Blog posts by Blake Aued, Editor
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UGA Will Start Reopening June 15
Blog: In the Loop
Jere Morehead.
The University of Georgia has announced a plan to start reopening in June after three months of closure during the coronavirus pandemic.
President Jere Morehead, Provost Jack Hu and Vice President for Finance and Administration Ryan Nesbit laid out the plan—prepared with advice from health care faculty—in an email to the university community.
Vice presidents, deans, department heads and other supervisors will be responsible for determining when and how the employees they supervise can safely return to campus over the next two weeks.
During Phase 1, staggered or rotating work schedules and telecommuting will be encouraged to maintain social distancing. More people will be brought back to campus during Phase 2, and Phase 3 will be the full return of faculty, staff and students to campus in August.
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Budget Calls for Eliminating 400 UGA Jobs
Blog: In the Loop
The University System of Georgia's proposed fiscal 2021 budget calls for eliminating 394 positions at the University of Georgia to meet Gov. Brian Kemp's order for state agencies to cut 14%.
The proposed budget was obtained by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. For all of the USG's 26 institutions combined, it calls for laying off 735 people and freezing another 1,341 open positions. Along with cuts to travel and other expenses, that would save $361 million.
UGA appears to be cutting mostly administrative and support staff, sparing faculty. Those administrative cuts, however, would "lead to a severe disruption in service," USG wrote, including delays in hiring, accounting and processing student accounts. In addition, workers making over $35,000 a year would be furloughed anywhere from four to 16 days, depending on their pay. UGA's current $421 million budget would shrink by $59 million.
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Photo Gallery: CCSD Grads on Parade
Blog: Culture Briefs
With official graduation ceremonies postponed until July—if they happen at all—several Athens neighborhoods turned to caravans to celebrate their teenage residents' accomplishment.
One was Cedar Creek, where several dozen newly minted graduates paraded through the subdivision as neighbors cheered. Coronavirus robbed these students of part of their senior year, and the caravans were one way to restore a sense of normalcy.
All photos by Whitley Carpenter.
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DA Candidate Sues Kemp Over Delayed Election
Blog: In the Loop
Deborah Gonzalez, a candidate for district attorney in Athens, sued Gov. Brian Kemp today seeking to have the election returned to November 2020.
Former district attorney Ken Mauldin resigned in February, making his chief assistant, Brian Patterson, acting DA and triggering a special election in November. At that time, Patterson and Gonzalez were already running for the seat. Mauldin had previously announced he would not seek re-election.
Under a little-known state law passed in 2018, if Kemp appointed a replacement for Mauldin within six months of he election, the election would be pushed back two years. That deadline came and went two weeks ago.
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Some Parks Reopen, Early Voting Starts Today
Blog: In the Loop
In-person early voting started today across Georgia, and Athens-Clarke County is reopening some parks as well.
Ben Burton, Memorial and Virginia Walker (formerly Trail Creek) parks have partially reopened, and Sandy Creek Park will do so on Tuesday. Click here for information on what activities are allowed and which facilities remain closed at each park. Gatherings are limited to 10 people, and masks are recommended.
In addition to the previously mentioned parks, Dudley Park, Firefly Trail, the Greenway and trails at Sandy Creek Nature Center remain open.
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Kemp Orders Bars to Stay Closed Through End of May
Blog: In the Loop
Gov. Brian Kemp issued an executive order Tuesday telling bars, nightclubs and live performance venues to stay closed at least through May 31.
"I know this extension is difficult for many Georgia business owners and communities that have music venues," Kemp said. "However, we believe that waiting a little bit longer will enhance health outcomes and give folks the opportunity to prepare for safe reopening in the near future."
Kemp closed bars, restaurants and many other types of businesses on Apr. 2 as the coronavirus pandemic spread (pre-empting an earlier local order in Athens that was passed Mar. 19). He allowed some—including restaurants, movie theaters, bowling alleys, tattoo parlors and hair and nail salons—to reopen late last month, if they took safety precautions.
