‘Long Past Time’: Black Women Eyed For Spot On U.S. High Court

ACROSS AMERICA — Good morning! It’s Thursday, Jan. 27. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer on Wednesday announced his intent to retire from the nation’s high court. There’s a good chance his successor will be a Black woman, a first for the U.S. Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, here are the other headlines we’re following today:

• Thousands of restaurants and bars could permanently close if Congress doesn't replenish COVID-19 relief funding.
• An Illinois zoo is once again offering the opportunity to name a cockroach in honor of that not-so-special someone not in your life.
• The world's oldest male gorilla has died.
• The target of a former high school band director who preyed on the teenage student spoke out about how the teacher ruined her life.

President Joe Biden is eyeing at least three judges for an expected vacancy on the Supreme Court, each of whom would fulfill his campaign pledge to nominate the first Black woman to the nation's highest court, according to aides and allies.

With Justice Stephen Breyer planning to retire, early discussions about a successor are focusing on U.S. Circuit Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, U.S. District Judge J. Michelle Childs and California Supreme Court Justice Leondra Kruger.

Breyer, 83, said he will retire at the end of the summer.

In February 2020, Biden said, "As president, I'd be honored, honored to appoint the first African American woman. Because it should look like the country. It's long past time.” » At Least 3 Judges Under Consideration As Biden Mulls Court Pick, via Across America Patch

• RELATED: Stephen Breyer, Liberal Supreme Court Justice, To Retire

Independent Eateries Fear Going Broke

Millions of jobs are on the line, and many of Americans' favorite independently owned restaurants and bars could permanently close, if Congress doesn't replenish COVID-19 relief funding, an industry group warns. About 200,000 independently owned restaurants and bars were left behind in the $28.6 billion Restaurant Revitalization Fund grants authorized last spring by the American Rescue Act. The fund was depleted by mid-June 2021. » Nation's Independent Eateries Fear Going Broke Without COVID Aid, via Across America Patch

Omicron Subvariant: Should You Worry?

A new subtype of the omicron coronavirus variant, known as BA.2, has been reported in 40 countries worldwide, including the United States, but it's unclear yet if it's more of a concern than its highly transmissible parent. Here’s what we know so far. » ‘Stealth Omicron’ Subvariant Makes It To U.S.: Should You Worry? via Across America Patch

• RELATED: 2 Cases Of New Omicron Subvariant Detected In California County | Vaccine Mandate To Kick In For First Wave Of Health Workers

Name A Cockroach For Your Ex

For many, Valentine's Day is a time to think about your true love. For others, it may bring back memories of a relationship that failed. That's where Brookfield Zoo wants to help. The zoo is once again offering the opportunity to name a cockroach in honor of that not-so-special someone not in your life. » For Valentine's Day, Name A Cockroach For Your Ex: Brookfield Zoo, via La Grange, Illinois, Patch

More national headlines on Patch, other news websites:

• COVID-19 'Super Immunity' Reachable By Two Paths, New Study Says
• Punxsutawney Phil Sparks Skirmish Between PETA, Groundhog Club
• U.S. Football League Officially Announces Launch To Season In Birmingham
• Original 'Charlie Brown' Voice Actor, Peter Robbins, Dead At 65
• 'Sold By Amazon' Price-Fixing Program Shut Down Following Lawsuit
• Survey: What Should Washington Football Team New Name Be?
• Long COVID-19: Study Author Explains Four Factors That Can Predict How You Get It, via The Hill
• Pressure Mounts In Congress For IRS To Give Taxpayers Relief, via Politico
• Could The Pandemic Be Stabilizing? The WHO Says It Might Be, But ‘Our Work Is Not Done,’ via The Washington Post

Around ‘The Patch’

A Texas woman was arrested recently after police said she approached another woman in a Walmart store and offered her hundreds of thousands of dollars to buy her 1-year-old child. » Texas Woman Offers Walmart Shopper $500K To Buy Her Toddler, via Houston Patch

A Pennsylvania man was sentenced Tuesday for sending a package from a Lambertville post office that, while labeled as "toys," turned out to contain 10 live rhinoceros iguanas. The package was destined for Hong Kong. » Man Shipped 10 Live Rhinoceros Iguanas From Lambertville Post Office, Labeled As 'Toys,' via Lambertville, Pennsylvania, Patch

The world's oldest male gorilla who made his home at Zoo Atlanta has died. Ozzie was found deceased by his care team Tuesday morning. He was 61 years old. » World's Oldest Male Gorilla, Ozzie, Dies At Zoo Atlanta, via Atlanta Patch

More local news:

• Woman Not Sick After Exposure To Pennsylvania Lab Monkeys In Crash, via Across Pennsylvania Patch
• Actress Alicia Witt Says Parents Refused Help Before Deaths In Massachusetts, via Worcester, Massachusetts, Patch
• Sexually Abused Florida High School Student Describes Pain Caused By Band Director, via Lutz, Florida, Patch
• U.S. Senator Warner Announces Breakthrough COVID Case, via Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, Patch
• New Jersey Has One Of America’s Worst Racial Wealth Gaps, Study Says, via Newark Patch
• Remains Of Missing WWII Soldier From Birmingham Identified, via Birmingham, Alabama, Patch
• Christmas Eve Baby Born In Back Of Ambulance 'A Fighter': Mom, via Shirley-Mastic, New York, Patch

House Hunting

This home in Canton, Georgia, is a horse lover’s dream. On the market for $1.1 million, the beautiful property has open pastures, two riding rings, a barn with eight stalls and more.

This Day In History

The Paris Peace Accords ending the Vietnam War were signed on this day in 1973, providing for an exchange of prisoners and for the unilateral withdrawal of U.S. forces from South Vietnam.

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