s alternative version of Tulsa, Oklahoma."
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  string(6171) "__The Atlanta Film Festival__

The Atlanta Film Festival usual takes place in April, but the pandemic caused it to be postponed to September 17-27. (It seemed reasonable to assume that the virus would have abated by then.) The 44th Atlanta Film Festival, along with the 10th annual Creative Conference, will feature up to 150 short and feature-length narrative films and documentaries via drive-ins and digital screenings, as well as virtual educational events. While the schedule was being finalized at press time due to the format change, the program should include films from 40 countries, including 20 percent with Georgia connections.


Films with local hooks include ''The Outside Story'', a wry character study starring “Atlanta”’s Brian Tyree Henry. Zach Lamplugh of Adult Swim directs a comedy with the memorable title ''15 Things You Didn't Know About Bigfoot: Number 1 Will Blow Your Mind'', in which a ''Vice''-style web journalist reluctantly pursues a story with a Bigfoot expert in the North Georgia mountains. It’s a little like a Christopher Guest comedy by way of ''The Blair Witch Project''. In addition, the shorts program “Stomping Grounds” also showcases Georgia productions.

Films already acclaimed through limited release include ''Flannery'', a documentary about legendary Georgia author Flannery O’Connor, and ''Lucky Grandma'', about an ornery, chain-smoking grandmother making an unexpected trek through the underworld of New York’s Chinatown.

Go to [http://atlantafilmfestival.com|atlantafilmfestival.com] for schedule, ticketing and other information.

__Out on Film Festival__

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The ATLFF rescheduling means that it will overlap for the first weekend of this year’s Out on Film Festival, held September 24-October 4. The 33rd Atlanta celebration of LGBTQ cinema will include about 45 feature films and documentaries as well as 15 shorts programs. Local highlights include ''Surviving the Silence'' from Atlanta director Cindy L. Abel. The documentary profiles Col. Pat Thompson, who presided over Col. Margarethe Cammermeyer’s famous Army discharge hearing for being gay, although Thompson herself was a closeted lesbian at the time. The festival will host a 40th-anniversary screening of ''Fame'', the musical drama directed by the recently deceased Alan Parker.



Go to outonfilm.org for schedule, ticketing and other information.

__Atlanta Jewish Film Festival__

While some smaller festivals, such as the November Buried Alive Film Festival, have been bumped to 2021, submissions are open for the 21st Atlanta Jewish Film Festival. (The dates have not yet been announced, but it’s normally held in February.) The annual showcase of films by Jewish filmmakers or about the Jewish experience reliably conveys a sense of glitz and glamor to rival any other film event on the calendar.

__And 5. The Plaza Theatre and Videodrome__

Each historic in their own way, these Poncey-Highland neighbors serve as the intersection for the most passionate but unpretentious facets of Atlanta film culture. The Plaza Theatre is Atlanta’s oldest continuously-operating movie house, while Videodrome remains an impeccably curated, brick-and-mortar video rental shop. Not to be missed are their “Plazadrome” collaborative film screenings of vintage cult movies, including the likes of 1988’s ''The Blob'' at socially-distant “pop-up” drive-in screenings. (But don’t overlook The Starlight Drive-In as a great option for seeing movies on a clear night.)

__The Fabulous Fox Theatre__

Currently best known as a live performance venue, this luxurious movie palace dating to 1929 conveys the old-fashioned grandeur of cinema’s golden age. In non-COVID times, every Atlantan should check out at least one screening at the Fox’s summer movie series, which regularly feature cartoons and a performance at the “Mighty Mo” pipe organ, as well as the chance to take in the theater’s breathtaking architectural flourishes.

__IMAX Screens__

Many cinemas claim to have IMAX theaters or high-resolution formats, which despite the upsell, can offer a better way to see a film compared to standard format. But in the Atlanta area, the Fernbank Museum has the only true combination of IMAX projection and a giant screen for a viewing experience that’s reliably breathtaking. While Fernbank’s nature documentaries are always impressive, the Mall of Georgia’s IMAX screen is worth the drive for first-run films crafted to take full advantage of the format.

__Atlanta Film Tours__

If you can’t go to the movies, a safe substitute can be to take a tour of Atlanta film and television locations. Over just a few blocks in downtown for instance, you can cross the paths of chases seen in “The Walking Dead,” ''Venom, Baby Driver, Ant-Man and the Wasp'' and more. atlantamovietours.com offers virtual tours as well as bus tours that take safety precautions.

__Tyler Perry Studios__

Tyler Perry’s films aren’t necessarily for everyone — but that’s exactly the point. The self-made media mogul (''and'' Madea alter ego) crafted films and television series for underserved Black audiences and helped build a local film infrastructure long before Hollywood came calling in Georgia.

__Local HBO Productions__

While waiting for Donald Glover’s “Atlanta” to return, perhaps the two most important productions of film or television are two ambitious, complex HBO programs. While “Watchmen” (which garnered the most Emmy nominations of any show this year) looked at superheroes, and “Lovecraft Country” took on pulp horror, both used popular genres to address uncomfortable truths about race, police, and the American Dream. It’s hard to think of any works from the past few years that have so effectively planted themselves in the current zeitgeist while being on the right side of history. Plus, you can pay a visit to, say, the Decatur Square and feel like you’re in “Watchmen”’s alternative version of Tulsa, Oklahoma."
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The Atlanta Film Festival usual takes place in April, but the pandemic caused it to be postponed to September 17-27. (It seemed reasonable to assume that the virus would have abated by then.) The 44th Atlanta Film Festival, along with the 10th annual Creative Conference, will feature up to 150 short and feature-length narrative films and documentaries via drive-ins and digital screenings, as well as virtual educational events. While the schedule was being finalized at press time due to the format change, the program should include films from 40 countries, including 20 percent with Georgia connections.


Films with local hooks include The Outside Story, a wry character study starring “Atlanta”’s Brian Tyree Henry. Zach Lamplugh of Adult Swim directs a comedy with the memorable title 15 Things You Didn't Know About Bigfoot: Number 1 Will Blow Your Mind, in which a Vice-style web journalist reluctantly pursues a story with a Bigfoot expert in the North Georgia mountains. It’s a little like a Christopher Guest comedy by way of The Blair Witch Project. In addition, the shorts program “Stomping Grounds” also showcases Georgia productions.

Films already acclaimed through limited release include Flannery, a documentary about legendary Georgia author Flannery O’Connor, and Lucky Grandma, about an ornery, chain-smoking grandmother making an unexpected trek through the underworld of New York’s Chinatown.

Go to atlantafilmfestival.com for schedule, ticketing and other information.

Out on Film Festival


The ATLFF rescheduling means that it will overlap for the first weekend of this year’s Out on Film Festival, held September 24-October 4. The 33rd Atlanta celebration of LGBTQ cinema will include about 45 feature films and documentaries as well as 15 shorts programs. Local highlights include Surviving the Silence from Atlanta director Cindy L. Abel. The documentary profiles Col. Pat Thompson, who presided over Col. Margarethe Cammermeyer’s famous Army discharge hearing for being gay, although Thompson herself was a closeted lesbian at the time. The festival will host a 40th-anniversary screening of Fame, the musical drama directed by the recently deceased Alan Parker.



Go to outonfilm.org for schedule, ticketing and other information.

Atlanta Jewish Film Festival

While some smaller festivals, such as the November Buried Alive Film Festival, have been bumped to 2021, submissions are open for the 21st Atlanta Jewish Film Festival. (The dates have not yet been announced, but it’s normally held in February.) The annual showcase of films by Jewish filmmakers or about the Jewish experience reliably conveys a sense of glitz and glamor to rival any other film event on the calendar.

And 5. The Plaza Theatre and Videodrome

Each historic in their own way, these Poncey-Highland neighbors serve as the intersection for the most passionate but unpretentious facets of Atlanta film culture. The Plaza Theatre is Atlanta’s oldest continuously-operating movie house, while Videodrome remains an impeccably curated, brick-and-mortar video rental shop. Not to be missed are their “Plazadrome” collaborative film screenings of vintage cult movies, including the likes of 1988’s The Blob at socially-distant “pop-up” drive-in screenings. (But don’t overlook The Starlight Drive-In as a great option for seeing movies on a clear night.)

The Fabulous Fox Theatre

Currently best known as a live performance venue, this luxurious movie palace dating to 1929 conveys the old-fashioned grandeur of cinema’s golden age. In non-COVID times, every Atlantan should check out at least one screening at the Fox’s summer movie series, which regularly feature cartoons and a performance at the “Mighty Mo” pipe organ, as well as the chance to take in the theater’s breathtaking architectural flourishes.

IMAX Screens

Many cinemas claim to have IMAX theaters or high-resolution formats, which despite the upsell, can offer a better way to see a film compared to standard format. But in the Atlanta area, the Fernbank Museum has the only true combination of IMAX projection and a giant screen for a viewing experience that’s reliably breathtaking. While Fernbank’s nature documentaries are always impressive, the Mall of Georgia’s IMAX screen is worth the drive for first-run films crafted to take full advantage of the format.

Atlanta Film Tours

If you can’t go to the movies, a safe substitute can be to take a tour of Atlanta film and television locations. Over just a few blocks in downtown for instance, you can cross the paths of chases seen in “The Walking Dead,” Venom, Baby Driver, Ant-Man and the Wasp and more. atlantamovietours.com offers virtual tours as well as bus tours that take safety precautions.

Tyler Perry Studios

Tyler Perry’s films aren’t necessarily for everyone — but that’s exactly the point. The self-made media mogul (and Madea alter ego) crafted films and television series for underserved Black audiences and helped build a local film infrastructure long before Hollywood came calling in Georgia.

Local HBO Productions

While waiting for Donald Glover’s “Atlanta” to return, perhaps the two most important productions of film or television are two ambitious, complex HBO programs. While “Watchmen” (which garnered the most Emmy nominations of any show this year) looked at superheroes, and “Lovecraft Country” took on pulp horror, both used popular genres to address uncomfortable truths about race, police, and the American Dream. It’s hard to think of any works from the past few years that have so effectively planted themselves in the current zeitgeist while being on the right side of history. Plus, you can pay a visit to, say, the Decatur Square and feel like you’re in “Watchmen”’s alternative version of Tulsa, Oklahoma.    Courtesy of Atlanta Film Festival “Atlanta”’s Brian Tyree Henry stars in the feature film 'The Outside Story' at this year’s Atlanta Film Festival.  0,0,10    screentime                       SCREENTIME — The Atlanta film scene list "
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!!About Dragon Con
Trekkies, steampunks, zombies, filkers, furries, goths, Klingons, Sleestaks, Predators, Aliens, and more descend on Downtown for the Southeast's largest sci-fi con. Come dressed as your favorite character from any number of sci-fi, horror, or fantasy films, comics, video games, etc. When it comes to Dragon Con, the wilder the better. The one Dragon Con must-see is the annual parade along Peachtree Street. Huge crowds, 10-people deep, line up super early to watch the Stormtroopers, Slave Leias, Dark Knight-era Jokers, and more strut up Atlanta's main thoroughfare.

!!Dragon Con Events By Day
 

!!Events for Thursday, September 3, 2020 - Day One



!!Events for Friday, September 4, 2020 - Day Two



!!Events for Saturday, September 5, 2020 - Day Three



!!Events for Sunday, September 6, 2020 - Day Four



!!Events for Monday, September 7, 2020 - Day Five



!!Creative Loafing Stories About Dragon Con


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!!About Dragon Con
Trekkies, steampunks, zombies, filkers, furries, goths, Klingons, Sleestaks, Predators, Aliens, and more descend on Downtown for the Southeast's largest sci-fi con. Come dressed as your favorite character from any number of sci-fi, horror, or fantasy films, comics, video games, etc. When it comes to Dragon Con, the wilder the better. The one Dragon Con must-see is the annual parade along Peachtree Street. Huge crowds, 10-people deep, line up super early to watch the Stormtroopers, Slave Leias, Dark Knight-era Jokers, and more strut up Atlanta's main thoroughfare.

!!Dragon Con Events By Day
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!!Events for Thursday, September 3, 2020 - Day One

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!!Events for Saturday, September 5, 2020 - Day Three

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!!Events for Sunday, September 6, 2020 - Day Four

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!!Events for Monday, September 7, 2020 - Day Five

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  {LIST}

!!Creative Loafing Stories About Dragon Con
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!!About Dragon Con
Trekkies, steampunks, zombies, filkers, furries, goths, Klingons, Sleestaks, Predators, Aliens, and more descend on Downtown for the Southeast's largest sci-fi con. Come dressed as your favorite character from any number of sci-fi, horror, or fantasy films, comics, video games, etc. When it comes to Dragon Con, the wilder the better. The one Dragon Con must-see is the annual parade along Peachtree Street. Huge crowds, 10-people deep, line up super early to watch the Stormtroopers, Slave Leias, Dark Knight-era Jokers, and more strut up Atlanta's main thoroughfare.

!!Dragon Con Events By Day
 

!!Events for Thursday, September 3, 2020 - Day One



!!Events for Friday, September 4, 2020 - Day Two



!!Events for Saturday, September 5, 2020 - Day Three



!!Events for Sunday, September 6, 2020 - Day Four



!!Events for Monday, September 7, 2020 - Day Five



!!Creative Loafing Stories About Dragon Con


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  string(2967) "It’s been 10 years since Mike Kinnebrew released his first album, Between the Living and the Dying, recorded at The Smoakstack in Nashville. When the songs for his new release, One Way To Find Out, started coming to him, he thought the best way of capturing them was by recording them live. In a press release, Kinnebrew says such a setting was the best way to keep the creative spark — which prompted him to start writing songs again after a three-year hiatus — burning bright.

Kinnebrew was right. The two back-to-back, sold-out shows at Eddie’s Attic, where the live album was recorded last January, captures the freshness and and appeal of the compositions that otherwise might have been lost with the musicians sequestered away in a sterile studio setting. That he and the band spent time rehearsing the songs in a studio certainly gave them a polish that otherwise might have not been attained with their being recorded in what can be the rowdy atmosphere of a live setting.

Kinnebrew’s press materials don’t offer any influences to which the singer-songwriter may lay claim, but his songs offer an indication — the Eagles and Tom Petty easily come to mind, with Jackson Browne rounding them out.

With so much time passing between his first album and this one, the songwriter admits, "This album sort of saved me. I wasn’t sure that I’d write any more songs — let alone record another album. … I don’t enjoy writing. It’s work with no guaranteed outcome. But when something does come, I feel like I’m doing what I was made to do.” He committed himself to writing “for at least an hour everyday. And the real shocker was: I did!  The first song that came was, “Baby Girl,” then “Wrestle the Sea” then “Close Your Eyes” and on and on it went. I couldn’t believe it. As soon as one song was finished, another one was coming. About a song a week. That time every day, with nothing but a journal, coffee, and the occasional cigar became holy to me, and the songs like children.”

While One Way To Find Out was recorded pre-coronavirus pandemic, Kinnebrew originally planned to record overdubs in Nashville. COVID-19 insured that wouldn’t happen. The result is an album intimate and honest, true to those two nights at the Attic, during a time when we may have taken live shows for granted, and the interaction between an artist and the audience cost nothing more than the night’s cover charge.

One Way To Find Out — produced by Paul Moak (he was at the board for Kinnebrew’s first album), engineered by Colin Blakely with assistant engineer Brian Stephens, with Moak mixing at The Smoakstack, and Sam Moses doing the mastering — will be available in its entirety September 25. You can listen to the first single, “One Way To Find Out” here and catch a glimpse of the band at Eddic's Attic, captured for "The Attic Sounds," here. Want to hear more? Check out Mike Kinnebrew on Spotify."
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Kinnebrew was right. The two back-to-back, sold-out shows at Eddie’s Attic, where the live album was recorded last January, captures the freshness and and appeal of the compositions that otherwise might have been lost with the musicians sequestered away in a sterile studio setting. That he and the band spent time rehearsing the songs in a studio certainly gave them a polish that otherwise might have not been attained with their being recorded in what can be the rowdy atmosphere of a live setting.

Kinnebrew’s press materials don’t offer any influences to which the singer-songwriter may lay claim, but his songs offer an indication — the Eagles and Tom Petty easily come to mind, with Jackson Browne rounding them out.

With so much time passing between his first album and this one, the songwriter admits, "This album sort of saved me. I wasn’t sure that I’d write any more songs — let alone record another album. … I don’t enjoy writing. It’s work with no guaranteed outcome. But when something does come, I feel like I’m doing what I was made to do.” He committed himself to writing “for at least an hour everyday. And the real shocker was: I did!  The first song that came was, “Baby Girl,” then “Wrestle the Sea” then “Close Your Eyes” and on and on it went. I couldn’t believe it. As soon as one song was finished, another one was coming. About a song a week. That time every day, with nothing but a journal, coffee, and the occasional cigar became holy to me, and the songs like children.”

While ''One Way To Find Out ''was recorded pre-coronavirus pandemic, Kinnebrew originally planned to record overdubs in Nashville. COVID-19 insured that wouldn’t happen. The result is an album intimate and honest, true to those two nights at the Attic, during a time when we may have taken live shows for granted, and the interaction between an artist and the audience cost nothing more than the night’s cover charge.

''One Way To Find Out ''— produced by Paul Moak (he was at the board for Kinnebrew’s first album), engineered by Colin Blakely with assistant engineer Brian Stephens, with Moak mixing at The Smoakstack, and Sam Moses doing the mastering — will be available in its entirety September 25. You can listen to the first single, “One Way To Find Out” [https://soundcloud.com/mikekinnebrew/01-one-way-to-find-out|here] and catch a glimpse of the band at Eddic's Attic, captured for "The Attic Sounds," [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iz_HWxWd0n4|here]. Want to hear more? Check out Mike Kinnebrew on [https://open.spotify.com/artist/62SwcHpyEhxpbljzbmZNZ2?si=jNZt6CNERCar-gr_7roedg|Spotify]."
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  string(3622) " KINNEBREW BAND Edit  2020-09-04T11:53:24+00:00 KINNEBREW BAND edit.jpg      Atlanta singer-songwriter to release a live album; the first single, ‘One Way To Find Out,’ drops today KINNEBREW BAND Edit   2020-09-03T15:49:45+00:00  NEW ATLANTA MUSIC: Mike Kinnebrew tony.paris Tony Paris CL MUSIC STAFF  2020-09-03T15:49:45+00:00 It’s been 10 years since Mike Kinnebrew released his first album, Between the Living and the Dying, recorded at The Smoakstack in Nashville. When the songs for his new release, One Way To Find Out, started coming to him, he thought the best way of capturing them was by recording them live. In a press release, Kinnebrew says such a setting was the best way to keep the creative spark — which prompted him to start writing songs again after a three-year hiatus — burning bright.

Kinnebrew was right. The two back-to-back, sold-out shows at Eddie’s Attic, where the live album was recorded last January, captures the freshness and and appeal of the compositions that otherwise might have been lost with the musicians sequestered away in a sterile studio setting. That he and the band spent time rehearsing the songs in a studio certainly gave them a polish that otherwise might have not been attained with their being recorded in what can be the rowdy atmosphere of a live setting.

Kinnebrew’s press materials don’t offer any influences to which the singer-songwriter may lay claim, but his songs offer an indication — the Eagles and Tom Petty easily come to mind, with Jackson Browne rounding them out.

With so much time passing between his first album and this one, the songwriter admits, "This album sort of saved me. I wasn’t sure that I’d write any more songs — let alone record another album. … I don’t enjoy writing. It’s work with no guaranteed outcome. But when something does come, I feel like I’m doing what I was made to do.” He committed himself to writing “for at least an hour everyday. And the real shocker was: I did!  The first song that came was, “Baby Girl,” then “Wrestle the Sea” then “Close Your Eyes” and on and on it went. I couldn’t believe it. As soon as one song was finished, another one was coming. About a song a week. That time every day, with nothing but a journal, coffee, and the occasional cigar became holy to me, and the songs like children.”

While One Way To Find Out was recorded pre-coronavirus pandemic, Kinnebrew originally planned to record overdubs in Nashville. COVID-19 insured that wouldn’t happen. The result is an album intimate and honest, true to those two nights at the Attic, during a time when we may have taken live shows for granted, and the interaction between an artist and the audience cost nothing more than the night’s cover charge.

One Way To Find Out — produced by Paul Moak (he was at the board for Kinnebrew’s first album), engineered by Colin Blakely with assistant engineer Brian Stephens, with Moak mixing at The Smoakstack, and Sam Moses doing the mastering — will be available in its entirety September 25. You can listen to the first single, “One Way To Find Out” here and catch a glimpse of the band at Eddic's Attic, captured for "The Attic Sounds," here. Want to hear more? Check out Mike Kinnebrew on Spotify.    Adam Komich IT'S A GOOD NIGHT FOR SINGING: From left, Charlie Lowell, Rich Brinsfield, Lindsay Kinnebrew, Nathan Sexton, Mike Kinnebrew (right of center with acoustic guitar), and Paul Moak performing — and recording — at Eddie's Attic in Decatur.  0,0,1                           NEW ATLANTA MUSIC: Mike Kinnebrew "
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  string(16442) "The United States is changing. Engulfed in an unpredictable pandemic, the country finds itself in the middle of a national reckoning as the explosive anger over our country’s long history of systemic racism and police brutality is ignited by the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks and countless others. This country’s hateful history is as American as baseball and apple pie, and the protests have sounded the alarm: It’s time to begin anew.


Pandemics fundamentally change society, and the question that should be on all of our minds is what kind of country do we want to emerge as once this crisis ends?


In Atlanta, we're at the crossroads of both the pandemic and protest. Governor Kemp has abandoned his role as governor, cashing in political points at the expense of the public health of the state. Beginning on May 29, Atlanta joined the list of dozens of cities in uprising against the status quo of mass incarceration and police brutality. We filled the streets by the thousands, even shutting down the downtown connector the day after the police killing of Rayshard Brooks. Though the protests have dwindled in size, and activists have returned to strategizing, the pandemic remains as rampant and even more widespread than when we first became aware of it in March.


But there is still hope.


Below is a list of ways you can fight back against the insanity and give back to the community. This list is not comprehensive, but a collection of suggestions to push back against apathy in order to find that human connection we’ve all been longing for while in our respective quarantines.


1.    Register to Vote


The November election is under attack. The Trump administration appears to be sabotaging the United States Postal Service, already under tremendous strain due to the pandemic, as millions of Americans prepare to vote by mail in the November election. This kind of voter suppression is not unfamiliar to us, as we saw the mass expunging of voter records in the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial election under then-Secretary of State Brian Kemp. Now is the time to plan accordingly. If you haven’t registered to vote already, the deadline to do so is Oct. 5. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Oct. 30. If absentee voting or voting by mail is your only option, allow time for the USPS to process your ballot. If you don’t want to risk your vote getting lost in the mail and want to avoid the election day crowds, early voting runs from October 12 to 30. In the meantime, research your candidates. In the November election, we vote for our pick of the President, U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, Georgia State Senate, Georgia State House of Representatives, and a handful of officials in local elections. That’s a lot of power to leverage — use it!


If the reality is, for many people, that the Democratic ticket is not the ideal ticket, it is nevertheless absolutely imperative that we rally behind Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to finally end these four years of hell. Once we win the election, we will still need to put in the same amount of energy as we did opposing the Trump presidency to ensure we get the future we deserve. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are beyond perfect candidates, even actively problematic, given their history of advocating for the very systems which recent protests seek to overturn, but their victory is the only chance we have to acquire the power so desperately needed for our country to recover.


The late civil rights icon and Georgia congressman John Lewis wrote in an essay for The New York Times before his passing on July 17 that “the vote is the most powerful nonviolent change agent you have in a democratic society. You must use it because it is not guaranteed — you can lose it.” Let us heed the congressman’s warning and be prepared to put in more work than before.


2.    Call Your Representatives, Localize Your Resistance


If we’re going to get anything done, we’ve got to make the system work for us. A lot has happened over the past couple of months. If you’re fed up with the regular run of things, you’re probably wondering how to get more politically involved. Perhaps showing up physically in the streets isn’t an option for you, but picking up the phone may be. Calling your representative is a quick and accessible way to put pressure on elected officials, especially if they’re local. Leading up to the passage of Atlanta’s 2021 budget, the Atlanta City Council were left with 17 hours of public comment calling on them to defund the police and invest in underserved communities. While the City Council did not move to defund the APD, one success came when the mayor’s office announced it would redirect $18 million from the Atlanta Detention Center toward social programs. Continued public pressure can work. In Minneapolis, the city council voted to disband the police. In Los Angeles, the city council voted on June 16 to cut $150 million from the LAPD. Change is possible, and while Atlanta has yet to experience any similar reforms — despite massive civic engagement and unrest — the pressure must continue. To find out who your representatives are, go to the Secretary of State’s My Voter Page at www.mvp.sos.ga.gov. For your city council representative, visit citycouncil.atlantaga.gov. Let’s blow up some phones.


3.    Get Educated


No one enters any movement an expert. Over the past couple of months, many people have been introduced to the concept of defunding the police, uprooting mass incarceration, prison abolition, and other reforms that activists have been rallying behind for decades. Luckily for us, local bookstores like For Keeps Books, Charis Books & More, A Cappella Books, and others are stocked with plenty of movement literature and resources. Whether it’s Michelle Alexander’s The New Jim Crow, Angela Davis’ Are Prisons Obsolete?, or other titles you are looking for, these bookstores are a valuable resource to get educated on the issues that matter in our current moment. For books to enlighten your kid, swing by Brave & Kind Bookstore for some necessary reads for the children. Plus, by buying from the aforementioned stores, you’re supporting local businesses — what’s to lose?


•    For Keeps Books, 171 Auburn Ave. N.E. www.forkeepsbooks.com.


•    Charis Books & More, 184 South Candler St. www.charisbooksandmore.com


•    A Cappella Books, 208 Haralson Ave. N.E. www.acappellabooks.com.


•    Brave and Kind Books, 722 W. College Ave. www.braveandkindbooks.com.


4.    Help Fund A Black Queer-Owned Community Space


Southern Fried Queer Pride, the beloved Black and brown queer and trans-led DIY arts organization, launched an effort in early June to finance their own community space. For six years, the organization has made a name for itself for their inclusive and empowering events which run the gamut from drag performances, concerts, and workshops to art shows. They host 60 events each year, and their annual festival brings together upwards of 2,000 people from across the South. Because they’ve served as a critical force for advocating for space for queer and trans folks in Atlanta, their latest move to buy their own space is a natural evolution for the growing organization.


“We always knew we would get to this point and outgrow the spaces we occupied,” says co-founder Taylor Alxndr. “With everything happening in the social climate and the world, it makes it even more important to have a space where queer and trans people can be respected, can be seen, and can find each other.”


The space sets out to be a little bit of everything, according to Alxndr. It’ll be where SFQP hosts all their events, concerts, and art shows, but also a coffee shop, community garden, and thrift store to make it a true communal space. The organization has already raised over $120,000 in just two months, and they’re shooting even higher.


‘We’re going to create a space that hasn't been here for a long time,” says Alxndr. “What we’re providing is for queer and trans folk, particularly Black and brown folks, and that’s something Atlanta hasn’t experienced for over 30 years.”


For more information and to donate to their mission, visit their GoFundMe at bit.ly/sfqpcc.


5.    Volunteer with Food4Life


Since the onset of the coronavirus crisis, it’s been clear that if the government wasn’t going to provide necessary direct relief, then the people would have to rise to the occasion. Across the nation, people have been engaging in mutual aid to provide services and resources to their neighbors. In Atlanta, Food4Life has stepped up to the plate to provide free grocery delivery to the city’s most vulnerable populations. The collective was founded by activists involved in a local chapter of Food Not Bombs, a volunteer-led food redistribution initiative, in direct response to the pandemic. The collective provides support to anyone who is self-isolating, can’t afford grocery delivery services, lives in a food desert, or can’t afford groceries. At all hours of the week, volunteers are boxing up pounds of produce, bread, eggs, and other food items, and driving out to homes within and outside the perimeter to provide relief. Since March, they’ve delivered over 10,000 pounds of groceries in the greater Atlanta area. Currently, the collective is seeking volunteers to package groceries, deliver them to homes, make phone calls to solicit donations, and other tasks that can be done remotely. Learn more on how to get involved at atlsurvival.org.


6.    Support the Atlanta Solidarity Fund


The Atlanta Solidarity Fund provides bail support for activists arrested for participating in social justice movements — and helps them get access to lawyers. In response to whatever repression protestors face in the ongoing struggle for racial and social justice, the Atlanta Solidarity Fund seeks to provide support through all means necessary. Currently, they are tracking the cases of and extending support for over 700 people arrested during local uprisings.


“We help with these things and many others to ensure that protesters aren't left to face the criminal justice system by themselves,” says Marlon, an organizer with the Atlanta Solidarity Fund. “When we protect the most vulnerable among us, it makes the whole movement stronger in the long run.”


Donations towards the Atlanta Solidarity Fund go towards bail funds, legal costs, and other expenses associated with facing prosecution. Money is also put back into community groups doing movement work. Everyone with the Atlanta Solidarity Fund is a volunteer; there is no paid staff. If you’re interested in lending a hand, the group is seeking volunteers, particularly lawyers, and further donations to support their efforts. For more information, go to atlsolidarity.org.


7.    Help Mariposas Rebeldes Establish a Community Land Trust


Mariposas Rebeldes, a gardening initiative in Atlanta, or Muscogee Creek Territory, has launched an effort to establish a community land trust. Founded on principles of mutual aid and food autonomy, the initiative seeks to facilitate agricultural education and share resources among the queer Latinx community. What began as a passion project in the backyard of co-founder Israel Tordoya blossomed into an effort to transform the space into a community garden and safe space for queer Black and brown people to learn about food autonomy, herbalism, and utilizing indigenous planting techniques to foster a pre-colonial relationship with the land.


“Right away, we saw a lot of support from the queer Latinx community, as there weren’t any spaces in the city focused on providing a space for people like us to organize and learn the skills needed for our survival, growth, and the shared political project of decolonization,” says Tordoya. “So together, we set to work carving out that space.”


However, amidst the pandemic, the owner of the property Mariposas Rebeldes was founded on is selling the property and forcing them to leave. According to their GoFundMe, all funds contributed will go to purchasing land in the city, building housing and infrastructure, and any legal fees involved in establishing the space as a community land trust. They also recently received a matching grant from A Well-Fed World of $25,000, meaning further donations will be doubled when processed. Donate to their mission at www.gofundme/f/mariposas-rebeldes, and follow them on Instagram @mariposasbebelatl for updates.


8.    Attend a Local Movie Screening


Galleries and movie theaters are getting creative to stay afloat during the pandemic. Plaza Theatre, the city’s longest-running movie theater, has adapted to the times by hosting drive-in movie screenings in the parking lot of their Ponce de Leon location and at Dad’s Garage. For the past few months, they’ve gained their eclectic reputation and film buff status by showing a wide variety of films from Pee Wee’s Big Adventure to Purple Rain. Alternatively, in light of national uprisings, DIY art space Hi-Lo Press is hosting outdoor screenings of Black revolutionary cinema every Thursday at 9:30 p.m.


“As more unrest began to build, it felt more important than ever to find creative and safe ways to work towards collective experiences that are relevant to movements towards liberation and against anti-blackness and state violence,” says Hi-Lo Press co-founder Dianna Settles.


This month, they’re showing Szambizanga on September 10, Born in Flames on September 17, and White Out, Black In on September 24. Masks are required, attendees are encouraged to bring their own chair or blanket, and hand sanitizer is provided. If you must go out, Plaza Theatre and Hi-Lo Press provide both entertainment and education during these tumultuous times. Plaza Theatre, 1049 Ponce De Leon Ave. N.E. www.plazaatlanta.com. Hi-Lo Press, 696 Charles Allen Drive N.E. Instagram @hilopress.


9.    Buy Local Records


With live music on pause, Atlanta musicians are hurting. Small venues are under threat of closure, and it’s impossible to predict when it’ll be safe to gather in crowds again. In the meantime, we can support musicians and performers in quarantine. Buying records can’t sway policy or enact change directly, but it’s still a means to relieve some of the financial burden of Atlanta musicians and fortify Atlanta’s cultural character while we wait for COVID to get under control. Local record stores like Wax N Facts, Moods Music, Wuxtry Records, and Criminal Records are still open with limited capacity and mask mandates, some offering in-store and curbside pickup orders and delivery.


For online options, Bandcamp has begun waiving their share of proceeds on the first Friday of every month, giving 100 percent to artists. This year alone, we’ve had incredible local releases from the Southern fried punk of Arbor Labor Union’s New Petal Instants, up-and-coming hardcore quintet Upchuck’s self-titled effort, the latest compilation from dance-centric label Harsh Riddims, and countless others, so there’s no excuse to not drop some cash and keep the music playing.


•    Wax N Facts, 432 Moreland Ave. N.E. www.waxnfacts.com


•    Moods Music, 1131 Euclid Ave. N.E. www.moodsmusic.net


•    Wuxtry Records, 2096 N Decatur Road. www.wuxtryrecords.com


•    Criminal Records, 1154 Euclid Ave. N.E. www.criminalatl.com.


10.    Take Care of Yourself


This one’s pretty self-explanatory. We are arguably in the most challenging time in modern history, and it’s only going to get worse before it gets better. With careers under threat and the only certainty being uncertainty, everyone’s mental and physical health is vulnerable on a daily basis. So this is a call to rest and recharge. To check in with yourself and take time to get better. Every day is a fucking odyssey in 2020. Resting and practicing self-care to become a better, stronger person will help us fight back and give back in the long run. What matters is that we emerge from this pandemic alive. Time to finally make good with ourselves and our loved ones. —CL—"
  ["tracker_field_contentWikiPage_raw"]=>
  string(16494) "The United States is changing. Engulfed in an unpredictable pandemic, the country finds itself in the middle of a national reckoning as the explosive anger over our country’s long history of systemic racism and police brutality is ignited by the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks and countless others. This country’s hateful history is as American as baseball and apple pie, and the protests have sounded the alarm: It’s time to begin anew.


Pandemics fundamentally change society, and the question that should be on all of our minds is ''what kind of country do we want to emerge as once this crisis ends?''


In Atlanta, we're at the crossroads of both the pandemic and protest. Governor Kemp has abandoned his role as governor, cashing in political points at the expense of the public health of the state. Beginning on May 29, Atlanta joined the list of dozens of cities in uprising against the status quo of mass incarceration and police brutality. We filled the streets by the thousands, even shutting down the downtown connector the day after the police killing of Rayshard Brooks. Though the protests have dwindled in size, and activists have returned to strategizing, the pandemic remains as rampant and even more widespread than when we first became aware of it in March.


But there is still hope.


Below is a list of ways you can fight back against the insanity and give back to the community. This list is not comprehensive, but a collection of suggestions to push back against apathy in order to find that human connection we’ve all been longing for while in our respective quarantines.


