‘He Could’ve Been Saved’: Mom Gives Vaccines At Son’s Funeral

ACROSS AMERICA — Forty-six-year-old Brandon Haynes didn’t trust the COVID-19 vaccine. Despite his mother’s pleas, he refused to get it and told his friends to avoid the shot as well.

On June 9, Haynes died six days after he was diagnosed with COVID-19.

Still reeling from her loss, Haynes’ mother, Betty Antoine, decided to offer COVID-19 vaccinations at her son's funeral.

"I just want people to know it can happen to you. I never thought that it would never happen to me, but it can happen to you," Antoine told CNN. "And once you lose a loved one, for a reason that he could have been saved. It really hurts." Read the full story on Baton Rouge Patch

Guess What’s Back? Masks Are Back

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new guidance Tuesday calling for vaccinated Americans to resume mask-wearing indoors in certain circumstances. CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said the agency recommends people in areas with "high" or "substantial" COVID-19 transmission should wear masks indoors again, even if they are vaccinated. The move marks a reversal from guidance issued just two months ago. Read the full story on Across America Patch

Spa Shooter Pleads Guilty

The Georgia man who was charged in the deadly Atlanta-area massage parlor shootings has entered a guilty plea, hoping to avoid the death sentence. Robert Aaron Long was accused of killing eight women at Young's Asian Massage in Acworth, and at the Aroma Therapy Spa and the Gold Spa in Atlanta. Read the full story on Woodstock Patch

More Reads

Saving Ryder: A 12-year-old Wisconsin boy is raising money to save his dog from mast cell tumor cancer, via Waukesha Patch.

Dad Saves Twin Daughters: Thousands of people have come to help a suburban Detroit dad and his family after he risked his own life running into a burning home to save his 18-month-old twin daughters, via Detroit Patch.

Woman Shot After Running Down Cops: A Chicago-area woman who dragged a police officer and struck another with her car at a restaurant drive-thru died after an officer shot her three times, via Oak Forest Patch.

Simone Biles Out: Considered the greatest gymnast of all time, Simone Biles, the reigning Olympic champion, did not compete in U.S. team finals, via Across America Patch.

Mayo Clinic Mandates Vaccines: The Mayo Clinic, one of the country’s top hospitals, will require all of its employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 by Sept. 17, via Northfield Patch.

Mega Concert Lineup Unveiled: A star-studded lineup will perform Aug. 21 in Manhattan’s Central Park. The catch? You must be vaccinated to attend, via New York City Patch.

Joy Through Art: A group of Virginia high school students is keeping local hospital patients engaged through the best way they know how: art, via McLean Patch.

Trending Across Patch

• 'This Is How I'm Going To Die': Officers Share Jan. 6 Trauma, via Across America Patch
• Driven By Delta Variant, COVID Cases Quadruple In NJ, via Menham-Chester Patch
• PA Issues New School Guidelines, Mask Guidance For Students, via Lansdale Patch
• 'Our Hearts Are Broken Forever': Dad's Son 1 of 5 Killed in Crash, via Southampton, New York, Patch