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Community Corner

🌱 2 Students Stabbed at School + Uber Coat Drive + Gorilla Dies

The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Atlanta.

Kathy Cioffi, Community Contributor
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(Patch)

Happy Thursday, Atlanta! Here's everything you need to know to get this day started off right. Here's everything worth knowing in Atlanta today.

First, today's weather:

Sunshine mixing with clouds. High: 52 Low: 37.

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Here are the top 5 stories today in Atlanta:

  1. Two students were stabbed at a Fulton County high school Wednesday after a fight broke out about 9 a.m., officials said. The incident happened at Banneker High School near Union City, a Fulton County Schools spokesperson said, with two students suffering non-life-threatening injuries and three students taken into custody. The school was placed on lockdown for several hours while administrators and police investigated the stabbing. The investigation is ongoing. (Atlanta Patch)
  2. Starting today, Uber is holding its first-ever coat drive in Atlanta, in partnership with the Salvation Army. Atlanta joins four other cities – New York City, Chicago, Washington DC and San Francisco – where Uber and The Salvation Army are making it easy for people to donate gently used coats via Uber Connect, the same-day local delivery solution. Active Uber users in Atlanta will receive an email with instructions on how to donate. The three-day coat drive will run through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. (CBS46 News Atlanta)
  3. Ozzie, the world's oldest male gorilla has died at Zoo Atlanta. Ozzie, who was 61, was found deceased by his care team Tuesday morning. "This is a devastating loss for Zoo Atlanta. While we knew this time would come someday, that inevitability does nothing to stem the deep sadness we feel at losing a legend," said Raymond B. King, the zoo's president and CEO. Ozzie's cause of death is not yet known, though zoo officials said he had a decrease in appetite a few days before he died, which led to other symptoms including facial swelling, weakness, and inability to eat or drink. A necropsy will be performed through Zoo Atlanta's partnership with the University of Georgia Zoo and Exotic Animal Pathology Service in the College of Veterinary Medicine to determine Ozzie's possible cause of death. (Atlanta Patch)
  4. Tuesday afternoon, less than 24 hours after the fatal drive-by shooting of 6-month-old Grayson Matthew Fleming-Gray, Atlanta's mayor and police chief announced the arrest of 22-year-old Dequasie Jonathan Little. He is charged with felony murder and aggravated assault. Monday, shortly before 3 p.m., Grayson was caught in the crossfire of a shootout between two drivers in southwest Atlanta, the latest example of a child's life being cut short by gun violence in the city. The baby's mother, Kerri Gray, was informed about the arrest just moments before police announced it to the public. Though she was glad an arrest had been made so quickly, she was unable to think past the fact that her only son is gone. "I think that if you get the opportunity, make better life choices, because those of us who become your collateral damage — that's not fair," Gray said. "You ruined my life." (Free: The New York Post; Subscription: The Atlanta Journal Constitution)
  5. Due to blood-drive cancellations caused by winter storms and the pandemic, the American Red Cross is experiencing its worst blood shortage in over a decade. To counter that, several incentives are being offered to Red Cross donors. People who give blood or plasma during January will automatically be entered to win two tickets to Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles. The package includes round-trip airfare, entry to the official NFL tailgate event and three-night hotel accommodations, plus a $500 gift card for other expenses. And individuals donating blood or plasma through the Red Cross during February will receive a $10 Amazon.com gift card. Check out this list of Red Cross blood drives, or search for additional locations from a wider area here. (Atlanta Patch)

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Today in Atlanta:

  • North DeKalb Senior Center Virtual Book Discussion of "Klara and The Sun" by Kazuo Ishiguro (10:00 AM)
  • Crochet for Relaxation at the DeKalb County Public Library (2:00 PM)
  • Lunar New Year Lion Dance Performed by Chien Hong School of Kung Fu at Atlantic Station (6:00 PM)
  • Saxophonist Reggie Hines, South City Jazz hosted by West Byrd, at St. James Live (7:30 PM)
  • Horizon Performance of "Every Brilliant Thing" at Little Five Points Center for Arts and Community (8:00 PM)

From my notebook:

  • Check out the Atlanta Police Department's Graduation Class 270 and 271. (Facebook)
  • Discover Atlanta says Atlanta is the perfect destination for your girls trip getaway! With a bustling nightlife and great restaurants nestled in unique neighborhoods, Atlanta has attractions for any vibe. 💃 Check out the museums and galleries or spend a day relaxing with an ultimate spa day. Explore the city or head out for an adventurous hike. You and your besties are going to have the best time in the A! (Facebook)
  • The Atlanta Botanical Garden is hiring! From openings in horticulture and conservation to positions in membership, digital marketing, and our administration, we're looking for enthusiastic talent to make 2022 our best year yet. See and share our active job listings bit.ly/CareersatABG (Facebook)
  • Don't mind us here at the Atlanta Humane Society as we're busy aww-ing over these adorable pups! 😍 A few weeks ago, we shared their stories and asked for your help in gathering much-needed foster supplies. Thank you for the generous number of items you ordered from our Amazon wish list to help little lives like Claire, Jay, Little Phil, and Gloria! The pups and their hardworking mamas are doing fabulously in their foster homes. While they aren't adoptable just yet, we can't wait to help them find their forever homes soon! (Facebook)
  • Isha Foundation asks: Did you know that more than half of the world's agricultural soil is already degraded and in the next 60 years time, we will run out of cultivable soil? "Taking care of the environment is not an obligation. Our environment is our life." - @sadhguru. (Facebook)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed! See you tomorrow morning for your next update.

— Kathy Cioffi

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