Augusta, GA

$8M loan provides lifeline for some Ga. Head Start programs during shutdown

Published

2 months ago

October 28, 2025

M loan provides lifeline for some Ga. Head Start programs during shutdown

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – With funding for Head Start programs expected to run out after Friday, the YMCA has secured emergency funding to keep Head Start programs open past Friday.

The programs currently serve nearly 700 children in the Augusta area.

Ut’s an important program for many Georgia families.

Take Heather Morris, who lives in Madison County.

She’s a Head Start teacher, her husband serves in the Army and he’s not getting paid during the shutdown. Two of their children are enrolled in Head Start, receiving speech therapy that’s changed their lives. Now she could lose her paycheck and the care her family depends on.

“Well, yesterday I cried all day,” Morris said.

“You’re looking around your home like, what can we sell or what can we give up? I mean, do you let your children starve? No. Do you pull your children out of school to let them stay with the younger ones? That’s not an option either,” Morris said.

To keep programs like Morris’s open, the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta stepped in with an $8 million bridge loan, buying 45 more days of operations for the YMCA, Sheltering Arms, and Easterseals North Georgia.

“Typically philanthropy does not step up to fill the role of the federal government. But these are really uncertain times,” said Frank Fernandez of the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta.

That loan covers about 5,800 children in North Georgia, but families of nearly 700 children in south Georgia are already being told they won’t have a place to go after Friday.

Impact on working families

About 80% of Head Start parents work at least one job, often low-wage and hourly. Without child care, leaders fear some families may have to pull older kids out of school to look after their younger siblings.

“We need the adult leaders in this country to come to the table and not make the children of our communities suffer,” said Lauren Koontz of the YMCA of Metro Atlanta.

The bridge loan keeps some programs open but only through mid-December. Families and providers say they need more than a temporary fix and need Washington to act.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta Women Outlast Middle Georgia 53-47 – Augusta University

Published

21 minutes ago

January 5, 2026

Press Room

Augusta Women Outlast Middle Georgia 53-47 – Augusta University

Cochrarn, Ga. – In what turned out to be a defensive battle, the Augusta University women knocked off Middle Georgia 53-47 in the first ever meeting between the two teams. With the victory, the Jaguars improve to 4-2 in Peach Belt Conference play and 8-4 overall. The Knights are now 3-3 in conference action and 10-3 overall.

In coach Celeste Stewart”s 100th game as head coach of AU, the Jaguars hit six free throws in the final two minutes for the winning margin.

Quinasia Abercrombie led all scorers with 17 points and four rebounds while Sierra Burns added 13 points in the winning effort.

The Jaguar defense held the Knights to just 33% shooting and out rebounded Middle Georgia by five.

The game was tied at 18 at the half before Augusta would surge to a three point lead by pouring 21 bounds in the third quarter. The fourth quarter would see both teams go back-and-forth before the Jags would grab the victory.

Midway through the final quarter, the Knights would grab a 44-43 lead, but it would not last long. A Burns three pointer would give AU the lead. Then, tied at 47, Augusta rattled off the final points from the free throw line with Elyse Autrey, Abercrombie and Burns all making their shots from the line. Autrey would finish with eight points for the game.

For the game, the Jaguars hit on 16 of 26 from the charity stripe while the Knights were just 7 of 21.

Nadiyah Byard grabbed 12 rebounds to lead AU.

The Jaguars will next be in action Wednesday night when they host Clayton State and 5:30 p.m.

Fans of Jaguar Athletics can subscribe to the email listserve by clicking here. Fans can follow Augusta University at www.augustajags.com and receive short updates on Facebook at Augusta University Athletics and on Twitter at @AugustaJags.

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Augusta, GA

MR. EDDIE JAMES RAMSEY Obituary | Thomson, GA | Thomson Funeral System

Published

12 hours ago

January 4, 2026

Press Room

MR. EDDIE JAMES RAMSEY Obituary | Thomson, GA | Thomson Funeral System

MR. EDDIE JAMES RAMSEY, age 81, of Dearing, GA passed on Sunday, January 4, 2026, at the PruittHealth-Augusta Hills in Augusta, GA. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later. Family members and friends may call at the funeral home. THOMSON FUNERAL SYSTEM, Thomson, GA oversees all arrangements.

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Augusta, GA

First Alert Forecast l Drying out and warming up for the week ahead

Published

1 day ago

January 4, 2026

Press Room

First Alert Forecast l Drying out and warming up for the week ahead

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Dry weather returns to the CSRA for the week ahead with temperatures warming up each day.

After a foggy start Sunday, we should see at least a few breaks in the clouds with highs near average in the upper 50s to lower 60s. Winds will be light from the southeast.

Sunday night looks partly cloudy and cool with overnight lows near 40 degrees. Wind will be calm.

Monday will be a partly sunny and mild day with highs in the middle 60s. Wind will be southwest at 2 to 6 mph.

Tuesday through Thursday…Partly sunny each day and partly cloudy night. Highs will be near 70 Tuesday, warming into the lower to middle 70s Wednesday and Thursday.

Clouds increase a bit Friday, and there could be a shower or two late in the day. Highs Friday will be in the lower to middle 70s.

Keep a close eye on the forecast if you have outdoor plans next weekend, because a frontal system moves in with a decent chance of rain Friday night into Saturday. Highs will be a touch cooler Saturday in the middle 60s.

Above average temperatures likely for the next 2 weeks.(WRDW)

Keep it here for regular updates and be sure to Download the WRDW First Alert Weather App to have the latest information in the palm of your hand whenever and wherever you need it.

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