Unemployment Up 95% Over Year

The Georgia Department of Labor says 88,756 laid-off workers filed first-time claims for state unemployment insurance benefits in June, an increase of 94.8 percent from June of 2008. The areas with the highest percentage of increase in claims from June 2008 to June 2009 were Rome up 181.0 percent, Gainesville up 172.8 percent, and Athens up 163.2 percent. The areas with the smallest increase in claims were Dalton up 48.5 percent, Albany up 66.3 percent and Savannah up 68.7 percent. State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond said rising unemployment continues to plague local economies throughout North Georgia. Most of the state initial claims were filed by laid-off workers in manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, construction, and administrative and support services.

(Associated Press)

UGA Fraternities Paid to Move

The University of Georgia has paid two fraternities nearly $2.4 million to move to houses off-campus. UGA officials moved five fraternities from along South Lumpkin Street and plan to build new homes for the UGA School of Family and Consumer Sciences, the Terry College of Business and other academic buildings. Contracts released by UGA last week show that the university paid Chi Phi fraternity $1.75 million to move from its house and Kappa Alpha got $600,000 to move out of a nearby residence. The three other fraternities on South Lumpkin opted to move into a new Greek Park on East Campus scheduled to done in the fall instead of taking money from the school. The school released contracts to the Athens Banner-Herald under an open records request.

(Associated Press)

Cause Of Georgia Theatre Fire Still Unknown

Investigators say they still have not been able to pinpoint a cause of the fire that gutted an Athens landmark nearly a week ago. Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were joined by state and local officials the past couple of days in sifting through the burned-out remains of the Georgia Theatre. Now investigators turn to interviewing witnesses. Officials say no information will be released until all agencies involved come to consensus as to the cause of the blaze.

Musicians Stage Georgia Theatre Benefit

The Athens music community is pulling together to help employees of the Georgia Theatre, left without a job in the wake of a massive blaze that gutted the historic venue last Friday. Today, state and local investigators began their work at the scene trying to determine a cause.

Tomorrow night, three bands will play a benefit concert in Athens, with proceeds going to displaced workers of the Theatre. Julian Dorio is the drummer with The Whigs, the Athens-based band headlining the event:

"Everyone understands what this means and the sacrifice for us to go down the street and play a show is nothing compared to what’s happened to the Georgia Theatre staff."

The show is being held at the Melting Point in Athens tomorrow night. 10-dollar tickets can be bought either at the door, or online through georgiatheathre.com. The Melting Point will also accept cash donations for a Georgia Theatre fund.

Investigation Into Georgia Theatre Fire Opens

Authorities open an investigation this morning as to what caused a massive fire that gutted the landmark Georgia Theatre in Athens. The Friday blaze after 7 that morning destroyed the building in the downtown area, known to many as a major player in the Athens and southeast music scene.

Investigators with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the state fire marshal's office and the local fire department are expected to work the scene Monday. Officials do not suspect foul play, but are not ruling-out arson.

Fire Destroys Athens' Georgia Theatre

An Athens landmark steeped in history was destroyed by fire early this morning, as the Georgia Theatre went up in flames. Dozens of firefighters with engines and ladder trucks responded to the scene in downtown Athens around 7am--by the time they had control of the blaze an hour later, the building was gutted. Officials do not yet have a cause for the fire.

The Theatre dates back to the late 1800’s. Through its history it was used as a cinema, and since the 1970’s, it’s been a major player in the Athens music scene.

Sandy Turner with Athens-Clarke County government told WGAU Radio in Athens she’s still trying to absorb the loss:

"That’s one of these places that you just take for granted...(the loss)will be great."

The Georgia Theatre was scheduled to host 11 musical acts during next weekend’s Ath-Fest. Organizers are working to reschedule them to different locations.

Fire Strikes Athens Landmark

Reports are coming in this morning of a major fire at The Georgia Theatre. The building is a converted cinema which is now used as a music venue in town, and considered an Athens landmark. Many well known bands have played there, including REM and the B-52’s.

Witnesses tell the Atlanta Journal-Constitution the fire began around 7am and appeared major. The president of the Athens-Area Chamber of Commerce tells the paper the blaze appeared to have burned through the roof of the theater. In his words, Doc Eldridge says the building "is gone."

MCG Athens-Campus OK'd By Accreditation Agency

It is full-steam ahead for the Medical College of Georgia’s track to open a campus in Athens following the nod from a national accreditation agency. MCG officials received permission from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education to admit 40 students to its new campus in northeast Georgia. An MCG officials says student applications will be taken starting later this month. The campus is scheduled to open in August of 2010.

Expos Aim To Spur Georgia Business, Housing Industries

Navigating a tough economy in the world of small business and the housing industry is the focus of a series of expos running through Saturday.

The events are designed as a type of one-stop shopping for entrepreneurs, realtors and bankers, among others. Organized by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, the aim is to connect those groups with the latest information and tools from the local, state, and federal levels.

Yancey Gulley is with Athens Technical College, one of several schools hosting the expos:

"There will be booths from small business, government to government assistance, and housing assistance. And then throughout the day, we’ll have workshops going on as well."

Athens Tech, along with tech schools in Atlanta and Calhoun are staging expos Saturday from 9-to-5. Events are wrapping-up today in Warner Robins, Hinesville, and Albany.

