Rant: Doubling down on downtown. Kemp lifts restrictions even as virus deaths, positive tests rise.

Hometown Headlines Radio Edition: Local news without the static.

Today's top headlines:

• Kemp: Emergency declaration in effect until July 12. Summer school, overnight camps, pro sports practices OK'd; bars open Monday. Groups of 25 or more allowed.
• Positive cases in Northwest Georgia hits 1,006, up 62% since April 30. State death toll at 1,973, up 80% in a month. It will top 2,000 by late Friday or Saturday.
• GBI: Cartersville man, 55, charged with possession and distribution of child pornography as part of Bartow County Sheriff's Office investigation.
• Politics: Advance voting for the primaries this Saturday only, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Ware Mechanical Weather Center: Low 80s all weekend with rain, storms possible today and Saturday. Sunday looks perfect.
• Truett's Chick-fil-A Sports Update: High school association offers some clarity as conditioning resumes a week from Monday.

RANT OF THE DAY: Doubling down on downtown.

As temperature checks are part of today's pandemic lifestyle, let's do one on downtown Rome:

• The issue of the hour is whether to let customers stroll about with drinks in hand, suggested again as a way to help reeling restaurants even as more of them resume something close to normal operation. Look for a June 8 City Commission vote.
• There have been some surprise closings but also openings, including John Henry's Grill and Tortaco (pending in Magretta Hall).
• The River District's zoning has been flipped to encourage development and at least one serious entrepreneur has taken the bait.
• There's major competition brewing, with ample parking, where Kmart once stood. East Bend is still happening, a cinder block at a time.
• And then there's an overall pandemic recovery, especially with downtown Saturday events 0 for 1 on the 2020 season with another due next week.

So what's the temperature? Not exactly 98.6 degrees -- but neither is it at serious fever level yet.

With the resignation of the downtown director in hand, the city has a crucial hire to make if it wants Broad Street to evolve. We can't afford to fumble this one -- and the City Commission needs to be involved right from the start.