Northeast Georgia News
Reporting from Barrow, Clarke, Jackson, Madison, Oconee and surrounding counties.
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Athens’ Tree Canopy: A Community Rooted in Shade
Inside the Athens loop is a street lined with mature oaks and maples, where the canopy stretches overhead like a living roof. In neighborhoods such as Forest Heights, trees are more than aesthetic scenery. They are a legacy of resilience and community care. In 2005, Athens-Clarke County adopted the Community…
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Clarke County schools learn PSR in their first season under the formula
Clarke County’s two public high schools are learning a new playoff formula and a new classification at the same time. The Georgia High School Association now uses its Postseason Ranking formula, or PSR, to fill and seed playoff brackets in every classification. For the previous two seasons, it was used…
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Porchfest 2026: Here’s Some Itinerary Suggestions
The annual Historic Athens Porchfest is coming up on Sunday, Oct. 18, and students in Kyser Lough’s First Year Odyssey seminar on music in Athens have scoured the 200+ Porchfest band lineup to build a few custom, themed itineraries for attendees. We’ll give you the first 4-5 shows to visit,…
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Tour Unique Homes Behind Music at Historic Athens Porchfest
The porches are the centerpiece at Historic Athens Porchfest on Oct. 18, but there’s so much more to the homes hosting musicians and bands at the free community event. Porchfest hosts opened up their residences before the crowds to students in a journalism seminar on home and garden writing class.…
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Downtown Athens Redevelopment Moves Forward, Reshaping Former Bethel Midtown Village
A major redevelopment in North Downtown Athens is moving into its next stage. With its first phase complete, construction is now underway for phase two and funding secured for phase three. The redevelopment is replacing aging affordable housing at the former Bethel Midtown Village with an updated, walkable community designed…
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Oconee County Schools Adjust as PSR Takes over Playoff Path
Georgia high school teams no longer know their postseason path before the season begins. After two years of use for smaller schools, the Georgia High School Association’s Post Season Ranking formula, or PSR, now sets playoff brackets in all seven classifications. Oconee County High School already has some experience with…
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If Athens’ Landfill Turns Methane Gas Into Energy, Why Compost?
Beneath mounds of waste at the Athens-Clarke County Landfill, dozens of wells drilled into the ground collect energy from the methane gas created by decomposing organic waste. The gas is filtered through pipes to a small plant on landfill property where it is converted into usable energy. Plant operator Corey…
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Is Athens on Track to Meet its Clean-Energy Goal for 2035?
Seven solar trackers move with the sun in the parking lot of the Athens-Clarke County Library, providing shade for patrons while generating electricity for the building. For library manager Niké Shimobi-Obijuru, the trackers are also a visible example of how the county is implementing renewable energy in its public facilities. “They’re…
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Jackson County Schools Bring Experience to Statewide Sports Rankings Change
When the Georgia High School Association took its Post Season Ranking formula statewide this fall, three of Jackson County’s four high schools had already played under a version of it. Commerce, East Jackson and Jefferson competed in Classes A Division I, 2A and 3A in 2025-26, the classifications that used…