🌱 Black History Art Exhibit Opens + Lawmakers To Focus On Gun Safety

Welcome back, Douglasville. I'm here in your inbox today to get you up to speed on everything you need to know about what's going on around town, including news about...

• Black History Month art exhibit to open downtown
• List of adoptable pets in the Douglasville area waiting for a home
• State lawmakers look to focus on gun safety in the new year

But first, today's weather:

Plenty of sunshine. High: 56 Low: 34.

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Here are the top five stories today in Douglasville:

1. The Cultural Arts Council is featuring the "Descendants Ascending" exhibit this month in honor of Black History Month. The exhibit features several artists celebrating their heritage and history. It will be on display in downtown Douglasville from Jan. 9 to Feb. 17, with an opening reception on Jan. 28. (Press Release Desk)
2. Thousands of pets across the state are waiting to be adopted. One in our area is Sparkle the dog is at the Douglas County Animal Shelter. The link features a list of all the adoptable pets in the Douglasville area. (Douglasville Patch)
3. State lawmakers are expected to focus on gun safety when the first legislative session of the year meets in less than a week. Georgia Sen. Elena Parent has created a bill proposing to allow vendors to ban guns at public parks. She said, "I know that I as well as a number of my colleagues will be filing for some common-sense regulations around weapons." (WRDW)
4. A new internal audit by the state found more than 280 state employees may have stolen funds amounting to more than $6.7 billion during the pandemic. The employees suspected of the fraudulent acts are believed to have applied for unemployment benefits despite being employed by the state. So far, the dozens of individuals who are believed to have received these funds illegally face potential prosecution. (WSB-TV)
5. Georgia doctors and pharmacists are cautious after a new ruling from the Food and Drug Administration, which allows women to get a prescription for abortion pills from their doctors and have it filled out at a pharmacy. Dr. Cecil Bennett said, "If the medication is readily available over-the-counter, by prescription, how do you know the prescription was written today if the patient days two or three days or 3 or 4 weeks can the prescription still be filled?" In Georgia, doctors and pharmacists can still refuse to write or fill a prescription for abortion pills based on their religious beliefs or medical opinion. (WALB 10 News)

Today in Douglasville:

• Preschool Parents Night Out At Central Baptist Church (6:00 PM)
• Open Mic Event At Broad Street Station (7:00 PM)
• STARR Night Out At STARR Food Lounge (9:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• If you're a resident between the ages of 12 years and 20 years or know someone who is, there's a class here in Douglasville aimed to help make the community a safer place. Join the Douglasville Police Department in reducing violence in the community by signing up for the department's Yough Against Violence program. (Douglasville Police Department via Facebook)
• The Douglasville Police Department is holding a free public handgun clinic this upcoming Tuesday, Jan. 10. The classes will cover basic gun laws, handgun safety, and basic shooting skills. The class is open to those 18 years old and older. (Douglasville Police Department via Facebook)
• February is a great time to give back to the community! Sheriff Tim Pounds and the Douglas County Sheriff's Office are teaming up with the American Red Cross to sponsor a blood drive on Thursday, Feb. 23 at the county sheriff's office. (Douglas County Happenings via Facebook)

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That's it for today. I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow with your next update!

— Sean Peek

About me: Sean Peek is a writer and entrepreneur with a degree in English Literature from Weber State University. Over the years, he has worked as a copywriter, editor, SEO specialist, and marketing director for various digital media companies. He currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.