Obama to hit the campaign trail for Biden

Former President Barack Obama is expected to hit the campaign trail next week, Democratic officials tell CNN, as he looks to step up his work in support of his one-time partner -- former Vice President Joe Biden -- in the final stretch of the election.

Obama intends to focus his efforts on early voting states in the final two weeks of the race, the officials tell CNN. The former President will not aggressively barnstorm swing states, but rather intends to visit a handful of critical battlegrounds where voting is underway.

His schedule has not been finalized, officials said, but states under consideration for his solo appearances include Florida, North Carolina, Wisconsin and more.

"He's doing enough for our campaign," Biden told reporters before boarding a flight in New Castle, Delaware, Tuesday. "He'll be out on the trail and he's doing well."

Obama's expected return to the campaign trail could energize Democratic voters in the final weeks before the election as the former president remains among the Democratic Party's most popular figures. The Biden campaign believes Obama can help in three particular areas, officials say, including: Black men, Latinos and young voters.

The events will be socially distant -- similar to the tactics adopted by the Biden campaign during the coronavirus pandemic -- but are designed to garner local media coverage in key areas. President Donald Trump's campaign has dispatched far more surrogates ahead of the election -- along with the President's rallies -- and the Obama visits are designed to help Biden draw more attention in places where voting is happening.

[SOURCE: CNN]

Atlanta Falcons name Raheem Morris interim head coach

The Atlanta Falcons have named Raheem Morris interim head coach, the team announced Monday.

"Raheem is a strong leader and a talented coach that has adapted to a variety of roles since joining the Falcons in 2015," said Rich McKay, Falcons President and CEO. "He has experience as a head coach and has worked on both sides of the ball. We felt that combined with his connection to the players and coaching staff, which will be an important factor as we move forward in 2020, he was the right person to give this responsibility to."

A veteran coach with 18 years of NFL coaching experience on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball, Morris is in his sixth season with the Falcons and his first as the defensive coordinator.

Morris began the 2019 season focused on the receiving corps but turned his attention to the secondary after the bye week following a tumultuous start. Over the final eight games, the team went 6-2 and the defense went from having the lowest amount of takeaways in the first half of the season (4) to finishing with the second-most in the NFL (16) after Week 9. The defense also vaulted from the bottom of the league rankings to the top 10 in sacks (32nd to 10th), scoring efficiency (32nd to 9th), and red zone efficiency (31st to 6th) over the final eight weeks of the season.

Morris joined the Falcons after spending three seasons as the defensive backs coach for the Washington Football Team. In 2012, he helped Washington's defense finish tied for fifth in the NFL with 31 takeaways.

Prior to arriving in Washington, Morris spent three seasons as the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2009-2011. He was the league's youngest head coach in 2009 and in 2010, his team finished with a 10-6 record. The Buccaneers made their best turnaround in franchise history in 2010 after going 3-13 in 2009.

Street outside Trayvon Martin's high school to be named after him

A road in Miami will be named after Trayvon Martin, the teenager whose shooting death in 2012 sparked a national outcry. A portion of the street leading to Martin's former school, Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High, will be renamed in his honor, the Miami Herald reports.

Martin was in 11th grade when he was fatally shot by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman in Sanford, Florida. Zimmerman was acquitted under Florida's controversial self-defense law. The Black Lives Matter movement emerged after a Florida jury decided to clear Zimmerman in the shooting death in July 2013.

More than eight years after Martin was killed, commissioners in Miami-Dade County approved the street renaming. By the end of the year, part of Northeast 16th Avenue will be renamed after Martin, according to a resolution from County Attorney Abigail Price-Williams.

The road will be renamed "Travyon Martin Avenue," according to the memorandum. Martin "was a typical teenager who enjoyed playing video games, listening to music, watching movies, and talking and texting on the phone," the resolution reads.

[SOURCE: CBS NEWS]

Barack Obama congratulates the Lakers and Seattle Storm on their championships and social justice work

On Sunday Brack Obama took to Twitter to congratulate the Los Angeles Lakers and the Seattle Storm on their championships and praised the NBA and WNBA for their work fighting for racial justice during the season.

The former United States President tweeted:

Congrats to the @Lakers and @Seattlestorm on their championship wins! Proud of all the NBA and WNBA teams and players who've been using their platforms to take a stand for racial justice and encourage civic participation this season.

Birthplace of former Alabama Gov George Wallace, elects first African American mayor

The town of Clio, Alabama has a long history since its founding in 1890. Its known as the birthplace of former Alabama governor George Wallace.

More history is in the books, after Kenneth Johnson becomes the first African-American mayor for the town.

"I come from a big family, a real big family. I grew up here in Clio,” Johnson said.

Johnson joined the Army after which he came back to Clio to work at the local post office. He eventually served on the city council. That is until deciding to do more.

"I’m not here for just political gain or anything like that. I’m here for the people. Anytime you have a question, feel free to come talk to me,” Johnson said.

"I remember when we had stores from one end to the other (of the main street running through downtown.) We don’t have that now,” Johnson said.

Johnson has big plans for the town.

"Some of the main focuses is cleaning it up; cleaning the curbs, the sidewalks and trying to get some kind of little business in here. Maybe a restaurant,” Johnson said.Clio was home to the Chitlin' Jamboree for years.

Johnson says he wants to bring back a festival or other town get-together.

He also bring an open-door policy to city hall.

"I’m not here for just political gain or anything like that. I’m here for the people. Anytime you have a question, feel free to come talk to me,” Johnson said.

Johnson’s swearing in ceremony is set for November 2nd at 5:30 PM.

[SOURCE: WTVY]