🌱 Flu Filling Up Atlanta Hospitals + Study On Atlanta Jail + Gas Tax

Hey, neighbors. It's Saturday in Atlanta and I'm back in your inbox with everything you need to know about what's happening in town. Because community news matters! In this issue, you'll learn about...

• Children's Healthcare of Atlanta intensive care unit filled with respiratory viruses
• Study on Atlanta leasing detention center to Fulton County
• Gas tax suspended again, until Dec. 11

But first, today's weather:

Mostly cloudy, a shower; warm. High: 77 Low: 65.

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Here are the top five stories today in Atlanta:

1. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the childhood RSV infections are slowing down but cases of the flu are rising dramatically and filling up hospitals in levels not seen in 10 years. A spokesperson for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta said the vast majority of children hospitalized in the intensive care unit have respiratory viruses. (Subscription: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
2. A study by the Center for Community Innovations in Community Safety at Georgetown Community Law Center found leasing Atlanta's detention center to Fulton County will make the city less safe. View the link to learn more. (Subscription: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
3. Yesterday, Nov. 4, Gov. Brian Kemp extended the suspension of Georgia's motor fuel tax through Dec. 11. According to AAA, Georgia currently has the lowest average gas price at $3.13 per gallon. Along with federal and state gas taxes, many counties have their own gas tax and the city of Atlanta has its own gas tax. (News 4 Jax)
4. Infamous "Tiger King" star Joe Exotic, whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage, spoke out against the living conditions in the federal prison in Atlanta in which he is sentenced to serve 21 years for a murder-for-hire scheme. According to the New York Times, a congressional investigation led by Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff found evidence and heard witness accounts of subpar medical and mental health care, widespread drug abuse, violence, and horrible sanitary conditions inside the federal penitentiary. (NY Post)
5. According to CBRE's annual Tech-30 report, between 2020 and 2021 Atlanta ranked among the most active North American cities for tech job growth. View the link for details. (Metro Atlanta CEO)

Today in Atlanta:

• Walk to End Alzheimer's At The Battery Atlanta (8:00 AM)
• Rise Up Against Addiction Walk At Piedmont Park (8:00 AM)
• Chastain Park Arts Festival At Chastain Amphitheatre (10:00 AM)
• Drag Brunch At Elsewhere Brewing (11:00 AM)

From my notebook:

• Atlanta Police Officer J. Nguyen responded to an 'indecency in public' call. Instead of giving the man a citation, the officer gave him new clothes to wear instead of the ill fitting old clothes. View the link to read more and watch the video. (City of Atlanta Police Department via Facebook)
• Bank of America credit and debit cardholders can receive free general admission to four cultural attractions in Atlanta this weekend, Nov. 5 and Nov. 6. The attractions are Atlanta History Center, Center for Civil and Human Rights, High Museum of Arts, and Tellus Science Museum. View the link for more information. (Atlanta Patch)
• The Midtown Development Review Committee will not meet in November, the next scheduled meeting is Dec. 13. Click here for previous meeting recaps. (Midtown Atlanta via Twitter)

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Events:

• Mother Lode One Year Anniversary Celebration! (November 5)
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• Minority Men's Health Luncheon (November 10)
• Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct to You! (November 11)
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Alrighty, you're all caught up for today! See you all Monday morning for another update.

— Danielle Fallon-O'Leary

About me: Danielle Fallon-O’Leary is a senior writer with content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and assists Patch.com with community newsletter curation. Danielle also holds a Master’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and works part-time as a pediatric speech therapist.