Good morning, Athens.

Heather Paige Turner, 31, of Hoschton, was charged with second-degree vehicular homicide and two counts of failure to yield after her SUV struck pedestrians in a downtown Athens crosswalk on January 17, killing 78-year-old Guy Jones and injuring 18-year-old Sean Helms—she posted bail and pleaded not guilty during a May 5 arraignment following an accusation filed on May 2 in Clarke County Superior Court.

A federal task force is assisting in the search for Cesar Macias—charged with DUI and vehicular homicide after he was accused of causing the fatal crash that killed UGA student Beth Buchanan on February 13 near Winder, and his current whereabouts remain unknown.

Georgia lawmakers announced a new committee led by Sen. John F.

Kennedy (chairing the Study Committee on Combating Chronic Absenteeism) to study chronic absenteeism after over 370,000 students missed at least 10% of the 2024 school year. The law (SB 123) signed by Gov. Brian Kemp will require attendance review teams in schools with high absentee rates when it takes effect in July.

Housing costs in Athens have risen as a shortage of homes pushes up prices for many families.

The Athens-Clarke County government is planning programs — like inclusionary zoning and affordable housing funds — to help lower rent burdens for those who pay more than 30% of their income on housing.

The Public Service Commission held hearings starting May 27 on Georgia Power’s energy plan, which calls for keeping coal plants, upgrading natural gas units, and adding renewable capacity while critics said the plan relies too much on fossil fuels.

The commission will vote on the plan on July 15 — a decision that may shape how rising energy demand is met.

Georgia basketball coach Mike White filled a coaching staff opening by hiring Todd Abernethy as an assistant coach—replacing Erik Pastrana who left for Miami.

Abernethy played for White at Ole Miss and coached at Florida Atlantic during its Final Four run.

Georgia baseball coach Wes Johnson received a $300,000 raise that boosts his salary to $1.3 million under a one-year contract extension through 2031—this move ties him for eighth among SEC coaches and comes as the Bulldogs enter the NCAA Tournament as a top-eight seed.

The Magic of Motown Tribute Concert

7:30-9:30 p.m. — Morton Theatre — $19–79 — Experience a lively tribute featuring classic hits from Motown legends like The Temptations and Diana Ross.

David Cross Live Special Taping

7-8:30 p.m. — 40 Watt Club — $25+ — Experience David Cross's cutting wit and humor at this live taping event.

Music Bingo Night

7:30-8:30 p.m. — B&B Theatres Athens 12 — Free entry — Enjoy a fun night of music bingo with friends and family.

Pro Wrestling Rebellion: Tombstone Live

7-9 p.m. — Duke's & Dottie's — All ages welcome — Experience an epic night of live pro wrestling action with intense matchups and electrifying surprises.

Shawn Mullins Live at The Foundry

8-10 p.m. — The Foundry — Ticket prices not listed — Experience a captivating evening with the acclaimed singer-songwriter Shawn Mullins.

Hot Corner Celebration & Soul Food Festival

6:00 PM — Hot Corner Celebration And Soul Food Feast — Free entry — Celebrate the African-American business community with food, music, and history in Athens.

Bad Movie Night

8-10 p.m. — Ciné — Free entry — Enjoy a quirky film about love and suspicion with a twist of bad movie charm.

Athfest 2025

Various times — Downtown Athens — Free entry — Celebrate an unforgettable weekend of live music, art, and community in the vibrant city of Athens, GA.

Country River Band Performance

7-11 p.m. — VFW Post 2872 — $10 — Enjoy classic western and honky-tonk music with line dancing during band breaks.

pondgorl at Athfest Club Crawl 2025

7-11 p.m. — Hendershot's — Fundraiser for local music and arts education — Enjoy live music while supporting K-12 education in Athens.