Athens News Matters

Athens News Matters for March 18, 2022

By Martin Matheny,

Published March 18, 2022 at 3:30 PM EDT

This week on Athens News Matters, Jared Bailey enters the race for ACC Commission in hopes of getting his old seat back as District 5 Commissioner. ACC District 7 candidate Allen Jones joins the team to talk about his campaign. Director of the Center for the Ecology of Infectious Diseases at the Odum School of Ecology, Dr. John Drake, joins the team to discuss the new COVID variant that is on the horizon. Ranger Nick joins Chris Shupe to discuss the fascinating Purple Martin bird. Our panel breaks down the week in news and politics.

Athens News Matters

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.

See stories by Martin Matheny

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.

See stories by Chris Shupe

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!

See stories by Alexia Ridley