Blog Topic: Breaking News

Culture Briefs: Bulldog Inn 'Annual Bi-annual' Postponed Until Fall

By Jessica Smith | April 25, 2016 12:45pm

Will Eskridge's "Wolf City"

The 2016 Bulldog Inn Annual Bi-annual has been postponed until later this fall. Launched in 2010 as a venue for experimentation and alternative art, the one-night event transforms ordinary bedrooms into multi-faceted installations dreamed up by local artists.

Originally scheduled for Friday, Apr. 22, the event was later moved to Wednesday, May 11 in hopes of accommodating more artists. Due to growing construction in Athens, however, the iconic motel on Commerce Road is currently occupied by long-term residents, making it impossible to reserve enough rooms.

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In the Loop: Athens Police Release Video of Officer Shooting

By Blake Aued | April 24, 2016 2:33pm

A screenshot of video from Officer David Kelley's body camera.

A video released by Athens-Clarke County police appears to show a suspect reaching for a gun before he was shot by an ACCPD officer at the Golden Pantry on Barnett Shoals Road early Saturday morning.

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In the Loop: ACCPD Officer Involved in Shooting; Homeless Woman Found Stabbed to Death

By Blake Aued | April 23, 2016 5:19pm

An Athens-Clarke County police officer shot a man who reached for his gun in a gas-station parking lot on the Eastside early this morning, according to law enforcement authorities.

Officer David Kelley was patroling near the Golden Pantry on Barnett Shoals Road at about 3 a.m. when he saw two men—one of whom, Justin Trammell Scott, was carrying a gun—pouring liquor into cups, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Kelley "gave multiple commands to Scott when Scott reached for his firearm, at which time Officer Kelley fired shots, striking Scott," GBI said in a news release. "After being shot, Scott fled and was apprehended a short distance later by another ACCPD officer who responded to the scene."

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In the Loop: Eric Norris Named New Athens Judge

By Blake Aued | April 19, 2016 11:53am

Gov. Nathan Deal has named Watkinsville lawyer Eric Norris the fourth judge for the Western Circuit Superior Court.

Norris.

Norris also serves as a part-time magistrate court judge in Oconee County. He received his bachelor’s degree from North Georgia College & State University and his law degree from Regent University, a Christian college in Virginia.

The Western Circuit covers Clarke and Oconee counties. Norris joins David Sweat, Lawton Stephens and Patrick Haggard on the bench. He’s expected to spend most of his time in the Watkinsville courthouse, whereas the other three are mainly based in Athens.

After years of lobbying by the local legal community because of population growth and a rising caseload, the legislature approved the fourth judgeship last year.

Superior Court handles felony criminal cases, civil lawsuits and family law, such as divorces and child custody.

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In the Loop: Jack Kingston Endorses Doug Collins for Congress

By Blake Aued | April 19, 2016 11:27am

Jack Kingston.

Former congressman Jack Kingston has endorsed Rep. Doug Collins (R-Gainesville) over former Athens congressman Paul Broun and two other challengers in Northeast Georgia’s 9th District Republican primary.

Kingston is an Athens native who represented Savannah in Congress for 20 years until, like Broun, he left his seat to run for Senate. (Broun finished fifth with 10 percent of the vote, while Kingston lost a runoff to David Perdue.) Kingston also served with Collins, who was first elected in 2012.

Here are the statements from Kingston and Collins released by the Collins campaign on Monday:

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In the Loop: Wave Goodbye to the Prince Avenue Flags

By Blake Aued | April 18, 2016 3:45pm

Photo Credit: Uma Nagendra

The bright orange flags at two Prince Avenue crosswalks are gone—for good this time.

The Athens-Clarke County Transportation and Public Works Department placed the flags at crosswalks near The Grit and Daily Grocery for people to wave at drivers as they crossed the busy street more than a year ago, but they didn't work, according to ACC traffic engineer Steve Decker.

A study done by TPW and police found that waving the flags did not make more drivers slow down or stop, so TPW stopped replacing the flags.

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Homedrone: Ludacris Will Perform a 15-Minute Set Before the G-Day Game

By Gabe Vodicka | April 14, 2016 1:40pm

After first saying there would be no musical performance at Saturday's G-Day game, explaining that all the (country) acts they wanted to book were otherwise engaged, the UGA Athletic Department has announced that Georgia-based megastar Ludacris will perform just prior to Saturday's inter-squad matchup.

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In the Loop: Nuçi’s Space Wins Grant for Solar Panels

By Blake Aued | April 13, 2016 5:34pm

Photo Credit: Blake Aued

Nuçi’s Space Executive Director Bob Sleppy with Gretchen Elsner of Solarize Athens, Mayor Nancy Denson and Colleen McLoughlin of Environment Georgia.

The local nonprofit Nuçi’s Space is getting rooftop solar panels thanks to Solarize Athens, a program that offers local residents and businesses bulk discounts on solar-panel installation.

Solarize Athens and the environmental nonprofit Environment Georgia announced an $11,000 grant to Nuçi’s Space this afternoon to help pay for the $20,000 panels. Nuçi’s Space won the grant from among four nonprofit applicants.

“Solar made the most sense for Nuçi’s Space and would have the biggest impact on their energy bills,” said Colleen McLoughlin, solar campaign organizer for Environment Georgia.

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Culture Briefs: Community Will Move to a New Location this Summer

By Jessica Smith | April 7, 2016 3:56pm

Local fashion boutique Community officially announced plans this afternoon to relocate to a new space at the end of June. Currently located downtown at 119 N. Jackson St. above Jittery Joe's, the shop will move across the street into 260 N. Jackson St., the former home of the recently shuttered Jackson Street Books. The shop plans to carry out business as usual in its current location while renovations are underway.

Community

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In the Loop: Paul Broun's Ex-Chief of Staff Indicted

By Blake Aued | April 6, 2016 6:51pm

Former Athens congressman (and current candidate) Paul Broun's former chief of staff was indicted today on eight charges in an FBI investigation related to his alleged misuse of taxpayer money, according to the AJC.

David Bowser has been charged with one count of obstruction of proceedings, one count theft of government property, one count of concealment of material facts and five counts of making false statements.

Bowser is accused of paying consultant Brett O'Donnell $43,000 in taxpayer money to prepare Broun to debate opponents in his 2014 run for Senate and urging O'Donnell to portray himself as a campaign volunteer. O'Donnell plead guilty of lying to investigators in U.S. District Court last year.

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