Georgia

Arkansas men, Georgia women take home titles at NCAA indoors

Published

4 hours ago

March 15, 2026

Arkansas men, Georgia women take home titles at NCAA indoors

Mar 14, 2026, 11:17 PM ET

FAYATTEVILLE, Ark. — Tyrice Taylor and Rivaldo Marshall finished 1-2 in the 800 meters to help Arkansas run away with the men’s team title, while Georgia freshman Adaejah Hodge won the 200 meters in a facility-record 22.22 seconds as the Bulldogs won the women’s team crown Saturday at the NCAA Indoor Track Championships.

Arkansas clinched the men’s team crown – it’s first since 2013 – with two events (the 3,000 meters and 400-meter relay) remaining and finished with 73.5 points, 7.5 more than Oregon (40 points) – which also finished second on the women’s side – and third-place Florida (26) combined.

Georgia, last year’s women’s runner-up, finished with 53 points to win its first indoor championship since 2018. The Ducks had 44 points and Illinois was third with 42 points. Georgia coach Caryl Smith Gilbert also led Bulldogs women to 2025 outdoor title.

Dejanea Oakley ran a personal-best 50.47 to win to 400 meters for the Bulldogs. Alabama’s Samuel Ogazi ran a 44.57 – the fourth-fastest time in the world – to claim the men’s title.

Taylor finished the 800 meters in 1:46.00, 0.12 seconds faster than Marshall. Clemson’s Gladys Chepngetich ran a 2:00.01 to beat the Arkansas duo of Sanu Jallow-Lockhart (2:00.54) and Analisse Batista (personal-best 2:00.57).

Auburn’s Ja’Kobe Tharp defended his title in the 60-meter hurdles, finishing in 7.32 seconds to break Grant Holloway’s NCAA record of 7.35 set in 2019. Aaliyah McCormick of Oregon, who also won the 100-meter hurdles at the 2025 outdoor championships, ran a personal-best 7.86 to win the women’s title.

BYU’s Jane Hedengren, who won the women’s 5,000 meters Friday, ran a meet-record 8:36.61 to win the 3000 meters. Colin Sahlman of Northern Arizona won a wild men’s race in 7:41 after New Mexico’s Habtom Samuel – who it appeared had edged Sahlman by 0.005 seconds – was disqualified for contact on the final curve. Oregon’s Simeon Birnbaum finished a fraction of a second behind Sahlman.

Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan of Mississippi became the fourth thrower in Division I history to win three consecutive indoor shot put titles with a throw of 65 feet, 9 inches. The senior joins Karl Salb (Kansas, 1969-71), Hans Hoglund (UTEP, 1973-75) and Ryan Whiting (Arizona State, 2008-10). Nebraska’s Axelina Johansson broke the NCAA indoor shot put record and the Swedish national record with a throw of 64-8 1/2 to win on the women’s side.

USC’s Garrett Kaalund ran a collegiate-record 19.95 to win the men’s 200 meters. Kaalund has two of the three fastest times in NCAA history.

Temitope Adeshina of Texas Tech won her second consecutive high jump title, clearing 6-feet, 5 1/2 inches to tie her own Nigerian record. Tito Alofe of Harvard won the men’s high jump, clearing a personal-best 7-4 1/4.

Auburn’s Kanyinsola Ajayi won the men’s 60 meters in 6.45 seconds, which tied the collegiate record he set at the SEC Championships at the end of February. Shenese Walker of Florida State ran a 7.08 to beat Hodge (7.15) for the women’s crown.

Kansas State’s Daniela Wamokpego claimed the triple-jump crown with a personal best of 45-4 3/4. Texas Tech’s Jonathan Seremes – a Missouri transfer – won his second consecutive men’s title with a personal best of 56-7.

BYU’s Carter Cutting won the mile in 3:58.94 to secure his first national championship. Oregon’s Wilma Nielsen timed her kick perfectly and finished in 4:40.06 to beat Rosemary Longisa of Washington State and North Carolina State’s Sadie Engelhardt (4:40.21 each) for her second consecutive title.

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Georgia

New changes coming to Georgia permit tests

Published

16 hours ago

March 14, 2026

Press Room

New changes coming to Georgia permit tests

New drivers in Georgia may see updated topics on their DMV permit tests in 2026, including stronger emphasis on DUI enforcement and intersection safety, according to a new analysis from driver education platform Zutobi. We speak with expert Hanna Mischenko to break down the biggest possible changes as well as Joshua’s Law.

