Author: Admin

The U.S. Postal Service today dedicated the Hank Aaron stamp during a ceremony at Truist Park in Atlanta. The new forever stamp is now being sold at Post Offices nationwide and online at usps.com/shopstamps.

“We hope this stamp serves as a reminder of Hank Aaron’s success on the baseball diamond and his work to champion equality,” said Thomas Marshall, the Postal Service’s general counsel and executive vice president, who served as the dedicating official. “Whether it’s breaking baseball’s most famous record or opening the door for future generations, Henry ‘Hammerin’ Hank’ Aaron inspires all of us to swing for the fences.”

Marshall was joined by Terry McGuirk, chairman and CEO of Braves Holdings LLC, the parent company of the Atlanta Braves and Braves Development Co.; Howard Bryant, author of “The Last Hero: A Life of Henry Aaron“; and Allan Tanenbaum, secretary, Hank Aaron Chasing the Dream Foundation, and attorney/advisor for the Aaron family.

“I’m deeply grateful for this phenomenal recognition the United States Postal Service has bestowed upon my beloved husband, Henry Louis Aaron,” said Billye Suber Aaron, widow, and chair of the Hank Aaron Chasing the Dream Foundation. “We sincerely appreciate all who join us as we honor the 50th anniversary of his historic achievement. I hope that his stamp will inspire a new generation to remember Henry for his incredible grace and determination in the face of tremendous opposition. Henry will live on forever in our hearts and minds, and to have a stamp prominently bear his likeness is an honor fitting the wonderful man we love so dearly.”

News about the stamp is being shared on social media using the hashtag #HankAaronStamp.

Background

A giant of baseball both on and off the field, Aaron (1934-2021) rose from humble beginnings to rewrite the baseball record books while prevailing in the face of racism. Despite retiring nearly 50 years ago, Aaron still holds the record for most RBIs, total bases and Major League Baseball All-Star Game appearances while remaining in the top five in many other categories. He spent 21 years as a member of the Braves organization — first in Milwaukee, where he led the team to the 1957 World Series title — then in Atlanta, where he hit home run No. 715 on the night of April 8, 1974, one of the seminal moments in the history of the game. Aaron closed his career with the Milwaukee Brewers before being inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982.

Henry Louis Aaron was born on Feb. 5, 1934, in Mobile, AL, as the third of eight children living in a three-room house built by his father. As a boy, unable to afford equipment, he would play using a stick to hit bottle caps. After hearing his idol Jackie Robinson speak in Mobile in 1948, Aaron dedicated himself to becoming a professional baseball player. Aaron played local semi-pro ball around Alabama before joining the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro Leagues. In 1952, his only season in the league, he led the Negro American League with a staggering .467 batting average.

In 1952, Aaron signed with Major League Baseball’s Boston Braves organization and was assigned to their farm team, the Eau Claire Bears, in the Northern League. He started his career as an infielder and was named rookie of the year. The next season he was assigned to Jacksonville in the segregated South, where he was one of five players to break the South Atlantic League color barrier. They were forced to stay in different accommodations than their white teammates and, during games, he faced racial taunts. Nonetheless, he led the league in batting average and was named the league’s Most Valuable Player.

Following a move to the outfield, Aaron earned a spot on the Milwaukee Braves major league roster to start the 1954 season. He made his debut on April 13, 1954, and hit his first home run on April 23. At age 20, Aaron finished fourth in voting for the Rookie of the Year Award, hitting .280 with 13 home runs — the lowest number of homers he would hit for the next 20 years.

In 1955, Aaron donned his iconic number 44 for the first time and made his first Major League Baseball all-star team. The following season, he won his first batting title, with an average of .328. In 1957, “Hammerin’ Hank” had a season for the ages. He led baseball with 44 home runs and 132 runs batted in on the way to being named national league most valuable player. The Braves clinched their first pennant on Aaron’s 11th-inning home run on Sept. 23, 1957. In the World Series, he hit .393 with three home runs as the Braves beat the Yankees in seven games to win their first World Series title.

Aaron continued to produce at an extraordinary rate, but his team struggled. The franchise moved to Atlanta in 1966, becoming the first major league team south of the Mason-Dixon line, placing additional spotlight on their Black star player.

