Beloved Atlanta Mailman 'Mr. Floyd': A Life of Service and Activism

Neighbors are still missing their newly retired mailman.

Floyd Martin was a beloved mail carrier who worked the same route in Marietta for nearly 35 years. So beloved, in fact, that when he retired a few weeks ago, the community he served so well started a GoFundMe page to send him to Hawaii. Delta Air Lines pitched in too — providing airfare. 

Known as "Mister Floyd" to his Marietta residents, Floyd Martin joined On Second Thought in the studio to reflect on his life and career with the postal service.

Listen to their conversation here.

Garrett Cathcart in Afghanistan

VA Announces Renewed Focus On Mental Health Outreach

Garrett Cathcart of Atlanta waited six years after the end of his active duty military service to step into a therapist’s office.

He says his military training taught him to be “alpha” and “macho,” which discouraged him from expressing emotional vulnerability.

“The Army...does an amazing job of creating a soldier,” Cathcart said, “not so hot on taking a soldier and turning him back into a civilian.”

Veterans Affairs wants to change that going forward.

Read more from Caroline Catherman here.

In this Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018 file photo, a nurse prepares a flu shot from a vaccine vial at the Salvation Army in Atlanta. DAVID GOLDMAN / AP

Vaccine No Match Against Flu Bug That Popped Up Near End

The flu vaccine turned out to be a big disappointment again.

The vaccine didn't work against a flu bug that popped up halfway through the past flu season, dragging down overall effectiveness to 29%, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Thursday.

The flu shot was working well early in the season with effectiveness put at 47% in February. But it was virtually worthless during a second wave driven by a tougher strain, at just 9%.

There was "no significant protection" against that strain, said the CDC's Brendan Flannery.

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