AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Downtown Augusta construction continues to impact businesses as work speeds up, with most of the activity centered around Broad Street.

Construction crews are working in the heat as they prepare to work on 6th and 5th streets later this month. Leaders expect construction to finish in December 2026.

But the World Cup could provide relief for businesses struggling with the construction impacts.

World Cup draws crowds downtown

A United States World Cup goal brought cheers from soccer fans gathered in downtown Augusta.

“It’s something I’ve been in love with since I was a kid,” said Sean Brandes, a soccer fan.

Brandes and Dean Meyer founded Augusta’s Premier League Supporters Club.

“Supporting the sport we love so much,” Meyer said.

David Jones was celebrating his World Cup run at the same venue. Jones coaches the U.S. Men’s Senior National Team and just returned from coaching the national over-40 team to third place in the Senior World Cup.

Local bar fosters soccer community

On Broad Street, Shawn Moseley opened Emil’s to foster the city’s small but passionate soccer community.

“Running the bar you see every day I have a Liverpool shirt on and someone’s like ‘oh.’ Or we have a match on, and they’re like ‘oh,’” Moseley said.

Moseley said the community makes Emil’s special. He hopes it grows with soccer on the nation’s main stage.

“You find a group, and you’re like, ‘Oh my friend Tony’s a Liverpool supporter,’ and next thing you know, you’ve got 30 people on an email list for a small bar in downtown Augusta,” Moseley said.

The bar serves as a gathering place for soccer fans across the area as the World Cup returns to American soil.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – An overturned tractor-trailer caused traffic delays on Interstate 20 near Jimmie Dyess Parkway.

According to the Georgia Department of Transportation, the crash happened at 10:32 a.m.

Columbia County deputies and firefighters responded to the scene.

As of 11:20 a.m., deputies were directing traffic along the median wall, according to a news crew on scene.

By 12:20 p.m., all lanes were clear.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Following back-to-back state championships and the retirement of legendary coach Al Young, a new leader is taking over one of the premier girls basketball programs in South Carolina.

Scheraun King is just weeks into his tenure as head coach of the North Augusta girls basketball team, inheriting a program that has become synonymous with winning.

Despite being new to the position, King said his focus is on maintaining the championship standard that has been established while putting his own stamp on the program.

“I’m the new kid on the block, but I bet you I’m going to get the girls as best prepared as possible to continue on with the championships that have came before us,” said King.

King understands the expectations that come with leading the Yellow Jackets after decades of success under Courtney Cummings and Young.

“I know what’s in front of me,” said King. “I know it’s some very large shoes to fill with Coach Cummings and Coach Young coming before me with some state championships, so I’m here to make my own way and hopefully continue the pedigree that they left.”

The transition has brought change throughout the program.

Former underclassmen have stepped into leadership roles, while players work to adjust to a new coaching style.

“When we got the new coach, I was like, ‘He’s cool. He’s nice. He’s younger,” said senior player, Ashley Walker. “It’s very different, but I definitely like him.”

In the midst of summer ball, everyone is getting the hang of changing scenery.

“With Coach Young, it was like put your all in or nothing, but for right now, since it’s summer ball, we’re all trying to play together and build that chemistry,” said senior player, Tahj Flowers. “It’s just go day by day and try to get better.”

“He was telling us he’s very quiet, but when he comes to the court, he just opens up a lot,” said senior player, Jade Council. “I just feel like that will be better for us to get to know him since this is our first year with him.”

King grew up in Staten Island, New York, playing college ball at Albany State before serving as a graduate assistant on the coaching staff.

He then spent several years playing basketball overseas in Australia, Bolivia, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Saudi Arabia.

His playing days brought him back to the U.S., where he began coaching middle school basketball, leading him to coach high school.

Now, he takes over the reins of a program seeking to extend its championship pedigree as a new era begins in the Yellow Jackets’ den.