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Articles by Chris Shupe
What Contractors Get Wrong When Choosing Field Service Software
Every contractor software demo looks the same. The salesperson pulls up a clean dashboard, shows you the scheduling board, demonstrates how invoices go out automatically and finishes with a pricing slide. You sign up. Six months later, half your techs are still texting customers from their personal phones, your dispatcher has gone back to the whiteboard and you're paying for a platform nobody actually uses. This is not an uncommon story.
Athens News Matters for January 14, 2022
Athens News Matters for December 10, 2021 By Martin Matheny, Alexia Ridley & Chris Shupe • Dec 12, 2021 This week on Athens News Matters, ACCPD Chief Cleveland Spruill sits down with Chris Shupe to discuss the state of policing in Athens. GPB's Ellen Eldridge has the story on the new 988 crisis line that leaders across the nation are preparing for.
Athens News Matters: "Sewer Socialism" - The New Way to Think About Work Force Development
Listen to the story! Two words you do not hear often in the same sentence is “sewer” and “socialism”. We do not spend a lot of time thinking about these two terms, especially in conjunction, but to ACC Commissioner Mariah Parker, “Sewer Socialism” could be a new and perhaps better way to think about work force development.
Athens News Matters: The ACC Community Christmas Tree
Listen to the story! It’s a gloomy Wednesday at Athens-Clarke County City Hall, which makes the community Christmas Tree stand out even more as Mayor Kelly Girtz gazes up from a downtown street corner. “Humanity needs some rest and reflection right now,” Girtz said.
Athens News Matters: Athens Police Chief Discusses the State of Policing in Athens
After a rash of gun violence involving young people, as well as increased traffic fatalities, Police Chief Cleveland Spruill joins WUGA's Chris Shupe to discuss the state of policing in Athens. Listen to the story! This transcipt has been edited for clarity CHRIS SHUPE: Chief Spruill, thanks so much for being with us today. We’ve got a lot of questions for you, so let's get right to it.
Athens News Matters: Dr. John Drake Discusses the New Omicron Variant of COVID-19
The science of disease modeling can give public health officials clues about how far and how fast diseases like the coronavirus might spread, and how severe they might be. Omicron is yet another variant of COVID-19, and researchers and public health officials are actively working on figuring out more information on this new twist in the ongoing saga of the Coronavirus. The thing that we have to figure out now is how is Omicron going to respond in the face of vaccine pressure.
Athens News Matters for December 3, 2021
Listen to the full story! This week on Athens News Matters, an expert on disease modeling, Dr. John Drake, sits down with Chris Shupe to discuss the Omicron variant of the Coronavirus as well as how scientists can not only track, but anticipate disease outbreaks.
Athens News Matters: PAC's 2021 Holiday Music Festival Celebrates the Holiday Season
By Devon Zwald & Chris Shupe • Dec 3, 2021 Listen to the story! This December the Performing Arts Center, celebrates the holidays - and its 25th season - with an eclectic mix of artists and entertainers. From a bluegrass Christmas to big-band jazz with Wynton Marsalis, the PAC’s 2021 Holiday Music Festival has something to help everyone celebrate the season.
Athens News Matters: UGA's Dr. Tuberville Awarded the 2021 Christine Stevens Wildlife Award
Listen to the story! Dr. Tracey Tuberville, of UGA’s Savannah Rover Ecology Laboratory, has been awarded the 2021 Christine Stevens Wildlife Award for her efforts to reintroduce Eastern box turtles into the wild. WUGA's Chris Shupe talks with Dr. Tuberville about her thoughts about receiving an award recognizing innovative, less intrusive wildlife study techniques, and learn more about her work with turtles that have been recovered from the illegal wildlife trade.
Athens News Matters: COVID-19 Booster Shots - What do you Need to Know?
Trust in science is declining. In today's changing media landscape, how can scientists build credibility with the public?
Athens News Matters: Searching for Sequoyah - The Life of a Native American Scholar and Leader
Listen to the story! The Native American scholar and leader of the Cherokee Nation, Sequoyah, is one of the most remarkable figures in American history. His creation of a system of writing for the Cherokee language, and his attempt to reunify the Cherokee people after removal from their homeland are only two of the events that marked his extraordinary life. He was a real innovator and genius.
Athens News Matters: What are School District Officials Planning to do with the ESPLOST 6 Revenue?