On July 21, 1973, Aaron hit his 700th career homer, and as Aaron approached Babe Ruth’s record of 714 home runs, he received more than 900,000 pieces of mail that year. While most of it was in support of his pursuit, it also included many pieces threatening terrible violence against Aaron and his family.

On April 8, 1974, in front of a sellout crowd in Atlanta and a national television audience, Aaron sent a fastball 400 feet over the left-center fence for his 715th career home run, making him the holder of baseball’s most cherished record. While the event will be remembered by generations of baseball fans as one of triumph, breaking the record was more of a relief than a celebration for Aaron, who endured so much hate on the chase to 715.

After the close of the 1974 season, he was traded back to the city where his career began, this time playing for the Milwaukee Brewers. His final home run came July 20, 1976, bringing his career total to 755. With his playing career behind him, Aaron was named vice president of player development with the Braves. He was one of the first African Americans to be promoted to a front office position in Major League Baseball and he pushed for more African American executives in the game. In 1994, Aaron and his wife Billye started the Hank Aaron Chasing the Dream Foundation to provide scholarships to underserved youth.

For his achievements on and off the field, Aaron received numerous awards. In 1982, he was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, and in 1999, Major League Baseball created the Hank Aaron Award to honor the best offensive player in each league. In 2002, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States. Three years later, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund presented him with the Thurgood Marshall Lifetime Achievement Award and established the Hank Aaron Humanitarian in Sports Award in his honor.

Aaron died on Jan. 22, 2021, at the age of 86. Later that year, when the Braves won the World Series, their championship ring honored Aaron by featuring 44 emerald cut diamonds and a total of 755 diamonds. Following his passing, the Atlanta Braves and Major League Baseball established the Henry Louis Aaron Fund to continue to support Aaron’s life-long passion to increase minority participation in baseball on the field and in front offices.

Succeeding amid racism at every step of his career, Hank Aaron took the torch from Jackie Robinson and carried it to levels unseen in the game of baseball. He produced a Hall of Fame career and continued breaking ground off the field. Aaron’s trailblazing life transcends the game of baseball and provides a constant source of inspiration for generations who follow in his footsteps.

Stamp Design

The stamp art features a portrait of Aaron as a member of the Atlanta Braves, based on a 1968 photo, showing Aaron’s famous right-handed batting stance from the waist up.

In the selvage is a digital painting of Aaron watching the ball he just hit for his record-breaking 715th home run, based on a 1974 photo by Harry Harris.

Greg Breeding, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp and pane with original art by Chuck Styles and typography by Kevin Cantrell.

The Hank Aaron stamp is being issued in panes of 20. The Forever stamp will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

A video about the stamps will be posted after today’s event on the Postal Service’s Facebook and X, formerly known as Twitter, pages at facebook.com/USPS and x.com/usps.

The Atlanta Regional Commission is seeking input to inform a major update to the agency’s regional public participation plan. The update, the first since 2019, is designed to ensure that ARC’s transportation planning meets the region’s needs and reflects metro Atlanta’s diverse population.

Residents may provide input by taking an online survey, visiting the ARC website, or attending in-person events in August and September that offer an opportunity to review the draft plan and offer comment.

“We want residents of metro Atlanta to know that their voice matters when it comes to the vital work of transportation planning in this region,” said Anna Roach, ARC Executive Director & CEO. “We need robust public engagement to develop transportation plans that truly meet the needs of the entire Atlanta region. That’s why updating our public participation plan is so important.”

Upcoming events include a series of virtual focus groups and pop-ups across the region where residents can offer their perspectives.

• August 1: Atlanta pop-up at Create ATL (900 Murphy Ave., SW Atlanta), 1- 4 p.m.

• August 6: Decatur pop-up at Guild + Journeyman (115 Clairemont Ave., Decatur), 1- 4 p.m.

• August 8: Virtual focus group, 11 a.m. Registration

• August 14: Virtual focus group, 12 p.m. Registration

ARC will be holding additional open houses and virtual focus groups in August and September. Visit our website for more information.

ARC has held 10 targeted focus groups in recent months to get feedback from diverse communities. These groups included veterans, small and disadvantaged businesses, ethnic minorities, women, foreign-born residents, youth, people with disabilities, low-income residents, people with limited English proficiency, and older adults.

