Hi there, Gwinnett County! We've got your morning read ready! Read on to stay connected. ☀️
In today's newsletter:
Also on today's calendar: Mexican Independence Day and 9 more events.
Today's riddle: Where do math teachers go on vacation? 🤔 (Answer below!)
1. Water still safe to drink even though it tastes, smells strange (wsbtv.com) — If your Gwinnett County tap water tastes or smells earthy right now, county officials say it's still safe to drink and meets all state and federal standards. Seasonal changes and natural compounds called Geosmin and MIB are behind the odor, and the water system says it is monitoring and treating lake and drinking water around the clock.
2. Gwinnett's new blight tax hits owners who sit on vacant buildings (wsbtv.com) — Gwinnett County has approved a tough new blight tax that can raise the county-operations portion of tax bills sevenfold on vacant, unsafe commercial and non-residential properties. Homes used as primary residences are exempt, but owners of neglected hotels, shopping centers, warehouses, and empty houses could face steep penalties unless they repair problems or successfully appeal.
3. Inside the Gwinnett County police audit that exposed license plate data abuse (fox5atlanta.com) — Gwinnett County police have fired and criminally charged three officers after an audit uncovered misuse of Flock license plate reader data, prompting immediate policy and oversight changes. Supervisors must now approve database searches, all officers are being retrained, and data retention has been cut in half, steps aimed at protecting residents' privacy while keeping crime-fighting tools in use.
4. Kim Zolciak's son indicted on seven sex crime charges (knewz.com subscription) — A Gwinnett County grand jury has indicted 15-year-old Kroy "KJ" Biermann Jr., son of Kim Zolciak and former Falcon Kroy Biermann, on seven felony sex-crime charges tied to an April incident involving a teenage classmate. He remains in custody while being prosecuted as an adult, and both his attorney and mother strongly deny the allegations, emphasizing that he is presumed innocent.
5. Everton Blair sworn in as Georgia's first openly gay congressman (fox5atlanta.com) — Georgia's newest congressman, Everton Blair Jr., has been sworn in to finish the late Rep. David Scott's term and becomes the state's first openly gay U.S. House member. Blair, a former Gwinnett County school board chair, says he'll focus on affordability and preserving majority-Black representation in the 13th District during his short time in Washington.
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Ok Gwinnett County! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Times Square (Thank you Jean K. for sending it in!)
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