Today is a dedication day at UGa: dedication ceremonies for the Reed pedestrian plaza are set for 4 o'clock this afternoon at the new facility on the north side of Sanford Stadium.

The dean of the College of Education at the University of Michigan delivers the Fall Address for the University of Georgia's College of Education: Deborah Ball speaks at 9 this morning in the Georgia Center.

The latest phase of work on the University of Georgia's Davison Life Sciences complex will mean detours for pedestrians near the facility off East Greene Street: landscaping will make for detours that will likely be in place through the end of the year.

The Watkinsville-based Stadion Money Management firm says it has extended its agreement to sponsor the Nationwide Golf Tour event that will be played again next spring at the University of Georgia. The Nationwide Tour has made a stop in Athens for the past five years, the first four at the Jennings Mill Country Club in Bogart.

University of Georgia researchers get grant money from the National Science Foundation to continue their work in the Gulf of Mexico: Samantha Joye and Patricia Medeiros get $192,000 to further assess the environmental impact of the Gulf oil spill.

Researchers in the University of Georgia's College of Education get a $2.9 million grant from the Institute of Education Sciences. UGa will use the money to examine the effectiveness of teaching methods aimed at improving English instruction for students in the upper grades of elementary schools.

Southeastern Conference Athletic Directors are meeting this week in Orlando. Incoming UGa Athletic Director Greg McGarity is taking part in the sessions, even though he doesn't officially begin his new job in Athens until the first of September. McGarity is leaving his associate AD's job with the University of Florida to fill the office vacated by last month's resignation of former UGa Athletic Director Damon Evans. Evans stepped down after his DUI arrest in Atlanta.

The University of Georgia is now accepting nominations for its next Delta Prize for Global Understanding, an award that has been won previously by the likes of Jimmy Carter, Mikhail Gorbachev, and Nelson Mandela. The deadline for nominations is September 1.

Kenneth Stewart, Commissioner of the state Department of Economic Development is the featured speaker at this morning's Terry Third Thursday breakfast session at the Terry Center in Atlanta. The University of Georgia's Terry College of Business sponsors the monthly gatherings.

Recent reports to the contrary notwithstanding, University of Georgia researchers say almost 80 percent of the oil released in the April explosion off the coast of Louisiana is still in the Gulf of Mexico. UGa's Samantha Joye, who has spent time at the disaster site, says more data is needed to reach a more definitive conclusion on exactly how much oil remains in the Gulf.

Douglas Miller is resigning as dean of the Medical College of Georgia. Miller is stepping down after four years at MCG, leaving as the Augusta-based college begins its collaboration with the University of Georgia. The first medical students to train in Athens began classes earlier this month.

The University of Georgia dedicates a new residence hall on East Campus: it's a 189,000 square-foot residence halls with 555 new on-campus beds, coming with a price tag of $49.7 million. The dedication ceremonies get underway at 10 o'clock this morning.

University of Georgia researchers say up to 80 percent of oil from the Gulf oil disaster remains uncollected. UGa marine biologist Samantha Joye says the oil remains a threat to the ecosystem in the Gulf of Mexico. She holds a news conference at 11 o'clock this morning at the University of Georgia.

Ceremonies scheduled for this afternoon at the University of Georgia mark the completion of renovations of the historic New College building on North Campus. The rededication ceremony gets underway at 2 o'clock. University of Georgia President Michael Adams is among today's speakers.

The University of Georgia checks in at 56^th in the rankings of colleges and Universities, compiled by US News and World Report magazine. Harvard tops the list. Emory University was the highest ranking Georgia institution, landing at number 20. Georgia Tech is 35^th. 

Assistant state climatologist Pam Knox says all signs point to a winter that is much warmer than last year. The University of Georgia professor says there's also a chance of a return to drought conditions for much of the state heading into next spring. Parts of western and southern Georgia have been under mild drought conditions this summer.

Today marks the start of fall semester classes at the University of Georgia and at Gainesville State College campuses in Hall and Oconee counties.

The University of Georgia's next athletic director will be former UGa assistant AD Greg McGarity. McGarity  is an associate athletic director at the University of Florida. He'll take over for interim AD Frank Crumley, who was appointed to the post after Damon Evans' resignation. Evans stepped down as the University of Georgia's Athletic Director after his July DUI arrest in Atlanta.

