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.
NJ apartment dwellers, renters have these options for help with rent
State and local officials say several programs are designed to help low and moderate-income households stay housed in the face of financial distress.
As rent prices continue to strain budgets, a new study is highlighting where Georgians can save the most by splitting housing costs.
According to a report from SmartAsset, some cities in Georgia offer major savings for renters who choose to live with a roommate.
Here’s what to know.
Where can you save the most in Georgia?
The study ranks Augusta as the top city in Georgia for roommate savings, and No. 6 in the country.
Renters there can save about 45% on monthly rent, or roughly $450 per month, by sharing an apartment.
Here’s how the costs compare in Augusta:
- One-bedroom rent: $1,000
- Two-bedroom rent: $1,100
- Estimated monthly savings with a roommate: $450
Why are roommate savings so high?
With rent prices rising, splitting costs has become one of the easiest ways to cut monthly expenses.
The study shows that sharing rent can significantly reduce housing costs, especially in cities where prices have climbed in recent years.
How does Georgia compare to the rest of the country?
Here’s the top 10 cities in the US for saving with a roomate:
- Cleveland, OH
- Baton Rouge, LA
- Jersey City, NJ
- Memphis, TN
- Boise, ID
- Augusta, GA
- New Haven, CT
- Chattanooga, TN
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Shreveport, LA
Methodology
The study analyzed 100 U.S. cities using rental data from March 2025 to March 2026 from Zumper, comparing one-bedroom rents to half the cost of two-bedroom apartments to estimate savings from sharing with a roommate.
For more information, visit smartasset.com/data-studies/roommate-savings-2026.
Vanessa Johns is the Trending Topics Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team Georgia. Email her at Vcountryman@gannett.com.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Families had the chance to sharpen their money skills at a financial literacy event hosted by local nonprofit Crown Her Mentoring at the Bernie Ward Community Center.
The free event offered resources for all ages, from kids learning the basics to adults planning for their financial future.
Attendees could sit in sessions about budgeting, credit, opening banking accounts and insurance options.
Organizers said the event was designed to make financial education accessible during Financial Literacy Month.
“People need to understand the importance of a checking account, a savings account—how to manage your money. How to invest your money. People need to learn about life insurance,” said Torrecka Davis, organizer.
Crown Her Mentoring will host a mental health awareness event on May 23. Open enrollment for new mentees will begin on May 10.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Shoppers in Augusta will soon lose a longtime retail option, as Lane Bryant’s store inside Augusta Mall is set to close for good this weekend.
Employees at Lane Bryant inside Augusta Mall confirmed that the store will permanently close starting Sunday, April 19.
After the closure, the nearest Lane Bryant location for customers will be in Lexington.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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