In the Loop
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Rep. Jody Hice Is Now in Favor of Trumpcare
Photo Credit: Joshua L. Jones/file
Athens congressman Jody Hice was one of the uber-conservative House members who helped scuttle President Donald Trump and Speaker Paul Ryan's attempt to undo much of Obamacare back in March.
The American Health Care Act would have thrown more than 20 million people off their policies by sunsetting Medicaid expansion and cutting subsidies for older low-income people.
Moderate Republicans said it went too far, while the House Freedom Caucus, of which Hice is a member, wanted an even more draconian plan. But the tea party has come around to the latest version of the Republican health care bill, although it remains unclear whether it will also win moderate support.
Hice said in a written statement:
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Podcast: The Trump Administration's Disarray at 100 Days
In this week's episode, hosts Baynard Woods and Marc Steiner talk with writer and analyst Imara Jones about the chaos surrounding the White House as we approach the 100th day of the Trump administration. Imara Jones holds a degree from the London School of Economics and is currently developing a television news program aimed at progressive millennials of color.
Democracy in Crisis is a weekly podcast hosted by Baynard Woods and Marc Steiner, produced and engineered by Mark Gunnery for The Center for Emerging Media. Theme music by Ruby Fulton and the Rhymes with Orchestra.
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Driver Injured in Prince Avenue Wreck
Photo Credit: Austin Steele
Bystanders gather around an injured driver after a wreck outside Hendershot's this afternoon.
A three-car wreck on Prince Avenue injured one person and startled dozens of others on the patio at the Bottleworks—and it could've been a lot worse.
Flagpole was on the scene, of course, since it happed right outside our office.
At about 12:40 p.m., according to witnesses, a purple sedan traveling westbound on Prince suddenly swerved or turned, hitting a white SUV and a silver hatchback.
The driver of the purple sedan was lying on the ground for several minutes before an ambulance arrived. He suffered a "serious injury," according to Athens-Clarke County police spokesman Epifiano Rodriguez.
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Rep. Jody Hice Town Hall Draws 100 People and a Chicken, but No Hice
Photo Credit: Stacey-Marie Piotrowski
ACC Commissioner Melissa Link with our congressman's feathered avatar.
On one of the busiest spring Saturdays in Athens, 100 people attended a town hall for District 10 congressman Jody Hice. The one notable absence was Hice himself.
Michael Goltzer of Athens was one of several people who addressed a photo of Rep. Hice (R-Social Circle) propped up in a chair on the stage of the Athens Regional Library on Apr. 22. He pointed out that the town hall was the most basic form of democratic conversation and lamented Hice’s refusal to engage with his constituents.
“Just tell us what we have to do to get you to meet with us,” he said.
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Oconee Can't Provide Sewer to New Car Dealership
Oconee County told Mercedes-Benz of Athens on Friday that the county will not be able to provide sewer service for the planned new auto dealership on Highway 316 at Virgil Langford Road for another 12–18 months.
The announcement coincided with the release of a memorandum stating that those requesting letters of availability of sewer service be advised of limited capacity in parts of the county’s service area and the complete lack of availability in others, including where the Mercedes-Benz facility is planned.
The county released the announcement on sewer capacity in a meeting of the county’s Development Review Committee, which was considering the preliminary site plan and site development plans for the new auto dealership.
The DRC approved the Preliminary Site Plan, but Sandy Weinel, assistant director of the Planning and Code Enforcement Department, told a representative of Mercedes-Benz the firm will have to build a private septic system if it wants to move forward before sewer capacity is available.
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G-Day Isn't Just for Football—It's for Politics, Too
Photo Credit: Joshua L. Jones/file
Yeah, yeah, G-Day is tomorrow, but plenty is going on in Athens for those who are more interested in #resisting Trump than who's gonna be the Dawgs' third-string middle linebacker this fall.
Kick off the day with the Athens-Clarke County Democrats' monthly breakfast at 10 a.m. at First AME Church at the corner of Hull and Dougherty. UGA professor Richard Winfield will discuss universal basic income and publicly guaranteed employment.
Next, if you're still hungry, head to the Athens Economic Justice Coalition's cookoff in support of a living wage from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. at Memorial Park.
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Downtown Hotel Construction Accident Injures Three
Photo Credit: Tim Denson
A parking deck at the Hyatt Place hotel under construction on Thomas Street partially collapsed earlier tonight, injuring three construction workers.
The accident happened around 7:30 p.m., as people were leaving the Envision Athens town hall meeting at the Classic Center next door.
Classic Center Executive Director Paul Cramer said he was not sure exactly what happened, but it appears that either a section of the deck collapsed, or a crane may have dropped a piece of pre-cast concrete onto the deck. Part of the deck was damaged, and a piece of concrete lay shattered on the ground nearby.
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Podcast: Freddie Gray and the War on Drugs
On this week’s episode, hosts Baynard Woods and Marc Steiner talk with D. Watkins, educator, editor at large at Salon.com,and the author of The Cook Up and The Beast Side, about the drug war and Freddie Gray, who died after being arrested in Baltimore two years ago this week. And composer Ruby Fulton puts one of Trump's tweets to music.
Democracy in Crisis is a weekly podcast hosted by Baynard Woods and Marc Steiner, produced and engineered by Mark Gunnery for The Center for Emerging Media. Theme music by Ruby Fulton and the Rhymes with Orchestra.
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