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2A Sunday, March 19, 2023 The Times, Gainesville, Georgia | gainesvilletimes.com New COVID origins data point to raccoon dogs in China market In this file photo dated Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021, security personnel clear the way for a convoy of the World Health Organization team to enter the Huanan Seafood Market on the third day of field visit in Wuhan in central China’s Hubei province. BY DAKE KANG AND MARIA CHENG Associated Press BEIJING — Genetic material collected at a Chi nese market near where the first human cases of COVID-19 were identified show raccoon dog DNA comingled with the virus, adding evidence to the theory that the virus origi nated from animals, not from a lab, international experts say. “These data do not pro vide a definitive answer to how the pandemic began, but every piece of data is important to moving us closer to that answer,” World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Friday. How the coronavirus emerged remains unclear. Many scientists believe it most likely jumped from animals to people, as many other viruses have in the past, at a wildlife market in Wuhan, China. But Wuhan is home to several labs involved in collecting and studying coronaviruses, fueling theories scientists say are plausible that the virus may have leaked from one. The new findings do not settle the question, and they have not been for mally reviewed by other experts or published in a peer-reviewed journal. Tedros criticized China for not sharing the genetic information earlier, telling a press briefing that “this data could have and should have been shared three years ago.” The samples were col lected from surfaces at the Huanan seafood market in early 2020 in Wuhan, where the first human cases of COVID-19 were found in late 2019. Tedros said the genetic sequences were recently uploaded to the world’s big gest public virus database by scientists at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. They were then removed, but not before a French biologist spot ted the information by chance and shared it with a group of scientists based outside China that’s look ing into the origins of the coronavirus. The data show that some of the COVID-positive sam ples collected from a stall known to be involved in NG HAN GUAN I Associated Press the wildlife trade also con tained raccoon dog genes, indicating the animals may have been infected by the virus, according to the scientists. Their analysis was first reported in The Atlantic. “There’s a good chance that the animals that deposited that DNA also deposited the virus,” said Stephen Goldstein, a virol ogist at the University of Utah who was involved in analyzing the data. “If you were to go and do environ mental sampling in the aftermath of a zoonotic spillover event .. this is basically exactly what you would expect to find.” The canines, named for their raccoon-like faces, are often bred for their fur and sold for meat in animal markets across China. THANK YOU FOR READING FULL ACCESS WITH YOUR SUBSCRIPTION The Times’ print edition brings you in- depth coverage of the biggest local news stories. To access all of the local news our team is reporting, activate your digital subscription. Go to www. gainesvilletimes.com/register, and after filling out the form, check the box “already a subscriber.” Print Traditional print editions are currently published Wednesday and Friday for delivery by mail. 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Learn more at gainesvilletimes.com/app. Social media /gainesvilletimes @gtimes [EJ @gtimesnews ABOUT US AND OUR VALUES The public has a right to know, and The Times is dedicated to that principle and the “continued enlightenment and freedom of the people of North Georgia,” as engraved outside our building. The pursuit of truth is a fundamental principle of journalism. But the truth is not always apparent or known immediately. A professional journalist’s role is to report as completely and impartially as possible verifiable facts so readers can, based on their own knowledge and experience, determine what they believe to be the truth. That is often an ongoing pursuit as journalists work to uncover stories and follow those stories wherever they lead, regardless of preconceived ideas. The news they report is separate from the opinions shared in the pages of The Times, which include those by its editorial board, columnists, political cartoonists and readers who submit letters to the editor. The presentation of both news and opinions is designed to educate, entertain and foster community conversation. Readers are encouraged to challenge and sharpen their perceptions basved on that presentation. And we encourage readers to do the same for us, offering news tips, criticisms and questions. As your honestly local news source, we serve our readers first. Find us on these platforms or reach out to our newsroom at news@ gainesvilletimes.com or 770-718-3435. She (Titties gainesvilletimes.com A Metro Market Media Publication © 2023, Vol. 76, No. 56 Sunday, March 19,2023 HOW TO REACH US 345 Green St. N.W., Gainesville, GA 30501 P.0. Box 838, Gainesville, GA 30503 (770) 532-1234 Hours: 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Mon.