Savannah to Atlanta, Nashville? Amtrak announces plans to create 30 new train routes
The routes are among several nationwide proposed by Amtrak after President Joe Biden announced his sweeping plan to rebuild the nation’s infrastructure.
Updated: 7:37 AM EDT Apr 5, 2021
HERE'S A LIVE LOOK FROM OUR SKYVIEW 22 CAMERA AT THE HOMEWOOD SUITES ON THE RIVER. - ***2-SHOT***} THANKS FOR STARTING YOUR DAY WITH WJCL 22! GOOD MORNING, I'M EMMA HAMILTON. METEOROLOGIST JONATHAN MYERS IS HERE WITH YOUR CERTIFIED MOST ACCURATE WEATHER FORECAST. NOW, HERE'S YOUR STORM TRACKER RADAR... TODAY SUNNY, WITH A HIGH NEAR 78-80. CALM WIND BECOMING WEST AROUND 6 MPH IN THE MORNING. MONDAY NIGHT CLEAR, WITH A LOW AROUND 52. SOUTH WIND 5 TO 7 MPH BECOMING CALM AFTER MIDNIGHT. TUESDAY SUNNY, WITH A HIGH NEAR 82. CALM WIND BECOMING WEST 5 TO 7 MPH IN THE MORNING. TUESDAY NIGHT CLEAR, WITH A LOW AROUND 56. SOUTH WIND AROUND 5 MPH BECOMING CALM IN THE EVENING. WEDNESDAY SUNNY, WITH A HIGH NEAR 84 A GAME CHANGER--- NOW, HERE'S YOUR STORM TRACKER RADAR... TODAY SUNNY, WITH A HIGH NEAR 78-80. CALM WIND BECOMING WEST AROUND 6 MPH IN THE MORNING. MONDAY NIGHT CLEAR, WITH A LOW AROUND 52. SOUTH WIND 5 TO 7 MPH BECOMING CALM AFTER MIDNIGHT. TUESDAY SUNNY, WITH A HIGH NEAR 82. CALM WIND BECOMING WEST 5 TO 7 MPH IN THE MORNING. TUESDAY NIGHT CLEAR, WITH A LOW AROUND 56. SOUTH WIND AROUND 5 MPH BECOMING CALM IN THE EVENING. A GAME CHANGER--- THAT'S HOW ONE HEALTH EXPERT DESCRIBES ONE OF THE COVID-19 VARIANTS THAT'S RIPPING THROUGH PARTS OF THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW. AS BRITT CONWAY REPORTS-- HE SAYS IT'S ENOUGH TO MAKE HIM RE-EVALUATE HIS OWN ADVICE-- ON SENDING KIDS BACK TO SCHOOL. MICHAEL OSTERHOLM, EPIDEMIOLOGIST, NBC MEET THE PRESS: "PLEASE UNDERSTAND, THIS B.1.1.7 VARIANT IS A BRAND NEW BALL GAME." B.1.1.7 IS THE COVID-19 VARIANT FIRST IDENTIFIED IN THE U-K. AND EPIDEMIOLOGIST MICHAEL OSTERHOLM IS MAKING THE ROUNDS TO TALK ABOUT ONE OF THE CHALLENGES OF THIS VARIANT. MICHAEL OSTERHOLM, EPIDEMIOLOGIST, NBC MEET THE PRESS: "IT INFECTS KIDS VERY READILY. UNLIKE PREVIOUS STRAINS OF THE VIRUS, WE DIDN'T SEE CHILDREN UNDER 8TH GRADE GET INFECTED OFTEN OR THEY WERE NOT FREQUENTLY VERY ILL, THEY DIDN'T TRANSMIT TO THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY." BUT HE SAYS NOW-- THAT'S CHANGED, POINTING TO MINNESOTA-- WHERE MORE THAN 740 SCHOOLS HAVE HAD CASES OF THE U-K VARIANT. AND TO MICHIGAN -- WHERE MORE AND MORE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE BEING HOSPITALIZED AS CASES RISE. IT'S SOMETHING MEDICAL EXPERTS IN OTHER COUNTRIES CALLED ATTENTION TO NEARLY TWO MONTHS AGO. WHEN THE BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL SAID THERE WAS QUOTE: "EMERGING EVIDENCE FROM ISRAEL AND ITALY THAT MORE YOUNG CHILDREN ARE BEING INFECTED WITH NEW VARIANTS OF COVID-19." AND NOW THAT IT'S HAPPENING HERE-- OSTERHOLM IS QUESTIONING HIS OWN RECOMMENDATION TO SEND KIDS BACK FOR IN- PERSON LEARNING." DR. MICHAEL OSTERHOLM, EPIDEMIOLOGIST, NBC MEET THE PRESS: "THESE KIDS NOW ARE REALLY MAJOR CHALLENGES IN TERMS OF HOW THEY TRANSMIT." GETTING KIDS VACCINATED IS CRUCIAL-- BUT-- DR. MICHAEL OSTERHOLM, EPIDEMIOLOGIST, NBC MEET THE PRESS: "WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE NEARLY ENOUGH IN THE NEXT 6 TO 8 WEEKS TO GET THROUGH THIS SURGE AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT OTHER AVENUES TO DO THAT JUST AS EVERY OTHER COUNTRY IN THE