AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – John Ryan, the coordinator for the Office of Critical Event Preparedness & Response at Augusta University, was awarded the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Director’s Community Leadership Award on Thursday, July 2, 2026.

Ryan was recognized for his work with the #StrongAugusta initiative. It started six years ago as a way to train law enforcement agencies how to respond to active shooter situations.

“What we’re doing as for as fostering a community safety initiative which is really at the highest level of what “Strong Augusta” is, is a community safety effort and what it means is it’s not falling on deaf ears,” Ryan said.

The FBI said the award recognizes people who go above and beyond to support the community to encourage safety.

“It highlights people in the community that go above and beyond to support their community in a leadership role to try to enhance education, crime prevention, social justice,” said Brian A. Osden, an assistant special agent in charge at the FBI’s Atlanta division.

Photojournalist credit: Gary Hipps

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta city leaders are inviting the community to review and provide feedback on the Draft Data Center Ordinance.

The draft ordinance is part of an ongoing review process led by Augusta Planning & Development to update local regulations and ensure they better reflect the needs, priorities and long-term growth of the community.

The draft has not been approved or finalized, officials say.

Public meetings will be held at the following dates and times:

• July 6 at 3 p.m.
• July 14 at 1 p.m.
• July 21 at 2 p.m.

All meetings will be located at the Augusta Municipal Building, 535 Telfair Street, in room 291 on the second floor.

“This process is part of Augusta, Georgia Government’s continued commitment to transparency, community engagement and responsible planning,” said Director Adleasia Cameron.

Feedback received during the review period will help inform the next steps in the ordinance review process before the item is presented for consideration by the governing body.

Community members will also be able to review the draft document and submit comments online.

In June, Augusta commissioners imposed a 49-day pause on new data centers. But it didn’t apply to the QTS data center.

Many Haynes Station residents were surprised when groundwork started on the site of the data center along Gordon Highway. Then they found it was an expanded version of a data center that had been approved before their homes were even built.

“ My concern is not simply whether a data center can be built, but it is whether we have enough information to determine it can be built responsibly and sustainably, and whether the public will have meaningful ways to verify that the commitments being made today are honored in the future,” said Suzettra Walker.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – The 2026 Arts in the Heart of Augusta Festival will take place September 18-20 at the Augusta Exchange Club Fairgrounds this year, while construction continues on Broad Street.

This year’s theme is “One Big Festival to Support One Small Non-Profit.”

Festival badges will go on sale in mid-July and will be available for purchase at:

• All Richmond County Tag Offices
• Augusta & Co.
• Sacred Heart Cultural Center
• 4P Studios
• The Treehouse
• Relic Coffee

Additional badge sale locations, entertainment schedules, and festival programming are expected to be announced throughout the summer.

“We are incredibly excited about this year’s festival,” said Denise Tucker, Executive Director of the Greater Augusta Arts Council. “Although we’re in a new location, our mission remains the same. We’re creating a beautiful, welcoming, and inspiring festival experience while raising the funds that allow us to serve the arts year-round.”