Athens-Clarke County
Reporting about Clarke County, Georgia. Some stories will be republished in the Athens Banner-Herald as part of a news-academic partnership with Grady Newsource.
-
Local Entrepreneurship, Innovation Blossoms in Athens
The University of Georgia and the Athens community create a vibrant hub for entrepreneurship, where students and alumni alike turn passions into thriving ventures. Business ownership is becoming popular — a 2023 study from Square found that over half of Gen-Z is considering starting their own business. Young creatives…
-
Adela Alejo, 12, Stars for Classic City Dawgs Adapted Sports Team
Adela Alejo is just 12 years old but is one of the most experienced athletes on her adapted sports team, the Classic City Dawgs. Alejo, born with spina bifida, has found community and an outlet for her love for sports since joining the team last season. The Classic City Dawgs…
-
Growing Pains: Rock Lobsters Hit Hard Ice in Inaugural Season
The Athens Rock Lobsters started their first practice sessions on Sept. 30 and played their first game on Oct. 11. After the first four games, the Rock Lobsters were undefeated. However, there is one problem. The renovations on The Classic Center, which include their new hockey arena, Akins Ford Arena,…
-
New UGA Alcohol Policy Changes Fan Experience in Sanford Stadium
For the first time in University of Georgia history, football fans are sipping on beers and hard seltzers inside Sanford Stadium while watching the Bulldogs. While some students and fans welcome this decision, others are concerned about fan safety and the impact it will have on the game-day experience. In…
-
Declining Rates of Print Media Affect Local News Publications
Each morning, Richard “Dick” Ferguson begins his day the same way — reading the newspaper. His chosen publication, the Athens Banner-Herald, delivers its printed copies Wednesday through Sunday mornings. “I have subscribed to the paper as long as I can remember,” said Ferguson, an Athens resident of 55 years. “I…
-
Historic Beechwood Shopping Center Gets Extensive Makeover
The Beechwood Shopping Center on Alps Road in Athens has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent months with developers launching major construction projects and recruiting new tenants to fill retail spaces. At the same time, several longstanding businesses, such as Beechwood Cinemas and CVS, have left the shopping center, giving…
-
College Square Plaza Redevelopment and UGA’s North Campus Connection
On a sunny afternoon in Athens, students and residents gather at the College Square Plaza to eat lunch, work on their laptops or visit with friends. People fill the picnic tables that are scattered throughout the space. The plaza is a central hub in downtown Athens. It has become a…
-
Athens Voter Voices: Abortion, Women’s Rights Propel Some Decisions
Athens voters turned out for early voting at the Athens Regional Library ahead of the presidential election. As the nation debates critical issues such as women’s rights, the economy, climate change and more, Athens-Clarke County voters at the predominantly Democrat precinct wanted to make their voices heard. Voters shared what…
-
Athens Voter Voices: Lack of Trust, Nerves Common
Georgia voters hit the polls early to vote in the 2024 U.S. presidential election. The battleground state saw an unprecedented turnout for early voting in 92 counties, including Athens-Clarke County. Athens-Clarke County provided six locations for advanced voting. Athens historically leans left in presidential elections, seeing a 70.13% voter rate…
-
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,…