A five-year, 120 million dollar sales tax for Clarke County schools appears to be on track to pass after Tuesday's election. Unofficial and incomplete results from Athens-Clarke County elections officials show that around 80% of voters approved the measure, which would continue a one percent sales tax to fund, among things, a new Clarke Middle School. The ACC Elections office says that complete and official results should be in later this week.
Athens News Matters: Mistrust in Science - How can Scientists Build Credibility with the Public?
By Devon Zwald & Lauren Baggett & Glenn Nowak & Chris Shupe • 2 hours ago Listen to the story! Trust in science is declining. In today's changing media landscape, how can scientists build credibility with the public? Surveys have suggested that people trust scientist, but they don't trust the recommendations.
Athens News Matters for November 12, 2021
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.
Athens News Matters for November 5, 2021
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.
Athens News Matters: Post-Election Day - A TSPLOST Proposal is Sent to a Narrow Defeat
Post-Election Day, WUGA's Alexia Ridley sits down with Editor of Oconee Observation, Lee Becker to discuss the vote in Oconee County that sent a TSPLOST proposal down to a narrow defeat. Voters in Oconee County voted Tuesday to reject a one penny transportation special local option sales tax or TSPLOST, like the one in Athens-Clarke County that's funded projects like the Firefly Trail, fare-free public transit, and new sidewalks.
Athens News Matters: Color the World Bright is Bringing Buildings to life with Vibrant Murals
Listen to the story! Drive through the roundabout at the heart of Danielsville, Ga, population six hundred or so, and you’ll see freshly painted murals on all four sides of an old stucco building. This is the work of Color the World Bright, a group of mostly University of Georgia students and alumni, guided by Professor Joseph Norman. Norman: “Sort of create and recreate a series of images and illustrations. For example, we’re putting [the MedLink] logo on the building.
Athens News Matters for October 29, 2021
Listen to the full story! This week on Athens News Matters, ACC Sheriff John Q. Williams sits down with Chris Shupe to discuss the impact understaffing has on the community, how the jail is handling the pandemic, and the high cost of healthcare for inmates. How Herschel Walker surged to the top of the list of candidates in the Republican primary and how his campaign is shaping up. Chief Assistant Solicitor Will Fleenor joins Alexia Ridley to discuss the upcoming Arrest Record Restriction Event.
Athens News Matters: ACC Sheriff Discusses Understaffing and the Effects of the Pandemic
When he took office earlier this year, Sheriff John Q. Williams took over a department fraught with problems - chronic understaffing, the effects of the pandemic on the hundreds of inmates at the Clarke County Jail, and skyrocketing health care costs. Earlier this week, WUGA’s Chris Shupe spoke to Sheriff Williams about all of that and more: Listen to the story! This transcript has been edited for clarity CHRIS SHUPE: Welcome to Athens News Matters. JOHN Q. WILLIAMS: Thank you, thank you.
The Guest List - Spooky Edition, Reprised
By Chris Shupe & Molly Williams • 2 hours ago The "Halloween Spooktacular" episode of The Guest List, which premiered in October 2020, was recently honored with a Georgia Association of Broadcasters (GABBY) Merit Award for Best Program Non-news or Sports! Needless to say, we are thrilled (and chilled)!! To celebrate this achievement and offer up a sountrack for your Halloween 2021 festivities, we're reprising the original here for your listening pleasure.
Athens News Matters: Saving Money on your Energy Bills is as Easy as Planting a Tree
By Devon Zwald & Tim Smalley & Laura Ney & Chris Shupe • 2 hours ago Listen to the story! Want to save some money on your energy bills? Planting a tree is not only a beautiful addition to your landscape, but if positioned correctly, could be a long term solution for saving money on your energy bills.
Athens News Matters: ACC District 7 Commissioner Discusses Recent Government Actions
Listen to the conversation! Between the creation of an eviction prevention program and conversations around achieving green energy in local government, it's been a busy month for the Athens-Clarke County Mayor and Commission. ACC Distric 7 commissioner Russell Edwards joins WUGA's Chris Shupe to talk about the future of civilian police oversight, what’s next for the creation of a human relations commission, and more.
Athens News Matters for October 22, 2021
This week on Athens News Matters, Mayor Kelly Girtz sits down with WUGA's Chris Shupe to talk about the future of police oversight, eviction relief, and the process of creating a sactioned homeless encampment. The 2021 Athens Poet Laureate, Jeff Fallis, joins the team to discuss his new position and to talk about some of his work. A segment on Beekeeping for beginners in which President of the Eastern Piedmont Beekeepers Association, Dan Long, discusses how to become a beekeeper.
