Sunday Solutions — June 1, 2025
Good morning! Yes, it’s June. We’re not sure how we got here either….but here we are. And while we’re planning time out, there’s one other thing that we need to pay attention to closer home: tropical storm season. We’ve also got a few random reads and some explainers to help you figure out if you should get a covid shot or booster. We know it’s confusing, so we’re trying to help you sort it out for yourself. Dig in.
EXPLAINER: ENVIRONMENT
And so it begins (officially)
Today, June 1, is the traditional start of hurricane season, and we suspect the more recent deluges have already sparked some thought toward this year’s potential. Good — keep that energy going. We’re taking this moment today to remind you to make a plan. Whether it’s a “back-door” storm that comes through Florida or Alabama to get to Georgia or a direct hit from the coast, last year was proof of the threat. Here’s a story that explains why scientists are worried about this year already. We’re not looking to be Chicken Little, but we do want you to be safe. Here’s a link with easy-to-follow prep tips from Georgia Emergency Management that you can work on inside when the rains return.
NEWS: PUBLIC SAFETY
Watching the roads
Every so often we get a bit of information that just stands on its own, and this week it’s a press release from the Georgia Department of Public Safety about the highways over the 78-hour Memorial Day holiday weekend. Here is the nugget from the statement that grabbed our attention: “Troopers investigated over 390 traffic crashes statewide, resulting in nearly 189 injuries. Troopers and Motor Carrier Compliance Division (MCCD) Officers made over 26,200 traffic stops, arrested nearly 410 individuals for driving under the influence (DUI), and issued over 18,000 warnings and over 13,000 citations. There were also over 1,050 distracted driving, nearly 1,800 seatbelt and more than 300 child restraint citations issued.” That’s 5.59 stops per minute. Let’s be careful out there.
🎉 Congratulations to Manocha Mark for knowing that last week’s Spyglass dinosaur sighting was next door to Liberty Veterinary Medical Center: old Sir Goofy’s Golf Castle, a 1970s miniature golf course and go-kart track. We had one correct answer last week — let’s see how you do this week.
Test how well you spy details in Coastal Georgia. Give us the location of the item in the photo above. Some spots may be easier to identify than others; some will be tougher. We’ll collect correct answers each week and draw for a weekly winner.
CLICK HERE TO GIVE YOUR ANSWER
NEWS: UPDATES
Let’s read
In the spirit of summer reads, here’s a look at a few items we found this week for you to ponder between rain storms.
- Are one-room schoolhouses returning? In southwest Missouri, they are. From The Daily Yonder.
- Will Climate Change Threaten Strawberry Yields? Bugs and other problems that come with warmer weather become more prevalent. The Daily Yonder
- Trump’s Executive Order on School Discipline Clashes With What Research Says Works EdSurge compares a new edict for all schools with data surrounding success in schools.
- A decade after the release of ‘The Martian’ and a decade out from the world it envisions, a planetary scientist checks in on real-life Mars exploration: If you’re wondering about heading for Mars eventually with Elon Musk, here’s an update on how that’s coming from a researcher. From The Conversation.
EXPLAINER: HEALTH
☕ Your second cup: Not everyone gets a booster
As most people know, covid illnesses are still prevalent but not as scary as they were just 5 years ago when we saw loved ones fall deathly ill with little warning. The vaccines brought milder symptoms as scientists tried to get a grip on what makes the virus tick, and we now live (mostly) without masks and isolation. This less scary phase was made possible by all the learnings from those tough months but most likely by the availability of vaccines and boosters to nearly everyone. That’s changing, and there’s already confusion about it. Here are a few stories and thoughtful sites to help you sort through what you may need to know for your own health decisions.
- FDA approves COVID-19 vaccine only for older adults and high-risk groups – a public health expert explains the new rules. From The Conversation
- What the latest COVID vaccine changes mean for pregnant people and children From The19th*
- KFF Health News has compiled a boatload of information on the new covid strains and what you need to know to decide whether to get vaccinated. There’s also info on measles, food safety and climate influence on health. Here’s the link.
- Two spots to monitor updates and news on long covid and prevalence of respiratory illnesses, including covid: The Sick Times and the Centers for Disease Control.
Welcome, Justin!
Careful readers will likely recognize this name from The Current GA‘s stories and photos already: Justin Taylor. And after a couple years of freelance work, we welcome him as a full-time visual journalist this week. His reporting fellowship is aided by Catchlight Local and Report for America. More about Justin: His obsession with photography started in 2003 while documenting his experience as a U.S. Marine during the Iraq War. He spent 15 years piloting tug boats on the Savannah River, and then moved to full-time photo work. Send him a note at justin.taylor@thecurrentga.org
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Why NOAA’s 2025 hurricane forecasters warn of a busy season
By Colin Zarzycki/Penn State
U.S. forecasters are expecting an above-normal 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, with 13 to 19 named storms, and 6 to 10 of those becoming hurricanes. This story also appeared in The Conversation Every year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other forecasters release preseason outlooks for the Atlantic’s hurricane season, which runs June 1 through […]
Georgia Power is planning for a huge spike in energy demand. Critics say it’s overestimating
By Emily Jones/WABE, Grist
Georgia Power is planning to meet a predicted 8,200 megawatt increase in electricity demand by 2031, largely driven by data centers, but critics argue that the forecast is overly optimistic and could result in higher customer bills and increased reliance on fossil fuels.
Jekyll Island Authority launches interactive maps to watch turtle activity in real time
By Benjamin Payne/GPB News
The Jekyll Island Authority has launched an online dashboard featuring two interactive maps that provide real-time data on turtle activity, including terrapins and sea turtles, on and near the Coastal Georgia barrier island.
PSC hopeful Daniel Blackman tossed from primary ballot
By Dave Williams/Capitol Beat
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger disqualified Public Service Commission candidate Daniel Blackman from the Democratic Primary ballot due to his failure to prove he had established residence inside District 3 at least one year before the election.
Georgia Supreme Court upholds ban on handguns for those under 21
By Ty Tagami/Capitol Beat News Service
The Georgia Supreme Court upheld the state’s restrictions on carrying handguns in public, upholding the state’s “manner clause” in the state constitution.
Critics pan Georgia Power’s plans to use more fossil fuels
By Stanley Dunlap
Georgia Power’s 2025 Integrated Resource Plan calls for more fossil fuels, with environmental groups calling for a more diverse mix of clean, affordable energy solutions.
Mighty 8th Air Force honors the unit’s 26,000 airmen killed in WWII
By Justin Taylor
The Mighty 8th Air Force Museum held its Flags for the Fallen event, placing 26,000 48-star American flags in remembrance of the 26,000 airman lost during World War II, and included a wreath-laying ceremony and C130 flyover.
Brunswick cyclists honor Ahmaud Arbery with remembrance ride
By Justin Taylor
A group of 14 bicyclists held a remembrance ride on Sunday in Brunswick, organized by the Gullah/Geechee Club and Brag Dream Team, to keep the memory of Ahmaud Arbery alive and to bring people together.
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