RINGSIDE POLITICS – APRIL 7, 2021

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Welcome to another edition of Ringside Politics with Jeff Crouere

Today’s Hot Topics:

1) Major League Baseball’s (MLB) decision to relocate its 2021 All-Star Game could cost Georgia’s economy more than $100 million, a county tourism official has said.

Local hotels were already hit hard by the pandemic, Holly Quinlan, chief executive of Cobb Travel & Tourism, told told CNN.

“The 8,000-plus MLB contracted hotel room nights that will not actualize as a result of the MLB All-Star Game relocation will have a negative impact on Cobb’s hospitality industry and other local businesses, further delaying recovery,” she said.

The league’s decision was likely the “1st of many dominoes to fall,” Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said on Friday.

2) President Biden leaned inches away from someone’s face to urge them to practice social distancing as he promoted the nation’s vaccine progress Tuesday afternoon.

Video shows the president pointing to his face mask, leaning toward someone seated and encouraging them to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s coronavirus guidelines.

“Keep wearing a mask, wash the hands and socially distance – which I’m not doing,” he jokes, prompting laughter from a group of people off-camera.

3) The Atlanta Braves home opener isn’t until Friday and some fans are asking for season ticket refunds.

The request has nothing to with the team’s winless record so far. Fans are upset Major League Baseball pulled the All-Star game from Truist Park because of Georgia’s new voting law.

“I understand the Braves didn’t make this decision, in fact, they were very much opposed to it, but my connection to Major League Baseball is the Atlanta Braves and the only way I knew to protest this decision was to, at least for this year, to not attend any games,” said lifelong Braves fan Todd Trainer.

4) Texas Gov. Greg Abbott used his executive power Tuesday to ban state government and some private entities from requiring COVID-19 “vaccine passports” to access services, in the latest move from a Republican governor pitting public health campaigns against personal freedom and private choices.

According to Abbott’s order, state agencies and political subdivisions, and public and private organizations that receive public funding in Texas cannot require people to prove that they have been inoculated against the coronavirus.

The mandate also states that it will supersede any conflicting local executive orders and calls for the Texas Legislature to take up COVID-19 vaccine requirements during its ongoing current session.

“We will continue to vaccinate more Texans and protect public health — and we will do so without treading on Texans’ personal freedoms,” Abbott said in a statement announcing the order.

Today’s Guests:

1) Heather Mullins; Investigative Reporter, Real America’s Voice – joins the show in first hour to discuss the hot topics.

2) LA State Representative Larry Frieman (R-Abita Springs) – calls in to opine with Jeff in regards to the state of our local and federal government.

3) Mimi Crouere, Ringside All-Star – rendezvous with Jeff to opine and take callers.