Athens-Clarke County Police say the 20 year-old University of Georgia student who falsely claimed she was raped will not be charged with the false reporting of a crime. The woman told police she was sexually assaulted in a restroom at a downtown bar. Police say bar surveillance tapes discredited her story of what happened earlier this week.

Forbes magazine is out with its annual rankings of best public colleges: the University of Georgia is 19^th among public colleges, up 10 spots from last year's Forbes list.

There's more grant money for the University of Georgia: UGa genetics researcher Mike Arnold will use a $175,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to assess the impact of crude oil and oil dispersants on native plant populations on the Gulf Coast.

It's only a drill, scheduled to get underway at 9 o'clock this morning: it's an emergency health drill, taking place in front of the University of Georgia's University Health Center. The mass casualty exercises will feature student volunteers acting as victims with simulated injuries.

Today is orientation day at UGa, with University of Georgia students gearing up for next Monday's first day of fall semester classes. Orientation activities get underway at 8 o'clock this morning in the Tate Student Center. UGa's Graduate School orientation starts at 9 at the Classic Center.

Governor Sonny Perdue and University System Chancellor Erroll Davis joined University of Georgia President Michael Adams in marking Monday's ceremonial start of medical classes in Athens. 40 students are taking the classes as part of a University of Georgia collaboration with the Augusta-based Medical College of Georgia. They're in a temporary facility near downtown Athens now; they'll begin to move next year onto the grounds of the soon-to-be-vacant Navy Supply Corps School off Prince Avenue.

A two-day campus housing event is underway at the University of Georgia: the annual Hunker Down with Housing activities take place today and tomorrow, with the University working with new and returning students in what it says is a streamlined process for moving residents into their on-campus apartments and dorms.

Governor Sonny Perdue is due in Athens this afternoon: the Governor, along with University System Chancellor Errol Davis, will take part in the ceremonies that mark the first day of classes for medical student who will train in Athens as part of a University of Georgia-Medical College of Georgia collaboration. The students are training initially at a temporary location off Williams Street; they'll eventually move onto the grounds of the U.S. Navy Supply Corps School off Prince Avenue. The Navy leaves Athens next year.

Former Secretary of State and Republican candidate for Governor Karen Handel brings her bus tour to Athens and Oconee County today: she's scheduled to appear in front of the Arch at the University of Georgia shortly after 5 o'clock this afternoon, and she'll meet with Oconee County Republicans in a 6:30 session at the Oconee County Courthouse in Watkinsville. Handel's Republican runoff rival, former Hall County Congressman Nathan Deal, is due in Oconee County tomorrow. Handel and Deal will meet in next Tuesday's GOP runoff; the winner advances to face Democratic nominee for Governor Roy Barnes in November.

The University of Georgia names an interim director for its music business program: local music producer David Barbe takes over for the departed Bruce Burch, who left UGa for Kennesaw State University.

The University of Georgia is back on top: UGa is again atop the Princeton Review's annual rankings of the nation's party schools, climbing from the fourth spot in last year's rankings.  Reaction to the rating comes from University of Georgia vice-president Tom Jackson, who says in a statement "We'd rather focus on the Green Honor Roll listing as a top environmentally conscious campus or the top 50 'Best Values' listing. The University of Georgia takes student alcohol education programs very seriously and will continue to do so."

Captain Billy Hayes, the commanding officer at the Navy Supply Corps School in Athens, was joined in a Thursday press conference by University of Georgia President Michael Adams and Athens Mayor Heidi Davison. They announced plans to commemorate the Navy's 57-year presence in Athens. A series of events are planned to run through March, when the Navy hands over the keys to the facility off Prince Avenue. The University of Georgia will use the campus in its collaboration with the Medical College of Georgia and will train medical students there.

A press conference is set for 10 o'clock this morning at the Navy Supply Corps School on Prince Avenue: the Navy Base CO will take part, as will University of Georgia President Michael Adams and Athens Mayor Heidi Davison. They'll talk about plans to commemorate the Navy's 57 years in Athens and plans to transition from a Navy campus to a medical campus. The Navy School leaves Athens next year for Newport Rhode Island. The University of Georgia, in collaboration with the Medical College of Georgia, will begin training medical students on the campus in Normaltown.

