Blog Topic: Say What

Grub Notes: UGA Athletic Association Doesn't Know What 'Local' Means

By Hillary Brown | April 3, 2020 5:30pm

At this time of all times, the UGA Athletic Association decided to tweet in favor of supporting local restaurants, with a big header that said "support local." The problem is what followed it: a list of chains, only two of which (Grindhouse and Zaxby's) could sorta be described as local restaurants.

Yes, chain and franchise restaurants are owned by local people, and local people work there, but encouraging people to support McDonald's, Papa John's and Subway isn't exactly the best way to bring money back into the hurting local economy. The explanation, of course, is that these are the places that advertise with the Athletic Association, and the end of the tweet reads, "Thank you for continuing to support our partners."

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In the Loop: State Will Hold Hearing on Athens' Use of Paper Ballots

By Blake Aued | March 10, 2020 5:22pm

Early voters in the presidential primary are currently using paper ballots after the ACC Board of Elections voted last week to ditch the state’s new voting machines.

The board voted 3–2 Mar. 3 (with chairman Jesse Evans, Willa Fambrough and new member Rocky Raffle in favor, and Charles Knapper and Patricia Till opposed) to switch to paper ballots for the Mar. 24 presidential primary over concerns that the new machines’ large screens don’t give voters enough privacy. State law requires counties to use the voting system provided by the state unless it’s “impossible or impracticable.” County attorney Judd Drake told the board it will have a hard time meeting that standard, and Director of Elections and Voter Registration Charlotte Sosebee said privacy can be provided.

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Culture Briefs: Photo Gallery: Snow Day in Athens

By Whitley Carpenter | February 8, 2020 8:51pm

Surprise! It snowed in Athens on Saturday, transforming the Classic City into a bona fide winter wonderland for a few precious hours.

Here are a few photos for proof, courtesy of Flagpole's Whitley Carpenter:

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In the Loop: New School Board Appointee Misled Board About Graduating From Cedar Shoals

By Blake Aued | January 31, 2020 3:14pm

Newly appointed Clarke County Board of Education member Antwon Stephens did not graduate from Cedar Shoals High School in 2014, as he implied when he sought a vacant position on the board last month, according to a report in the Cedar Shoals student newspaper.

A majority of the board chose Stephens from among four applicants to fill the vacancy in District 2 for the remainder of 2020. In his written application and in a speech to the board, he described himself as "Cedar Shoals class of 2014." One of his champions on the board, Tawanna Mattox, cited the fact that he is a recent CCSD graduate as reason to support him.

But when confronted by reporters from Cedar BluePrints — who noted that he wasn't in the yearbook or listed on the graduation program — Stephens admitted that he didn't actually graduate from Cedar Shoals. He left during either his sophomore or junior year, and said he received a diploma from an online high school.

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In the Loop: School Superintendent Demond Means Says He's Quitting

By Blake Aued | November 21, 2019 9:31pm

Photo Credit: Whitley Carpenter/file

Clarke County School Superintendent Demond Means said he is resigning during a Board of Education meeting tonight that quickly devolved from sedate to a spectacle.

Frustrations spilled over when the board discussed a letter to the state Professional Standards Commission, which certifies educators, informing the PSC that three allegations of unethical behavior made against Means in May don't warrant sanctions by the PSC.

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In the Loop: ACC Police Warn of THC Tainted Vape Cartridges

By Blake Aued | September 25, 2019 2:58pm

Photo Credit: courtesy of ACCPD

Athens-Clarke County police issued a warning today about homemade vape cartridges that have been "tainted" with THC and other chemicals.

Earlier this week, police executed a warrant and seized 2,370 of the homemade cartridges. They were nearly identical to those produced by a company in California—where THC, the compound in marijuana that makes you high—is legal, but several other chemicals that carry health concerns were added, too.

In addition, THC remains illegal in Georgia, and shipping THC to Georgia from a state where it's legal is against the law, as well.

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Culture Briefs: Yes, That's Thor Drinking Creature Comforts in the New Avengers Trailer

By | April 3, 2019 3:09pm

Photo Credit: Marvel Studios

"I know it matches your suit, Tony, but I'm sorry, they were out of Paradiso."

A few, um, hawk-eyed social media users noticed something familiar about the beer can Thor is drinking in the new Avengers: Endgame trailer that dropped Tuesday.

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In the Loop: UGA Frat Suspended Over Racist Video

By Ashlyn Webb | March 25, 2019 3:50pm

The Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity’s UGA chapter has been suspended and four members expelled from the fraternity after a video surfaced showing them using racist language and mocking slavery.

“I want to reach out to you to express how profoundly disappointed and appalled I am by the content of a recent video involving four UGA students that has been circulating on social media. I know this matter has caused great pain and anguish within our University community,” UGA president Jere Morehead said in a statement. “This incident does not reflect the culture of unity and inclusion which we support on our campus.”

Once the video began gaining attention, the University of Georgia, Student Government Association and Tau Kappa Epsilon gave statements via Twitter.

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In the Loop: Athens Rents Among Fastest-Growing in U.S.

By Blake Aued | March 5, 2019 5:07pm

Athens rents grew the tenth-fastest of any midsize city in the country over the past year, according to data gathered by an apartment-listing firm.

Rents in Athens grew by 4 percent over the past 12 months, outpacing the Georgia average of 1.8 percent and the state average of 0.9 percent. That ranked No. 10 among cities with populations between 100,000–250,000.

According to Apartment List, the median rent in February for a one-bedroom apartment was $770 a month, and $910 for a two-bedroom apartment.

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In the Loop: That 'UGA TA Hates White People' Story Is Way Overblown

By Blake Aued | January 23, 2019 4:21pm

Photo Credit: The University of Georgia

Irami Osei-Frimpong.

Here’s some breaking news.

Wait for it.

It’s crazy.

You won’t believe this.

An Athens PhD student has some controversial political views. And he posts them on social media.

Irami Osei-Frimpong, a University of Georgia teaching assistant in philosophy, is well-known in Athens political circles. He hosts a YouTube show and posts his thoughts on race and class on Facebook multiple times a day.

Some months ago, Osei-Frimpong said that “some white people may have to die for black communities to be whole in this struggle to advance freedom.”

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