1.    __Register to Vote__


The November election is under attack. The Trump administration appears to be sabotaging the United States Postal Service, already under tremendous strain due to the pandemic, as millions of Americans prepare to vote by mail in the November election. This kind of voter suppression is not unfamiliar to us, as we saw the mass expunging of voter records in the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial election under then-Secretary of State Brian Kemp. Now is the time to plan accordingly. If you haven’t registered to vote already, the deadline to do so is Oct. 5. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Oct. 30. If absentee voting or voting by mail is your only option, allow time for the USPS to process your ballot. If you don’t want to risk your vote getting lost in the mail and want to avoid the election day crowds, early voting runs from October 12 to 30. In the meantime, research your candidates. In the November election, we vote for our pick of the President, U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, Georgia State Senate, Georgia State House of Representatives, and a handful of officials in local elections. That’s a lot of power to leverage — use it!


If the reality is, for many people, that the Democratic ticket is not the ideal ticket, it is nevertheless absolutely imperative that we rally behind Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to finally end these four years of hell. Once we win the election, we will still need to put in the same amount of energy as we did opposing the Trump presidency to ensure we get the future we deserve. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are beyond perfect candidates, even actively problematic, given their history of advocating for the very systems which recent protests seek to overturn, but their victory is the only chance we have to acquire the power so desperately needed for our country to recover.


The late civil rights icon and Georgia congressman John Lewis wrote in an essay for ''The New York Times'' before his passing on July 17 that “the vote is the most powerful nonviolent change agent you have in a democratic society. You must use it because it is not guaranteed — you can lose it.” Let us heed the congressman’s warning and be prepared to put in more work than before.


2.    Call Your Representatives, Localize Your Resistance


If we’re going to get anything done, we’ve got to make the system work for us. A lot has happened over the past couple of months. If you’re fed up with the regular run of things, you’re probably wondering how to get more politically involved. Perhaps showing up physically in the streets isn’t an option for you, but picking up the phone may be. Calling your representative is a quick and accessible way to put pressure on elected officials, especially if they’re local. Leading up to the passage of Atlanta’s 2021 budget, the Atlanta City Council were left with ''17 hours'' of public comment calling on them to defund the police and invest in underserved communities. While the City Council did not move to defund the APD, one success came when the mayor’s office announced it would redirect $18 million from the Atlanta Detention Center toward social programs. Continued public pressure can work. In Minneapolis, the city council voted to disband the police. In Los Angeles, the city council voted on June 16 to cut $150 million from the LAPD. Change is possible, and while Atlanta has yet to experience any similar reforms — despite massive civic engagement and unrest — the pressure must continue. To find out who your representatives are, go to the Secretary of State’s My Voter Page at www.mvp.sos.ga.gov. For your city council representative, visit citycouncil.atlantaga.gov. Let’s blow up some phones.


3.    Get Educated


No one enters any movement an expert. Over the past couple of months, many people have been introduced to the concept of defunding the police, uprooting mass incarceration, prison abolition, and other reforms that activists have been rallying behind for decades. Luckily for us, local bookstores like For Keeps Books, Charis Books & More, A Cappella Books, and others are stocked with plenty of movement literature and resources. Whether it’s Michelle Alexander’s ''The New Jim Crow'', Angela Davis’ ''Are Prisons Obsolete?'', or other titles you are looking for, these bookstores are a valuable resource to get educated on the issues that matter in our current moment. For books to enlighten your kid, swing by Brave & Kind Bookstore for some necessary reads for the children. Plus, by buying from the aforementioned stores, you’re supporting local businesses — what’s to lose?


•    For Keeps Books, 171 Auburn Ave. N.E. www.forkeepsbooks.com.


•    Charis Books & More, 184 South Candler St. www.charisbooksandmore.com


•    A Cappella Books, 208 Haralson Ave. N.E. www.acappellabooks.com.


•    Brave and Kind Books, 722 W. College Ave. www.braveandkindbooks.com.


4.    Help Fund A Black Queer-Owned Community Space


Southern Fried Queer Pride, the beloved Black and brown queer and trans-led DIY arts organization, launched an effort in early June to finance their own community space. For six years, the organization has made a name for itself for their inclusive and empowering events which run the gamut from drag performances, concerts, and workshops to art shows. They host 60 events each year, and their annual festival brings together upwards of 2,000 people from across the South. Because they’ve served as a critical force for advocating for space for queer and trans folks in Atlanta, their latest move to buy their own space is a natural evolution for the growing organization.


“We always knew we would get to this point and outgrow the spaces we occupied,” says co-founder Taylor Alxndr. “With everything happening in the social climate and the world, it makes it even more important to have a space where queer and trans people can be respected, can be seen, and can find each other.”


The space sets out to be a little bit of everything, according to Alxndr. It’ll be where SFQP hosts all their events, concerts, and art shows, but also a coffee shop, community garden, and thrift store to make it a true communal space. The organization has already raised over $120,000 in just two months, and they’re shooting even higher.


‘We’re going to create a space that hasn't been here for a long time,” says Alxndr. “What we’re providing is for queer and trans folk, particularly Black and brown folks, and that’s something Atlanta hasn’t experienced for over 30 years.”


For more information and to donate to their mission, visit their GoFundMe at bit.ly/sfqpcc.


5.    Volunteer with Food4Life


Since the onset of the coronavirus crisis, it’s been clear that if the government wasn’t going to provide necessary direct relief, then the people would have to rise to the occasion. Across the nation, people have been engaging in mutual aid to provide services and resources to their neighbors. In Atlanta, Food4Life has stepped up to the plate to provide free grocery delivery to the city’s most vulnerable populations. The collective was founded by activists involved in a local chapter of Food Not Bombs, a volunteer-led food redistribution initiative, in direct response to the pandemic. The collective provides support to anyone who is self-isolating, can’t afford grocery delivery services, lives in a food desert, or can’t afford groceries. At all hours of the week, volunteers are boxing up pounds of produce, bread, eggs, and other food items, and driving out to homes within and outside the perimeter to provide relief. Since March, they’ve delivered over 10,000 pounds of groceries in the greater Atlanta area. Currently, the collective is seeking volunteers to package groceries, deliver them to homes, make phone calls to solicit donations, and other tasks that can be done remotely. Learn more on how to get involved at atlsurvival.org.


6.    Support the Atlanta Solidarity Fund


The Atlanta Solidarity Fund provides bail support for activists arrested for participating in social justice movements — and helps them get access to lawyers. In response to whatever repression protestors face in the ongoing struggle for racial and social justice, the Atlanta Solidarity Fund seeks to provide support through all means necessary. Currently, they are tracking the cases of and extending support for over 700 people arrested during local uprisings.


“We help with these things and many others to ensure that protesters aren't left to face the criminal justice system by themselves,” says Marlon, an organizer with the Atlanta Solidarity Fund. “When we protect the most vulnerable among us, it makes the whole movement stronger in the long run.”


Donations towards the Atlanta Solidarity Fund go towards bail funds, legal costs, and other expenses associated with facing prosecution. Money is also put back into community groups doing movement work. Everyone with the Atlanta Solidarity Fund is a volunteer; there is no paid staff. If you’re interested in lending a hand, the group is seeking volunteers, particularly lawyers, and further donations to support their efforts. For more information, go to atlsolidarity.org.


7.    Help Mariposas Rebeldes Establish a Community Land Trust


Mariposas Rebeldes, a gardening initiative in Atlanta, or Muscogee Creek Territory, has launched an effort to establish a community land trust. Founded on principles of mutual aid and food autonomy, the initiative seeks to facilitate agricultural education and share resources among the queer Latinx community. What began as a passion project in the backyard of co-founder Israel Tordoya blossomed into an effort to transform the space into a community garden and safe space for queer Black and brown people to learn about food autonomy, herbalism, and utilizing indigenous planting techniques to foster a pre-colonial relationship with the land.


“Right away, we saw a lot of support from the queer Latinx community, as there weren’t any spaces in the city focused on providing a space for people like us to organize and learn the skills needed for our survival, growth, and the shared political project of decolonization,” says Tordoya. “So together, we set to work carving out that space.”


However, amidst the pandemic, the owner of the property Mariposas Rebeldes was founded on is selling the property and forcing them to leave. According to their GoFundMe, all funds contributed will go to purchasing land in the city, building housing and infrastructure, and any legal fees involved in establishing the space as a community land trust. They also recently received a matching grant from A Well-Fed World of $25,000, meaning further donations will be doubled when processed. Donate to their mission at www.gofundme/f/mariposas-rebeldes, and follow them on Instagram @mariposasbebelatl for updates.


8.    Attend a Local Movie Screening


Galleries and movie theaters are getting creative to stay afloat during the pandemic. Plaza Theatre, the city’s longest-running movie theater, has adapted to the times by hosting drive-in movie screenings in the parking lot of their Ponce de Leon location and at Dad’s Garage. For the past few months, they’ve gained their eclectic reputation and film buff status by showing a wide variety of films from ''Pee Wee’s Big Adventure'' to ''Purple Rain''. Alternatively, in light of national uprisings, DIY art space Hi-Lo Press is hosting outdoor screenings of Black revolutionary cinema every Thursday at 9:30 p.m.


“As more unrest began to build, it felt more important than ever to find creative and safe ways to work towards collective experiences that are relevant to movements towards liberation and against anti-blackness and state violence,” says Hi-Lo Press co-founder Dianna Settles.


This month, they’re showing ''Szambizanga'' on September 10, ''Born in Flames'' on September 17, and ''White Out, Black In'' on September 24. Masks are required, attendees are encouraged to bring their own chair or blanket, and hand sanitizer is provided. If you must go out, Plaza Theatre and Hi-Lo Press provide both entertainment and education during these tumultuous times. Plaza Theatre, 1049 Ponce De Leon Ave. N.E. www.plazaatlanta.com. Hi-Lo Press, 696 Charles Allen Drive N.E. Instagram @hilopress.


9.    Buy Local Records


With live music on pause, Atlanta musicians are hurting. Small venues are under threat of closure, and it’s impossible to predict when it’ll be safe to gather in crowds again. In the meantime, we can support musicians and performers in quarantine. Buying records can’t sway policy or enact change directly, but it’s still a means to relieve some of the financial burden of Atlanta musicians and fortify Atlanta’s cultural character while we wait for COVID to get under control. Local record stores like Wax N Facts, Moods Music, Wuxtry Records, and Criminal Records are still open with limited capacity and mask mandates, some offering in-store and curbside pickup orders and delivery.


For online options, Bandcamp has begun waiving their share of proceeds on the first Friday of every month, giving 100 percent to artists. This year alone, we’ve had incredible local releases from the Southern fried punk of Arbor Labor Union’s ''New Petal Instants'', up-and-coming hardcore quintet Upchuck’s self-titled effort, the latest compilation from dance-centric label Harsh Riddims, and countless others, so there’s no excuse to not drop some cash and keep the music playing.


•    Wax N Facts, 432 Moreland Ave. N.E. www.waxnfacts.com


•    Moods Music, 1131 Euclid Ave. N.E. www.moodsmusic.net


•    Wuxtry Records, 2096 N Decatur Road. www.wuxtryrecords.com


•    Criminal Records, 1154 Euclid Ave. N.E. www.criminalatl.com.


10.    Take Care of Yourself


This one’s pretty self-explanatory. We are arguably in the most challenging time in modern history, and it’s only going to get worse before it gets better. With careers under threat and the only certainty being uncertainty, everyone’s mental and physical health is vulnerable on a daily basis. So this is a call to rest and recharge. To check in with yourself and take time to get better. Every day is a fucking odyssey in 2020. Resting and practicing self-care to become a better, stronger person will help us fight back and give back in the long run. What matters is that we emerge from this pandemic alive. Time to finally make good with ourselves and our loved ones. __—CL—__"
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  string(17031) " SEP Fighting Back SFQP  2020-09-03T17:53:55+00:00 SEP_Fighting_back_SFQP.jpeg      It’s your community — be a part of it! SEP Fighting Back SFQP   2020-09-03T17:33:43+00:00  Ten ways to fight back — and give back locally jim.harris Jim Harris Jake Van Valkenburg jevanvalkenburg (Jake Van Valkenburg) 2020-09-03T17:33:43+00:00 The United States is changing. Engulfed in an unpredictable pandemic, the country finds itself in the middle of a national reckoning as the explosive anger over our country’s long history of systemic racism and police brutality is ignited by the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks and countless others. This country’s hateful history is as American as baseball and apple pie, and the protests have sounded the alarm: It’s time to begin anew.


Pandemics fundamentally change society, and the question that should be on all of our minds is what kind of country do we want to emerge as once this crisis ends?


In Atlanta, we're at the crossroads of both the pandemic and protest. Governor Kemp has abandoned his role as governor, cashing in political points at the expense of the public health of the state. Beginning on May 29, Atlanta joined the list of dozens of cities in uprising against the status quo of mass incarceration and police brutality. We filled the streets by the thousands, even shutting down the downtown connector the day after the police killing of Rayshard Brooks. Though the protests have dwindled in size, and activists have returned to strategizing, the pandemic remains as rampant and even more widespread than when we first became aware of it in March.


But there is still hope.


Below is a list of ways you can fight back against the insanity and give back to the community. This list is not comprehensive, but a collection of suggestions to push back against apathy in order to find that human connection we’ve all been longing for while in our respective quarantines.


1.    Register to Vote


The November election is under attack. The Trump administration appears to be sabotaging the United States Postal Service, already under tremendous strain due to the pandemic, as millions of Americans prepare to vote by mail in the November election. This kind of voter suppression is not unfamiliar to us, as we saw the mass expunging of voter records in the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial election under then-Secretary of State Brian Kemp. Now is the time to plan accordingly. If you haven’t registered to vote already, the deadline to do so is Oct. 5. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Oct. 30. If absentee voting or voting by mail is your only option, allow time for the USPS to process your ballot. If you don’t want to risk your vote getting lost in the mail and want to avoid the election day crowds, early voting runs from October 12 to 30. In the meantime, research your candidates. In the November election, we vote for our pick of the President, U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, Georgia State Senate, Georgia State House of Representatives, and a handful of officials in local elections. That’s a lot of power to leverage — use it!


If the reality is, for many people, that the Democratic ticket is not the ideal ticket, it is nevertheless absolutely imperative that we rally behind Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to finally end these four years of hell. Once we win the election, we will still need to put in the same amount of energy as we did opposing the Trump presidency to ensure we get the future we deserve. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are beyond perfect candidates, even actively problematic, given their history of advocating for the very systems which recent protests seek to overturn, but their victory is the only chance we have to acquire the power so desperately needed for our country to recover.


The late civil rights icon and Georgia congressman John Lewis wrote in an essay for The New York Times before his passing on July 17 that “the vote is the most powerful nonviolent change agent you have in a democratic society. You must use it because it is not guaranteed — you can lose it.” Let us heed the congressman’s warning and be prepared to put in more work than before.


2.    Call Your Representatives, Localize Your Resistance


If we’re going to get anything done, we’ve got to make the system work for us. A lot has happened over the past couple of months. If you’re fed up with the regular run of things, you’re probably wondering how to get more politically involved. Perhaps showing up physically in the streets isn’t an option for you, but picking up the phone may be. Calling your representative is a quick and accessible way to put pressure on elected officials, especially if they’re local. Leading up to the passage of Atlanta’s 2021 budget, the Atlanta City Council were left with 17 hours of public comment calling on them to defund the police and invest in underserved communities. While the City Council did not move to defund the APD, one success came when the mayor’s office announced it would redirect $18 million from the Atlanta Detention Center toward social programs. Continued public pressure can work. In Minneapolis, the city council voted to disband the police. In Los Angeles, the city council voted on June 16 to cut $150 million from the LAPD. Change is possible, and while Atlanta has yet to experience any similar reforms — despite massive civic engagement and unrest — the pressure must continue. To find out who your representatives are, go to the Secretary of State’s My Voter Page at www.mvp.sos.ga.gov. For your city council representative, visit citycouncil.atlantaga.gov. Let’s blow up some phones.


3.    Get Educated


No one enters any movement an expert. Over the past couple of months, many people have been introduced to the concept of defunding the police, uprooting mass incarceration, prison abolition, and other reforms that activists have been rallying behind for decades. Luckily for us, local bookstores like For Keeps Books, Charis Books & More, A Cappella Books, and others are stocked with plenty of movement literature and resources. Whether it’s Michelle Alexander’s The New Jim Crow, Angela Davis’ Are Prisons Obsolete?, or other titles you are looking for, these bookstores are a valuable resource to get educated on the issues that matter in our current moment. For books to enlighten your kid, swing by Brave & Kind Bookstore for some necessary reads for the children. Plus, by buying from the aforementioned stores, you’re supporting local businesses — what’s to lose?


•    For Keeps Books, 171 Auburn Ave. N.E. www.forkeepsbooks.com.


•    Charis Books & More, 184 South Candler St. www.charisbooksandmore.com


•    A Cappella Books, 208 Haralson Ave. N.E. www.acappellabooks.com.


•    Brave and Kind Books, 722 W. College Ave. www.braveandkindbooks.com.


4.    Help Fund A Black Queer-Owned Community Space


Southern Fried Queer Pride, the beloved Black and brown queer and trans-led DIY arts organization, launched an effort in early June to finance their own community space. For six years, the organization has made a name for itself for their inclusive and empowering events which run the gamut from drag performances, concerts, and workshops to art shows. They host 60 events each year, and their annual festival brings together upwards of 2,000 people from across the South. Because they’ve served as a critical force for advocating for space for queer and trans folks in Atlanta, their latest move to buy their own space is a natural evolution for the growing organization.


“We always knew we would get to this point and outgrow the spaces we occupied,” says co-founder Taylor Alxndr. “With everything happening in the social climate and the world, it makes it even more important to have a space where queer and trans people can be respected, can be seen, and can find each other.”


The space sets out to be a little bit of everything, according to Alxndr. It’ll be where SFQP hosts all their events, concerts, and art shows, but also a coffee shop, community garden, and thrift store to make it a true communal space. The organization has already raised over $120,000 in just two months, and they’re shooting even higher.


‘We’re going to create a space that hasn't been here for a long time,” says Alxndr. “What we’re providing is for queer and trans folk, particularly Black and brown folks, and that’s something Atlanta hasn’t experienced for over 30 years.”


For more information and to donate to their mission, visit their GoFundMe at bit.ly/sfqpcc.


5.    Volunteer with Food4Life


Since the onset of the coronavirus crisis, it’s been clear that if the government wasn’t going to provide necessary direct relief, then the people would have to rise to the occasion. Across the nation, people have been engaging in mutual aid to provide services and resources to their neighbors. In Atlanta, Food4Life has stepped up to the plate to provide free grocery delivery to the city’s most vulnerable populations. The collective was founded by activists involved in a local chapter of Food Not Bombs, a volunteer-led food redistribution initiative, in direct response to the pandemic. The collective provides support to anyone who is self-isolating, can’t afford grocery delivery services, lives in a food desert, or can’t afford groceries. At all hours of the week, volunteers are boxing up pounds of produce, bread, eggs, and other food items, and driving out to homes within and outside the perimeter to provide relief. Since March, they’ve delivered over 10,000 pounds of groceries in the greater Atlanta area. Currently, the collective is seeking volunteers to package groceries, deliver them to homes, make phone calls to solicit donations, and other tasks that can be done remotely. Learn more on how to get involved at atlsurvival.org.


6.    Support the Atlanta Solidarity Fund


The Atlanta Solidarity Fund provides bail support for activists arrested for participating in social justice movements — and helps them get access to lawyers. In response to whatever repression protestors face in the ongoing struggle for racial and social justice, the Atlanta Solidarity Fund seeks to provide support through all means necessary. Currently, they are tracking the cases of and extending support for over 700 people arrested during local uprisings.


“We help with these things and many others to ensure that protesters aren't left to face the criminal justice system by themselves,” says Marlon, an organizer with the Atlanta Solidarity Fund. “When we protect the most vulnerable among us, it makes the whole movement stronger in the long run.”


Donations towards the Atlanta Solidarity Fund go towards bail funds, legal costs, and other expenses associated with facing prosecution. Money is also put back into community groups doing movement work. Everyone with the Atlanta Solidarity Fund is a volunteer; there is no paid staff. If you’re interested in lending a hand, the group is seeking volunteers, particularly lawyers, and further donations to support their efforts. For more information, go to atlsolidarity.org.


7.    Help Mariposas Rebeldes Establish a Community Land Trust


Mariposas Rebeldes, a gardening initiative in Atlanta, or Muscogee Creek Territory, has launched an effort to establish a community land trust. Founded on principles of mutual aid and food autonomy, the initiative seeks to facilitate agricultural education and share resources among the queer Latinx community. What began as a passion project in the backyard of co-founder Israel Tordoya blossomed into an effort to transform the space into a community garden and safe space for queer Black and brown people to learn about food autonomy, herbalism, and utilizing indigenous planting techniques to foster a pre-colonial relationship with the land.


“Right away, we saw a lot of support from the queer Latinx community, as there weren’t any spaces in the city focused on providing a space for people like us to organize and learn the skills needed for our survival, growth, and the shared political project of decolonization,” says Tordoya. “So together, we set to work carving out that space.”


However, amidst the pandemic, the owner of the property Mariposas Rebeldes was founded on is selling the property and forcing them to leave. According to their GoFundMe, all funds contributed will go to purchasing land in the city, building housing and infrastructure, and any legal fees involved in establishing the space as a community land trust. They also recently received a matching grant from A Well-Fed World of $25,000, meaning further donations will be doubled when processed. Donate to their mission at www.gofundme/f/mariposas-rebeldes, and follow them on Instagram @mariposasbebelatl for updates.


8.    Attend a Local Movie Screening


Galleries and movie theaters are getting creative to stay afloat during the pandemic. Plaza Theatre, the city’s longest-running movie theater, has adapted to the times by hosting drive-in movie screenings in the parking lot of their Ponce de Leon location and at Dad’s Garage. For the past few months, they’ve gained their eclectic reputation and film buff status by showing a wide variety of films from Pee Wee’s Big Adventure to Purple Rain. Alternatively, in light of national uprisings, DIY art space Hi-Lo Press is hosting outdoor screenings of Black revolutionary cinema every Thursday at 9:30 p.m.


“As more unrest began to build, it felt more important than ever to find creative and safe ways to work towards collective experiences that are relevant to movements towards liberation and against anti-blackness and state violence,” says Hi-Lo Press co-founder Dianna Settles.


This month, they’re showing Szambizanga on September 10, Born in Flames on September 17, and White Out, Black In on September 24. Masks are required, attendees are encouraged to bring their own chair or blanket, and hand sanitizer is provided. If you must go out, Plaza Theatre and Hi-Lo Press provide both entertainment and education during these tumultuous times. Plaza Theatre, 1049 Ponce De Leon Ave. N.E. www.plazaatlanta.com. Hi-Lo Press, 696 Charles Allen Drive N.E. Instagram @hilopress.


9.    Buy Local Records


With live music on pause, Atlanta musicians are hurting. Small venues are under threat of closure, and it’s impossible to predict when it’ll be safe to gather in crowds again. In the meantime, we can support musicians and performers in quarantine. Buying records can’t sway policy or enact change directly, but it’s still a means to relieve some of the financial burden of Atlanta musicians and fortify Atlanta’s cultural character while we wait for COVID to get under control. Local record stores like Wax N Facts, Moods Music, Wuxtry Records, and Criminal Records are still open with limited capacity and mask mandates, some offering in-store and curbside pickup orders and delivery.


For online options, Bandcamp has begun waiving their share of proceeds on the first Friday of every month, giving 100 percent to artists. This year alone, we’ve had incredible local releases from the Southern fried punk of Arbor Labor Union’s New Petal Instants, up-and-coming hardcore quintet Upchuck’s self-titled effort, the latest compilation from dance-centric label Harsh Riddims, and countless others, so there’s no excuse to not drop some cash and keep the music playing.


•    Wax N Facts, 432 Moreland Ave. N.E. www.waxnfacts.com


•    Moods Music, 1131 Euclid Ave. N.E. www.moodsmusic.net


•    Wuxtry Records, 2096 N Decatur Road. www.wuxtryrecords.com


•    Criminal Records, 1154 Euclid Ave. N.E. www.criminalatl.com.


10.    Take Care of Yourself


This one’s pretty self-explanatory. We are arguably in the most challenging time in modern history, and it’s only going to get worse before it gets better. With careers under threat and the only certainty being uncertainty, everyone’s mental and physical health is vulnerable on a daily basis. So this is a call to rest and recharge. To check in with yourself and take time to get better. Every day is a fucking odyssey in 2020. Resting and practicing self-care to become a better, stronger person will help us fight back and give back in the long run. What matters is that we emerge from this pandemic alive. Time to finally make good with ourselves and our loved ones. —CL—    Courtesy of Southern Fried Queer Pride After six years of stage productions and organizing, Southern Fried Queer Pride seeks to finance their own community space.  0,0,10                           Ten ways to fight back — and give back locally "
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  string(8916) "Argosy played a key role in elevating the East Atlanta Village as a beacon for nightlife. Since 2013, the team that owns and operates such night club institutions as MJQ Concourse, The Drunken Unicorn, and the Bookhouse Pub — Ben Rhoades, Armando Celentano, and Donald Durant — have flourished at 470 Flat Shoals Avenue SE. The bar and restaurant’s custom-built wooden interior fosters a warm environment where themes of seafaring fantasy hang in the balance with the upscale and casual dining. The beer list is off the charts, and the wood-fired pizza, the small plates, and the Impossible burgers are among the neighborhood’s most sophisticated offerings. Later in the evenings, check out the DJs crafting a sleek ambiance. The back room, dubbed “the Brig,” is where the DJs spin a slightly harder-edged set, surrounded by Skee-Ball machines and board games, while a giant octopus hanging from the ceiling surveys the scene.


Bankhead Seafood has been a Westside staple for more than 50 years. The famed Grove Park eatery even gets a shout out in the title track to Goody Mob’s Soul Food album, when Big Gipp raps, “Miss Lady acting like we in jail / Says she ain't got no extra hushpuppies to sell / Bankhead Seafood making me hit that door / With a mind full of attitude.” When former owner Helen Harden closed the restaurant in 2018, rappers Killer Mike and T.I. stepped in to keep the business open and take it to the next level. Since then, they’ve literally hit the streets with the Bankhead Seafood Truck, taking the famed $8 special (a piece of fish and two hushpuppies) to a larger audience, while the refurbished brick-and-mortar location at 1651 Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway prepares to reopen next spring.


Boggs Social & Supply at 1310 White Street SW is an essential Westside hangout. Sure, the BeltLine and the White & Lee development, aka Malt Disney, are great places to whittle away some hours, but Boggs offers a low-key escape from the sun and the family scene. Created by Gaja Korean co-owner and punk rock photographer Tim Song and Earl co-owner Shane Pringle of the bands Tiger! Tiger! and Bad Spell, Boggs’s shaded patio, unbeatable domestic and imported beer selections, and its “Heaps” menu make this an essential outpost for Southwest Atlanta. Look for the Gaja Korean food truck that’s become a permanent fixture in the parking lot, and the Ria’s Bluebird truck parked there for Sunday brunch.

 


Burnt Hickory Brewery — While Scott Hedeen worked as an Emmy Award-winning TV cameraman, he dreamed of one day taking his love of craft beer to the professional level. To raise the funds needed to get his Kennesaw-based Burnt Hickory Brewery off the ground Hedeen sold his massive collection of punk rock LPs and singles — he still has crates of records for sale by the bar. Music is an essential part of this O.T.P. outpost of underground culture, as some of BHB’s most popular hits are named after Atlanta bands. When you walk into Kroger and see those Drivin N Cryin “Straight To Hell” IPAs in the refrigerated aisle, that’s Hedeen’s work. As is the Order of the Owl Chocolate Orange Stout, which packs a whopping 9 percent ABV. Punk, metal, and all things heavy are BHB’s forté — Hedeen even played guitar with Atlanta’s reformed version of LA hardcore outfit the Cheifs. If you make the drive to BHB (at 2260 Moon Station Court NW # 210), ask him about the Didjits Blood Orange IPA and Die Kreuzen’s Imperial Pumpkin Pie Porter. He’ll regale you with secret recipes and tales of crossing paths with punk royalty. Bring a designated driver.



Emerald City Bagels — Jackie Halcrow is a punk rock DJ-turned bagel queen. Working alongside her mother, Deanna, Halcrow upset Atlanta’s bagel scene in 2015 when the two launched Emerald City Bagels. Deanna’s passion for creating food blended with her daughter’s culinary school training at The Art Institute of New York City, and Jackie’s experiences as a pastry chef proved indispensable when they hatched an idea to revive the timeless art of creating long-fermented, boiled, and baked bagels. What began as a series of pop-ups all over Atlanta finally settled into the brick-and-mortar shop at 1257A Glenwood Avenue SE in the East Atlanta village.


Fellini’s Pizza and LaFonda Latina — Since the early ’80s, Clay Harper has carved a singular lane through Atlanta’s music scene, while serving as co-owner of both the Fellini’s Pizza and LaFonda Latina restaurants, each with multiple locations around town. Highlights from the singer, guitar player, and songwriter’s body of work include his 1986 debut with The Coolies, an LP titled dig …?, which rounded up 10 punk covers of Simon and Garfunkel songs. Over the years, he’s also appeared alongside everyone from slain journalist Daniel Pearl in The Ottoman Empire to power pop icon Wreckless Eric for the 1997 CD East of Easter. His latest recording, a self-released CD titled Dirt Yard Street (out October 2), is a stripped-down album that features contributions from Kevn Kinney of Drivin N Cryin and Tom Gray of the Brains and Delta Moon, and design work by Grammy-winning artist Susan Archie.


Kelly’s Death Pickles — Kelly Hester is a longtime fixture of Atlanta’s metal, punk, and alternative rock scenes, and he’s kind of a big dill. In 2017, Hester was struck by the idea of taking home canning to the next level when he started naming jars of pickles, jalapeños, and other veggies after Atlanta metal bands. Gnomonaut, Death Of Kings, Order of the Owl, Fiend Without a Face, Dead Now, and more have been blessed with their own brands of Kelly’s Death Pickles. Find Hester hosting Kelly’s Death Pickles pop-up shops at local breweries or by the merch table at any number of Atlanta rock shows — when he’s not in the pit.


Kimball House and Watchman’s — Gentleman Jesse Smith is no stranger to Atlanta’s post-hardcore, power pop, and garage punk scene. His name is synonymous with bands such as Carbonas, Hyena, Gaye Blades, COPS, the Kassabone Red, Some Soviet Station, and of course, Gentleman Jesse and His Men. Smith is a songwriter of the highest order around these parts. Over the last several years, however, he has channeled his passion and commitment to high standards into the delectable food and drinks, top-notch staff, and the best oysters in the city at Kimball House (303 E. Howard Avenue, Decatur) and Watchman’s (99 Krog Street NE). Both operations were years in the making, masterminded by Smith and his friend, former Douchemaster Records label owner Bryan Rackley, along with Miles Macquarrie, and Matt Christison.


Miller Union — Before receiving the James Beard Foundation’s 2017 “Best Chef: Southeast” award, Miller Union co-owner Steven Satterfield was immersed in Atlanta’s music scene. From 1994 through 2000, Savannah-transplant Satterfield sang and played guitar with indie pop outfit Seely. The group’s ’96 debut CD, Julie Only, gave them the distinction of being the first American band signed to British indie label Too Pure, once home to PJ Harvey, Stereolab, Mclusky, and others. Satterfield later sang and played guitar with indie rock act Silver Lakes for the 2006 CD, The Great Pretenders. Since then, Satterfield has emerged as a leader of Atlanta’s food scene, who remains dedicated to supporting local farmers and serving up a modern take on Southern fare at 999 Brady Avenue NW


Plates & Crates — Dillon Vaughan Maurer, aka Lobsterdamus, kicked off Plates & Crates in 2014 as a means of blending his two passions in life: music and food. While spending hours scouring record stores, getting his hands dirty digging through dusty crates of LPs and 12-inch singles, Maurer always worked up an appetite, but there was never anything nearby to eat. With a lifetime of culinary experience under his belt, he created a new garden party series. Plates & Crates marries his desire for scoring obscure musical gems and eating fancy bites. For each installment of Plates & Crates, vendors from all walks of life sell records, and a who’s who of DJs spin whatever they feel like spinning. Keep your ears to the ground, though. Maurer relies solely on word-of-mouth and social media advertising to broadcast his menus and dates.


Venkman's — In September of 2015, Venkman's opened its doors at 740 Ralph McGill Boulevard in the Old Fourth Ward as a restaurant and music venue. The brainchild of PleaseRock and Yacht Rock Revue cohorts Nicholas Niespodziani and Peter Olson, Venkman’s took anchor in a casual neighborhood spot that boasts live music seven nights a week — when the world is in solid, working order — and a menu that compliments the evening’s musical selections — from jazz, bluegrass, salsa, swing, and AOR acts — with style and sophistication. —CL—"
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  string(9336) "~~#000000:__Argosy__~~ played a key role in elevating the East Atlanta Village as a beacon for nightlife. Since 2013, the team that owns and operates such night club institutions as MJQ Concourse, The Drunken Unicorn, and the Bookhouse Pub — Ben Rhoades, Armando Celentano, and Donald Durant — have flourished at 470 Flat Shoals Avenue SE. The bar and restaurant’s custom-built wooden interior fosters a warm environment where themes of seafaring fantasy hang in the balance with the upscale and casual dining. The beer list is off the charts, and the wood-fired pizza, the small plates, and the Impossible burgers are among the neighborhood’s most sophisticated offerings. Later in the evenings, check out the DJs crafting a sleek ambiance. The back room, dubbed “the Brig,” is where the DJs spin a slightly harder-edged set, surrounded by Skee-Ball machines and board games, while a giant octopus hanging from the ceiling surveys the scene.


~~#000000:__Bankhead Seafood__~~ has been a Westside staple for more than 50 years. The famed Grove Park eatery even gets a shout out in the title track to Goody Mob’s ''Soul Food'' album, when Big Gipp raps, “Miss Lady acting like we in jail / Says she ain't got no extra hushpuppies to sell / Bankhead Seafood making me hit that door / With a mind full of attitude.” When former owner Helen Harden closed the restaurant in 2018, rappers __Killer Mike__ and __T.I.__ stepped in to keep the business open and take it to the next level. Since then, they’ve literally hit the streets with the Bankhead Seafood Truck, taking the famed $8 special (a piece of fish and two hushpuppies) to a larger audience, while the refurbished brick-and-mortar location at 1651 Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway prepares to reopen next spring.


~~#000000:__Boggs Social & Supply__~~ at 1310 White Street SW is an essential Westside hangout. Sure, the BeltLine and the White & Lee development, aka Malt Disney, are great places to whittle away some hours, but Boggs offers a low-key escape from the sun and the family scene. Created by Gaja Korean co-owner and punk rock photographer __Tim Song__ and Earl co-owner __Shane Pringle__ of the bands Tiger! Tiger! and Bad Spell, Boggs’s shaded patio, unbeatable domestic and imported beer selections, and its “Heaps” menu make this an essential outpost for Southwest Atlanta. Look for the Gaja Korean food truck that’s become a permanent fixture in the parking lot, and the Ria’s Bluebird truck parked there for Sunday brunch.