Athens Shootings Spike Calls To Hotline

An Athens-based agency that helps battered women has seen a spike in calls in the weeks since the fatal shootings of three people by a University of Georgia professor. On April 25th, UGA marketing professor George Zinkhan shot and killed his wife, two others, and later himself. The director of Project Safe says the very public shooting emboldened many women to seek help from dysfunctional relationships. Project Safe typically averages about 116 calls a month, from numbers for all of 2008 through the first few months of this year. But in May, following the shootings, the hotline received 162 calls. The Georgia Commission on Family Violence found more than 700 people in the state were victims of domestic violence-related homicide between 2003 and 2008. Georgia ranked 14th in the nation for its rate of men killing women.

(AP)

Athens One Of Best In U.S. To Live

There is more national recognition for a northeast Georgia city. Athens has been rated as the 5th-best place to live in the U.S. Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine compiled the list, noting that while southern charm clings to the streets, the air is charged with change. The magazine also points to the city’s relatively low unemployment rate of 6.3 percent in this tough economy. Last month Athens took a ranking of #7 nationally by Forbes magazine as one of the best cities for jobs.

Accused UGA Prof Still Being Sought

There is still no sign of a University of Georgia professor suspected in the killings of three people last weekend. The search for 57-year-old George Zinkhan is now worldwide, after it was discovered he had a airline ticket purchased for the Netherlands. Zinkhan is accused in the shooting deaths of his ex-wife and two others outside the Athens Community Theatre Saturday.

UGA Prof Sought In Shootings

A nationwide search is underway for a University of Georgia professor suspected in the killings of three people in Athens Saturday afternoon. Authorities say 57-year-old George Zinkhan shot and killed his ex-wife and two men outside the Athens Community Theatre Saturday at 12:30 just off the UGA campus. Police say his Zinkhan’s two children were in his Jeep Liberty when the killings occurred--he then dropped the children off with a neighbor in nearby Bogart. Authorities admit right now they have little to go on in leads.

Zinkhan is a professor in the Department of Marketing and Distribution at the University of Georgia--he taught one undergraduate class, and one graduate.

Concerning safety on the UGA campus, police say there is sufficient presence, and classes will resume this morning as normal. UGA will hold a press conference this morning at 11am.

UGA Readies for Medical Team

A team of scientists is ready to descend on the University of Georgia to comb over the preparations for the new medical campus scheduled to open next year. A good review by the Liaison Committee for Medical Evaluation could give the partnership between the Medical College of Georgia and UGA the go-ahead to begin recruiting students. UGA Provost Arnett Mace calls it a "very important visit." The committee is set to decide in June whether the college can expand its entering class by 40 students for the Athens campus in August 2010.

(Associated Press)

Stafford and Moreno leave UGA for Draft

Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno are leaving the University of Georgia for the NFL draft. Georgia coach Mark Richt joined the two at a news conference this afternoon. Stafford may be among the top two picks in the draft. Moreno had 1,400 yards rushing with 16 touchdowns this season to join Herschel Walker as the only players in school history with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.

(Associated Press)

New unemployment claims spike by 75-percent

Initial claims for unemployment benefits in Georgia jumped a staggering 75-percent from October of last year.

New numbers from the state Department of Labor show the biggest percentage spikes in claims were felt across different metro areas of the state--from Dalton in northwest Georgia, to Athens in the east, to the coast in Brunswick.

Layoffs continue to be seen across-the-board. Manufacturing, construction and retail-trade sectors are suffering in particular.

The statistics represent a third consecutive month that new unemployment claims rose by more than 70-percent over a year’s time.

Escapee named "Most Wanted"

A Georgia man who escaped a state prison Oct. 13 has been added to the U.S. Marshals Service Most Wanted List. 52-year-old Johnny Mack Brown of Elberton was serving a life sentence at Hays State Prison in northwest Georgia, from where he escaped. He was convicted of shooting a guard 3 times during an armored car robbery in 1997 in Athens. A $25,000 reward is being offered for information leading to Brown's arrest. He is considered armed and dangerous.

(Associated Press)

New airline between Atlanta, Macon, Athens

A new airline starts up in Georgia and the initial flight fare will be $9. The Atlanta Business Chronicle reports GeorgiaSkies will fly six flights a day from Atlanta to Macon and Athens. The usual price will be $49.

Athens plant fined for safety problems

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited an Athens manufacturing plant for 32 alleged safety violations and has proposed $137,000 in fines. OSHA cited Overhead Door Corp.'s Athens plant. It said that in recent inspections it found machines operating without proper guards and a lack of switches that keep machinery from being turned on by accident. It said employees at the plant were exposed to various hazards, and found problems with the company's hazard alert system and the way it stored flammable materials.

(Associated Press)

Perdue, lawmakers press Georgia's case for biolab

Gov. Sonny Perdue joined with most of Georgia's congressional delegation to present a united front in the state's bid to win a national biodefense lab near the University of Georgia.

Perdue and others met with Homeland Security and Agriculture Department officials Thursday as well as key lawmakers overseeing the project to promote the Georgia proposal, which is competing with four other sites.

In a press conference on Capitol Hill, the leaders said Athens will win the project if the competition is judged on merits.

The $450 million Homeland Security project would house at least 300 lab-related jobs, with research focused on some of the most lethal biological threats, including deadly animal diseases and bioterrorism threats through the nation's food supply.

(The Associated Press)

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