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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A Punch a Day Keeps the Doctor Away: Woman Gains Strength While Boxing Through Parkinson’s
Rolling hills, wandering deer and quaint towns slip past the clear windows of Marcy Floyd’s car as “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” drifts out of the speakers. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Floyd makes the hour-and-a-half commute from her house in Lake Oconee to the X3 gym off Milledge…
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West Broad Complex Coverage: Clarke County School District Outlines Redevelopment Plans
Reporting II students have covered the discussions and decisions throughout fall 2025 around the Clarke County School District’s plans to repurpose and redevelop the West Broad Street School site. Nearly 80 students researched and reported on this high-interest issue in Athens. See a few of their stories below. Click the…
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Athens-Clarke County Commission Delays Vote on Homewood Hills Redevelopment Plan
Jack Murphy, chief investment officer with development group Carter, presents updated details of the Homewood Hills redevelopment plan to Athens-Clarke County Commissioners on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025. Murphy outlined the proposed residential buildings, commercial renovations and amenity areas with updates since the company’s previous proposal. (Photo/Hollis Turner) The Athens-Clarke…
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Despite New Funding, Clarke County Jail Faces Ongoing Deputy Shortages
As Clarke County Jail’s inmate population continues to rise, the sheriff’s office is facing a widening gap between the number of inmates and deputies on staff. Four inmates have died in custody since April 2025. In a press conference held in July, Clarke County Sheriff John Q. Williams attributed some…
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Swap Shop Strives for Visibility as Students Go Against Fast Fashion
For fourth-year University of Georgia student Kennedy Fulton, thrifting used to be about saving money. Now, it’s about something bigger. “I first started thrifting back in middle school for affordability reasons, but now it is more about sustainability,” Fulton said. “Most clothes today are cheaply made in sweatshops, and I…
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SNAP Benefit Cuts Leave Athens-Clarke Nonprofits Facing Sharp Rise in Demand
Geoff Rushing, founder of City of Refuge Athens, said Northeast Georgia has gone from “food insecurity crisis to food insecurity emergency.” On Nov. 1, for the first time in United States history, the federal government suspended benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program amid the federal government shutdown. The unprecedented…
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Groundwork: Stories of Sustainability in Northeast Georgia
A team of 20 student journalists created a news special responding to the needs of Northeast Georgia counties. Reporters traveled to five counties, spoke with residents, uncovered environmental gaps, and highlighted the solutions communities are building. Watch to see what they discovered and the solutions taking root. This is Groundwork:…
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Northeast Georgia Food Bank Competes to Give Back
In Northeast Georgia, friendly competition is fueling a big impact. Food insecurity remains a pressing issue not only in Athens but across Northeast Georgia. Thousands of residents are impacted everyday and face challenges of getting food on the table. Every October, the Northeast Georgia Food Bank hosts their annual Hunger…
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Provider Shortages Limit Mental Health Access in Athens
Athens-Clarke County is facing a growing shortage of mental health care providers, leaving both college students and local residents struggling to find prompt and affordable treatment. Athens Mental Health Resources Fall Short of Demand Athens is officially marked as a Mental Health Professional Shortage Area, meaning the demand for providers…
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3 Takeaways From November’s Clarke County Board of Education Meeting
Clean up and asbestos abatement is underway on the three vacant buildings on West Broad Street, Jennifer Scott, who is serving as interim superintendent, told the board Thursday. “We’re excited to really get traction going and to really do what is needed to rehab that place so that it truly…