Georgia earned a failing grade in a March of Dimes report on the state of maternal and infant health.

Why it matters: Preterm births and infant deaths are happening significantly more often in Georgia than on average across the country — particularly among Black and Native American mothers.

Preterm births: The national rate of preterm births, which according to March of Dimes can contribute to infant and maternal mortality, was 10.4% in 2023.

• For Black people in Georgia, the preterm birth rate was 15%, according to the report for the state. And among American Indian/Alaska Native people it was 14.6%.
• Meanwhile, the preterm birth rates in Georgia among white people (10.3%) and Hispanic people (10%) were lower than the national rate.

Infant mortality: The national infant mortality rate rose in 2022 for the first time in two decades, the report says, in line with other studies carried out after Roe v. Wade was struck down.

• March of Dimes says the national rate reached 5.6 deaths per 1,000 births nationally, with the highest rates in the South and Midwest.
• In Georgia, that rate was 7.1 deaths per 1,000 births, up considerably from 6.3 in 2021.
• Again, there was a stark racial disparity. Among Black mothers in Georgia the rate was 9.6. The rates among white (5), Hispanic (5.2) and Asian (3.7) mothers in Georgia were less than the national rate.
• Maternal mortality rates in Georgia have climbed in recent years, we reported earlier this year, and Black women account for the majority of those deaths.

Between the lines: Public policy measures could help curb these problems, says Yadira Tabales, maternal and infant health manager for Puerto Rico at March of Dimes.

• The report called out Georgia's lack of Medicaid expansion, supportive doula or midwife measures, mandated paid family leave, and maternal mortality review committee as policies the state could address to improve outcomes.
• The state fired every member of its maternal mortality review committee earlier this month, ProPublica reported last week.

Environmental factors also increasingly weigh on pregnancies.

• Heat exposure and lower air quality have been linked to prenatal births, low birth weights and neurocognitive disorders.
• Neighborhoods where most of the population is Black or Latino tend to be disproportionately hit by heat and smog due to a lack of green spaces or proximity to highways, studies have found.

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The U.S. Postal Service is honoring one of Georgia's points of pride and one of life's best walks through the woods.

Driving the news: Next year, you'll be able to buy a Forever Stamp recognizing the diverse and rustic views of the Appalachian Trail.

Why it matters: The southern terminus of the roughly 2,190-mile hike begins on the top of Springer Mountain in North Georgia.

Zoom in: Each stamp offers a different photographic perspective, some of which are first person, of a path that offers rugged inclines, exposure to the seasons, and plenty of time to think.

• Antonio Alcalá, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps based on photographers' images.

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"Beauty is eternity gazing at itself in a mirror. But you are eternity and you are the mirror."

Phoenix 3000 read that Khalil Gibran quote this morning and visited a whole bunch of mirrors to reflect on his own beauty.

• Where is he?

🗳️ Latino voters in Georgia backed former President Trump at similar levels in 2020, making the state an outlier of the considerable gains he received across the country. (AJC)

⚱️ State agencies and local police are investigating after the cremains of 35 people were found at a Cobb County funeral home that's been closed for months. (Fox 5)

🎙️ Radio personality Ryan Cameron will be the new voice you hear while riding the plane train at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. (Atlanta News First)

💥 Macon-Bibb County will celebrate the start of 2025 by blowing up a vacant hotel. (AP)