-Fri. Drive thru open: 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Mon.-Fri. Publisher Stephanie Woody swoody@forsythnews.com Group Editor Nate McCullough, nmccullough@gainesvilletimes.com Editor John Chambliss jchambliss@gainesvilletimes.com Director of Audience Shannon Casas, scasas@gainesvilletimes.com Controller Susan Andrews, sandrews@gainesvilletimes.com Production Dir. Mark Hall, mhall@gainesvilletimes.com TALK TO AN EDITOR, REPORT AN ERROR If you spot an error, we want to correct it immediately. We also want your news tips and feature ideas. Call: (770) 718-3435 or (770) 532-1234, Ext. 3435 Hours: 8:30 a.m. to midnight, Mon.-Fri.; 2:00 p.m. to midnight Sat & Sun. e-mail: news@gainesvilletimes.com TO PLACE AN AD Classified: (770) 535-1199 Hours: 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Mon.-Fri. E-mail: classifieds@gainesvilletimes.com Display: (770) 532-1234, ext. 6380 Hours: 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Mon.-Fri. E-mail: displayads@gainesvilletimes.com SUBSCRIPTIONS AND CUSTOMER SERVICE HOME DELIVERY Subscribe by phone or online: (770) 532-2222 or (770) 532-1234. 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Periodical postage paid: USPS 212-860 Delivery problems call (770) 532-2222 SINGLE COPY The Times is available at retail stores, newspaper racks and at The Times for $1.00 Midweek Edition and $2.00 Weekend Edition. For our digital subscription offerings, go to gainesvilletimes.com/subscribe EVENTS Spring Storybook Ballet: “Peter Pan.” 7:30- 9:30 p.m. March 24; 1-3 p.m. and 6:30-7:30 p.m. March 25; 2-4 p.m. March 26. Pearce Auditorium at Brenau University, 202 Boule vard NE, Gainesville. 770-866-5353, info@ gbcdance.com. $15-$25. Fox Gradin Arts in the Outdoors Program. 10 a.m. to noon March 25. Elachee Nature Sci ence Center, 2125 Elachee Drive, Gaines ville. 770-535-1976, sam@elachee.org. Mutts on Main. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 25. Historic Gainesville square, 112 Main St.SW, Gainesville, lshubert@gainesvillega.gov. ONGOING Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group. 5:30- 6:30 p.m. first Tuesdays of the month. Grace Episcopal Church, 422 Brenau Ave. NE, Gainesville. 727-409-6608, charlenebestde- witt@gmail.com. Free. Gold Rush Quilting Guild. 10 a.m. to noon first Wednesdays of the month. Friendship Baptist Church, 3513 Westmoreland Road, Cleveland, alenekempton@gmail.com. Turning Leaves Book Club. 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. first Wednesdays of the month. Linwood Nature Preserve Ecology Center, 118 Spring- view Drive, Gainesville. 770-535-8293, karin. hicks@uga.edu. Northeast Georgia Writers. 1 -3 p.m. first Wednesdays of the month. Gainesville Downtown Library, 127 Main St. NW, Gaines ville. Talltaleswriter@gmail.com. Free. Card workshop. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. first Sat urdays of the month. Hall County Library System, Gainesville branch, 127 Main St. NW, Gainesville. 770-532-3311 ext. 4011, gkoecher@hallcountylibrary.org. Ekphrasis for the Masses. Noon to 1 p.m. sec ond Tuesdays of the month. Quinlan Visual Arts Center, 514 Green St. NE, Gainesville. Publish your event Don’t see your event here? Organizers can go to gainesvilletimes.com/calendar and submit events for publication online and in print. Click the “+Add event” button at the top right and follow the prompts to add information and a photo. Events publish at the editors’ discretion. See more Go to gainesvilletimes.com/calendar for the full interactive calendar of events throughout the region. 770-536-2575, info@qvac.org. Free. War Stories Book Club. 4-5 p.m. second Thurs days of the month. Murrayville Branch Li brary, 4796 Thompson Bridge Road, Gaines ville. 770-532-3311 ext. 171. Free. Discovery Saturdays. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. second Saturdays of the month. Elachee Nature Sci ence Center, 2125 Elachee Drive, Gainesville. 770-535-1976. $3-$5. Georgia Cross Stitchers. 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. second Saturdays of the month. Hall County Library System, Gainesville Branch, 127 Main St. NW, Gainesville. 