WOUB Public Media

06/05/2026

The Nelsonville Music Festival celebrates its 20th edition this year, returning to the Snow Fork Event Center from June 18 to 20.

What began in 2005 as a fundraiser for Stuart's Opera House has grown into a nationally recognized event.

This year's lineup spans four stages and dozens of artists, including Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, Geese, Marcus King Band, Fruit Bats and Big Freedia.

WOUB's Emily Votaw sat down with Tim Peacock and Devin Sudman to talk about the festival's two-decade arc and the work behind it.

Peacock founded the festival in 2005 while serving as executive director of Stuart's, and he now serves as artistic director for both the festival and the opera house. Sudman steps into his first festival this year as executive director of Stuart's, after years leading the organization's education programs.

In the conversation, both reflect on how the festival has become an annual reunion for the volunteers, artists and fans who return to it each summer.

They also discuss why accessibility and equity in the arts matter in rural Ohio, and how those values shape the festival and Stuart's year-round programming.

The festival remains a fundraiser for Stuart's Opera House, supporting tuition-free arts education and more than 75 events a year.

Read the full Q&A, or listen to it, at this link.

Tim Peacock and Devin Sudman on 20 years of the Nelsonville Music Festival, the power of access in the arts and why it all still matters.

05/15/2026

WOUB PAWS FOR A CAUSE IS HERE!

We’re celebrating the pets that bring us joy—and we want to celebrate yours!

During Paws for a Cause, support WOUB Public Media and share your furry (or feathered, or scaly!) friends with us.

Here’s how to participate:

Call 1-877-845-9600 to make your pledge and tell our phone operators about your pet. We’ll give your pet a shoutout on the air!

And join the fun right here in the comments! Post a photo of your pet below so we can all enjoy them together.

Because just like your pet is always there for you, WOUB is here for you every day.

Thank you for supporting WOUB—and for sharing the pets that make life better.

05/07/2026

05/06/2026

The city of Athens’ proposed income tax increase appears to have passed by a slim margin in Tuesday’s election, but that could change.

As of Tuesday night when the votes were counted, the proposed two-tenths of a percent increase was ahead by eight votes.

However, there are 46 provisional city ballots remaining, some or all of which could be counted. The county board of elections will meet next Wednesday to decide which ones to count. And then it will be the following Wednesday before those ballots are actually counted. That’s how the process works.

Ballots are deemed provisional when there is some kind of issue that prevents them from being counted on Election Day.

These ballots get set aside and the elections board reviews the reason why for each ballot and makes its decision. The board members do not see the ballots, which remain sealed, so they don’t know how the person voted when they make their decisions, said Tony Brooks, director of the elections board.

It’s also possible, if the margin of victory or loss is small enough, there could be a recount. This is required when the margin is within one-half of 1% of the votes cast.

The city of Athens’ proposed income tax increase appears to have passed by a slim margin in Tuesday’s election, but that could change.

05/06/2026

The Republican races on Tuesday’s primary ballot included a landslide for governor, an easy win for a statewide officeholder seeking another statewide job, a multi candidate supreme court race and a contest for treasurer that were very close. Meanwhile, the two Democratic primaries ended with less dramatic results.

Treasurer Robert Sprague also scored an easy win for the nomination for secretary of state, beating Marcell Strbich by a 3-1 margin.
“This was never about the main primary,” Sprague told reporters Tuesday night. “It really is about the November election. It’s about keeping our elections secure. It’s about the future of our republic and making sure that people can trust the election system in the state of Ohio.”

In the four-way race for Ohio Supreme Court, former Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Colleen O’Donnell pulled out a win with 32% of the vote.

The most competitive statewide contest of the night may have been for the GOP nomination for treasurer, with former Rep. Jay Edwards, who was endorsed by Vice President JD Vance and U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno, barely getting by Sen. Kristina Roegner, who was backed by Ramaswamy.

On the Democratic side, Columbus attorney John Kulewicz easily defeated his opponent, former lawmaker Elliott Forhan, in the race for attorney general. Kulewicz said he thinks the office needs to focus more on consumer protection issues, and he wants to take the politics out of the AG’s office.

“The law is neither red or blue. It is black and white for the most part and just calling the shots independently,” Kulewicz said in an interview. “It’s what I’ve done for over 40 years as a lawyer everyday.”

