Blog Topic: Say What

Homedrone: Here's Why Black Pussy's Band Name is Not Cool

By Rashaun Ellis | March 23, 2015 11:13am

At first, it looked like Portland stoner-rock band Black Pussy would have an unexpected layover in Athens after their show at the Caledonia Lounge on Mar. 24, because their show at Raleigh's Pour House the following day was cancelled in response to public outrage at the band's obviously, plainly, stiflingly offensive name. (The show has since been re-booked at a different venue.)

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In the Loop: White Men Get Ahead at the University of North Georgia

By Blake Aued | March 18, 2015 1:58pm

This is the cover of the University of North Georgia's latest continuing education catalog. It depicts two white dudes in suits winning the Race of Life after receiving a UNG education, while a woman tries to keep up, and a black man stumbles, probably because he hurt his back playing basketball.

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In the Loop: State GOP Chief John Padgett of Athens Accused of Discrimination

By Blake Aued | March 2, 2015 5:09pm

Padgett at the state Republican convention in Athens in 2013.

Longtime Athens Republican John Padgett, currently chairman of the state GOP, has been hit with a lawsuit alleging that he has discriminated against minority employees at his ambulance business.

According to the AJC:

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In the Loop: Tim Denson and 11 Others Arrested While Protesting for Medicaid Expansion

By Blake Aued | March 2, 2015 4:32pm

Book 'em, Danno.

Former Athens-Clarke County mayoral candidate Tim Denson (pictured at left), University of Georgia student Adam Veale and Athens for Everyone board member Adam Lassila were among 12 people arrested this afternoon during a demonstration in favor of expanding Medicaid at the state Capitol.

According to a news release from Athens for Everyone:

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In the Loop: Oconee Official: Move Bishop and Widen 441

By Lee Becker | February 13, 2015 11:05am

Photo Credit: Lee Becker

The Madison Athens-Clarke Oconee Regional Transportation Study (MACORTS) Policy Committee took the first step on Wednesday toward reactivating the construction of a bypass of Bishop and the four-laning of U.S. 441 from Watkinsville to the Apalachee River.

The project now goes to the public comment stage, with a key meeting to be held from 5–7 p.m. on Feb. 24 in the Community Center at Oconee Veterans Park.

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In the Loop: Conservatives Target Athens Ben & Jerry's Over 'Hands Up, Don't Shoot' Shirt

By Lauren Steffes | January 21, 2015 1:12pm

Photo Credit: Photo via the Athens Ben & Jerry's Facebook page

Landon Bubb, a manager at the downtown Athens Ben & Jerry’s, posted a picture to the store's Facebook page on Saturday featuring company co-founder Ben Cohen wearing a “Hands Up Don’t Shoot” t-shirt.

The University of Georgia graduate posted the photo in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Hoping to spark a positive discussion about police brutality, he was met with hateful backlash. The photo went viral overnight, gaining upwards of 300,000 views, more than 3,000 shares and more than 1,600 comments. Supporters chimed in here and there, but the discussion is dominated by personal attacks and threats of a boycott.

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In the Loop: The Prince Avenue Flags Made the Atlanta News

By Blake Aued | January 8, 2015 2:26pm

Photo Credit: Blake Aued

Tim Bryant had a great quote on Facebook: He is "at the same time amazed and yet also unsurprised that Athens, of all places, makes a statewide issue out of crossing the street. "

11Alive did a story yesterday on the new Prince Avenue orange flag interpretive danceprogram.

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In the Loop: UGA Is Handing Out Football Tickets to Lawmakers Left and Right

By Blake Aued | December 29, 2014 2:12pm

An ethics reform law passed in 2012 capped lobbyists' gifts to state lawmakers at $75. But giving hasn't slowed down for the University of Georgia and other public colleges and universities. That's because government employees are no longer required to register as lobbyists.

Since they're not officially lobbyists, the state ethics commission no longer keeps tabs on University System spending. But the Atlanta Journal-Constitution filed open-records requests with the schools themselves. The investigation found that they spent a total of $48,000 on legislators since last November and exceeded the $75 limit 20 times.

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In the Loop: Athens Is Now the Poster Child for Binge Drinking

By Blake Aued | December 1, 2014 10:56am

Jason Benning purchases thousands of dollars worth of food and alcohol for his Libation Station tailgate. Credit: Randy Schafer

Athens gets a lot of national attention, but this is one of those times when we probably don't want it.

A recent Chronicle of Higher Education article highlighted Athens—long known as a drinking town with a football problem—as the poster child for binge drinking.

The article tells the story of how Athens came to be drowning in booze through the eyes of University of Georgia Police Chief Jimmy Williamson, former fake ID kingpin William Trosclair (whom Flagpole profiled in February), bar owner Mark Bell, UGA health official Liz Prince, alcohol-free party planner Adam Tenny and tailgater Jason Bening (whose Libation Station was featured in a Flagpole photo gallery last month).

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In the Loop: The Morton Theatre May Be Haunted

By Blake Aued | November 20, 2014 1:39pm

What's that blur on the right?

When there's something strange in the Morton Theatre, who you gonna call?

Ghosts of Georgia Paranormal Investigations.

According to an Athens-Clarke County news release, "after hearing stories over the years about unexplained occurrences in the building, the Public Information Office (PIO) approached the Morton Theatre staff about telling the history of the building with a twist by hosting an overnight ghost hunt." Because Jeff Montgomery ain't scared of no ghosts.

Six investigators with Ghosts of Georgia and a Radar Productions videographer conducted an overnight investigation Oct. 11–12, setting up a variety of recording equipment and walking through the 104-year-old building. (This isn't your tax dollars at work. The investigation was free, Montgomery said.)

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