In conjunction with an ongoing effort to address the dearth of Asian American studies in K-12 school curriculums, Kennesaw State University professor Sohyun An is among a group of researchers recently awarded a prestigious $3.5 million Transformative Research Grant from the Spencer Foundation. The first of its kind awarded by the foundation, the grant supports a robust collaborative research effort focused on supporting the integration of Asian American studies in the classroom.

Through the grant, An will serve as a co-principal investigator on a multidisciplinary team that includes principal investigator Noreen Naseem Rodríguez of Michigan State University; and co-principal investigators Esther Kim of College of William and Mary; Soo-yong Byun of the Pennsylvania State University; Michael Brown of the University of Michigan; and Jennifer Higgs of the University of California, Davis. Together, they will conduct an extensive study across five states to explore how communities advocate for and implement policies mandating the teaching of Asian American studies in K-12 classrooms, and how these initiatives impact student learning.

Since joining KSU’s Bagwell College of Education in 2011, An has been a trailblazer in anti-racism social studies education and Asian American studies. Her contributions have earned her numerous accolades, including the 2023 Distinguished Researcher Award from American Educational Research Association, the 2022 Distinguished Professor Award from Kennesaw State University, and two Spencer Foundation Small Research Grants to conduct research on anti-racist education.

“We are fortunate to have a researcher of Dr. An’s caliber among our esteemed faculty,” said Adrian Epps, dean of the Bagwell College. “She serves as an inspiration for her commitment to building the educators of tomorrow and for her advocacy beyond the classroom. We very much look forward to seeing the impact her research has on educational practices across the nation.”

Beyond her academic achievements, An is deeply committed to community engagement and grassroots activism. She co-founded Asian American Voices for Education, a grassroots collective in Georgia dedicated to advancing Asian American and ethnic studies in K-12 schools. An works with Asian American students, educators, and community members to transform schools to be a space where students can see themselves and others as whole human beings, examine race in connection to power, and dream and act for a different future.

The Andrew Young School of Policy Studies (AYSPS) at Georgia State University has appointed Adam Pah as assistant dean for digital innovation, effective Aug. 1, 2024.

Pah has led digital innovation in the college since he joined it as the policy analytics lead faculty and clinical associate professor in the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology in August 2023. He has led coordination of the curriculum of the Digital Landscape Initiative across five academic units and the growth of research efforts in policy analytics and computational social science across AYSPS.

“Dr. Pah is an expert in applying computational approaches to understand decision-making in social systems and institutions,” Dean Thomas J. Vicino said. “He is well-positioned to advance the innovation of our work and its impact.”

In his newly expanded role, Pah joins the dean’s leadership team to elevate strategies for innovation in the digital space. He will continue to strategically lead and manage the college’s Digital Landscape Initiative. Additionally, in collaboration with its academic units and research centers, institutes and labs, he will lead the college’s efforts to advance the programmatic areas of policy analytics, big data, data ethics, open science, artificial intelligence and related areas across its portfolio of academic programs and research initiatives.

Pah’s research focuses on data science, complex systems and artificial intelligence and the applications of these methods to better understand decision-making in social systems and institutions. He is a co-founder of the Systematic Content Analysis of Litigation EventS Open Knowledge Network (SCALES OKN), an effort to transform the transparency and accessibility of court records funded by the National Science Foundation. He has won grants and awards from the National Science Foundation Cyberinfrastructure for Sustained Scientific Innovation, Georgia State’s Research Innovation and Scholarly Excellence (RISE) Challenge, the Public Interest Technology University Network and the National Science Foundation Convergence Accelerator Program. His articles have been published in journals that include Artificial Intelligence and Law, AI Magazine and Science.

Before joining Georgia State, Pah held the position of clinical assistant professor at the Kellogg School of Management and as clinical assistant professor of law at Pritzker School of Law, both at Northwestern University. He has served as an assistant research professor and associate director at the Northwestern Institute for Complex Systems (NICO) and as a data scientist with both TTX Corporation and Datascope Analytics in Chicago. He holds a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences and a Certificate in Biotechnology from Northwestern University, and a B.S. in Molecular Biosciences and Biotechnology from Arizona State University.

“As we continue to advance the mission and strategic plan of the Andrew Young School in alignment with Georgia State University’s Blueprint to 2033: Our Place, Our Time, this appointment positions the college to expand our innovative programmatic and research enterprise,” Vicino said.

