Blog Topic: Breaking News

In the Loop: 8,000-Seat Amphitheater Proposed in Athens

By Blake Aued | October 25, 2017 2:37pm

A local developer has filed plans for an 8,000 amphitheater off Commerce Road just north of the Loop.

The plans call for "a large front plaza, terraced turf seating, box seating, covered pavilion seating, concessions, stage, sky suites, office, lodging for performers and service area for performers and vendors," as well as 1,803 parking spaces, according to the Athens-Clarke County Planning Department.

It will host "mid-range bands" that are too big to play the Classic Center but too small for an Atlanta stadium, said James Warnes, the zoning lawyer for the project.

The developer is Clint Larkin, a former University of Georgia football player who lives in nearby Carlton and is also involved in the Hyatt Regency under construction next door to the Classic Center, Warnes said.

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In the Loop: Republican Candidate Houston Gaines Won't Say Whether He'd Vote for Trump

By Lee Becker | October 18, 2017 1:09pm

Photo Credit: Joshua L. Jones/file

Donald Trump played a role in the candidate forum for the Nov. 7 special elections for House Districts 117 and 119 held Tuesday night at the Oconee County campus of the University of North Georgia, as he did in a forum last week.

In response to a question about Trump’s behavior as President, the three Republican candidates in the race for House District 119 strongly endorsed Trump, though Steven Strickland did say he had problems with 5 percent of what Trump does.

When Houston Gaines, running as the sole Republican in House District 117, was asked, if the 2016 election were tomorrow, would he vote for Trump or Hillary Clinton, he did not answer.

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In the Loop: Athens Man Shoots Woman, Shot At by Officer, Shoots Himself During Domestic Dispute

By Blake Aued | October 16, 2017 9:10pm

Photo Credit: Blake Aued

Police Chief Scott Freeman (right) shows reporters video from an officer's body camera.

A man shot and killed a woman during a domestic dispute off Hawthorne Avenue this afternoon, then turned the gun on himself.

An Athens-Clarke County police officer responded to a call at about 4 p.m. about a domestic dispute involving a handgun at the Columbia Brookside apartment complex.

The shooting started "immediately, as soon [the officer] as arrived and got out of his car," ACCPD Chief Scott Freeman told reporters at a news conference tonight. "The officer witnessed this shooting, and he returned fire in an effort to stop the threat."

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In the Loop: Police: Pedestrian Hit on Prince Was Not in Crosswalk

By Blake Aued | October 9, 2017 2:32pm

Photo Credit: Google Streetview

A pedestrian who was hit by a minivan on Friday was not using a nearby crosswalk, according to Athens-Clarke County police.

The pedestrian, an approximately 51-year-old man with a Honeysuckle Lane address, was crossing Prince Avenue from south to north near the entrance to Dunkin' Donuts at about 8 a.m. Friday when he was hit by an eastbound Honda Odyssey driven by an approximately 41-year-old Athens man, according to a police report.

"The pedestrian walked into the path of the Odyssey and was struck by [it]," the report says.

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In the Loop: UGA Provost Pamela Whitten in the Running for Iowa Job

By Blake Aued |

The University of Georgia's second-highest ranking administrator is a finalist to become president of Iowa State University.

UGA Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Pamela Whitten is one of four finalists for the position. She will visit Ames, IA on Tuesday, according to the Des Moines Register.

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In the Loop: The Eastside Is Finally Getting an Aldi

By Blake Aued | October 5, 2017 11:09am

This is what an Aldi looks like.

German discount grocery store chain Aldi is opening a second Athens location, this one in a shopping center on Gaines School Road near the Cedar Shoals Drive intersection.

The company filed plans with Athens-Clarke County last week to renovate the 21,000 square-foot space, formerly occupied by Omni Club.

"At this point, we are working through the process of obtaining permits and hope to begin construction in the next couple months," said Aldi Jefferson Division Vice President Thom Behtz.

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In the Loop: Denson Ousted From Democratic Committee Post

By Rebecca McCarthy | September 29, 2017 9:24am

After decades of service as a Democrat, Athens Mayor Nancy Denson is no longer a member of the Athens-Clarke County Democratic Committee.

Members voted Thursday night to remove her after she violated the committee’s bylaws. She did so by hosting a fundraiser for the Republican candidate for House District 117 (formerly held by Regina Quick) though Democrat Deborah Gonzalez is also running.

Denson has said she understood a special election to be nonpartisan, but candidates are nevertheless required to register with a political party in a “jungle primary,” where all candidates are listed on the ballot together, so she was staging an event for a registered Republican, Houston Gaines. She also contributed $1,000 to his campaign. Gaines was her campaign manager in the 2014 mayoral race.

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In the Loop: UGA Professors Sue to Overturn Campus Carry Law

By Nate Harris | September 27, 2017 1:44pm

Photo Credit: The University of Georgia

William B. Whitman is one of three UGA professors who are plaintiffs in the lawsuit.

Less than three months since it took effect, Georgia's campus carry law is facing a lawsuit.

Six professors at Georgia colleges and universities, including three from the University of Georgia, filed a complaint Monday against Gov. Nathan Deal and Attorney General Chris Carr, arguing that the law interferes with the University System Board of Regents’ authority and educational mission, and it endangers students, faculty and staff. The lawsuit, filed in Fulton County, seeks to have the campus carry law declared unconstitutional.

"Reasonable minds can and do differ on this issue [gun control], but this case is not about who is right," the complaint reads. "Rather, it is about which entity decides."

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In the Loop: John Barrow Is Running for Secretary of State

By Blake Aued | September 25, 2017 11:33am

Former congressman and Athens-Clarke County commissioner John Barrow is running for secretary of state, he announced at a Clarke County Democrats barbecue on Sunday.

Barrow, a Democrat who's shown a knack for winning in conservative areas, will be a strong candidate for the open position. Current Secretary of State Brian Kemp, another Athenian, is leaving the post to run for governor.

Barrow said in a press release that he refuses to “stand on the sidelines when we face such huge challenges” and vowed to protect the right to vote, cut regulations and crack down on fraud.

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In the Loop: Two Story Coffee Loses Its Lease

By Nate Harris | September 20, 2017 3:18pm

Photo Credit: Nicole Adamson

After years at its location on South Lumpkin Street near the Five Points intersection, Two Story Coffee is moving.

When renewing their lease, the property manager, Parker and Associates, reportedly decided to go with another bid.

"It caught us off-guard," said Daniel Luft, Two Story's general manager. The popular studying spot for UGA students now has until the end of the month to pack up and move out.

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