Augusta, GA
Night to Shine prom experience celebrates special needs teens in Augusta
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Night to Shine prom experience took place Friday night at Warren Baptist Church, celebrating special needs teens with a full prom experience.
The event served 200 honored guests with the help of more than 600 volunteers, according to Brandon Lewis, worship pastor at the church.
“It’s for anyone with special needs, those who are differently abled, but they just get to come and be celebrated,” Lewis said. “They get to come and it’s kind of like a prom. We have a dance that we have and it’s just a time where they have fun.”
Each honored guest was paired with a volunteer buddy who stayed with them throughout the evening. The buddies walked guests through the entire process and served as friends for the night.
“The buddy is a person assigned directly to the honored guest. They stay with them the whole night. They walk them through the whole process. They’re there if they need anything. And they’re just there as a friend throughout the night,” Lewis said.
The event included multiple activities for attendees. Guests received shoe shines, participated in dancing, and had access to makeup and hair services. The experience also featured a red carpet entrance and party bus rides.
“We get to do everything from shoe shine, have dance, they have makeup, hair, red carpet. There’s a party bus that they get to ride on. So all kinds of fun stuff,” Lewis said.
Lewis said his favorite part of the event was the red carpet entrance, where guests walked through doors to find 200 people cheering for them with music playing.
“It’s just being able to get to see people’s face when that door flings open. There’s 200 people screaming for them, music’s pumping, and they just get to walk down and be special,” Lewis said.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Local protestors made their voices heard after Israel and the U.S. announced strikes on Iran Saturday, ones that killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, reports say.
Protesters lined 13th Street in Downtown Augusta and walked across the river to North Augusta to make sure as many people as possible heard them.
50501 CSRA already had a march planned for Saturday, but in light of the strikes on Iran, decided to expand its focus.
Local leaders spoke about their concerns for the strikes, and roughly 60 people showed up to share theirs as well.
One of the event organizers said to make your voice heard your voice heard.
“Just call your people, call your representatives, if you don’t like that Iran was bombed, I don’t either. But call people and let them know, email them. Let it be relentless. Congress did not approve this. They have a say in this,” Zee Cook said.
The strike is being called “Operation Epic Fury,” with Iran responding with multiple missile and drone strikes across the Middle East.
In a social media post, President Trump said the bombing of the country will continue “as long as necessary.”
People across the world began lining the streets as well in support and against the decision.
Leaders across the world reacted to the news, including those in Georgia and South Carolina.
There’s a protest planned in Charleston and other regional cities this week.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The city of Augusta announced a temporary closure of New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam Park.
Closure of the park at 2105 Lock and Dam Road will allow the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to repair the lock and dam structure.
The park will be closed from March 4 to April 7.
All areas of the park will be closed.
However, the Baurle Boat Ramp will remain open and accessible to the public for fishing and boating activities.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Augusta 911 center has been named 2025 Communications Center of the Year at the Georgia Emergency Communications Conference in Athens.
The award recognizes excellence in public safety communications, innovation, leadership and service.
The award recognizes a center that demonstrates strong performance in emergency response coordination, training, technology and community engagement.
The Augusta center was selected among agencies statewide for its consistent service, professional standards and coordination with public safety partners.
“This recognition reflects the work our team does every single day,” said Daniel R. Dunlap, 911 director. “Our communications officers are the first point of contact during some of the most difficult moments in a person’s life. They provide reassurance, direction and critical coordination until help arrives. I am incredibly proud of the dedication and strength they show.”
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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