Georgia
A Georgia beach aims to disrupt Black students' spring bash after big crowds brought chaos in 2023
TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. – Thousands of Black college students expected this weekend for an annual spring bash at Georgia’s largest public beach will be greeted by dozens of extra police officers and barricades closing off neighborhood streets. While the beach will remain open, officials are blocking access to nearby parking.
Tybee Island east of Savannah has grappled with the April beach party known as Orange Crush since students at Savannah State University, a historically Black school, started it more than 30 years ago. Residents regularly groused about loud music, trash littering the sand and revelers urinating in yards.
Those complaints boiled over into fear and outrage a year ago when record crowds estimated at more than 100,000 people overwhelmed the 3-mile (4.8 kilometer) island. That left a small police force scrambling to handle a flood of emergency calls reporting gunfire, drug overdoses, traffic jams and fist fights.
Mayor Brian West, elected last fall by Tybee Island’s 3,100 residents, said roadblocks and added police aren’t just for limiting crowds. He hopes the crackdown will drive Orange Crush away for good.
“This has to stop. We can’t have this crowd anymore,” West said. “My goal is to end it.”
Critics say local officials are overreacting and appear to be singling out Black visitors to a Southern beach that only white people could use until 1963. They note Tybee Island attracts vast crowds for the Fourth of July and other summer weekends when visitors are largely white, as are 92% of the island’s residents.
“Our weekends are packed with people all season, but when Orange Crush comes they shut down the parking, bring extra police and act like they have to take charge,” said Julia Pearce, one of the island’s few Black residents and leader of a group called the Tybee MLK Human Rights Organization. She added: “They believe Black folks to be criminals.”
During the week, workers placed metal barricades to block off parking meters and residential streets along the main road parallel to the beach. Two large parking lots near a popular pier are being closed. And Tybee Island’s roughly two dozen police officers will be augmented by about 100 sheriff’s deputies, Georgia state troopers and other officers.
Security plans were influenced by tactics used last month to reduce crowds and violence at spring break in Miami Beach, which was observed by Tybee Island’s police chief.
Officials insist they’re acting to avoid a repeat of last year’s Orange Crush party, which they say became a public safety crisis with crowds at least double their typical size.
“To me, it has nothing to do with race,” said West, who believes city officials previously haven’t taken a stronger stand against Orange Crush because they feared being called racist. “We can’t let that be a reason to let our citizens be unsafe and so we’re not.”
Tybee Island police reported 26 total arrests during Orange Crush last year. Charges included one armed robbery with a firearm, four counts of fighting in public and five DUIs. Two officers reported being pelted with bottles, and two women told police they were beaten and robbed of a purse.
On a gridlocked highway about a mile off the island, someone fired a gun a into a car and injured one person. A white man was charged in the shooting, which officials blamed on road rage.
Orange Crush’s supporters and detractors alike say it’s not college students causing the worst problems.
Joshua Miller, a 22-year-old Savannah State University senior who plans to attend this weekend, said he wouldn’t be surprised if the crackdown was at least partly motivated by race.
“I don’t know what they have in store,” Miller said. ”I’m not going down there with any ill intent. I’m just going out there to have fun.”
Savannah Mayor Van Johnson was one of the Black students from Savannah State who helped launch Orange Crush in 1988. The university dropped involvement in the 1990s, and Johnson said that over time the celebration “got off the rails.” But he also told reporters he’s concerned about “over-representation of police” at the beach party.
At Nickie’s 1971 Bar & Grill near the beach, general manager Sean Ensign said many neighboring shops and eateries will close for Orange Crush though his will stay open, selling to-go food orders like last year. But with nearby parking spaces closed, Ensign said his profits might take a hit, “possibly a few thousand dollars.”
It’s not the first time Tybee Island has targeted the Black beach party. In 2017, the city council banned alcohol and amplified music on the beach only during Orange Crush weekend. A discrimination complaint to the U.S. Justice Department resulted in city officials signing a non-binding agreement to impose uniform rules for large events.
West says Orange Crush is different because it’s promoted on social media by people who haven’t obtained permits. A new state law lets local governments recoup public safety expenses from organizers of unpermitted events.