Athens News Matters: The FDA Made a Partial Decision on E Cigarettes
Last week, the FDA made a partial decision on E cigarettes, but one of the biggest E cigarette makers, Juul, remains on the market for now. On an earlier episode of Athens News Matters, following a Georgia Department of Public Health Advisory on vaping, Chris Shupe spoke to Dr. Randy Tackett of the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy. WUGA's Chris Shupe talks with Randy Tackett: Listen to the story!
Athens News Matters: The Strain of the Delta Variant on Local Healthcare Infrastructure and Workers
The last 17 months have been grueling for healthcare workers, and burnout is an increasing worry. A new study from the University of Georgia says that more physical activity could be crucial to managing the stress that healthcare workers face. Alexia Ridley talked with researcher Marilyn Wolff.
Athens News Matters Special: One Book Athens
The Black Lives Matter movement has changed the country and shifted conversations about police, social justice and structural racism. Nowhere is the impact as great as it is for Black families, especially those with children. NPR spoke with five couples about how their family conversations have changed and how they try to support and inform their children in the face of police violence and racism.
Athens News Matters for July 16, 2021
How the Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement is training the next generation of activists A UGA researcher hits a major milestone in his work to develop a new coronavirus vaccine. Our panel on the week in news and politics. Those stories, plus, counting the county’s trees – coming up on Athens News Matters.
Athens News Matters: How are Our Trees?
You know the feeling of sitting in the shade of a tree on a hot summer day? Well, this is just one of the many benefits of trees to a community like Athens and according to the Athens-Clarke County Sustainability Office, Athens has more tree canopy than any other US community with over 100,000 residents.
Athens News Matters: June 25, 2021
On the this edition of ANM, panelists discuss the latest actions against a graduate student who's come under fire before. He calls an upcoming disciplinary hearing, a "witch hunt," and community activists reignite concerns regarding Baldwin Hall. Those topics and more on the next edition of Athens News Maters.
Athens News Matters: Treasure Maps
By Sarah Train & Chris Shupe • 15 minutes ago Sponsored by the Georgia Council in Developmental Disabilities and L'Arche Atlanta, “Treasure Maps: The Georgia Storytelling Roadshow, 2021” is a pop-up, interactive, outdoor theatre taking place in six cities across Georgia. The Treasure Maps film features ten people with developmental disabilities from Georgia telling their own stories about navigating the complex webs of life in our communities as a person with a developmental disability.
Athens News Matters for June 18, 2021
It’s a back-to-school edition of Athens News Matters. Panelists Gwen O’ Looney Lee Shearer discuss racial disparities when it comes to school achievement and school discipline numbers. They weigh in on the appropriateness of punishment handed down in a sexual assault case. The outcome of an internal affairs investigation at the ACCPD and ending the school-to-prison-pipeline are also up for discussion on the next edition of ANM.
Athens News Matters: History of Banking
Since its creation in 2019, the website Athens Politics Nerd has been a go-to source for local politics and news. Now, editor Chris Dowd is taking on an even bigger project – a 20-part history of banking in the US.
Athens News Matters: What does a County Auditor Do?
Yesterday evening, ACC Manager Blaine Williams presented the Mayor’s recommended budget for FY22, which includes a revenue increase of $7.5 million from last year. Commissioners then voiced items they believe should be prioritized in the budget. According to Manager Williams, the general fund budget for FY22 stands at $148 million dollars, reflecting a $7.5 million increase from last year.
Athens News Matters: Mayor Kelly Girtz
Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz joins us to talk about the recently-passed county budget, the county’s plateauing vaccination rates, and his plans for a second term. Listen to the conversation.
Athens News Matters for June 11, 2021
By Martin Matheny, Chris Shupe & Alexia Ridley • 11 minutes ago Listen the program.
Athens News Matters: Houle Discusses Budget
District 6 Commissioner Jesse Houle joins us to talk about the Athens-Clarke County budget and a proposed civil rights ordinance.
Athens News Matters: The Importance of Juneteenth
By Chris Shupe & Lucas Trevor • 6 minutes ago Whether you call it Liberation Day, Jubilee Day, Emancipation Day or just Juneteenth, next weekend marks an important day in Black history, and as voting access becomes a major issue in the US, this holiday takes on even more meaning. Lewellyn Cornelius talks with WUGA's Chris Shupe. Listen to the conversation.
