Fire ants, Elvis Presley Lake, flash flood rescue: News from around our 50 states From USA TODAY Network and wire reports
Alabama
Montgomery: Alabama is turning to social media to encourage more people to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The Department of Public Health announced a TikTok contest to encourage young people to get vaccinated before the start of the school year. The contest is for people ages 13 to 29. To participate, contestants should submit a TikTok video showing themselves getting vaccinated or include a creative message explaining, “This is why I got vaccinated.” All videos must tag @alcovidvaccine, #getvaccinatedAL and #ADPH. Winners will be determined based on creativity, originality and popularity measured by the numbers of likes and shares. The videos should be submitted by Aug. 6. Advertising professionals and department staff will select four winners who will each receive a $250 Visa gift card. Winners will be announced Aug. 13 on the @
DC Deputy Mayor gives a return to work timeline, that could impact the region
Push underway to bring workers back to DC
With vaccination efforts in full swing and DC gradually opening up even more, city officials are trying to bring workers back to the downtown area.
WASHINGTON - On Tuesday, D.C.’s Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development announced a three-phased timeline the mayor’s Office has set for when local city District employees will start returning to the office.
While that timeline is for the around 40% of local government employees D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has said are still working remotely, her deputy mayor said on Tuesday, they have asked the federal government to adopt a similar timeline or provide mile-markers for when federal workers should start returning to the office.
May 4, 2021 at 2:00pm
The Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art is expanding its reach to downtown D.C., where it is installing a sculpture by California artist Gisela Colón.
Titled “Parabolic Monolith Iridium,” the sculpture will be located at the top of James Monroe Park near the National Mall, and it will be on view starting this Saturday (May 8). It is Colón’s first public sculpture by in the D.C. region.
“We’re thrilled to bring Gisela’s work to Washington,” Tephra ICA Executive Director and Curator Jaynelle Hazard said. “The Parabolic Monolith Iridium is an object that speaks to the future, to transformation, and especially to hope. It’s symbolism is very much aligned with how we aim to position ourselves and our perspective as an institution.”
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Lebanese American Rania Hassan , a mixed media fiber artist, designer, and printmaker who is based in Washington, DC. enhanced the beauty of the United States capital once gain.
“There are so few statues dedicated to women ~ I’m excited to be creating a public art sculpture for one of the most iconic intersections in the city that will represent a monument to all women’s stories and their achievements,” said Rania Hassan. “My hope is this monument, Marker, will act as a beacon to spark an interest in the stories shared through the Smithsonian American Women’s History Initiative, and also encourage people to think about the women in their lives, and uncover their own buried histories.”