In February, Britain Wigfall was denied an permit for space on the island for food trucks during Orange Crush. The mayor said Wigfall has continued to promote events on the island.
Wigfall, 30, said he’s promoting a concert this weekend in Savannah, but nothing on Tybee Island involving Orange Crush.
“I don’t control it,” Wigfall said. “Nobody controls the date that people go down there.”
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Nearly half a million Georgians – small business owners, farmers, veterans, and part-time, hourly, and gig workers – cannot afford private health insurance but earn just above the threshold to qualify for Medicaid.
Closing this coverage gap is not just good health care policy, it is also good economic policy. It helps not just those in need of coverage; it benefits all Georgians. Our state’s business leaders recognize that closing this gap is critical if we want a healthier, more productive workforce and want to ensure the long-term economic vitality of our state.
New research finds that closing the coverage gap would spur more than 51,000 new jobs. New jobs in outpatient and inpatient care, as you might expect, but even more new jobs outside of health care in fields such as construction, retail trade, administrative and support services, and restaurant services. Georgia households would see an average annual increase of nearly $900 in personal income when the coverage gap is closed – a statewide total increase of $3.6 billion in the pockets of Georgians. Georgia’s middle class would grow and strengthen.
The research by Regional Economic Models Inc., commissioned by the Georgia Health Initiative, projects that closing the coverage gap would stimulate significant new consumer spending and new investment in Georgia’s economy. As a result, the state’s economic output would increase by $9.4 billion and our gross domestic product by $5.5 billion in the first three years. And the benefits would extend to every part of our state. Rural Georgians are estimated to receive as much as one-sixth of the state’s total economic benefits – a projected gain of more than 5,600 new jobs and $477 million in additional personal income.
Closing the coverage gap is also critical for our ailing rural hospitals, which provide essential community services. Nine rural Georgia hospitals have closed since 2010, and as many as 18 more are now struggling and in danger of closing or dramatically reducing services. When a rural hospital shuts it doors, county residents are forced to travel hours to access care, and the community loses an important employer.
Closing the coverage gap will provide more reliable reimbursements for rural hospitals, so they can remain financially stable. It will also incentivize more primary care providers and specialty doctors to provide services in rural parts of our state, as many counties don’t have a single doctor who is a pediatrician or obstetrician.
When people lack access to preventative care and treatment for chronic conditions, their health suffers, leading to increased absenteeism and reduced productivity. Without insurance, Georgians delay seeking medical attention until their conditions escalate, resulting in more severe illnesses that require longer absences from work. This not only harms individuals and families but also strains our workplaces and drives up health costs for everyone.
Closing the coverage gap is fiscally responsible. It would bring home $3.6 billion of our federal tax dollars rather than sending them to other states. Washington would pay 90% of the cost of closing the coverage gap plus provide a $550 million bonus for each of two years. State savings in child welfare and law enforcement would also result.
Seventy-six percent of Georgians, including 63% of independents and a majority of Republicans, support closing the coverage gap. Still, at the end of its session in March, the Georgia General Assembly voted to create a commission for further study. We are pleased that the issue remains active but urge legislators to plan now for bold action in the next session, not another report that goes nowhere. The economy of our state demands no less.
Georgia Tech adds their second interior offensive lineman after landing the commitment of Baylor School (TN) OL Jimmy Bryson. According to 247Sports Composite, Bryson is ranked as a three-star, the No. 35 player in Tennessee, the No. 89 interior offensive lineman, and the No. 1143 player nationally.
I had the chance to see Jimmy Bryson back at Under Camp in Nashville back in April. One thing that caught my eye was his quick feet. In the offensive line drills, he showed good feet and moved through drills at a good pace. He also displayed good hand placement and movement and one-on-one drills. He showed his strength and the ability to stifle opposing pass rushers.
Before making his decision Bryson held 24 offers. More recently, he picked up offers from Duke and Marshall in the month of May. Some of his notable offers were Memphis, Liberty, Middle Tennessee, Georgia Tech, USF, Coastal Carolina, App State, Western Kentucky, Army, and UNC Charlotte.
NEWS: Following his official visit this weekend, priority C target Jimmy Bryson (@JimmyBryson6) has committed to #GaTech and shut down his recruitment.
