A second short week, and we close it out with the Mill’s foreign language plays! Spanish IV, French IV, and German III-IV put on skits of various popular movies, in their respective languages, for the other foreign language classes. A fun tradition that provides learning opportunities for everyone involved. On the other hand, this week’s KICs include a possible change to Stone Mountain, a manhunt, a teenage shooting incident, and funding preparations for the 2024 elections.

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March 21 – Changes being made to Stone Mountain Park 

Democratic state representatives of DeKalb County have talked about the big changes that will happen at Stone Mountain Park, including the bill made early Tuesday morning. Georgia state representatives Billy Mitchell, Mary M. Oliver, and Omari Crawford are pushing to remove the park’s designation as a Confederate memorial. 

A group of state representatives in DeKalb County has decided to remove the word “memorial” and replace it with “park.” With these changes, its new name would be the Stone Mountain Park Association. The state representatives want to take away the memorials of former Confederates Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, and Thomas S. Jackson on the mountain. 

The Georgia representatives are pushing for this change because Stone Mountain Park was not a major point during the Civil War, and its designation as a Confederate memorial is an improper representation of history. 

March 22 – Authorities search for the alleged killer of 11-year-old girl 

Authorities have been searching for 22-year-old Kionta Parks, who allegedly shot and killed an 11-year-old girl. The shooting occurred at 1 a.m. on March 14 at the J building in Spalding Heights apartments.

Law enforcement said the 11-year-old girl was shot in her Spalding County apartment. Investigators have issued warrants for Parks for felony murder, three counts of aggravated assault, four counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, cruelty to children, 14 counts of violating the Georgia Criminal Street Gang Act, and domestic terrorism. 

After the shooting, investigators were able to identify Parks. Investigators are also trying to figure out if there was another shooter at the scene of the crime. 

March 23 – Student allegedly shot two school administrators

Early Wednesday morning two administrators at East High School in Denver were shot and wounded. The sole suspect was 17-year-old Austin Lyle, who fled the scene after the incident and was later found dead according to the authorities.

The school district said the shooting happened as the two administrators were following regulations by patting him down per the safety plan. The police put on a search for Lyle after he fled the scene. Later on in the day, police found his empty car in Park County. His body laid a few feet away from the car, authorities reported.

Both school faculty members, Erica Sinclair and Jerald Mason, were hospitalized after the incident. Sinclair remains hospitalized and in serious condition, while Mason has since been released from the hospital.

March 24 – Actor’s Equity Association launches PAC in preparation for 2024 Election

Actor’s Equity Association, a union 51,000 strong, will create a political action committee in order to support federal candidates who support the association’s political platform. 

As the 2024 U.S. federal elections get closer and closer, candidates are in greater and greater need for funding. PAC’s like the one previously stated are looking to boost candidates who support workers’ rights and greater arts funding. With 51,000 individuals who make a large amount of money, funding will come quite easily. 

With a goal in mind, most details are uncertain according to Actor’s Equity higher-ups. That being said, the creation of the Actor’s Equity PAC will finalize the first week of April.