Blog Topic: Breaking News

In the Loop: Donald Trump Jr. Is Coming to UGA

By Ashlyn Webb | September 27, 2018 3:46pm

Trump and Guilfoyle.

Donald Trump Jr. and former Fox News personality Kimberly Guilfoyle, his girlfriend, will visit the University of Georgia next month for the right-wing group Turning Point USA’s Campus Clash.

TPUSA founder and Executive Director Charlie Kirk and Communication Director Candace Owens are also scheduled to speak at the event.

The event will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 9 from 6:30 p.m.–8 p.m. in the Hugh Hodgson School of Music’s Ramsey Concert Hall.

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In the Loop: UGA Student Hit by Bus

By Ashlyn Webb | September 26, 2018 2:40pm

Photo Credit: Joshua L. Jones/file

A University of Georgia bus hit a female student on the East Campus Express route this morning. Witnesses said the student was walking across the crosswalk between Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication building and the back of the university bookstore.

William Peebles, a freshman animal science major, said he was on the bus that hit the woman.

“The bus driver made that right turn right there going up to North Campus and hit her,” Peebles said. “I don’t think she was hit hard enough to fall or anything, but I heard the bus driver make a kind of shocked noise when she made that turn.”

The student did not appear to be severely injured. Peebles said he noticed her holding her hand after the bus hit her.

Greg Trevor, the executive director of media communication, confirmed the incident occurred but did not release further details.

“The driver has been sent home pending the completion of a review of the incident,” Trevor said.

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In the Loop: UGA Students Condemn Library-Wide Email Railing Against Undocumented Immigrants

By Ashlyn Webb | September 25, 2018 3:50pm

A University of Georgia library employee is under investigation by UGA’s Equal Opportunity Office after sending an email via the university-wide library email list stating her controversial views on immigration in June.

The Office of Multicultural Services and Programs and organizations such as the Hispanic Student Association, NAACP, Listo and MIXED recently received an anonymous letter that contained a copy of the email originally written by the library employee, Kay Altschul. The letter was sent during National Hispanic Heritage Month, which is Sept. 15–Oct. 15.

“To encourage illegal activity and give them food, house and rest and a Country to break our laws. That is how they began their life with our Country. What makes us think they will live with different morals since they’ve crossed over the border illegally? What do we want for this Country now? Total Immorality? Injustice? Chaos? Cheating? Lying? Stealing? Killing?,” the email sent on June 20 reads.

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In the Loop: ACCPD Deputy Chief Justin Gregory Is Resigning

By Blake Aued | September 24, 2018 5:48pm

Photo Credit: Athens-Clarke County

Deputy Chief Justin Gregory is the second top administrator to leave the Athens-Clarke County police department in less than two weeks.

Gregory, a 23-year veteran of law enforcement, submitted his resignation Friday, effective Oct. 5. He told Flagpole that he's been thinking about changing careers for over a year to spend more time with his family and gain more life experience. He said he's leaving his options open.

"It's time to figure out what to do with the rest of my life," he said.

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In the Loop: City Manager: Police Chief Lost Confidence of Department

By Blake Aued | September 13, 2018 10:44pm

Athens-Clarke County Manager Blaine Williams

Athens-Clarke County Manager Blaine Williams said Thursday night that he and Police Chief Scott Freeman mutually agreed to part ways over simmering concerns about morale and attrition within the police department.

"This has been coming for some time," Williams told Flagpole, adding that "this is a conversation that's been happening the past five or six months.

"Real or perceived, there's been an erosion in confidence in the chief," Williams said. "The chief has done a lot of great things, but I've got to bring some stability to the department... At the end of the day, the chief and I agreed mutually this was in the best interests of the department."

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In the Loop: Scott Freeman Is Out as Athens Police Chief

By Blake Aued | September 13, 2018 8:36pm

Scott Freeman is no longer chief of the Athens-Clarke County Police Department, but the circumstances surrounding his departure are unclear.

As an Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement town hall meeting about community relations with police was wrapping up, AADM co-founder Knowa Johnson announced that Freeman had been fired.

The Athens Banner-Herald broke the story at about 7:30 p.m., quoting Mayor Nancy Denson as saying that ACC Manager Blaine Williams had fired Freeman.

“I wasn’t surprised that he was let go because I know there were several issues,” Denson told the ABH. “Evidently he wasn’t a good fit for Athens.”

Neither Williams nor Freeman immediately returned calls seeking comment. But about 20 minutes later, the ACC government issued a news release saying Freeman had resigned effective today. The announcement said he is leaving to "pursue other opportunies."

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Culture Briefs: Saturday's UGA Football Game Moved to Noon

By Gabe Vodicka | September 13, 2018 10:30am

Photo Credit: Kristin M. Bradshaw/UGA Athletics

Saturday's UGA football game against Middle Tennessee State, which was originally slated for a 7:15 p.m. kickoff at Sanford Stadium, has been moved to noon, according to an announcement from the UGA Athletic Association. The game will be televised on ESPNews and the ESPN app.

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In the Loop: Standoff With Robber Ends at West Broad Gas Station

By Blake Aued | September 7, 2018 7:49pm

A standoff with an alleged armed robber that shut down part of West Broad Street this evening ended without any injuries.

A man walked into the Marathon gas station near Evans Street with a gun Friday afternoon intending to rob it, according to Athens-Clarke County police spokesman Epifanio Rodriguez. But after being confronted by someone inside, the man instead walked outside and sat down.

When police arrived, the man—whose name has not been released—refused to comply with their instructions, Rodriguez said. The SWAT team was called in, and after attempts to negotiate, they used non-lethal rounds to take him into custody, he said.

The man was arrested at about 7 p.m., and West Broad was reopened.

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In the Loop: UGA Will Ticket Bird Users Who Break Traffic Laws

By Blake Aued | August 30, 2018 11:22am

Photo Credit: Savannah Cole

University of Georgia police will start ticketing Bird e-scooter riders on Friday if they break traffic laws, the university announced in a campus-wide email this morning.

“For the last 10 days, the University Police Department has engaged in an effort to educate scooter riders about the applicable laws,” an Archnews email said. “Moving forward, individuals violating traffic code — including riding scooters on sidewalks — may be cited, which could lead to fines of $185, plus associated court fees.”

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In the Loop: UGA: Snelling Dining Hall May Be Renovated, but No Decision Yet

By Ashlyn Webb | August 28, 2018 11:35am

Photo Credit: University of Georgia

Rumors have spread on campus that Snelling Dining Hall will be closing for renovations and Oglethorpe Dining Hall, also known as O-House, will become the new 24-hour dining hall. However, a University of Georgia spokesperson said those rumors are false, and there are no plans to close Snelling at this time.

“Snelling is a popular dining hall, and we know students rely on its availability. Dining Services continuously seeks ways to improve the student dining experience,” said Greg Trevor, executive director of media communication.

Trevor said UGA will begin a “feasibility study this fall to explore ways we can enhance service at Snelling.” The study is expected to take four to six months to complete.

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