Bryson details the visit, his relationship with the coaches, and much more here- https://t.co/GGxIH7P3Kp pic.twitter.com/fmRzo2l63Z — Russell Johnson (@RivalsJohnson) June 2, 2024
Bryson picked up an offer from the Yellow Jackets on April 30th and visited campus for the first time this past weekend. It was an official visit for Bryson and Georgia Tech left quite the impression landing the commitment before the weekend ended. Before committing, Bryson also had an official visit set up with Indiana.
As far as his prep play goes, Bryson gets time at various positions including offensive tackle and offensive guard. He’s good at pass protection and stout against opposing pass rushers. When you watch his Hudl tape, he is finishing blocks and moving defenders out of the way with his 6’4 and 285-pound frame.
The Yellow Jackets are likely not done adding to the offensive line and have already landed some notable prospects. In the 2024 class, the Yellow Jackets took five offensive line prospects and all were ranked according to 247. One of the strengths Georgia Tech has had in the Brent Key era is continuing to land solid offensive line prospects and players ready to contribute a few years down the line. It is one of the reasons the offense was so prolific and high-scoring last season because Haynes King had time to throw. The offensive line was solid and dependable all season. Bryson is another solid prospect in the 2025 class for the Yellow Jackets.
Georgia Tech 2025 Commits:
Four-Star Offensive Lineman Justin Hasenhuetl
Three-Star defensive end Andre Fuller
Three-star quarterback Grady Adamson
Three-star offensive lineman Jimmy Bryson
Georgia
Georgia Tech Baseball vs UNC Wilmington: Live Updates and Score From Today’s Elimination Game
For the second straight day, Georgia Tech is facing elimination and needs to win to keep their season alive. After beating Army yesterday, the Yellow Jackets are going to have a rematch from Friday night’s opening game when they faced UNC Wilmington. The Seahawks beat Georgia Tech 9-0 in that game.
Cam Jones is getting the start on the mound today for Georgia Tech and here is the lineup that the Yellow Jackets will be using:
1. P Cam Jones
2. CF Drew Burress
3. C Matthew Ellis
4. 1B John Giesler
5. RF Bobby Zmarzlak
6. SS Payton Green
7. 2B Mike Becchetti
8. LF Trey Yunger
9. 3B Carson Kerce
Be sure to refresh the page for the latest updates from Athens!
1st Inning
Top- UNCW gets a leadoff single, but Cam Jones works around it. Game is 0-0 headed to the bottom of the 1st
Bottom- Jones got things started with a leadoff single, then Burress struck out swinging then Ellis flew out, and Giesler struck out swinging, It remains 0-0 headed to the 2nd inning
2nd Inning
Top- UNCW loads the bases with a pair of walks and a single, but a double play ends the inning. It is still 0-0 headed to the bottom of the 2nd.
Bottom- Peyton Green gets a two-out single, but nothing else for the Yellow Jackets. 0-0 headed to the 3rd.
3rd Inning
Top- An RBI double gives the Seahawks the first run of the game, but Georgia Tech kept the damage to 1-0.
Bottom- A two out solo home run from Drew Burress ties the game! It is his 25th of the season. 1-1 heading to the 4th.
BURRESS IS INHUMAN!! TIE GAME!! 25TH OF THE YEAR!@drew_burress08 | @accnetwork pic.twitter.com/HwqGpUanu7
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) June 2, 2024
4th Inning
Top- Jones gave up a double and hit a batter to put two runners on, but he gets out of it and the game remains 1-0 headed to the bottom of the 4th.
Bottom- Georgia Tech gets their first lead of the game. Bobby Zmarzlak got things rolling and then Mike Becchetti crushed a two-run home run to give the Yellow Jackets a 3-1 lead.
CHEDDAR 💣 TO THE PARKING LOT!!@BecchettiMike | @accnetwork pic.twitter.com/nKnbj0NqGE
— Georgia Tech Baseball (@GTBaseball) June 2, 2024
Georgia Tech was able to load the bases, but Burress flew out to end the inning. Georgia Tech leads 3-1 going to the 5th.
5th Inning
Top- Jones allows a single, but no runs in the top of the 5th. Georgia Tech leads 3-1 heading to the bottom of the 5th.
Bottom-
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