Augusta, GA
$8M 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.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Authorities said Friday they found the truck of a Richmond County man who’s been missing for nearly 10 days.
The truck of Alex James Paulos, 74, was found in teh Deepstep area of Edgefield County, accordimng to authoritoies.
Some of his posessions were also found, according to authorities.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. – Augusta University softball split a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader with Georgia College on Saturday, falling 5-1 in game one before responding with a 9-4 victory in game two following a 30-minute rain delay. The Jaguars move to 22-25 overall and 10-12 in conference play as they near the end of the regular season.
Game One
Georgia College struck early in the opener, plating two runs in the first inning before adding single runs in the second and third to build a 4-1 advantage. Augusta’s lone run came in the second inning. After Eden Parker reached on a walk and advanced into scoring position, Chesney Miles drew an RBI walk with the bases loaded to bring home the Jaguars’ only run of the game.The Bobcats extended their lead to 5-1 in the fourth and held Augusta off the board the rest of the way.
Victoria Oropeza led the Jaguars at the plate, going 2-for-3, while Sydney Gilbert added a hit as Augusta totaled three in the contest.
In the circle, Augusta utilized multiple pitchers, with Kristyn Ezzo providing steady innings in relief and working through traffic to help limit further damage over the middle frames.
Game Two
Following a 30-minute rain delay early in the contest, Augusta responded with a strong offensive performance to secure the split.
Georgia College opened the scoring in the second, but the Jaguars answered immediately with a four-run inning. Ansley Gibson singled to start the rally, and after traffic built on the bases, Nevaeh Ross delivered a two-run single to give Augusta the lead. Chesney Miles followed with an RBI bunt, and Victoria Oropeza added another run-scoring hit to cap the inning and put Augusta ahead 4-1.
Augusta added to its lead in the fifth when Eden Parker launched a solo home run, extending the advantage to 5-1.
The Jaguars added more insurance runs in the sixth, capitalizing on multiple opportunities. Oropeza drove in a run on a fielder’s choice before Kaylynn Scaffe added an RBI single. Gibson then delivered a two-run double to extend the lead to 9-2.
Gibson led the offense with two hits and two RBI, while Nevaeh Ross also recorded two hits and drove in two. Miles finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base, and Oropeza added an RBI as part of Augusta’s 11-hit performance.
In the circle, Madalyn Spinks tossed a complete game, working through traffic and allowing four runs, two earned, while keeping Georgia College in check over the later innings to secure the win.
Up Next
The Jaguars go on the road for their final Conference series against North Georgia Saturday, May 2. First pitches of the doubleheader are scheduled for 1 and 3 pm followed by the final regular season game Sunday May 2 at 12 pm.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The third annual Splash Summit takes place Saturday at the Augusta Kroc Center through the Izzy Scott Foundation.
The foundation was created after 4-year-old Izzy Scott drowned during a swim lesson in Burke County nearly four years ago.
Since then, more than 700 people have received swim lessons in two years. The Izzy Scott Foundation is looking to get more than 1,000 people by the end of summer in swim lessons.
The Salvation Army Kroc Center has partnered with the foundation each year. Last year, the Kroc Center provided nearly 160 swim lessons through the foundation.
The summit is from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. People can sign up for free swim lessons at the event.
Aiken swim lessons
In Aiken, starting Monday, May 5, people can sign up for swim lessons. The lessons will be one-week sessions for kids with adults having two-week sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
It will cost $30 per session and registration will be at the Smith-Hazel Recreation Center. People also can register online with applications available for scholarships to help with the costs.
Swim lessons start June 1.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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