Athens News Matters

Athens News Matters for November 5, 2021

WUGA | By Chris Shupe,

Published November 5, 2021 at 3:47 PM EDT

This week on Athens News Matters, Alexia Ridley sits down with Editor of Oconee County Observations, Lee Becker, to discuss a sales tax to fund education improvements and how the vote sailed through in Clarke County, but Oconee County voters gave a thumbs down to a similar measure for transportation funding. Former Senatory Kelly Loeffler has a new project - getting more Republicans to vote. The team goes behind the scenes with a team of art students, Color the World Bright, who restore long-neglected public murals. The Athens Wellbeing Project sent out their third county-wide survey that they hope will help leaders make informed decisions about how to allocate resources in our community. A story on how mental-health providers have utilized technology during the pandemic. Plus, the panel recaps the week in news and politics.

Athens News Matters

Chris Shupe

Chris Shupe began work at WUGA as a part time weekend announcer in 2010. At the time Shupe was focused on maintaining a thriving career in Real Estate, as well as balancing his time as a local entertainer. Shupe may be best known as The Athens King, a tribute to Elvis Presley, which often included an 8 piece show band! In 2012, Shupe joined WUGA full time as the station’s Morning Edition Host and Assistant Operations Director, and after 2 years of serving in that role Shupe was hired as Program Director for the station. As PD, Shupe spearheaded a return to more involvement in national conferences and continuing education opportunities through industry professional organizations like the Public Radio Program Director's Association, Public Media Development and Marketing Association, Morning Edition Grad School, the NAB, and the Public Media Journalists Association. This involvement led Shupe to undertake a comprehensive market study in 2015, the first such examination of local audience trends in more than 15 years.

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Alexia Ridley

Alexia Ridley joined WUGA as Television and Radio News Anchor and Reporter in 2013. When WUGA TV concluded operations, she became the primary Reporter for WUGA Radio. Alexia came to Athens from Macon where she served as the News Director and show host for WGXA TV. She's a career journalist and Savannah native hailing from the University of Michigan. However, Alexia considers herself an honorary UGA DAWG!

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Martin Matheny

Martin Matheny is WUGA's Program Director and a host and producer of our local news program 'Athens News Matters.' He started at WUGA in 2012 as a part-time classical music host and still hosts WUGA's longest-running local program 'Night Music' which is heard on WUGA and GPB Classical. He lives in Normaltown with his wife, Shaye and dog, Murphy.

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