News – Page 2 – Digital Storytelling

Athens Freemasons Claim to Focus Mostly on Fundraising

December 3, 2017December 5, 2017 Jennifer McEntireAthens, Blue Lodge, Founding Fathers, Freemasons, Knights Templar, Masons, Shriners0 comment

ATHENS, GEORGIA — Officers of the Athens Freemasons, an ancient brotherhood mostly known for their secrets and rituals, claim they are mainly focused on fundraising for their children’s home. Michael Law, the “Worshipful Master” of the Athens Freemason lodge, explained the group primarily focuses on fundraisers for the Masonic Home of Georgia. According to Law, they do this by hosting 5Ks and other events to raise money. “At the end of the day, all the mystery, the ceremony and ritual, are all kind of a minor part of what we do because the bigger part is that we are a standard non-profit organization,” Law said. According to…

Community Education Government News Organizations Uncategorized

Poverty and Immigration Policy May Hurt Hispanic Education in Athens

December 3, 2017December 6, 2017 Sydney NorthDACA, deportation, Education, Hispanic, Immigrants, jobs, Latina, Latino, poverty, students, Trump, tutoring, young, youth0 comment

ATHENS, GEORGIA— According to national studies and local experts in Athens, outside factors in 2017 may contribute to the continued education gap that has afflicted Hispanic-American students, especially those born into immigrant families. The Pew Research Center reports that the national percentage of Latinx children born to immigrant parents now accounts for less than half of the U.S. born Latinx population. Although the number of U.S. born Latinx children born to immigrant parents is decreasing, another report shows that only 77 percent of Hispanic students graduate from high-school. According to Susan…

Health News

Army Veteran Helps Soldiers with Post-traumatic Stress

September 26, 2017September 26, 2017 Brittany Stocusarmy, equine therapy, mental health, military, non-profit, post traumatic stress0 comment

COLUMBUS, GEORGIA- Army veteran, Sam Rhodes, wanted to end his own life years ago due to his struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder, but instead in 2008 he opened a ranch that allowed veterans peace. Rhodes and his wife, Kathy, started a nonprofit facility called Warrior Outreach in 2008. The facility includes 16 horses for equine therapy, Nashville’s singer-song writers for music therapy, and different sorts of events from children’s birthday parties to prayer groups. The goal of this place is to offer soldiers’ help with a mental illness that made…

News

Budget Cuts to McGovern-Dole Food Aid Program

August 21, 2017 Makinizi HooverFood Aid, International, McGovern-Dole, Trump's Budget, USDA0 comment

WASHINGTON: While President Donald Trump proposed the elimination of international food aid programs entirely, the U.S. House of Representatives’ 2018 agriculture budget has a milder reduction of $16 million from the 2017 budget. The McGovern-Dole program, introduced by former senators Bob Dole (R-Kan) and George McGovern (D-S.D.), was designed to reduce hunger while also educating children in food-deficient countries. In 2016, the program cost around $200 million and provided meals for over 2.2 million people in countries such as Cambodia, Ethiopia, and Malawi. “The entire time I was [in Ethiopia], I was thinking about the wonderful stuff…

News

The Fight to Reduce the Number of Homeless Dogs in the Bay Area

June 24, 2017September 26, 2017 Natalie Wickstromanimals, Bay Area, California, pet adoption, pets, rescue, San Francisco0 comment

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – SF Animal Control & Care reported there were nearly 6,000 dogs homeless or in the shelter in San Francisco within the fiscal years of 2015 and 2016. In order to help combat this issue, city-sanctioned organizations such as the San Francisco SPCA Mission and Pacific Heights Adoption Centers joined forces with Clear the Shelters for the weekend of August 19, during which all adoption fees for pets currently in the shelter were waived. Another organization, Northern California (NorCal) Golden Retriever Rescue, focused its efforts on finding permanent homes for purebred…

Entertainment News

Athens Vinyl Sales Significantly Increase In Past Decade

March 23, 2017April 26, 2017 Jacqueline LongAthens, Georgia, Lo Yo Yo Stuff, LP, vinyl sales, Wuxtry Records0 comment

Athens, GA – In the last decade, there has been a 37 percent increase in vinyl record sales, according to Athens music industry professionals. Nate Mitchell, manager of Wuxtry Records in downtown Athens, explained that he has noticed the resurgence of vinyl sales at his store during the past ten years. Mitchell pointed out that, in 2006, vinyl sales only made up 33 percent of his total store sales, whereas CDs were about 66 percent. Now, vinyl sales account for nearly 70 percent of total store sales at Wuxtry. …

News

American Lunch Fed Thousands Last Year

February 22, 2017May 1, 2017 Emily Middleton5 Bar restaurant, American Lunch, athens ga, Fighting Hunger, Hunger in Athens, Soup Kitchen0 comment

ATHENS, GEORGIA — American Lunch, a mobile soup kitchen powered by 5 Bar restaurant, served over 7,800 lunches in the past year to the needy members of the Athens community. The idea of American Lunch was born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama as a school project and grew to reach six locations across the Southeast. The organization reduces food waste by repurposing food from 5 Bar to create healthy and “hearty” soups for people in need. Along with serving soup, American Lunch also serves iced tea, water, and bread. “It’s a great way…

Entertainment News Uncategorized

UGA Student Creates Art Club Benefitting Athens Homeless Community

February 22, 2017May 2, 2017 Ansley Gentryart, Art for Athens, Athens, athens area homeless shelter, homeless, student clubs, UGA, UGA Students0 comment

Athens, Georgia – A University of Georgia student, Tanner Woodson, founded Art for Athens, an official student club, which provides Athens homeless people with free art supplies and lessons. Art for Athens strives to connect with homeless people within Athens-Clarke county. Below is a video about the homelessness in Athens, Georgia. Woodson, Art for Athens president, started the club in September 2016 to provide a creative outlet for homeless people. Art for Athens classes are held at First Baptist Church in downtown Athens. During the classes, homeless participants are provided…

News

Kratom: Cure-all Herb or Gateway Drug?

February 22, 2017May 1, 2017 Jacob StevensAthens, Athens Clinic, kratom, Mitragyna speciosa, Palm House Recovery Center0 comment

Kratom, an herb legal in Georgia that is used to treat chronic pain, is facing strong support from local advocates and heavy opposition from treatment facilities. Justin Wilson, a 27-year-old kratom advocate and member of the American Kratom Association, has been taking kratom twice a day since his surgery from an assault in 2013, which caused 50 fractures to his face. For him, kratom is more efficient than prescription medication. Wilson claims that kratom was a key factor in not only helping him in recovering from surgery, but also in overcoming…

Entertainment News

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…