Authors | Flagpole Magazine | Athens, GA News, Music, Arts, Restaurants

Blog posts by Blake Aued, Editor

UPDATE: Another Pedestrian Run Over and Killed

Blog: In the Loop

The second pedestrian of the week was hit by a car and killed Sunday, apparently while walking along the Loop.

By Blake Aued | May 12, 2014
Athens Power Rankings for the Week of May 12

Blog: In the Loop

One of you will have powers beyond your imagination. Use it well, and don't lose your head.

Welcome to Athens Power Rankings. In the spirit of sports rating systems, through painstaking analysis, we rank the top movers and shakers in the Classic City each week. Who's hot? Who's not? Find out below.

By Blake Aued | May 12, 2014
Aaron Murray Is a Kansas City Chief

Blog: Culture Briefs

Aaron Murray's going to Kansas City. Kansas City, here he comes.

The winningest quarterback in Georgia Bulldog history was taken by the Chiefs in the fifth round of the NFL draft Sunday.

By Blake Aued | May 12, 2014
Man Shot and Killed on Commerce Road

Blog: In the Loop

An Athens man died after being shot in the parking lot of a Commerce Road nightclub early Saturday morning, according to Athens-Clarke County police.

By Blake Aued | May 10, 2014
Read Our Voter Guide and Vote Early

Blog: In the Loop

If you've been too busy working to vote, put off mowing the lawn Saturday and head downtown.

By Blake Aued | May 9, 2014
Paul Broun Wants to Get You High

Blog: In the Loop

As long as you have a medical condition that can be treated with marijuana, that is.

Athens Rep. Paul Broun (who's also running in the Republican U.S. Senate primary) said Wednesday that he plans to offer an amendment to the Commerce-Justice-Science appropriations bill when it comes to the House floor that would bar federal prosecution of patients who are approved to use medical marijuana under state law. In other words:

By Blake Aued | May 8, 2014
Woman Killed by Car Outside St. Mary's

Blog: In the Loop

A 50-year-old woman was killed in a hit-and-run at about 2:20 a.m. today while crossing West Broad Street near the entrance to St. Mary's Hospital, according to Athens-Clarke County police.

By Blake Aued | May 8, 2014
The Health Sciences Bus Is Safe for Now

Blog: In the Loop

Athens-Clarke County commissioners spared the popular Health Sciences bus Tuesday night when they approved a contract with the University of Georgia.

By Blake Aued | May 7, 2014
Fact-Checking Mayor Nancy Denson and Tim Denson at the Federation of Neighborhoods Forum

Blog: In the Loop

Photo Credit: Joshua L. Jones

Candidates for Athens-Clarke County mayor and commission faced off at a Federation of Neighborhoods-sponsored forum Monday night at the Melting Point. While there weren't any fireworks, and there wasn't much that folks who've been following the races haven'theard already, a few statements caught my ear. So I've spent the day finding out whether they're true. Here's what I came up with:

By Blake Aued | May 6, 2014
Cooter Blasts 'Party Down South' as 'Sleazy'

Blog: Culture Briefs

Ben Jones, the actor who played Cooter in "The Dukes of Hazzard," is on a crusade to get "Party Down South" taken off the air.

The CMT reality show, which is currently filming in Athens, is "the sleaziest" thing on television and stereotypes Southerners, says the guy who co-starred on a show set in South Georgia with a character called Boss Hog, a car with the Confederate flag on the hood and cousins who constantly flirted with each other.

By Blake Aued | May 6, 2014
UGA Faculty Want Gender Identity Protection

Blog: In the Loop

University of Georgia faculty want stronger protection against discrimination based on gender identity.

Business management professor Janine Aronson, who describes herself as UGA's first openly transgender faculty member, told the Associated Press that the change would be minor but symbolic and would bring UGA in line with other universities.

"It says we do not discriminate, and we do not put up with discrimination," Aronson said.

UGA President Jere Morehead has not reviewed the Faculty Council's recommendation, according to the AP.

