Athens Banner-Herald

The Athens Banner-Herald is a daily publication based in Athens, Georgia, and is part of the Gannett family of newspapers. In addition to its regular print edition, it features a Sunday special and operates online as Online Athens. Since the year 2000, the newspaper has experienced various restructurings and mergers. This journey led to its sale, along with other publications, by Morris Communications to GateHouse Media in August 2017. Following the merger between GateHouse Media and Gannett in November 2019, the Athens Banner-Herald is now firmly under Gannett's ownership.

Local

English

Newspaper

Outlet metrics

Domain Authority

Ranking

Global

#114081

United States

#22979

News and Media

#1075

Traffic sources

Monthly visitors

Articles

Former Savannah-based attorney named interim U.S. attorney for Northern District of Georgia

22 hours ago | onlineathens.com | Dave Williams

Dave WilliamsCapitol Beat News ServiceTheodore S. Hertzberg has been appointed interim U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Georgia. Hertzberg has prior experience as an assistant U.S. attorney, prosecuting various criminals in both the Southern and Northern Districts of Georgia. He replaces Richard Moultrie Jr., who served as acting U.S. attorney after Ryan Buchanan's resignation. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has appointed Theodore S.
"Georgia has a sordid history of intimidation" lawyer argues in mass voter challenge case

1 day ago | onlineathens.com | Dave Williams

True the Vote challenged the eligibility of nearly 365,000 Georgia voters before the 2021 Senate runoffs. Fair Fight alleges True the Vote aimed to intimidate minority voters, violating the Voting Rights Act. True the Vote argues their challenges were not intended to intimidate and no voters were directly contacted. A lower court ruled in favor of True the Vote, but the appellate judges expressed skepticism.
Health inspections: Pizza joint dinged for flies in kitchen

1 day ago | onlineathens.com | Andrew Shearer

Here are the Georgia Department of Health's restaurant inspection scores for Athens-Clarke and Oconee counties conducted April 26-May 9. Scores in each category are listed in order of most recent inspection date. The Georgia Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Section, conducts regular restaurant inspections to help keep residents and visitors safe. Disclaimer: On any given day, an establishment may have fewer or more violations than noted in their most recent inspection.
Tickets are on sale for the return of 'Linnentown: The Musical' to the Classic Center.

1 day ago | onlineathens.com | Andrew Shearer

Hattie Thomas Whitehead's groundbreaking theatrical production "Linnentown: The Musical" is scheduled for a return to the Classic Center Theatre stage this fall. Based on Whitehead's memoir and childhood experiences growing up in the Athens community displaced by urban renewal in the 1960s, "Linnentown" will be performed at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 12 and Saturday, Sept. 13, and at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 14. Whitehead also wrote the play, which premiered in April 2024.
Georgia DOT launches feasibility study into passenger rail connecting Savannah and Atlanta

2 days ago | onlineathens.com | Dave Williams

Georgia's Department of Transportation is studying the feasibility of a high-speed passenger rail line between Atlanta and Savannah. Potential routes, station locations, and technology are being considered, with public input being gathered. Funding beyond the initial $10 million for the study has not yet been secured. Concerns about potential disruption to freight traffic at the Port of Savannah are being raised.
Gov. Brian Kemp signs package of bills focused on strengthening Georgia's workforce

2 days ago | onlineathens.com | Dave Williams

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed several bills to bolster the state's workforce. One bill codifies the Georgia MATCH program, which streamlines college and technical school admissions for high school seniors. Another bill creates a scholarship program for current and former foster children. Additional legislation eases financial aid requirements for income-eligible students and expands loan forgiveness for veterinarians specializing in livestock. Gov.
See the Georgia hotels that Southern Living named two of 10 best new hotels in the South

2 days ago | onlineathens.com | Miguel Legoas

There are more than 8,700 hotels in Georgia, according to . Need help filtering for a fresh and memorable stay? Southern Living released a list of the 10 Best New Hotels of 2025 including two in Georgia. Here's what we know:How did Southern Living determine the best new hotels? Southern Living writer Lisa Cericola said the top 10 were selected based on the Southern Living team's own experiences as guests, customer reviews, and the value they offer travelers.
Wolfsong Flowers owner prioritizes work-life balance by running her business from home

3 days ago | onlineathens.com | Andrew Shearer

Lara Jackson, owner of Wolfsong Flowers, prioritizes work-life balance by running her business from home. Jackson's background in horticulture from UGA and inspiration from a former classmate led her to open Wolfsong Flowers in 2019. Wolfsong Flowers offers flower preservation, original artwork using pressed flowers, and florist services. Jackson values the flexibility of her business, allowing her to be present for her children.
Safety Jordan Smith, Top-100 player in country, commits to Georgia football 2026 class

3 days ago | onlineathens.com | Ehsan Kassim

Kirby Smart and Georgia football continue to add to their 2026 recruiting class. On Sunday, four-star safety Jordan Smith announced his commitment to the Bulldogs. Smith is a top-100 player in the country, coming in at No. 95 in the 247 Sports Composite rankings and is another local win for Smart. Georgia added five-star quarterback Jared Curtis to its recruiting class on May 5 and now holds nine commitments in its 2026 recruiting class. Curtis is the No. 2 overall player in the 2026 cycle.
Did your walls shake Saturday morning? An earthquake in Tennessee could be felt in North GA

5 days ago | onlineathens.com | Ryne Dennis

Feel the walls shake this morning in north Georgia? The National Weather Service is reporting a preliminary 3.5-magnitude earthquake hit south of Knoxville, Tenn., near the Tennessee-North Carolina border that could be felt in north Georgia and even Athens. Knoxville meteorologist Spencer Denton provided results from a seismograph showing the results. The area near the epicenter has had nearly every form of natural disaster in the past eight months.