Georgia

$7 million in federal funding coming to Georgia to battle opioid epidemic

Published

7 months ago

October 20, 2023

$7 million in federal funding coming to Georgia to battle opioid epidemic

New funding to fight opioid crisis in Georgia

U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) announced last week that $7 million in federal funding is coming to Georgia organizations in an effort to combat the opioid epidemic.

ATLANTA – U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) announced last week that $7 million in federal funding is coming to Georgia organizations in an effort to combat the opioid epidemic.

Emily Ribblett is the director of education of one of those organizations, the Georgia Council for Recovery. She says even after pandemic isolation ended, opiod deaths are still rising in the Peach State.

“It’s not a pandemic phenomenon at all,” she said. “It’s the numbers are not going down.”

Ribblett wrote the grant proposal for the funding, which will go toward reducing those deaths.

“We’re going to be able to touch a lot of lives with a little bit of money,” she said.

According to data from a recent high intensity drug trafficking area summit, overdose death among those in Georgia ages 15 to 19 increase 163% from 2019-2021. And deaths in that age group involving opioids increased 289% in that same time period.

Ribblett says a big chunk of the $7 million will go towards trainings for students and those who interact with them daily.

“Family members, clergy it could be youth groups, school resource officers, school counselors, school nurses,” she said. “Whoever they feel that they can have that conversation with in a trustful way where they don’t feel any stigmatization or shame or anything. So that was critical for me in my recovery.”

Ribblett developed the training from her own experience recovering from opiod addiction. She’s been in recovery for more than eight years. But she says $7 million isn’t a whole lot when dealing with something as widespread and as fatal as the opioid crisis.

“We’re finding that more and more individuals are starting to experiment with substances, even vaping, at younger ages,” Ribblett said.

About 44 recovery organizations across the state will be eligible for the trainings, which Ribblett says should be implemented in these groups within a year.

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Georgia

Georgia makes football coach Kirby Smart college’s highest paid at $13 million per year – The Boston Globe

Published

5 hours ago

May 2, 2024

Press Room

Georgia makes football coach Kirby Smart college’s highest paid at $13 million per year – The Boston Globe

ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia’s Kirby Smart agreed to a contract extension Thursday that makes him the highest-paid coach in college football with an annual salary of $13 million.

Smart got a bump in salary of $1.75 million annually as part of the deal, which ties him to the Bulldogs through 2033. He also could receive up to $1.55 million per year in bonuses based on the new 12-team playoff structure, an increase from $1.3 million under the previous terms.

Georgia also gave athletic director Josh Brooks a one-year extension to 2030 that raises his salary by $100,000 per year, taking it to $1.275 million over the course of the contract.

Brooks is also eligible for up to $200,000 in bonuses bases on the overall performance of the athletic program.

Smart surpassed Clemson’s Dabo Swinney, who is set to make $11 million in 2024, as the nation’s highest-paid coach.

Smart’s new deal takes the place of a 10-year extension worth more than $110 million that he signed in 2022 coming off his first national title. That contract started with $10.25 million in base salary and included annual raises, taking the total compensation to $12.25 million in 2031.

“I continue to be grateful and humbled by our administration’s commitment to our football program,” Smart said in a statement. “The current culture in collegiate athletics is everchanging and as challenging as it has ever been, so I truly appreciate the leadership that our team is continually provided.”

Smart, who played defensive back at Georgia in the 1990s, has guided the program to unprecedented heights since he took over as coach in 2016.

The Bulldogs won back-to-back national titles during the 2021 and ‘22 seasons, and made a strong run at an unprecedented three-peat this past season before taking their only loss to Alabama in the Southeastern Conference title game.

Under Smart, Georgia has compiled a dazzling record of 94-16 that includes a 56-9 mark in the SEC. The Bulldogs have won a pair of SEC titles, finished in the Top 10 of The Associated Press rankings the last seven seasons, and perennially landed high-ranked recruiting classes throughout his tenure.

With a strong group of returning players, led by quarterback Carson Beck, Georgia is expected to remain a leading national championship contender in 2024.

“I have an immense pride for representing my alma mater and look forward to that relationship continuing for many years to come,” Smart said.

The Bulldogs have lost only two games in the last three seasons, both to Alabama and now-retired coach Nick Saban.

Georgia President Jere W. Morehead said Smart has set “the definition of excellence for all of college football.”

“He has excited the Bulldog nation about what is yet to come after winning two national championships,” Morehead added.

The 43-year-old Brooks has served as the head of Georgia’s athletic department since 2021.

“Josh Brooks has done a terrific job as athletic director and has positioned UGA athletics to thrive in a rapidly changing college sports landscape,” Morehead said. “Both Kirby and Josh love this university as loyal graduates. I congratulate both of them and look forward to their continued leadership in the years ahead.”

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Georgia

Top public high schools in Georgia, according to U.S. News & World Report

Published

12 hours ago

May 2, 2024

Press Room

Top public high schools in Georgia, according to U.S. News & World Report

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ATLANTA – U.S. News & World Report has released its annual rankings of Best High Schools in the nation, including data on nearly 25,000 public high schools across 50 states and the District of Columbia.

According to the report, 11.5% of the ranked public high schools were charter schools, and 4.4% were magnet schools.

Schools were evaluated on six factors, weighted as follows: college readiness (30%), state assessment proficiency (20%), state assessment performance (20%), underserved student performance (10%), college curriculum breadth (10%), and graduation rate (10%).

Florida and Arizona led the list with 12 high schools in the top 100, followed by California with 11 schools in the top 100.

The top high school in Georgia and the only Georgia high school to make it into the top 100 national rankings was Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology in Lawrenceville.

