Augusta, GA
Augusta Commission approves more than $1.1 million in new street lighting purchases
There was at least one bright spot in Tuesday’s Augusta Commission meeting.
Multiple purchases were unanimously approved which will bring new lights to different streets in the area. Here is what’s coming:
New lighting on Grand Boulevard between 15th and Turpin streets, which is about half-a-mile long and is near Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. According to the agenda, it was discovered during routine maintenance that this street lighting system is no longer safe to operate, is beyond its serviceable life and can no longer be repaired. The entire system will need to be replaced along Grand.
New solar lighting with poles on Windsor Spring Road between Meadowbrook Drive and Crosscreek Road, which is about a mile long and is in the Hephzibah area. Addressing this was a direction by the commission given to Augusta Engineering on Sept. 5.
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New solar lighting on Wrightsboro Road between North Leg Road and Highland Avenue, which is about 2 miles long running along Augusta University’s Forest Hills campus and Daniel Field Airport. This is part of a major rebuild of this section of Wrightsboro.
New lighting on Jimmie Dyess Parkway between Wrightsboro and 2,500 feet south of the Richmond County line, which is in the Belair area. Funding for this was approved in January.
All of these purchases come out to about $1.18 million combined. The funds will come from a combination of Augusta’s street lighting operations fund, the American Rescue Plan, and SPLOST 6.
NJ apartment dwellers, renters have these options for help with rent
State and local officials say several programs are designed to help low and moderate-income households stay housed in the face of financial distress.
As rent prices continue to strain budgets, a new study is highlighting where Georgians can save the most by splitting housing costs.
According to a report from SmartAsset, some cities in Georgia offer major savings for renters who choose to live with a roommate.
Here’s what to know.
Where can you save the most in Georgia?
The study ranks Augusta as the top city in Georgia for roommate savings, and No. 6 in the country.
Renters there can save about 45% on monthly rent, or roughly $450 per month, by sharing an apartment.
Here’s how the costs compare in Augusta:
- One-bedroom rent: $1,000
- Two-bedroom rent: $1,100
- Estimated monthly savings with a roommate: $450
Why are roommate savings so high?
With rent prices rising, splitting costs has become one of the easiest ways to cut monthly expenses.
The study shows that sharing rent can significantly reduce housing costs, especially in cities where prices have climbed in recent years.
How does Georgia compare to the rest of the country?
Here’s the top 10 cities in the US for saving with a roomate:
- Cleveland, OH
- Baton Rouge, LA
- Jersey City, NJ
- Memphis, TN
- Boise, ID
- Augusta, GA
- New Haven, CT
- Chattanooga, TN
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Shreveport, LA
Methodology
The study analyzed 100 U.S. cities using rental data from March 2025 to March 2026 from Zumper, comparing one-bedroom rents to half the cost of two-bedroom apartments to estimate savings from sharing with a roommate.
For more information, visit smartasset.com/data-studies/roommate-savings-2026.
Vanessa Johns is the Trending Topics Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team Georgia. Email her at Vcountryman@gannett.com.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Families had the chance to sharpen their money skills at a financial literacy event hosted by local nonprofit Crown Her Mentoring at the Bernie Ward Community Center.
The free event offered resources for all ages, from kids learning the basics to adults planning for their financial future.
Attendees could sit in sessions about budgeting, credit, opening banking accounts and insurance options.
Organizers said the event was designed to make financial education accessible during Financial Literacy Month.
“People need to understand the importance of a checking account, a savings account—how to manage your money. How to invest your money. People need to learn about life insurance,” said Torrecka Davis, organizer.
Crown Her Mentoring will host a mental health awareness event on May 23. Open enrollment for new mentees will begin on May 10.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Shoppers in Augusta will soon lose a longtime retail option, as Lane Bryant’s store inside Augusta Mall is set to close for good this weekend.
Employees at Lane Bryant inside Augusta Mall confirmed that the store will permanently close starting Sunday, April 19.
After the closure, the nearest Lane Bryant location for customers will be in Lexington.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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