Augusta, GA
Augusta Coliseum Authority approves contract for hockey team
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – On Tuesday, Augusta’s Coliseum Authority approved a contract for a hockey team to come to the garden city.
The contract with the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) will help form a new team for the first time in more than a decade.
We spoke with officials behind the new arena and a player about what this means moving forward.
Leaders say this is an example of things continuing to move forward for the new James Brown Arena.
Demolition is moving along as leaders say demolition is about 75% of the way finished.
And with the addition of moving forward with professional hockey, leaders say it will be a real return for taxpayers once Augusta’s new addition to the skyline comes to fruition.
Hockey is one step closer to becoming a reality in Augusta.
As a former Augusta Lynx player John Whitwell says he can already imagine what downtown will turn into once the first puck drops.
“You can’t even describe it, how exciting it is when you’ve got, you know, 8 to 10 thousand people just going crazy,” said Whitwell. “As a player, it’s so much fun.”
With the coliseum authority approving the contract to form a new ECHL team, it’s now up to the league to approve the final details.
Leaders behind the construction of the new James Brown Arena say taxpayers are getting one step closer to seeing a real return in their investment.
“That’s 36 extra dates a year that you’ll be able to come down and enjoy the arena, plus that if you make it to the playoffs even further on, you know, more than 36 days,” said Brian Martin, general manager for Facilities OVG. “So that’s the economic impact for downtown Augusta.”
“Augusta owns this building,” said Brad Usry, Augusta Richmond County Coliseum Authority vice chair. “This is the people’s building, and so this going to make this building more successful.”
Even without hockey in the equation, Whitwell says bringing ice to the new arena could spark a new love for ice-related activities for Augusta families to enjoy for generations.
“I want to get involved in coaching the kids and, you know, growing the game at a grassroots level,” said Whitwell. “So that, to me, that’s the most exciting thing, is having that, you know, the youth hockey and the figure skating and everything else that comes with a community rink.”
It’s a project a couple more years down the line to fully defrost into the dream Whitwell and many others are excited for.
“When we get to that point where we’ve got, you know, a full building, and everybody excited to be there, and just the energy around the around the building is going to be so much fun, I don’t think I can really describe how it’s going to mean to me,” said Whitwell.
Leaders say the demolition should wrap up by the end of February with work on the foundation of the new area starting in May
Coliseum authority leaders say demolition should be complete by the end of February, with foundation work looking to get started in May.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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An Augusta biomanufacturer will start making ammunition in the global fight against malaria.
Manus last week broke ground at its local plant on Lovers Lane on a production facility to produce artemisinin. The chemical is a key starting component in drug treatments to treat the deadly mosquito-borne illness. Malaria killed more than 600,000 people worldwide in 2024, according to the World Health Organization
“This groundbreaking reflects a shift from dependence to capability,” said Ajikumar Parayil, Manus’ founder and CEO. “For decades, the U.S. has relied heavily on overseas supply chains for the building blocks of essential medicines. What we’re establishing in Augusta is a new model – one that restores control, strengthens resilience, and proves that advanced biomanufacturing can be deployed at scale, here at home.”
About 80% of key ingredients for essential U.S. medicines are made or sourced overseas, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
That has led companies such as Manus to pursue biomanufacturing production models capable of making medical compounds domestically, efficiently and on a large scale.
Earlier in 2026, Manus won federal funding to expand production to make shikimic acid, a key compound in the antiviral medication oseltamivir, better known by its brand name Tamiflu.
On April 30, Manus announced a partnership with the University of Georgia to start a structured biomanufacturing apprenticeship program in Augusta. With a UGA “academic blueprint,” according to Manus, apprentices would receive extensive training on live production equipment to produce more experienced professionals for bio-industrial manufacturers nationwide.
Manus reopened Augusta’s old NutraSweet plant in 2019. In 2021, it introduced NutraSweet Natural, a zero-calorie stevia sweetener made using a smaller environmental footprint.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Brent McMillian is being appointed as the new director of athletics at Augusta University, President Russell Keen announced Monday.
McMillian will begin the role on June 8, 2026.
According to AU, McMillian brings 13 years of athletics experience to the position. He previously served as Senior Associate Athletic Director for External Engagement and Revenue Generation at Lipscomb University at Nashville.
“His vision aligns seamlessly with our goals for Jaguar Athletics: to champion student-athlete wellbeing, strengthen our competitive success, deepen community engagement, and build a vibrant, spirited campus culture,” Keen said. “His experience, combined with his personal connection to Augusta University, positions him to hit the ground running in a meaningful way.”
McMillian is a graduate of Greenbrier High School and attended Augusta University before completing his degree at the University of Tennessee.
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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Local restaurants hosted brunches for Mother’s Day, allowing neighbors to celebrate the day with the special women in their lives.
The Brunch House of Augusta on Greene Street hosted a brunch. The restaurant served berry pancakes and French toast, waffles, ham and cheese breakfast sliders and more breakfast foods.
One of the owners said the holidays are a great time for them to make connections with the community.
“We just had a group here come here that’s been coming here every year Mother’s Day for three years, every year basically since we’ve been open, they come in every year for Mother’s Day. We have people from out of town come and travel and visit us, so it’s definitely building that connection,” said Ashley Brown, co-owner of The Brunch House of Augusta.
Brown said they will be offering some specials for the upcoming Juneteenth holiday next month.
The Frog and the Hen also hosted a Mother’s Day brunch. The restaurant had about 350 people come in as of around 3 p.m.
They served foods like fried chicken, cheddar biscuits, French toast casserole and more.
The general manager said she enjoys seeing families come in for holidays like Mother’s Day.
“I feel like these are all my children here, so I feel like this day just in general, like I get to be the mother here, and so this is like I’m mother hen, so I get to take care of all this. I love supporting all the people as well and just being able to get the best food possible, the best chicken everywhere,” said Sheridan Roberts, general manager of Frog and the Hen.
Roberts said they often have to stop making reservations a few weeks ahead of the holiday due to the amount they receive.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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