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Members of the Athens community and surrounding areas are invited to attend the dedication ceremony of the Firefly Trail next week. The Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services Department is dedicating the first portion of the trail being built.

Mark Ralston is president of Firefly Trail incorporated.

“People have been talking about the Firefly Trail since the early 2000’s and so it’s fantastic to see actual pavement and bridges on the ground and spanning the river.” Ralston said.

Leisure Services is opening the new portion for all others.

After the GOP-led Congress failed to repeal and replace Obamacare, President Trump signed an executive order which he says will expand options. Critics say it would limit coverage and increase premiums.

The President says his Executive Order will expand choice and competition, but some experts say the measure will loosen guidelines and regulations. Grace Bagwell Adams is a professor in the University of Georgia's College of Public Health. She says the order raises concerns that less expensive plan options would negatively impact many Americans.

The Georgia Board of Regents has instructed all state universities to align their semester calendars.

On Wednesday, the Board of Regents revised the policy on university semester length. According to federal regulations, semesters must have 15 weeks of instruction time. However, the Regents clarified this cannot include registration days or final exams.