Blog Topic: Breaking News

In the Loop: Food Bank of NE GA Gets $465,000 Donation

By Blake Aued | April 20, 2020 3:41pm

Photo Credit: Jessica Silverman/file

The Food Bank of Northeast Georgia.

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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In the Loop: Georgia Records Largest Ever Number of New Coronavirus Cases

By Lee Becker | April 17, 2020 5:05pm

The state of Georgia recorded 1,525 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the 24-hour period that ended at noon on Friday, the largest number of new cases ever recorded in the Department of Public Health’s Daily Status Report.

The 10-county Northeast Health District, which includes Oconee and Clarke counties, recorded 38 new cases on Friday, the second largest number of new cases listed for the region in the Daily Status Report.

Oconee County now has 48 confirmed COVID-19 cases, up from 45 on Thursday, and Clarke County has 106, up from 102 on Thursday.

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In the Loop: UGA Reschedules Commencement for Fall

By Blake Aued | April 17, 2020 3:18pm

Photo Credit: Dorothy Kozlowski/UGA

As long as it's safe to gather in large groups again, the University of Georgia will hold commencement ceremonies for spring 2020 graduates this fall.

Undergraduate commencement is scheduled for Oct. 16 at Sanford Stadium (the Dawgs have an away game that weekend). Graduate students' commencement will be held Dec. 18 at Stegeman Coliseum, in conjunction with the fall 2020 ceremony. The ceremonies will take place "only if it is deemed safe to do so at that time by the CDC and state health officials," UGA President Jere Morehead said.

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In the Loop: Georgia Primaries Postponed Until June

By Blake Aued | April 9, 2020 4:17pm

Brad Raffensperger.

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has postponed the state's primaries from May 19 until June 9.

Raffensperger had previously resisted calls to move the election date back, saying he lacked the authority. But then Gov. Brian Kemp extended the state of emergency until May 13 and shelter-in-place order until Apr. 30. Early voting was set to begin Apr. 27.

“Due to the Governor’s extension of the state of emergency through a time period that includes almost every day of in-person voting for an election on May 19, and after careful consideration, I am now comfortable exercising the authority vested in me by Georgia law to postpone the primary election until June 9,” Raffensperger said in a news release. “This decision allows our office and county election officials to continue to put in place contingency plans to ensure that voting can be safe and secure when in-person voting begins and prioritizes the health and safety of voters, county election officials and poll workers.”

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In the Loop: Ten People Have Died of COVID-19 at One Athens Nursing Home

By Blake Aued | April 7, 2020 8:09pm

165 Winston Drive.

Ten residents have died of COVID-19 at PruittHealth Grandview nursing home in Athens, according to WSB-TV.

A nurse tipped off WSB to the deaths. They were later confirmed by PruittHealth, which said they occured over "the past few weeks." The Norcross-based company also told WSB that the facility is operating "at an alert code red status" and strictly following infectious disease protocols.

The nurse, Myesha Moore, also told WSB that she was fired because she didn't go to work while showing symptoms of COVID-19, an allegation PruittHealth denied.

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In the Loop: COVID-19 Cases Continue to Rise in Athens

By | April 2, 2020 2:26pm

Clarke County now has 54 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with seven residents dying from the disease, according to the latest numbers from the Georgia Department of Public Health.

In Georgia, 5,348 cases have been confirmed, with 163 deaths.

Those who have died in Clarke County range from age 60–89, according to DPH. At least four had underlying conditions making them more susceptible to the disease.

At least 15 University of Georgia students and employees have tested positive. They include one student worker who helped hundreds of fellow students move out of the dorms late last month, after UGA canceled in-person classes for the semester, according to the AJC. UGA said it has notified coworkers and students who checked out during times the student who tested positive was working.

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In the Loop: Kemp Closes K-12 Schools for Rest of School Year

By Blake Aued | April 1, 2020 9:44pm

Many probably saw this coming, with just four weeks between Gov. Brian Kemp's projected return date of Apr. 27 and the end of the Clarke County school year May 21, and no end to the coronavirus pandemic in sight, but Kemp announced today that he will keep public K-12 schools in Georgia closed for the rest of the 2019–2020 school year.

CCSD shifted to online learning three weeks ago and had planned to keep it up at least through the end of the month. The latest announcement, though, throws activities like proms and graduation ceremonies in doubt.

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Grub Notes: Athens Bars Can Now Sell Beer and Wine to Go

By Blake Aued | March 28, 2020 2:47pm

Cheers!

Athens bars and restaurants can now sell unopened bottles and cans of beer and wine to go during the coronavirus emergency after Athens-Clarke County Manager Blaine Williams signed an order Friday suspending certain provisions of the local alcoholic beverage ordinance.

The ACC Commission essentially shut down bars and restaurant dining rooms when it limited public gatherings to less than 10 people on Mar. 16, then officially closed them to the publicon Mar. 19, although restaurants can still do take-out and delivery.

Ordinarily, businesses with a license to serve alcohol on the premises can't sell it for consumption off premises, and vice versa.

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In the Loop: Kemp Closes Schools Through Apr. 24

By Blake Aued | March 26, 2020 1:59pm

Gov. Brian Kemp has ordered all public K-12 schools in Georgia to remain closed through Friday, Apr. 24.

"I am deeply grateful to State School Superintendent Richard Woods, the Georgia Department of Education, superintendents, and parents for keeping us informed and helping us make the right decision for our students," Kemp said in a news release. "Throughout this process, we will continue to seek the advice of public health officials, school leaders, and families to ensure the health and safety of the educational community. As we approach April 24, 2020, we ask for continued patience and flexibility since circumstances may change, but we encourage families to stay strong and follow the guidance of federal, state, and local leaders in the weeks ahead."

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In the Loop: Gun Store Challenges Athens Shelter-in-Place Law

By Blake Aued | March 25, 2020 2:56pm

Athens gun store Clyde Armory filed a lawsuit Tuesday in Clarke County Superior Court seeking to overturn Athens-Clarke County's recently passed shelter-in-place ordinance.

The ordinance closes many businesses through Apr. 7 and orders residents to stay in their homes whenever possible, with exceptions like going to work, grocery shopping, outdoor recreation and seeking medical attention.

While gun stores are not specifically listed among the "essential businesses" that are allowed to stay open, county officials have said gun stores are exempt because closing them would violate the Second Amendment right to bear arms. But the lawsuit, filed by local attorneys Mo Wiltshire and Kevin Epps on behalf of Clyde Armory, says that such statements don't carry the force of law.

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