Athens News Matters

Athens News Matters for November 19, 2021

WUGA | By Chris Shupe,

Published November 19, 2021 at 4:27 PM EST

This week on Athens News Matters, Chris Shupe sits down with vaccine expert Dr. Ashley Hannings to clarify what you need to know about booster shots, as well as whether parents should delay vaccination for their children. GPB's Grant Blankenship gives the latest developments on the unsolved 75-year-old tragedy that is the Moore's Ford Lynching. Alexia Ridley sits down with researcher Amanda Giordano to discuss the darker side of Instagram and the platform's connection with self-destructive behavior (Please note this story references self-harm, suicide, and other topics that may not be suitable for all listeners). A story on the COVID-19 induced "Zoom fatigue" and the answer to this modern ailment. Chris Shupe sits down with LeAnn Howe to discuss the new documentary Searching for Sequoyah which is about the Native American scholar and leader of the Cherokee Nation, Sequoyah. Our panel disucesses the latest in local redistricting and the rest of the week in news and politics.

Athens News Matters

Chris Shupe

Chris Shupe was the Program Director of WUGA from 2014-2022. Shupe may be best known as The Athens King, a tribute to Elvis Presley, which often included an 8 piece show band! After two years as a part-time announcer, Chris Shupe joined WUGA full time as the station’s Morning Edition Host and Assistant Operations Director. He was later promoted to PD in 2014.

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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 was formerly 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 was heard on WUGA and GPB Classical. He is now the Morning Edition Host for Delaware First Media.

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