Posted March 14, 2026 10:44am EDT

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Georgia

Eats reopens in West End and more from Atlanta’s dining scene

Published

1 day ago

March 14, 2026

Press Room

Eats reopens in West End and more from Atlanta’s dining scene

The Eats sign from the original building was restored inside Wild Heaven’s West End brewery in the Lee + White development. (Courtesy of Wild Heaven)

This week on the Atlanta food and dining scene: A comfort-food classic was resurrected, a group of chefs was recognized by the state for their work with local farmers, a new cocktail bar opened in west Midtown and more.

Eats has brought the same menu, staff and equipment to Wild Heaven’s brewery in the Lee + White development. (Courtesy of Wild Heaven)

Comfort-food favorite Eats is now open at Wild Heaven West End

Eats has officially risen from the dead after closing its iconic location on Ponce de Leon Avenue in October.

The new location opened Thursday inside Wild Heaven’s West End brewery at the Lee + White development with much of the original menu, decor and staff.

Longtime manager Levi Nichols was retained and continues to lead the kitchen, according to a news release.

The new location of Eats has the same menu of comfort-food favorites as the original. (Courtesy of Wild Heaven)

“Eats has always been about consistency, value and food people come back for again and again,” Wild Heaven co-president Nick Purdy said in a press statement. “When the opportunity came to keep that alive, we took it seriously. The same kitchen team led by Levi Nichols is here, much of the original equipment is still in use, and we’ve even brought over furniture and memorabilia from the Ponce location.”

Eats at Wild Heaven will be open daily.

1010 White St. SW, Atlanta. 404-254-2232, wildheavenbeer.com

Front row (from left): Chef Burns Sullivan, GRA President & CEO Stephanie Fischer, Chef Holly Chute, Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper, Chef Laura Orellana, Chef Taylor Mead, Chef Hudson Terrell
Back row (from left): Chef Christian Bell, Chef Gary Caldwell, Pitmaster Kyle Bryner, Chef Holden McKinstry. Not pictured: Chef Ben Vaughn. (Brandon Amato/Courtesy of Georgia Grown)

Georgia chefs honored for ties to local farmers

Georgia’s Department of Agriculture and the Georgia Restaurant Association named nine chefs to its Georgia Grown Executive Chefs program Monday, according to a news release.

The Georgia Grown program is a statewide initiative meant to develop closer relationships between farmers and chefs.

“These chefs were selected not only for their outstanding culinary abilities, but also for their commitment to sourcing Georgia Grown products directly from Georgia farmers,” Agriculture Commissioner Tyler J. Harper said in a press statement.

The 2026 class of Georgia Grown executive chefs includes:

Ben Vaughn of White Oak Kitchen & Cocktails (Atlanta)
Burns Sullivan of 5 & 10 (Athens)
Christian Bell of Oreatha’s at the Point (Atlanta)
Gary Caldwell of Marcus Bar & Grille (Atlanta)
Holden McKinstry of Vice Steak Bar (Alpharetta)
Hudson Terrell of Animal Farm and Gabagool (Columbus)
Kyle Bryner of Blue Hound Barbecue (Dillard)
Laura Orellana of Osteria Mattone (Roswell)
Taylor Mead of the Atlanta Botanical Gardens (Atlanta)

georgiagrown.com

Local developer plans to reinvigorate Virginia-Highland retail

Third & Urban, a local real estate development firm, recently announced an investment in one of the Virginia-Highland neighborhood’s primary retail and restaurant corridors, Urbanize Atlanta reported.

The developers have assembled more than 60,000 square feet of retail space along North Highland Avenue near the nightlife cluster of Neighbor’s Pub, Atkins Park Restaurant and Dark Horse Tavern, according to the real estate-focused publication. Third & Urban will spend more than $3 million on streetscape upgrades for the project, which has been named the Atkins Park Collection. Construction will reportedly begin later this spring.

thirdandurban.com

More metro Atlanta food happenings

Jardi Chocolates is selling a special Eid collection. (Brandon Amato/Courtesy of Jardi Chocolates)

Local chocolate shop celebrates Eid

Jardi Chocolates is offering a limited-edition collection celebrating the end of Ramadan. The chocolates are made without alcohol in flavors like caramel cashew crunch, apricot almond, honey cake and date and vanilla. A box containing four chocolates, one of each flavor, costs $12. Orders can be placed online and local pickup is available 24/7 from the climate-controlled lockers by Jardi’s production facility in Chamblee.

