Today' s headlines:

• River rescues on the rise in Floyd, Bartow as more people take to the water during pandemic. What to know about staying safe.


• Floyd County Judicial Center closed today after employee tests positive for coronavirus.


• State deaths in May up 44% to 2,053; positive tests climb almost 50% to 47,063. In NW Georgia, 15 more deaths in May; positive tests jumped from 619 to 1,048 (69.3%).


• Another peaceful protest in downtown Rome Sunday; quiet overnight. Earlier: Updates from Cartersville, Rome.


• Voting: 25,000 Northwest Georgians already have cast ballots, more than 80% by absentee, with a week to go. 


• Ridge Ferry Farmers Market returns Saturday. Lobbies reopen today at Heritage First Bank, River City Bank and city of Cedartown.


• Ware Mechanical Weather Center: Going up -- look for 91 degrees by Wednesday; mid 80s today.


• Truett's Chick-fil-A Sports Update: SEC wraps up spring meetings. June begins with another cancellation -- SAL All-Star game.

Rant of the Day: Of pandemics and protests.

On Saturday, we talked with Mayor Bill Collins as well as Rick Stevenson, an anchor in One Community United, a group formed five years ago to combat hate. Collins praised those protesting outside City Hall for keeping it peaceful. Stevenson talked about ongoing dialogues and a bid this week to talk with area pastors and ministers about expanding peacekeeping efforts.

One Community, like other organizations, had a quiet spring because of the pandemic. Unity efforts didn't stop; just some of the small group meetings were on hold.

And now, amid that pandemic, One Community and other local groups are expanding their voices in hopes of keeping it peaceful in Rome and Floyd County. There is a long summer ahead with a lot of unknowns.

We're fortunate to have One Community United already in place. We're likewise lucky to have city commissioners willing to camp out on Broad Street into the night to monitor local conditions.

Our job now is to get their collective message spread throughout the community even as we cope with an ongoing pandemic. We think Northwest Georgia can accept and surpass both challenges.