Augusta, GA
Pride organizers work to keep public safe during weekend activities
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – June is Pride Month, and Augusta’s celebrations are some of the largest in the Peach State.
Last year, a record 16,000 people came to Pride to celebrate.
We were live in downtown Augusta where Beats on Broad held its hours-long music party at the Augusta Common.
With so many people expected to turn out this weekend, public safety is top of mind.
It’s a time to recognize everyone in the CSRA.
“We’ve grown and grown every year. And we’re hoping that we have at least 15 to 16,000 people show up in the next two days,” said Augusta Pride Secretary James Mintz.
It’s a weekend Mintz says you can come as you are with no fear.
He says organizers took great lengths to try and make that a reality.
“We utilize Richmond County Sheriff’s Department to do our security. And we’re very happy with the announcement that there are more patrols in downtown Augusta to just try and give people more a sense of safety and crime is down in general nationwide. So, there’s no reason why you can’t come out to the Augusta common tonight and tomorrow and celebrate,” he said.
It’s an atmosphere vendors say they are willing to take the extra effort to maintain.
“We’ll keep an eye out for everybody’s boots. Like our young lady over here. She had to walk away. We’re gonna watch out for everybody to make sure there’s no crime going on. And if so, we know who to report it to,” said vendor Kirby Eckleberry.
Organizers say it’s a bright weekend of festivities to look forward to.
“A hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, drink plenty of fluids. Several booths will be offering free water and just come check out each booth that’s available here because we think that there’s some good resources here,” said Mintz.
The festivities don’t stop after Friday night, the parade and festival will be happening tomorrow on Saturday.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Richmond County deputies are looking for a subject wanted for questioning in an armed robbery.
Deputies say the robbery happened at ET Food Store, 501 East Boundary Street, on May 21.
The subject was armed with a knife and is believed to be armed and dangerous, according to deputies.
According to the incident report, an employee of the store was attempting to close the store when the subject entered, wearing a black mask, black shirt, black gloves and dark pants.
The subject then pushed his way behind the counter, attempting to open the register, according to the report.
The report states the subject took an unknown amount of money and fled the scene.
If anyone has any information, contact the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office at 706-821-1020 or 706-821-1080.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
Five Augusta Women’s Tennis Players Honored on PBC All-Academic Team – Augusta University
AUGUSTA, GA — The Peach Belt Conference has revealed the 2026 Women’s Tennis All-Academic Team, previously known as the Team of Academic Distinction. Maria Gento, Andrea Gonzalez, Julieta Palma, Giovana Patrocino, and Camila Taborga from Augusta women’s tennis earned spots on the team. The teams are part of the PBC’s larger initiative to celebrate the academic achievements of PBC student-athletes.
In order to be eligible for the PBC All-Academic Team, student-athletes must meet the following requirements:
1) Participate in at least half of his/her team’s events and be either a starter or significant contributor
2) Achieved a 3.50 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) and
3) Student-Athletes must be at least a sophomore academically and athletically
Transfer students are immediately eligible once they meet the above requirements. The Peach Belt Conference sports communications professionals oversee the program.
| PBC WOMEN’S TENNIS ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NAME | INSTITUTION | YEAR | HOMETOWN | GPA | MAJOR (MINOR) |
| Maria Gento Sanchez | Augusta | Junior | Santander, Spain | 3.90 | Biology |
| Andrea Gonzalez Sanchez | Augusta | Junior | Saltillo, Mexico | 3.90 | Business Administration- Supply Chain Management |
| Julieta Palma | Augusta | Junior | Cordoba, Argentina | 3.75 | Business Administration-Finance |
| Giovanna Piedemonte Patrocino | Augusta | Junior | Sao Paulo, Brazil | 3.56 | Psychology |
| Camila Taborga | Augusta | Junior | La Paz, Bolivia | 3.52 | Psychology |
| Sofia Lauretti | Columbus State | Redshirt Sophomore | Roma, Italy | 4.00 | Marketing |
| Maria Markosov | Columbus State | Junior | Bradenton, Fla. | 3.78 | Biology |
| Laura Pesickova | Columbus State | Senior | Milevsko, Czezh Republic | 3.75 | International Business |
| Monika Temkova | Columbus State | Junior | Skopje, Macedonia | 3.78 | Psychology |
| Eryka Kruk | Flagler | Senior | Minsk, Belarus | 3.83 | Business |
| Ornella Lomenzo | Flagler | Sophomore | Brussels, Belgium | 3.64 | Business |
| Elena Ondobo | Flagler | Sophomore | Brussels, Belgium | 3.85 | Business |
| Laura Almagro | GCSU | Senior | Marbella, Spain | 3.57 | Exercise Science |
| Rachel Black | GCSU | Sophomore | Valdosta, Ga. | 3.80 | Biology (Business Administration) |
| Natalie Kirka | GCSU | Sophomore | Marietta, Ga. | 3.76 | Mathematics (Business Administration) |
| Mabry Bowron | Georgia Southwestern | Sophomore | Cumming, Ga. | 3.66 | Psychology |
| EmmaRae Smith | Georgia Southwestern | Sophomore | Thomasville, Ga. | 4.00 | Psychology |
| Evelyn Altmaier | Lander | Senior | Kempen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany | 4.00 | Business Administration |
| Thilda Danielsson | Lander | Sophomore | Ahus, Sweden | 4,00 | Business Administration |
| Bailee Martin | Lander | Senior | Perth, Australia | 3.77 | Business Administration |
| Maria Jose Zarza | Lander | Junior | Asuncion, Paraquay | 3.83 | Business Administration |
| Ainhoa Meili Fernandez del Moral | Middle Georgia | Senior | Bilbao, Spain | 3.74 | Sport Management |
| Irina Furtuna | Middle Georgia | Junior | Rome, Italy | 3.50 | Psychology |
| Lucile Gence | Middle Georgia | Sophomore | Paris, France | 3.62 | Business Administration |
| Agustina Olivero | Middle Georgia | Senior | Montevideo, Uruguay | 3.90 | Mathematics |
| Victoria Niox-Chateau | North Georgia | Junior | Boulogne-Billancourt, France | 3.88 | Management |
| Anastasiia Opolska | North Georgia | Senior | Stebnyk, Ukraine | 3.73 | Marketing |
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Two former guards at Augusta State Medical Prison have been found not guilty in connection with the death of an inmate.
A two-count federal indictment unsealed in August 2025 charged Robert Roberson and Marcus Phillips violating the constitutional rights of an inmate by showing deliberate indifference to a substantial risk of harm to an inmate, resulting in his death.
The indictment alleges that on Oct. 28, 2020, Roberson and Phillips became aware of a smoldering fire in an inmate’s cell.
Rather than extinguish the fire, evacuate the inmate from his cell, remediate the smoke from the cell or call a fire emergency over the radio, they willfully disregarded the substantial risk of serious harm to the inmate by leaving him in his locked cell for several hours while he slowly died from smoke inhalation, according to the indictment.
Roberson was also acquitted of a charge of falsifying a logbook to cover up misconduct.
Inmate deaths aren’t unheard of at the prison. Among the deaths there:
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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