Well, Panthers, we are back! We’re full smiles, and ready to learn! Just like how schools are back in session, so are KICs. This week includes an end in sight for Greece wildfires, rare deadly diseases found in Georgia, unveiling of newspaper boxes to honor the class of 2020 (really people still?!), a multicultural population increase in the U.S., and repercussions from the George Floyd protests. 

August 9 – End in sight for Greece wildfires

Due to climate change, the island of Evia in Greece has been devastated by forest fires for the past two weeks. Citizens have started to evacuate due to their safety and the rising temperatures. 

Neighboring country Turkey is also dealing with temperatures up to 113 degrees Fahrenheit. The fires are said to be the worst in the history of the country. Firefighters are calling for help to subdue the flames. Countries in the EU have sent 1,000 firefighters, 9 planes, and several hundred vehicles to Evia and surrounding areas. 

As of Sunday, about 235 fires have been stopped, and there were five still occurring. 

August 10 – Rare deadly disease found in Georgia

The CDC has recently discovered a person originating in Georgia who has died from a rare disease, along with three others in different states. No person with a recorded case of melioidosis has recently traveled internationally.

Normally found in South Asia, melioidosis lives in moist soil and water. However, it can take two to three weeks for the symptoms to emerge in a person. These symptoms range in variety and sometimes can be confused with tuberculosis and pneumonia. However, the most common signs are localized pain or swelling, fever, chest pain, weight loss, and joint pain.

Working to find the cause of this rare disease, the CDC has warned clinicians to watch for any bacterial infections and consider melioidosis, even in children and those who do not show any previously known risk factors for melioidosis.

August 11 – Recently unveiled newspaper boxes honor the class of 2020  

Recently local artists at the Newnan-Coweta Art Association Kim Debrow, Beth Neely, Monica Watkins, Jim Gay, Margo Merrifield, Bette Hickman, Mayor Keith Brady, Sara Arnall, Eve Graybeal Olsen, Connie Brown and Tammy Troye, created newspaper boxes to celebrate the class of 2020. The pictures on the boxes resemble Zoom meetings for students. 

Each artist had a creative way of decorating their boxes. They all have different designs on them. There’s a mural in the center of the Carnegie Library that they also made. 

John Thrasher, a board member of Children Connect, is the person to contact if you would like to sponsor a box. The community wants to showcase their beautiful landscape and provide sponsorships to the Children Connect Museum. 

August 12 – USA sees incline in a multicultural population

According to the 2020 Census, the multicultural population has grown while the white population is decreasing. This is the first that has ever happened in US history from viewing previous US Censuses.

“These changes reveal that the US population is much more multiracial, and more racially and ethnically diverse, than what we measured in the past,” Nicholas Jones, director of race, ethnicity, research, and outreach for the Census Bureau’s Population Division, stated. The white, non-Hispanic population has decreased by 8.6% since 2010. In 2020, 33.8 million US citizens claim to be more than one race compared to 2000 where only around 6.8 million were.

Like Nicholas Jones said, this small change shows how diverse the country is becoming and how we can all learn and share each other’s cultures.

August 13 – Repercussions following George Floyd protests

The justice for George Floyd protests in May 2020 are still causing repercussions for the District of Columbia government and eight police officers. Two photojournalists are speaking out with the American Civil Liberties Union to make sure the police officers are prosecuted for their actions.

Oyoma Asinor, a freelance photojournalist, was arrested without probable cause. Asinor told CNN, “MPD failed to return his cell phone, camera, and goggles for nearly a year.” Bryan Dozier, another photojournalist, was deliberately injured while documenting the protests. Dozier explained to CNN, “DC police officer lifted, and pushed him toward the clouds of chemical irritants.” CNN reached out to the Metropolitan Police Department and DC’s Mayor’s office, but they failed to comment.

Dozier and Asinor are both suffering mental health issues due to the police harassment. They seek justice through a potential trial.