Digital Storytelling

Michael’s Law Exempts Underage Musicians in Georgia

February 22, 2017May 1, 2017 Savannah McCoyAthens Police, Georgia Bars, House Bill 152, Michael's Law, Monsoon, Sienna Chandler, Underage Musicians0 comment

Athens, GA – Despite banning bars from hiring bouncers and bartenders under the age of 21, House Bill 152, also known as Michael’s Law, still allows bars to hire underage musicians. Michael’s Law, implemented in July 2016, prevents bars from hiring staff employees under 21 and bans entry to anyone under 21 not accompanied by a guardian. Shortly before the law went in effect, Georgia’s Department of Revenue issued a policy bulletin clarifying that Michael’s Law does not affect people whom bars hire if that person is not kept on a…

Education Entertainment

Women in Athens Music Push Back on Industry-level Inequality

December 7, 2016December 7, 2016 Hannah BrownAthens, athens ga, Female musicians, gender equality, Girls Rock, music0 comment

Women in Athens local music say they are not exempt from the sexism that permeates the music industry on a national level, however, the rich community built amongst these women involved in local music provides a unique and collaborative support system. “There are a lot of male musicians here, and a lot of them tend to be bands,” said Sarah Zuñiga, a self-described “indie-folk” artist who performs primarily as a solo act. At times, this plethora of male artists can work to her advantage, she said, as local venues…

Health News

Athens Community Feeds the Hungry for Holidays

December 7, 2016December 7, 2016 Joy BratcherAthens, Christmas, Crisis, Food, Holidays, Homelessness, Hunger, Thanksgiving0 comment

Hunger Strikes During the Holiday Season During the holiday season, The Athens Area Emergency Food Bank (AAEFB) and The Northeast Emergency Food Bank begin to see an increase in numbers of families needing help to provide food for their table. On Thanksgiving morning, Kim Ramos and the workers at the AAEFB walked up to a line already formed outside of their facility with people waiting for a Thanksgiving meal to put on their table. “They are people just like us,” Ramos said. “They want to be able to have some normalcy in…

News

Athens’ Homeless Rates Drop, But Root Causes Remain

December 7, 2016December 7, 2016 Katherine Clineathens area homeless shelter, athens ga, Athens-Clarke County, department of housing and urban development, grant funding, homeless, homeless rates, homeless services athens ga, homeless shelters, hud, katie smith, local government, monroe ga, national coalition for the homeless, northeast georgia homeless coalition, oconee county, panhandling, pit count, poverty, shea post, shelters, us government social services, watkinsville ga0 comment

The Reality of Homeless Rates Despite the collaborative shelter and service relief efforts, Athens, Georgia has just 17 fewer homeless in 2016 due to the difficulty in addressing homelessness’s root causes. According the US Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) 2016 Homelessness Point in Time Count (PIT) conducted for Athens-Clarke County, the total number of homeless individuals dropped from 247 persons in 2014 to 225 persons in January 2016. Clarke County sits among 11 other counties reporting the highest numbers of homelessness in the state. The Georgia Department of…

Education News

Athens Transit Eyes Youth Prosperity with Transit Alternatives

November 29, 2016December 7, 2016 Jaylon ThompsonAllison Wright, Athen's Great Promise, Athens Transit, Athens-Clarke County, Butch McDuffie, Cedar Shoals, Clarke Central, Georgia Square Mall, Johnelle Simpson, Kids Ride Free0 comment

Athens, Georgia- Athens Transit’s “Kids Ride Free” program has continued to thrive four months after its summer trial period—showing that economic benefits outweigh a loss in revenue. The program, created by the Athens Youth Development task force, started as opportunity for youth [ages 5-17] to travel around the city in the summer. On August 2, the initiative was extended throughout Athens-Clarke County’s academic school year. Athens Transit Director Butch McDuffie said youth ridership is up 570 percent from August 2015 to August 2016. “We went from an increase of 50 youth riders per day…