It's only a drill: the University of Georgia's Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication is conducting a simulated news event as part of a journalists' training session. It'll get underway around 3 o'clock this afternoon, with a simulation of a suspicious package found on campus. Again: it's only an exercise for student journalists.

Add the University of Georgia to the list: the NCAA is looking into possible player-agent activity involving Georgia Bulldog football players. Similar inquiries are taking place at the Universities of Florida, Alabama, and North and South Carolina.

A documentary produced by University of Georgia researcher Samantha Joye airs this evening on Georgia Public Broadcasting: Joye is a marine biologist who traveled to the Gulf of Mexico to assess the environmental impact of the nation's worst-ever offshore oil spill. Her documentary will be broadcast at 7 o'clock tonight.

The University of Georgia gets a $700,000 grant from the National Science Foundation. UGa says it will use the federal stimulus dollars to set up a Professional Science Master's program in biomanufacturing and bioprocessing.

Atlanta Municipal Court administrator Doug Mincher said Thursday that the hearing for the 40-year-old Evans, which had been scheduled for Monday, has been postponed until Oct. 4 at the request of Evans' attorney, Steve Weiner.

Evans was arrested last week and charged with drunken driving and failure to maintain a lane. The arresting officer's report said Evans asked to be let off with a warning and had a pair of ladies' panties between his legs when his car was stopped on an Atlanta street with a 28-year-old woman as a passenger.

Evans resigned as athletic director in Sunday.

(AP) University of Georgia football coach Mark Richt says he is saddened to lose athletic director Damon Evans, but he doesn't believe it will hurt the university's sports program. Richt spoke with reporters for the first time Wednesday about Evans, who resigned last weekend following a drunken driving arrest in Atlanta. Richt says the football team is "just going to go on with life and take care of business," regardless of who is in charge of UGA athletics. He said he's exchanged voicemail with Evans but has yet to speak to him. He praised UGA President Michael Adams' handling of the situation and said interim AD Frank Crumley was a good choice because he's a "very sharp guy." Adams has named a search committee to find Evans' permanent replacement.

Frank Crumley, an associate director in the University of Georgia's Athletic Department, will serve as an interim AD while the University conducts a search for a full-time replacement for the departed Damon Evans. University President Michael Adams made the announcement in an afternoon news conference at the Georgia Center. Damon Evans, UGa's AD for the past six years, submitted his resignation Sunday, doing so on the heels of last Wednesday's DUI arrest in Atlanta.

University of Georgia President Michael Adams meets the media today: it's a 2 o'clock press conference that was scheduled before the Damon Evans DUI arrest, the arrest that led to Evans' resignation as the Athletic Director at the University of Georgia.

It's underway today at UGa: the 75^th annual Psychometric Conference continues through Friday.  The University says more than 300 scholars, grad students, and professionals in the education testing industry are taking part in the conference at the Georgia Center.

America celebrates its 234^th anniversary this weekend, and there is no shortage of July 4 holiday weekend activity in northeast Georgia: Athens celebrates the Fourth with fireworks in Bishop Park; Hall County's fireworks festivities will take place at Laurel Park on Lake Lanier. Saturday holiday events include fireworks in Nicholson; former Georgia Bulldog football coach Vince Dooley will serve as grand marshal for a Saturday parade in Demorest, and the Gainesville Symphony Orchestra's Patriotic Pops concert is set for Saturday night at Brenau University.

A vacationing University of Georgia President Michael issued Thursday the following statement on Wednesday's arrest of UGa Athletics Director Damon Evans:

UGA Athletic Director Damon Evans informed me early this morning of his arrest and provided me an account of the events of last night. Drinking and driving is a serious matter, and I was extremely disappointed to hear of the arrest. Certainly this is not an example of the kind of leadership that I expect our senior administrators to set. I have high regard for Damon personally; I care deeply about him and his family and know him to be a man of integrity. He has sincerely apologized to me for the embarrassment this has brought upon the university. I was notified of this matter while away on vacation and will reserve further action pending a full review by staff and legal counsel.

