Hello again Athens! We're bringing you the latest town highlights. Don't miss out, keep going! ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
Also on today's calendar: The Athens Water Festival and 7 more events.
Today's riddle: What has a neck but no head? 🤔 (Answer below!)
1. Metro Athens' Unemployment Rate Falls to 3.0% in July (athensceo.com) — Athens' four‑county metro jobless rate dipped to 3.0% in July, with more than 108,000 residents employed and 106,400 local jobs on the books. State labor officials highlight broad gains while sharing contacts and online tools for residents seeking unemployment help, job listings, or detailed labor‑market data.
2. 2 men arrested after drugs, guns found during Athens traffic stop (fox5atlanta.com) — A recent Athens traffic stop near Washington and East Dougherty streets led police to seize suspected MDMA pills, marijuana, cash, and two firearms, and to arrest two 23-year-old men on felony drug and weapons charges. Both were booked into Clarke County Jail, and ACCPD is asking residents to report suspected drug activity through its dedicated tip line.
3. Join African Perspectives' Akinloye Ojo for a live interview with Angélique Kidjo at the 40 Watt (wuga.org) — Athens residents can see Grammy‑winner Angélique Kidjo live at the 40 Watt on Sept. 9, during a free, recorded interview for WUGA's African Perspectives. Her three‑day UGA residency also includes a Sept. 10 Hodgson Concert Hall performance, and locals are invited to submit questions for the broadcast and enter a CD giveaway.
4. Athens hosts GMA's 2026 Mayor's Leadership Academy (wuga.org) — Sixty mayors from across Georgia are in Athens wrapping up a three‑day Mayor's Leadership Academy at UGA's Georgia Center, focused on crisis management and day‑one readiness. The Georgia Municipal Association's program, held every other year, brings experts and peer learning to help new and veteran mayors better serve their cities.
5. Invasive Joro spiders not as threatening as first feared (wsbtv.com) — Athens-based UGA researchers say those big yellow Joro spiders aren't pushing out native spiders or threatening people and pets. By analyzing hundreds of spiders across the Southeast, they found Joros eat a wider range of insects, including pests like leafhoppers and aphids, and warn that trying to kill them could actually hurt local ecosystems and yards.
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Ok Athens! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: A bottle (Thank you Netty W. for sending it in!)
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