WORLD WHO'S HAD A B.1.1.7 SURGE HAS HAD TO DO." I'M BRITT CONWAY REPORTING. THE CITY OF SAVANNAH IS GIVING PEOPLE ANOTHER PLACE TO GET THEIR COVID SHOT. STARTING ON WEDNESDAY---- THE SAVANNAH CIVIC CENTER WILL OPEN AS A MASS VACCINATION SITE. THE NEW WALK UP SITE WILL HELP GET MORE PEOPLE VACCINATED. SAVANNAH MAYOR VAN JOHNSON SAYS THIS NEW SITE SOLVES SOME OF THE ISSUES THE CITY HAS HAD WITH VACCINE ROLLOUT. WE HAD TO TAKE ON ADDITIONAL MEASURES TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE ARE GETTING CLOSER TO THESE SHOTS AND THE SHOTS ARE GETTING CLOSER TO THE PEOPLE AND THE CIVIC CENTER SOLVES BOTH OF THOSE ISSUES FOR US. THE PLAN IS TO DISTRIBUTE AT LEAST 11-HUNDRED MODERNA VACCINES A DAY. THE CIVIC CENTER SITE WILL BE OPEN NINE A-M TO FOUR P-M IN SOUTH CAROLINA--RURAL COMMUNITIES WILL BE SEEING NEW VACCINATION SITES. TOMORROW--- PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO GET A SHOT AT THE BULL DURHAM CENTER IN ESTILL. THIS IS ONE OF FOUR SITES EXPECTED TO OPEN OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. HOUSE MAJORITY WHIP ... JAMES CLYBURN AND THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TEAMED UP TO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE. NO APPOINTMENT IS NECESSARY. A NEW LOOK THIS MORNING AT JUST HOW MANY PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE RECEIVED THEIR COVID SHOT ACCORDING TO THE C-D-C--- MORE THAN 61 MILLION PEOPLE ARE NOW FULLY VACCINATED. WITH ANOTHER ONE HUNDRED AND SIX-MILLION HAVING AT LEAST ONE SHOT. IN GEORGIA... MORE THAN FOUR MILLION SHOTS HAVE BEEN PUT IN ARMS ACROSS THE STATE... WHILE IN SOUTH CAROLINA JUST OVER TWO-MILLION PEOPLE HAVE RECEIVED THEIR VACCINE. IN HIS EASTER ADDRESS YESTERDAY ... PRESIDENT BIDEN ENCOURAGED EVEN MORE PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED. PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: "WE SHARE THE SENTIMENTS OF POPE FRANCIS WHO HAS SAID THAT GETTING VACCINATED IS A MORAL OBLIGATION. ONE THAT CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE AND THE LIVES OF OTHERS BY GETTING VACCINATED AND ENCOURAGING YOUR CONGREGATIONS AND YOUR COMMUNITIES TO GET VACCINATED WE NOT ONLY CAN BEAT THIS VIRUS, WE CAN ALSO HASTEN THE DAY WHEN WE CAN CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS TOGETHER, AGAIN." JOHNSON AND JOHNSON IS TAKING RESPONSIBLITY FOR A COVID-19 VACCINE MIX UP THAT LED TO 15 MILLION DOSES BEING CONTAMINATED LAST WEEK IN BALTIMORE. THE COMPANY WILL NOW ADD LEADERS IN OPERATION AND QUALITY CONTROL TO SUPERVISE THE WORK. HOWEVER--- SOME EXPERTS ESTIMATE THAT JOHNSON AND JOHNSON CAN MAKE UP FOR ALL OF THOSE DISCARDED DOSES IN JUST A FEW WEEKS. THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH REPORTS MORE THAN EIGHT HUNDRED AND FIFTY FIVE- THOUSAND CASES OF COVID-19 ACROSS THE STATE. MORE THAN 16- THOUSAND-700 PEOPLE HAVE DIED. THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL REPORTS MORE THAN FOUR HUNDRED AND SIXTY SEVEN- THOUSAND CASES OF COVID-19. MORE THAN 81- HUNDRED PEOPLE HAVE DIED. GEORGIA'S NEW VOTING LAW WILL LIKELY COST THE STATE TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WJCL'S DANIEL ROBINSON IS JOINING US LIVE AND DANIEL THIS COMES AS THE M-L- B PULLED TWO BIG EVENTS FROM THE STATE.... EMMA - IT DOES - THE ALL-STAR GAME AND DRAFT - WERE BOTH SET FOR ATLANTA THIS SUMMER -- NOW OFFICIALS SAY IT WILL CAUSE COBB COUNTY - TO LOSE MORE THAN 100 MILLION DOLLARS. THE TRAVEL AND