 

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~~#000000:__Burnt Hickory Brewery__~~ — While __Scott Hedeen__ worked as an Emmy Award-winning TV cameraman, he dreamed of one day taking his love of craft beer to the professional level. To raise the funds needed to get his Kennesaw-based __Burnt Hickory Brewery__ off the ground Hedeen sold his massive collection of punk rock LPs and singles — he still has crates of records for sale by the bar. Music is an essential part of this O.T.P. outpost of underground culture, as some of BHB’s most popular hits are named after Atlanta bands. When you walk into Kroger and see those Drivin N Cryin “Straight To Hell” IPAs in the refrigerated aisle, that’s Hedeen’s work. As is the Order of the Owl Chocolate Orange Stout, which packs a whopping 9 percent ABV. Punk, metal, and all things heavy are BHB’s forté — Hedeen even played guitar with Atlanta’s reformed version of LA hardcore outfit the Cheifs. If you make the drive to BHB (at 2260 Moon Station Court NW # 210), ask him about the Didjits Blood Orange IPA and Die Kreuzen’s Imperial Pumpkin Pie Porter. He’ll regale you with secret recipes and tales of crossing paths with punk royalty. Bring a designated driver.



~~#000000:__Emerald City Bagels__~~ — __Jackie Halcrow__ is a punk rock DJ-turned bagel queen. Working alongside her mother, __Deanna__, Halcrow upset Atlanta’s bagel scene in 2015 when the two launched __Emerald City Bagels__. Deanna’s passion for creating food blended with her daughter’s culinary school training at The Art Institute of New York City, and Jackie’s experiences as a pastry chef proved indispensable when they hatched an idea to revive the timeless art of creating long-fermented, boiled, and baked bagels. What began as a series of pop-ups all over Atlanta finally settled into the brick-and-mortar shop at 1257A Glenwood Avenue SE in the East Atlanta village.


~~#000000:__Fellini’s Pizza__ and __LaFonda Latina__~~ — Since the early ’80s, __Clay Harper__ has carved a singular lane through Atlanta’s music scene, while serving as co-owner of both the __Fellini’s Pizza__ and __LaFonda Latina__ restaurants, each with multiple locations around town. Highlights from the singer, guitar player, and songwriter’s body of work include his 1986 debut with The Coolies, an LP titled ''dig …?'', which rounded up 10 punk covers of Simon and Garfunkel songs. Over the years, he’s also appeared alongside everyone from slain journalist Daniel Pearl in The Ottoman Empire to power pop icon Wreckless Eric for the 1997 CD ''East of Easter''. His latest recording, a self-released CD titled ''Dirt Yard Street'' (out October 2), is a stripped-down album that features contributions from Kevn Kinney of Drivin N Cryin and Tom Gray of the Brains and Delta Moon, and design work by Grammy-winning artist Susan Archie.


~~#000000:__Kelly’s Death Pickles__~~ — __Kelly Hester__ is a longtime fixture of Atlanta’s metal, punk, and alternative rock scenes, and he’s kind of a big dill. In 2017, Hester was struck by the idea of taking home canning to the next level when he started naming jars of pickles, jalapeños, and other veggies after Atlanta metal bands. Gnomonaut, Death Of Kings, Order of the Owl, Fiend Without a Face, Dead Now, and more have been blessed with their own brands of Kelly’s Death Pickles. Find Hester hosting __Kelly’s Death Pickles__ pop-up shops at local breweries or by the merch table at any number of Atlanta rock shows — when he’s not in the pit.


~~#000000:__Kimball House__ and __Watchman’s__~~ — __Gentleman Jesse Smith__ is no stranger to Atlanta’s post-hardcore, power pop, and garage punk scene. His name is synonymous with bands such as Carbonas, Hyena, Gaye Blades, COPS, the Kassabone Red, Some Soviet Station, and of course, Gentleman Jesse and His Men. Smith is a songwriter of the highest order around these parts. Over the last several years, however, he has channeled his passion and commitment to high standards into the delectable food and drinks, top-notch staff, and the best oysters in the city at Kimball House (303 E. Howard Avenue, Decatur) and Watchman’s (99 Krog Street NE). Both operations were years in the making, masterminded by Smith and his friend, former Douchemaster Records label owner Bryan Rackley, along with Miles Macquarrie, and Matt Christison.


~~#000000:__Miller Union__~~ — Before receiving the James Beard Foundation’s 2017 “Best Chef: Southeast” award, __Miller Union__ co-owner __Steven Satterfield__ was immersed in Atlanta’s music scene. From 1994 through 2000, Savannah-transplant Satterfield sang and played guitar with indie pop outfit Seely. The group’s ’96 debut CD, ''Julie Only'', gave them the distinction of being the first American band signed to British indie label Too Pure, once home to PJ Harvey, Stereolab, Mclusky, and others. Satterfield later sang and played guitar with indie rock act Silver Lakes for the 2006 CD, ''The Great Pretenders''. Since then, Satterfield has emerged as a leader of Atlanta’s food scene, who remains dedicated to supporting local farmers and serving up a modern take on Southern fare at 999 Brady Avenue NW


~~#000000:__Plates & Crates__~~ — __Dillon Vaughan Maurer__, aka __Lobsterdamus__, kicked off __Plates & Crates__ in 2014 as a means of blending his two passions in life: music and food. While spending hours scouring record stores, getting his hands dirty digging through dusty crates of LPs and 12-inch singles, Maurer always worked up an appetite, but there was never anything nearby to eat. With a lifetime of culinary experience under his belt, he created a new garden party series. Plates & Crates marries his desire for scoring obscure musical gems and eating fancy bites. For each installment of Plates & Crates, vendors from all walks of life sell records, and a who’s who of DJs spin whatever they feel like spinning. Keep your ears to the ground, though. Maurer relies solely on word-of-mouth and social media advertising to broadcast his menus and dates.


~~#000000:__Venkman's__~~ — In September of 2015, __Venkman's__ opened its doors at 740 Ralph McGill Boulevard in the Old Fourth Ward as a restaurant and music venue. The brainchild of PleaseRock and Yacht Rock Revue cohorts __Nicholas Niespodziani__ and __Peter Olson__, Venkman’s took anchor in a casual neighborhood spot that boasts live music seven nights a week — when the world is in solid, working order — and a menu that compliments the evening’s musical selections — from jazz, bluegrass, salsa, swing, and AOR acts — with style and sophistication. __—CL—__"
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  string(9528) " Pickles  2020-09-03T19:57:34+00:00 Pickles.jpg     amn atlanta music news An A to Z list of Atlanta music and food crossover ventures Pickles   2020-09-03T19:40:09+00:00  ATLANTA MUSIC NEWS: This list goes to 11 jim.harris Jim Harris CHAD RADFORD chad.radford (Chad Radford) 2020-09-03T19:40:09+00:00 Argosy played a key role in elevating the East Atlanta Village as a beacon for nightlife. Since 2013, the team that owns and operates such night club institutions as MJQ Concourse, The Drunken Unicorn, and the Bookhouse Pub — Ben Rhoades, Armando Celentano, and Donald Durant — have flourished at 470 Flat Shoals Avenue SE. The bar and restaurant’s custom-built wooden interior fosters a warm environment where themes of seafaring fantasy hang in the balance with the upscale and casual dining. The beer list is off the charts, and the wood-fired pizza, the small plates, and the Impossible burgers are among the neighborhood’s most sophisticated offerings. Later in the evenings, check out the DJs crafting a sleek ambiance. The back room, dubbed “the Brig,” is where the DJs spin a slightly harder-edged set, surrounded by Skee-Ball machines and board games, while a giant octopus hanging from the ceiling surveys the scene.


Bankhead Seafood has been a Westside staple for more than 50 years. The famed Grove Park eatery even gets a shout out in the title track to Goody Mob’s Soul Food album, when Big Gipp raps, “Miss Lady acting like we in jail / Says she ain't got no extra hushpuppies to sell / Bankhead Seafood making me hit that door / With a mind full of attitude.” When former owner Helen Harden closed the restaurant in 2018, rappers Killer Mike and T.I. stepped in to keep the business open and take it to the next level. Since then, they’ve literally hit the streets with the Bankhead Seafood Truck, taking the famed $8 special (a piece of fish and two hushpuppies) to a larger audience, while the refurbished brick-and-mortar location at 1651 Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway prepares to reopen next spring.


Boggs Social & Supply at 1310 White Street SW is an essential Westside hangout. Sure, the BeltLine and the White & Lee development, aka Malt Disney, are great places to whittle away some hours, but Boggs offers a low-key escape from the sun and the family scene. Created by Gaja Korean co-owner and punk rock photographer Tim Song and Earl co-owner Shane Pringle of the bands Tiger! Tiger! and Bad Spell, Boggs’s shaded patio, unbeatable domestic and imported beer selections, and its “Heaps” menu make this an essential outpost for Southwest Atlanta. Look for the Gaja Korean food truck that’s become a permanent fixture in the parking lot, and the Ria’s Bluebird truck parked there for Sunday brunch.

 


Burnt Hickory Brewery — While Scott Hedeen worked as an Emmy Award-winning TV cameraman, he dreamed of one day taking his love of craft beer to the professional level. To raise the funds needed to get his Kennesaw-based Burnt Hickory Brewery off the ground Hedeen sold his massive collection of punk rock LPs and singles — he still has crates of records for sale by the bar. Music is an essential part of this O.T.P. outpost of underground culture, as some of BHB’s most popular hits are named after Atlanta bands. When you walk into Kroger and see those Drivin N Cryin “Straight To Hell” IPAs in the refrigerated aisle, that’s Hedeen’s work. As is the Order of the Owl Chocolate Orange Stout, which packs a whopping 9 percent ABV. Punk, metal, and all things heavy are BHB’s forté — Hedeen even played guitar with Atlanta’s reformed version of LA hardcore outfit the Cheifs. If you make the drive to BHB (at 2260 Moon Station Court NW # 210), ask him about the Didjits Blood Orange IPA and Die Kreuzen’s Imperial Pumpkin Pie Porter. He’ll regale you with secret recipes and tales of crossing paths with punk royalty. Bring a designated driver.



Emerald City Bagels — Jackie Halcrow is a punk rock DJ-turned bagel queen. Working alongside her mother, Deanna, Halcrow upset Atlanta’s bagel scene in 2015 when the two launched Emerald City Bagels. Deanna’s passion for creating food blended with her daughter’s culinary school training at The Art Institute of New York City, and Jackie’s experiences as a pastry chef proved indispensable when they hatched an idea to revive the timeless art of creating long-fermented, boiled, and baked bagels. What began as a series of pop-ups all over Atlanta finally settled into the brick-and-mortar shop at 1257A Glenwood Avenue SE in the East Atlanta village.


Fellini’s Pizza and LaFonda Latina — Since the early ’80s, Clay Harper has carved a singular lane through Atlanta’s music scene, while serving as co-owner of both the Fellini’s Pizza and LaFonda Latina restaurants, each with multiple locations around town. Highlights from the singer, guitar player, and songwriter’s body of work include his 1986 debut with The Coolies, an LP titled dig …?, which rounded up 10 punk covers of Simon and Garfunkel songs. Over the years, he’s also appeared alongside everyone from slain journalist Daniel Pearl in The Ottoman Empire to power pop icon Wreckless Eric for the 1997 CD East of Easter. His latest recording, a self-released CD titled Dirt Yard Street (out October 2), is a stripped-down album that features contributions from Kevn Kinney of Drivin N Cryin and Tom Gray of the Brains and Delta Moon, and design work by Grammy-winning artist Susan Archie.


Kelly’s Death Pickles — Kelly Hester is a longtime fixture of Atlanta’s metal, punk, and alternative rock scenes, and he’s kind of a big dill. In 2017, Hester was struck by the idea of taking home canning to the next level when he started naming jars of pickles, jalapeños, and other veggies after Atlanta metal bands. Gnomonaut, Death Of Kings, Order of the Owl, Fiend Without a Face, Dead Now, and more have been blessed with their own brands of Kelly’s Death Pickles. Find Hester hosting Kelly’s Death Pickles pop-up shops at local breweries or by the merch table at any number of Atlanta rock shows — when he’s not in the pit.


Kimball House and Watchman’s — Gentleman Jesse Smith is no stranger to Atlanta’s post-hardcore, power pop, and garage punk scene. His name is synonymous with bands such as Carbonas, Hyena, Gaye Blades, COPS, the Kassabone Red, Some Soviet Station, and of course, Gentleman Jesse and His Men. Smith is a songwriter of the highest order around these parts. Over the last several years, however, he has channeled his passion and commitment to high standards into the delectable food and drinks, top-notch staff, and the best oysters in the city at Kimball House (303 E. Howard Avenue, Decatur) and Watchman’s (99 Krog Street NE). Both operations were years in the making, masterminded by Smith and his friend, former Douchemaster Records label owner Bryan Rackley, along with Miles Macquarrie, and Matt Christison.


Miller Union — Before receiving the James Beard Foundation’s 2017 “Best Chef: Southeast” award, Miller Union co-owner Steven Satterfield was immersed in Atlanta’s music scene. From 1994 through 2000, Savannah-transplant Satterfield sang and played guitar with indie pop outfit Seely. The group’s ’96 debut CD, Julie Only, gave them the distinction of being the first American band signed to British indie label Too Pure, once home to PJ Harvey, Stereolab, Mclusky, and others. Satterfield later sang and played guitar with indie rock act Silver Lakes for the 2006 CD, The Great Pretenders. Since then, Satterfield has emerged as a leader of Atlanta’s food scene, who remains dedicated to supporting local farmers and serving up a modern take on Southern fare at 999 Brady Avenue NW


Plates & Crates — Dillon Vaughan Maurer, aka Lobsterdamus, kicked off Plates & Crates in 2014 as a means of blending his two passions in life: music and food. While spending hours scouring record stores, getting his hands dirty digging through dusty crates of LPs and 12-inch singles, Maurer always worked up an appetite, but there was never anything nearby to eat. With a lifetime of culinary experience under his belt, he created a new garden party series. Plates & Crates marries his desire for scoring obscure musical gems and eating fancy bites. For each installment of Plates & Crates, vendors from all walks of life sell records, and a who’s who of DJs spin whatever they feel like spinning. Keep your ears to the ground, though. Maurer relies solely on word-of-mouth and social media advertising to broadcast his menus and dates.


Venkman's — In September of 2015, Venkman's opened its doors at 740 Ralph McGill Boulevard in the Old Fourth Ward as a restaurant and music venue. The brainchild of PleaseRock and Yacht Rock Revue cohorts Nicholas Niespodziani and Peter Olson, Venkman’s took anchor in a casual neighborhood spot that boasts live music seven nights a week — when the world is in solid, working order — and a menu that compliments the evening’s musical selections — from jazz, bluegrass, salsa, swing, and AOR acts — with style and sophistication. —CL—    Courtesy of Kelly's Death Pickles KELLY'S DEATH PICKLES: Kelly Hester, one of many Atlanta musicians to find a second life as a purveyor of fine foods,  hawking his pickles when not moshing in the pit.  0,0,10    AMN "atlanta music news"                       ATLANTA MUSIC NEWS: This list goes to 11 "
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  string(7921) "!VIRGO
!!The Maiden - Aug. 23-Sept. 22
!!!Virgo poet Mary Oliver was renowned for giving herself permission. Permission to do what? To become a different person from the self she had been. To shed her familiar beliefs and adopt new ones. To treat every experience as an opportunity to experiment. To be at peace with uncertainty. I think you’ll be wise to give yourself all those permissions in the coming weeks—as well as others that would enhance your freedom to be and do whatever you want to be and do. Here’s another favorite Mary Oliver permission that I hope you’ll offer yourself: “And I say to my heart: rave on.”
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “The more unintelligent people are, the less mysterious existence seems to them,” wrote philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer. I agree with that idea, as well as the converse: The more intelligent people are, the more mysterious existence seems to them. Since I expect you to be at the peak of your soulful intelligence in the coming weeks, I am quite sure that life will be exquisitely mysterious to you. It’s true that some of its enigmatic qualities may be murky and frustrating, but I suspect that many of them will be magical and delightful. If you ever wanted your life to resemble a poetic art film, you’re going to get your wish.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Comedian and actor Aubrey Plaza bragged about the deal she made. “I sold my soul to the devil,” she said. “I’d like to thank the devil.” Plaza is quite popular and successful, so who knows? Maybe the Prince of Darkness did indeed give her a boost. But I really hope you don’t regard her as a role model in the coming weeks—not even in jest. What worked for Plaza won’t work for you. Diabolical influences that may seem tempting will not, in the long run, serve your interests—and may even sabotage them. Besides, more benevolent forces will be available to you, and at a better price.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Many of you Sagittarians specialize in generous breakthroughs and invigorating leaps of truth. Often, you make them look easy and natural—so much so that people may not realize how talented you are in generating them. I hope you adjust for that by giving yourself the proper acknowledgment and credit. If this phenomenon shows up in the coming weeks—and I suspect it might—please take strenuous measures to ensure that you register the fullness of your own accomplishments. To do so will be crucial in enabling those accomplishments to ripen to their highest potential.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Holocaust survivor and author Elie Wiesel wrote, “When you die and go to heaven, our maker is not going to ask, ‘why didn’t you discover the cure for such and such? why didn’t you become the Messiah?’ The only question we will be asked in that precious moment is ‘why didn’t you become you?’” I hope that serves as a stimulating challenge for you, Capricorn. The fact is that you are in an extended phase when it’s easier than usual to summon the audacity and ingenuity necessary to become more fully yourself than you have ever been before. 

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Years ago, comedian Lenny Bruce observed, “Every day people are straying away from the church and going back to God.” His statement is even truer today than it was then. Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan think tank, has gathered the concrete evidence. Church attendance was way down even before the pandemic struck. Now it’s even lower. What does this have to do with you? In my astrological opinion, the coming months will be prime time for you to build your intimate and unique relationship with God rather than with institutions that have formulaic notions about who and what God is. A similar principle will be active in other ways, as well. You’ll thrive by drawing energy from actual sources and firsthand experiences rather than from systems and ideologies that supposedly represent those sources and experiences.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Psychologist Carl Jung wrote, “The function of dreams is to restore our psychological balance by producing dream material that re-establishes the total psychic equilibrium.” According to my reading of the astrological omens, you especially need this kind of action right now. To expedite your healing process, meditate on what aspects of your life might have become too extreme or one-sided. Where could you apply compensatory energy to establish better equipoise? What top-heavy or lopsided or wobbly situations could benefit from bold, imaginative strokes of counterbalance?

ARIES (March 21-April 19): “It’s not that some people have willpower and some don’t,” observes author James S. Gordon. “Rather, it’s that some people are ready to change and others are not.” Lucky for you, Aries! Your willpower is even more potent than usual right now, and your willingness to change is growing stronger. And so very soon now, I expect you will reach the threshold that enables you to act crisply and forcefully. You will become so convinced that it’s wise to instigate transformation that you will just naturally instigate transformation. Adjust, adapt, improvise, improve!

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi is an expert on the mental state known as being in the flow. He defines it as what happens when you’re completely absorbed in what you are doing: “immersed in a feeling of energized focus,” with “full involvement and enjoyment in the process of the activity.” According to my reading of the astrological omens, you are extra likely to enjoy such graceful interludes in the coming weeks. But I hope you will be discerning about how you use them. I mean, you could get into a flow playing video games or doing sudoku puzzles. But God and Life and I would prefer it if you’ll devote those times to working on a sublime labor of love or a highly worthy quest.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): According to researcher Rosalind Cartwright, “Memory is never a precise duplicate of the original. It is a continuing act of creation.” Neurologist Oliver Sacks agrees, telling us, “Memories are not fixed or frozen, but are transformed, disassembled, reassembled, and recategorized with every act of recollection.” Reams of additional evidence also suggest that our experience of the past is always being transformed. In accordance with astrological potentials, I invite you to take advantage of this truth. Re-imagine your life story so it has more positive spins. Re-envision the plot threads so that redemption and rebirth are major features. Engage in a playful reworking of your memories so that the epic myth of your destiny serves your future happiness and success.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): All of us are susceptible to fooling ourselves and lying to ourselves. And all of us are susceptible to the cowardice that such self-sabotage generates. But the good news is that you Cancerians will have an expansive capacity to dissolve and rise above self-deception in the coming weeks—and will therefore be able to call on a great deal of courage. As Cancerian author and Buddhist teacher Pema Chödrön says, “The essence of bravery is being without self-deception.”

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!!!Virgo poet Mary Oliver was renowned for giving herself permission. Permission to do what? To become a different person from the self she had been. To shed her familiar beliefs and adopt new ones. To treat every experience as an opportunity to experiment. To be at peace with uncertainty. I think you’ll be wise to give yourself all those permissions in the coming weeks—as well as others that would enhance your freedom to be and do whatever you want to be and do. Here’s another favorite Mary Oliver permission that I hope you’ll offer yourself: “And I say to my heart: rave on.”
~~#000000:__LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22):__~~ “The more unintelligent people are, the less mysterious existence seems to them,” wrote philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer. I agree with that idea, as well as the converse: The more intelligent people are, the more mysterious existence seems to them. Since I expect you to be at the peak of your soulful intelligence in the coming weeks, I am quite sure that life will be exquisitely mysterious to you. It’s true that some of its enigmatic qualities may be murky and frustrating, but I suspect that many of them will be magical and delightful. If you ever wanted your life to resemble a poetic art film, you’re going to get your wish.

~~#000000:__SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21):__~~ Comedian and actor Aubrey Plaza bragged about the deal she made. “I sold my soul to the devil,” she said. “I’d like to thank the devil.” Plaza is quite popular and successful, so who knows? Maybe the Prince of Darkness did indeed give her a boost. But I really hope you don’t regard her as a role model in the coming weeks—not even in jest. What worked for Plaza won’t work for you. Diabolical influences that may seem tempting will not, in the long run, serve your interests—and may even sabotage them. Besides, more benevolent forces will be available to you, and at a better price.

~~#000000:__SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21):__~~ Many of you Sagittarians specialize in generous breakthroughs and invigorating leaps of truth. Often, you make them look easy and natural—so much so that people may not realize how talented you are in generating them. I hope you adjust for that by giving yourself the proper acknowledgment and credit. If this phenomenon shows up in the coming weeks—and I suspect it might—please take strenuous measures to ensure that you register the fullness of your own accomplishments. To do so will be crucial in enabling those accomplishments to ripen to their highest potential.

~~#000000:__CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19):__~~ Holocaust survivor and author Elie Wiesel wrote, “When you die and go to heaven, our maker is not going to ask, ‘why didn’t you discover the cure for such and such? why didn’t you become the Messiah?’ The only question we will be asked in that precious moment is ‘why didn’t you become you?’” I hope that serves as a stimulating challenge for you, Capricorn. The fact is that you are in an extended phase when it’s easier than usual to summon the audacity and ingenuity necessary to become more fully yourself than you have ever been before. 

~~#000000:__AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18):__~~ Years ago, comedian Lenny Bruce observed, “Every day people are straying away from the church and going back to God.” His statement is even truer today than it was then. Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan think tank, has gathered the concrete evidence. Church attendance was way down even before the pandemic struck. Now it’s even lower. What does this have to do with you? In my astrological opinion, the coming months will be prime time for you to build your intimate and unique relationship with God rather than with institutions that have formulaic notions about who and what God is. A similar principle will be active in other ways, as well. You’ll thrive by drawing energy from actual sources and firsthand experiences rather than from systems and ideologies that supposedly represent those sources and experiences.

~~#000000:__PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20):__~~ Psychologist Carl Jung wrote, “The function of dreams is to restore our psychological balance by producing dream material that re-establishes the total psychic equilibrium.” According to my reading of the astrological omens, you especially need this kind of action right now. To expedite your healing process, meditate on what aspects of your life might have become too extreme or one-sided. Where could you apply compensatory energy to establish better equipoise? What top-heavy or lopsided or wobbly situations could benefit from bold, imaginative strokes of counterbalance?

~~#000000:__ARIES (March 21-April 19):__~~ “It’s not that some people have willpower and some don’t,” observes author James S. Gordon. “Rather, it’s that some people are ready to change and others are not.” Lucky for you, Aries! Your willpower is even more potent than usual right now, and your willingness to change is growing stronger. And so very soon now, I expect you will reach the threshold that enables you to act crisply and forcefully. You will become so convinced that it’s wise to instigate transformation that you will just naturally instigate transformation. Adjust, adapt, improvise, improve!

~~#000000:__TAURUS (April 20-May 20):__~~ Psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi is an expert on the mental state known as being in the flow. He defines it as what happens when you’re completely absorbed in what you are doing: “immersed in a feeling of energized focus,” with “full involvement and enjoyment in the process of the activity.” According to my reading of the astrological omens, you are extra likely to enjoy such graceful interludes in the coming weeks. But I hope you will be discerning about how you use them. I mean, you could get into a flow playing video games or doing sudoku puzzles. But God and Life and I would prefer it if you’ll devote those times to working on a sublime labor of love or a highly worthy quest.

~~#000000:__GEMINI (May 21-June 20):__~~ According to researcher Rosalind Cartwright, “Memory is never a precise duplicate of the original. It is a continuing act of creation.” Neurologist Oliver Sacks agrees, telling us, “Memories are not fixed or frozen, but are transformed, disassembled, reassembled, and recategorized with every act of recollection.” Reams of additional evidence also suggest that our experience of the past is always being transformed. In accordance with astrological potentials, I invite you to take advantage of this truth. Re-imagine your life story so it has more positive spins. Re-envision the plot threads so that redemption and rebirth are major features. Engage in a playful reworking of your memories so that the epic myth of your destiny serves your future happiness and success.

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!!The Maiden - Aug. 23-Sept. 22
!!!Virgo poet Mary Oliver was renowned for giving herself permission. Permission to do what? To become a different person from the self she had been. To shed her familiar beliefs and adopt new ones. To treat every experience as an opportunity to experiment. To be at peace with uncertainty. I think you’ll be wise to give yourself all those permissions in the coming weeks—as well as others that would enhance your freedom to be and do whatever you want to be and do. Here’s another favorite Mary Oliver permission that I hope you’ll offer yourself: “And I say to my heart: rave on.”
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “The more unintelligent people are, the less mysterious existence seems to them,” wrote philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer. I agree with that idea, as well as the converse: The more intelligent people are, the more mysterious existence seems to them. Since I expect you to be at the peak of your soulful intelligence in the coming weeks, I am quite sure that life will be exquisitely mysterious to you. It’s true that some of its enigmatic qualities may be murky and frustrating, but I suspect that many of them will be magical and delightful. If you ever wanted your life to resemble a poetic art film, you’re going to get your wish.

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SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Many of you Sagittarians specialize in generous breakthroughs and invigorating leaps of truth. Often, you make them look easy and natural—so much so that people may not realize how talented you are in generating them. I hope you adjust for that by giving yourself the proper acknowledgment and credit. If this phenomenon shows up in the coming weeks—and I suspect it might—please take strenuous measures to ensure that you register the fullness of your own accomplishments. To do so will be crucial in enabling those accomplishments to ripen to their highest potential.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Holocaust survivor and author Elie Wiesel wrote, “When you die and go to heaven, our maker is not going to ask, ‘why didn’t you discover the cure for such and such? why didn’t you become the Messiah?’ The only question we will be asked in that precious moment is ‘why didn’t you become you?’” I hope that serves as a stimulating challenge for you, Capricorn. The fact is that you are in an extended phase when it’s easier than usual to summon the audacity and ingenuity necessary to become more fully yourself than you have ever been before. 

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Years ago, comedian Lenny Bruce observed, “Every day people are straying away from the church and going back to God.” His statement is even truer today than it was then. Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan think tank, has gathered the concrete evidence. Church attendance was way down even before the pandemic struck. Now it’s even lower. What does this have to do with you? In my astrological opinion, the coming months will be prime time for you to build your intimate and unique relationship with God rather than with institutions that have formulaic notions about who and what God is. A similar principle will be active in other ways, as well. You’ll thrive by drawing energy from actual sources and firsthand experiences rather than from systems and ideologies that supposedly represent those sources and experiences.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Psychologist Carl Jung wrote, “The function of dreams is to restore our psychological balance by producing dream material that re-establishes the total psychic equilibrium.” According to my reading of the astrological omens, you especially need this kind of action right now. To expedite your healing process, meditate on what aspects of your life might have become too extreme or one-sided. Where could you apply compensatory energy to establish better equipoise? What top-heavy or lopsided or wobbly situations could benefit from bold, imaginative strokes of counterbalance?

ARIES (March 21-April 19): “It’s not that some people have willpower and some don’t,” observes author James S. Gordon. “Rather, it’s that some people are ready to change and others are not.” Lucky for you, Aries! Your willpower is even more potent than usual right now, and your willingness to change is growing stronger. And so very soon now, I expect you will reach the threshold that enables you to act crisply and forcefully. You will become so convinced that it’s wise to instigate transformation that you will just naturally instigate transformation. Adjust, adapt, improvise, improve!

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi is an expert on the mental state known as being in the flow. He defines it as what happens when you’re completely absorbed in what you are doing: “immersed in a feeling of energized focus,” with “full involvement and enjoyment in the process of the activity.” According to my reading of the astrological omens, you are extra likely to enjoy such graceful interludes in the coming weeks. But I hope you will be discerning about how you use them. I mean, you could get into a flow playing video games or doing sudoku puzzles. But God and Life and I would prefer it if you’ll devote those times to working on a sublime labor of love or a highly worthy quest.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): According to researcher Rosalind Cartwright, “Memory is never a precise duplicate of the original. It is a continuing act of creation.” Neurologist Oliver Sacks agrees, telling us, “Memories are not fixed or frozen, but are transformed, disassembled, reassembled, and recategorized with every act of recollection.” Reams of additional evidence also suggest that our experience of the past is always being transformed. In accordance with astrological potentials, I invite you to take advantage of this truth. Re-imagine your life story so it has more positive spins. Re-envision the plot threads so that redemption and rebirth are major features. Engage in a playful reworking of your memories so that the epic myth of your destiny serves your future happiness and success.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): All of us are susceptible to fooling ourselves and lying to ourselves. And all of us are susceptible to the cowardice that such self-sabotage generates. But the good news is that you Cancerians will have an expansive capacity to dissolve and rise above self-deception in the coming weeks—and will therefore be able to call on a great deal of courage. As Cancerian author and Buddhist teacher Pema Chödrön says, “The essence of bravery is being without self-deception.”

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): If you like, I will give you the waning crescent moon and the dawn breeze. Do you want them? How about sudden bursts of joy for no apparent reasons and a warm greeting from a person you thought had a problem with you? Would you be interested in having those experiences? And what about an unexpected insight into how to improve your financial situation and a message from the future about how to acquire more stability and security? Are those blessings you might enjoy? Everything I just named will be possible in the coming weeks—especially if you formulate a desire to receive them and ask life to provide them.    Adobe Stock/ksysha   0,0,10    freewillastrology astrology horoscope "rob breszny"                       Free Will Astrology - September 2020 "
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  string(10511) "{BOX( bg="#66bfff")}{imagefloatleft imageid="32756" wdthval="300px"}__~~black:I. The car~~__

Yes, one of the places most significant to the current state Atlanta hip-hop scene is the car — whether that means your car, my car, their car, or a random car altogether. Long gone are the days where the key to making a name for yourself in the city was investing in studio time to record a mixtape and hoping that blogs would pick it up. Now, it can all start with a car freestyle.

As seen with Deante’ Hitchcock — whose viral car freestyles earned him the recognition of Mark Pitts and a spot on RCA Records — a well-executed performance in one’s whip can be a Firestarter for a successful rap career. The approach is not solely linked to Hitchcock either. Several artists, from Shunie and Omeretta to King Khali and Almiighty Renzo, have put their best flows and lyrics on display with car freestyles, and as a result, the world is now watching Atlanta’s rising wordsmiths.{BOX}
 

{BOX()}{imagefloatleft imageid="32757" wdthval="300px"}__~~black:II. Cam Kirk Studios~~__

Cam Kirk is one of the city’s most legendary photographers and creatives. His catalogue of work is unparalleled, and includes iconic images that grace the cover to Gucci Mane’s ''Trap God 3'' mixtape in 2013 as well as the cover for Migos’ ''Rich Nigga Timeline'' in 2014. His work has inspired the likes of photographers such as Gunner Stahl, and thanks to his easily accessible downtown studio, he has also become one of the most meaningful resources for Atlanta’s rising artists.

With different booking options available, artists on a wide range of budgets can book the studio as well as use its backdrops, lighting equipment, creative color gels, and editing studio for any type of creative project, from a cover photo shoot to video-work. Last year, 3, the artist behind the incredible single “Feel Something,” shot the album artwork for his 2019 project ''Bloom'' here, and this year, the newly minted XXL Freshman Mulatto shot the promotional artwork for her “Muwop” single, which features Gucci Mane and a sample from his classic track “Freaky Gurl.” Ironically, one of the photographs for the promotional campaign is a frame-for-frame recreation of Kirk’s aforementioned shot of Gucci for ''Trap God 3'', further showing how Kirk’s influence has seeped into this new generation of rappers.{BOX}
 

{BOX( bg="#66bfff")}{imagefloatleft imageid="32758" wdthval="300px"}__~~black:III. The Masquerade~~__

Even at its inception — at the original location in the Old Fourth Ward — the Masquerade has been the stomping ground for fresh hip-hop talent. Mainstream acts from across the country such as Mac Miller, Travis Scott, Kid Cudi, and Wiz Khalifa all made successful stops at the venue along their journeys to superstardom. In recent years, the Masquerade has increased its embrace of the city’s diverse hip-hop acts. Much in part due to the efforts of local talent buyer Joe Warren, rappers of all styles have gained opportunities to open for historic and major label acts who perform there, including Johnny Apollo opening for U-God and Yung Baby Tate doing so for Rico Nasty. The Masquerade has also been the home to some great locally curated rap events, with excellent showcases featuring artists such as Will Hill, BOREGARD., ProtéJay, Hadiyah George, Daylan Gideon, SwaVay, and El Chapo.{BOX}
 

{BOX()}{imagefloatleft imageid="32759" wdthval="300px"}__~~black:IV. Sprite~~__

Sprite’s love for rap isn’t new. The carbonated beverage brand notably partnered with Kurtis Blow for a commercial in 1986 and has maintained its support of rap and hip-hop into the 21st century. A product of The Coca-Cola Company, Sprite’s work with Drake in 2010 inspired the iconic line, “I avoided the coke game and went with Sprite instead” on the intro to his debut album ''Thank Me Later''. Ironically, in a city known for its loyalty to Coca-Cola, for rising artists here, things go better with Sprite.

