AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta leaders approved a 2026 budget that cuts all discretionary funding for nonprofits, including MACH Academy, which received $200,000 from the city last year.

The nonprofit gives children opportunities to develop social skills and tennis abilities. MACH Academy has operated in Augusta since 1992.

The loss of discretionary funding will force changes at MACH Academy, but the organization plans to continue its mission.

“So it may be that our hours may be changing,” said Helen Thomas-Pope, MACH Academy operations manager. “It may be that, looking at some of the supplies and things that we provide, that may have to change.”

Thomas-Pope said the organization’s mission will remain the same despite the budget cuts.

“As our tagline says, change lives,” Thomas-Pope said.

Parents, students praise program impact

Parents described MACH Academy as essential to their families and community.

“MACH Academy to me is a place of hope,” said Danielle Davidson, a parent.

Milissa Burch, another parent, said the academy provides crucial community support.

“You know, you always hear you need a village as a parent to raise your kids, and you come here, and you’re like, I want these people in my village,” Burch said.

Laquonna Peters said the program has helped her children develop socially and educationally.

“They’re starting to blossom again, my children and with the social interacting and the educational piece,” Peters said. “It’s just a blessing.”

Students at the academy described learning tennis skills and life lessons.

“I think it’s a place where you learn and play tennis and whenever you mess up, coaches will tell you where it’s wrong,” said student Sona.

Another student, Zeke, said the program helps him manage energy while learning to be a better person.

MACH Academy is one of several nonprofits facing cuts in Augusta’s new budget. Other organizations and departments also face funding reductions.

Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan hosted a community conversation in Augusta on Friday.

The event at the HUB for Community Innovation was the final stop of a statewide tour highlighting his fight to bring down housing costs.

Duncan heard from local experts in the housing space and discussed how he says he can expand these efforts and lower costs for families as governor.

Duncan is running as a Democrat, but was a Republican when he served as lieutenant governor.

The former professional baseball player is a fierce opponent of Republican President Donald Trump.

Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Richmond County School Board’s recommendation to close three schools and build a new college and career academy has drawn reaction from across the community.

The board announced its recommendation on Tuesday to close Jenkins White Elementary and transition the T.W. Josey High and Murphy Middle school site into a college and career academy.

Board member Monique Braswell, speaking as an individual and not on behalf of the board, said she opposes the plan despite acknowledging that that schools need to close due to low attendance.

“I will go on to see glory and I will still never accept it. I will never accept the fact that we are displacing children. I will never accept the fact that if T.W. Josey goes away,” Braswell said. “I will take that to the grave with me.”

Braswell said the district needs to examine underlying causes before making changes.

“We need to figure out why the kids are not going to here, there, and there,” she said. “And we need to take the communities and all the alumni along with us on this ride.”

Sheffie Robinson, president of the T.W. Josey High School Alumni Association, said the proposed changes would disrupt an already affected community. According to the presentation, students would be redistributed to Butler, Laney and Richmond Academy.

“So it’s like you disrupt a community that was built around this that has already had significant disruption over the last 30 years,” Robinson said.

Under the recommendation, the Josey-Murphy site would close and construction of the college and career academy would start after this school year. Jenkins White Elementary School would also close.

Barton Chapel would be demolished, with a new building constructed for fall 2028.

Michael Thurman, who has three children in Richmond County Schools, questioned the district’s financial management.

“They really need to do a better job of being stewards of our money when they keep building left and right, school after school after school, and tearing down the others,” Thurman said.

Thurman said the district’s past spending raises concerns about the current plan.

“They definitely need to also take in mind that you’re just really wasting a lot of money building these buildings,” he said.

The district said alumni and community members will have opportunities to voice their opinions before the board votes. Public meetings are planned for January.

Braswell emphasized the importance of community engagement in the process.

“The public has to be more engaged. I don’t care if people push you away. You just have to stay engaged as the public,” she said.

Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.