Blog Topic: ICYMI

In the Loop: ARMC CEO: Hospital Must Find a Partner to Grow

By Blake Aued | July 20, 2015 2:50pm

The health care industry is changing, and Athens Regional Health System CEO Charles Peck sees two options: Keep the status quo and possibly shrink, or find a “strategic partner” and grow.

The Affordable Care Act has hastened consolidation among health insurers, and fewer and larger insurance providers means that hospitals are at a disadvantage when negotiating reimbursement rates. Costs are rising, though more slowly than before the ACA took effect. Patients are looking more to outpatient care.

Then there was the botched new electronic medical record system installed under former CEO Jamey Thaw, who resigned last year. Peck, who was hired in February, acknowledges that implementation was “rough,” but also says media coverage was overblown. That coverage made potential patients (read: customers) think twice about seeking treatment at ARMC.

“People in the community probably started wondering whether this was the place to come at that time,” Peck said.

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In the Loop: Bernie Sanders' Presidential Campaign Takes Shape in Athens

By Benjamin Tankersley | July 19, 2015 11:49am

Photo Credit: Peter Searcy/Flickr

Chants of “Bernie! Bernie!” rang loud as residents of Athens-Clarke County joined millions of people around the country by starting a grassroots committee in support of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) for the upcoming 2016 Presidential Election.

The committee had their first meeting Saturday at the Blind Pig Tavern before splitting up into subcommittees to focus on campaigning for Sanders, who identifies as a socialist but caucuses with Democrats. He’s running against Hillary Clinton and former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley for the nomination.

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Homedrone: Photos and Video: Athens Hip Hop Awards

By Flagpole Staff | March 9, 2015 1:05pm

The third annual Athens Hip Hop Awards happened Saturday, Mar. 7 at the Morton Theatre. Flagpole photographers Joshua L. Jones and Randy Schafer were there to document the show. Check out photos and video below.

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Culture Briefs: 40th Juried Exhibition at Lyndon House Judged a Success

By Barbette Houser | March 7, 2015 12:00am

The bells kept ringing at the Lyndon House on Thursday night. “Are they making an announcement?” one woman asked me. Nothing ensued, and we were all easily pulled back into our animated conversations. The bells rang again. Eventually the noise of the crowd drowned the ringing out entirely, as hundreds had gathered to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Lyndon House Art Center’s Juried Exhibition.

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Homedrone: Photo Gallery: Robyn Hitchcock at The Foundry

By Mike White | February 15, 2015 11:39am

Robyn Hitchcock and Emma Swift played The Foundry Friday evening. Below, check out a selection of photographs from the show.

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In the Loop: Athens Police and Citizens Talk Race and Bias

By Blake Aued | January 19, 2015 10:49am

Photo Credit: Blake Aued

"Comply and complain" was the refrain police used over and over again during a town hall meeting with local law enforcement on Saturday.

A panel of community leaders briefly tackled a number of important issues—gentrification, low voter turnout, lack of minority representation in government—but in the wake of recent high-profile cases where police killed African Americans, the No.1 concern was the police department's relationship with minorities.

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In the Loop: You Can Vote This Saturday or Sunday

By Blake Aued | October 24, 2014 4:05pm

A friendly reminder: The Athens-Clarke County Board of Elections (155 E. Washington St., next to City Hall) will open for early voting this weekend—including Sunday for the first time ever. Hours are 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Saturday and 1–5 p.m. Sunday.

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Homedrone: Stream The Glands' Entire 36-Song Comeback Show via Southern Shelter

By Gabe Vodicka | October 6, 2014 2:28pm

Photo Credit: Mike White

Beloved local rock and roll institution The Glands returned to the stage Saturday after a two-year hiatus (which was preceded by a one-year hiatus, which was preceded by a seven-year hiatus…), and they played. Boy, did they play. Thirty-six songs, in fact.

The setlist, which spanned the band's career and teased unreleased material from a long-awaited third record, which frontman Ross Shapiro confirmed to Flagpole will be out within the year, is now streamable via Southern Shelter. Check it out below.

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In the Loop: David Perdue: Don't Worry About the Unemployment Rate

By Blake Aued | August 26, 2014 5:14pm

A video of a journalist being forcibly removed from a Republican campaign event in Dawsonville has drawn a lot of attention lately. Lost in the shuffle, according to Democrat Michelle Nunn's Senate campaign, were her opponent David Perdue's comment on the unemployment rate at the 37-minute mark.

Team Nunn is circulating a Huffington Post article about the event that quotes Perdue as saying he's not concerned about Georgia's 7.8 percent unemployment rate, which is the second highest of any state and well above the 6.2 percent national average.

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Culture Briefs: UGA Grad Josh Murray Wins 'The Bachelorette'

By Stephanie Talmadge | July 29, 2014 12:47pm

Josh Murray, bachelor no more.

It’s a big day here in Athens as a former Bulldog, Josh Murray, made headlines last night for stealing the heart of one Andi Dorfman on ABC’s "The Bachelorette."

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