3400 W. Hospital Ave., Chamblee. 470-240-8353, jardichocolates.com

Mural opportunity for local artists

Johns Creek couple Steve and Randi Rubin, who are working to open a Toastique franchise in their area, are holding a contest for local artists to paint a mural in their forthcoming restaurant. The contest will award three prizes; first prize will win $2,500 in cash and a $500 Toastique gift card and second prize will win $1,000 in cash and a $250 gift card. Third prize will win a $500 Toastique gift card.

Entries should include a digital mural concept, portfolio samples and a short artist statement. Submissions are due Friday and can be made by emailing ToastiqueJohnsCreekMural@gmail.com.

3005 Old Alabama Road, Johns Creek. toastique.com

Restaurant openings and announcements

New Orleans-based cocktail bar Barrel Proof will open an Atlanta outpost in the space that formerly held Little Trouble. (Courtesy of Barrel Proof)

Barrel Proof, a cocktail bar with a location in New Orleans, opened Friday in the Westside Provisions District, restaurant representatives said.

1170 Howell Mill Road, Atlanta. barrelproofatl.com

Restaurant closures

BrewDog closed on the Atlanta Beltline’s Eastside Trail this week, leaving a large space vacant in one of the city’s busiest pedestrian corridors.

Read more about the closing the brewery chain’s Atlanta location.

Mojave, a modern Latin restaurant in Sandy Springs, and Pinky Promise, a Champagne bar in west Midtown, both closed this month, Tomorrow’s News Today reported.

ICYMI… The AJC has a new system for restaurant reviews

This week, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution added another star to its restaurant rating system, moving from four stars to a maximum of five.

Georgia

Georgia voices, locations in the spotlight during upcoming Oscars 2026 ceremony

Published

2 days ago

March 13, 2026

Press Room

Georgia voices, locations in the spotlight during upcoming Oscars 2026 ceremony

The Academy Awards are this Sunday, and many of Georgia’s own creatives had a hand in creating the films nominated.

Jessica Handgrave and Ryan White, childhood best friends from Chamblee, are nominated for Best Documentary Feature for their film, “Come See Me in the Good Light,” which looks at the life and work of American poet Andrea Gibson.

Watching movies in metro Atlanta turned into making movies for the Chamblee natives.

“Our friendship dates back to on the weekends we would go to the movies. It wasn’t always something we knew would be within our reach. It seems quite far and distant,” said Hargrave.

“I think Jess and I made our first movie together when we were 10 or 11. And we continued making it,” said White.

The documentary played at last year’s Atlanta Film Festival at the Plaza Theatre,a historic theatre that showcases local work.

“We represent a sort of a terminus, if you want to Atlantat-fy it, of movie culture here. And we’ve been proud to be that and to not only be that, to be strengthened exponentially with the introduction of our film industry here,” said Gregory Bishop, the creative director for the theater.

The Plaza Theatre has shown all of the films nominated for the 98th Academy Awards, including “Bugonia” and “Weapons,” which were shot around metro Atlanta.

“If people are seeing Georgia movies highlighted at the Oscars, they should be proud because it’s hard work earned and the state has really championed it,” said Bishop.

And for people who want to break into the industry, White encourages them to get involved.

“Especially for kids in Atlanta, there are so many pathways right now for finding internships or getting to work with on-set experience,” said White.

Georgia students were also involved in the award-nominated pieces. The Savannah College of Art and Design had 211 alumni and students involved in nominated films for the 98th Academy Awards.

The Plaza Theatre will hold a free Academy Awards watch party to see which locals take home the Oscar on Sunday at 6 p.m. It is free, but customers must register for a ticket. Red carpet attire is encouraged.

“Especially for kids in Atlanta, there are so many pathways right now for finding internships or getting to work with on set experience,” said White.

Georgia students were also involved in the award nominated pieces. The Savannah College of Art and Design had 211 alumni and students involved in nominated films for the 98th Academy Awards.

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