By Blake Aued | May 5, 2014
Is Mayor Denson Blaming Victims of Sexual Assault?

Blog: In the Loop

The Junior League sponsored a last-minute forum Wednesday night for Mayor Nancy Denson and challenger Tim Denson.

In light of this week's Flagpole cover story and President Barack Obama's recommendationsto stem the growing number of sexual assaults on college campuses, someone asked a question about preventing sexual assaults in Athens. Nancy sent what could be considered some mixed messages.

By Blake Aued | May 1, 2014
Early Voting Has Started

Blog: In the Loop

Photo Credit: Blake Aued

Tim Denson casts his ballot Tuesday, Apr. 29—hopefully for himself.

Mayoral candidate Tim Denson and dozens of supporters marched to Civic Hall to cast their ballots today—and so can you!

Early voting started Monday, Apr. 28 and runs from 8 a.m.–5 p.m. through Friday, May 16. In addition, you can vote early on Saturday, May 10. It's at the Athens-Clarke County Board of Elections, 155 E. Washington St., next door to City Hall and across the street from Copper Creek.

By Blake Aued | April 29, 2014
Mayor Nancy Denson Releases Boring 2015 Budget

Blog: In the Loop

As befits an election year, Mayor Nancy released a budget Monday that is unlikely to offend anyone. There are no cuts to Athens Transit or Leisure Services programs, nor is there much beyond the status quo.

By Blake Aued | April 29, 2014
Watch the Trailer for Chris Conley's Star Wars Tribute

Blog: Culture Briefs

As you may have heard, Flagpole's favorite UGA football player, wide receiver and noted Star Wars fan Chris Conley (aka Conley-Wan Kenobe, aka Con Solo), has been working on what he calls an "epic light saber battle" that he filmed on campus.

Well, here's the trailer. It does indeed look pretty epic.

By Blake Aued | April 28, 2014
Legalize Pot, Education for Undocumented Students

Blog: In the Loop

At two dueling protests in downtown Athens on Monday, activists agitated for legalizing marijuana and for undocumented immigrants to be allowed to attend the University of Georgia.

By Blake Aued | April 28, 2014
Here Are the Twilight Criterium Winners

Blog: Culture Briefs

Athens Twilight Criterium winner Daniel Holloway (left) and David Cueli (center) of Athens-based team The 706 Project turn the corner on a breakaway at the Novant Health Invitation Criterium in Charlotte, NC. Photo credit: Dave Gill/USA CRITS

For the second year in a row, Athens resident Frank Travieso, racing for the locally based 706 Project team, finished third in the Twilight Criterium on Saturday night.

Daniel Holloway of Athlete Octane Cycling won the 80-kilometer race with a time of 45:29.2. Ty Magner of Hincapie Sportswear Development trailed by a tenth of a second; Travieso was 0.7 seconds behind Holloway.

By Blake Aued | April 27, 2014
Athens' Income Inequality Is Ridiculously High

Blog: In the Loop

And it's only gotten worse. Chart via Wikipedia.

Athens has the eighth-highest income inequality in the country, according to Bloomberg News.

By Blake Aued | April 24, 2014
Where Can You Drink and Not Get Shot?

Blog: In the Loop

Gov. Nathan Deal signed House Bill 60, the "guns everywhere" bill, on Wednesday.

Starting July 1, guns will be allowed in bars (unless the owner specifically, uh, bars them), schools (if school boards arm employees), churches (if congregations say so) and government buildings (unless local governments provide security). And convicted felons who are carrying guns illegally can invoke "stand your ground" if they shoot you.

By Blake Aued | April 24, 2014
Morehead: Pay Raises Coming for UGA Employees

Blog: In the Loop

The University of Georgia will raise its lowest-paid employees' salaries by $500, administrators said today.

UGA's minimum salary for fiscal 2015, which starts July 1, will be $22,750, up from the current $22,250, Vice President for Finance Ryan Nesbitt told reporters this morning.

By Blake Aued | April 23, 2014