TOURISM BUREAU SAYS THE GAME WOULD HAVE BEEN A BIG BOOST TO BUSINESSES IN THE AREA - THAT'S ALREADY BEEN HIT HARD BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. LAST WEEK - THE MLB - ANNOUNCED -- - THE GAME WOULD NO LONGER BE PLAYED IN ATLANTA ON JULY 13TH BECAUSE OF THE NEW VOTING LAW SOME SAY WILL MAKE IT HARDER FOR MINORITY GROUPS IN THE STATE - TO VOTE. GOVERNOR BRIAN KEMP -CRITICIZING THE LEAGUE'S DECISION. BRIAN KEMP / (R) GEORGIA GEORGIANS AND ALL AMERICANS SHOULD KNOW WHAT THIS DECISION MEANS. IT MEANS CANCEL CULTURE AND PARTISAN ACTIVISTS ARE COMING FOR YOUR BUSINESS. EMMA - THE ATLANTA BRAVES HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR DISAPPOINTMENT OVER THE DECISION - TO MOVE THE GAME... IN A STATEMENT THE TEAM SAID THEY WILL CONTINUE TO STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF EQUAL VOTING OPPORTUNITIES. PLAYERS EVEN COVERED UP THE ALL-STAR GAME PATCH ON THEIR JERSEY'S EMMA - DANIEL - BEFORE YOU GO - HOW IS THE NEW VOTING LAW IMPACTING LARGE COMPANIES? EMMA - SEVERAL COMPANIES ARE FACING BOYCOTT THREATS AND MOUNTING PRESSURE TO PICK A SIDE - IN THE CONTROVERSY OVER THAT NEW LAW VOTING LAW - SO FAR - ATLANTA BASED COCA-COLA AND DELTA AIRLINES - ARE AMONG THE COMPANIES WHO HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR DISAPPOINTMENT OVER THE NEW LAW. SEVERAL REPUBLICAN STATE LEGISLATORS HAVE ASKED FOR COCA- COLA PRODUCTS TO BE REMOVED FROM THEIR OFFICES AT THE GEORGIA STATE CAPITOL. ACCORDING TO A LETTER OBTAINED BY THE ATLANTA JOURNAL CONSTITUTION--- THE REQUEST IS TIED TO RECENT COMMENTS ABOUT THE STATE'S ELECTIONS BILL. THE BEVERAGE GIANT HAS CRITICIZED THE MEASURE AS A FORM OF VOTER SUPPRESSION. IN RESPONSE .. SEVERAL G-O-P LAWMAKERS NOW CLAIM COKE IS GIVING INTO CANCEL CULTURE AND MISLEADING GEORGIANS ABOUT THE BILL. THIS WEEK -- THE WHITE HOUSE IS JUGGLING TWO MAJOR PRIORITIES: SELLING ITS TWO- POINT-THREE TRILLION DOLLAR INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE... AND CONTINUING TO PUSH A VACCINATION EFFORT. JARRED HILL IS IN OUR WASHINGTON BUREAU WITH THE LATEST. WE'RE SEEING SOME SOLID STRIDES IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE GETTING THE COVID VACCINE... BUT WITH INFRASTRUCTURE: IT'S SORT OF COMING DOWN TO A BATTLE OVER THE MEANING OF THE WORD ITSELF. AND WHETHER THE WHITE HOUSE WANTS A BIPARTISAN BILL OR JUST TO GET THEIR PLAN PASSED. PKG. SCRIPT) THIS WEEK -- PRESIDENT BIDEN IS HOPING TO NAIL DOWN SUPPORT FOR HIS MULTI- TRILLION DOLLAR INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE. JENNIFER GRANHOLM/ENERGY SECRETARY "IT IS AN AMAZING STATEMENT THAT FINALLY WE'RE GOING TO INVEST IN AMERICA" CABINET MEMBERS HITTING T-V SCREENS SUNDAY... AS VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS HITS THE ROAD TODAY, TOURING A FACILITY THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS WILL BENEFIT FROM THE PLAN. REPUBLICANS HAVE PUSHED BACK AGAINST THE SIZE OF THE PACKAGE. SAYING TOO MUCH IS GOING TOWARD THINGS LIKE IMPROVING PIPES AND ELECTRIC CHARGING STATIONS.. COMPARED TO MONEY FOR ROADS AND BRIDGES. SEN. ROY BLUNT/(R) MISSOURI "TAKE THAT BIPARTISAN WIN. DO THIS IN A MORE TRADITIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE WAY" MEANWHILE... IN HIS EASTER MESSAGE... PRESIDENT BIDEN FOCUSED ON ANOTHER PRIORITY. PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN 1:00 GETTING VACCINATED IS A MORAL OBLIGATION THE CONTINUED PUSH COMES AS THERE CONTINUE