Community

UPDATE: Victim testifies after opening statements in Tiger Transit rape case

By Stephen Lanzi | Campus Editor and Eduardo Medina | Enterprise Editor | February 27

District Attorney Brandon Hughes, who is prosecuting the case, began opening arguments by saying, “knocked out, huh.” That's a quote from Patillo, recorded on video, when he first saw the victim on the bus, the district attorney said.

Jury selected to hear case against former Tiger Transit driver charged with rape, sodomy

By Chip Brownlee | Editor-in-chief | February 26

The jurors will decide the case against Tony Patillo, who was charged in September 2017 with two first-degree counts of felony rape and sodomy. He also faces one count of public lewdness.

From combat boots to go-go boots: Tim Peacock's 10 years as a Southern drag queen

By Elizabeth Hurley | Community Editor | February 26

“Being in the military kind of put me in a dark place — having to hide myself to avoid harassment and bullying,” Peacock said. “It had just brought me to an extremely dark place.”

Construction at the intersection of Gay Street and Glenn Avenue on Thursday, May 18 in Auburn, Ala.

Temporary lane closures planned near Shug Jordan, Richland Road intersection

By Staff Report | February 26

Motorists are advised to be cautious in the area and take alternate routes when possible.

Auburn's 'oasis': New plan for the Medicinal Plant Garden

By Scott Berson | Assistant Community Editor | February 26

Auburn's Medicinal Plant Garden was an oasis of herbs, flowers and shrubs. Now it's a parking lot. But there are plans to rebuild it bigger and better than ever.

City, University to host off-campus housing focus groups

By Chip Brownlee | Editor-in-chief | February 25

Students are invited to participate in the focus groups Wednesday, Feb. 27, and Monday, March 4.

Entrepreneur succeeds in Auburn with transportation business

By Lauren Pieper | Lifestyle Writer | February 25

Small towns are not typically hubs for entrepreneurial success; however, when Kevin McCarley saw a need for safe transportation, he got to work on his business.

Dozens of volunteers pitch in to clean trash-clogged campus creek

By Scott Berson | Assistant Community Editor | February 25

The project, a partnership between the city and Auburn's Risk Management & Safety Department, happens at least twice a year as a way to keep the on-campus stream as healthy as possible.

James Don Johnson Jr. and Tony Patillo, two former Tiger Transit drivers, have been charged with the rape and sodomy of an 18-year-old Auburn student.

Tiger Transit rape case goes to trial this week

By Chip Brownlee | Editor-in-chief | February 25

The case against two former Tiger Transit drivers is headed to trial this week.

City manager discusses status of Southern Living Hotel, downtown parking deck

City gives landowner, hotel group until end of February to reach deal on Southern Living Hotel

By Chip Brownlee | Editor-in-chief | February 25

The city is giving the downtown landowner and the hotel group working to bring a Southern Living Hotel to Auburn until the end of the month to reach a deal.

Report: Auburns ranks among nation's best small cities for business

By Staff Report | February 23

Auburn ranked 25 out of 200 in a Forbes analysis of the best small places for business and careers.

Sword + Skillet chef makes fine dining casual

By Abigail Murphy | Operations Editor | February 23

Sword & Skillet is a permanent-position food truck that brings coastal-style cuisine to the community.

Editor-publisher who wrote Klan editorial steps down from paper

By Mikayla Burns | Managing Editor | February 22

"I can drink beer and chase women now. They can't run too fast, or I can't catch them," Sutton told The Plainsman.

Tennessee governor says he regrets wearing Confederate uniform in Auburn yearbook photo

By Chip Brownlee | Editor-in-chief | February 21

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has apologized after a photo surfaced of him wearing a Confederate uniform in Auburn's 1980 Glomerata yearbook.

Update: Coroner locates family of woman killed Friday in murder-suicide

By Chip Brownlee | Editor-in-chief | February 21

Authorities are asking for help finding the family of the woman shot and killed in a murder-suicide Friday.

Manufacturer announces Auburn expansion, will bring two dozen new jobs

By Staff Report | February 20

ARKAL Automotive, a manufacturer of lightweight plastic automobile parts with markets all over the world, announced plans to invest $2.3 million in its Auburn operation, and bring more than two dozen jobs to the city over the next two years, the City of Auburn announced Wednesday.

Why Auburn nixed creating a local holiday for Rosa Parks

By Cory Blackmon | Community Writer | February 20

The City of Auburn recently entertained the idea of making a city holiday in honor of Rosa Parks before deciding the cost was too high. But how exactly is a holiday created, and why is the cost so high?

Man shouts Nazi slogans, flashes gun at local coffee shop

By Chip Brownlee | Editor-in-chief and Tim Nail | Community Writer | February 19

Police briefly investigated an incident Tuesday evening at a coffee shop in Auburn during which eyewitnesses said a white man who appeared to be in his mid-20s stood on a chair, yelled Nazi slogans including "Heil Hitler" and flashed a gun to the cafe's manager who told him not to come back.

Auburn's Journalism Advisory Council strips award from editor who wrote Klan editorial

By Chip Brownlee | Editor-in-chief and Mikayla Burns | Managing Editor | February 19

The Auburn Plainsman first reported the nature of the editorial, which published on Feb. 14 under the headline, "Klan needs to ride again."

The Plainsman relaunches 'On The Plains' news podcast

By Chip Brownlee | Editor-in-chief | February 18

The daily news podcast is only a few minutes long. It breaks down the biggest local, state and national news of the day in an easily consumable format.