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Health District Seeks PPE Donations
Blog: In the Loop
Elise Stafford (right) of PruittHealth-Athens Heritage receives donated supplies from Elisabeth Wilson (left), District E healthcare coalition facilitator
The Northeast Public Health District is now accepting donations of personal protective equipment to distribute to area health-care providers and long-term care facilities.
Needed items include N-95 respirators, surgical masks, cloth face coverings, eye protection (face shields/goggles/glasses), gowns, gloves (latex free), disinfectant wipes, shoe covers and hand sanitizer.
Contact Elisabeth Wilson at 706-286-4684 or [email protected] with questions or to donate supplies.
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UGA Faculty and Staff Facing Furloughs
Blog: In the Loop
University of Georgia faculty, staff and administrators will be furloughed over the coming year under a plan to deal with a looming state budget shortfall.
The Board of Regents approved the plan proposed by University System Chancellor Steve Wrigley in a called meeting conducted via conference call this morning.
The system's lowest-paid employees are exempt, but most employees will have to take four or eight furlough days, depending on their salary. Higher-paid employees will take 16 unpaid days off. The highest—Wrigley and college and university presidents—will take 26 days, the equivalent of a 10% salary cut.
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Biodegradable Plastic Manufacture RWDC Will Employ 200 People in Athens
Blog: In the Loop
RWDC's polyhydroxyalkanoates, made of used cooking oil, can replace plastics in goods like straws.
A company that manufactures a biodegradable alternative to plastic is expanding and will hire 200 employees, state and local officials announced Tuesday.
RWDC, founded in 2015 at a University of Georgia innovation lab and now based in Singapore, will expand into a 400,000 square-foot facility in Athena Industrial Park off Voyles Road.
Job listings indicate the positions will pay between $38,000–$90,000 a year.
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Kemp Delays Athens DA Race Until 2022
Blog: In the Loop
Gov. Brian Kemp.
By failing to appoint a replacement for former district attorney Ken Mauldin by last Sunday, Gov. Brian Kemp pushed the scheduled election of a new DA back to 2022.
Under a 2018 state law, if Kemp fills a vacancy within six months of an election, the elections is automatically postponed for two years. That deadline passed on May 3.
The election had already been delayed once. Mauldin resigned in February, which triggered a special election, meaning the two candidates—Brian Patterson and Deborah Gonzalez—would have faced off in November, rather than in the Democratic primary.
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Kemp Will Lift Stay-at-Home Order, but Don't Think We're in the Clear
Blog: In the Loop
Photo Credit: Savannah Cole/file
Gov. Brian Kemp has lifted the statewide shelter-in-place order effective Friday, even as hundreds of new COVID-19 cases are being reported daily, and Mayor Kelly Girtz and medical professionals warned that Georgia is not out of the woods yet.
The shelter-in-place order restricting travel except for essential business has been in place since Apr. 3. Last week, Kemp allowed certain businesses—including nail and hair salons, tattoo parlors and bowling alleys—to reopen, and restaurants could reopen their dining rooms starting Monday, although many have chosen not to do so. Today, he extended safety guidelines for reopened businesses, such as requirements that employees wear protective gear and limit capacity, through May 13. He also ordered the elderly and “medically fragile” people to stay at home through June 12.
“What we’ve done has worked,” Kemp told the AJC. “It’s given us time to build our hospital infrastructure capacity, get ventilators and ramp up testing. That’s what really drove our decision.”
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UGA Plans to Reopen This Fall
Blog: In the Loop
The University of Georgia plans to resume classes on campus this fall, President Jere Morehead said in a message today to students, faculty and staff.
"We are anticipating a resumption of in-person instruction for the Fall Semester beginning in August 2020 for all USG institutions," Morehead said. "However, I would emphasize that this situation remains a fluid one, as the USG monitors developments related to COVID-19 and receives counsel from state public health officials. Guidance could be subject to change, even after our plans are put in place. We will need to remain flexible and patient as we move forward."