770-532-3311 ext. 4011; gkoecher@hallcountylibrary.org. Free. Homeschool Day. 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. third Thursdays of the month. Elachee Nature Sci ence Center, 2125 Elachee Drive, Gainesville. 770-535-1976. $15. Gainesville Lacers. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. third Saturdays of the month. Hall County Library System, Gainesville branch, 127 Main St. NW, Gainesville. 770-532-3311, gkoecher@ hallcountylibrary.org. Tea with Jane Austen: A Reading Group. 3-4 p.m. fourth Fridays of the month. Hall County Library System, Gainesville Branch, 127 Main St. NW, Gainesville. 770-532-3311 ext. 4011, gkoecher@hallcountylibrary.org. Free. CORRECTION On Page 6A The competition name and one of the award rankings were incorrect in an article Friday about the Lakeview Academy robotics team. The competition is called FIRST Tech Challenge, and the team was runner-up for the Inspire award. See an error in The Times? Please reach out to news@gainesvilletimes.com so we can correct it. TODAY IN HISTORY MICHAEL CONROY I Associated Press Chicago Bulls Guard Michael Jordan, center, joins his team as they enter Market Square Arena for their game with the Indiana Pacers, Sunday, March 19, 1995, Indianapolis, In. This game marked Jordan’s return to the NBA after nearly 18 months. On this date: In 1859, the opera “Faust” by Charles Gounod premiered in Paris. In 1931, Nevada Gov. Fred B. Balzar signed a measure legalizing casino gam bling. In 1942, during World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered men be tween the ages of 45 and 64, inclusive, to register for non-military duty. 1945, during World War II, 724 people were killed when a Japanese dive bomber attacked the carrier USS Franklin off Ja pan (the ship was saved). Adolf Hitler or dered the destruction of German facilities that could fall into Allied hands in his so- called “Nero Decree,” which was largely disregarded. In 1977, the series finale of “Mary Tyler Moore” aired on CBS-TV, ending the situ ation comedy’s seven-season run. In 1987, televangelist Jim Bakker resigned as chairman of his PTL ministry organi zation amid a sex and money scandal involving Jessica Hahn, a former church secretary. In 1991, Polish President Lech Walesa ar rived in Washington for his first state visit to the United States. In 1995, after a 21-month hiatus, Michael Jordan returned to professional basket ball with his former team, the Chicago Bulls. In 1997, artist Willem de Kooning, con sidered one of the 20th century’s great est painters, died in East Hampton, New York, at age 92. In 2003, President George W. Bush or dered the start of war against Iraq. (Be cause of the time difference, it was early March 20 in Iraq.) In 2007, a methane gas explosion in a Si berian coal mine killed 110 workers. In 2020, President Donald Trump focused attention on a malaria drug, chloroquine, as a possible coronavirus treatment; the FDA issued a statement saying that there were “no FDA-approved therapeutics” to treat COVID-19. ENTERTAINMENT Lance Reddick, ‘The Wire’ and ‘John Wick’ star, dies at age 60 NEW YORK — Lance Reddick, a character actor who specialized in intense, icy and possibly sinister author ity figures on TV and film, including “The Wire,” “Fringe” and the “John Wick” franchise, has died. He was 60. Reddick died “suddenly” Friday morning, his publicist Mia Hansen said in a statement, attributing his death to natural causes. Wendell Pierce, Reddick’s co-star on “The Wire” paid tribute on Twitter. “A man of great strength and grace,” he wrote. “As talented a musician as he was an actor. The epitome of class.” “John Wick — Chapter Four” director Chad Stahelski and star Keanu Reeves said they dedicating the upcoming film Celebrity birthdays Actor Renee Taylor is 90. Actor Ursula An dress is 87. Singer Clarence “Frogman” Henry is 86. Singer Ruth Pointer (The Pointer Sisters) is 77. Actor Glenn Close is 76. Ac tor Bruce Willis is 68. Actor-comedian Mary Scheer is 60. Playwright Neil LaBute is 60. Actor Connor Trinneer is 54. Rock musician Gert Bettens (K’s Choice) is 53. Rapper Bun B is 50. Rock musician Zach Lind (Jimmy Eat World) is 47. Actor Virginia Williams is 45. Ac tor Abby Brammell is 44. MLB pitcher Clayton Kershaw is 35. Actor Craig Lamar Traylor is 34. Actor Philip Bolden is 28. to Reddick and were “deeply saddened and heartbroken at the loss.” Reddick was often put in a suit or a crisp uniform during his career, play ing tall taciturn and elegant men of dis tinction. He was best known for his role as straight-laced Lt. Cedric Daniels on the hit HBO series “The Wire,” where his character was agonizingly trapped in the messy politics of the Baltimore police department. Associated Press
