Going back to the mid 1960's, Duke and Emory University have the longest-running physician assistant programs in the nation. As of this week, Berry College in Rome, GA., has the newest. Answering a need for a critical shortage of medical professionals in Georgia, Berry College has launched its own Physician Associate program. Classes began on Aug. 25 for the 28 initial graduate students in the two-year program that will eventually graduate 40 new PA's each year. You will hear from student Kirsten Powell, PA Program Director Victoria Galloway, Berry College Medical Director Dr. Ryan Stanger, and Berry College Provost Dr, David F. Slade on what it took the build the new program from scratch and the excellence they expect from their future graduates. By the way, in this context, "physician assistant" and "physician associate" are interchangeable.

The 70th Anniversary of Waffle House is coming up on Labor Day. Waffle House Archivist and Museum Curator Julia Buschman dishes to Scott about the origin of the company, the amazing amount of food they serve every year, and the training cooks and servers must

go through to be able to do what they do. 97% of their two-thousand stores are company owned, and even top executives are expected to pull shifts in a restaurant to stay in closer touch to customers and associates. Can you name their most popular menu Item? Plus, Waffle House will announce a special 70th anniversary waffle flavor on August 24.

This week, Scott's speaking to Georgia State Senator Blake Tillery of Vidalia. He chairs a Special Senate Committee looking at how the state could eliminate the income tax. Lawmakers have been whittling away at the income tax rate; Senator Tillery says it's time to do away with it completely and he says his committee will focus on how other states have done it-nine have up until now-and how quickly Georgia could do it. The first special committee meeting is August 19, 10:00 AM at the state capitol.

This week, Scott's speaking with the Kaiser Family Foundation's Robin Rudowitz and Georgia Healthcare Association President and CEO Chris Downing. The impact on Georgia Medicaid

could be in the billions. But nursing homes and other long term care facilities get a break, thanks to an extended timeline rolling out the act's provisions, and thanks to a deal on the final version of the bill, Medicaid reimbursements to long term care are minimally affected, if at all. Of course, things could change, and other healthcare cuts could trickle down to long term care, But for now, Downing says he is optimistic—people are not going to be kicked out on the street nor will nursing homes be closing anytime soon.

This week, Scott's speaking with filmmaker Luke Pilgrim about his docuseries "Unknown Ellijay," where locals speak about their encounters with the paranormal in the North Georgia mountains. The docuseries was commissioned by the Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce's "Pick Ellijay" campaign to encourage visitors to come see the sites of these encounters themselves and perhaps form their own experiences. Who knew there was a vibrant market for Paranormal Tourism! Search YouTube for "Unknown Ellijay" to see the series. www.sozobearfilms.com

Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center Director Dr. Doug Graham talks to Scott Slade about what excites him about the coming year. Your donations have made a huge difference advancing treatments and cures for these great children and their brilliant caregivers. Thank you! wsbradio.com/careathon

This week, Scott's speaking with Neighborhood Meals and Wheels coordinator Jenny Allen and her husband Chuck on how they are working to fill a deep gap in services for Georgia seniors, who either through preference or economic necessity, prefer to age at home. neighorboodmealsonwheels.org and www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org

This week, Scott's speaking with Dr. Lewis Bartlett, University of Georgia Assistant Professor in the Department of Entomology and program leadership for the UGA Bee Program. Following up on the colony of so-called "killer bees" found in Barbour County Alabama, just across the Georgia border about 85 miles west of Albany. Dr. Bartlett talks about where and how these bees originated, what makes them more dangerous, and what Georgia beekeepers are doing to limit their spread. By the way, Georgia once led the nation in keeping bees; we are still in the top three behind Texas and California.

What stands out to Scott Slade among the dozens of new state laws taking effect on July 1. From a lower income tax rate and a new budget that includes major investments in prisons, healthcare and education, to designating an official state stew and legalizing what can be called "terramation."

This week, Scott's speaking with AJC environment writer Drew Kann about the historic Conservation Fund purchase of eight-thousand acres on the eastern edge of the Okefenokee Swamp. The Alabama-based Twin Pines Minerals company had been working for years to obtain permits necessary to mine titanium from the sandy Trail Ridge area. Twin Pines had promised its mine would protect the swamp, but conservationists feared mining could irreparably damage the swamp, thus endangering North America's largest black water swamp. The Okefenokee could be named soon as a UNESCO World Heritage site, joining the likes of the Great Barrier Reef and Machu Picchu. The $60 million Conservation Fund purchase halts this mining effort, but others could follow. Tens of thousands of acres of privately owned near the Okefenokee could be attractive for future development.