All articles tagged with #deep south
A sweeping winter storm dumped snow and ice across the Deep South, killing at least 10 people and leaving hundreds of thousands without power, as roads iced over, campuses (including Ole Miss in Oxford) closed, and crews raced to restore electricity.
A trove of Harper Lee’s letters to JoBeth McDaniel reveals her nuanced view of the Deep South’s evolution from Depression-era deprivation to the Civil Rights era and how white Southerners reacted as Black neighbors sought equality, alongside her thoughts on writing and fellow authors.
United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain believes that 2024 could be a historic year for the union's efforts to organize auto plants in the Deep South, citing gains from the previous year's "Stand Up Strike" against major automakers. Fain anticipates a significant shift and potential victories for the union in the South, as evidenced by the growing support for unionization among workers at non-union automakers. The UAW is currently focusing on organizing efforts at Volkswagen's Chattanooga plant and Mercedes-Benz's factory in Vance, with additional union drives at other auto plants in the region.
An Arctic air mass from Canada will bring freezing temperatures to the central and southern United States through the weekend, with some areas experiencing record lows. Temperatures in the Northern Plains may remain below zero, and wind chill could make it feel even colder. The cold air is expected to reach the Gulf Coast, potentially bringing snow or ice to the South and Mid Atlantic early next week.
The Georgia Supreme Court has upheld the state's ban on abortion, rejecting arguments that the law was unconstitutional. The ruling means that abortion remains illegal in Georgia after the sixth week of pregnancy, making it largely inaccessible in the Deep South. The court sent the case back to a lower court to determine whether the state constitution protects a right to privacy that encompasses abortion. This decision highlights the increasing role of state constitutions in shaping abortion laws across the country.
The US Supreme Court upheld a key provision of the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits maps drawn to dilute minority voting strength, in a surprise 5-4 decision that could lead to the redrawing of election maps across the Deep South. The ruling could alter the balance of power that has given Republicans a slim majority in Congress. The court is expected to rule quickly on a similar challenge to election maps pending in Louisiana, which could create another congressional district favorable to Democrats in addition to the one in Alabama.
The Deep South is experiencing an unusual weather pattern for June, with multiple disturbances traveling through a strong jet stream, resulting in severe thunderstorms and localized flash flooding. Damaging winds, hail, and an isolated tornado threat are possible, with the greatest chance of severe storms in areas from northern Texas and southeast Oklahoma to parts of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, northern Florida, and Georgia. The storms can produce large, damaging hail and an isolated tornado threat, tapping into warm, humid air from the Gulf of Mexico.