Politics
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Madison County Schools Reflect on Security Following Georgia School Shooting
The recent school shooting in Barrow County, Georgia, has parents and educators throughout the Northeast Georgia region worried about school safety. Victim Totals Across the Years from School Shootings (U.S.) (Data From Center for Homeland Defense and Security) As seen in the graph above, there has been an increase over…
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Mobilizing the Next Generation: How Young Voters Impact Georgia’s Future
As the 2024 elections approach, all eyes are on Georgia, a key battleground state where young voters could potentially have a significant impact on the outcome. That is, of course, if they show up to the polls. A Look at Past Turnout Historically, the 18-24 age category is the least…
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Jackson County Seniors Advocate for Property Tax Cuts with 3 Items on Nov. 5 Ballot
Some Jackson County senior citizens are pushing for tax relief following a three-year effort by residents out of the Cresswind Community. Three bills on the ballot Nov. 5 could reduce the amount of property taxes seniors would have to pay in coming years. HB 1003, HB 1004 and HB 1461…
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Unconventional Duo of Candidate, 19-Year-Old Leads to Barrow County Primary Win
Will Stevens was sitting in his freshman dorm at the University of Georgia when his phone lit up with a notification. It was a text from a number he didn’t know. The 19-year-old political science and public relations major doesn’t get random messages often, but this one was different. It…
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A Look Inside: Athens-Clarke Conducts Poll Accuracy Testing Before 2024 Election
Footsteps echoed through the hallways as suitcases were wheeled into their designated locations. People unzipped, took out and then helped the machines whir to life with wires. Faint chatter carried across the room, some with questions and others with idle chitchat. Inside the Athens-Clarke County Facilities and Landscape Management Building,…
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Oconee Board of Elections Faces More Than 300 Voter Challenges Ahead of Nov. 5
What are these Challenges? The challenges stem from a new Georgia law, Senate Bill 189, which went into effect July 1. Part of the law allows Georgia voters to challenge other voters’ registrations. Most of Cruz and Aleshire’s challenges are against people who have moved to another county or state…
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Ceasefire Resolution Support Reaches Athens-Clarke County Government
Athens-Clarke County commissioners and pro-Palestinian groups are at a standstill over whether the city should adopt a resolution calling for a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas. Mayor Kelly Girtz has suggested other methods to address the conflict such as an open letter supporting an end to the…
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Athens Considers Next Steps After Closure of First Step Encampment
First Step, a government-sanctioned homeless encampment that opened in early 2022, will close on Dec. 31 of this year. Athens-Clarke County government is closing the encampment while it looks to find a more permanent solution to homelessness. As a result of the closure, unhoused individuals cannot stay at the encampment…
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Northeast Georgia County Representatives Discuss Population Growth
Grady Newsource brought in representatives from the surrounding counties to address the issue of population growth — during a special solutions journalism broadcast on Nov. 15. Recently, Athens-Clarke, Barrow, Jackson, Oconee and Madison counties have all seen an influx in population. The Solutions Journalism Network defines solutions journalism as rigorous reporting…