One of the races that many thought might be close wasn’t really in the end. Former Ohio House Minority Leader Rep. Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) beat Cincinnati cancer Dr. Bryan Hambley by nearly a two-to-one margin. Russo, who had been criticized for voting for a redrawn district map last year that many Democrats opposed, said she thinks the issue should be taken back to voters for a constitutional change.

“This time, they are going to have a secretary of state that will actually give these ballot initiatives a fair shot and will not put my thumb on the scale to confuse voters,” Russo said in an interview.

The most competitive statewide primary contest may have been for the GOP nomination for treasurer.

04/22/2026

"River of Words" returns with host Wendy McVicker in conversation with City of Athens Poet Laureate Becca J. R. Lachman .

Lachman opens the episode by reading “Late to the Table,” a poem that uses the making of soup to explore grief, healing, and readiness for a new decade.

She discusses poetry as a practice of slowing down and paying attention in a world that often asks people to hurry past feeling and reflection.

Lachman says poetry can help push back against isolation and division by giving people language for experiences they may struggle to name.

She also shares how living with chronic illness has shaped her writing and how poetry has helped her persist through difficult seasons.

The conversation highlights her two-year poet laureate term and its focus on “poetry and the body.”

Lachman describes free community workshops centered on themes such as caregiving, creativity, and writing without pressure.

She also discusses seasonal “submission parties,” where writers gather to prepare work for journals, contests, and other opportunities.

Later in the program, Lachman reads “The Root Together,” a poem reflecting on motherhood, public violence, and the search for safety and compassion.

Lachman also touches on upcoming community-centered poetry oriented events happening this spring.

In this episode of "River of Words", poet and host Wendy McVicker interviews City of Athens Poet Laureate Becca J.R. Lachman.

04/22/2026

Michigan band The Crane Wives recently visited Athens, Ohio, to launch the first leg of their 2026 tour.

The group appeared as keynote performers at the Ohio University Music Industry Summit before taking the stage later that evening.

Known for blending indie-folk textures with rock energy, The Crane Wives have built a devoted following through rich harmonies and emotionally resonant songwriting.

Before their performance, the band stopped by Studio B for an in-person conversation with WOUB’s Nicholas Kobe.

During the interview, members discussed how their sound has evolved from an earlier folk-centered approach into something louder and more expansive.

They also reflected on the growing audience that has embraced their music in recent years.

The band spoke about the success of their 2024 release "Beyond, Beyond, Beyond" and the new opportunities that followed.

Members also shared insight into the visual identity of the band and the collaborative work behind their current tour presentation.

Looking ahead, they discussed solo projects and plans to begin work on a new album.

The Crane Wives discuss their evolving sound, viral rise, growing fanbase, and 2026 Athens tour launch with WOUB’s Nicholas Kobe.

04/09/2026

You made yesterday's so successful, raised $40,353 for the student experience at WOUB and helped us smash our goal of 70 donors.

Thank you Suresh and Catherine Anbil for your incredible commitment of $25,000 in support of WOUB Center for Public Media with gift unlocks throughout the day.

Thank you Tom McKee for your thoughtful $2,500 in challenge money for the Charles and Lucille King Family Foundation WOUB Internship Fund which honors the memory of Jan and Olivia Sole.

Thank you Paul Miller ’71 for your generous 1:1 matching gift to the Charles and Lucille King Family Foundation WOUB Internship Fund which honors the memory of Jan and Olivia Sole.

And thank YOU for helping keep public media in southeast Ohio and ensuring the next generation of trusted storytellers and media leaders has the opportunity and the support to succeed.

You can continue to support WOUB throughout the year here: https://donate.woub.org/woub/donate

04/09/2026

🎉 🎉 🎉 Thank you!🎉 🎉 🎉

Your generous donations have put us past our 70 donor goal with time to spare.

https://bit.ly/WOUBGivingDay2026

You've raised $39,405 to support the student experience at WOUB, provide future media leaders the opportunity to succeed today and to keep public media in southeast Ohio.

There's still time to make an impact before the end of the day. We still have matching funds for donors to the Charles and Lucille King Family Foundation WOUB Internship Fund (in Memory of Jan and Olivia Sole).