Northeast Georgia News
Reporting from Barrow, Clarke, Jackson, Madison, Oconee and surrounding counties.
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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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Lasting Impact of Virtual Learning: How Georgia Schools Are Confronting Learning Disabilities, Developmental Delays
As classrooms across Georgia return to full-time, in-person learning, educators and families are grappling with a challenge that has only grown in recent years following the COVID-19 pandemic: a noticeable rise in learning disabilities, particularly in early readers and students with developmental delays and disabilities. Nationwide, approximately 7.5 million students…
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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…