We learn this afternoon the name of the woman who was a passenger in the car with University of Georgia Athletic Director Damon Evans at the time of his DUI arrest in Atlanta.  28 year-old Courtney Furhmann reportedly faces a disorderly conduct charge. Evans, 40, was pulled over just before midnight last night, stopped by a Georgia State Trooper near Chastain Park in Atlanta. The State Patrol says Evans refused to take a breathalyzer test but did fail a field sobriety test. Evans will hold a news conference this evening at the University of Georgia's Rankin Smith Center. That news conference will be broadcast live here on the New FM 103.7.

 The University of Georgia will release a statement later today on last night's DUI arrest in Atlanta: UGa Athletic Director Damon Evans is facing a drunk driving charge after a traffic stop in northwest Atlanta, near Chastain Park. A University of Georgia spokesman says Evans was pulled over by the Georgia State Patrol, who also leveled undisclosed charges against a passenger in Evans' car.

The University of Georgia gets a $1 million gift from Lois Shortt, who met her late husband William at UGa back in 1945: the money to create the William and Lois Shortt Graduate Fellowship will support up to five College of Education graduate students each year.

A University of Georgia Marine Scientist says while the focus remains on oil leaking into the Gulf from the blown Deepwater Horizon well, very little attention is being paid to the methane gas escaping from the sea floor. Dr. Mandy Joye says methane, a colorless, odorless gas is displacing oxygen in the water at an alarming rate. No one yet knows if the oxygen supply in parts of the Gulf of Mexico will be depleted but Joye says it is something to be concerned about.

It is the longest match in the history of tennis, and it's not over yet: University of Georgia graduate John Isner and Frenchman Nicolas Mahut will resume play in their first-round Wimbledon matchup today in London, tied at 59 in the fifth and final set. Play was suspended because of darkness for a second straight day Wednesday.

The funeral for Jordan Griner is set for today: Griner is the University of Georgia graduate from Augusta, an intern in the governor's office, who was killed in last weekend's DUI crash near Atlantic Station in Atlanta. The woman who was allegedly drunk behind the wheel of the car that slammed into his is now free on bond: Atlanta police say she her blood-alcohol level was nearly 3 times above the legal limit. 

A University of Georgia faculty member will be the director of the state's Teacher Quality Higher Education Program: Katherine Thompson will begin her new job July 1. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Education and is designed to enhance the teaching of math, science, language arts, reading, and social studies in grade schools across the state.

Some 200 speech language pathologists and special education teachers from across the state are gathering at the University of Georgia: they'll take part in a conference on autism and speech disorders, a two-day gathering that begins today at the Georgia Center.

The state Board of Regents wraps up its monthly meeting in Atlanta by signing off on budgets for the 35 colleges and universities in the University System of Georgia, approving spending plans for the fiscal year that begins July 1. 78 faculty positions will be eliminated at the University of Georgia: UGa spokesman Tom Jackson says those were positions that were already unfilled because of earlier budget cuts.

Just back from the Gulf of Mexico, University of Georgia marine life researcher Samantha Joye testifies before a U.S. Congressional committee today, a panel investigating the Gulf oil spill. Joye, in a Tuesday news conference at UGa, said it could months and maybe years before the full ecological impact of the spill is known.

An Athens-Clarke County Mayor and Commission work session is set for today: 5:30 this afternoon at the government building on Dougherty Street. The public utilities service delivery plan is an item on the afternoon agenda. Commissioners will also talk about the pending realignment of Hull Street, a project proposed by the University of Georgia.

The University of Georgia softball team saw its season come to a close with a Sunday loss to UCLA in the College World Series in Oklahoma City.  The Bruins won 5-2 to eliminate the Bulldogs, who had earlier eliminated the Florida Gators.

The University of Georgia softball team begins play in the NCAA Women's College World Series: they'll play a team from the University of Washington in tonight's opening round matchup. Play continues through next Wednesday in Oklahoma City.

The University of Georgia says it has finished the first round of tree planting: some 225 oaks have been planted over the past year, primarily on newly developed areas of South and East Campus. Another 700 to 1,000 trees will be planted over the next decade, courtesy of funding from the Select Sustainable Tree Trust.

The 5-year-old dog, called Russ, is a half-brother to Uga VII, who died Nov. 19. Russ strode the sidelines in Georgia's season-ending victory over Georgia Tech and again in the Bulldogs' triumph over Texas A&M in the Independence Bowl.