GreyOrange Inc., a leader in AI-driven fulfillment automation, announces a significant expansion of the company’s Intralogistics and Case Pick Ranger Portfolio. In response to the growing need for advanced automation solutions, GreyOrange has introduced new autonomous forklifts with the capability to handle closed pallets and manage multiple pallets or trolleys concurrently, thereby significantly improving operational efficiency and throughput.

“GreyOrange’s two new intralogistics and case pick robot solutions are the latest additions to our Certified Ranger Network™ (CRN) ecosystem that are powered by our GreyMatter fulfillment orchestration platform,” said Akash Gupta, Co-Founder and CEO, GreyOrange. “We are first in the market to launch these types of autonomous forklift solutions that can handle multiple trolleys and multiple pallets. These solutions will address critical market demands for heavy payloads, lifting up to four trolleys with combined weight of 3000 Kgs.”

GreyOrange’s latest market-proven and well-tested bots address a current market gap. The Ranger Forklift XXL for case picking and the Ranger Forklift AnyPallet for closed pallet handling offer quick go-live turnarounds within a few weeks, along with unprecedented increases in productivity. These newly patented Ranger Forklift bots are supported by GreyMatter’s pick assist and intralogistics service, creating the most intelligent solutions for the industry. These two autonomous forklifts are key intellectual properties for GreyOrange, currently being commissioned by strategic customers. They are in high demand due to their immediate return on investment and efficiency.

As market demand increasingly focuses on automation solutions that can efficiently manage multiple pallets or trolleys concurrently, these new autonomous mobile robot (AMR) variants not only streamline operational efficiency but also open up new business opportunities, strengthening the competitive advantage for both GreyOrange and its customers in the market.

“These collaborative AMRs are solutions for forklift replacement, making it much safer to operate in warehouses and reduce operational costs,” said Gupta. “GreyOrange is constantly seeking ways to overcome existing limitations for current and prospective customers so they can accomplish more work efficiently and safely.”

The introduction of these autonomous forklift bots that enable case pick and pallet movement applications marks a significant step forward in GreyOrange’s ability to meet market demands and address existing limitations. With these enhanced capabilities, GreyOrange provides efficient and competitive solutions across various industries, including retail, food and beverage, consumer goods and electronics, pharmaceutical, auto spare parts, as well as home improvement.

By aligning product development closely with client needs, GreyOrange continues to set the standard in transforming the intralogistics landscape and adding robotic classes. In addition to the Ranger Forklift bots, as of this year the CRN now includes a cycle counting solution, as well as cobot systems that work alongside the human workforce.

For more information on GreyOrange’s new Forklift variants and their benefits, visit www.greyorange.com.

 To address Atlanta’s critical affordable housing needs, the Atlanta Housing (AH) Board of Commissioners approved key resolutions to finance and construct 1,039 new housing units, of which 903 will be affordable, and preserve 140 affordable housing units across the city. These resolutions represent an AH investment of approximately $105 million in housing opportunities and resources, with a total development cost of approximately $326 million for new unit creation The new units will give families a quality place to call home, fostering sustainable community connections and stability. 

Since the beginning of the strategic planning period, Atlanta Housing has created a total of 1,585 units, of which 1,408 are designated as affordable. This includes the recently closed Heritage Village at West Lake, a redevelopment of the vacant Job Corps, formerly Waluhaje Hotel site, offering 102 fully affordable Home Flex units for households earning no more than 30% of the area median income. Since AH’s plan commenced, the agency has also preserved 3,058 affordable units, including a recent closing, which will substantially renovate Columbia Heritage Senior Residences at the former Perry Homes site. Today’s approved resolutions will further AH’s mission to create safe, quality housing options for those in need.

“With one of the most robust agendas that we’ve had over the last 5 to 10 years, we are driving progress,” said Terri M. Lee, Atlanta Housing President and Chief Executive Officer. “And while the unit numbers determined today are impressive, the Board’s approval of permanent supportive housing units will provide wraparound services to residents beyond the “sticks and bricks” of construction. This is at the heart of our work. We are urgently committed to using quality affordable housing as a vehicle for stability and empowerment for as many Atlantans as possible. “

Creation of Affordable Housing Units

Atlanta Housing is taking a proactive approach to combating the housing crisis in Atlanta. The Board approved several projects that will significantly increase the stock of affordable housing in Atlanta:

• Stadium Hotel: 231 affordable units with a Total Development Cost (TDC) of approximately $54 million and an AH investment of $18.2 million.

