Digital Storytelling

The Cost of Living in NYC Continues to Rise

August 21, 2017September 26, 2017 Amanda AllbeeBrooklyn, living expense, Manhattan, New York City, rent0 comment

NEW YORK – The cost of living New York City continues to rise with residential real estate hitting record prices in 2017 according to a June 2017 report by Politico. According to a second quarter market report by real estate brokerage firm Douglas Elliman, the average price of owning a residential property in New York City has climbed 8% to the cost of $2.2 million. The average rent for a two-bedroom apartment in New York City is currently set at $3,156 according to a May 2017 Report by Rent Jungle. “On…

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…

Business

Downtown Hotel in LaGrange, GA Sets the Stage for Sweetland Success

June 26, 2017December 5, 2017 Mary RogersLaGrange, Sweetland Ampitheatre0 comment

LAGRANGE, GEORGIA – Construction is nearing the end on the $2.7 million Courtyard Marriott Hotel in downtown LaGrange, GA and is expected to open late fall of 2017. The addition of this hotel will boost Hotel/Motel tax revenues to an estimated $175,000 each year, according to city officials. These tax dollars, which is a five percent charge on hotel stays, go towards several city projects but were especially instrumental in the startup of Sweetland Ampitheatre, a project of the Downtown LaGrange Development Authority (DLDA). “The Courtyard Marriott will generate about…

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…

Health

Demand for IUDs Triples Since 2016 Presidential Election

February 22, 2017April 26, 2017 Bethany Bellbirth control, contraceptives, defunding, Donald Trump, hannah norton, healthcare, iud, planned parenthood, planned parenthood southeast, southeastern planned parenthood, staci fox, women's health0 comment

ATLANTA, Ga. – Demand for intrauterine devices (IUDs) has gone up 300% within the seven weeks following the election of Donald Trump as president of the United States, according to Staci Fox, Planned Parenthood Southeast president and CEO. Fox believes more southeastern women have been coming in for long-acting and reversible forms of birth control such as IUDs because they fear losing access to birth control during the Trump presidency. While on the campaign trail, President Trump made a statement about his desire to cut federal funding for Planned Parenthood. According to Planned…

Sports

Female athletes with ACL injuries struggle mentally and physically

February 22, 2017May 1, 2017 Tori McElhaneyACL, Ashley McDonald, female athletes, Gordon Lee High School, high school, injury, knee, meniscus, Raechel Blitchington, Richmond Hill, soccer, softball0 comment

Athens, GA — Student athletes who tore their anterior cruciate ligaments (ACLs) while playing a sport in high school claim that they grapple with mental and physical challenges during the continuous healing process. Raechal Blitchington had two ACL injuries from soccer. The 20-year-old public relations major from Richmond Hill had her first ACL injury playing soccer seven years ago just before going into high school. Blitchington had surgery that July, ending up with a screw in her left knee. But an ACL tear in her right knee put her out of the game.…

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…