Why is Critical Race Theory Objectionable to The Right?
By Chris Shupe & jessica wurst & Sarah Train • 29 minutes ago Listen to the conversation. In recent weeks, conservative political leaders have turned their ire towards critical race theory. But what is critical race theory and why is it objectionable to people on the right? WUGA's Chris Shupe of Athens News Matters talks with Grady College's Dr. Maria Len-Rios. Dr. Len-Rios is a professor and the associate dean for academic affairs at Grady College. Her research focuses on inequalities in the media.
Athens News Matters: 73 Year Old Graduates (again) from UGA
Two weeks ago, at the age of 73, Olyn Gee officially earned his degree from the Grady College of Journalism. This is the second degree he earned from the University of Georgia; the first was in political science in 2018, at the tender age of 70. Olyn joins us to talk about his time at UGA.
ANM: A Public Garden to Stem Juvenile Gun Violence?
Forty years ago this month a 15-year-old boy in New York went on a crime spree that shocked the city and helped change the nature of sentencing minors in America. As part of a new WNYC podcast about the juvenile justice system called Caught Radio Rookies brings this story.
Athens News Matters for May 28, 2021
By Martin Matheny, Alexia Ridley & Chris Shupe • 30 minutes ago Listen to the program. Listen to the show.
ANM: How Madison County is handling the vaccination challenge
The recent announcement from the CDC that suggests that people who are fully vaccinated can forgo masks in many situations came as a surprise to many. In the days following the announcement, some reacted with skepticism, saying that the CDC moved too quickly. Dr. Mark Ebell from the University of Georgia College of Public Health says the CDC's guidance is appropriate, and he joined Alexia Ridley to talk about what the guidance means, his concerns, and why you may still want to keep a mask handy.
ANM: The Athens-Clarke County Budget Breakdown
Athens-Clarke County Commissioners meet again today as they continue their review of Mayor Kelly Girtz’s proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year. As part of the process leading up to adoption of a budget on June 1, Commissioners will hear tonight from officials within the criminal justice system – District Attorney Deborah Gonzalez, along with judges from the State and Juvenile Courts.
ANM Explainer: Are Masks Still Necessary?
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the U.S., the reaction was sweeping -- schools closed, restaurants were shuttered, many descended into self-quarantine, and mask wearing and social distancing were touted as ways to prevent the spread of the disease. But those measures came at a massive societal and economic cost.
Remembering Bloodkin's Daniel Hutchens
By Chris Shupe & John Slights • 2 minutes ago Several weeks ago, you may have heard a segment on this program featuring an album review from the storied Athens band Bloodkin. Today, we bring you a sad update to that review. Last weekend, Bloodkin guitarist and vocalist Daniel Hutchens died after suffering a major stroke. He was just 56 years old. ANM's Chris Shupe offers this rememberence. Listen to this story
Is there an alternative to lockdown and quarantine?
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the U.S., the reaction was sweeping -- schools closed, restaurants were shuttered, many descended into self-quarantine, and mask wearing and social distancing were touted as ways to prevent the spread of the disease. But those measures came at a massive societal and economic cost.
Explainer: Hostile Architecture
The Athens Clarke County Mayor and Commission will meet today at 5:30 for their monthly work session. Commissioners are expected to hear from several county staffers at this evening’s meeting. At the top of the list is a dense and detailed look at the current budget for employee and retiree benefits, as well as projections for the next year. This comes as the county’s budgeting process marches on.
Athens News Matters: Carol Myers
By Chris Shupe & Lucas Trevor • 32 minutes ago Listen to the story. Chris Shupe sat down with ACC Commissioner Carol Myers. They talked about her first few months in office, the budget process, and what Commissioner Myers hopes to achieve during her term. For more information on the ACC Clean Energy Survey visit this link, and fill out the survey.
Athens News Matters: 5/7/2021
Listen to the full Athens News Matters segment. Today on Athens News Matters, Athens-Clarke County Commissioner Carol Myers joins us to talk about the county’s budget, and her experiences as a first-term commissioner. Plus, a wind power report, and a look into how local Athens weather is reported. Also, the second part of the Colorism and Hairism story. Those stories, and more, on Athens News Matters.
Athens News Matters: Athens, GA Weather
Ana, Bill, Claudette, and Danny are four names we might become familiar with soon – the first four names reserved for named storms this hurricane season. And some forecasters predict this quartet will be bringing a lot of friends with them this year.
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