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.
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BikeAthens Provides Transportation Equity
RideAthens has spent more than three decades working to eliminate transportation barriers in the community. Americans spend 13% of their household income on transportation, according to the Institute of Transportation & Development Policy. With the poverty rate in Athens at 28.8%, local residents can face challenges getting from place to…
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Bitter Southerner Celebrates 10th Anniversary at 40 Watt Club with Music, Philanthropy
S.G. Goodman returned to the city where she recorded her most recent album to perform March 21 at 40 Watt Club for over 250 people at the Bitter Southerner’s 10th anniversary party. Goodman said this was her first time playing a large venue in the Classic City, despite her…
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‘Keep Athens, Athens’: Daily Groceries Co-Op Seeks Help to Stay in Business
Daily Groceries Co-Op first opened its doors on Prince Avenue in 1992. Three decades later, the store is asking for support to keep their doors open. “We really need your help,” said Shelley Ruth, the store’s general manager. Athens’ only community-owned grocery store, Daily Groceries Co-Op hopes to raise $150,000.…
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FarmRx Provides Free Produce for Low-Income Families in Athens
One in six Athens residents are considered “food insecure,” according to Feeding America. Thirty-five percent of that group do not qualify for assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. FarmRx, also known as the Food as Medicine Prescription Program, is working to provide free fruits and vegetables to low-income families…
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‘Radically Inclusive’: Athens Coffee Spot Employs, Empowers People with Disabilities
At Bitty & Beau’s coffee shop, customers might notice “we love you” or “you are awesome” written on the side of their cup of joe. These positive notes are emblematic of a culture of encouragement and inclusivity in the store, which is a space dedicated to primarily hiring people with…
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Protesting ‘Toxic’ Policing: Athens Area Residents March for Accountability
Tiffany Taylor worries about her four sons. She is constantly anxious that they are in danger — she fears that one day, they will have an encounter with law enforcement that could end their lives. “I stand before you as a mother who is in mourning for yet another black…
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2 Schools in Athens-Clarke County Receive Honors for AP Programs
Clarke Central and Cedar Shoals high schools in Athens-Clarke County were recently named Advanced Placement (AP) Honor Schools. Ginger Lehmann, AP coordinator at Clarke Central High School, said it’s rewarding to receive recognition from the state, especially given the rigor of the courses. “We have students who take several courses,…
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From kitchen to compost: new grant to expand commercial compost program in Athens
A new grant awarded to the Athens-Clarke County Recycling Division will expand the county’s commercial compost program potential capacity by providing funds to purchase a larger collection truck and other materials. The current collection system started around 2016. Businesses, nonprofits and other organizations in Athens can pay to have food…
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Nuçi’s Space Works to Destigmatize Mental Illness
On the corner of Williams and Oconee streets, people walking by often catch the sound of music filtering from the recognizable blue brick building. Nuçi’s Space looks like a recording studio and concert venue at first glance, but behind its long-standing walls, the nonprofit is working to destigmatize mental illness. …
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‘A Perfect Storm’: Athenians Carry the Weight of the Energy Burden
When Moesha Tutt opened her energy bill from Walton EMC in January, the nearly-$900 balance for a mere two months shocked her and brought her to tears. The high bill was another stressor for her already-struggling family. After injuring her arm in a car wreck in October, Tutt, a…