Frank "Sonny" Seiler, owner and breeder of Georgia's bulldog mascots since 1956, says Russ is too old to inherit the job permanently, but will stay on for a few more games.

Seiler says he has several puppies under consideration for the role, but all are too young to take over at the start of the season.

The University of Georgia gets $3 million from the National Institutes of Health: Dan Colley is director of UGa's Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases.  He'll use the money to study schistosomiasis in western Kenya.

Tonight is graduation night in Athens: seniors wear caps and gowns in commencement exercises that will take place in the University of Georgia's Stegeman Coliseum. Cedar Shoals High School goes first: their ceremonies get underway at 6 o'clock, to be followed at 8:30 by the graduating class at Clarke Central High School.

The University of Georgia lines up a speaker for summer semester commencement exercises, scheduled for July 31 in Stegeman Coliseum: David Adelman is a former state Senator from Gwinnett County who is serving now as the U.S. Ambassador to Singapore.

University of Georgia President Michael Adams says some University layoffs are to be expected: Dr. Adams, in a Wednesday budget briefing at the Tate Center, says they will likely be few in number, despite the state budget cuts that have left UGa with approximately the same level of state funding the school received in 1999.

University of Georgia spokesman Tom Jackson says the school is not being singled out: Jackson, responding to those reports of an IRS audit for the University, says the Internal Revenue Service is looking at upwards of 40 institutions around the country, checking what is termed "unrelated business income" not directly associated with academics. Jackson says that includes things like parking and food services and also the University golf course.

University of Georgia President Michael Adams holds another campus budget briefing today: he'll update the University's budget status in a 3:30 session at the Tate Center.

The University of Georgia is again playing host to the NCAA Tennis championships. Play begins today at the Dan McGill Tennis Complex. Play continues through May 31.

University of Georgia marine scientist Mandy Joye is just back from the Gulf and a fact-finding voyage aboard the research vessel Pelican. Joye says it might be weeks or even months before we begin to know the extent of the eco-system damage caused by the Gulf oil leak.

The winners of this year's Peabody Awards are being honored today: there's a noon-hour luncheon at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York. The University of Georgia's Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication administers the Peabodys.

Athens Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremonies are set for this evening, taking place this year at the University of Georgia. There are a dozen new inductees, two of whom are going into the Hall posthumously. The festivities begin at 6 o'clock at the Tate Center.

Saturday is law school graduation day at UGa: this year's University of Georgia Law grads will hear from former Solicitor General Walter Dellinger in commencement exercises that start at 10 o'clock Saturday morning on the quadrangle in front of the Law School.

You might hear explosions today at the University of Georgia: it should not be cause for alarm. Construction workers will be blasting rock as part of the expansion of the Georgia Museum of Art.

Students at the University of Georgia, Gainesville State College, and other schools in the University System of Georgia will pay up to $1,000 more in tuition under a rate increase approved by the state Board of Regents. The Regents--meeting today in Atlanta--signed off on the package that raises tuition from 4 to 16 percent, doing so to offset massive higher education funding cuts that were a part of the state budget package approved in the legislative session that ended last month.

Athens is a bit less crowded today: University students--most of them--have packed up and left town after weekend graduation ceremonies at Sanford Stadium. This year's graduating class heard from UGa alum and cable TV food show host Alton Brown.

With a majority of students away for the summer, the University closes a couple of stretches of streets on campus: construction work closes Baxter between Newton and Hull Streets, and Hull between Baxter and Florida Avenue. And sidewalks on the north and south sides of Stegeman Coliseum are closing through November: crews are working on the Stegeman Coliseum concourse renovation project.

This is graduation weekend in Athens: University of Georgia commencement exercises are set for 6:30 Saturday evening in Sanford Stadium. The graduates will hear from television chef Alton Brown. Some 4,000 UGa undergrads are eligible for degrees.

The financial holding company BB&T pledges $1.5 million to the University of Georgia and its Terry College of Business. The grant will establish the BB&T Support Fund for the Study of Capitalism and Market Economics in UGa's business school.

