Blake Aued

Athens

News Editor at Flagpole Magazine

Contributor at Streetsblog Network

Editor @FlagpoleMag, contributor @streetsblogUSA. My name is my handle everywhere. #WAOM

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Articles

Commissioner Carol Myers' Budget Funds Library, Affordable Housing and More

4 days ago | flagpole.com | Blake Aued

With only three commissioners—Carol Myers, Patrick Davenport and Melissa Link—in attendance at a May 22 work session, they were unable to reach an agreement on Athens-Clarke County’s fiscal 2026 budget, and pushed final decisions off until June 5. The county tax digest grew by $1.2 million more than was anticipated when Mayor Kelly Girtz released his budget proposal in late April, giving the commission a bit of wiggle room.
Report Identifies Dozens of DOGE Cuts to UGA Research Grants

4 days ago | flagpole.com | Blake Aued

The University of Georgia has lost tens of millions of dollars in federal research grants during the first six months of the Trump administration, according to an analysis by a left-leaning think tank. Records posted online by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), created by President Trump and run by tech CEO Elon Musk, are notoriously riddled with errors.
Former Commissioner Tim Denson Announces Campaign for Mayor

4 days ago | flagpole.com | Blake Aued

Former Athens-Clarke County commissioner and current school board member Tim Denson announced his candidacy for mayor on Tuesday, promising solutions to Athens’ housing crisis. Denson moved to Athens from Florida in 2010 and participated in the Occupy movement. After his upstart mayoral campaign won a surprising 40% of the vote against incumbent Nancy Denson (no relation) in 2014, he formed Athens for Everyone to advocate for progressive causes like fare-free transit.
Developer Proposes Hotel Behind UGA President's House

5 days ago | flagpole.com | Blake Aued

A Gainesville, GA developer is preparing to submit plans for a hotel behind the University of Georgia President’s House on Prince Avenue but first is trying to win over skeptical Boulevard residents who think the project is too big. Capstone Property Group, a company headed by eye doctor Jeffrey Paine that has built several hotels in Gainesville, holds an option to buy the president’s house, which the University System of Georgia put up for sale in 2023.
Monday’s Headlines Dig Deep

6 days ago | ecotopical.com | Blake Aued

Welcome to EcoTopical Your daily eco-friendly green news aggregator. Leaf through planet Earths environmental headlines in one convenient place. Read, share and discover the latest on ecology, science and green living from the web's most popular sites.
Commission Considers Deal for Student Housing on Downtown Parking Lot

1 week ago | flagpole.com | Blake Aued

A downtown parking lot that’s been targeted for redevelopment for more than a decade, along with a nearby hotel, are slated to become student housing under a deal with the Athens-Clarke County government that would net the county a new parking deck and sewer line, in addition to millions of dollars for affordable housing.
Study Shows That Intown Athens Properties Subsidize the Suburbs

2 weeks ago | flagpole.com | Blake Aued

The massive house in Five Points that Kirby Smart recently put on the market is valued by the tax assessor at $3.1 million. A typical bungalow in Boulevard is worth $650,000. Which is more valuable? The answer might surprise you. The Lyndon Avenue house, which sits on about a tenth of an acre, is actually more productive, with a value of $6.9 million per acre. Smart’s mansion is worth $1.6 million per acre.
Sheriff: More Jail Inmates Will Die if Commission Doesn't Raise Deputy Pay

2 weeks ago | flagpole.com | Blake Aued

More inmates will die at the Athens-Clarke County jail unless the ACC Commission approves funding for deputy pay raises, Sheriff John Williams told commissioners at a budget hearing last week. Two men, aged 39 and 32, died while in custody within the past month. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is conducting autopsies but has not released the results. “I’m telling you in no uncertain terms, more people are going to die if I can’t hire more people. Is that clear?” Williams told commissioners.
Athens-Clarke County Could Lose $25 Million Grant for North Avenue

2 weeks ago | flagpole.com | Blake Aued

Athens-Clarke County is likely to lose a $25 million federal grant for North Avenue, and now the commission faces a choice of whether to cut bait or change the plan to try to meet a looming deadline.
Former State Rep. Doug McKillip Announces Run for Athens Senate Seat

2 weeks ago | flagpole.com | Blake Aued

Former state Rep. Doug McKillip is looking to make a political comeback by seeking the state Senate seat Bill Cowsert is vacating to run for attorney general. First elected as a Democrat in 2006, McKillip earned local notoriety by switching parties in the aftermath of 2010’s Republican wave. GOP leadership in the House tried to protect him by shifting his blue-leaning Athens district to include portions of deep-red Oconee, Barrow and Jackson counties.

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Blake Aued @BlakeAued

6 May 25

RT @accgov: The community is invited to join ACCGov's Planning Dept. and Urban3 consultants for an engaging presentation related to the eco…

Blake Aued @BlakeAued

5 May 25

So, a typical weekend

Edward-Isaac Dovere @IsaacDovere

In the space of 48 hours, the President of the United States has tweeted an image of himself as the new pope, said he doesn’t know if he has to abide by the Constitution, cited multiple completely false statistics, and announced that he wants to reopen a prison closed in 1963.

Blake Aued @BlakeAued

30 Apr 25

For every kid who’s 6’2” with a mustache in little league, there’s a Nick Allen