• Herndon Square Phase III: 178 units, with 151 designated as affordable, at a TDC of $76 million and an AH investment of $15.9 million.

• Sylvan Hills II: 233 units, fully affordable, with a TDC of $51.2 million and an AH investment of $10 million. This also creates 24 permanent supportive housing units as part of the development.

• Englewood Phase 1C: 81 units, including 16 affordable units, currently in predevelopment with an AH investment of $400,000.

• Magnolia Perimeter Bundles: 8 affordable units with a TDC of $2.4 million and an AH investment of $600,000.

• Quest Residences at Holly Hills: 9 affordable HomeFlex-Haven units for people experiencing homelessness. These units are part of a larger 40-unit development at a total development cost of $14.9 million, with AH providing 10 years of rental subsidies and an AH investment of $1.25 million.

• Civic Center: 148 affordable units for seniors with a total development cost of $58 million and an AH investment of $7.2 million.

• Bowen Homes: 151 units, with 107 designated as affordable, at a total development cost of $69.7 million and an AH investment of $18.7 million.

“Today’s investments are not just about providing housing; they are about building communities and creating an opportunity for Atlantans to thrive,” said Atlanta Housing Board Chairman Larry Stewart. “The significant advances recently made toward AH’s strategic goals are a testament to Terri Lee’s leadership. The Board will meet her call for urgency.”

Atlanta Housing’s recent development surge advances the agency’s goal to create or preserve 10,000 affordable units, as outlined in its 5-Year Strategic Plan. To date, AH has achieved approximately 44% of its housing goal in support of the City of Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens’ goal of creating and preserving 20,000 affordable units by 2030.

Additional information on the housing activity approved by the Atlanta Housing Board of Commissioners can be found here.

The board chairman of the Georgia Department of Corrections was among those killed in a plane crash in Wyoming late last week.

Larry Haynie, his wife Melissa, and three members of an Atlanta family gospel group died when a single-engine turboprop piloted by Haynie crashed near Recluse, a town in northeastern Wyoming.

The plane experienced an “autopilot issue,” according to initial findings reported by a spokesperson for the National Transportation Safety Board.

In a statement, Gov. Brian Kemp praised Haynie for a career of “valued service” in public safety.

“Larry’s impact on our state will not be forgotten,” Kemp wrote. “We will continue to hold his memory and that enduring commitment to his fellow Georgians in our hearts and memories.”

Three members of the family gospel group The Nelons also died in the crash. Kelly Nelon Clark, her husband, Jason Clark, and their daughter Amber Nelon Kistler were headed to the Gaither Homecoming Cruise to Alaska at the time of the crash.

Amber’s husband, Nathan Kistler, and Melodi Hodges, an assistant, were also killed.

Kelly and Jason’s other daughter, Autumn Nelon Streetman, who was also a member of the group, was not on the plane. 

The 19-member Georgia Board of Corrections postponed its schedule Aug. 1 meeting until Aug. 8.

Capitol Beat is a nonprofit news service operated by the Georgia Press Educational Foundation that provides coverage of state government to newspapers throughout Georgia. For more information visit capitol-beat.org.

Country stores are a staple of the South.

They are nostalgic, warm and have all the essentials: from your favorite soda to a gallon of milk or pet supplies. Some even have fresh baked goods, fruits or vegetables.

Read More At: Yahoo

The National League of Cities recently released it’s 2024 State of the Cities report. The report delves into the pressing challenges and innovative solutions cities, towns, and villages face nationwide. Now in its 11th year, the report draws from annual mayoral speeches and extensive surveys to provide a comprehensive view of the strategic objectives set by city leaders.

Key themes this year include economic development, infrastructure, housing, public safety, and health services, reflecting the top priorities and concerns of both residents and mayors.

This year’s report highlights the alignment between public sentiment and mayoral priorities, showcasing the strategic efforts to enhance economic growth, improve infrastructure, and address housing needs. By integrating data from surveys and mayoral addresses, the report provides a detailed look at the obstacles cities face and the innovative solutions being developed.