Rightfully so, as of late, the Atlanta-based brand has stepped up its interest in the city’s hip-hop scene. Last year, it held the “Sprite Way Live” music showcase, featuring local artists such as Ray Moon and Cam the Artisan. This summer, after the egregious displays of police brutality across the country, Sprite doubled down on its support for hip-hop, Atlanta, and most importantly, Black Lives. Not only did it release the "Dreams Realized” commercial, which was curated with the help of Cam Kirk and featured images of several young local creatives, it gave two young ATLiens — recording artist Willis the Lion and gifted photographer Talecia Tucker — their own commercials, which have been airing nonstop during the NBA playoffs (when the playoffs occur).{BOX}
 

{BOX( bg="#66bfff")}{imagefloatleft imageid="32760" wdthval="300px"}__~~black:V. Shop FMM (Bktherula)~~__

Atlanta’s love for getting jiggy is no secret, and the next wave of hip-hop artists is no exception. Sure, shops like Wish ATL, A Ma Maniere, and Versus ATL continue to be go-to spots to grab vintage gear as well as the latest in streetwear, but few shops have become as culturally relevant to the current state of Atlanta rap as Shop FMM (Fashion Maniere Moda) Located on Peters Street SW, the shop is run by creatives including Lukas Liu and LifeonMars (Marcus O’Neal), and it attracts some of the city's most buzzing talent. In addition to supplying custom-made clothing and vintage streetwear, the shop has also served as the location for creative events like the Rula Festival earlier this year, where Bktherula (newly signed to Warner Bros.) headlined a showcase of Atlanta artists and premiered her independently released ''Love Santana'' mixtape, distributed by Shop FMM.{BOX}
 

{BOX()}{imagefloatleft imageid="32762" wdthval="300px"}__~~black:VI. Little Five Points~~__

In addition to simply being one of the best areas in Atlanta, period, Little Five Points is a significant part of the ATL for rising artists. Housing the legendary venue Aisle 5, L5P has been home to unforgettable concerts from Jaye Newton, Danger Incorporated, Wiley from Atlanta, $odaman, and many others. With a plethora of record stores, eccentric clothing stores, and its vibrant aesthetic, L5P is the home for everything from record release parties to music video shoots. In fact, at the top of this summer, Cam the Artisan released the visuals to his latest single “Brown Skin,” a wholesome yet catchy ode to the magnificence of Black women. The video was filmed on location in Little Five Points, serving as hip-hop’s latest nod to the grooviest neighborhood in the city.{BOX}
 

{BOX( bg="#66bfff")}{imagefloatleft imageid="32763" wdthval="300px"}__~~black:VII. Issa Rae (Zaia, Sons of the James)~~__

While it’s not a physical place that you can plug into Google Maps and pull up to, Issa Rae’s “radar” is somewhere that Atlanta artists are nonetheless managing to find on their own. The fourth season of her hit HBO series ''Insecure'' aired earlier this summer. The robust collection of music featured over the 10 episodes featured two of Atlanta’s most compelling talents. Already prepping the release of his latest endeavor, ''Very Alone'', Zaia was quickly reminded of the success of his ''RESET'' EP from last year, when “Waste My Time,” one of the standouts from the visual project, was featured in the season’s second episode, “Lowkey Distant.” Additionally, Rob Milton was featured months later in the season’s penultimate episode, “Lowkey Trying,” with the inclusion of “Things I Should Have Said,” the first single from his new R&B outfit Sons of the James. At this point, Issa Rae is becoming a pillar of Atlanta’s music scene.{BOX}
 

{BOX()}{imagefloatleft imageid="32764" wdthval="300px"}__~~black:VIII. Lotus Rosery (Kalenbree, Lord Bones, Sammy Surf)~~__

Locally hosted music festivals like A3C and ONE Musicfest continue to put Atlanta on the national festival circuit map. Although they both have reputations for giving local talent career-boosting placement, they’re not a starting point for most rising artists. Lotus Rosery is the independent festival that gets artists ready for those bigger experiences and helps them find their bearings onstage. The massive local showcase first started in 2018, featuring Destiny Briona, Keshore, Kenny Mason, Xiamara Jennings, Timxspnt, Jazz Ingram, and Cam the Artisan. Since its inaugural outing, Lotus Rosery has expanded with DJ sets and art installments, adding artists such as Kalenbree, Lord Bones, Sammy Surf, June, and Tahj Keeton to its growing alumni.{BOX}
 

{BOX( bg="#66bfff")}{imagefloatleft imageid="32765" wdthval="300px"}__~~black:IX. A video shoot (Kenny Mason, 2FeetBino)~~__

For Atlanta’s upcoming artists, music is only one part of the package. Many already excel in that department and have turned their attention to creating supplementary content to fully bring their work to life. In a city of impressive visuals, there is no shortage of directors and videographers. From creatives like Planet Shubh crafting quirky music videos (Jelani Imani and DavidTheTragic) to directors like Nasser Boulaich guiding the gorgeous visuals for breakout albums like 2FeetBino’s ''A Story Never Told'' and Kenny Mason’s ''Angelic Hoodrat'', the people helping to bring the city’s crazy visuals to life are some of the most significant elements of Atlanta’s hip-hop scene today.{BOX}
 

{BOX()}{imagefloatleft imageid="32766" wdthval="300px"}__~~black:X. A Creezed studio session~~__

A good engineer, let alone a great one, is hard to come by, but Creezed has earned the trust of Atlanta hip-hop artists as one of the go-to engineers for quality recording, mixing, and mastering. He has worked with many of the artists already mentioned here, from Cam the Artisan on his breakout single “Bliss” last year to Bktherula on her ''Love Santana'' project this year. His credits don’t stop there, though. This year alone, Creezed has recorded and/or mixed releases from artists such as J Dlux, Simone Telease, Derrick Nealy, Ahjee Parker, and Killchris. As both an engineer and a DJ, he has explored the full gamut of Atlanta’s new sounds, making him one of the sonic architects behind the new generation of artists. A studio session with Creezed in 2020 means something, plain and simple. __—CL—__{BOX}
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The Blotter Diva compiles reports from the Atlanta Police Department and local news reports — and puts them into her own words.    Illustration by Tray Butler   0,0,10   cl issue september 2020 theblotter blotter                       THE BLOTTER: Virtual school peek-a-boo "
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  string(15185) "Nationwide, we are grappling with systemic racism and the unequal treatment of black and brown people in our justice system. With 2.3 million people locked up in the United States, disproportionately people of color, mass incarceration is one of the most pressing civil rights issues of our generation. Indeed, while the killing and shooting of Black Americans by police officers make the headlines, our jails and prisons are being filled with people of color, their sentencing and imprisonment fueled by the same racism that has Americans demonstrating across this country. In Atlanta, the cradle of the civil rights movement and a mecca of black leadership, the move to adopt progressive policies on criminal justice and civil rights lags far behind that in other major cities.

The Atlanta Public Schools (APS) “cheating” scandal is a textbook example of overcriminalization and prosecutorial discretion gone amok, compounded by an unjust sentence of first-time offenders to serve years in prison. It is a glaring illustration of a scorched-earth prosecutorial mindset that has sparked a movement of reform-minded prosecutors nationwide — one which has yet to be embraced in Atlanta.

More than a decade after cheating was first alleged, the ghost of this scandal continues to haunt Atlanta. Rightfully so. This case has always been about so much more than cheating. It is about an approach to prosecution out of step with national reformist trends, and the human toll of prosecutors who stubbornly refuse to acknowledge the harm they have done in the past. It is well past time for prosecutors to acknowledge this harm and put the case behind us.

The controversy surrounding the APS prosecution became a central issue in the recent district attorney election in Fulton County. During the campaign, many within the community expressed their disgust with the prison sentences imposed on the APS educators, demanding that this injustice be addressed. A group of lawyers (we, the two writers of this article, among them), activists, and grassroots and civil rights organizations pushed each of the three candidates — Paul Howard, Fani Willis, and Christian Wise Smith — to adopt a number of positions critical to moving beyond the punitive approach to prosecution that has come to define Fulton County. Among these demands was an acknowledgement that the APS prosecution was an unjust abuse of discretion, and a commitment to mitigate the harm to the educators.

Both Howard and Willis refused. Smith, however, opted for a truly progressive platform, which included the explicit condemnation of the APS prosecution and the promise to do what he could to mitigate the ensuing harm. This position certainly helped Smith garner roughly 40,000 votes in the general election, which represents a huge segment of voters who rejected everything the APS prosecution represents. In the wake of the runoff election between Howard and Willis, Smith approached those two candidates to embrace his platform. Among his requests was that each agree to address the injustice of the APS case. Willis refused. Howard agreed and took steps to demonstrate his commitment to undo this injustice. For this he faced harsh criticism from the media and from Willis, who accused him of acting solely for political gain.

Howard and Willis share responsibility for the APS prosecutions, but while Howard expressed a willingness to revisit the APS sentences in response to legitimate community concerns, Willis has shown no inclination to do so. Although belatedly, Howard agreed to allow convicted APS teachers whose cases are pending appeal to avoid prison in exchange for dismissal of their appeals. Facing criticism that this decision was nefarious and politically motivated, Howard expressed his commitment to fighting to ensure that no more teachers would go to prison, as Atlanta finally puts this episode behind it.

When prosecutors abuse their discretion, unjustly decimating lives in the process, there is never an inappropriate time to correct that injustice. Undoubtedly, it took pressure from voters to inspire Howard’s decision. He certainly may have been influenced by his motivation to win re-election, but that does not make his decision unjust or unethical. We live in a society where prosecutors and politicians own a laundry list of injustices which they have helped engineer. They should never be discouraged from taking steps to undo an injustice, even if that decision is politically motivated. For better or for worse, they are elected officials. Community members should remain encouraged to demand they act consistent with justice at all times.

Whether Paul Howard keeps his assurance in his final months in office that he will push to put this case behind us will answer the question of whether his commitment to mitigating the harm caused by the APS prosecution was, as his critics warned, an unprincipled effort to garner votes during a heated election campaign. Should he fail to act now, it will appear that his critics accurately characterized his pre-election position as disingenuous. We hope that is not the case. We hope that Howard will stand by his pledge to correct the injustice of the APS sentences, and that he will be supported in this effort by Judge Baxter and Willis.

It was in 2013 that the Fulton County District Attorney’s office, under the leadership of Howard, charged 35 APS educators with violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), after evidence emerged that several educators corrected student answers on the Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT). The alleged motive was to improve student scores to qualify for school funding under federal legislation passed in 2002 known as the No Child Left Behind Act.

Howard’s decision garnered national attention. While such cheating happens in school systems across the country, to bring criminal charges against teachers for it is extremely rare. In Atlanta, as in jurisdictions nationwide, cheating has always been understood to be a violation of policy, rather than a crime. Such actions were meant to be addressed through administrative proceedings before the Professional Standards Commission, not prosecuted in court. Not only did Howard seek to legally go after those named in the APS cheating scandal, but, even more shocking, he decided to prosecute educators using Georgia’s RICO statute, based on the federal law enacted in 1970 meant to prosecute members of the Mafia and other organized crime syndicates.

What accounts for this decision? The powerful documentary One Child Left Behind makes the credible case that Republican governor Sonny Perdue sought the state takeover of APS, and saw the cheating as an opportunity to wrest control from then-Superintendent Beverly Hall. Hall had improved test scores in APS schools, a feat some did not believe could be accomplished legitimately. The APS cheating investigation was conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and special investigators selected and appointed by the governor’s office. But, alleging cheating by individual teachers would not be enough. A theory that connected Hall to criminal behavior would be necessary.

In order to criminalize this behavior, the educators were ultimately charged with relatively minor offenses — false statements, false swearing and writing, theft by taking, and influencing witnesses — based on allegations that they were not forthcoming during, or that they interfered with, the investigation. These allegations were then used as a basis to craft a theory that painted these educators as co-conspirators in a “racketeering” scheme. However, racketeering requires a criminal enterprise. So, in an unprecedented move, prosecutors dubbed APS the criminal enterprise to which these teachers all belonged. This novel, and incredibly expensive, approach to this prosecution transformed normally noncriminal transgressions into the longest trial in Georgia’s history.

RICO was used as a tool to pressure most of the educators to throw in the towel. With years of prison now hanging over their heads, and an understanding that they could never match what the state was willing to invest financially to defend themselves, most of those charged pled guilty in exchange for lenient sentences that involved no prison time. Twelve maintained their innocence and went to trial. Two of the educators served prison sentences and remain on parole, still suffering many years after this case began. Seven teachers continue to live with the threat of prison as they challenge the fairness of their trial and the legality of their convictions. All but one of the 35 educators indicted were black. Beverly Hall, who maintained her innocence, was too ill to see her day in court. She died of cancer shortly after the trial began.

Howard’s decision to use a RICO theory of liability to address cheating was akin to bringing a machine gun to a fistfight. RICO is widely regarded by criminal law experts as a theory of liability that threatens to ensnare guilty and innocent alike, and for its use as a prosecutorial bargaining tool to induce guilty pleas. When some educators insisted on having their day in court, prosecutors engineered an eight-month trial and sought lengthy prison sentences. The message was clear: Refusal to acquiesce to the will of the government warrants incarceration.

Judge Jerry Baxter of Fulton County Superior Court presided over the APS trial. The prosecution was led by Fani Willis, deputy district attorney, who was recently elected to become the next Fulton County district attorney, defeating Howard, a six-time incumbent. Due to her role in the prosecution of the APS educators, and her long term of service as a deputy under Howard, many fear that her role in the APS prosecution serves as a bellwether for what to expect from Willis’ administration — and not as an indicator of the much-needed progressive move forward on criminal justice and civil rights policies that we are now seeing in the rest of this country.

In One Child Left Behind, Willis claims that the APS case is the “worst case of black-on-black crime she has ever seen.” It is hard to imagine that Willis actually believes that. It is more likely an example of an unwillingness on her part to acknowledge her role in engineering a grave injustice, and a dishonest attempt to justify her actions by demonizing those who were most harmed by the prosecution’s abuse of its discretion.

Together, Howard and Willis orchestrated this prosecution. Eleven of the 12 educators who maintained their right to trial were convicted of RICO, while one educator was acquitted on all counts. However, of the 11 educators that were convicted, several were acquitted of all substantive charges upon which the broad conspiracy count was based, while inexplicably being only convicted of the overarching RICO charge. The charged APS educators forfeited their careers and lost their livelihoods. Many spent their life savings to preserve their right to a trial. The two who went to prison suffered terribly while locked away. For the other seven, while their cases are pending appeal, they must cope with the ever-present fear of incarceration.

After their convictions, Howard insisted that the 11 educators that were convicted admit guilt or go to prison. Despite not being a flight risk or danger to the community, they were sent to jail for 14 days pending their sentencing, presumably a final attempt to pressure them to admit guilt and justify their costly prosecution.

When they returned to court, Judge Baxter further hinted that the one way for these educators to avoid further incarceration was to concede to Howard’s demands. From the bench, Baxter said:

 



Howard then admonished the educators, “I believe that people who accept responsibility, that their sentences ought to be different from people who don’t.” This can only be viewed as attempt to pressure the 11 educators who were still maintaining their innocence into admitting guilt, despite having exercised their constitutional right to have a trial. Two ultimately acquiesced and avoided prison time. For the remaining nine, Howard convinced Judge Baxter to impose prison sentences.

These educators were never considered a danger to society as evidenced by their release back into the community pending and throughout trial where they continued living their lives as spouses, parents, and grandparents. As Judge Baxter acknowledged, the only reason to send them to prison was for retribution. But the retribution was not for the crimes for which they were convicted. It was for the accused having the audacity to maintain their innocence.

Indeed, Fani Willis has subsequently admitted that had these educators agreed to say they were guilty before trial, pre-trial diversion (such as community service) would have been appropriate. Everyone understood prison was never the appropriate resolution for these teachers. It was clearly used to try to pressure them to abandon their right to trial and appeal. This tactic ignored the possibility that they may be innocent.

The Sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right to a trial. This right is violated when an accused is punished with an excessive sentence for exercising it. Ultimately, the educators did what the Constitution entitled every citizen to do, only to be punished with significant prison sentences that are more fitting of defendants who are found guilty of violent or repeated offenses than of first-time, nonviolent offenders. Because these educators maintained their innocence, they were punished with stiff prison sentences, along with probationary periods to follow, in addition to community service and hefty fines. For the charged APS educators who gave up everything to have their day in court, the lengthy prison sentences represented cruel and unjust overkill.

It is not surprising that the Fulton County district attorney’s office has led the state in criminal prosecutions and incarcerations under the leadership of Howard and Willis, whose past practices, as exemplified by the APS case, have long been out of step with current trends throughout the country. Neither are examples of progressive prosecutors that balance the need for public safety with the community’s need for reducing the prison population and minimizing the multitude of harms caused by overcriminalization.

In Atlanta and elsewhere, there is growing and widespread recognition that overzealous, conviction-minded prosecutors have fueled mass incarceration and contributed to the failures of the criminal justice system by over-charging, over-prosecuting, and over-punishing. At a time when the nation is confronting the abuses of a racist and oppressive criminal justice system, we hope that Atlanta will reclaim its status as a beacon of civil rights and join the ranks of other major cities moving towards progressive criminal justice reform. It should start by addressing the injustice of the APS prosecution and sentences.


 


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  string(16731) "Nationwide, we are grappling with systemic racism and the unequal treatment of black and brown people in our justice system. With 2.3 million people locked up in the United States, disproportionately people of color, mass incarceration is one of the most pressing civil rights issues of our generation. Indeed, while the killing and shooting of Black Americans by police officers make the headlines, our jails and prisons are being filled with people of color, their sentencing and imprisonment fueled by the same racism that has Americans demonstrating across this country. In Atlanta, the cradle of the civil rights movement and a mecca of black leadership, the move to adopt progressive policies on criminal justice and civil rights lags far behind that in other major cities.

The Atlanta Public Schools (APS) “cheating” scandal is a textbook example of overcriminalization and prosecutorial discretion gone amok, compounded by an unjust sentence of first-time offenders to serve years in prison. It is a glaring illustration of a scorched-earth prosecutorial mindset that has sparked a movement of reform-minded prosecutors nationwide — one which has yet to be embraced in Atlanta.

More than a decade after cheating was first alleged, the ghost of this scandal continues to haunt Atlanta. Rightfully so. This case has always been about so much more than cheating. It is about an approach to prosecution out of step with national reformist trends, and the human toll of prosecutors who stubbornly refuse to acknowledge the harm they have done in the past. It is well past time for prosecutors to acknowledge this harm and put the case behind us.

The controversy surrounding the APS prosecution became a central issue in the recent district attorney election in Fulton County. During the campaign, many within the community expressed their disgust with the prison sentences imposed on the APS educators, demanding that this injustice be addressed. A group of lawyers (we, the two writers of this article, among them), activists, and grassroots and civil rights organizations pushed each of the three candidates — Paul Howard, Fani Willis, and Christian Wise Smith — to adopt a number of positions critical to moving beyond the punitive approach to prosecution that has come to define Fulton County. Among these demands was an acknowledgement that the APS prosecution was an unjust abuse of discretion, and a commitment to mitigate the harm to the educators.

Both Howard and Willis refused. Smith, however, opted for a truly progressive platform, which included the explicit condemnation of the APS prosecution and the promise to do what he could to mitigate the ensuing harm. This position certainly helped Smith garner roughly 40,000 votes in the general election, which represents a huge segment of voters who rejected everything the APS prosecution represents. In the wake of the runoff election between Howard and Willis, Smith approached those two candidates to embrace his platform. Among his requests was that each agree to address the injustice of the APS case. Willis refused. Howard agreed and took steps to demonstrate his commitment to undo this injustice. For this he faced harsh criticism from the media and from Willis, who accused him of acting solely for political gain.

Howard and Willis share responsibility for the APS prosecutions, but while Howard expressed a willingness to revisit the APS sentences in response to legitimate community concerns, Willis has shown no inclination to do so. Although belatedly, Howard agreed to allow convicted APS teachers whose cases are pending appeal to avoid prison in exchange for dismissal of their appeals. Facing criticism that this decision was nefarious and politically motivated, Howard expressed his commitment to fighting to ensure that no more teachers would go to prison, as Atlanta finally puts this episode behind it.

When prosecutors abuse their discretion, unjustly decimating lives in the process, there is never an inappropriate time to correct that injustice. Undoubtedly, it took pressure from voters to inspire Howard’s decision. He certainly may have been influenced by his motivation to win re-election, but that does not make his decision unjust or unethical. We live in a society where prosecutors and politicians own a laundry list of injustices which they have helped engineer. They should never be discouraged from taking steps to undo an injustice, even if that decision is politically motivated. For better or for worse, they are elected officials. Community members should remain encouraged to demand they act consistent with justice at all times.

Whether Paul Howard keeps his assurance in his final months in office that he will push to put this case behind us will answer the question of whether his commitment to mitigating the harm caused by the APS prosecution was, as his critics warned, an unprincipled effort to garner votes during a heated election campaign. Should he fail to act now, it will appear that his critics accurately characterized his pre-election position as disingenuous. We hope that is not the case. We hope that Howard will stand by his pledge to correct the injustice of the APS sentences, and that he will be supported in this effort by Judge Baxter and Willis.

It was in 2013 that the Fulton County District Attorney’s office, under the leadership of Howard, charged 35 APS educators with violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), after evidence emerged that several educators corrected student answers on the Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT). The alleged motive was to improve student scores to qualify for school funding under federal legislation passed in 2002 known as the No Child Left Behind Act.

Howard’s decision garnered national attention. While such cheating happens in school systems across the country, to bring criminal charges against teachers for it is extremely rare. In Atlanta, as in jurisdictions nationwide, cheating has always been understood to be a violation of policy, rather than a crime. Such actions were meant to be addressed through administrative proceedings before the Professional Standards Commission, not prosecuted in court. Not only did Howard seek to ''legally'' go after those named in the APS cheating scandal, but, even more shocking, he decided to prosecute educators using Georgia’s RICO statute, based on the federal law enacted in 1970 meant to prosecute members of the Mafia and other organized crime syndicates.

What accounts for this decision? The powerful documentary ''One Child Left Behind'' makes the credible case that Republican governor Sonny Perdue sought the state takeover of APS, and saw the cheating as an opportunity to wrest control from then-Superintendent Beverly Hall. Hall had improved test scores in APS schools, a feat some did not believe could be accomplished legitimately. The APS cheating investigation was conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and special investigators selected and appointed by the governor’s office. But, alleging cheating by individual teachers would not be enough. A theory that connected Hall to criminal behavior would be necessary.

In order to criminalize this behavior, the educators were ultimately charged with relatively minor offenses — false statements, false swearing and writing, theft by taking, and influencing witnesses — based on allegations that they were not forthcoming during, or that they interfered with, the investigation. These allegations were then used as a basis to craft a theory that painted these educators as co-conspirators in a “racketeering” scheme. However, racketeering requires a criminal enterprise. So, in an unprecedented move, prosecutors dubbed APS the criminal enterprise to which these teachers all belonged. This novel, and incredibly expensive, approach to this prosecution transformed normally noncriminal transgressions into the longest trial in Georgia’s history.

RICO was used as a tool to pressure most of the educators to throw in the towel. With years of prison now hanging over their heads, and an understanding that they could never match what the state was willing to invest financially to defend themselves, most of those charged pled guilty in exchange for lenient sentences that involved no prison time. Twelve maintained their innocence and went to trial. Two of the educators served prison sentences and remain on parole, still suffering many years after this case began. Seven teachers continue to live with the threat of prison as they challenge the fairness of their trial and the legality of their convictions. All but one of the 35 educators indicted were black. Beverly Hall, who maintained her innocence, was too ill to see her day in court. She died of cancer shortly after the trial began.

Howard’s decision to use a RICO theory of liability to address cheating was akin to bringing a machine gun to a fistfight. RICO is widely regarded by criminal law experts as a theory of liability that threatens to ensnare guilty and innocent alike, and for its use as a prosecutorial bargaining tool to induce guilty pleas. When some educators insisted on having their day in court, prosecutors engineered an eight-month trial and sought lengthy prison sentences. The message was clear: Refusal to acquiesce to the will of the government warrants incarceration.

Judge Jerry Baxter of Fulton County Superior Court presided over the APS trial. The prosecution was led by Fani Willis, deputy district attorney, who was recently elected to become the next Fulton County district attorney, defeating Howard, a six-time incumbent. Due to her role in the prosecution of the APS educators, and her long term of service as a deputy under Howard, many fear that her role in the APS prosecution serves as a bellwether for what to expect from Willis’ administration — and not as an indicator of the much-needed progressive move forward on criminal justice and civil rights policies that we are now seeing in the rest of this country.

In ''One Child Left Behind'', Willis claims that the APS case is the “worst case of black-on-black crime she has ever seen.” It is hard to imagine that Willis actually believes that. It is more likely an example of an unwillingness on her part to acknowledge her role in engineering a grave injustice, and a dishonest attempt to justify her actions by demonizing those who were most harmed by the prosecution’s abuse of its discretion.

Together, Howard and Willis orchestrated this prosecution. Eleven of the 12 educators who maintained their right to trial were convicted of RICO, while one educator was acquitted on all counts. However, of the 11 educators that were convicted, several were acquitted of all substantive charges upon which the broad conspiracy count was based, while inexplicably being only convicted of the overarching RICO charge. The charged APS educators forfeited their careers and lost their livelihoods. Many spent their life savings to preserve their right to a trial. The two who went to prison suffered terribly while locked away. For the other seven, while their cases are pending appeal, they must cope with the ever-present fear of incarceration.

After their convictions, Howard insisted that the 11 educators that were convicted admit guilt or go to prison. Despite not being a flight risk or danger to the community, they were sent to jail for 14 days pending their sentencing, presumably a final attempt to pressure them to admit guilt and justify their costly prosecution.

When they returned to court, Judge Baxter further hinted that the one way for these educators to avoid further incarceration was to concede to Howard’s demands. From the bench, Baxter said:

 

{DIV( type="blockquote" width="100%")}“I spent a lot of time since this verdict came in thinking about an appropriate sentence, and I think it probably would be appropriate, and it would mean going to jail. Not a lengthy, lengthy time, but going to jail …. And, you know I just see all the pain in this room. It is a tragedy for all of you. The defendants, your families. And you have been … punished a good bit so far, I mean, just based on what’s happening to your lives ever since this started going. And, you know, I thought I had a fair sentence. It’s not what Mr. Howard has, I think, informally worked out. But, anyway, somehow this morning it just came to me, you know, the only reason that I would send you to jail is for retribution …. And I just think the best thing for our community and this whole sordid mess is for Paul Howard to talk to each of you, and we enter … pleas, and we’ll all go on about our business and pray for these kids that got cheated.”{DIV}

Howard then admonished the educators, “I believe that people who accept responsibility, that their sentences ought to be different from people who don’t.” This can only be viewed as attempt to pressure the 11 educators who were still maintaining their innocence into admitting guilt, despite having exercised their constitutional right to have a trial. Two ultimately acquiesced and avoided prison time. For the remaining nine, Howard convinced Judge Baxter to impose prison sentences.

These educators were never considered a danger to society as evidenced by their release back into the community pending and throughout trial where they continued living their lives as spouses, parents, and grandparents. As Judge Baxter acknowledged, the only reason to send them to prison was for retribution. But the retribution was not for the crimes for which they were convicted. It was for the accused having the audacity to maintain their innocence.

Indeed, Fani Willis has subsequently admitted that had these educators agreed to say they were guilty before trial, pre-trial diversion (such as community service) would have been appropriate. Everyone understood prison was never the appropriate resolution for these teachers. It was clearly used to try to pressure them to abandon their right to trial and appeal. This tactic ignored the possibility that they may be innocent.

The Sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right to a trial. This right is violated when an accused is punished with an excessive sentence for exercising it. Ultimately, the educators did what the Constitution entitled every citizen to do, only to be punished with significant prison sentences that are more fitting of defendants who are found guilty of violent or repeated offenses than of first-time, nonviolent offenders. Because these educators maintained their innocence, they were punished with stiff prison sentences, along with probationary periods to follow, in addition to community service and hefty fines. For the charged APS educators who gave up everything to have their day in court, the lengthy prison sentences represented cruel and unjust overkill.

It is not surprising that the Fulton County district attorney’s office has led the state in criminal prosecutions and incarcerations under the leadership of Howard and Willis, whose past practices, as exemplified by the APS case, have long been out of step with current trends throughout the country. Neither are examples of progressive prosecutors that balance the need for public safety with the community’s need for reducing the prison population and minimizing the multitude of harms caused by overcriminalization.

In Atlanta and elsewhere, there is growing and widespread recognition that overzealous, conviction-minded prosecutors have fueled mass incarceration and contributed to the failures of the criminal justice system by over-charging, over-prosecuting, and over-punishing. At a time when the nation is confronting the abuses of a racist and oppressive criminal justice system, we hope that Atlanta will reclaim its status as a beacon of civil rights and join the ranks of other major cities moving towards progressive criminal justice reform. It should start by addressing the injustice of the APS prosecution and sentences.

{BOX()}{imagefloatleft imageid="32793" wdthval="200px"}''Jonathan Rapping is the director of the Criminal Justice Certificate Program at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School, and the author of ''Gideon’s Promise: A Public Defender Movement to Transform Criminal Justice.{BOX}
 

{BOX()}{imagefloatleft imageid="32794" wdthval="200px"}''Sam Starks is a former public defender and criminal defense attorney and currently a senior attorney with the Cochran Firm Atlanta, where his practice includes representing victims of police brutality.''{BOX}
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  string(16707) " Not So Blindfolded 07 1000px  2020-09-04T17:20:49+00:00 Not-so-blindfolded_07_1000px.jpg    This is FOR ALL the Trump-led (DEMONIZED); Chastised, Insulted and Demeaned, public-school educators.  Trump’s Republican “team” tried to Privatize Public Education under former Sec. of Education Nancy DeVos using RICO Laws as part of their strategy.
RACKETEERING:  It warms my heart that RICO laws won esteem for Giuliani in NYC in the ’70s, Jeff Sessions in Alabama in the ’80s, and Gov. Perdue of GA most recently; all close associates and allies of Trump will now be looked at Criminally using the RICO law!  A law that was unjustifiably used (in my opinion) to attack public school educators in Fulton County, Atlanta, GA.  See: www.onechildleftbehindmovie.com 
For a comprehensive understanding read: “None of the Above: The Untold Story of the Atlanta Public Schools Cheating Scandal, Corporate Greed, and the Criminalization of Educators” (2019).  See page 92, to understand the impact of RICO as decided in a case by the U.S. Supreme Court. 
Monty J. Thornburg, Ph.D., (retired) Public School Educator.  Prosecutors are also guilty — the APS ‘cheating’ scandal is but one example Not So Blindfolded 07 1000px   2020-09-04T17:06:07+00:00  OP-ED: Systemic racism jim.harris Jim Harris JON RAPPING AND SAM STARKS   2020-09-04T17:06:07+00:00 Nationwide, we are grappling with systemic racism and the unequal treatment of black and brown people in our justice system. With 2.3 million people locked up in the United States, disproportionately people of color, mass incarceration is one of the most pressing civil rights issues of our generation. Indeed, while the killing and shooting of Black Americans by police officers make the headlines, our jails and prisons are being filled with people of color, their sentencing and imprisonment fueled by the same racism that has Americans demonstrating across this country. In Atlanta, the cradle of the civil rights movement and a mecca of black leadership, the move to adopt progressive policies on criminal justice and civil rights lags far behind that in other major cities.

The Atlanta Public Schools (APS) “cheating” scandal is a textbook example of overcriminalization and prosecutorial discretion gone amok, compounded by an unjust sentence of first-time offenders to serve years in prison. It is a glaring illustration of a scorched-earth prosecutorial mindset that has sparked a movement of reform-minded prosecutors nationwide — one which has yet to be embraced in Atlanta.

More than a decade after cheating was first alleged, the ghost of this scandal continues to haunt Atlanta. Rightfully so. This case has always been about so much more than cheating. It is about an approach to prosecution out of step with national reformist trends, and the human toll of prosecutors who stubbornly refuse to acknowledge the harm they have done in the past. It is well past time for prosecutors to acknowledge this harm and put the case behind us.

The controversy surrounding the APS prosecution became a central issue in the recent district attorney election in Fulton County. During the campaign, many within the community expressed their disgust with the prison sentences imposed on the APS educators, demanding that this injustice be addressed. A group of lawyers (we, the two writers of this article, among them), activists, and grassroots and civil rights organizations pushed each of the three candidates — Paul Howard, Fani Willis, and Christian Wise Smith — to adopt a number of positions critical to moving beyond the punitive approach to prosecution that has come to define Fulton County. Among these demands was an acknowledgement that the APS prosecution was an unjust abuse of discretion, and a commitment to mitigate the harm to the educators.

Both Howard and Willis refused. Smith, however, opted for a truly progressive platform, which included the explicit condemnation of the APS prosecution and the promise to do what he could to mitigate the ensuing harm. This position certainly helped Smith garner roughly 40,000 votes in the general election, which represents a huge segment of voters who rejected everything the APS prosecution represents. In the wake of the runoff election between Howard and Willis, Smith approached those two candidates to embrace his platform. Among his requests was that each agree to address the injustice of the APS case. Willis refused. Howard agreed and took steps to demonstrate his commitment to undo this injustice. For this he faced harsh criticism from the media and from Willis, who accused him of acting solely for political gain.

Howard and Willis share responsibility for the APS prosecutions, but while Howard expressed a willingness to revisit the APS sentences in response to legitimate community concerns, Willis has shown no inclination to do so. Although belatedly, Howard agreed to allow convicted APS teachers whose cases are pending appeal to avoid prison in exchange for dismissal of their appeals. Facing criticism that this decision was nefarious and politically motivated, Howard expressed his commitment to fighting to ensure that no more teachers would go to prison, as Atlanta finally puts this episode behind it.

When prosecutors abuse their discretion, unjustly decimating lives in the process, there is never an inappropriate time to correct that injustice. Undoubtedly, it took pressure from voters to inspire Howard’s decision. He certainly may have been influenced by his motivation to win re-election, but that does not make his decision unjust or unethical. We live in a society where prosecutors and politicians own a laundry list of injustices which they have helped engineer. They should never be discouraged from taking steps to undo an injustice, even if that decision is politically motivated. For better or for worse, they are elected officials. Community members should remain encouraged to demand they act consistent with justice at all times.

Whether Paul Howard keeps his assurance in his final months in office that he will push to put this case behind us will answer the question of whether his commitment to mitigating the harm caused by the APS prosecution was, as his critics warned, an unprincipled effort to garner votes during a heated election campaign. Should he fail to act now, it will appear that his critics accurately characterized his pre-election position as disingenuous. We hope that is not the case. We hope that Howard will stand by his pledge to correct the injustice of the APS sentences, and that he will be supported in this effort by Judge Baxter and Willis.

It was in 2013 that the Fulton County District Attorney’s office, under the leadership of Howard, charged 35 APS educators with violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), after evidence emerged that several educators corrected student answers on the Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT). The alleged motive was to improve student scores to qualify for school funding under federal legislation passed in 2002 known as the No Child Left Behind Act.