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2020 Athens PRIDE Festival Canceled
Blog: Culture Briefs
The LGBTQ organization Athens PRIDE has canceled its 2020 festival, usually scheduled for September, and is donating the funds earmarked for the festival to local nonprofits instead.
Athens PRIDE is donating $1,000 each to Live Forward, Casa de Amistad, the Athens Area Council on Aging, Athens Mutual Aid Network and Nuci's Space. Those nonprofits serve HIV-positive individuals, immigrants, seniors, people who need assistance with rent and those with mental health issues, respectively.
“We are deeply saddened by the decision to cancel our festival,” Athens PRIDE board president Amber Strachan said in a news release. “However, we are fortunate to be able to contribute to others in these unprecedented times. We will be donating funds to the organizations on the ground that are addressing the hardships Athens residents are facing as a result of COVID-19.”
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Accreditation Agency Puts CCSD on Probation
Blog: In the Loop
Former superintendent Demond Means.
Accreditation agency Cognia has changed the Clarke County School District's status from "accredited" to "accredited under review" after looking into allegations of school board members micromanaging made by then-superintendent Demond Means last year.
Cognia—formerly known as AdvancED—told interim superintendent Xernona Thomas about the change in status Apr. 24. The agency gave CCSD until December to make changes and restore accredited status.
Thomas said in a news release that the change in status will not affect graduating seniors, nor does she anticipate it affecting future graduates, since the district is committed to addressing Cognia's directives.
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ACC Names New Transportation and Central Services Directors, Sustainability Officer
Blog: In the Loop
Mike Wharton.
Athens-Clarke County Manager Blaine Williams tapped a recently retired traffic engineer to head the county's Transportation and Public Works Department, promoted the county sustainability officer to lead the Central Services Department and named a longtime county employee as the new sustainability officer in a flurry of personnel moves last week.
New Transportation and Public Works Director Steve Decker was ACC's head traffic engineer for 10 years until retiring in 2017. He has also worked for the Florida Department of Transportation and as a bike planner in Albuquerque, among other posts.
"During his previous time with Transportation and Public Works, Steve demonstrated an enthusiasm for safety, innovation, and collaborative projects that are still paying dividends today," Williams said in a news release. "He brings over 40 years of experience in both local and state government transportation departments that gives him a unique perspective that will serve this community well. Steve knows this community and its transportation systems. We look forward to welcoming him back to ACCGov."
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Athens for Everyone Grades Mayor and Commissioners
Blog: In the Loop
Commissioner Mariah Parker.
The progressive political group Athens for Everyone gave high marks to Athens-Clarke County commissioners Tim Denson, Mariah Parker and Melissa Link in recently released report cards for the ACC mayor and commission.
According to the organization, the grades were based on how commissioners' votes aligned with A4E's positions, as well as subjective factors like "public statements, perception of priorities and stated stance on issues including the Linnentown Resolution." The commission's response to COVID-19, which A4E said has been "sound and humane, especially in contrast with decisions on the state level," was not considered.
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Athens Unemployment Claims Spike 2,000 Percent
Blog: In the Loop
Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler.
Nearly 5,000 Athens residents filed for unemployment in March, according to the Georgia Department of Labor.
Clarke County had 4,868 initial unemployment claims last month. That's a 2,346% increase over February, when there were 199, and a 2,698% increase over March 2019, when there were 174.
Metro Athens—which also includes Oconee, Madison and Oglethorpe counties—finished the month with 96,300 jobs, down 300 from the previous month, and 94,982 employed residents, down 1,978. The unemployment rate rose from 3.3% to 4.2%.
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Mayor Girtz Urges Athens Residents to Stay Home
Blog: In the Loop
Photo Credit: Chris Scredon
Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz is urging local residents to keep sheltering in place and businesses to stay closed despite Gov. Brian Kemp saying that some businesses can begin to reopen later this week.
