Augusta, GA
Augusta Commission candidate forum sees races for districts 5 and 9
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Georgia’s voter registration deadline is Monday, April 22, and the May primary is one month away on May 21.
There are races this May for sheriff, district attorney, and Augusta commissioners.
Candidates for commission districts 5 and 9 filled up stands at the Alleluia Community School Saturday night, to hear from incumbents and challengers trying to secure commission seats.
For District 5, Commissioner Bobby Williams, and challenger Don “DC” Clark, both talked about tonight’s biggest recurring topic: keeping Augusta-Richmond County clean.
Bobby Williams said, “If you’re at home you want to clean your house, pretty much like being in Augusta, Georgia, it’s our home, it’s where we stay, we gotta keep it clean, we have the up-keep…”
Don Clark said, “I think we need to hold people accountable. We have the services in place, we have it built into our budgets to maintain our facilities. You wouldn’t build anything without ensuring that into your budget.”
Super District 9 candidates, Commissioner Francine Scott, and former Commissioner Marion Williams, also spoke about keeping the county clean.
This super district seat looks over districts 1, 2, 4, and 5.
Francine Scott said, “We have different departments doing the same thing. And what I think we need to do is consolidate those type of services.”
Marion Williams said, “I’m looking at the cleanup in Augusta, how, one side of Augusta looks one way, the other side of Augusta looks the other way. There’s trash all over the street…”
Mayor Garnett Johnson also made an appearance at Saturday’s forum and spoke about bringing voting power to the mayor’s seat at commission meetings, rather than just being a tie-breaking vote.
Mayor Johnson said, “It provides accountability to the only at large elected official in our entire government. For them to be able to take action to get things done. As you see, the abstention rule has prevented progress in Augusta Richmond County.”
Early voting gets underway Monday, April 29, and the Georgia primary voting day is on Tuesday, May.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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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