COVID-19 Sweeps NBA: Five League Games Postponed

Good morning! It's Monday, Dec. 20, so it's time to grab your morning coffee and get your week off to a good start! To catch you up on the weekend, here's a collection of stories from across Patchland that we'll be sharing with you:

• West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin says no to President Joe Biden's Build Back Better Bill.
• Former Georgia Sen. Johnny Isakson dies at age 76, leaving behind a legacy as a consensus builder from his days in Congress.
• The NBA postpones several games and Atlanta Hawks All-Star guard Trae Young goes into the league's COVID-19 protocols.
• Washington state Sen. Doug Ericksen dies at age 52 after a battle with COVID-19, the state Senate Republican Caucus confirms, though the cause and location of his death is unknown.

Crossed Wires On Build Back Better

West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin announced in an appearance on "Fox News Sunday" that he cannot support President Joe Biden's Build Better Back Act, a $2 trillion domestic investment bill. He cited concerns over inflation, the omicron variant and rising costs of the legislation.

Shortly after, the White House responded saying that Manchin's comments were not consistent with meetings Biden and Manchin had conducted over the last several weeks. The Biden Administration is committed to getting Manchin to once again change his mind on the bill. >> Sen. Manchin Says No To Build Back Better Bill, via Across America Patch

Passing Of A Georgia Icon

Known as a moderate Republican who helped build consensus behind the scenes and never let partisan politics get in the way of doing what was right, former Georgia Sen. Johnny Isakson died in his sleep at the age of 76 on Sunday morning, his son confirmed.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp praised Isakson's championing of veterans, his work in disaster relief after Hurricane Michael and a penchant for always standing up for Georgia's best interests in a statement. Isakson was a key negotiator on many pieces of compromise legislation during the George W. Bush Administration. >> Former GA Sen. Johnny Isakson Dies At 76, via Atlanta Patch

COVID-19 Stalls NBA Games

As the omicron variant continues to power a surge in COVID-19, the NBA is feeling the effects of the virus. Outbreaks on several teams caused five games to be postponed, including Atlanta-Cleveland, Denver-Brooklyn and New Orleans-Philadelphia from Sunday's slate, because some teams couldn't field the minimum eight players.

The Atlanta Hawks may have also lost their star guard for a few games as Trae Young was entered into the league's COVID-19 protocols Sunday. It puts the league's second-leading scorer's availability for a Christmas showdown with the New York Knicks in jeopardy. >> Hawks-Cavaliers Among 5 NBA Games Postponed, via Atlanta Patch

State Senator From Washington Dies

After weeks of no contact following a COVID-19 diagnosis, Washington state Sen. Doug Ericksen has died, the state's Senate Republican Caucus confirmed to the Associated Press. The cause of death and even Ericksen's whereabouts remain unknown after he first reported testing positive for coronavirus in El Salvador last month.

Ericksen sought treatment in Florida shortly after his diagnosis, but several people close to him said they were unaware of his status last week. >> State Sen. Doug Ericksen Dies After Battle With COVID-19, via Across Washington Patch

A Piece Of British Countryside 15 Minutes From Manhattan

A magnificent British-style estate in Bronxville, New York, is on the market for $8.5 million. Just 15 minutes from Manhattan, you wouldn't know it from the extraordinary 1.3-acre landscape, which is a paradise of beautifully designed outdoor space providing peace and privacy. >> Wow House: Spectacular British-Style Estate In Westchester, via Bronxville, New York, Patch

This Day In History

Following Abraham Lincoln's election as U.S. president, South Carolina became the first U.S. state to secede from the Union.

Around 'The Patch'

• Helzberg Diamonds Store Robbery Caused Chaos At Texas Mall, via Austin Patch
• Arizona Sen. Sinema Opposes Filibuster Carveout To Advance Voting Rights Legislation, via Phoenix Patch
• California Man Spends Decades Donating Blood, Hits 100-Gallons, via Lake Elsinore-Wildomar, California, Patch
• Florida Animal Services Officer Rescues Dog Injured By Car, via St. Pete, Florida, Patch
• Chicagoans Voted This Family's Display Winner Of Great Chicago Light Fight, via Tinley Park, Illinois, Patch
• Time Capsule From 1887 Possibly Discovered Inside Pedestal Of Robert E. Lee Statue, via Richmond, Virginia, Patch
• Tom Holland Delivers A Riveting Performance In 'No Way Home', via Hollywood Patch

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