🌱 Hamilton County COVID Parties + Chat. Rabbi Responds To Dallas

Get on up, Chattanooga! It's Monday, so let's get you started with everything you need to know going on around Chattanooga today.

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First, today's weather:

Rather cloudy and cold. High: 39 Low: 25.

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Here are the top 3 stories in Chattanooga today:

1. Hamilton County parents and experts weighed in on "COVID parties," where people are purposefully getting the virus to build up immunity. The Executive Director of the Global Biorisk Advisory Council explained that there's no certainty that you'll get a mild case. In addition, the more the virus circulates, the more opportunity there is for another variant to come out. (WTVC)
2. Chattanooga Rabbi Craig Lewis responded to the hostage situation at a Dallas Synagogue. He said, "I pray for the safe release of all the hostages including my colleague and friend Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker...It is impossible to imagine the anguish all of these families feel right now." He continues on saying he is hopeful that the FBI and other law enforcement agencies can bring about a peaceful resolution. (foxchattanooga.com)
3. The demand for new Hamilton County license plates is causing long lines. They've already issued more than 3,000 new blue plates, while they're also dealing with people coming in to register vehicles. County Clerk Bill Knowles encourages motorists to renew online if their tag hasn't expired in more than 90 days. (Subscription: Chattanooga Times Free Press)

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Today in Chattanooga:

• Park Stewards MLK Day of Service At Ted R Bryant Sr Park (9:00 AM)

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From my notebook:

• A warm welcome to two new incoming City Administrators: Dan Reuter and Scott Martin. Reuter will lead the Department of City Planning, and Martin will head up the new Department of Parks & Outdoors. (Instagram)
• New York City-based playwright Kenneth Jones's "Alabama Story," a play with courtroom drama, political intrigue, romance, and workplace comedy, is the latest offering from the Chattanooga Theatre Centre. The show runs weekends Jan. 21 through Feb. 6. (Instagram)
• The Chattanooga Zoo shared a photo of Betsy the Giant Anteater enjoying her log enrichment. Giant Anteaters have some incredible claws, which they use to tear away at logs and bark. As they rip away wood, they expose ants to feed on. (Instagram)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Monday! I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow morning with your next update.

— Kayla Harrison

About me: Kayla Harrison is a Writing Arts professor, as well as a freelance writer for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners. In her free time, you can find her listening to podcasts, writing poetry, and visiting local coffee shops.