Howard’s decision garnered national attention. While such cheating happens in school systems across the country, to bring criminal charges against teachers for it is extremely rare. In Atlanta, as in jurisdictions nationwide, cheating has always been understood to be a violation of policy, rather than a crime. Such actions were meant to be addressed through administrative proceedings before the Professional Standards Commission, not prosecuted in court. Not only did Howard seek to legally go after those named in the APS cheating scandal, but, even more shocking, he decided to prosecute educators using Georgia’s RICO statute, based on the federal law enacted in 1970 meant to prosecute members of the Mafia and other organized crime syndicates.

What accounts for this decision? The powerful documentary One Child Left Behind makes the credible case that Republican governor Sonny Perdue sought the state takeover of APS, and saw the cheating as an opportunity to wrest control from then-Superintendent Beverly Hall. Hall had improved test scores in APS schools, a feat some did not believe could be accomplished legitimately. The APS cheating investigation was conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and special investigators selected and appointed by the governor’s office. But, alleging cheating by individual teachers would not be enough. A theory that connected Hall to criminal behavior would be necessary.

In order to criminalize this behavior, the educators were ultimately charged with relatively minor offenses — false statements, false swearing and writing, theft by taking, and influencing witnesses — based on allegations that they were not forthcoming during, or that they interfered with, the investigation. These allegations were then used as a basis to craft a theory that painted these educators as co-conspirators in a “racketeering” scheme. However, racketeering requires a criminal enterprise. So, in an unprecedented move, prosecutors dubbed APS the criminal enterprise to which these teachers all belonged. This novel, and incredibly expensive, approach to this prosecution transformed normally noncriminal transgressions into the longest trial in Georgia’s history.

RICO was used as a tool to pressure most of the educators to throw in the towel. With years of prison now hanging over their heads, and an understanding that they could never match what the state was willing to invest financially to defend themselves, most of those charged pled guilty in exchange for lenient sentences that involved no prison time. Twelve maintained their innocence and went to trial. Two of the educators served prison sentences and remain on parole, still suffering many years after this case began. Seven teachers continue to live with the threat of prison as they challenge the fairness of their trial and the legality of their convictions. All but one of the 35 educators indicted were black. Beverly Hall, who maintained her innocence, was too ill to see her day in court. She died of cancer shortly after the trial began.

Howard’s decision to use a RICO theory of liability to address cheating was akin to bringing a machine gun to a fistfight. RICO is widely regarded by criminal law experts as a theory of liability that threatens to ensnare guilty and innocent alike, and for its use as a prosecutorial bargaining tool to induce guilty pleas. When some educators insisted on having their day in court, prosecutors engineered an eight-month trial and sought lengthy prison sentences. The message was clear: Refusal to acquiesce to the will of the government warrants incarceration.

Judge Jerry Baxter of Fulton County Superior Court presided over the APS trial. The prosecution was led by Fani Willis, deputy district attorney, who was recently elected to become the next Fulton County district attorney, defeating Howard, a six-time incumbent. Due to her role in the prosecution of the APS educators, and her long term of service as a deputy under Howard, many fear that her role in the APS prosecution serves as a bellwether for what to expect from Willis’ administration — and not as an indicator of the much-needed progressive move forward on criminal justice and civil rights policies that we are now seeing in the rest of this country.

In One Child Left Behind, Willis claims that the APS case is the “worst case of black-on-black crime she has ever seen.” It is hard to imagine that Willis actually believes that. It is more likely an example of an unwillingness on her part to acknowledge her role in engineering a grave injustice, and a dishonest attempt to justify her actions by demonizing those who were most harmed by the prosecution’s abuse of its discretion.

Together, Howard and Willis orchestrated this prosecution. Eleven of the 12 educators who maintained their right to trial were convicted of RICO, while one educator was acquitted on all counts. However, of the 11 educators that were convicted, several were acquitted of all substantive charges upon which the broad conspiracy count was based, while inexplicably being only convicted of the overarching RICO charge. The charged APS educators forfeited their careers and lost their livelihoods. Many spent their life savings to preserve their right to a trial. The two who went to prison suffered terribly while locked away. For the other seven, while their cases are pending appeal, they must cope with the ever-present fear of incarceration.

After their convictions, Howard insisted that the 11 educators that were convicted admit guilt or go to prison. Despite not being a flight risk or danger to the community, they were sent to jail for 14 days pending their sentencing, presumably a final attempt to pressure them to admit guilt and justify their costly prosecution.

When they returned to court, Judge Baxter further hinted that the one way for these educators to avoid further incarceration was to concede to Howard’s demands. From the bench, Baxter said:

 



Howard then admonished the educators, “I believe that people who accept responsibility, that their sentences ought to be different from people who don’t.” This can only be viewed as attempt to pressure the 11 educators who were still maintaining their innocence into admitting guilt, despite having exercised their constitutional right to have a trial. Two ultimately acquiesced and avoided prison time. For the remaining nine, Howard convinced Judge Baxter to impose prison sentences.

These educators were never considered a danger to society as evidenced by their release back into the community pending and throughout trial where they continued living their lives as spouses, parents, and grandparents. As Judge Baxter acknowledged, the only reason to send them to prison was for retribution. But the retribution was not for the crimes for which they were convicted. It was for the accused having the audacity to maintain their innocence.

Indeed, Fani Willis has subsequently admitted that had these educators agreed to say they were guilty before trial, pre-trial diversion (such as community service) would have been appropriate. Everyone understood prison was never the appropriate resolution for these teachers. It was clearly used to try to pressure them to abandon their right to trial and appeal. This tactic ignored the possibility that they may be innocent.

The Sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right to a trial. This right is violated when an accused is punished with an excessive sentence for exercising it. Ultimately, the educators did what the Constitution entitled every citizen to do, only to be punished with significant prison sentences that are more fitting of defendants who are found guilty of violent or repeated offenses than of first-time, nonviolent offenders. Because these educators maintained their innocence, they were punished with stiff prison sentences, along with probationary periods to follow, in addition to community service and hefty fines. For the charged APS educators who gave up everything to have their day in court, the lengthy prison sentences represented cruel and unjust overkill.

It is not surprising that the Fulton County district attorney’s office has led the state in criminal prosecutions and incarcerations under the leadership of Howard and Willis, whose past practices, as exemplified by the APS case, have long been out of step with current trends throughout the country. Neither are examples of progressive prosecutors that balance the need for public safety with the community’s need for reducing the prison population and minimizing the multitude of harms caused by overcriminalization.

In Atlanta and elsewhere, there is growing and widespread recognition that overzealous, conviction-minded prosecutors have fueled mass incarceration and contributed to the failures of the criminal justice system by over-charging, over-prosecuting, and over-punishing. At a time when the nation is confronting the abuses of a racist and oppressive criminal justice system, we hope that Atlanta will reclaim its status as a beacon of civil rights and join the ranks of other major cities moving towards progressive criminal justice reform. It should start by addressing the injustice of the APS prosecution and sentences.


 


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  string(8280) "Street art is by its very nature ephemeral — fleeting. The Krog Street tunnel in Cabbagetown is a perfect example of how street art is constantly changing.

When I was an Uber driver years ago, I really started to pay attention to the art around town and wondered if anyone had documented it online. At the time, there was only the Living Walls website, which documented only the murals Living Walls had been a part of creating.


As a result, I began photographing the murals I rode past on my daily travels — and posting them to social media. Six years later, I have over a thousand photographs of murals around Atlanta — many of which no longer exist, thanks to building demolitions, someone painting over them, or simply the ravages of time.


One of the reasons I started taking photos was an attempt to preserve that art. Narrowing down my favorites for this list (which is in no particular order) was difficult, and I’m sure others have their favorites that no longer exist and don’t appear here. But my hope is this: that people are inspired by these photos to go out and see street art in person — before it disappears.


1. 345 Peters Street in Castleberry Hill


Artist: Axel Void (@axelvoid)


This mural is the one that inspired me to start documenting street art. Originally painted as part of a Living Walls conference, it featured a young boy missing an eye — which always made me think of the 1983 film, A Christmas Story. It stayed active for several years, and only recently was covered up by the new occupants of the building (it was originally painted on an empty building). You can actually see slight remnants of the work if you look close enough.


2. 85 Bradley Street in Old Fourth Ward


Artist: Jerkface (@incarceratedjerkfaces)


Probably one of my favorite Atlanta murals EVER, this piece was created as part of the OuterSpace Project — a yearly event by the ABV Gallery that combines street art and music for a huge festival. I loved the series of Kermit the Frog faces presented as Teenage Mutant Ninja Kermits. Big, bold, bright green, and beautiful, it was eventually buffed by the owner of the building, which led to it now being covered by graffiti tags — a sad replacement.


3. 401 Moreland Avenue in Little Five Points


Artist: Catlanta (@catlanta)


The artist known as Catlanta has been a big part of the Atlanta mural art scene for years, and got his start by giving away his kitty artwork as part of the Free Art Friday movement. This evolved into larger-scale work, with and without kittens. This piece was created as part of the OuterSpace Project on the side of what is now the Commoner Salon. From what I understand, the OSP folks typically work out a deal with the people who own the buildings they paint that the work will remain untouched for a specific period of time — usually a year — before it is repainted. Strangely, this piece stayed up only for a few weeks before the owners of the building covered it up.


4. 382 Edgewood Avenue in Sweet Auburn


Artist: Miguel Mejia (@neuzz)


Mexican artist Neuzz participated in the 2012 Living Walls conference and created this vibrant mural in the heart of Sweet Auburn. Over time, plaster pieces of it started falling off due to years of rain and heat, and it was eventually painted over by another great local artist — Dr. Dax. This was one of the first major murals in the area.


5. 483 Edgewood Avenue in Sweet Auburn


Artist: Nychos (@nychos)


Over the years, the huge wall on the side of The Sound Table in Sweet Auburn has been home to several amazing murals, but my favorite was this one by the international artist Nychos, created for the OuterSpace Project. Nychos is known for his paintings that go “deep” into their subjects to show their inner workings. Murals on this wall do not last very long, unfortunately, and this one — extremely eye-catching and in my opinion, the best mural to ever grace this giant, easily accessible space — has already been painted over a couple of times since Nychos graced it.


6. 393 Marietta Street in Downtown ATL


Artist: Brandon Sadler (@risingredlotus)


Artist Brandon Sadler is an Atlanta art fixture with his bold street art all over the city as well as a permanent spot on the Wylie Street wall used for Forward Warrior. This understated beauty was painted inside the bones of an abandoned building downtown near the Aquarium — I just happened to drive past it one day and had to pull over to get a closer look. Beautiful and understated, it is now gone, thanks to a new building that houses the Blackbird restaurant.


7. 92 Piedmont Avenue in Downtown ATL


Artist: David Fichter


Originally created back in 1988 for the City of Atlanta’s Public Art program, this giant mural was one of the oldest in the city, and featured the faces of several peace-loving public figures as a tribute to the civil rights movement. A few years back the building it graced was demolished and is now home to a parking deck.


8. 850 Northside Drive in the Marietta Street Artery


Artist: Entes y Pesimo (Joan Jiménez @entes93 and Pesimo @pesimo93)


Peruvian street artists Entes and Pesimo created this piece for Living Walls on the side of what was then Inserection, an adult novelties store. I loved driving up Northside Drive around that curve and seeing this one while driving to the Westside. It has since been buffed over by the current residents (and also an adult toy store) Tokyo Valentino.


9. 496 Flat Shoals Avenue in East Atlanta Village


Artist: Fabian Williams (@occasionalsuperstar)


Not a mural, per se, but as a former English teacher, this one resonated with me. Taking a bit of license with a quote from the writer James Baldwin, this piece went up early in the Trump administration when there was a lot of immigration discussion going on. Atlanta resident Williams is probably best known for his murals of Colin Kaepernick and various civil rights leaders. This version has been painted over by graffiti tags since it first went up, but I heard a rumor the artist is planning on renewing it with a more pointed message.


10. 1 Moreland Avenue in Edgewood


Artist: Sanithna Phansavanh (@sanithna)


Atlanta artist Sanithna’s beautiful women were at one point all over the city — Downtown, on the BeltLine, and here on Moreland Avenue near I-20. Another work originally created for the OuterSpace Project on the side of a mostly empty building, it has since been mostly painted over by the new owners of the building (which now houses the second location of Hodgepodge Coffee). Sanithna has a fairly new mural just up on Moreland at Ormewood Avenue.


11. 341 Edgewood Avenue in Sweet Auburn


Artist: J.R. (@jr)


Living Walls brought internationally recognized French artist J.R. to Atlanta several years ago. He typically works with larger-than-life photographs that he wheat pastes onto walls or whatever is handy — one of his more famous pieces recently showed up on the border wall between California and Tecate, Mexico, a picture of a young Mexican child smiling over the top. Since his piece in Atlanta was to be featured near the MLK center, J.R.  decided to use photos from the civil rights period of the late 1960s, most famously, a photo of a young boy holding a sign that said “I Am a Man” and this picture. Both pieces are now completely gone — this one currently painted over with a mural by Dr. Dax.


12. 377 Moreland Avenue in East Atlanta


Artist: Nels (@grafilthyart)


While not technically a muralist, Atlanta graffiti artist Nels was responsible for some of the most beautiful pieces of art in the city — most famously at the Krog Street tunnel (on the DeKalb Avenue side) where his work proclaimed his hatred of cancer, which had taken one of his family members. Sadly, Nels himself recently passed away unexpectedly while working out of town, and a tribute to him now graces his usual spot. This piece was on the side of what is now a T-Mobile store, and was completely painted over, right around the time he passed.—CL—


Photos of the murals listed may be viewed on Jill Melancon’s Instagram @nocnalematl."
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When I was an Uber driver years ago, I really started to pay attention to the art around town and wondered if anyone had documented it online. At the time, there was only the Living Walls website, which documented only the murals Living Walls had been a part of creating.


As a result, I began photographing the murals I rode past on my daily travels — and posting them to social media. Six years later, I have over a thousand photographs of murals around Atlanta — many of which no longer exist, thanks to building demolitions, someone painting over them, or simply the ravages of time.


One of the reasons I started taking photos was an attempt to preserve that art. Narrowing down my favorites for this list (which is in no particular order) was difficult, and I’m sure others have their favorites that no longer exist and don’t appear here. But my hope is this: that people are inspired by these photos to go out and see street art in person — before it disappears.


__1. 345 Peters Street in Castleberry Hill__


Artist: Axel Void (@axelvoid)


This mural is the one that inspired me to start documenting street art. Originally painted as part of a Living Walls conference, it featured a young boy missing an eye — which always made me think of the 1983 film, ''A Christmas Story.'' It stayed active for several years, and only recently was covered up by the new occupants of the building (it was originally painted on an empty building). You can actually see slight remnants of the work if you look close enough.


__2. 85 Bradley Street in Old Fourth Ward__


Artist: Jerkface (@incarceratedjerkfaces)


Probably one of my favorite Atlanta murals EVER, this piece was created as part of the OuterSpace Project — a yearly event by the ABV Gallery that combines street art and music for a huge festival. I loved the series of Kermit the Frog faces presented as Teenage Mutant Ninja Kermits. Big, bold, bright green, and beautiful, it was eventually buffed by the owner of the building, which led to it now being covered by graffiti tags — a sad replacement.


__3. 401 Moreland Avenue in Little Five Points__


Artist: Catlanta (@catlanta)


The artist known as Catlanta has been a big part of the Atlanta mural art scene for years, and got his start by giving away his kitty artwork as part of the Free Art Friday movement. This evolved into larger-scale work, with and without kittens. This piece was created as part of the OuterSpace Project on the side of what is now the Commoner Salon. From what I understand, the OSP folks typically work out a deal with the people who own the buildings they paint that the work will remain untouched for a specific period of time — usually a year — before it is repainted. Strangely, this piece stayed up only for a few weeks before the owners of the building covered it up.


__4. 382 Edgewood Avenue in Sweet Auburn__


Artist: Miguel Mejia (@neuzz)


Mexican artist Neuzz participated in the 2012 Living Walls conference and created this vibrant mural in the heart of Sweet Auburn. Over time, plaster pieces of it started falling off due to years of rain and heat, and it was eventually painted over by another great local artist — Dr. Dax. This was one of the first major murals in the area.


__5. 483 Edgewood Avenue in Sweet Auburn__


Artist: Nychos (@nychos)


Over the years, the huge wall on the side of The Sound Table in Sweet Auburn has been home to several amazing murals, but my favorite was this one by the international artist Nychos, created for the OuterSpace Project. Nychos is known for his paintings that go “deep” into their subjects to show their inner workings. Murals on this wall do not last very long, unfortunately, and this one — extremely eye-catching and in my opinion, the best mural to ever grace this giant, easily accessible space — has already been painted over a couple of times since Nychos graced it.


__6. 393 Marietta Street in Downtown ATL__


Artist: Brandon Sadler (@risingredlotus)


Artist Brandon Sadler is an Atlanta art fixture with his bold street art all over the city as well as a permanent spot on the Wylie Street wall used for Forward Warrior. This understated beauty was painted inside the bones of an abandoned building downtown near the Aquarium — I just happened to drive past it one day and had to pull over to get a closer look. Beautiful and understated, it is now gone, thanks to a new building that houses the Blackbird restaurant.


__7. 92 Piedmont Avenue in Downtown ATL__


Artist: David Fichter


Originally created back in 1988 for the City of Atlanta’s Public Art program, this giant mural was one of the oldest in the city, and featured the faces of several peace-loving public figures as a tribute to the civil rights movement. A few years back the building it graced was demolished and is now home to a parking deck.


__8. 850 Northside Drive in the Marietta Street Artery__


Artist: Entes y Pesimo (Joan Jiménez @entes93 and Pesimo @pesimo93)


Peruvian street artists Entes and Pesimo created this piece for Living Walls on the side of what was then Inserection, an adult novelties store. I loved driving up Northside Drive around that curve and seeing this one while driving to the Westside. It has since been buffed over by the current residents (and also an adult toy store) Tokyo Valentino.


__9. 496 Flat Shoals Avenue in East Atlanta Village__


Artist: Fabian Williams (@occasionalsuperstar)


Not a mural, per se, but as a former English teacher, this one resonated with me. Taking a bit of license with a quote from the writer James Baldwin, this piece went up early in the Trump administration when there was a lot of immigration discussion going on. Atlanta resident Williams is probably best known for his murals of Colin Kaepernick and various civil rights leaders. This version has been painted over by graffiti tags since it first went up, but I heard a rumor the artist is planning on renewing it with a more pointed message.


__10. 1 Moreland Avenue in Edgewood__


Artist: Sanithna Phansavanh (@sanithna)


Atlanta artist Sanithna’s beautiful women were at one point all over the city — Downtown, on the BeltLine, and here on Moreland Avenue near I-20. Another work originally created for the OuterSpace Project on the side of a mostly empty building, it has since been mostly painted over by the new owners of the building (which now houses the second location of Hodgepodge Coffee). Sanithna has a fairly new mural just up on Moreland at Ormewood Avenue.


__11. 341 Edgewood Avenue in Sweet Auburn__


Artist: J.R. (@jr)


Living Walls brought internationally recognized French artist J.R. to Atlanta several years ago. He typically works with larger-than-life photographs that he wheat pastes onto walls or whatever is handy — one of his more famous pieces recently showed up on the border wall between California and Tecate, Mexico, a picture of a young Mexican child smiling over the top. Since his piece in Atlanta was to be featured near the MLK center, J.R.  decided to use photos from the civil rights period of the late 1960s, most famously, a photo of a young boy holding a sign that said “I Am a Man” and this picture. Both pieces are now completely gone — this one currently painted over with a mural by Dr. Dax.


12. 377 Moreland Avenue in East Atlanta


Artist: Nels (@grafilthyart)


While not technically a muralist, Atlanta graffiti artist Nels was responsible for some of the most beautiful pieces of art in the city — most famously at the Krog Street tunnel (on the DeKalb Avenue side) where his work proclaimed his hatred of cancer, which had taken one of his family members. Sadly, Nels himself recently passed away unexpectedly while working out of town, and a tribute to him now graces his usual spot. This piece was on the side of what is now a T-Mobile store, and was completely painted over, right around the time he passed.__—CL—__


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  string(8833) " 345 Peters St Castleberry Hill  2020-09-04T18:13:08+00:00 345_peters_st_castleberry_hill.jpg     murals Time — and an eager muralist — wait for no one 345 Peters St Castleberry Hill   2020-09-04T18:04:12+00:00  ATL mural list: Top Twelve murals that no longer exist in Atlanta jim.harris Jim Harris JILL MELANCON jill.melancon (Jill Melancon) 2020-09-04T18:04:12+00:00 Street art is by its very nature ephemeral — fleeting. The Krog Street tunnel in Cabbagetown is a perfect example of how street art is constantly changing.

When I was an Uber driver years ago, I really started to pay attention to the art around town and wondered if anyone had documented it online. At the time, there was only the Living Walls website, which documented only the murals Living Walls had been a part of creating.


As a result, I began photographing the murals I rode past on my daily travels — and posting them to social media. Six years later, I have over a thousand photographs of murals around Atlanta — many of which no longer exist, thanks to building demolitions, someone painting over them, or simply the ravages of time.


One of the reasons I started taking photos was an attempt to preserve that art. Narrowing down my favorites for this list (which is in no particular order) was difficult, and I’m sure others have their favorites that no longer exist and don’t appear here. But my hope is this: that people are inspired by these photos to go out and see street art in person — before it disappears.


1. 345 Peters Street in Castleberry Hill


Artist: Axel Void (@axelvoid)


This mural is the one that inspired me to start documenting street art. Originally painted as part of a Living Walls conference, it featured a young boy missing an eye — which always made me think of the 1983 film, A Christmas Story. It stayed active for several years, and only recently was covered up by the new occupants of the building (it was originally painted on an empty building). You can actually see slight remnants of the work if you look close enough.


2. 85 Bradley Street in Old Fourth Ward


Artist: Jerkface (@incarceratedjerkfaces)


Probably one of my favorite Atlanta murals EVER, this piece was created as part of the OuterSpace Project — a yearly event by the ABV Gallery that combines street art and music for a huge festival. I loved the series of Kermit the Frog faces presented as Teenage Mutant Ninja Kermits. Big, bold, bright green, and beautiful, it was eventually buffed by the owner of the building, which led to it now being covered by graffiti tags — a sad replacement.


3. 401 Moreland Avenue in Little Five Points


Artist: Catlanta (@catlanta)


The artist known as Catlanta has been a big part of the Atlanta mural art scene for years, and got his start by giving away his kitty artwork as part of the Free Art Friday movement. This evolved into larger-scale work, with and without kittens. This piece was created as part of the OuterSpace Project on the side of what is now the Commoner Salon. From what I understand, the OSP folks typically work out a deal with the people who own the buildings they paint that the work will remain untouched for a specific period of time — usually a year — before it is repainted. Strangely, this piece stayed up only for a few weeks before the owners of the building covered it up.


4. 382 Edgewood Avenue in Sweet Auburn


Artist: Miguel Mejia (@neuzz)


Mexican artist Neuzz participated in the 2012 Living Walls conference and created this vibrant mural in the heart of Sweet Auburn. Over time, plaster pieces of it started falling off due to years of rain and heat, and it was eventually painted over by another great local artist — Dr. Dax. This was one of the first major murals in the area.


5. 483 Edgewood Avenue in Sweet Auburn


Artist: Nychos (@nychos)


Over the years, the huge wall on the side of The Sound Table in Sweet Auburn has been home to several amazing murals, but my favorite was this one by the international artist Nychos, created for the OuterSpace Project. Nychos is known for his paintings that go “deep” into their subjects to show their inner workings. Murals on this wall do not last very long, unfortunately, and this one — extremely eye-catching and in my opinion, the best mural to ever grace this giant, easily accessible space — has already been painted over a couple of times since Nychos graced it.


6. 393 Marietta Street in Downtown ATL


Artist: Brandon Sadler (@risingredlotus)


Artist Brandon Sadler is an Atlanta art fixture with his bold street art all over the city as well as a permanent spot on the Wylie Street wall used for Forward Warrior. This understated beauty was painted inside the bones of an abandoned building downtown near the Aquarium — I just happened to drive past it one day and had to pull over to get a closer look. Beautiful and understated, it is now gone, thanks to a new building that houses the Blackbird restaurant.


7. 92 Piedmont Avenue in Downtown ATL


Artist: David Fichter


Originally created back in 1988 for the City of Atlanta’s Public Art program, this giant mural was one of the oldest in the city, and featured the faces of several peace-loving public figures as a tribute to the civil rights movement. A few years back the building it graced was demolished and is now home to a parking deck.


8. 850 Northside Drive in the Marietta Street Artery


Artist: Entes y Pesimo (Joan Jiménez @entes93 and Pesimo @pesimo93)


Peruvian street artists Entes and Pesimo created this piece for Living Walls on the side of what was then Inserection, an adult novelties store. I loved driving up Northside Drive around that curve and seeing this one while driving to the Westside. It has since been buffed over by the current residents (and also an adult toy store) Tokyo Valentino.


9. 496 Flat Shoals Avenue in East Atlanta Village


Artist: Fabian Williams (@occasionalsuperstar)


Not a mural, per se, but as a former English teacher, this one resonated with me. Taking a bit of license with a quote from the writer James Baldwin, this piece went up early in the Trump administration when there was a lot of immigration discussion going on. Atlanta resident Williams is probably best known for his murals of Colin Kaepernick and various civil rights leaders. This version has been painted over by graffiti tags since it first went up, but I heard a rumor the artist is planning on renewing it with a more pointed message.


10. 1 Moreland Avenue in Edgewood


Artist: Sanithna Phansavanh (@sanithna)


Atlanta artist Sanithna’s beautiful women were at one point all over the city — Downtown, on the BeltLine, and here on Moreland Avenue near I-20. Another work originally created for the OuterSpace Project on the side of a mostly empty building, it has since been mostly painted over by the new owners of the building (which now houses the second location of Hodgepodge Coffee). Sanithna has a fairly new mural just up on Moreland at Ormewood Avenue.


11. 341 Edgewood Avenue in Sweet Auburn


Artist: J.R. (@jr)


Living Walls brought internationally recognized French artist J.R. to Atlanta several years ago. He typically works with larger-than-life photographs that he wheat pastes onto walls or whatever is handy — one of his more famous pieces recently showed up on the border wall between California and Tecate, Mexico, a picture of a young Mexican child smiling over the top. Since his piece in Atlanta was to be featured near the MLK center, J.R.  decided to use photos from the civil rights period of the late 1960s, most famously, a photo of a young boy holding a sign that said “I Am a Man” and this picture. Both pieces are now completely gone — this one currently painted over with a mural by Dr. Dax.


12. 377 Moreland Avenue in East Atlanta


Artist: Nels (@grafilthyart)


While not technically a muralist, Atlanta graffiti artist Nels was responsible for some of the most beautiful pieces of art in the city — most famously at the Krog Street tunnel (on the DeKalb Avenue side) where his work proclaimed his hatred of cancer, which had taken one of his family members. Sadly, Nels himself recently passed away unexpectedly while working out of town, and a tribute to him now graces his usual spot. This piece was on the side of what is now a T-Mobile store, and was completely painted over, right around the time he passed.—CL—


Photos of the murals listed may be viewed on Jill Melancon’s Instagram @nocnalematl.    Jill Melancon AXEL VOID: 345 Peters Street in Castleberry Hill.  0,0,10    murals                       ATL mural list: Top Twelve murals that no longer exist in Atlanta "
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  string(9553) "Sean Costello — There are few stories — even in the blues world — as tragic as that of Atlanta guitarist Sean Costello. He was just starting to create a stir on the national blues scene with 2008’s We Can Get Together, his fifth outing, when he was found dead on April 15th of that year. His death — ruled as an accidental overdose — hit the Atlanta blues world hard. Costello, who seemed to have it all in the talent department, was an emotional and gutsy singer, a terrific songwriter, and of course, a mean guitar player. Plus his knowledge and dedication to the art form were impressive to even veteran musicians in the genre. Thankfully, his name stays alive due to the Sean Costello Memorial Fund for Bipolar Research, set up by his mom after his death. The well-respected Blues Blast Magazine has a category in its annual poll called “The Sean Costello Rising Star Award.” Also, a tribute album featuring songs Costello wrote played by a diverse set of musicians titled Don’t Pass Me By, a benefit for the memorial fund, was released on Atlanta’s Landslide label (who also helmed his earliest recordings) in 2019. His spirit and enthusiasm for blues lives on in young Atlanta bluesmen like Eddie 9Volt, Cody Matlock, and The Electromatics’ Nick Johnson.

Blind Willie’s — An obvious choice? Sure. But no list of Atlanta blues landmarks would be complete without mentioning the iconic Virginia-Highland club, the go-to blues joint since 1986. For over three decades, Willie’s has been one of the few establishments to consistently book national and internationally recognized blues performers and roots, talent. The club has also championed local acts who would have few other places to play what is basically niche music. Blind Willie’s has had its financial ups and downs, with the current pandemic certainly not helping things. Here’s to the club surviving so it may continue to book nationally touring visitors like Lil’ Ed & the Blues Imperials and Nick Moss — performers who pack the intimate joint with longtime fans.

Blind Willie McTell — The legendary bluesman, who went by a variety of monikers, was born in Thomson, Georgia, in 1901 (the town celebrates with a yearly festival in his name) and raised in Statesboro (hence “Statesboro Blues,” his best-known composition), but played mostly in Atlanta. His dexterity on the acoustic 12-string guitar and his nasal voice on a wide swath of recordings made him a local and national presence, arguably the most famous classic bluesman this city and state has ever produced. It’s no wonder the venerable Atlanta blues club listed above was christened with his name.

Darwin’s — Darwin’s slow death and subsequent closing in 2019 was an inglorious way for such a beloved and well-known venue to shutter. The club never regained its mojo after moving from its original, and notoriously run-down, OTP location on Roswell Road in Marietta to the more expansive one in Sandy Springs. National acts loved playing the old place, so much so that it was voted Best Blues Club for the 2016 Keeping The Blues Alive awards. It was downhill from there, though, with a series of bad business decisions. Blues fans still talk about its glory days when an enthusiastic crowd would pack the original location on weekends for roof-raising sets from Tab Benoit, Jason Ricci, and Chris Duarte among many others. RIP Darwin’s.

Larkin Poe — The guitar-shredding Lovell sisters (Megan and Rebecca) may have recently moved to Nashville, yet they honed their chops as teens in The Lovell Sisters, playing roots Americana and bluegrass in and around Atlanta. In 2010 they regrouped as Larkin Poe and started a long, progressively higher-profile climb as a blues rocking duo combining deep rural Delta sounds with a harder rocking, rhythmic attack. Early attention from T Bone Burnett and Elvis Costello (they opened the latter’s 2015/2016 solo tour, accompanying him on some tunes) helped. But it has been their subsequent albums, including this year’s impressive Self Made Man, that have pushed them into the forefront of the younger generation, spinning blues in their contemporary but faithful-to-the-roots style.

Tinsley Ellis — If there is a blues club or stage somewhere in America, this journeyman blues rocker has played it. From his earliest days with the Alley Cats, followed by a long stint in the Heartfixers, Ellis has typically incorporated Southern rock into his sturdy, electrified blues. His solo career started in earnest with 1988’s appropriately titled Georgia Blue — and he hasn’t stopped since. Cranking out albums almost yearly (he’s notched six since 2013) while staying on the road for months on end, no list of hardest-working men in blues rock would be complete without Ellis on it. If it wasn’t for the current pandemic, he’d be playing someplace in the United States tonight, rocking out songs from one of his 16 studio albums in front of an adoring crowd.

Mudcat — A predominantly acoustic bluesman specializing in the deep rootsy Piedmont style of the genre, Danny Dudeck, aka Mudcat, isn’t just a veteran of Atlanta’s blues scene, but also its de facto historian. His monthly (or so) hour-long podcast, “The Piedmont Report,” keeps tabs on others playing that style, too. Mudcat has traveled the world, solo or with a band, attracting every age group while releasing about a dozen albums along the way. There probably isn’t an Atlanta blues lover who hasn’t witnessed Mudcat performing at some event over the past 30 years, a one-man blues institution of sorts, despite the music he plays and promotes having its origins decades, if not centuries ago.

Atlanta Blues Society — Atlanta isn’t exactly the blues capitol of the world, yet that hasn’t stopped the Atlanta Blues Society from becoming one of the most respected organizations in the country. So much so that the ABS was given the “Keeping The Blues Alive” award in 2019 by the Blues Foundation, a substantial accomplishment considering that every major city has a similar group. The ABS activities are too numerous to mention here, but its monthly ABS meetings, which attract dozens of local fans, and an outreach program, Blues In The Schools, that educates youngsters on the art form, are highlights. A recently upgraded web site at atlantabluessociety.org with updates on local shows and other blues information exhibits the society’s will to growing and improving.

The Royal Peacock — Located on Auburn Avenue in Atlanta’s Sweet Auburn District — and originally named the Top Hat Club when it opened in 1938  — the Royal Peacock was the place for African American acts on the rise to play in the ’50s and ’60s. Sometimes called it the Apollo of the South, as every major blues and soul performer held court there in its heyday. Just a smattering of those were Otis Redding, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, Wilson Pickett, and The Supremes. The venue has gone through many changes but was still active pre-pandemic featuring mostly reggaeton and hip-hop acts. The name and its classic lineage lives on with Rae and the Royal Peacocks, a blues and soul act that represented Atlanta in Memphis at the 2017 and 2019 Blues Challenges.

Delta Moon — Was it really 18 years ago that guitarists Mark Johnson and Tom Gray started Delta Moon? Plenty of members have come and gone since the band’s 2002 self-titled debut, but the rootsy, swampy, intertwining guitar sound has stayed the course. Winning the prestigious Blues Challenge in 2003 pushed Delta Moon to the next level, touring internationally while releasing a steady stream of albums of mostly original compositions — without a clunker in the bunch. Gray suffered pre-pandemic health problems which have temporally curtailed the foursome’s live shows, but Delta Moon is one of Atlanta’s most dependable and longest-lasting roots outfits, one that keeps improving with time.

King Johnson/Oliver Wood — The Oliver Wood-led ensemble that included horns and percussion were eclectic (one of their songs was titled “Adultcontemporaryrootsrockbluesjazzfunk”), yet bluesy enough to be voted Atlanta’s best blues band for half a decade in their mid-to-late1990s heyday. Wood has since moved to Nashville — and on to widespread fame with his bass-playing sibling Chris in the Wood Brothers. The handful of albums released under the King Johnson moniker are upbeat, frothy, and stirring listening, and their energetic shows are remembered fondly by locals, causing King Johnson’s surprise late 2019 one-off reunion concert to quickly sell out.