Education Entertainment Uncategorized

Georgia’s Entertainment Industry Brings On-Set Opportunities for UGA

November 29, 2016November 29, 2016 Mari KasuyaAllison Krausman, American Myth, Atlanta, Beth Marcinko, Connor Pannell, Department of Theatre and Film Studies, EMST, entertainment industry, entertainment industry boom, film, FilmL.A., FratBoy FreakOut, George Contini, Georgia, Georgia Film Academy, Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, Kyle Rehl, on-set, production, Robert, Sammy Levine, set, television, The Spectacular Now, Trouble with the Curve, Turner Entertainment Networks, UGA, University of Georgia, videography0 comment

Athens, Georgia – The state’s thriving entertainment industry has increased the amount of on-set opportunities for University of Georgia [UGA] students and faculty, and grown an interest for those interested in the field to stay in Georgia post-graduation, according to UGA professors and undergraduates. The peach state’s production of television and film has earned third place worldwide behind Los Angeles and the United Kingdom, according to a 2015 study by FilmL.A. Inc., the official non-profit film office for L.A. George Contini, UGA Associate Professor in the Department of Theatre and Film…

Education News Uncategorized

Destination Dawgs: Opening Doors for Intellectually Disabled Students

November 7, 2016December 7, 2016 Keion PittsDestination Dawgs, disabilities, Education, inclusive post secondary education, intellectual disabilites, learning, Special Education, UGA0 comment

The new inclusive post-secondary education program, Destination Dawgs, will give five students with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to attend the University of Georgia (UGA) in spring 2017. The non-degree program will allow students with intellectual disabilities to attend UGA courses with the support of peer mentors and a Destination Dawgs transition teacher. Students who complete the program will receive a certificate of completion. “This program is really geared towards employment outcomes and good adult lives just like most students who come to college. We are looking into classes that teach…

News

Retail Owners and Experts Torn Over Urban Outfitters Arrival

November 7, 2016December 1, 2016 Sydney HaymondCheeky Peach, downtown Athens, retail, shopping, Urban Outfitters0 comment

Following a previously reported public opinion piece by Flagpole, owners and experts are conflicted about whether local boutique owners are negatively affected by the opening of Urban Outfitters downtown Athens in the early fall of 2015. Owners, such as University of Georgia graduate Katie Jacobs, believe their stores may actually be experiencing positive benefits from their new neighbor. Her boutique Cheeky Peach has found a way to expand her store in the past year, after the opening of Urban Outfitters. Jacobs said that customers who might not typically shop in the local boutiques may now be…

Education Sports

UGA Olympic Swimmers Believe Balance is Key

October 30, 2016December 1, 2016 Nick CassidyAthletics vs. Education, Education, Gold Medalists, Gunnar Bentz, In-season, Jack Bauerle, Jay Litherland, Matias Koski, NCAA, Olympics, Swimming, UGA athletics, UGA swim & dive, UGA swim team, UGA swimmers0 comment

Athens, Georgia – University of Georgia (UGA) Olympic gold medalists agreed that a structured swimming schedule and disciplined academic routine are imperative to success in both areas. UGA was represented by 28 current, former and soon-to-be athletes, associated with the University, to the 31st Olympic games held in August 2016, in Rio de Janeiro. Out of the 13 swimmers from UGA present at the games, nine brought home medals, four of which were gold. Jay Litherland, finalist in the 400 individual medley, and Gunnar Bentz, gold medalist in the 4×100…

Education Health

The Surprising Costs of Raising a Special Needs Child

October 26, 2016December 5, 2016 Logan WilkesADD, ADHD, Aspergers, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, disabilities, Donors, Down Syndrome, Extra Special People, intellectual disabilites, non-profit, Special Needs0 comment

Athens, Georgia – On average it takes about $250,000 to raise a child from birth to age 18, but it costs ten times that to raise a special needs child, at an average of $2.5 million, according to research done by Extra Special People, a local non-profit that works with special needs children. Common costs that special needs children require are frequent doctors visits, numerous therapy sessions, constant watch and expensive medical equipment according to Extra Special People staff members that work with these families on a daily basis. For…