Franchise Opportunities in Atlanta, GA

Less than a week before its scheduled date, the Communications Workers of America (CWA) have decided to withdraw a formal vote on unionization for Apple Store employees at Atlanta's Cumberland Mall location. As first reported by Bloomberg, the union — which has recently invested heavily in organizing tech workers — opted to hold back as a result of what it called "Apple’s repeated violations of the National Labor Relations Act."

The withdrawal follows weeks of escalating tensions between Apple and its retail staff. Shortly after Cumberland had gone public with its intentions it was reported Apple had retained Littler Mendelson, the same law firm Starbucks — which is undergoing a wave of store unionizations — has engaged. The firm's website states: "we excel in union avoidance." Shortly after, Apple corporate began circulating anti-union talking points to managers and Atlanta workers claim they were being force into so-called "captive audience meetings," a hallmark of union-busting campaigns. Earlier this week, audio leaked of an Apple VP, Deirdre O’Brien, expressing why she believed a union was a poor fit for the company. That message was reportedly sent to all 65,000 of Apple's retail staffers.

In a statement today, CWA stated that Apple's actions "have made a free and fair election impossible.” The group also expressed concern that COVID cases among the store's staff might further jeopardize their ability to vote in person.

One of the most significant reasons behind Cumberland staffers' decision to organize has been simple economics. In talking with Engadget, one of the store's workers, Elli Daniels, described stagnant wages that had failed to keep pace with either national inflation or local increases to cost of living. Notably, Apple has been one of the few companies to thrive under pandemic conditions, posting several consecutive record-breaking quarters.

Perhaps in an effort to stave off unrest among retail staff (Cumberland is only one of the stores currently exploring unionization) Apple has stated it will increase pay to a starting wage of $22 per hour. “We are pleased to offer very strong compensation and benefits for full-time and part-time employees, including health care, tuition reimbursement, new parental leave, paid family leave, annual stock grants and many other benefits,” Apple told press today in a statement. (The pay increase, incidentally, was reported several hours after the aforementioned union-avoidance audio leaked to press.)

While an immediate setback, the withdrawal does not preclude CWA from attempting another union election — though it will have to wait at least six months to refile.

Damaging wind gusts and flooding from severe thunderstorms are forecast for GA before a beautiful Memorial Day weekend. Here's the latest.

GEORGIA — Strong thunderstorms with the potential to produce flooding, damaging wind gusts and lightning are slated to hit Georgia Wednesday through Friday before giving way to a gorgeous Memorial Day weekend, forecasters said.

Most of north and central Georgia is under a hazardous weather outlook with scattered severe thunderstorms likely Wednesday afternoon through Friday evening, according to the National Weather Service.

Scattered showers and thunderstorms will be possible Thursday afternoon and evening. Some storms could become strong. Storms will be capable of producing gusty winds, locallyheavy rain, and frequent cloud to ground lightning, the NWS said.

On Friday, storms could become strong to severe and will be capable of producing gusty winds, frequent lightning, and locally heavy rainfall. Flooding is possible across north Georgia, where 3 inches or more of rainfall is possible.

Areas included in the hazardous weather outlook are: Bartow, Cherokee, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Hall, Macon, Oconee, Paulding, and Walton counties.

"A line of showers and storms is tracking N/NE across western GA this afternoon," the weather service tweeted about 4 p.m. "Some storms within this line have been strong w/ gusty winds, frequent cloud-to-ground lightning & heavy rain. This activity will gradually weaken through the evening."

But Saturday, Sunday and Monday are all expected to be sunny with highs climbing from the upper 70s to the upper 80s by Memorial Day.

Nationwide, more than 39 million Americans will travel more than 50 miles from home this holiday weekend, according to the auto club and insurance company AAA.

"Based on our projections, summer travel isn't just heating up, it will be on fire," Paula Twidale, senior vice president ofAAA Travel told AccuWeather. "People are overdue for a vacation, and they are looking to catch up on some much-needed R&R in the coming months."

Here's the latest forecast:

Wednesday Afternoon: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. Southeast wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Wednesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 2pm, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm between 2pm and 3pm, then showers and thunderstorms after 3pm. High near 77. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday Night: Showers and thunderstorms before 1am, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 1am and 4am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4am. Low around 63. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before 8am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 59.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 79.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 60.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 85.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 64.

Memorial Day: Sunny, with a high near 88.

Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 67.

Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 88.

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The health threat people are talking about in Georgia this week isn't so much COVID-19 but monkeypox. Here's what you should know.

GEORGIA — The health threat people are talking about in Georgia this week isn't so much COVID-19 — though that's still nothing to dismiss — but rather the single case of monkeypox reported Wednesday in Massachusetts.

So far, no other states are reporting cases; however, this is not the first time the virus has caused Georgians to be on alert. In July 2021, 26 people in the Peach State were monitored for monkeypox after coming into contact with a person who contracted the rare disease before flying from Nigeria to Atlanta and then to Dallas, NPR reported at the time.

SEE ALSO:

Monkeypox, usually contained to central and west Africa, is a rare, potentially serious viral illness that usually begins with flu-like symptoms and swelling of the lymph nodes before progressing to the rest of the body in a rash, or "pox." Infections can persist for up to four weeks, Massachusetts health officials said in a news release. Officials said the case poses no risk to the general public and the ill person is in good condition.

Here are five things Georgia residents need to know about monkeypox:

Monkeypox isn't easily spread; it usually occurs through bites or scratches from rodents and small mammals, preparing wild game or coming into contact with an infected animal. Individuals can also be infected through contact with infected people, their clothing or bedsheets.

It enters the body the way infections normally do, through breaks in the skin — even microscopic cuts — and through the eyes, nose or mouth, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Animals can spread it to humans in multiple ways, including through bites and scratches, but also as their meat is being prepared for human consumption. Person-to-person transmission occurs "primarily through large respiratory droplets" that generally can't travel far, according to the CDC.

The first case of the disease was found in monkeys kept for research in 1958, according to the CDC. The first human case was reported about a decade later, in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Monkeypox is primarily found in central and western African countries, including in Nigeria, where about 450 cases have been reported since 2017, according to the CDC.

The Massachusetts man diagnosed with the first U.S. confirmed case this year had recently traveled to Canada. Suspected cases in other parts of the world almost certainly mean more U.S. monkeypox cases will be detected, the CDC warned Wednesday.

"Given that we have seen now confirmed cases out of Portugal, suspected cases out of Spain, we're seeing this expansion of confirmed and suspect cases globally, we have a sense that no one has their arms around this to know how large and expansive it might be," Jennifer McQuiston, deputy director of the CDC's division of high consequence pathogens and pathology, told STAT, a health news website.

"And given how much travel there is between the United States and Europe, I am very confident we're going to see cases in the United States," she said.

Canadian health officials are investigating over a dozen suspected cases, according to CBC News.

In the U.K., where nine cases have been reported, health officials believe there is community spread of the illness.

U.S. monkeypox illnesses are rare, but they have happened. They include two cases last year related to travel from Nigeria, and a 2003 outbreak tied to 47 infected pet prairie dogs imported from Ghana. All the people infected in the 2003 monkeypox outbreak had contact with the animals, according to the CDC.

One thing that is different with the current monkeypox cases is they are appearing in people who haven't traveled from Africa. Still, U.S. and European health officials stress the risk to humans is very low, The Associated Press reported.

Monkeypox and smallpox symptoms are similar, and the same vaccine that eradicated smallpox around 1950 curbed monkeypox in humans, according to research published in 2005 documenting a re-emergence of monkeypox.

The World Health Organization declared smallpox eradicated in 1980, and smallpox vaccines were discontinued, giving "rise to increasing susceptibility to monkeypox virus infection in the human population," the researchers wrote.

The CDC said there's no data available on the efficacy of a handful of antiviral drugs to treat monkeypox, though they have been effective in treating similar pox viruses in humans and animals.

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Nearly 40 million Americans, including Georgians, will hit the road for the Memorial Day holiday as many are overdue for a vacation.

ATLANTA, GA — Travel this Memorial Day will look a lot different from the past couple of years, according to a recent forecast by the American Automobile Association.

As the coronavirus pandemic continues, people in metro Atlanta are yearning to travel. That desire will likely manifest in a surge of travelers this Memorial Day weekend, AAA predicts, adding that between May 26-30, more than 39.2 million people are expected to travel 50 miles or more from home.

The number represents an increase of 8.3 percent from last year, and a massive, 60 percent increase from 2020 when 23 million people traveled over the holiday, the lowest on record since AAA started recording in 2000.