This school, with an enrollment of 1,231, boasts a graduation rate of 99%, with 100% of its students taking at least one AP exam and 97% passing at least one AP exam. It also scored 100% in mathematics and science proficiency and 99% in reading proficiency.

Below are the top schools listed by their respective districts:

Atlanta Public Schools:

Atlanta Classical Academy (#29 in Georgia)
Grady High School (#30)
North Atlanta High School (#56)
Charles Drew Charter School (#72)
Coretta Scott King Women’s Leadership Academy (#103)

Cherokee County High Schools:

Etowah High School, Woodstock (#63)
Creekview High School, Canton (#68)
River Ridge High School, Woodstock (#77)
Sequoyah High School, Canton (#86)
Woodstock High School, Woodstock (#96)

Cobb County School District:

Walton High School, Marietta (#4)
Lassiter High School, Marietta (#13)
Pope High School, Marietta (#25)
Harrison High School, Kennesaw (#36)
Wheeler High School, Marietta (#41)

DeKalb County:

DeKalb School of the Arts, Avondale Estates (#7)
Chamblee Charter High School, Chamblee (#33)
DeKalb Early College Academy, Stone Mountain (#35)
Dunwoody High School, Dunwoody (#66)
Arabia Mountain High School, Lithonia (#76)

Fayette County:

McIntosh High School, Peachtree City (#18)
Starrs Mill High School, Fayetteville (#22)
Whitewater High School, Fayetteville (#38)
Fayette County High School, Fayetteville (#92)
Sandy Creek High School, Tyrone (#99)

Forsyth County:

Alliance Academy for Innovation, Cumming (#3)
South Forsyth High School, Cumming (#8)
Lambert High School, Suwanee (#9)
Denmark High School, Alpharetta (#26)
West Forsyth High School, Cumming (#78)

Fulton County:

Northview High School, Duluth (#5)
Chattahoochee High School, Alpharetta (#12)
Johns Creek High School, Johns Creek (#20)
Milton High School, Alpharetta (#21)
Alpharetta High School, Alpharetta (#23)

Gwinnett County:

Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology, Lawrenceville (#1)
North Gwinnett High School, Suwanee (#17)
Paul Duke High School, Norcross (#32)
Brookwood High School, Snellville (#34)
Mill Creek High School, Hoschton (#37)

Visit U.S. News & World Report’s website to see rankings for all the schools in every state and a detailed breakdown for each school.

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Georgia

UGASports – The NFL's Georgia-Only Team

Published

19 hours ago

May 2, 2024

Press Room

After last weekend, there are currently 62 Bulldogs active in the NFL (excludes unrestricted free agents)—or more than enough players to fulfill an entire league roster.

UGASports decided to play general manager of a hypothetical NFL team made up entirely of former Georgia players currently active in the league. In anticipation of the 2024 season, we first trimmed down the squad to a 53-man roster. From there, a depth chart was established.

Considering the following depth charts, how would an NFL team comprised of only former Georgia players—an Only-Georgia team—fare this season in the league?

(Each former Georgia player is followed by his NFL team and number of years of league experience, including the 2024 season, in parenthesis. R=Rookie.)

We’re headed at quarterback by veteran Matthew Stafford, who, in his mid-30s last season, was named to the Pro Bowl. His reserve, Stetson Bennett, is the same signal-caller who’ll actually back him up in 2024 with the Los Angeles Rams.

The Only-Georgia team would likely have the best set of running backs in the history of the league. Although Nick Chubb will likely not be 100 percent by the start of the season, we went ahead and established him as our primary back. Following close behind is James Cook, who’d be effective as our third-down back.

Considering the unit’s top player, George Pickens, has been largely inconsistent and we’re essentially starting two slot receivers (although we’ll likely line Ladd McConkey out wide), the team is thin at wide receiver. Loaded at tight end, however, with Brock Bowers, Charlie Woerner, and Darnell Washington, we’re looking forward to exhibiting a three-tight end set on occasion.

Of the team’s nine offensive linemen, five were first-round selections. Center David Andrews, who has been New England’s starting center and a seven-time team captain since 2016, anchors the unit. At right guard, Ben Cleveland, who appears will be a full-time starter in 2024 for Baltimore, just edges out Jamaree Slayer—for now.

ONLY-GEORGIA – Defense and Specialists

Our 4-3 defense is highlighted by what would probably be the top group of defensive tackles in the NFL. The top four at the unit—Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Devonte Wyatt, and John Jenkins—all have all-star potential. Travon Walker, the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, and veteran Leonard Floyd, who totaled a career-high 10.5 sacks with Buffalo last season, man the two starting defensive end spots.

Roquan Smith, one of four Pro Bowlers from last year on the team, spearheads a stout linebacking corps. Smith is joined by Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean as starters, along with quality depth on the second team.

At safety is where there’s likely the most concern for this team. Javon Bullard and Tykee Smith, perhaps our top two players at the position, are both rookies. On the contrary, Only-Georgia is sound at cornerback. The top four at the two positions were all starters in the league towards the end of last season. In addition, rookie Kamari Lassiter, who will possibly start at nickel back for Houston as a rookie, will provide depth.

As far as our specialists, long-snapper Nick Moore was a Pro Bowler in 2022. Punter Jake Camarda likely should’ve been a Pro Bowler a year ago. And although Jack Podlesny has yet to attempt a kick in the NFL, we like our chances with one of the most accurate placekickers in SEC history.

There you have it—the NFL’s Only-Georgia team. For what it lacks at wide receiver and safety, it more than makes up for with an unfathomable stable of backs, a deep, talented offensive line, and a front-seven on defense which would worry most opposing offenses.

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