Northeast Georgia News
Reporting from Barrow, Clarke, Jackson, Madison, Oconee and surrounding counties.
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Oconee County Board of Commissioners Votes to Amend Alcoholic Beverages Ordinance
The Oconee County Board of Commissioners unanimously voted Tuesday to amend the Alcoholic Beverages Ordinance distance requirement from any location to a school and/or church from 600 feet to 300 feet. The change follows the county’s decision to deny renewing Costa Alegre Seafood and Grill’s liquor license. The new amendment…
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Social Circle Wrestling Adapts as GHSA Changes Classifications Again
Randy Prater, right, congratulates James Sievers, left, after his win at the Archer Tiger Rumble tournament in Lawrenceville, Georgia, Nov. 9, 2025. Sievers won by fall over Jaxon Grant from Heritage-Catoosa. (Photo/Sydney Jarrard) Social Circle’s wrestling team is a powerhouse that has historically dominated in both team and individual state competitions. In…
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Nicholson City Council Fails to Agree on Water Board Nominee
The Nicholson City Council failed to appoint a member to the Nicholson Water Authority board at its meeting last week, with three separate motions dying for the lack of a second. Council members considered nominees Roger Brock, Larry Turner and Walter Barnett during their Dec. 1 meeting, but none of…
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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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UGA Minorities in Public Health Club Champions Professionalism and Diversity
The University of Georgia’s student-led Minorities in Public Health Club (MPH) hosted a meet and greet Sept. 4 at the Ramsey Student Center in Athens. The purpose of the event was to provide women and people of color studying public health with opportunities for networking and headshots. In a time…
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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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Nicholson City Council Approves Increased 2026 Budget
The Nicholson City Council unanimously voted to approve a $1.21 million general fund budget for 2026. The budget approval and a motion to approve an open-air business at the Town Center District took up a majority of the 45-minute meeting on Nov. 3. 2026 General Fund Budget Approval “We are…
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Disqualified Bishop Official Asks Town Council to Challenge Jurisdiction Dispute
Former Bishop Town Council member Hudson Holder urged council members during public comment at the Nov. 10 meeting to stand up for the town’s jurisdiction. “The county continues to tell Council where your lines are and who your citizens are, and that’s not their decision to make,” Holder said. Holder…