Atlanta public media leader WABE is revamping its radio schedule “to better serve and engage Atlanta’s audience with more voices, perspectives, and locally-focused content.”

What does mean for NPR Member WABE-FM 90.1?

Station management says it is “enhancing its lineup across all dayparts with optimized scheduling and compelling new shows,” adding that the updates “underscore WABE’s commitment to delivering the best national and Atlanta-focused programming and experiences across multiple platforms.”

WABE President/CEO Jennifer Dorian explains, “These changes allow us to live up to our promise of ‘Amplifying Atlanta’ by curating a unique mix of local stories and voices that capture the vibrant arts, culture, and community narratives you can’t find elsewhere. It’s public media reimagined to be a distinctive voice for our dynamic city.”

In particular, WABE-FM is adding 10 new programs, “bringing more perspectives on themes like world news, business/economy, science/health, and society/culture.”

The changes take place on July 29, with the 10am-2pm time slot “reimagined.”

This sees “On Point” at 11 a.m., “Closer Look With Rose Scott” at noon, and “City Lights With Lois Reitzes” at 1 p.m., leading into “Fresh Air” at 2 p.m. on weekdays.

Long-running international news magazine “The World” debuts on weeknights at 7 p.m. The evening rebroadcasts of “Closer Look” and “City Lights” move to 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., respectively.

Friday afternoons on WABE-FM will now focus on health and science programming, starting with the debut of “Health Wanted with Laurel Bristow” at 1 p.m. The new weekly show exploring developments in public health is produced by WABE in partnership with the Rollins School of Public Health. Following Health Wanted is “Science Friday,” at 2 p.m.

Weekends on WABE are expanding with programs such as “Throughline” (Saturday, 1 p.m.), “No Small Endeavor” (Sunday, 7 a.m.), and a “Planet Money/How I Built This” block (Sunday, 11 a.m.), before the live call-in program “Notes From America” debuts at 6 p.m. Sundays.

In addition, WABE Studios has been building a slate of original podcast content, with more than 25 shows in development and production for the WABE/NPR Podcast Network.

Atlanta United midfielder Thiago Almada is finalizing a move to Brazilian club Botafogo after two and a half seasons in Major League Soccer.

According to a league source with knowledge of the negotiations, Atlanta will receive an MLS-record $21million for Almada. The deal could potentially reach up to $30m in total value if conditions for additional payments are met.

The 23-year-old Argentine joined Atlanta from Velez Sarsfield in 2022 for a reported fee of $16m. He won the MLS Newcomer of the Year award and he also became the first player to win the World Cup as an active MLS player that year.

Almada scored Atlanta’s first goal in a 2-1 win over Toronto FC on Saturday. After the match, he acknowledged that it could be his last for Atlanta, saying, “There have been many rumors, some of which are true, but there is nothing official. I can’t confirm anything without getting ahead of the club. I have a lot of respect for the institution that I’m at and probably yes, but I’m waiting for it to be announced officially.”

He added: “ Scoring a goal at home and with a win is a happy ending. Though the one thing I didn’t do was win a title here, but I think that I tried to do my best and give everything for the club.”

Almada scored 24 goals in 81 appearances across all competitions for Atlanta. He was also named MLS Young Player of the Year in 2023.

“I think I grew a lot (with Atlanta),” Almada said. “There’s a reason why I was called up to the World Cup and I was on the Argentine national team’s radar. I think it was a very important step from Velez to Atlanta.”

(Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — This offseason, the Atlanta Falcons reopened the door to their 2020 team by hiring head coach Raheem Morris – but running back Todd Gurley won’t be joining in the reunion.

Gurley, who starred collegiately at the University of Georgia from 2012-14 before becoming a top-10 pick by the Los Angeles Rams in 2015, enjoyed a strong professional career that includes three All-Pro nods and the NFL Offensive Player of the Year award in 2017.

After being released by the Rams following the 2019 season, Gurley signed a one-year contract with the Falcons for what ultimately proved to be his final professional campaign.

Gurley led Atlanta in rushing in 2020, taking 195 carries for 678 yards and nine touchdowns while adding 25 catches for 164 yards through the air.

But the Falcons struggled, as an 0-5 start led to the firing of head coach Dan Quinn and the promotion of Morris, then the defensive coordinator, to interim head coach. There were also strict, league-issued guidelines amidst concerns of the COVID-19 pandemic, which altered the season’s atmosphere.

Atlanta finished the season 4-7 under Morris’s guide and 4-12 overall – and Gurley, in a recent appearance on the 25/10 Show hosted by ex-NFL players LeSean McCoy and DeSean Jackson, didn’t hold back on his feelings about the year.

“I kind of had to see what they were talking about for real, because I played at Georgia,” Gurley said. “So, that one happened. And I was like, the season was sorry.”

Gurley’s 2020 season marked career lows in touches (220) and yards from scrimmage (842) while he faced questions surrounding the long-term health of his knee, which featured an “arthritic component” due to an ACL tear in college.

After completing his sixth professional campaign, Gurley reflected on his life state. He felt his resume had enough substance, and perhaps more importantly, he felt internally fulfilled.

“It was like, ‘Alright bro, I live in L.A. I’m chilling. I’ve [done] everything,’” Gurley said. “Of course, I would love to have a ring and stuff like that. But I went to a Super Bowl, lost. I wasn’t really tripping. I don’t know, I feel like I did a lot of stuff that I never would’ve thought I would’ve ever did.

“And just having fun, playing football, living out a lot of people’s dreams – that type of vibe.”

Gurley said he received an offer to play for the Baltimore Ravens, his childhood favorite time, during the 2021 season but took a broader perspective and decided he was content residing in Los Angeles.

The now-29-year-old Gurley hasn’t played a snap since the 2020 campaign closed. He hasn’t officially retired, but he’s expressed no interest in returning.

And even if the right offer comes to end in a place than “sorry,” he feels at peace with his playing career and current place in life.

“It really came down to, it didn’t really matter if I scored 10 more touchdowns or if I scored zero,” Gurley said. “It wasn’t going to satisfy me no more, for real.”