Traveling by vehicle will remain the most popular way to vacation, with nearly 35 million Memorial Day holiday travelers expected to take to the roads this weekend.

That's not to say that the air travel volume won't be utilized. After beginning to rally last Thanksgiving, air travel numbers will hit levels just shy of 2019 with 3 million people expected to take to the skies this Memorial Day weekend, according to AAA.

Partnering with travel analytics firm INRIX, the auto club predicts that drivers will encounter the longest travel delays during the afternoons of May 26 and May 27.

If you plan to travel by car from metro Atlanta and prefer to avoid the rush, be aware that the peak travel time is expected to be from 3:30-5:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 26, according to AAA. The busiest corridor is expected to be I-85 South, from Clairmont Road to MLK Drive.

Here are the times expected to be the best, and the worst, to head out to your destination this weekend.

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Monday

Delays will be widespread, AAA predicts, but drivers in several major U.S. metros could experience double the travel times compared to a normal trip. Drivers in Atlanta, Chicago and New York could see more than two times the delay on the busiest corridors.

While most COVID-19 restrictions have eased, it's important to keep safety in mind for yourself and others. For those looking to take a few extra precautions, AAA recommends:

School is almost over, which means kids are ready to release their energy. We rounded up the best summer camps you can reserve right now.

ATLANTA, GA — The end of the school year is near, and that means one thing: The kids are coming. They are leaving their daily educational lives for nice weather and months without a schedule.

If you don't want their brains to turn to mush or need them supervised, the good news is that kids love summer camps.

But if you haven't reserved spots for summer camp yet, don't worry; it's not too late. Check out the list below for best summer camps with spaces still available

The summer camp program at The Walker School has options galore with flexibility to accommodate a hectic family schedule. Camps are geared toward first grade to eighth grade, but they do have a camp for younger children and a couple offerings for students in higher grades. Most camps include the choice of half or full day, and the school has early drop off and late pickup programs. The topics of the weeks range so vastly that even the pickiest kid won't be able to say they are bored. For example, a few topics are "Atlanta Adventures," Ceramics and Printmaking," "Brickhouse Basketball" and "Fun with Microbes." Register by choosing the individual camp here.

If your camper wants to be adventurous and learn completely jaw-dropping skills, they won't want to miss camp here. AtBuck's Sports Barn, even the sky isn't the limit. With activities like chess, pottery and painting, the camp is likely to interest artistic children, but the most interesting activities are much more out of the comfort zone. Trapeze, stilts, plate spinning, silks and drones are all included in this camp designed for children ages five to 12 years old. Plus, there is also a certified American Ninja Warrior course. Sounds like a once-in-a-lifetime chance to learn some amazing skills. The camp accommodates early dop off and late pick up also. Register here.

Does your camper like to be in control? We have just the place for you. At Steve and Kate's Camp in Atlanta, the kids are in the driver's seat. Campers decide what they want to do every day from a variety of activities. According to the website, the logic behind the kids taking charge of their play time is that by trying and sometimes failing, they will learn to trust their own judgement and then be prepared to face real-world problems as they mature. Camp is purchased through individual days that can then be used on any day that Steve and Kate's is open this summer — notice not even required. Plus, any unused days are refunded after summer. Register here.

Instead of staying one place all day, your camper can go out and see the world. Enjoy all the fun places Atlanta has to offer with Sunshine House Early Learning Academy's Summer Remix Adventure Camp, which is taking field trips to the next level. The website promises "Never hear, 'I'm bored' this summer!" Sold. Each week has a theme that the experiences and field trips are all guided by, such as "lights, camera, action." Plus, each camper receives a swag bag, which is basically a reason to sign up in itself. The camps also have an academic component to help students retain knowledge and teaches them the importance of being active. To register, contact your local Sunshine House. Registration is not available online.

For children who are a bit older or already have a niche passion that they want to pursue, the University of Georgia is offering a plethora of camps aimed at learning more about very specific topics. A sampling of options includes "Fibonacci, Fractals & 4-D Math," "Comic Book: Basics & Intermediate," "Modeling and Personal Development," "Creative Writing: Worldbuilding" and "Introduction to Video Game Design." They offer multiple sessions of some camps as well as intermediate and advanced options in the same subject to build knowledge by taking one then the next, so be careful when booking. Learn more and register here.

Next year, keep an eye out for the camps at Zoo Atlanta, which fill up quickly but are fun!

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