CLASSIC CITY NEWS

The following was released by the University of Georgia Performing Arts Center UGA Presents is proud to present Drum Tao,   a spectacular fusion of traditional Japanese drumming, contemporary performance, and athletic theatricality, Friday, February 6, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. in Hodgson Concert Hall at the University of Georgia Performing Arts Center.   Renowned worldwide for their explosive energy and precision, Drum Tao   has redefined the art of wadaiko  (traditional Japanese dr

By Joe Johnson A defense motion to remove the judge presiding over the trial of the man accused of killing University of Georgia law student Tara Baker was denied Wednesday during a hearing in Superior Court. The motion had been filed by the attorney representing Edrick Faust, who is charged with murdering the 23-year-old student in January 2001 during a burglary of Baker’s apartment. In addition to murder, Faust is charged in a 12-count indictment with aggravated assault, r

By Joe Johnson With the Tara Baker murder trial just a week away, an attorney for the accused killer has provided the most detailed account to date of the UGA law school student’s death 25 years ago. The details are meant to contrast the slaying with an assault that Edrick Faust was previously convicted of committing that the prosecution plans to present as evidence in the trial that’s scheduled to start next Monday. Faust was convicted of aggravated assault for an incident o

Faust By Joe Johnson With the Tara Baker murder trial just a week away, an attorney for the accused killer has provided the most detailed account to date of the UGA law school student’s death 25 years ago. The details are meant to contrast the slaying with an assault that Edrick Faust was previously convicted of committing that the prosecution plans to present as evidence in the trial that’s scheduled to start next Monday. Faust was convicted of aggravated assault for an inci

By Joe Johnson An   Oconee County teenager was recently arrested after he led police on a chase that began in downtown Athens and ended on the front lawn of a University of Georgia sorority house. The incident began at around 2:30 a.m. on December 13th when a bicycle cop was flagged down about a possible fight in the area of Jackson and South streets. When the officer arrived in the area he saw a car that appeared to be driving straight towards him. “Even as the proximity be

By Joe Johnson A man was seriously injured recently when he fell from a building in College Square across from the University of Georgia, The incident happened early in the morning of December 7th when 24-year-old Brandon Alexander-Raynor of Augusta fell into an alleyway outside the building at the corner of East Broad Street and College Avenue.. A witness told police that when he heard a noise he looked out the window of his apartment and saw Alexander-Raynor climb off a se

From UGA Today The newly constructed track and field complex on South Milledge Avenue, set to be officially dedicated and open on Feb. 18, will be a boon for both the campus and the community. The 34,700-square-foot venue replaces the former South Lumpkin Street location, offering an expanded track and modern upgrades while preserving its role as a shared gathering place and a valuable resource for athletes, neighbors and the Athens community. “We are excited about the oppor

By Joe Johnson A 20-year-old University of Georgia student was hospitalized earlier this month after attempting suicide by overdosing on pills. When emergency responders arrived at her off-campus apartment the student admitted to taking multiple muscle relaxers “because she was sad and feeling down,”‘according to a police report. Prior to being transported by ambulance to the hospital the student began to vomit and became too sluggish to speak anymore. Allso this month a 19-

By Joe Johnson A 19-year-old University of Georgia student last week died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Ryan Victor Snyder reportedly shot himself on December 4th with a gun he rented at the Athens Gun Club off Atlanta Highway. He died the following day in his home town of St. Louis, Missouri. Ryan was a business student at UGA and in high school had played basketball and volleyball, and also wrestled. He was a National Honor Society member and his obituary said that R

By UGA Today Just over a decade ago, the University of Georgia’s West Campus was characterized by aging mid-century residence halls and underutilized student amenities, long past their prime and in clear need of revival. Today, this central area of campus — home to more than 4,500 first-year students — has been transformed through a series of noteworthy renovation projects and new facilities, with more enhancements coming next fall. “Everything we do is with the quality of th

By Joe Johnson The police department is investigating a shooting that happened this morning on Baxter Street. Details are not yet available from the police. ”This is still a very active investigation at this time,” police spokesperson Lt. Katie Jenkins said. “Officers are still on scene investigating. Once the scene has been cleared, I will try to get you as much information as I can. “ According to a University of Georgia campus safety alert, the incident happened at McRae

The University of Georgia released the following this morning: UGA Police Community Notification December 1, 2025 7:45 a.m. The Athens-Clarke County Police Department is currently investigating a shooting incident that occurred off-campus during the early morning hours of December 1, 2025 at McCrae Dental located at 995 Baxter Street. Traffic in the area of South Milledge Avenue at Baxter Street is likely to be impacted for the duration of the investigation. We would like to

By James Hataway/UGA Today Hairy Dawg was born in a basement, and he was delivered in a hurry. Three weeks before Georgia’s showdown against Notre Dame in the 1981 Sugar Bowl, Tom Sapp  BFA ’69 showed coach Vince Dooley some sketches for an idea he had.  They depicted a broad-shouldered, tough-looking figure with a bulldog’s head, oversized paws, and a football player’s body. Dooley liked the idea and said Sapp could build the costume—but only if he could have it ready in ti

From various reports University of Georgia football offensive lineman Nyier Daniels was arrested Sunday in Jackson County after a police chase in which his mother blocked officers, officials said. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office said Daniels was booked into jail Sunday morning for increckless driving, two counts of stop signs and yield signs, fleeing from a police officer, and two counts of cruelty to children in the second degree. His mother faces several charges, includ

This was released today by the Barrow County government The Barrow County Airport, a central aviation hub for northeast Georgia, saw a record number of aircraft during the weekend of the nationally televised college football game between the University of Georgia and the University of Texas. Barrow County saw 73 aircraft, including 53 jets, 14 turboprops and six piston engine planes, come through the airport between Friday and Sunday, with officials opting to close the airpor

Tara Louise Baker By Joe Johnson A Superior Court judge has ordered the unsealing of search warrants in the Tara Baker murder case as the trial is set to begin in less than two weeks. The 23-year-old University of Georgia law student was murdered in her east Athens apartment in January 2001 and the crime went unsolved for two decades, until when in February of last year Athens resident Edrick Faust was identified as the suspect by matching his DNA to genetic evidence collect

By Joe Johnson A University of Georgia law professor is being investigated for allegedly not disclosing his HIV-positive status before having sex with an Athens man. According to police, the 23-year-old man reported that he met the professor through the Grindr social networking app in November 2024 and they had sex at the professor’s home. Police said the professor is being investigated under the state law that makes it a felony “for a person living with HIV to knowingly en

By Joe Johnson A University of Georgia law professor is being investigated for allegedly not disclosing his HIV-positive status before having sex with an Athens man. According to police, the 23-year-old man reported that he met the professor through the Grindr social networking app in November 2024 and they had sex at the professor’s home. Police said the professor is being investigated under the state law that makes it a felony “for a person living with HIV to knowingly en

By Joe Johnson A University of Georgia law professor is being investigated for allegedly not disclosing his HIV-positive status before having sex with an Athens man. According to police, the 23-year-old man reported that he met the professor through the Grindr social networking app in November 2024 and they had sex at the professor’s home. Police said the professor is being investigated under the state law that makes it a felony “for a person living with HIV to knowingly en

The downtown scene after the Georgia-Alabama game in September By Joe Johnson More than 50 people were booked into the county jail following Saturday night’s football game at the University of Georgia. It had been a highly anticipated match up between the Georgia Bulldogs and University of Texas Longhorns with playoff implications. It was also the first time the Longhorns had traveled to Athens to play on UGA’s home turf. Officials at the Athens airport said that Friday had b