Northeast Georgia News
Reporting from Barrow, Clarke, Jackson, Madison, Oconee and surrounding counties.
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Athens Leaders Weigh High-Performance Construction Against Housing Shortage
In Athens-Clarke County, the push toward a 100% clean energy by 2035 is colliding with a stubborn housing shortage. For the people working to solve both problems, the tension is constant. Melinda Lord, director of Housing and Community Development for Athens-Clarke County, doesn’t hesitate when asked whether affordable housing and…
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More Than a House, It’s Their Story: The Rossesters and Their Historic Home
This story follows an elderly couple in Eatonton, Georgia, and the home they’ve spent years building a life in together. What started as a simple photo assignment turned into something much more personal as I spent time with them, listening to their stories and seeing how much history lives within…
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Tech-Driven Tourism: How AI, Social Media Affect Travel in Hawai’i
These three stories, by Caroline Feagin, Annabelle Foley and Clarice Henry, were created as part of the Travel Journalism in Hawaii program through the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. Hawaiʻi’s Next Tourism Debate Isn’t About Hotels — It’s About Algorithms By Caroline Feagin At sunrise in Waikīkī, the…
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Electric Vehicles: Experts, Consumers Weigh the Costs, Benefits
Electric vehicles (EV) have been around for decades, but with the growing concerns emissions have on our environment, the question has become, are electric vehicles worth the investment despite the hassles of charging and planning? At the core of the EV movement is a goal for lower carbon emissions. According…
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From Campus to Clubs, Jazz Finds New Life in Athens
Jazz, a musical genre combining multiple types of music like ragtime and blues, continues to draw crowds of Athens residents from various age groups. Musicians say recent jazz performances are drawing younger audiences. This seems atypical to what they originally expected. Meanwhile, this trend is part of a broader jazz…
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How Invisible Scars Turn Pain into Purpose
Editor’s Note: This series of stories explores how individuals have turned challenging experiences and obstacles into opportunities — particularly around mental health. July 23, 2017. Freedom Day. That’s when a nightmare ended for Genesis, only six days shy of her 18th birthday. That’s when the FBI finally rescued her. The…
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Finding Home Onstage: Putnam County Middle School Presents ‘Dare to Dream Jr.’
Twenty-nine students. One theater teacher. Six months. Over 126 hours of rehearsals. A bit of extra help from the art teacher, the chorus teacher, a math teacher and front office support staff. That’s what it took for Putnam County Middle School to present three nights of the Disney musical revue…
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Cost of Starting Over: Rebuilding After Domestic Violence, Trafficking
Starting over after domestic abuse or human trafficking often means rebuilding nearly every part of life. Survivors frequently face financial barriers, housing instability and long-term emotional challenges as they work toward safety and independence. While domestic violence and human trafficking are distinct experiences, advocates say both can leave survivors…
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Nonprofit Hope 139 Provides Homes, Support for Mothers
Hope 139, a nonprofit that provides residences and resources for mothers who are at risk or pregnant, plans to open its first three cottages in north Athens this summer. Shelley Tanner, a University of Georgia graduate who holds a degree in nursing from Emory University and has volunteered with Mercy…
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Why Composting Is Accessible, but Not Widely Practiced
As spring gardening season begins in Athens-Clarke County, some residents are rethinking what happens to their food scraps. Food waste makes up a large portion of what ends up in landfills, where it breaks down without oxygen and produces methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. While composting offers an alternative, it…