TO BE CONCERNS OVER MORE- TRANSMISSIBLE COVID VARIANTS CAUSING CASES TO SPIKE IN A NUMBER OF STATES. DR. MICHAEL OSTERHOLM/CENTER FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASE RESEARCH AND POLICY "WE'RE NOW SEEING INCREASING NUMBER OF SEVERE ILLNESSES, ICU, HOSPITALIZATION, IN INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE BETWEEN 30 AND 50 YEARS OF AGE." BUT OVER THE WEEKEND, THE C-D-C REPORTED A RECORD NUMBER OF VACCINES ADMINISTERED IN 24-HOURS: OVER 4-MILLION ON SATURDAY. NOW, ABOUT 23- PERCENT OF ADULTS ARE FULLY VACCINATED. MORE THAN 40- PERCENT WITH AT LEAST ONE DOSE. GOV. TATE REEVES/(R) MISSISSIPPI "WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE EDUCATE OUR PEOPLE AND LET THEM KNOW THAT THIS VACCINE IS SAFE (REPORTER LIVE TAG: EVEN IF DEMOCRATS DECIDE TO MOVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL THROUGH WITHOUT REPUBLICANS... THEY DON'T HAVE MUCH WIGGLE ROOM WITH A ONE- VOTE MAJORITY. AND WEST VIRGINIA'S JOE MANCHIN IS ALREADY SAYING THE PACKAGE SHOULD BE MORE MODERATE. IN WASHINGTON, I'M JARRED HILL. THE TIME IS NOW _-_. COMING UP---- HALF A BILLION PEOPLE COULD BE AT RISK FOR IDENTITY FRAUD BECAUSE OF A FACEBOOK HACK. COMING UP... I'LL HAVE A LOOK AT YOUR CERTIFIED MOST ACCURATE FORECAST. BUT FIRST... LET'S TAKE A LIVE LOOK OUTSIDE. HERE'S A LIVE LOOK FROM OUR SKYVIEW 22 CAMERA -- LOOKING AT "HOTEL TYBEE". HERE ARE COND
Savannah to Atlanta, Nashville? Amtrak announces plans to create 30 new train routes
The routes are among several nationwide proposed by Amtrak after President Joe Biden announced his sweeping plan to rebuild the nation’s infrastructure.
Updated: 7:37 AM EDT Apr 5, 2021
Above video: Your morning headlinesATLANTA (AP) — Amtrak says a new route in its long-range plans would connect Savannah, Georgia to Nashville, Tennessee and stop in Atlanta.Amtrak’s proposed new routes also include one that would connect Montgomery, Alabama, to Atlanta.The routes are among several nationwide proposed by Amtrak after President Joe Biden announced his sweeping plan to rebuild the nation’s infrastructure.Nationwide, Amtrak’s 2035 vision plan would add at least 30 new routes and add more trips to at least 20 existing routes. Amtrak officials are hoping Congress will provide the $80 billion designated for rail in Biden’s American Jobs Plan announced Wednesday.In the Carolinas, the plan calls for more frequent trains from Charlotte, North Carolina to Birmingham, Alabama.In Louisiana, a new line would run from New Orleans to Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Above video: Your morning headlines
ATLANTA (AP) — Amtrak says a new route in its long-range plans would connect Savannah, Georgia to Nashville, Tennessee and stop in Atlanta.
Amtrak’s proposed new routes also include one that would connect Montgomery, Alabama, to Atlanta.
The routes are among several nationwide proposed by Amtrak after President Joe Biden announced his sweeping plan to rebuild the nation’s infrastructure.
Nationwide, Amtrak’s 2035 vision plan would add at least 30 new routes and add more trips to at least 20 existing routes.
Amtrak officials are hoping Congress will provide the $80 billion designated for rail in Biden’s American Jobs Plan announced Wednesday.
In the Carolinas, the plan calls for more frequent trains from Charlotte, North Carolina to Birmingham, Alabama.
In Louisiana, a new line would run from New Orleans to Baton Rouge, Louisiana.