Researchers at the University of Georgia say they have found what may be the key to new therapies for treatment of diabetes and other regenerative diseases. In a Tuesday news conference, University cloning scientist Steve Stice says adult livestock stem cells can be converted into any type of cell in the body. UGa says scientists at Emory University in Atlanta will use the new technology in their ongoing research into juvenile diabetes.

University of Georgia researchers get $2.4 million to study the Amazon River. They'll work with Brazilian scientists in utilizing the grant from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.

Campus police at the University of Georgia are searching for a suspected in what is reported as an attempted sexual assault. A female student says it happened while she was leaving Sanford Hall Monday night. She says she yelled for help as the attack unfolded and when other people arrived to help, her attacker ran away. He's described as a clean shaven while male in his early 20s, 6-2, maybe 6-3, dark hair, wearing a black nylon jacket and blue jeans.

A press conference is scheduled for today at UGa: University researchers will announce what they say is a breakthrough discovery, one with what they call major implications for developing new treatments for regenerative diseases, diabetes, among them. The news conference is set for 10 o'clock this morning at the University of Georgia's Animal Science Arena on south Milledge Avenue.

The inaugural Stadion Athens Classic at UGa is in the books: Texas golfer Martin Piller claimed a one-shot victory after Sunday's fourth and final round of play at the University of Georgia golf course. His 12-under finish was one shot better than Daniel Summerhayes' score of 11-under in the Nationwide tournament that began last Thursday.

Authorities have released the name of the University of Georgia student who died while rock climbing at Tallulah Gorge State Park: Josh Robertson was a freshman from Peachtree City. There's no word yet on what caused the accident: a park manager says Robertson fell about 80 feet.

Today is a furlough day at the University of Georgia: it's a day away from work and a day without pay for most University faculty, staff, and administrators. It's one of six furlough days ordered by the state Board of Regents, part of state government budget trimming mandated by Governor Perdue and the Legislature.

The University of Georgia's New Media Institute joins with the University of Georgia's Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication in hosting a Saturday workshop on all the new social media. It takes place in UGa's Miller Learning Center.

It is tee time in Athens: for a fifth consecutive year, the Nationwide Golf Tour makes its way to northeast Georgia, playing for the first time at the University of Georgia. The Stadion Athens Classic at UGa moves to the campus golf course after four years at Jennings Mill Country Club in Bogart. The tournament that begins this morning continues through Sunday afternoon. To follow the tournament leaderboard, click here.

Today is the last day of spring semester classes at the University of Georgia. University students are gearing up for the final exams that are set for next week. Spring semester graduation takes place on May 8.

Another candidate to be the next Dean of Students at UGa is on campus today: Michele Howard is an associate vice chancellor at the University of North Carolina in Charlotte. She'll meet with University of Georgia students, staff, and faculty in forums that get underway at 2 o'clock this afternoon in the Tate Center.

In a move that ends the speculation about his immediate future, the NCAA names a new President and does not choose University of Georgia President Michael Adams. Dr. Adams had been widely mentioned as a possible successor to the late Miles Brand. The job goes instead to University of Washington President Mark Emmert.

University of Georgia President Michael Adams announces changes to campus policy on alcohol and drug violations: the new policy means second-time offenders will not face automatic suspensions, but could still be suspended, pending the discretion of the campus judiciary panels that will consider discipline in drug and alcohol cases.

University of Georgia President Michael Adams met the media this morning saying in a North Campus press conference that some University layoffs might be necessary. Dr. Adams says how many jobs and which ones might be on the line won't be known until sometime after Georgia lawmakers finalize the state budget: budget adoption is expected tomorrow in Atlanta.

The University of Georgia's annual campus memorial service is set for 7 o'clock tonight in front of the Chapel on north campus: the University community gathers to remember faculty, staff, and students who have died over the past year.

The practice rounds that began Monday continue today at the University of Georgia golf course: players in the Nationwide Tour event that tees of Thursday are getting the lay of the land. This is the first year for UGa to play host to the professional golf tournament that has been played since 2006 at Jennings Mill Country Club in Bogart. The Stadion Athens Classic at UGa tees of Thursday.

The University of Georgia's College of Family and Consumer Sciences will share in $2.2 million, a federal economic stimulus grant that help a weatherization education program being administered by the Cooperative Extension Service at UGa. The infusion of stimulus dollars means the program will continue through at least 2012.