Michelle Malone — Rootsy, beloved blues rocking singer/songwriter “Moanin’ Malone” has proudly flown the indie flag for three decades now as a professional musician, releasing a series of tough, swampy, stomping albums (one is even titled Stompin’ Ground) as timeless as her powerful vocals. Whether backed by Drag the River, The Low-Down Georgia Revue, Michelle Malone Banned, or doing Christmas music with her seasonal Hot Toddies outfit, Malone keeps the music coming and her concert schedule, both solo and with various bands, full. More impressive is that Malone has done this on her own label with a shoestring budget, proving that with talent and hard work you can make a living doing it your way. —CL—

Please send upcoming blues events to consider for CL’s Blues & Beyond concert calendar to hal.horowitz at creativeloafing.com"
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~~#000000:__Atlanta Blues Society__~~ — Atlanta isn’t exactly the blues capitol of the world, yet that hasn’t stopped the __Atlanta Blues Society__ from becoming one of the most respected organizations in the country. So much so that the ABS was given the “Keeping The Blues Alive” award in 2019 by the Blues Foundation, a substantial accomplishment considering that every major city has a similar group. The ABS activities are too numerous to mention here, but its monthly ABS meetings, which attract dozens of local fans, and an outreach program, Blues In The Schools, that educates youngsters on the art form, are highlights. A recently upgraded web site at atlantabluessociety.org with updates on local shows and other blues information exhibits the society’s will to growing and improving.

~~#000000:__The Royal Peacock__~~ — Located on Auburn Avenue in Atlanta’s Sweet Auburn District — and originally named the Top Hat Club when it opened in 1938  — the Royal Peacock was ''the'' place for African American acts on the rise to play in the ’50s and ’60s. Sometimes called it the Apollo of the South, as every major blues and soul performer held court there in its heyday. Just a smattering of those were Otis Redding, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, Wilson Pickett, and The Supremes. The venue has gone through many changes but was still active pre-pandemic featuring mostly reggaeton and hip-hop acts. The name and its classic lineage lives on with Rae and the Royal Peacocks, a blues and soul act that represented Atlanta in Memphis at the 2017 and 2019 Blues Challenges.

~~#000000:__Delta Moon__~~ — Was it really 18 years ago that guitarists Mark Johnson and Tom Gray started Delta Moon? Plenty of members have come and gone since the band’s 2002 self-titled debut, but the rootsy, swampy, intertwining guitar sound has stayed the course. Winning the prestigious Blues Challenge in 2003 pushed Delta Moon to the next level, touring internationally while releasing a steady stream of albums of mostly original compositions — without a clunker in the bunch. Gray suffered pre-pandemic health problems which have temporally curtailed the foursome’s live shows, but Delta Moon is one of Atlanta’s most dependable and longest-lasting roots outfits, one that keeps improving with time.

~~#000000:__King Johnson/Oliver Wood__~~ — The Oliver Wood-led ensemble that included horns and percussion were eclectic (one of their songs was titled “Adultcontemporaryrootsrockbluesjazzfunk”), yet bluesy enough to be voted Atlanta’s best blues band for half a decade in their mid-to-late1990s heyday. Wood has since moved to Nashville — and on to widespread fame with his bass-playing sibling Chris in the Wood Brothers. The handful of albums released under the King Johnson moniker are upbeat, frothy, and stirring listening, and their energetic shows are remembered fondly by locals, causing King Johnson’s surprise late 2019 one-off reunion concert to quickly sell out.

~~#000000:__Michelle Malone__~~ — Rootsy, beloved blues rocking singer/songwriter “Moanin’ Malone” has proudly flown the indie flag for three decades now as a professional musician, releasing a series of tough, swampy, stomping albums (one is even titled ''Stompin’ Ground'') as timeless as her powerful vocals. Whether backed by Drag the River, The Low-Down Georgia Revue, Michelle Malone Banned, or doing Christmas music with her seasonal Hot Toddies outfit, Malone keeps the music coming and her concert schedule, both solo and with various bands, full. More impressive is that Malone has done this on her own label with a shoestring budget, proving that with talent and hard work you can make a living doing it your way. __—CL—__

''Please send upcoming blues events to consider for ''CL''’s Blues & Beyond concert calendar to hal.horowitz@creativeloafing.com''"
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  string(10047) " Blind Willies   Blues  2020-09-04T18:43:54+00:00 Blind Willies - Blues.jpg     blues&beyond Places and names to know to hip your blues cred Blind Willies   Blues   2020-09-04T18:16:42+00:00  BLUES & BEYOND: The list of Atlanta’s blues roots runs deep jim.harris Jim Harris Hal Horowitz hal2222 (Hal Horowitz) 2020-09-04T18:16:42+00:00 Sean Costello — There are few stories — even in the blues world — as tragic as that of Atlanta guitarist Sean Costello. He was just starting to create a stir on the national blues scene with 2008’s We Can Get Together, his fifth outing, when he was found dead on April 15th of that year. His death — ruled as an accidental overdose — hit the Atlanta blues world hard. Costello, who seemed to have it all in the talent department, was an emotional and gutsy singer, a terrific songwriter, and of course, a mean guitar player. Plus his knowledge and dedication to the art form were impressive to even veteran musicians in the genre. Thankfully, his name stays alive due to the Sean Costello Memorial Fund for Bipolar Research, set up by his mom after his death. The well-respected Blues Blast Magazine has a category in its annual poll called “The Sean Costello Rising Star Award.” Also, a tribute album featuring songs Costello wrote played by a diverse set of musicians titled Don’t Pass Me By, a benefit for the memorial fund, was released on Atlanta’s Landslide label (who also helmed his earliest recordings) in 2019. His spirit and enthusiasm for blues lives on in young Atlanta bluesmen like Eddie 9Volt, Cody Matlock, and The Electromatics’ Nick Johnson.

Blind Willie’s — An obvious choice? Sure. But no list of Atlanta blues landmarks would be complete without mentioning the iconic Virginia-Highland club, the go-to blues joint since 1986. For over three decades, Willie’s has been one of the few establishments to consistently book national and internationally recognized blues performers and roots, talent. The club has also championed local acts who would have few other places to play what is basically niche music. Blind Willie’s has had its financial ups and downs, with the current pandemic certainly not helping things. Here’s to the club surviving so it may continue to book nationally touring visitors like Lil’ Ed & the Blues Imperials and Nick Moss — performers who pack the intimate joint with longtime fans.

Blind Willie McTell — The legendary bluesman, who went by a variety of monikers, was born in Thomson, Georgia, in 1901 (the town celebrates with a yearly festival in his name) and raised in Statesboro (hence “Statesboro Blues,” his best-known composition), but played mostly in Atlanta. His dexterity on the acoustic 12-string guitar and his nasal voice on a wide swath of recordings made him a local and national presence, arguably the most famous classic bluesman this city and state has ever produced. It’s no wonder the venerable Atlanta blues club listed above was christened with his name.

Darwin’s — Darwin’s slow death and subsequent closing in 2019 was an inglorious way for such a beloved and well-known venue to shutter. The club never regained its mojo after moving from its original, and notoriously run-down, OTP location on Roswell Road in Marietta to the more expansive one in Sandy Springs. National acts loved playing the old place, so much so that it was voted Best Blues Club for the 2016 Keeping The Blues Alive awards. It was downhill from there, though, with a series of bad business decisions. Blues fans still talk about its glory days when an enthusiastic crowd would pack the original location on weekends for roof-raising sets from Tab Benoit, Jason Ricci, and Chris Duarte among many others. RIP Darwin’s.

Larkin Poe — The guitar-shredding Lovell sisters (Megan and Rebecca) may have recently moved to Nashville, yet they honed their chops as teens in The Lovell Sisters, playing roots Americana and bluegrass in and around Atlanta. In 2010 they regrouped as Larkin Poe and started a long, progressively higher-profile climb as a blues rocking duo combining deep rural Delta sounds with a harder rocking, rhythmic attack. Early attention from T Bone Burnett and Elvis Costello (they opened the latter’s 2015/2016 solo tour, accompanying him on some tunes) helped. But it has been their subsequent albums, including this year’s impressive Self Made Man, that have pushed them into the forefront of the younger generation, spinning blues in their contemporary but faithful-to-the-roots style.

Tinsley Ellis — If there is a blues club or stage somewhere in America, this journeyman blues rocker has played it. From his earliest days with the Alley Cats, followed by a long stint in the Heartfixers, Ellis has typically incorporated Southern rock into his sturdy, electrified blues. His solo career started in earnest with 1988’s appropriately titled Georgia Blue — and he hasn’t stopped since. Cranking out albums almost yearly (he’s notched six since 2013) while staying on the road for months on end, no list of hardest-working men in blues rock would be complete without Ellis on it. If it wasn’t for the current pandemic, he’d be playing someplace in the United States tonight, rocking out songs from one of his 16 studio albums in front of an adoring crowd.

Mudcat — A predominantly acoustic bluesman specializing in the deep rootsy Piedmont style of the genre, Danny Dudeck, aka Mudcat, isn’t just a veteran of Atlanta’s blues scene, but also its de facto historian. His monthly (or so) hour-long podcast, “The Piedmont Report,” keeps tabs on others playing that style, too. Mudcat has traveled the world, solo or with a band, attracting every age group while releasing about a dozen albums along the way. There probably isn’t an Atlanta blues lover who hasn’t witnessed Mudcat performing at some event over the past 30 years, a one-man blues institution of sorts, despite the music he plays and promotes having its origins decades, if not centuries ago.

Atlanta Blues Society — Atlanta isn’t exactly the blues capitol of the world, yet that hasn’t stopped the Atlanta Blues Society from becoming one of the most respected organizations in the country. So much so that the ABS was given the “Keeping The Blues Alive” award in 2019 by the Blues Foundation, a substantial accomplishment considering that every major city has a similar group. The ABS activities are too numerous to mention here, but its monthly ABS meetings, which attract dozens of local fans, and an outreach program, Blues In The Schools, that educates youngsters on the art form, are highlights. A recently upgraded web site at atlantabluessociety.org with updates on local shows and other blues information exhibits the society’s will to growing and improving.

The Royal Peacock — Located on Auburn Avenue in Atlanta’s Sweet Auburn District — and originally named the Top Hat Club when it opened in 1938  — the Royal Peacock was the place for African American acts on the rise to play in the ’50s and ’60s. Sometimes called it the Apollo of the South, as every major blues and soul performer held court there in its heyday. Just a smattering of those were Otis Redding, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, Wilson Pickett, and The Supremes. The venue has gone through many changes but was still active pre-pandemic featuring mostly reggaeton and hip-hop acts. The name and its classic lineage lives on with Rae and the Royal Peacocks, a blues and soul act that represented Atlanta in Memphis at the 2017 and 2019 Blues Challenges.

Delta Moon — Was it really 18 years ago that guitarists Mark Johnson and Tom Gray started Delta Moon? Plenty of members have come and gone since the band’s 2002 self-titled debut, but the rootsy, swampy, intertwining guitar sound has stayed the course. Winning the prestigious Blues Challenge in 2003 pushed Delta Moon to the next level, touring internationally while releasing a steady stream of albums of mostly original compositions — without a clunker in the bunch. Gray suffered pre-pandemic health problems which have temporally curtailed the foursome’s live shows, but Delta Moon is one of Atlanta’s most dependable and longest-lasting roots outfits, one that keeps improving with time.

King Johnson/Oliver Wood — The Oliver Wood-led ensemble that included horns and percussion were eclectic (one of their songs was titled “Adultcontemporaryrootsrockbluesjazzfunk”), yet bluesy enough to be voted Atlanta’s best blues band for half a decade in their mid-to-late1990s heyday. Wood has since moved to Nashville — and on to widespread fame with his bass-playing sibling Chris in the Wood Brothers. The handful of albums released under the King Johnson moniker are upbeat, frothy, and stirring listening, and their energetic shows are remembered fondly by locals, causing King Johnson’s surprise late 2019 one-off reunion concert to quickly sell out.

Michelle Malone — Rootsy, beloved blues rocking singer/songwriter “Moanin’ Malone” has proudly flown the indie flag for three decades now as a professional musician, releasing a series of tough, swampy, stomping albums (one is even titled Stompin’ Ground) as timeless as her powerful vocals. Whether backed by Drag the River, The Low-Down Georgia Revue, Michelle Malone Banned, or doing Christmas music with her seasonal Hot Toddies outfit, Malone keeps the music coming and her concert schedule, both solo and with various bands, full. More impressive is that Malone has done this on her own label with a shoestring budget, proving that with talent and hard work you can make a living doing it your way. —CL—

Please send upcoming blues events to consider for CL’s Blues & Beyond concert calendar to hal.horowitz at creativeloafing.com     BLIND WILLIE'S: Blues, jazz, & roots.  0,0,10    blues&beyond                       BLUES & BEYOND: The list of Atlanta’s blues roots runs deep "
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  string(15850) "To say it has been a tough year so far for the Redneck Underground, a local alt-country, roots rock music scene, is an understatement. Just like every other city across the nation with a vibrant music scene, Atlanta has been profoundly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and to a lesser extent, so far, by the paradigm shift in American culture, particularly as it applies to the South and Southern iconography. The power of language and imagery has become a point of contention as people are gradually becoming “woke” to the actual meanings and implications of certain signifiers, and there is a lot of discussion around the cultural appropriateness of these objects and ideas.

The Redneck Underground is an aggregation of bands, a product of both geography and style, combining the heritage of Deep South roots and Southern identity with the country/rockabilly music born and bred all over the South. While mainstream country music was already popular in the Atlanta area, the Redneck Underground  — the alternative country music scene in Atlanta (for lack of a better definition) — emerged from an Inman Park dive bar called the Austin Avenue Buffet in the late 1980s. The Buffet’s two-room set up was perfect for live music, and the owner was happy to have roots-oriented performances on various Friday and Saturday nights.

Bands like Slim Chance & the Convicts (full disclosure: this writer’s band), Dave Weil’s Blacktop Rockets, Caroline Hull Engel’s Trail of Tears (later Caroline & the Ramblers), and many others performed regularly at the Buffet, and when the crowds outgrew the location, the bands moved to the newly opened Star Community Bar in Little Five Points. With more space and longer nights, the scene grew in size and popularity. Bands such as Billy Ratliff’s Truckadelic started playing often, and more recently the Wheel Knockers and Andrea & Mud have been part of the scene. It was at the Star Bar where bookers Faylynn Owen and the late Gregory Dean Smalley created “Bubbapalooza” in 1993, a full-on weekend-long celebration of the Redneck Underground scene, that is held every year on Memorial Day weekend … until this year.

The most obvious problem confronting the local roots music scene is the shutdown and quarantine. A music community thrives on social interaction in public places, and with the bars and music venues closed, this doesn’t happen. The situation was already problematic with the closing of the Star Bar on December 31, 2019. The new owners took over and started remodeling, but before they could open the doors, the pandemic hit. Most intown venues that featured live music have also been closed, and the consequences have been frustrating and disappointing.


Dan “Jet Powers” McNeill, frontman for The Wheel Knockers, who have just released their debut album Hearse, Nurse, or Tow, reflects on what his band has missed. “We had hoped for a fun album release party at The Star Bar back in April with The Billygoats and local surf combo The Mystery Men? We were also looking forward to Bubbapalooza. Both were obviously canceled.”


“Our last ‘normal’ show was at our beloved Lloyd’s Lounge on March 6,” laments Andrea Colburn, of country duo Andrea and Mud.  “We have done some livestreams, but they quickly got very disheartening. There’s an obvious lack of connection with the crowd, and that’s what I miss most about performing — seeing people singing along and dancing, meeting them after the show, and hearing how our music makes them feel.”

Kyle “Mud” Moseley describes another aspect that is missing without live shows. “I’d often go see others’ performances for inspiration, and that’s obviously a no-go. And frankly I don’t enjoy the livestreams as much as in-person performances.”

In spite of the lack of actual physical interaction, some artists have been using social media to entertain their fans and generate a little income. Bryan Malone, a member of The Forty-Fives and booker at the Star Bar, has been organizing the “Almost Live at Little Five” streaming shows every two to three weeks, and doing his solo streams every Thursday. The “Little Five” events feature music by Star Bar regulars, some corny comedy, and of course, Ted Weldon as the host. Local legend Ratliff of Truckadelic and Thrillbillys (and many others) fame, has tried his hand at a few online shows. He says, “To satisfy my performance jones I’ve been working on 30- to 40-minute shows for social media that combine my own songs with favorites from all genres that wouldn’t translate well with the band. Reinventing my songs to fit my voice (his songs are usually sung by Weldon in one or the other of the bands) and as solo songs has been challenging and loads of fun.”

According to singer Caroline Hull Engel, the pandemic simply made her band get creative. “Caroline & the Ramblers jumped in pretty quickly with some livestream shows after COVID hit. We did a few outdoor socially distanced shows on both our bass player’s front lawn and mine. They were very well received, and we even had some folks come over to hang out in the front yard in their beach chairs — of course, socially distanced and wearing masks.”

The timing of the pandemic has greatly affected the work habits of local musicians and has limited opportunities. Both The Wheel Knockers and Andrea and Mud released new music just before or during the quarantine. This has restricted their planned promotions and prevented touring. According to Colburn, “Releasing Bad News Darlin’ a few months into the pandemic was extremely tough. Not being able to be on the road and get actual feedback from the mouths of our fans was tough. The album got many great reviews and just made it to #50 on the Americana charts, so it did extremely well, especially considering we are the only independent band on the charts. I guess we will always have to wonder how it would have done if the world wasn’t in lockdown at the time of its release.”

For a working band like Andrea and Mud, the lockdown has stifled their livelihood. She notes, “The first tour that we had to cancel due to the pandemic was going to be up north, like, way north, almost to Canada.” Moseley adds that there is more than a financial loss. “I miss the unexpected things of being on the road: meeting awesome new fans, coming around the bend to an amazing view, etc. I also miss the friends we have made from coast to coast and most of all, the immediate reward you get from creating something of your own and being well received.”

One thing about isolation is that creative people usually create. The downtime has been productive in many ways for musicians. Ratliff describes his day: “I find myself playing a lot more guitar at home than before when I was gigging and rehearsing with the band regularly, and this has resulted in an awakening of my songwriting muse as I knock off the cobwebs and explore the dusty roads of my creativity. More writing will translate into new songs for the band when and if we ever get to gigging again.”

A bit less productive, other than finally getting Hearse, Nurse, or Tow in the hands of the fans, McNeill keeps the band in the circle. “We have Knocker Knight about once a week — an hour or so Zoom meeting where we check in with each other, talk music, drink beer, and sometimes even discuss band business. From a creative standpoint we haven’t been as productive as one might think. I have managed to finish a couple songs, but that’s about it.” Andrea and Mud have been writing songs, cooking, fishing, gardening, and hanging with their cat.

While many folks are simply waiting out the pandemic before resuming normal music-related activities, there has been major movement in the country as a whole regarding significant political issues. The uprising of protests surrounding the multiple shootings and deaths of African Americans involving police officers has taken center stage in many cities, bringing a new awareness — along with change — to the cultural rift in America. This has been particularly controversial in the South, where Confederate monuments and the “Stars & Bars” flag have been identified as signifiers of a racist history. The efforts to remove these images have been strong and met with great resistance. Part of this revisionism includes concepts such as the term “redneck,” often associated with racist Southern history and a rather regressive mentality. So how does this impact the “Redneck Underground?”

The term, as it applies to the local roots/country/rockabilly music scene, has apocryphal beginnings. Often credited to the late Deacon Lunchbox, it may have come from a conversation he had with journalist Bob Townsend many years ago. Regardless, it stuck, since it so fittingly described the scene at the time.

In 2006 I wrote a chapter for a book of essays on Americana music, an edited version of which ran in the now-defunct Georgia Music Magazine. The “Redneck Underground” was defined as functioning on two levels. First, it was based on what is commonly referred to as “redneck culture” — classic country music, NASCAR, family, an affinity for Southern iconography and signifiers, and a strong regional pride in being Southern. Second, it was “underground” in the sense that it was clearly a counterculture, a reactive response to the trendy hipster scene that was also thriving in Atlanta at the time. But most importantly, there was a love of Southern culture without the historic racism, ignorance, and prejudices that have stigmatized the South for so many years.

The history of American music is fascinating — and the contributions of people of color immeasurable. Both country music and rock ’n’ roll would not exist without the massive influence of African Americans, as the foundations of both were built with roots deep in slave field chants, gospel, and griot traditions that predate the blues. Nevertheless, country music has been a fairly homogenous white music scene, and to a great extent, so has the Redneck Underground. Not exclusionary, and not on purpose, it’s been more a result of today’s culturally parceled world. A few members of bands that identify with the Redneck Underground have been Black, or POC, along with plenty of audience participants of various cultural backgrounds —  and there has always been an open door for everyone. It has been clear, with a few of the old-timers at the Austin Avenue Buffet being the exception, grumbling when a POC entered the bar to see a show, that racism is not tolerated or condoned in the Redneck Underground. And the Americana Music Association, which focuses almost exclusively on roots music, has done great work in expanding its “tent” to be much more inclusive and broad. A deep discussion of race in country music is far too expansive for the scope of this story, however the recent Ken Burns’ documentary “Country Music” is a wonderful and comprehensive resource for insight into the blending of cultures into the art form we know today.

Joel Burkhart, a kind and popular soundman and musician (AM Gold) who migrated from Detroit to Atlanta in the mid-’90s, reflects on his experience upon discovering the open attitudes of the local scene. “One of the first things I learned about the Redneck Underground was that it was the exact opposite of what I thought a redneck was. I saw all of you rallying around a little man (Gregory Dean Smalley) with a big disease with a little name (AIDS), and at that time in the early ’90s, AIDS still seemed a taboo thing to discuss in many circles. Yet the Redneck Underground leaned into it and helped support him, and, after he passed, his family.” Burkhart continues, “I have watched this Underground fight for equality, disavow racism and hate, and continue to support each other. I realized when I moved down here that there was much more diversity to being Southern than what I was raised to believe. There were a lot of people in the South that didn’t fit in the Duke Brothers/Boss Hogg version of the South that I was sold.”

There are some differing opinions on how the term Redneck Underground should be handled. For example, Weil (of the Blacktop Rockets and more recently the Moonlight Mechanics) feels the term was not personally appropriate from the get-go. “I never really embraced the term ‘Redneck Underground’ as much as a lot of the other folks. Mostly because I’m a Yankee and never thought of ‘redneck’ as any part of who I am. Where I’m from, the term had almost entirely negative connotations.”

Engel, who was born, raised, and has lived in Georgia all her life, sees things a bit differently. “I am a proud Southerner and I have been honored to be a part of this scene for many years. I feel that using the term ‘Redneck Underground’ is harmless and, in the musical context, should not be confused with the racists and bigots out there. I know for a fact that there is a certain amount of ‘shtick’ that goes along with the scene. That does not mean I agree with or that I am proud of certain aspects of the South’s past — to the contrary. However, there is a lot more to being a Southerner and part of a music scene that celebrates a slice of Southern culture than the stereotypes invoked by the media, television, and film.” Engel’s concept of the Redneck Underground seems in line with the general attitude; however, it begs the question, does it offend or marginalize others?

“In light of the current atmosphere in America and the fact that ‘certain individuals’ have emboldened racists and empowered white supremacists to come out of their hidey holes, I think it’s important to tread carefully,” observes Ratliff. “Over the years, the term redneck has morphed into being equated with racism and ignorance. I used to be proud to be called a redneck, but now I fear it mistakenly gives the appearance of acceptance and support of racism. I say chuck it, unless used in the context of documenting a time and movement that was wonderfully creative and glorious and totally devoid of racism and other connotations now associated with the term.”

Colburn, a relative newcomer to the Redneck Underground scene, sees the issue from two sides. “I am pretty sure that anyone that knows the scene it describes, knows that the people included in this term are actually very open-minded and progressive. If it were put to rest, I would understand why, though. I’m the kind of person that does not get offended by words in general, but I know how important it has been for society to remove anything with racist undertones.”

“The Redneck Underground never appeared (to me) bigoted or racist. I hope it’s not, but with ‘redneck’ in the title it might always be associated with the assholes who reject objective morality and the facts to back it up,” Moseley adds. “Is it for me to decide if it’s time to move on from the name? No.”

Perhaps it’s best to let the natural order of life and society take its course, and see where the scene ends up. The political issues of the name appear to be secondary to those who are part of the scene, but their focus is also on maintaining open doors and focusing on socially relevant concerns. Colburn encapsulates the shared feelings of many of the locals, who are missing the music and the tribe. “Maybe there will be some good from this. Maybe quarantine will make everyone appreciate the things that we had been taking for granted for so long; like hugging our friends or standing front row at a show and feeling the music. I am very hopeful for that.” I think that sums it up for all of us very nicely. —CL—"
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  string(16033) "To say it has been a tough year so far for the ((Redneck Underground)), a local alt-country, roots rock ((scenes|music scene)), is an understatement. Just like every other city across the nation with a vibrant music scene, Atlanta has been profoundly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and to a lesser extent, so far, by the paradigm shift in American culture, particularly as it applies to the South and Southern iconography. The power of language and imagery has become a point of contention as people are gradually becoming “woke” to the actual meanings and implications of certain signifiers, and there is a lot of discussion around the cultural appropriateness of these objects and ideas.

The ((Redneck Underground)) is an aggregation of bands, a product of both geography and style, combining the heritage of Deep South roots and Southern identity with the country/rockabilly music born and bred all over the South. While mainstream country music was already popular in the Atlanta area, the ((Redneck Underground))  — the alternative country music scene in Atlanta (for lack of a better definition) — emerged from an Inman Park dive bar called the Austin Avenue Buffet in the late 1980s. The Buffet’s two-room set up was perfect for live music, and the owner was happy to have roots-oriented performances on various Friday and Saturday nights.

Bands like Slim Chance & the Convicts (full disclosure: this writer’s band), Dave Weil’s Blacktop Rockets, Caroline Hull Engel’s Trail of Tears (later Caroline & the Ramblers), and many others performed regularly at the Buffet, and when the crowds outgrew the location, the bands moved to the newly opened Star Community Bar in Little Five Points. With more space and longer nights, the scene grew in size and popularity. Bands such as Billy Ratliff’s Truckadelic started playing often, and more recently the Wheel Knockers and Andrea & Mud have been part of the scene. It was at the Star Bar where bookers Faylynn Owen and the late Gregory Dean Smalley created “Bubbapalooza” in 1993, a full-on weekend-long celebration of the ((Redneck Underground)) scene, that is held every year on Memorial Day weekend … until this year.

The most obvious problem confronting the local roots music scene is the shutdown and quarantine. A music community thrives on social interaction in public places, and with the bars and music venues closed, this doesn’t happen. The situation was already problematic with the closing of the Star Bar on December 31, 2019. The new owners took over and started remodeling, but before they could open the doors, the pandemic hit. Most intown venues that featured live music have also been closed, and the consequences have been frustrating and disappointing.

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Dan “Jet Powers” McNeill, frontman for The Wheel Knockers, who have just released their debut album ''Hearse, Nurse, or Tow'', reflects on what his band has missed. “We had hoped for a fun album release party at The Star Bar back in April with The Billygoats and local surf combo The Mystery Men? We were also looking forward to Bubbapalooza. Both were obviously canceled.”


“Our last ‘normal’ show was at our beloved Lloyd’s Lounge on March 6,” laments Andrea Colburn, of country duo Andrea and Mud.  “We have done some livestreams, but they quickly got very disheartening. There’s an obvious lack of connection with the crowd, and that’s what I miss most about performing — seeing people singing along and dancing, meeting them after the show, and hearing how our music makes them feel.”

Kyle “Mud” Moseley describes another aspect that is missing without live shows. “I’d often go see others’ performances for inspiration, and that’s obviously a no-go. And frankly I don’t enjoy the livestreams as much as in-person performances.”

In spite of the lack of actual physical interaction, some artists have been using social media to entertain their fans and generate a little income. Bryan Malone, a member of The Forty-Fives and booker at the Star Bar, has been organizing the “Almost Live at Little Five” streaming shows every two to three weeks, and doing his solo streams every Thursday. The “Little Five” events feature music by Star Bar regulars, some corny comedy, and of course, Ted Weldon as the host. Local legend Ratliff of Truckadelic and Thrillbillys (and many others) fame, has tried his hand at a few online shows. He says, “To satisfy my performance jones I’ve been working on 30- to 40-minute shows for social media that combine my own songs with favorites from all genres that wouldn’t translate well with the band. Reinventing my songs to fit my voice (his songs are usually sung by Weldon in one or the other of the bands) and as solo songs has been challenging and loads of fun.”

According to singer Caroline Hull Engel, the pandemic simply made her band get creative. “Caroline & the Ramblers jumped in pretty quickly with some livestream shows after COVID hit. We did a few outdoor socially distanced shows on both our bass player’s front lawn and mine. They were very well received, and we even had some folks come over to hang out in the front yard in their beach chairs — of course, socially distanced and wearing masks.”

The timing of the pandemic has greatly affected the work habits of local musicians and has limited opportunities. Both The Wheel Knockers and Andrea and Mud released new music just before or during the quarantine. This has restricted their planned promotions and prevented touring. According to Colburn, “Releasing ''Bad News Darlin’'' a few months into the pandemic was extremely tough. Not being able to be on the road and get actual feedback from the mouths of our fans was tough. The album got many great reviews and just made it to #50 on the Americana charts, so it did extremely well, especially considering we are the only independent band on the charts. I guess we will always have to wonder how it would have done if the world wasn’t in lockdown at the time of its release.”

For a working band like Andrea and Mud, the lockdown has stifled their livelihood. She notes, “The first tour that we had to cancel due to the pandemic was going to be up north, like, way north, almost to Canada.” Moseley adds that there is more than a financial loss. “I miss the unexpected things of being on the road: meeting awesome new fans, coming around the bend to an amazing view, etc. I also miss the friends we have made from coast to coast and most of all, the immediate reward you get from creating something of your own and being well received.”

One thing about isolation is that creative people usually create. The downtime has been productive in many ways for musicians. Ratliff describes his day: “I find myself playing a lot more guitar at home than before when I was gigging and rehearsing with the band regularly, and this has resulted in an awakening of my songwriting muse as I knock off the cobwebs and explore the dusty roads of my creativity. More writing will translate into new songs for the band when and if we ever get to gigging again.”

A bit less productive, other than finally getting ''Hearse, Nurse, or Tow'' in the hands of the fans, McNeill keeps the band in the circle. “We have Knocker Knight about once a week — an hour or so Zoom meeting where we check in with each other, talk music, drink beer, and sometimes even discuss band business. From a creative standpoint we haven’t been as productive as one might think. I have managed to finish a couple songs, but that’s about it.” Andrea and Mud have been writing songs, cooking, fishing, gardening, and hanging with their cat.

While many folks are simply waiting out the pandemic before resuming normal music-related activities, there has been major movement in the country as a whole regarding significant political issues. The uprising of protests surrounding the multiple shootings and deaths of African Americans involving police officers has taken center stage in many cities, bringing a new awareness — along with change — to the cultural rift in America. This has been particularly controversial in the South, where Confederate monuments and the “Stars & Bars” flag have been identified as signifiers of a racist history. The efforts to remove these images have been strong and met with great resistance. Part of this revisionism includes concepts such as the term “redneck,” often associated with racist Southern history and a rather regressive mentality. So how does this impact the “Redneck Underground?”

The term, as it applies to the local roots/country/rockabilly music scene, has apocryphal beginnings. Often credited to the late Deacon Lunchbox, it may have come from a conversation he had with journalist Bob Townsend many years ago. Regardless, it stuck, since it so fittingly described the scene at the time.

In 2006 I wrote a chapter for a book of essays on Americana music, an edited version of which ran in the now-defunct ''Georgia Music Magazine''. The “Redneck Underground” was defined as functioning on two levels. First, it was based on what is commonly referred to as “redneck culture” — classic country music, NASCAR, family, an affinity for Southern iconography and signifiers, and a strong regional pride in being Southern. Second, it was “underground” in the sense that it was clearly a counterculture, a reactive response to the trendy hipster scene that was also thriving in Atlanta at the time. But most importantly, there was a love of Southern culture ''without'' the historic racism, ignorance, and prejudices that have stigmatized the South for so many years.

The history of American music is fascinating — and the contributions of people of color immeasurable. Both country music and rock ’n’ roll would not exist without the massive influence of African Americans, as the foundations of both were built with roots deep in slave field chants, gospel, and griot traditions that predate the blues. Nevertheless, country music has been a fairly homogenous white music scene, and to a great extent, so has the Redneck Underground. Not exclusionary, and not on purpose, it’s been more a result of today’s culturally parceled world. A few members of bands that identify with the Redneck Underground have been Black, or POC, along with plenty of audience participants of various cultural backgrounds —  and there has always been an open door for everyone. It has been clear, with a few of the old-timers at the Austin Avenue Buffet being the exception, grumbling when a POC entered the bar to see a show, that racism is not tolerated or condoned in the ((Redneck Underground)). And the Americana Music Association, which focuses almost exclusively on roots music, has done great work in expanding its “tent” to be much more inclusive and broad. A deep discussion of race in country music is far too expansive for the scope of this story, however the recent Ken Burns’ documentary “Country Music” is a wonderful and comprehensive resource for insight into the blending of cultures into the art form we know today.

Joel Burkhart, a kind and popular soundman and musician (AM Gold) who migrated from Detroit to Atlanta in the mid-’90s, reflects on his experience upon discovering the open attitudes of the local scene. “One of the first things I learned about the Redneck Underground was that it was the exact opposite of what I thought a redneck was. I saw all of you rallying around a little man (Gregory Dean Smalley) with a big disease with a little name (AIDS), and at that time in the early ’90s, AIDS still seemed a taboo thing to discuss in many circles. Yet the Redneck Underground leaned into it and helped support him, and, after he passed, his family.” Burkhart continues, “I have watched this Underground fight for equality, disavow racism and hate, and continue to support each other. I realized when I moved down here that there was much more diversity to being Southern than what I was raised to believe. There were a lot of people in the South that didn’t fit in the Duke Brothers/Boss Hogg version of the South that I was sold.”

There are some differing opinions on how the term Redneck Underground should be handled. For example, Weil (of the Blacktop Rockets and more recently the Moonlight Mechanics) feels the term was not personally appropriate from the get-go. “I never really embraced the term ‘Redneck Underground’ as much as a lot of the other folks. Mostly because I’m a Yankee and never thought of ‘redneck’ as any part of who I am. Where I’m from, the term had almost entirely negative connotations.”

Engel, who was born, raised, and has lived in Georgia all her life, sees things a bit differently. “I am a proud Southerner and I have been honored to be a part of this scene for many years. I feel that using the term ‘Redneck Underground’ is harmless and, in the musical context, should not be confused with the racists and bigots out there. I know for a fact that there is a certain amount of ‘shtick’ that goes along with the scene. That does not mean I agree with or that I am proud of certain aspects of the South’s past — to the contrary. However, there is a lot more to being a Southerner and part of a music scene that celebrates a slice of Southern culture than the stereotypes invoked by the media, television, and film.” Engel’s concept of the ((Redneck Underground)) seems in line with the general attitude; however, it begs the question, does it offend or marginalize others?

