Daily
Athens
Saturday, January 17th, 2026
Good morning, Athens. Here's your local news at a glance for Saturday, the 17th of January.
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ ASALH has announced the Freedom Film Series — a free, month-long event featuring four films on African American history and culture — scheduled for February at venues including Ebenezer Baptist Church West, Greater Bethel A.M.E. Church, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship and First A.M.E. Church. Classic City News
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ On Friday morning, UGA hosted its 22nd annual Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Breakfast where hundreds heard keynote speaker Jay Bailey discuss MLK’s legacy. The event presented the President’s Fulfilling the Dream Awards, and UGA student Baylen Howell noted the power of local change — a nod to MLK’s vision. WUGA
- ➤ At its Jan. 15 meeting, the CCSD Board approved contracts to provide mental health services to middle and high schools and planned a special election in November (after a board member resigned effective June 30). The board also reviewed repurposing the Campbell Lane building for technical education. The Red & Black
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Martin Luther King Jr. Day falls on Monday, so public schools, banks, and postal services will be closed (FedEx will offer limited early pickups). The holiday honors the civil rights leader and is observed as both a federal and state holiday. Athens Banner-Herald
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ On Friday, Jan. 16, the UGA gymnastics team beat LSU 197.200-196.850 at Stegeman Coliseum in Athens. The close meet showed the athletes’ skill and teamwork. The Red & Black
- ➤ Georgia gymnast Lily Smith, ranked No. 10 on beam, performed a 90-second routine on a double-height apparatus atop the Solow Building in Manhattan (52 stories high) and her team will face the Sooners on Friday, Jan. 23 on the SEC Network. Athens Banner-Herald
- ➤ Georgia gymnast Holly Snyder scored 9.925 on beam at Ohio State on Jan. 10 and at LSU on Jan. 16 after recovering from hip and foot surgeries; she will compete against the Sooners on Friday, Jan. 23 at 7 p.m. on the SEC Network. Athens Banner-Herald
- ➤ Former NFL coach Mike Tomlin attended the Georgia GymDogs home opener Friday at Stegeman Coliseum to support his daughter Harley, a sophomore all-around gymnast who scored 9.825 on both the balance beam and floor exercise. Athens Banner-Herald
- ➤ Georgia football added four-star quarterback Bryson Beaver, a 2026 recruit who briefly enrolled in a Big Ten school, via the transfer portal on Friday, Jan. 16. Beaver, ranked No. 12 nationally by 247Sports, will join a quarterback room with redshirt senior Gunner Stockton and other candidates. Athens Banner-Herald
- ➤ Georgia basketball will face Arkansas today at 4 p.m. at Stegeman Coliseum as the game airs nationally on ESPN2 (free trial available on FUBO). Athens Banner-Herald
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Leif Ove Andsnes Piano Concert
7:30-10:30 p.m. — University of Georgia Performing Arts Center — $10 (w/ UGA ID), $42–96 — Renowned Norwegian pianist Leif Ove Andsnes captivates audiences with works by Kurtág and Janáček.
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Dead Beat Club Live Band Karaoke
7-10 p.m. — The Foundry — $15-$50 — Experience the thrill of singing with a live rock band in a fun karaoke night.
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Departure - Journey Tribute Band
8-10:30 p.m. — The Foundry — $20 (adv.), $25 — Experience the electrifying tribute to the legendary 80’s rock group Journey.
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T. Hardy Morris Live Concert
7:00-11:00 p.m. — 40 Watt Club — Tickets available — Experience the melodic tunes and engaging lyrics of T. Hardy Morris live on stage.
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Candlelight: Valentine’s Day Special
7:00 p.m. — 1051 Baxter — $43 — Experience the enchanting music of Hans Zimmer performed by a string quartet under candlelight.
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Jeremy Would Let Me Drown Concert
8-10:30 p.m. — The Foundry — Secure your tickets — Experience an engaging live performance with Jeremy Would Let Me Drown in Athens.
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