News Bites for Dec. 29...

• This month, Clark Howard and Cox Media Group news/talk WSB/WSBB-FM Atlanta (750/95.5) helped to fulfill the Christmas lists of 9,327 children in foster care in Georgia through the “Clark’s Christmas Kids” program, which raised over $1 million. For 35 years, “Clark’s Christmas Kids” has united the community in the spirit of giving. The initiative is a partnership between WSB, Clark.com, the Georgia Department of Human Services Division of Family & Children Services (DFCS), the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Georgia, and Walmart. Together, they work to ensure that every child in Georgia’s foster care system wakes up to gifts on Christmas morning. “Every fulfilled wish list represents our shared commitment to making the holidays brighter for children and youth in foster care,” said DHS Commissioner and DFCS Director Candice Broce. “Through the generosity of our partners, volunteers, and countless Georgians, we are able to bring joy to more than 9,300 children on Christmas morning. We extend our sincere gratitude to all who made Clark’s Christmas Kids 2025 possible.”

• Griffin Media Tulsa, OK, will swap the call letters of “Big Country 99.5” and “98.5 The Bull” on Monday, Jan. 5. “Big Country 99.5” takes on KVOO, while “98.5 The Bull” becomes KXBL. Additionally, “Big Country 99.5” will celebrate KVOO’s 100th anniversary in the new year. "It’s an incredible honor to help carry forward the legacy of KVOO — the first station to broadcast live from Cain’s Ballroom with Bob Wills & the Texas Playboys, the home of Country Music Hall of Famer Billy Parker, and the station that helped launch the careers of legends like [Oklahoma acts] Reba [McEntire], Garth [Brooks], Toby [Keith], Brooks & Dunn, Blake [Shelton], and so many more,” Griffin Media Director of Radio Operations and Programming Don Cristi said in a release. “Being part of this 100-year tradition is truly special.”

• NPR will broadcast the Vienna Philharmonic’s renowned New Year’s Day concert from Vienna’s Musikverein on Jan. 1, 2026, featuring conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin in his first appearance leading the ensemble for this annual tradition. Nézet-Séguin, who has performed with the Philharmonic nearly three dozen times since his 2010 debut, will guide a program that includes six works making their New Year’s debut with the orchestra, including compositions by two women. As always, the encores will include Johann Strauss Jr.’s The Blue Danube and Johann Strauss Sr.’s Radetzky March. NPR Music has distributed the complete broadcast to U.S. public radio stations since 2003, with 391 stations carrying last year’s concert. The NPR production team includes WBUR host Lisa Mullins (her 19th New Year’s Day broadcast), producer Brian Bell (28th), and engineer Andie Heuther, making her debut for the annual live classical event.