“In light of the current atmosphere in America and the fact that ‘certain individuals’ have emboldened racists and empowered white supremacists to come out of their hidey holes, I think it’s important to tread carefully,” observes Ratliff. “Over the years, the term redneck has morphed into being equated with racism and ignorance. I used to be proud to be called a redneck, but now I fear it mistakenly gives the appearance of acceptance and support of racism. I say chuck it, unless used in the context of documenting a time and movement that was wonderfully creative and glorious and totally devoid of racism and other connotations now associated with the term.”

Colburn, a relative newcomer to the ((Redneck Underground)) scene, sees the issue from two sides. “I am pretty sure that anyone that knows the scene it describes, knows that the people included in this term are actually very open-minded and progressive. If it were put to rest, I would understand why, though. I’m the kind of person that does not get offended by words in general, but I know how important it has been for society to remove anything with racist undertones.”

“The ((Redneck Underground)) never appeared (to me) bigoted or racist. I hope it’s not, but with ‘redneck’ in the title it might always be associated with the assholes who reject objective morality and the facts to back it up,” Moseley adds. “Is it for me to decide if it’s time to move on from the name? No.”

Perhaps it’s best to let the natural order of life and society take its course, and see where the scene ends up. The political issues of the name appear to be secondary to those who are part of the scene, but their focus is also on maintaining open doors and focusing on socially relevant concerns. Colburn encapsulates the shared feelings of many of the locals, who are missing the music and the tribe. “Maybe there will be some good from this. Maybe quarantine will make everyone appreciate the things that we had been taking for granted for so long; like hugging our friends or standing front row at a show and feeling the music. I am very hopeful for that.” I think that sums it up for all of us very nicely. __—CL—__"
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  string(16587) " Andrea And Mud By Chandler Galloway Reduced Web  2020-09-08T18:16:04+00:00 Andrea_and_Mud_by_Chandler_Galloway_reduced_web.jpg     redneck underground How the pandemic and current politics are impacting the scene Andrea And Mud By Chandler Galloway Reduced Web   2020-09-08T17:47:12+00:00  The state of the (Redneck) Underground jim.harris Jim Harris James Kelly jkellysc1 (James Kelly) 2020-09-08T17:47:12+00:00 To say it has been a tough year so far for the Redneck Underground, a local alt-country, roots rock music scene, is an understatement. Just like every other city across the nation with a vibrant music scene, Atlanta has been profoundly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and to a lesser extent, so far, by the paradigm shift in American culture, particularly as it applies to the South and Southern iconography. The power of language and imagery has become a point of contention as people are gradually becoming “woke” to the actual meanings and implications of certain signifiers, and there is a lot of discussion around the cultural appropriateness of these objects and ideas.

The Redneck Underground is an aggregation of bands, a product of both geography and style, combining the heritage of Deep South roots and Southern identity with the country/rockabilly music born and bred all over the South. While mainstream country music was already popular in the Atlanta area, the Redneck Underground  — the alternative country music scene in Atlanta (for lack of a better definition) — emerged from an Inman Park dive bar called the Austin Avenue Buffet in the late 1980s. The Buffet’s two-room set up was perfect for live music, and the owner was happy to have roots-oriented performances on various Friday and Saturday nights.

Bands like Slim Chance & the Convicts (full disclosure: this writer’s band), Dave Weil’s Blacktop Rockets, Caroline Hull Engel’s Trail of Tears (later Caroline & the Ramblers), and many others performed regularly at the Buffet, and when the crowds outgrew the location, the bands moved to the newly opened Star Community Bar in Little Five Points. With more space and longer nights, the scene grew in size and popularity. Bands such as Billy Ratliff’s Truckadelic started playing often, and more recently the Wheel Knockers and Andrea & Mud have been part of the scene. It was at the Star Bar where bookers Faylynn Owen and the late Gregory Dean Smalley created “Bubbapalooza” in 1993, a full-on weekend-long celebration of the Redneck Underground scene, that is held every year on Memorial Day weekend … until this year.

The most obvious problem confronting the local roots music scene is the shutdown and quarantine. A music community thrives on social interaction in public places, and with the bars and music venues closed, this doesn’t happen. The situation was already problematic with the closing of the Star Bar on December 31, 2019. The new owners took over and started remodeling, but before they could open the doors, the pandemic hit. Most intown venues that featured live music have also been closed, and the consequences have been frustrating and disappointing.


Dan “Jet Powers” McNeill, frontman for The Wheel Knockers, who have just released their debut album Hearse, Nurse, or Tow, reflects on what his band has missed. “We had hoped for a fun album release party at The Star Bar back in April with The Billygoats and local surf combo The Mystery Men? We were also looking forward to Bubbapalooza. Both were obviously canceled.”


“Our last ‘normal’ show was at our beloved Lloyd’s Lounge on March 6,” laments Andrea Colburn, of country duo Andrea and Mud.  “We have done some livestreams, but they quickly got very disheartening. There’s an obvious lack of connection with the crowd, and that’s what I miss most about performing — seeing people singing along and dancing, meeting them after the show, and hearing how our music makes them feel.”

Kyle “Mud” Moseley describes another aspect that is missing without live shows. “I’d often go see others’ performances for inspiration, and that’s obviously a no-go. And frankly I don’t enjoy the livestreams as much as in-person performances.”

In spite of the lack of actual physical interaction, some artists have been using social media to entertain their fans and generate a little income. Bryan Malone, a member of The Forty-Fives and booker at the Star Bar, has been organizing the “Almost Live at Little Five” streaming shows every two to three weeks, and doing his solo streams every Thursday. The “Little Five” events feature music by Star Bar regulars, some corny comedy, and of course, Ted Weldon as the host. Local legend Ratliff of Truckadelic and Thrillbillys (and many others) fame, has tried his hand at a few online shows. He says, “To satisfy my performance jones I’ve been working on 30- to 40-minute shows for social media that combine my own songs with favorites from all genres that wouldn’t translate well with the band. Reinventing my songs to fit my voice (his songs are usually sung by Weldon in one or the other of the bands) and as solo songs has been challenging and loads of fun.”

According to singer Caroline Hull Engel, the pandemic simply made her band get creative. “Caroline & the Ramblers jumped in pretty quickly with some livestream shows after COVID hit. We did a few outdoor socially distanced shows on both our bass player’s front lawn and mine. They were very well received, and we even had some folks come over to hang out in the front yard in their beach chairs — of course, socially distanced and wearing masks.”

The timing of the pandemic has greatly affected the work habits of local musicians and has limited opportunities. Both The Wheel Knockers and Andrea and Mud released new music just before or during the quarantine. This has restricted their planned promotions and prevented touring. According to Colburn, “Releasing Bad News Darlin’ a few months into the pandemic was extremely tough. Not being able to be on the road and get actual feedback from the mouths of our fans was tough. The album got many great reviews and just made it to #50 on the Americana charts, so it did extremely well, especially considering we are the only independent band on the charts. I guess we will always have to wonder how it would have done if the world wasn’t in lockdown at the time of its release.”

For a working band like Andrea and Mud, the lockdown has stifled their livelihood. She notes, “The first tour that we had to cancel due to the pandemic was going to be up north, like, way north, almost to Canada.” Moseley adds that there is more than a financial loss. “I miss the unexpected things of being on the road: meeting awesome new fans, coming around the bend to an amazing view, etc. I also miss the friends we have made from coast to coast and most of all, the immediate reward you get from creating something of your own and being well received.”

One thing about isolation is that creative people usually create. The downtime has been productive in many ways for musicians. Ratliff describes his day: “I find myself playing a lot more guitar at home than before when I was gigging and rehearsing with the band regularly, and this has resulted in an awakening of my songwriting muse as I knock off the cobwebs and explore the dusty roads of my creativity. More writing will translate into new songs for the band when and if we ever get to gigging again.”

A bit less productive, other than finally getting Hearse, Nurse, or Tow in the hands of the fans, McNeill keeps the band in the circle. “We have Knocker Knight about once a week — an hour or so Zoom meeting where we check in with each other, talk music, drink beer, and sometimes even discuss band business. From a creative standpoint we haven’t been as productive as one might think. I have managed to finish a couple songs, but that’s about it.” Andrea and Mud have been writing songs, cooking, fishing, gardening, and hanging with their cat.

While many folks are simply waiting out the pandemic before resuming normal music-related activities, there has been major movement in the country as a whole regarding significant political issues. The uprising of protests surrounding the multiple shootings and deaths of African Americans involving police officers has taken center stage in many cities, bringing a new awareness — along with change — to the cultural rift in America. This has been particularly controversial in the South, where Confederate monuments and the “Stars & Bars” flag have been identified as signifiers of a racist history. The efforts to remove these images have been strong and met with great resistance. Part of this revisionism includes concepts such as the term “redneck,” often associated with racist Southern history and a rather regressive mentality. So how does this impact the “Redneck Underground?”

The term, as it applies to the local roots/country/rockabilly music scene, has apocryphal beginnings. Often credited to the late Deacon Lunchbox, it may have come from a conversation he had with journalist Bob Townsend many years ago. Regardless, it stuck, since it so fittingly described the scene at the time.

In 2006 I wrote a chapter for a book of essays on Americana music, an edited version of which ran in the now-defunct Georgia Music Magazine. The “Redneck Underground” was defined as functioning on two levels. First, it was based on what is commonly referred to as “redneck culture” — classic country music, NASCAR, family, an affinity for Southern iconography and signifiers, and a strong regional pride in being Southern. Second, it was “underground” in the sense that it was clearly a counterculture, a reactive response to the trendy hipster scene that was also thriving in Atlanta at the time. But most importantly, there was a love of Southern culture without the historic racism, ignorance, and prejudices that have stigmatized the South for so many years.

The history of American music is fascinating — and the contributions of people of color immeasurable. Both country music and rock ’n’ roll would not exist without the massive influence of African Americans, as the foundations of both were built with roots deep in slave field chants, gospel, and griot traditions that predate the blues. Nevertheless, country music has been a fairly homogenous white music scene, and to a great extent, so has the Redneck Underground. Not exclusionary, and not on purpose, it’s been more a result of today’s culturally parceled world. A few members of bands that identify with the Redneck Underground have been Black, or POC, along with plenty of audience participants of various cultural backgrounds —  and there has always been an open door for everyone. It has been clear, with a few of the old-timers at the Austin Avenue Buffet being the exception, grumbling when a POC entered the bar to see a show, that racism is not tolerated or condoned in the Redneck Underground. And the Americana Music Association, which focuses almost exclusively on roots music, has done great work in expanding its “tent” to be much more inclusive and broad. A deep discussion of race in country music is far too expansive for the scope of this story, however the recent Ken Burns’ documentary “Country Music” is a wonderful and comprehensive resource for insight into the blending of cultures into the art form we know today.

Joel Burkhart, a kind and popular soundman and musician (AM Gold) who migrated from Detroit to Atlanta in the mid-’90s, reflects on his experience upon discovering the open attitudes of the local scene. “One of the first things I learned about the Redneck Underground was that it was the exact opposite of what I thought a redneck was. I saw all of you rallying around a little man (Gregory Dean Smalley) with a big disease with a little name (AIDS), and at that time in the early ’90s, AIDS still seemed a taboo thing to discuss in many circles. Yet the Redneck Underground leaned into it and helped support him, and, after he passed, his family.” Burkhart continues, “I have watched this Underground fight for equality, disavow racism and hate, and continue to support each other. I realized when I moved down here that there was much more diversity to being Southern than what I was raised to believe. There were a lot of people in the South that didn’t fit in the Duke Brothers/Boss Hogg version of the South that I was sold.”

There are some differing opinions on how the term Redneck Underground should be handled. For example, Weil (of the Blacktop Rockets and more recently the Moonlight Mechanics) feels the term was not personally appropriate from the get-go. “I never really embraced the term ‘Redneck Underground’ as much as a lot of the other folks. Mostly because I’m a Yankee and never thought of ‘redneck’ as any part of who I am. Where I’m from, the term had almost entirely negative connotations.”

Engel, who was born, raised, and has lived in Georgia all her life, sees things a bit differently. “I am a proud Southerner and I have been honored to be a part of this scene for many years. I feel that using the term ‘Redneck Underground’ is harmless and, in the musical context, should not be confused with the racists and bigots out there. I know for a fact that there is a certain amount of ‘shtick’ that goes along with the scene. That does not mean I agree with or that I am proud of certain aspects of the South’s past — to the contrary. However, there is a lot more to being a Southerner and part of a music scene that celebrates a slice of Southern culture than the stereotypes invoked by the media, television, and film.” Engel’s concept of the Redneck Underground seems in line with the general attitude; however, it begs the question, does it offend or marginalize others?

“In light of the current atmosphere in America and the fact that ‘certain individuals’ have emboldened racists and empowered white supremacists to come out of their hidey holes, I think it’s important to tread carefully,” observes Ratliff. “Over the years, the term redneck has morphed into being equated with racism and ignorance. I used to be proud to be called a redneck, but now I fear it mistakenly gives the appearance of acceptance and support of racism. I say chuck it, unless used in the context of documenting a time and movement that was wonderfully creative and glorious and totally devoid of racism and other connotations now associated with the term.”

Colburn, a relative newcomer to the Redneck Underground scene, sees the issue from two sides. “I am pretty sure that anyone that knows the scene it describes, knows that the people included in this term are actually very open-minded and progressive. If it were put to rest, I would understand why, though. I’m the kind of person that does not get offended by words in general, but I know how important it has been for society to remove anything with racist undertones.”

“The Redneck Underground never appeared (to me) bigoted or racist. I hope it’s not, but with ‘redneck’ in the title it might always be associated with the assholes who reject objective morality and the facts to back it up,” Moseley adds. “Is it for me to decide if it’s time to move on from the name? No.”

Perhaps it’s best to let the natural order of life and society take its course, and see where the scene ends up. The political issues of the name appear to be secondary to those who are part of the scene, but their focus is also on maintaining open doors and focusing on socially relevant concerns. Colburn encapsulates the shared feelings of many of the locals, who are missing the music and the tribe. “Maybe there will be some good from this. Maybe quarantine will make everyone appreciate the things that we had been taking for granted for so long; like hugging our friends or standing front row at a show and feeling the music. I am very hopeful for that.” I think that sums it up for all of us very nicely. —CL—    CHANDLER GALLOWAY ANDREA AND MUD: The release of their new album, ‘Bad News Darlin’,’ during the coronavirus pandemic turned into something of a self-fulfilling prophecy for the Atlanta Duo.  0,0,10   cl issue september 2020 "redneck underground"                       The state of the (Redneck) Underground "
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  string(18480) "The coronavirus pandemic has wrought complete chaos in Atlanta’s restaurant and bar community. Anything definitive I might try to say about the scene would be completely changed by the time you read this. So, my purpose here is to look at some of the general effects of the pandemic from my own and a few others’ personal perspectives. Let’s start with the particularly amazing resilience of neighborhood restaurants, without which, could turn into heartbreaking loss.

I’ve lived in Grant Park for 25 years, and during the last six of those, I’ve walked the three blocks to Grant Central Pizza alone every Wednesday. The draw is the weekly special, chicken piccata with mashed potatoes, but I’ve also formed all the attachments that make neighborhood restaurants so compelling in that “Cheers” sort of way.

Well, sort of.

!!Where nobody knows your name no more

Personally, I hate people, but I enjoy watching them in the way children love watching the animals in the zoo down the road. I do, however, actually love Grant Central’s staff — particularly Jessy Forney, the young front-of-the-house manager for almost eight years. I started my weekly visits soon after my life turned to shit, and, in need of distraction, I bought a television for the first time in 35 years. One day, I heard Jessy going on about some TV program. At that moment she became my TV mentor, but, over the years, she also became someone whose mind I realized was wonderfully weird and far more brilliant than she realized herself. She also operates a pet-sitting business — that business is also down — and I’ve made it my goal to get her to become a therapist specializing in emotional support animals.

Grant Central, like most neighborhood restaurants, discontinued inside dining when the pandemic arrived. It is lucky in that, as a pizzeria, it already had a great takeout business, whereas many other small neighbor-hood restaurants have been severely crippled or killed by the pandemic. Jessy, who had to let most of the staff go, now works the makeshift take-out counter that allows people to come into the restaurant for pickup as long as they wear masks and keep their distance. Now and then, someone goes Karen, particularly with the younger staff members.

She, Jessy, misses her customers as much as we miss her. “It makes me teary-eyed thinking of it,” she wrote me. “I miss things like our ‘Friday Night Crew,’ where I would get to talk to all these amazing regulars about the past week. I have regulars who would come in almost daily after hours of the trauma-infused Atlanta traffic, and we would chat about all kinds of interesting things or nothing at all. There are a lot of smiles I miss.” She also mentioned our ritual of recounting TV plots and strange dreams we had on Tuesday nights.

Generally, she copes with the loss of income and uncertainty with the help of meditation. If there’s a silver lining around, she says the sudden increase in free time has led her down a new path of self-examination. Fine, girl, but don’t go all sane on us.

!!It may be a pandemic, but we be in-a-gadda-da-vida with a little bear…

Takeout and patios have saved the restaurant industry. While Little Bear in Summerhill does not offer the latter, it does provide $55, multi-course takeout meals for two that are absolutely the city’s most compelling. It’s difficult to describe owner/chef Jarrett Stieber’s cuisine without sounding silly. But when I look at his food, I often recall a quote from playwright Luigi Pirandello that captioned a black light poster of a fish in a tree in my freshman dormitory room: “Life is full of infinite absurdities, which, strangely enough, do not even need to appear plausible, since they are true.” His food is culinary theater of the absurd so good it had the James Beard committee giving him a (metaphorical) standing ovation last year.



Speaking as someone with a useless PhD in psychology, I think Stieber’s absurdism is really, really good for mental health. The pandemic, the racial strife, and the jack-o-lantern’s bid for reelection have turned our collective skull into a cauldron of bubbling ugliness. Stieber’s cooking is the contrary. It’s a melding of seemingly disparate elements into a beautiful landscape that’s going to fill you with wonder — as in “Wonderland” — instead of disgust. One recent example that Stieber “absolutely loved” was a “butternut squash salad dressed with smoked fig, yung lemongrass, aji limon chili, dried cucumber seasoning, and holy basil.” He also mentioned — I’m editing — “a fun posset dessert, a medieval cream pudding thickened by citric acid … topped with what we referred to as a ‘terrarium-like mélange of nutty choco crunch mix — pretentious flowers, mountain mint, and benne seed.” Yeah, boy.

Stieber, whom I profiled in our May issue, opened Little Bear only two weeks before restaurants were closed by mandate. Since his work was already nationally renowned as a pop-up called Eat Me Speak Me, take-out business sold out quickly every week, but he told me things had faltered for two weeks when we communicated in mid-August. I blame it on the Dog Days. So. I urge you to lay off the DMT, put down your copy of Food of the Gods and investigate Little Bear on Instagram, @littlebearatl. (More about Stieber below.) 

!!Food porn blossoms in the pandemic, proving Freud to be intelligent …
 


Talk to any online sex-toy merchant and he’ll tell you business is booming, since everyone is regressing by necessity to the teenage joys of masturbation. Combine that with the fact that many people are, in Freud’s terms, sublimating the erotic through artistry — the artistry of cooking in the present context. In short, we are living in a perfect storm of food porn. Brian Cohn of PetLuv Cat Carrier fame demonstrates the full spectrum by serving a fab dinner to a maskless but safe lady friend. She is enjoying  “Pork Volcánes al Pastor,” tacos whose recipe he found in the March issue of Bon Appetit. The pork is shaved super-thin and flavored with lime juice and three different chilies, topped with melted Oaxaca cheese, which adds to the “lava” that gives the dish its volcanic name. Brian, the most adamantly sheltered-at-home person I know, manages to order all his cooking ingredients online without difficulty. I asked him the most difficult part of cooking in the pandemic. “Cooking for one leaves a ton of leftovers.” What has he learned? “When working with hot peppers, do not touch your eyes or private parts.”

 

!!Racism matters not when you got white pride! Grow up! Let the POC taste the icing of the privilegeds’ cake!

Is it a surprise that the $660-billion restaurant and food service industry is as contaminated with racism as the rest of the U.S. economy? Almost surreally, Susan DeRose, the owner of OK Café, smacked Atlantans in the face with that reality during, of all things, a march down West Paces Ferry organized by Buckhead4BlackLives to oppose the police murder of George Floyd. DeRose hung a banner on the restaurant that chastised Black Lives Matter with an allusion to the myth of lazy black people: “Lives that matter are made with positive purpose.” It was a shockingly thoughtless action, since she has long been controversial for decorating a wall with a supposedly arty representation of the old Georgia flag, which appropriates the image of the Confederate battle flag. She removed the banner and flag and explained it all away while seriously laying claim to “white pride.” Her actions provoked a storm of promises to boycott the café and her two other restaurants, Bones and Blue Ridge Grill, but we’ll see. Americans have a habit of backsliding into institutionalized norms of prejudice. Going deeper, we need to acknowledge that racism enforces the economic classism required by increasingly unregulated capitalism. Atlanta, like many U.S. cities, has become a prime example of the privileged sweeping the already marginalized to the city’s edges. (Be gone! Do not sully our BeltLine!) Graciously, members of enlightened corporate royalty now reverse the edict of Marie Antoinette and urge their peers to eat cake made with soul. Atlanta Magazine, for example, provides its largely white readership with a daring list of black-owned restaurants to patronize. Bless their hearts, they mean well, and the dollars handed out by tourists in the heart of darkness will help entrepreneurs a bit, but in the bigger picture, it’s a truly trivial gesture. Ending the enablement of genocide, racism, and fascism require sacrifice by the privileged themselves — not just sharing a bit of the icing of their privilege.

!!They have shattered the dinnerware and nothing is the same!
 


For the antisocial like me, the pandemic at first seemed like paradise. There was no traffic and no need to concoct excuses not to go to parties. Not so for my friends writer Brad Lapin and professor Eric Varner. For them, it brought a screeching halt to the dinner parties they host unrelentingly at their dual homes in Atlanta and Rome. Now, they compensate by cooking two meals a day for themselves, usually testing out new recipes. Recently, they prepared a Sonora-style carne asada feast detailed in the New York Times. The married couple normally dines out frequently but has only done so once, with friends, during the pandemic. Brad said that the restaurant followed all the protocols but that it was nonetheless an anxiety-provoking experience. “This fear and loathing will probably prove the single most tenacious effect of the pandemic.” So they carry on at home (also eschewing takeout). How obsessive are they? I asked Brad to name some of their pandemic faves. “Earlier this summer, Eric produced an authentic version of fettucine Alfredo that both captured the essence of the decadent dish and reestablished its Italian bonafides.” Yeah, cool, man. Did I mention they cook all the food for their four Scottish terriers? And, oh, they host international Zoom cocktail parties, and I Zoom-lunch with Brad and Brian, mentioned above, on Fridays — something I’ve done in real life for years. I love you boys.

 

!!The pandemic makes the TV dinner cool again …
 


Unlike my friends mentioned above, the pandemic has not motivated me to hone fine dining skills in the harvest-gold kitchen full of cracked tile and broken appliances of this 125-year-old home. Long ago, I liked to cook and was pretty good at it, but writing about restaurants for 30 years eventually led me to call any day I didn’t have to eat out a “Freedom from Food Day.” So, I’m going to share a dirty secret. About six years ago, I fell in love with Trader Joe’s. The grocery chain vends a huge line of frozen meals that I would never imagine myself eating. I thought they would be like the TV dinners of yore that my mother would not allow us to eat. (Yet, weirdly, the only person in my family I ever saw eat one of those was my super-wealthy uncle Steve, who otherwise introduced me to fried grasshoppers, chocolate-covered ants, and my beloved pickled lamb tongues.) And then I discovered Trader Joe’s Indian meals. Let me put it this way. One day two of us bought Indian food at a well-known food truck. Our bill, seriously, was about $65. Later in the week we ate a similar-sized meal of Trader Joe’s Indian food that cost us less than $15 for four dishes and tasted much better. Over the years, I’ve explored more of their food, and I unapologetically eat so much now that I enjoy feeling like an antifoodie. Oh, there are drawbacks — like the consumption of more salt than is needed to preserve an obese ox. But I can’t resist. In our October issue, I will go into more detail. The larger point is that the pandemic really has taught many of us that our mothers lied when they said all frozen prepared food was crap. And, hell, the store’s ginger snaps are better than my mother’s too!

 

!!Sometimes a takeout box is like a crypt …

Takeout and food-delivery operations are saving many restaurants, but answer this question, please: “What is the big drawback to takeout food?” It’s the packaging itself, of course. I’m not going to name names, but I’ve picked up simple food at favorite restaurants, taken it home, unwrapped it, and found myself confronted by a revoltingly steamy mess. It’s not like this is an entirely new phenomenon. Carrying a properly cooked Neapolitan pizza home in a closed, unventilated cardboard box typically is stupid. Eat it in the car or on the curb. Open the top first if you take it home, or, failing that, throw it in a damn blender. The weird thing is that fast-food operations clearly know a lot more about takeout packaging than many high-quality restaurants, and it’s not as if there isn’t a ton of available guidance about this. A notable local exception to the problem is the above-mentioned Little Bear. Owner Jarrett Stieber told me that his approach to cooking itself helps: “We conceptualize dishes to not just be things we think sound good but things we think sound good AND will transport well.” By that he means the food maintains flavor integrity and its gorgeous appearance. While many restaurants are packing up all their regular menu items, Stieber says that’s often unthinkable. When the restaurant was open for inside dining, for example, “we always had tartare on the menu, but we can’t be sure people will take it straight home and not let the meat warm up or sit so long the acid starts pickling it.” Perhaps Stieber can begin teaching the art of food transport. In the meantime, a really large number of foodies will continue to avoid takeout.

!!In a pandemic, the death of a server is good for a vote ...

Gov. Brian Kemp, one of the few elected officials as dumb and heartless as President Don Don, has, at this writing, reversed his ban of city health-protection mandates in an incomprehensibly garbled way that allows restaurants and other private businesses to ignore the mandates, because … well … because he doesn’t mind killing off restaurant employees if it earns him votes from the adult toddlers who believe COVID-19 is a hoax so nefarious that it hypnotizes their relatives into dying from propaganda poisoning. Fortunately, some restaurants are taking a strong stand against the mask-o-phobic. West Egg Café, for example, posted the following on Instagram:

“We asked nicely, then we begged. Masks are now required for all guests at West Egg, whenever you are not seated at your table. Period. Living in society (which includes doing things like going out to eat at restaurants) sometimes means relinquishing some of your individual liberties for the common good. Public health crises are one of those times. You do not have the ‘right’ not to wear a mask in public when exercising that ‘right’ exposes the community to communicable disease. We do have the right to exclude you from the West Egg community on the basis of refusal to wear a mask. Why’d you have to go and make us do that, though?”

Meanwhile, restaurants continue to close temporarily and permanently. A surprising number of newbies are on the way, though. As Jarrett Stieber told me, most will likely highlight well-engineered takeout and seating options, as well as smaller staffs, that make them more economically viable.

!!When a pandemic of disease is overshadowed by a pandemic of lovelessness …
 

::::

The absolute devastation of the lives of restaurant and bar employees is reflective of everything my socialist mind detests about the lie of the American dream. I won’t repeat my rant from above about the economics of racism, except to note that the groovy foodie magazine, Bon Appetit, has been exposed for inequitable payment to employees based on race. A bunch of employees have quit. They were lucky to have options. In the real world of restaurant work, where people live paycheck-to-paycheck, you can’t walk out without someplace to go. Restaurant employees who were laid off at first qualified for over $900 a week in unemployment compensation. But that was all a mess. Say you were laid off and then called back to work part-time or were only laid off part-time to begin with. Such convolutions affected what you qualified for, and now Republicans want to slash subsidies to guarantee nobody gets too comfortable driving their Cadillac without a job. Of course, if you were lucky enough to have rare employer-paid health insurance, you’ve lost that too. In any other developed country, millions of people would not be dumped into misery and, predictably, blamed for their own situation. It’s maddening that it’s necessary, but people have organized nonprofits to provide help. Chief among them in Atlanta is The Giving Kitchen. The organization, which has extended its services statewide, is grounded in a tale of love, death, and heartbreak, which you may read on their website. It provides a rare remedy to the suffering caused by the greater pandemic of lovelessness in America. Check out their story online (thegivingkitchen.org and @givingkitchen on Twitter and IG). Donate. Bigly. And ask for help.

!!Is there hope?

I have mixed feelings about hope. As American psychologist James Hillman pointed out, hope was inside Pandora’s box of evils. She snapped the lid shut before it escaped with the other evils. So, in the ancient Greeks’ thinking, hope was an evil because it frequently caused the pain of disappointed expectations and had nothing to do with actually producing happy endings. I once asked Hillman what we were left with if we couldn’t be hopeful and he talked about reflection on the beauty of what is present. Such reflection can arise with the art of cooking and dining, whether alone or with one another. You can argue that the beauty of my Trader Joe’s microwaved palak paneer fades miserably beside my friend’s exquisite fettucine Alfredo, but comparison is ultimately immaterial. Eat what pleases you, drink, help others, and be merry — but wear your damn mask, because in this plague you really may die tomorrow. —CL—

Grant Central Pizza, 451 Cherokee Ave. S.E., 404-523-8900.

Little Bear, 71-A Georgia Ave. S.E., Ste. A. 404-500-5396. @littlebearatl"
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I’ve lived in Grant Park for 25 years, and during the last six of those, I’ve walked the three blocks to Grant Central Pizza alone every Wednesday. The draw is the weekly special, chicken piccata with mashed potatoes, but I’ve also formed all the attachments that make neighborhood restaurants so compelling in that “Cheers” sort of way.

Well, sort of.

!!~~black:Where nobody knows your name no more~~

Personally, I hate people, but I enjoy watching them in the way children love watching the animals in the zoo down the road. I do, however, actually love Grant Central’s staff — particularly Jessy Forney, the young front-of-the-house manager for almost eight years. I started my weekly visits soon after my life turned to shit, and, in need of distraction, I bought a television for the first time in 35 years. One day, I heard Jessy going on about some TV program. At that moment she became my TV mentor, but, over the years, she also became someone whose mind I realized was wonderfully weird and far more brilliant than she realized herself. She also operates a pet-sitting business — that business is also down — and I’ve made it my goal to get her to become a therapist specializing in emotional support animals.

Grant Central, like most neighborhood restaurants, discontinued inside dining when the pandemic arrived. It is lucky in that, as a pizzeria, it already had a great takeout business, whereas many other small neighbor-hood restaurants have been severely crippled or killed by the pandemic. Jessy, who had to let most of the staff go, now works the makeshift take-out counter that allows people to come into the restaurant for pickup as long as they wear masks and keep their distance. Now and then, someone goes Karen, particularly with the younger staff members.

She, Jessy, misses her customers as much as we miss her. “It makes me teary-eyed thinking of it,” she wrote me. “I miss things like our ‘Friday Night Crew,’ where I would get to talk to all these amazing regulars about the past week. I have regulars who would come in almost daily after hours of the trauma-infused Atlanta traffic, and we would chat about all kinds of interesting things or nothing at all. There are a lot of smiles I miss.” She also mentioned our ritual of recounting TV plots and strange dreams we had on Tuesday nights.

Generally, she copes with the loss of income and uncertainty with the help of meditation. If there’s a silver lining around, she says the sudden increase in free time has led her down a new path of self-examination. Fine, girl, but don’t go all sane on us.

!!~~black:It may be a pandemic, but we be in-a-gadda-da-vida with a little bear…~~

Takeout and patios have saved the restaurant industry. While Little Bear in Summerhill does not offer the latter, it does provide $55, multi-course takeout meals for two that are absolutely the city’s most compelling. It’s difficult to describe owner/chef Jarrett Stieber’s cuisine without sounding silly. But when I look at his food, I often recall a quote from playwright Luigi Pirandello that captioned a black light poster of a fish in a tree in my freshman dormitory room: “Life is full of infinite absurdities, which, strangely enough, do not even need to appear plausible, since they are true.” His food is culinary theater of the absurd so good it had the James Beard committee giving him a (metaphorical) standing ovation last year.

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Speaking as someone with a useless PhD in psychology, I think Stieber’s absurdism is really, really good for mental health. The pandemic, the racial strife, and the jack-o-lantern’s bid for reelection have turned our collective skull into a cauldron of bubbling ugliness. Stieber’s cooking is the contrary. It’s a melding of seemingly disparate elements into a beautiful landscape that’s going to fill you with wonder — as in “Wonderland” — instead of disgust. One recent example that Stieber “absolutely loved” was a “butternut squash salad dressed with smoked fig, yung lemongrass, aji limon chili, dried cucumber seasoning, and holy basil.” He also mentioned — I’m editing — “a fun posset dessert, a medieval cream pudding thickened by citric acid … topped with what we referred to as a ‘terrarium-like mélange of nutty choco crunch mix — pretentious flowers, mountain mint, and benne seed.” Yeah, boy.

Stieber, whom I profiled in our May issue, opened Little Bear only two weeks before restaurants were closed by mandate. Since his work was already nationally renowned as a pop-up called Eat Me Speak Me, take-out business sold out quickly every week, but he told me things had faltered for two weeks when we communicated in mid-August. I blame it on the Dog Days. So. I urge you to lay off the DMT, put down your copy of ''Food of the Gods'' and investigate Little Bear on Instagram, @littlebearatl. (More about Stieber below.) 

!!~~black:Food porn blossoms in the pandemic, proving Freud to be intelligent …~~
 

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Talk to any online sex-toy merchant and he’ll tell you business is booming, since everyone is regressing by necessity to the teenage joys of masturbation. Combine that with the fact that many people are, in Freud’s terms, sublimating the erotic through artistry — the artistry of cooking in the present context. In short, we are living in a perfect storm of food porn. Brian Cohn of PetLuv Cat Carrier fame demonstrates the full spectrum by serving a fab dinner to a maskless but safe lady friend. She is enjoying  “Pork Volcánes al Pastor,” tacos whose recipe he found in the March issue of ''Bon Appetit''. The pork is shaved super-thin and flavored with lime juice and three different chilies, topped with melted Oaxaca cheese, which adds to the “lava” that gives the dish its volcanic name. Brian, the most adamantly sheltered-at-home person I know, manages to order all his cooking ingredients online without difficulty. I asked him the most difficult part of cooking in the pandemic. “Cooking for one leaves a ton of leftovers.” What has he learned? “When working with hot peppers, do not touch your eyes or private parts.”