Girtz appeared on CNN this morning to discuss Kemp partially lifting his statewide shelter-in-place order.
"I'm exhorting everybody in this community to continue sheltering in place. Do not reopen," he said. "It's like telling your quarterback, 'We don't have a helmet for you, we don't have pads, but just get out on the field and try not to get sacked.'"
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Kemp Says Businesses Can Start Reopening This Week
Blog: In the Loop
Gov. Brian Kemp.
Gov. Brian Kemp will start allowing some businesses that have been shuttered since his shelter-in-place order Apr. 2 to start reopening over the next week.
Gyms, bowling alleys, tattoo parlors, hair salons and massage studios can re-open Friday, as long as they practice social distance, follow hygiene guidelines, Kemp announced at a news conference this afternoon. Restaurant dining rooms and movie theaters will be allowed to open next Monday if they follow rules Kemp said his office will release later this week.
Kemp's order came as the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Georgia approached 20,000, with 733 reported deaths as of noon. The head of the World Health Organization warned earlier today that the worst of the coronavirus pandemic is still ahead, and many public health experts believe .
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Food Bank of NE GA Gets $465,000 Donation
Blog: In the Loop
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has donated $465,000 to the Athens-based Food Bank of Northeast Georgia. No, that isn't a typo: $465,000.
That's the local food bank's share of the $100 million the billionaire gave to the nonprofit Feeding America earlier this month. To put it in perspective, it's about an eighth of the agency's annual $3.5 million budget.
The food bank will use the money to buy food, of course, but also to purchase distribution vehicles, upgrade warehouse equipment and offer cold and dry storage equipment to its 230 partner agencies, according to executive director Chuck Toney.
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latest stories
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In the Loop | May 28, 2020 4:40pm
UGA Will Start Reopening June 15
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In the Loop | May 26, 2020 3:10pm
Budget Calls for Eliminating 400 UGA Jobs
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Culture Briefs | May 22, 2020 3:12pm
Photo Gallery: CCSD Grads on Parade
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In the Loop | May 18, 2020 4:11pm
DA Candidate Sues Kemp Over Delayed Election
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In the Loop | May 18, 2020 12:35pm
Some Parks Reopen, Early Voting Starts Today
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In the Loop | May 13, 2020 1:13pm
Kemp Orders Bars to Stay Closed Through End of May
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In the Loop | May 11, 2020 10:13am
Health District Seeks PPE Donations
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In the Loop | May 7, 2020 2:55pm
UGA Faculty and Staff Facing Furloughs
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In the Loop | May 6, 2020 3:28pm
Biodegradable Plastic Manufacture RWDC Will Employ 200 People in Athens
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In the Loop | May 5, 2020 1:48pm
Kemp Delays Athens DA Race Until 2022
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In the Loop | April 30, 2020 4:39pm
Kemp Will Lift Stay-at-Home Order, but Don't Think We're in the Clear
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In the Loop | April 29, 2020 7:14pm
UGA Plans to Reopen This Fall
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Culture Briefs | April 28, 2020 4:48pm
2020 Athens PRIDE Festival Canceled
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In the Loop | April 28, 2020 10:17am
Accreditation Agency Puts CCSD on Probation
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In the Loop | April 27, 2020 5:12pm
ACC Names New Transportation and Central Services Directors, Sustainability Officer
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In the Loop | April 24, 2020 10:31am
Athens for Everyone Grades Mayor and Commissioners
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In the Loop | April 23, 2020 5:54pm
Athens Unemployment Claims Spike 2,000 Percent
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In the Loop | April 21, 2020 1:02pm
Mayor Girtz Urges Athens Residents to Stay Home
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In the Loop | April 20, 2020 6:44pm
Kemp Says Businesses Can Start Reopening This Week
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In the Loop | April 20, 2020 3:41pm
Food Bank of NE GA Gets $465,000 Donation