WUGA FM

WUGA was honored to receive three awards at this year's GABBY Award ceremony last weekend!

GABBY AWARD - BEST REPORTER - Alexia Ridley

GABBY AWARD - BEST PODCAST SERIES - Lara Dua-Swartz (Down in It)

MERIT AWARD - BEST FEATURE STORY - Mary Ryan Howarth ("Conflicts at Athens anti-Trump protests reflect affective polarization ")

Thank you to the for these amazing honors and for celebrating broadcasting talent across our state!

In response to what is being referred to as global market volatility, Governor Brian Kemp has declared a state of emergency and suspended Georgia's motor fuel excise tax for 30 days.

The suspension took effect at 12:01am on September 29 and will run through October 29th, 2026. The current fuel excise tax is about 33 cents per gallon of gasoline and around 37 cents per gallon of diesel.

Governor Kemp suspends gas tax amid rising cost of living In response to what is being referred to as global market volatility, Governor Brian Kemp has declared a state of emergency and suspended Georgia's motor fuel excise tax for 30 days.

A University of Georgia student fell from the eighth floor of an apartment building Saturday.

Athens-Clarke County police said 21-year-old Kristin Sargent was dancing on a couch in the Rambler Athens Apartments before she fell through an open window to the pool deck.

When police arrived around 7:30 Saturday night, Sargent was on the ground near the pool which is on the second floor of the apartment building.

UGA student recovering after falling from eighth floor of apartment Athens-Clarke County police said 21-year-old Kristin Sargent was dancing on a couch in the Rambler Athens Apartments before she fell through an open window to the pool deck.

The deadline for new voters to register in Georgia is Monday, October 5th. Those who need to update any of their voter information will also have until October 5th to make changes.

The last day to request an absentee mail-in ballot is October 23rd.

Gearing up for midterm voting in Athens-Clarke County Sample Ballots are now available, and voter registration will close October 5th for the upcoming midterm elections.

If you’ve been searching for a new book to cozy up with as the temperatures cool down, you’re in luck. There are a host of book sales in Athens and the surrounding counties beginning Thursday.

The Athens-Clarke County Library, the Oconee County Library, the Madison County Library and the Oglethorpe County Library are all having fall sales now and through the next week. At all of these sales, customers can purchase hardcovers, paperbacks, DVDs, CDs, audiobooks and more.

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Senator Raphael Warnock held a press conference September 23 and said that 20 law enforcement officers have been arrested in Georgia for misusing their access to automatic license plate readers.

One such incident is under investigation in Athens after an Athens-Clarke County Police Department employee was fired for allegedly using the Flock system for personal reasons.

Senator Warnock said that he is partnering with Republican Senator Katie Britt from Alabama to demand the Department of Justice institute guard rails to end the abuse.

Senator Warnock calls for guardrails on license plate reader abuse First, he addressed AI. Now, Senator Warnock is addressing the rising abuse of license plate readers by law enforcement.

UGA Theatre’s 2026-2027 season begins Thursday night in the Cellar Theatre with their production of Constellations.

The play, written by British playwright Nick Payne, invites audiences to consider how one small change can impact their life. It is directed by University of Georgia alum Katie Chambers.

UGA Theatre begins its fall season with “Constellations” this week University of Georgia alum Katie Chambers returns to direct a play in Athens later this week. “Constellations” opens Thursday night, and it invites audiences to consider how one small change can impact their life.

Representative Eric Gisler will hold a town hall on September 28, 2026 to discuss Flock cameras with the community members of district 121.

This meeting comes a month after an Athens-Clarke County Police Department employee was fired for allegedly using the Flock system for personal reasons. After the incident, the ACCPD said that they would temporarily restrict Flock camera access to officers ranked lieutenant or higher.

Representative Gisler to host town hall on Flock Surveillance system In the wake of flock camera misuse in the ACCPD, Rep Gisler is hosting a community Q&A.

The Athens-Clarke County Commission is voting on a change to a street vendor ordinance next month and it’s causing quite the stir.

For decades, vendors have been able to sell food, merchandise and services on the streets of downtown Athens. The selling of hot dogs, pizzas, drinks and other goods died down during COVID, but has been steady in recent years.

The Athens Downtown Development Authority recommends that on-site cooking and on-site food preparation on the newly renovated College Square be eliminated.

ACC Commission to vote on change to downtown street food vendors The Athens-Clarke County Commission is voting on a change to a street vendor ordinance next month and it’s causing quite the stir.

On September 15, 2026, Georgia U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock released a video addressing the danger posed by AI.

Senator Warnock referenced AI-generated images that had recently been used for social media posts that falsely claimed that he was fighting cancer and another post that claimed he had experienced health issues while giving a speech.

While Senator Warnock conceded that AI is now a part of everyday life, he also claimed it poses a danger to democracy.

Alexzundra Tillman has more at WUGA.org.

Senator Warnock addresses AI-generated content created about himself A Georgia senator has addressed a page filled with AI-generated content about himself and calls out the dangers that content like it poses.