Patagonia to close doors on Election Day; encourage employees to serve as poll workers
Outdoor apparel company Patagonia announced in a news release that they will close their doors on Election Day and offer employees up to four days off to train and serve as poll workers to help mitigate the nationwide shortage. While on the clock, Patagonia employees will also help get out the vote by writing handwritten letters or texting low-propensity voters, because research has indicated at least 10 million environmentalists did not vote in the 2016 elections.
“Patagonia is doing our part to ensure this November’s elections are accessible for all eligible voters,” said Hilary Dessouky, Patagonia’s general counsel. “Already this election has been marred by misinformation about voting, roadblocks to accessible voting and threats to cut essential voting services like the US Postal Service, which allow people to vote safely and securely.”
Knoxville wildlife officials say tiger sighting was ‘likely a bobcat’
There’s one less thing to worry about if you’re on the trails around Knoxville, Tenn. A week after a search was launched for a loose tiger in Knoxville, officials now believe the animal sighting was “likely a bobcat,” NBC News reports. Matthew Cameron, a spokesperson for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, told NBC News that the sighting was a case of “mistaken identity.”
The search for the tiger was launched after a Knox county deputy reported seeing a large cat weighing between 150 and 200 pounds that appeared to be striped. Though the zoo in Knoxville said all tigers and tiger cubs were accounted for, investigators launched a search, even setting a tiger trap. The trap was later removed, and Cameron said, “We are not continuing to search for the tiger.”
New hiking and biking trails planned for Kingsport, Tenn.
A piece of land near downtown Kingsport, Tenn. is slated to become the location of new hiking and biking trails. The development at Cement Hill is possible due to a land trade between the city and Domtar, Kingsport officials said. The 40-acre property is located behind Kingsport’s train station.
“Really what we’ve kind of stepped back and looked at is, how do we bring about hiking trails, how do we bring about biking trails up here?” said City Manager Chris McCartt. “Can we establish some observation decks so that you can take advantage of these incredible views of our city?”
Photo courtesy of Getty Images