 

!!~~black:Racism matters not when you got white pride! Grow up! Let the POC taste the icing of the privilegeds’ cake!~~

Is it a surprise that the $660-billion restaurant and food service industry is as contaminated with racism as the rest of the U.S. economy? Almost surreally, Susan DeRose, the owner of OK Café, smacked Atlantans in the face with that reality during, of all things, a march down West Paces Ferry organized by Buckhead4BlackLives to oppose the police murder of George Floyd. DeRose hung a banner on the restaurant that chastised Black Lives Matter with an allusion to the myth of lazy black people: “Lives that matter are made with positive purpose.” It was a shockingly thoughtless action, since she has long been controversial for decorating a wall with a supposedly arty representation of the old Georgia flag, which appropriates the image of the Confederate battle flag. She removed the banner and flag and explained it all away while seriously laying claim to “white pride.” Her actions provoked a storm of promises to boycott the café and her two other restaurants, Bones and Blue Ridge Grill, but we’ll see. Americans have a habit of backsliding into institutionalized norms of prejudice. Going deeper, we need to acknowledge that racism enforces the economic classism required by increasingly unregulated capitalism. Atlanta, like many U.S. cities, has become a prime example of the privileged sweeping the already marginalized to the city’s edges. (Be gone! Do not sully our BeltLine!) Graciously, members of enlightened corporate royalty now reverse the edict of Marie Antoinette and urge their peers to eat cake made with soul. ''Atlanta'' Magazine, for example, provides its largely white readership with a daring list of black-owned restaurants to patronize. Bless their hearts, they mean well, and the dollars handed out by tourists in the heart of darkness will help entrepreneurs a bit, but in the bigger picture, it’s a truly trivial gesture. Ending the enablement of genocide, racism, and fascism require sacrifice by the privileged themselves — not just sharing a bit of the icing of their privilege.

!!~~black:They have shattered the dinnerware and nothing is the same!~~
 

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For the antisocial like me, the pandemic at first seemed like paradise. There was no traffic and no need to concoct excuses not to go to parties. Not so for my friends writer Brad Lapin and professor Eric Varner. For them, it brought a screeching halt to the dinner parties they host unrelentingly at their dual homes in Atlanta and Rome. Now, they compensate by cooking two meals a day for themselves, usually testing out new recipes. Recently, they prepared a Sonora-style carne asada feast detailed in the ''New York Times''. The married couple normally dines out frequently but has only done so once, with friends, during the pandemic. Brad said that the restaurant followed all the protocols but that it was nonetheless an anxiety-provoking experience. “This fear and loathing will probably prove the single most tenacious effect of the pandemic.” So they carry on at home (also eschewing takeout). How obsessive are they? I asked Brad to name some of their pandemic faves. “Earlier this summer, Eric produced an authentic version of fettucine Alfredo that both captured the essence of the decadent dish and reestablished its Italian bonafides.” Yeah, cool, man. Did I mention they cook all the food for their four Scottish terriers? And, oh, they host international Zoom cocktail parties, and I Zoom-lunch with Brad and Brian, mentioned above, on Fridays — something I’ve done in real life for years. I love you boys.

 

!!~~black:The pandemic makes the TV dinner cool again …~~
 

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Unlike my friends mentioned above, the pandemic has not motivated me to hone fine dining skills in the harvest-gold kitchen full of cracked tile and broken appliances of this 125-year-old home. Long ago, I liked to cook and was pretty good at it, but writing about restaurants for 30 years eventually led me to call any day I didn’t have to eat out a “Freedom from Food Day.” So, I’m going to share a dirty secret. About six years ago, I fell in love with Trader Joe’s. The grocery chain vends a huge line of frozen meals that I would never imagine myself eating. I thought they would be like the TV dinners of yore that my mother would not allow us to eat. (Yet, weirdly, the only person in my family I ever saw eat one of those was my super-wealthy uncle Steve, who otherwise introduced me to fried grasshoppers, chocolate-covered ants, and my beloved pickled lamb tongues.) And then I discovered Trader Joe’s Indian meals. Let me put it this way. One day two of us bought Indian food at a well-known food truck. Our bill, seriously, was about $65. Later in the week we ate a similar-sized meal of Trader Joe’s Indian food that cost us less than $15 for four dishes and tasted much better. Over the years, I’ve explored more of their food, and I unapologetically eat so much now that I enjoy feeling like an antifoodie. Oh, there are drawbacks — like the consumption of more salt than is needed to preserve an obese ox. But I can’t resist. In our October issue, I will go into more detail. The larger point is that the pandemic really has taught many of us that our mothers lied when they said all frozen prepared food was crap. And, hell, the store’s ginger snaps are better than my mother’s too!

 

!!~~black:Sometimes a takeout box is like a crypt …~~

Takeout and food-delivery operations are saving many restaurants, but answer this question, please: “What is the big drawback to takeout food?” It’s the packaging itself, of course. I’m not going to name names, but I’ve picked up simple food at favorite restaurants, taken it home, unwrapped it, and found myself confronted by a revoltingly steamy mess. It’s not like this is an entirely new phenomenon. Carrying a properly cooked Neapolitan pizza home in a closed, unventilated cardboard box typically is stupid. Eat it in the car or on the curb. Open the top first if you take it home, or, failing that, throw it in a damn blender. The weird thing is that fast-food operations clearly know a lot more about takeout packaging than many high-quality restaurants, and it’s not as if there isn’t a ton of available guidance about this. A notable local exception to the problem is the above-mentioned Little Bear. Owner Jarrett Stieber told me that his approach to cooking itself helps: “We conceptualize dishes to not just be things we think sound good but things we think sound good AND will transport well.” By that he means the food maintains flavor integrity and its gorgeous appearance. While many restaurants are packing up all their regular menu items, Stieber says that’s often unthinkable. When the restaurant was open for inside dining, for example, “we always had tartare on the menu, but we can’t be sure people will take it straight home and not let the meat warm up or sit so long the acid starts pickling it.” Perhaps Stieber can begin teaching the art of food transport. In the meantime, a really large number of foodies will continue to avoid takeout.

!!~~black:In a pandemic, the death of a server is good for a vote ...~~

Gov. Brian Kemp, one of the few elected officials as dumb and heartless as President Don Don, has, at this writing, reversed his ban of city health-protection mandates in an incomprehensibly garbled way that allows restaurants and other private businesses to ignore the mandates, because … well … because he doesn’t mind killing off restaurant employees if it earns him votes from the adult toddlers who believe COVID-19 is a hoax so nefarious that it hypnotizes their relatives into dying from propaganda poisoning. Fortunately, some restaurants are taking a strong stand against the mask-o-phobic. West Egg Café, for example, posted the following on Instagram:

“We asked nicely, then we begged. Masks are now required for all guests at West Egg, whenever you are not seated at your table. Period. Living in society (which includes doing things like going out to eat at restaurants) sometimes means relinquishing some of your individual liberties for the common good. Public health crises are one of those times. You do not have the ‘right’ not to wear a mask in public when exercising that ‘right’ exposes the community to communicable disease. We do have the right to exclude you from the West Egg community on the basis of refusal to wear a mask. Why’d you have to go and make us do that, though?”

Meanwhile, restaurants continue to close temporarily and permanently. A surprising number of newbies are on the way, though. As Jarrett Stieber told me, most will likely highlight well-engineered takeout and seating options, as well as smaller staffs, that make them more economically viable.

!!~~black:When a pandemic of disease is overshadowed by a pandemic of lovelessness …~~
 

::{img fileId="32861" desc="desc" responsive="y"}::

The absolute devastation of the lives of restaurant and bar employees is reflective of everything my socialist mind detests about the lie of the American dream. I won’t repeat my rant from above about the economics of racism, except to note that the groovy foodie magazine, ''Bon Appetit'', has been exposed for inequitable payment to employees based on race. A bunch of employees have quit. They were lucky to have options. In the real world of restaurant work, where people live paycheck-to-paycheck, you can’t walk out without someplace to go. Restaurant employees who were laid off at first qualified for over $900 a week in unemployment compensation. But that was all a mess. Say you were laid off and then called back to work part-time or were only laid off part-time to begin with. Such convolutions affected what you qualified for, and now Republicans want to slash subsidies to guarantee nobody gets too comfortable driving their Cadillac without a job. Of course, if you were lucky enough to have rare employer-paid health insurance, you’ve lost that too. In any other developed country, millions of people would not be dumped into misery and, predictably, blamed for their own situation. It’s maddening that it’s necessary, but people have organized nonprofits to provide help. Chief among them in Atlanta is The Giving Kitchen. The organization, which has extended its services statewide, is grounded in a tale of love, death, and heartbreak, which you may read on their website. It provides a rare remedy to the suffering caused by the greater pandemic of lovelessness in America. Check out their story online (thegivingkitchen.org and @givingkitchen on Twitter and IG). Donate. Bigly. And ask for help.

!!~~black:Is there hope?~~

I have mixed feelings about hope. As American psychologist James Hillman pointed out, hope was inside Pandora’s box of evils. She snapped the lid shut before it escaped with the other evils. So, in the ancient Greeks’ thinking, hope was an evil because it frequently caused the pain of disappointed expectations and had nothing to do with actually producing happy endings. I once asked Hillman what we were left with if we couldn’t be hopeful and he talked about reflection on the beauty of what is present. Such reflection can arise with the art of cooking and dining, whether alone or with one another. You can argue that the beauty of my Trader Joe’s microwaved palak paneer fades miserably beside my friend’s exquisite fettucine Alfredo, but comparison is ultimately immaterial. Eat what pleases you, drink, help others, and be merry — but wear your damn mask, because in this plague you really may die tomorrow. __—CL—__

''Grant Central Pizza, 451 Cherokee Ave. S.E., 404-523-8900.''

''Little Bear, 71-A Georgia Ave. S.E., Ste. A. 404-500-5396. @littlebearatl''"
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  string(19243) " Web Lede Grazing Sept (LEFT)GRANT CENTRAL PIZZA: Jessy Forney. Photo credit: Courtesy Jesse Forney. (RIGHT)LITTLE BEAR: Jarrett Stieber. Photo credit: Cliff Bostock. 2020-09-09T14:47:03+00:00 Web_Lede_Grazing_Sept.jpg     grazing During the pandemic, treat yourself to dinner and yourself Web Lede Grazing Sept   2020-09-09T13:49:42+00:00  GRAZING: Ten ways COVID-19 has changed the foodie experience in Atlanta jim.harris Jim Harris Cliff Bostock cliffbostock (Cliff Bostock) 2020-09-09T13:49:42+00:00 The coronavirus pandemic has wrought complete chaos in Atlanta’s restaurant and bar community. Anything definitive I might try to say about the scene would be completely changed by the time you read this. So, my purpose here is to look at some of the general effects of the pandemic from my own and a few others’ personal perspectives. Let’s start with the particularly amazing resilience of neighborhood restaurants, without which, could turn into heartbreaking loss.

I’ve lived in Grant Park for 25 years, and during the last six of those, I’ve walked the three blocks to Grant Central Pizza alone every Wednesday. The draw is the weekly special, chicken piccata with mashed potatoes, but I’ve also formed all the attachments that make neighborhood restaurants so compelling in that “Cheers” sort of way.

Well, sort of.

!!Where nobody knows your name no more

Personally, I hate people, but I enjoy watching them in the way children love watching the animals in the zoo down the road. I do, however, actually love Grant Central’s staff — particularly Jessy Forney, the young front-of-the-house manager for almost eight years. I started my weekly visits soon after my life turned to shit, and, in need of distraction, I bought a television for the first time in 35 years. One day, I heard Jessy going on about some TV program. At that moment she became my TV mentor, but, over the years, she also became someone whose mind I realized was wonderfully weird and far more brilliant than she realized herself. She also operates a pet-sitting business — that business is also down — and I’ve made it my goal to get her to become a therapist specializing in emotional support animals.

Grant Central, like most neighborhood restaurants, discontinued inside dining when the pandemic arrived. It is lucky in that, as a pizzeria, it already had a great takeout business, whereas many other small neighbor-hood restaurants have been severely crippled or killed by the pandemic. Jessy, who had to let most of the staff go, now works the makeshift take-out counter that allows people to come into the restaurant for pickup as long as they wear masks and keep their distance. Now and then, someone goes Karen, particularly with the younger staff members.

She, Jessy, misses her customers as much as we miss her. “It makes me teary-eyed thinking of it,” she wrote me. “I miss things like our ‘Friday Night Crew,’ where I would get to talk to all these amazing regulars about the past week. I have regulars who would come in almost daily after hours of the trauma-infused Atlanta traffic, and we would chat about all kinds of interesting things or nothing at all. There are a lot of smiles I miss.” She also mentioned our ritual of recounting TV plots and strange dreams we had on Tuesday nights.

Generally, she copes with the loss of income and uncertainty with the help of meditation. If there’s a silver lining around, she says the sudden increase in free time has led her down a new path of self-examination. Fine, girl, but don’t go all sane on us.

!!It may be a pandemic, but we be in-a-gadda-da-vida with a little bear…

Takeout and patios have saved the restaurant industry. While Little Bear in Summerhill does not offer the latter, it does provide $55, multi-course takeout meals for two that are absolutely the city’s most compelling. It’s difficult to describe owner/chef Jarrett Stieber’s cuisine without sounding silly. But when I look at his food, I often recall a quote from playwright Luigi Pirandello that captioned a black light poster of a fish in a tree in my freshman dormitory room: “Life is full of infinite absurdities, which, strangely enough, do not even need to appear plausible, since they are true.” His food is culinary theater of the absurd so good it had the James Beard committee giving him a (metaphorical) standing ovation last year.



Speaking as someone with a useless PhD in psychology, I think Stieber’s absurdism is really, really good for mental health. The pandemic, the racial strife, and the jack-o-lantern’s bid for reelection have turned our collective skull into a cauldron of bubbling ugliness. Stieber’s cooking is the contrary. It’s a melding of seemingly disparate elements into a beautiful landscape that’s going to fill you with wonder — as in “Wonderland” — instead of disgust. One recent example that Stieber “absolutely loved” was a “butternut squash salad dressed with smoked fig, yung lemongrass, aji limon chili, dried cucumber seasoning, and holy basil.” He also mentioned — I’m editing — “a fun posset dessert, a medieval cream pudding thickened by citric acid … topped with what we referred to as a ‘terrarium-like mélange of nutty choco crunch mix — pretentious flowers, mountain mint, and benne seed.” Yeah, boy.

Stieber, whom I profiled in our May issue, opened Little Bear only two weeks before restaurants were closed by mandate. Since his work was already nationally renowned as a pop-up called Eat Me Speak Me, take-out business sold out quickly every week, but he told me things had faltered for two weeks when we communicated in mid-August. I blame it on the Dog Days. So. I urge you to lay off the DMT, put down your copy of Food of the Gods and investigate Little Bear on Instagram, @littlebearatl. (More about Stieber below.) 

!!Food porn blossoms in the pandemic, proving Freud to be intelligent …
 


Talk to any online sex-toy merchant and he’ll tell you business is booming, since everyone is regressing by necessity to the teenage joys of masturbation. Combine that with the fact that many people are, in Freud’s terms, sublimating the erotic through artistry — the artistry of cooking in the present context. In short, we are living in a perfect storm of food porn. Brian Cohn of PetLuv Cat Carrier fame demonstrates the full spectrum by serving a fab dinner to a maskless but safe lady friend. She is enjoying  “Pork Volcánes al Pastor,” tacos whose recipe he found in the March issue of Bon Appetit. The pork is shaved super-thin and flavored with lime juice and three different chilies, topped with melted Oaxaca cheese, which adds to the “lava” that gives the dish its volcanic name. Brian, the most adamantly sheltered-at-home person I know, manages to order all his cooking ingredients online without difficulty. I asked him the most difficult part of cooking in the pandemic. “Cooking for one leaves a ton of leftovers.” What has he learned? “When working with hot peppers, do not touch your eyes or private parts.”

 

!!Racism matters not when you got white pride! Grow up! Let the POC taste the icing of the privilegeds’ cake!

Is it a surprise that the $660-billion restaurant and food service industry is as contaminated with racism as the rest of the U.S. economy? Almost surreally, Susan DeRose, the owner of OK Café, smacked Atlantans in the face with that reality during, of all things, a march down West Paces Ferry organized by Buckhead4BlackLives to oppose the police murder of George Floyd. DeRose hung a banner on the restaurant that chastised Black Lives Matter with an allusion to the myth of lazy black people: “Lives that matter are made with positive purpose.” It was a shockingly thoughtless action, since she has long been controversial for decorating a wall with a supposedly arty representation of the old Georgia flag, which appropriates the image of the Confederate battle flag. She removed the banner and flag and explained it all away while seriously laying claim to “white pride.” Her actions provoked a storm of promises to boycott the café and her two other restaurants, Bones and Blue Ridge Grill, but we’ll see. Americans have a habit of backsliding into institutionalized norms of prejudice. Going deeper, we need to acknowledge that racism enforces the economic classism required by increasingly unregulated capitalism. Atlanta, like many U.S. cities, has become a prime example of the privileged sweeping the already marginalized to the city’s edges. (Be gone! Do not sully our BeltLine!) Graciously, members of enlightened corporate royalty now reverse the edict of Marie Antoinette and urge their peers to eat cake made with soul. Atlanta Magazine, for example, provides its largely white readership with a daring list of black-owned restaurants to patronize. Bless their hearts, they mean well, and the dollars handed out by tourists in the heart of darkness will help entrepreneurs a bit, but in the bigger picture, it’s a truly trivial gesture. Ending the enablement of genocide, racism, and fascism require sacrifice by the privileged themselves — not just sharing a bit of the icing of their privilege.

!!They have shattered the dinnerware and nothing is the same!
 


For the antisocial like me, the pandemic at first seemed like paradise. There was no traffic and no need to concoct excuses not to go to parties. Not so for my friends writer Brad Lapin and professor Eric Varner. For them, it brought a screeching halt to the dinner parties they host unrelentingly at their dual homes in Atlanta and Rome. Now, they compensate by cooking two meals a day for themselves, usually testing out new recipes. Recently, they prepared a Sonora-style carne asada feast detailed in the New York Times. The married couple normally dines out frequently but has only done so once, with friends, during the pandemic. Brad said that the restaurant followed all the protocols but that it was nonetheless an anxiety-provoking experience. “This fear and loathing will probably prove the single most tenacious effect of the pandemic.” So they carry on at home (also eschewing takeout). How obsessive are they? I asked Brad to name some of their pandemic faves. “Earlier this summer, Eric produced an authentic version of fettucine Alfredo that both captured the essence of the decadent dish and reestablished its Italian bonafides.” Yeah, cool, man. Did I mention they cook all the food for their four Scottish terriers? And, oh, they host international Zoom cocktail parties, and I Zoom-lunch with Brad and Brian, mentioned above, on Fridays — something I’ve done in real life for years. I love you boys.

 

!!The pandemic makes the TV dinner cool again …
 


Unlike my friends mentioned above, the pandemic has not motivated me to hone fine dining skills in the harvest-gold kitchen full of cracked tile and broken appliances of this 125-year-old home. Long ago, I liked to cook and was pretty good at it, but writing about restaurants for 30 years eventually led me to call any day I didn’t have to eat out a “Freedom from Food Day.” So, I’m going to share a dirty secret. About six years ago, I fell in love with Trader Joe’s. The grocery chain vends a huge line of frozen meals that I would never imagine myself eating. I thought they would be like the TV dinners of yore that my mother would not allow us to eat. (Yet, weirdly, the only person in my family I ever saw eat one of those was my super-wealthy uncle Steve, who otherwise introduced me to fried grasshoppers, chocolate-covered ants, and my beloved pickled lamb tongues.) And then I discovered Trader Joe’s Indian meals. Let me put it this way. One day two of us bought Indian food at a well-known food truck. Our bill, seriously, was about $65. Later in the week we ate a similar-sized meal of Trader Joe’s Indian food that cost us less than $15 for four dishes and tasted much better. Over the years, I’ve explored more of their food, and I unapologetically eat so much now that I enjoy feeling like an antifoodie. Oh, there are drawbacks — like the consumption of more salt than is needed to preserve an obese ox. But I can’t resist. In our October issue, I will go into more detail. The larger point is that the pandemic really has taught many of us that our mothers lied when they said all frozen prepared food was crap. And, hell, the store’s ginger snaps are better than my mother’s too!

 

!!Sometimes a takeout box is like a crypt …

Takeout and food-delivery operations are saving many restaurants, but answer this question, please: “What is the big drawback to takeout food?” It’s the packaging itself, of course. I’m not going to name names, but I’ve picked up simple food at favorite restaurants, taken it home, unwrapped it, and found myself confronted by a revoltingly steamy mess. It’s not like this is an entirely new phenomenon. Carrying a properly cooked Neapolitan pizza home in a closed, unventilated cardboard box typically is stupid. Eat it in the car or on the curb. Open the top first if you take it home, or, failing that, throw it in a damn blender. The weird thing is that fast-food operations clearly know a lot more about takeout packaging than many high-quality restaurants, and it’s not as if there isn’t a ton of available guidance about this. A notable local exception to the problem is the above-mentioned Little Bear. Owner Jarrett Stieber told me that his approach to cooking itself helps: “We conceptualize dishes to not just be things we think sound good but things we think sound good AND will transport well.” By that he means the food maintains flavor integrity and its gorgeous appearance. While many restaurants are packing up all their regular menu items, Stieber says that’s often unthinkable. When the restaurant was open for inside dining, for example, “we always had tartare on the menu, but we can’t be sure people will take it straight home and not let the meat warm up or sit so long the acid starts pickling it.” Perhaps Stieber can begin teaching the art of food transport. In the meantime, a really large number of foodies will continue to avoid takeout.

!!In a pandemic, the death of a server is good for a vote ...

Gov. Brian Kemp, one of the few elected officials as dumb and heartless as President Don Don, has, at this writing, reversed his ban of city health-protection mandates in an incomprehensibly garbled way that allows restaurants and other private businesses to ignore the mandates, because … well … because he doesn’t mind killing off restaurant employees if it earns him votes from the adult toddlers who believe COVID-19 is a hoax so nefarious that it hypnotizes their relatives into dying from propaganda poisoning. Fortunately, some restaurants are taking a strong stand against the mask-o-phobic. West Egg Café, for example, posted the following on Instagram:

“We asked nicely, then we begged. Masks are now required for all guests at West Egg, whenever you are not seated at your table. Period. Living in society (which includes doing things like going out to eat at restaurants) sometimes means relinquishing some of your individual liberties for the common good. Public health crises are one of those times. You do not have the ‘right’ not to wear a mask in public when exercising that ‘right’ exposes the community to communicable disease. We do have the right to exclude you from the West Egg community on the basis of refusal to wear a mask. Why’d you have to go and make us do that, though?”

Meanwhile, restaurants continue to close temporarily and permanently. A surprising number of newbies are on the way, though. As Jarrett Stieber told me, most will likely highlight well-engineered takeout and seating options, as well as smaller staffs, that make them more economically viable.

!!When a pandemic of disease is overshadowed by a pandemic of lovelessness …
 

::::

The absolute devastation of the lives of restaurant and bar employees is reflective of everything my socialist mind detests about the lie of the American dream. I won’t repeat my rant from above about the economics of racism, except to note that the groovy foodie magazine, Bon Appetit, has been exposed for inequitable payment to employees based on race. A bunch of employees have quit. They were lucky to have options. In the real world of restaurant work, where people live paycheck-to-paycheck, you can’t walk out without someplace to go. Restaurant employees who were laid off at first qualified for over $900 a week in unemployment compensation. But that was all a mess. Say you were laid off and then called back to work part-time or were only laid off part-time to begin with. Such convolutions affected what you qualified for, and now Republicans want to slash subsidies to guarantee nobody gets too comfortable driving their Cadillac without a job. Of course, if you were lucky enough to have rare employer-paid health insurance, you’ve lost that too. In any other developed country, millions of people would not be dumped into misery and, predictably, blamed for their own situation. It’s maddening that it’s necessary, but people have organized nonprofits to provide help. Chief among them in Atlanta is The Giving Kitchen. The organization, which has extended its services statewide, is grounded in a tale of love, death, and heartbreak, which you may read on their website. It provides a rare remedy to the suffering caused by the greater pandemic of lovelessness in America. Check out their story online (thegivingkitchen.org and @givingkitchen on Twitter and IG). Donate. Bigly. And ask for help.

!!Is there hope?

I have mixed feelings about hope. As American psychologist James Hillman pointed out, hope was inside Pandora’s box of evils. She snapped the lid shut before it escaped with the other evils. So, in the ancient Greeks’ thinking, hope was an evil because it frequently caused the pain of disappointed expectations and had nothing to do with actually producing happy endings. I once asked Hillman what we were left with if we couldn’t be hopeful and he talked about reflection on the beauty of what is present. Such reflection can arise with the art of cooking and dining, whether alone or with one another. You can argue that the beauty of my Trader Joe’s microwaved palak paneer fades miserably beside my friend’s exquisite fettucine Alfredo, but comparison is ultimately immaterial. Eat what pleases you, drink, help others, and be merry — but wear your damn mask, because in this plague you really may die tomorrow. —CL—

Grant Central Pizza, 451 Cherokee Ave. S.E., 404-523-8900.

Little Bear, 71-A Georgia Ave. S.E., Ste. A. 404-500-5396. @littlebearatl    (L)Courtesy Jesse Forney, (R)Cliff Bostock (L)GRANT CENTRAL PIZZA: Jessy Forney. (R)LITTLE BEAR: Jarrett Stieber.  0,0,10   cl issue september 2020 grazing                       GRAZING: Ten ways COVID-19 has changed the foodie experience in Atlanta "
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!!About Music Midtown
With its initial run from 1994 to 2005, Peter Conlon and the late Alex Cooley's Music Midtown earned a reputation as Atlanta’s definitive outdoor, large music festival. Following a six-year hiatus, the event, powered by Conlon and LiveNation, has reached cruising altitude, growing heftier with each successive year, presenting established and rising mainstream musical acts. Sign up online for this year’s lineup, schedule, and contests. The festivities unfold in the heart of Piedmont Park. PRO TIP: It’s an urban festival, so take advantage of the transportation systems the city has to offer. Take a ride on MARTA or stroll to it on the BeltLine. Avoiding the nightmare traffic situation that backs up at the intersection of 10th and Monroe through Midtown will improve everyone’s festival experience.

While no specifics have been announced pertaining to the Music Midtown, keep checking back with Creative Loafing for the latest and most up to date info.

!!History of Music Midtown
In the summer of 1994, Atlanta concert promoters Peter Conlon and Alex Cooley put together a two-day outdoor music festival in the middle of the city, partially as an experiment. They wanted to gauge the public's interest in such an event, and within a few years Music Midtown became an annual weekend festival featuring six stages that drew as many as 300,000 concertgoers at its peak. Acts as varied as Bob Dylan, James Brown, Devo, Hole, Funkadelic, Wilco, Iggy Pop and hundreds of others were all part of the annual lineup.

Music Midtown is the largest music festival in Atlanta, attracting thousands of concertgoers from around the country. The 2018 Music Midtown took place the weekend of September 15-16, and once again makes its home in Piedmont Park. The 2018 lineup boasted an assorted mix of monolithic mainstream pop and hip-hop artists, as well as various rising but lesser-known performers. Headliners Kendrick Lamar, Imagine Dragons, Fall Out Boy, and Post Malone are joined by the likes of Janelle Monáe, Portugal. The Man, Sylvan Esso, Mattiel, Gucci Mane, Arthur Buck, and more. As with every year, concertgoers flock to the city in droves. Atlanta denizens may be well advised to take MARTA to the Midtown station and walk to the park, or simply stroll along the Beltline right into the heart of the park to avoid the soul-crushing traffic situation, not to mention finding a place to park — parking passes can be purchased through Music Midtown’s website for $20.

From a 2018 Interview with Peter Conlon - "We’re the biggest music festival in Atlanta. Historically, we’ve built a brand. A lot of acts in the history of the festival that went on to be meaningful acts in this market, their first play was Music Midtown. There’s a lot of focus on certain acts at the mid-level. As recently as 21 Pilots, who headlined Music Midtown a few years ago — we just put them on sale at Philips Arena, and they sold out in one day. We were one of the first festivals to have them.

The original concept of Music Midtown was to have an eclectic enough lineup where we brought people in for certain artists but exposed them to other artists, to all different kinds of music. That’s what we’ve tried to maintain. We aren’t as eclectic as we used to be, but maybe we’ll get that way.

The other thing we’ve tried to do is keep it affordable. The first festival back in ’94 was $25, but we can’t do that anymore. Even the current price of $145, for the acts you are seeing, it’s extremely affordable. In an arena, you pay that much just for one night. The other thing is the economic benefit for Atlanta. It generates around $50 million for the city. And we pay for everything.”"
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!!About Music Midtown
With its initial run from 1994 to 2005, Peter Conlon and the late Alex Cooley's Music Midtown earned a reputation as Atlanta’s definitive outdoor, large music festival. Following a six-year hiatus, the event, powered by Conlon and LiveNation, has reached cruising altitude, growing heftier with each successive year, presenting established and rising mainstream musical acts. Sign up online for this year’s lineup, schedule, and contests. The festivities unfold in the heart of Piedmont Park. PRO TIP: It’s an urban festival, so take advantage of the transportation systems the city has to offer. Take a ride on MARTA or stroll to it on the BeltLine. Avoiding the nightmare traffic situation that backs up at the intersection of 10th and Monroe through Midtown will improve everyone’s festival experience.

While no specifics have been announced pertaining to the Music Midtown, keep checking back with Creative Loafing for the latest and most up to date info.

!!History of Music Midtown
In the summer of 1994, Atlanta concert promoters Peter Conlon and Alex Cooley put together a two-day outdoor music festival in the middle of the city, partially as an experiment. They wanted to gauge the public's interest in such an event, and within a few years Music Midtown became an annual weekend festival featuring six stages that drew as many as 300,000 concertgoers at its peak. Acts as varied as Bob Dylan, James Brown, Devo, Hole, Funkadelic, Wilco, Iggy Pop and hundreds of others were all part of the annual lineup.

Music Midtown is the largest music festival in Atlanta, attracting thousands of concertgoers from around the country. The 2018 Music Midtown took place the weekend of September 15-16, and once again makes its home in Piedmont Park. The 2018 lineup boasted an assorted mix of monolithic mainstream pop and hip-hop artists, as well as various rising but lesser-known performers. Headliners Kendrick Lamar, Imagine Dragons, Fall Out Boy, and Post Malone are joined by the likes of Janelle Monáe, Portugal. The Man, Sylvan Esso, Mattiel, Gucci Mane, Arthur Buck, and more. As with every year, concertgoers flock to the city in droves. Atlanta denizens may be well advised to take MARTA to the Midtown station and walk to the park, or simply stroll along the Beltline right into the heart of the park to avoid the soul-crushing traffic situation, not to mention finding a place to park — parking passes can be purchased through Music Midtown’s website for $20.

From a 2018 Interview with Peter Conlon - "We’re the biggest music festival in Atlanta. Historically, we’ve built a brand. A lot of acts in the history of the festival that went on to be meaningful acts in this market, their first play was Music Midtown. There’s a lot of focus on certain acts at the mid-level. As recently as 21 Pilots, who headlined Music Midtown a few years ago — we just put them on sale at Philips Arena, and they sold out in one day. We were one of the first festivals to have them.

The original concept of Music Midtown was to have an eclectic enough lineup where we brought people in for certain artists but exposed them to other artists, to all different kinds of music. That’s what we’ve tried to maintain. We aren’t as eclectic as we used to be, but maybe we’ll get that way.

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!!About Music Midtown
With its initial run from 1994 to 2005, Peter Conlon and the late Alex Cooley's Music Midtown earned a reputation as Atlanta’s definitive outdoor, large music festival. Following a six-year hiatus, the event, powered by Conlon and LiveNation, has reached cruising altitude, growing heftier with each successive year, presenting established and rising mainstream musical acts. Sign up online for this year’s lineup, schedule, and contests. The festivities unfold in the heart of Piedmont Park. PRO TIP: It’s an urban festival, so take advantage of the transportation systems the city has to offer. Take a ride on MARTA or stroll to it on the BeltLine. Avoiding the nightmare traffic situation that backs up at the intersection of 10th and Monroe through Midtown will improve everyone’s festival experience.

While no specifics have been announced pertaining to the Music Midtown, keep checking back with Creative Loafing for the latest and most up to date info.

!!History of Music Midtown
In the summer of 1994, Atlanta concert promoters Peter Conlon and Alex Cooley put together a two-day outdoor music festival in the middle of the city, partially as an experiment. They wanted to gauge the public's interest in such an event, and within a few years Music Midtown became an annual weekend festival featuring six stages that drew as many as 300,000 concertgoers at its peak. Acts as varied as Bob Dylan, James Brown, Devo, Hole, Funkadelic, Wilco, Iggy Pop and hundreds of others were all part of the annual lineup.

Music Midtown is the largest music festival in Atlanta, attracting thousands of concertgoers from around the country. The 2018 Music Midtown took place the weekend of September 15-16, and once again makes its home in Piedmont Park. The 2018 lineup boasted an assorted mix of monolithic mainstream pop and hip-hop artists, as well as various rising but lesser-known performers. Headliners Kendrick Lamar, Imagine Dragons, Fall Out Boy, and Post Malone are joined by the likes of Janelle Monáe, Portugal. The Man, Sylvan Esso, Mattiel, Gucci Mane, Arthur Buck, and more. As with every year, concertgoers flock to the city in droves. Atlanta denizens may be well advised to take MARTA to the Midtown station and walk to the park, or simply stroll along the Beltline right into the heart of the park to avoid the soul-crushing traffic situation, not to mention finding a place to park — parking passes can be purchased through Music Midtown’s website for $20.

From a 2018 Interview with Peter Conlon - "We’re the biggest music festival in Atlanta. Historically, we’ve built a brand. A lot of acts in the history of the festival that went on to be meaningful acts in this market, their first play was Music Midtown. There’s a lot of focus on certain acts at the mid-level. As recently as 21 Pilots, who headlined Music Midtown a few years ago — we just put them on sale at Philips Arena, and they sold out in one day. We were one of the first festivals to have them.

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!!ELEVATE Art Festival

Set against the backdrop of a global pandemic, racial unrest, an economic recession, food shortages, and a political struggle, ELEVATE: WEST END invites artists, thought leaders, and the public to Atlanta’s historic West End neighborhood to help us explore the power of Equity, Activism, and Engagement with the goal of inspiring community building, activism, and hope.

!!ELEVATE Art Festival Events
 

!!Creative Loafing Stories About ELEVATE Art Festival
     Paul Kolnik   0,0,10                           ELEVATE Art Festival "
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!!About East Atlanta Strut in Place
East Atlanta’s art, culture and quirkiness in a safer way this year. There are two ways to play: (1) socially distanced at a Village business or; (2) in your own front yard, where you make the Strut, and the Strut comes to you - Think Small Business Saturday meets Porchfest, with a twist.

Get all the details at East Atlanta Strut, but here’s the short version:

*Instead of closing roads and inviting 10,000 people to our little neighborhood, the Strut will facilitate activities throughout the business and residential districts.
*Want to play music, sell your art or show off some other talents? The Strut will help pair you with a business or residence where you can Strut your stuff.
*Want to host a band, an artist or a leaf blower contest? The Strut will match you up.
*Want to hang out in your yard on a lovely afternoon and have some entertainment cruise by? The Strut will send someone your way.
 

!!East Atlanta Strut in Place Event
 

!!Creative Loafing Stories About East Atlanta Strut in Place
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!!About East Atlanta Strut in Place
East Atlanta’s art, culture and quirkine