Augusta, GA
Augusta commission delays airport bonus vote, seeks input on pickleball courts
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A one-time bonus for airport employees was brought up at commission Tuesday, but no decision was made.
Leaders moved to discuss the bonus at the next committee meeting on April 14.
The bonus would give airport employees up to $500 for the extra work they put in during Masters week.
Pickleball court options range from $7,500 to $540,000
Leaders also want to hear from the community about what it wants for permanent pickleball courts at Warren Road Gym.
They discussed the costs of converting the indoor gym’s tennis courts into pickleball courts or building outdoor courts.
If leaders choose the indoor option, that could cost about $7,500 for work and any repairs.
For outdoor courts, that could range from about $140,000 to about $540,000. That depends on whether the outdoor courts will be demolished and redone or just repaired.
No word on when community meetings will be held.
Augusta approves $95,000 for unbudgeted special election costs
Augusta city leaders approved nearly $95,000 in unplanned expenses to cover a special election and a runoff that were not built into this year’s budget.
The city is already working through tight finances and is now forced to dip into reserve funds as voters head to the polls.
The Board of Elections is already working with less. The office, like all city departments, faces a 5% cut this year. That means cutting back on mailers and services to stay within budget.
Commissioners approved about $95,000 to pay for the March special election and the April 7 runoff. More than $30,000 went to poll workers, with additional costs for early voting, equipment testing, security and day-of operations.
Because the election was not budgeted, that money comes from the county’s contingency fund.
“So basically what we were doing today is I mostly have been spending part of my budget to cover the special election and in anticipation of the runoff. So I needed to go back and get funds to put back into the primary account. So now we’ll continue on to pay the bills for the special election,” said Travis Doss, Richmond County Board of Elections executive director.
The funding helps the board reset after covering those unplanned costs as they quickly shift focus to what’s next. Doss said absentee ballots for the May election are already going out, with early preparations underway for the May 19 primary.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The 10th annual Juneteenth Augusta Festival brought families to the Augusta Fairgrounds on Friday despite the muggy heat.
Cultural and community-focused events, live music performances and food trucks were available at the celebration.
Tonia Hill, attending the Juneteenth celebration, said she loves the holiday and is supporting the community, though she acknowledged the weather conditions.
“I love Juneteenth. And I’m supporting everybody. It’s hot. It’s hot. It’s hot,” Hill said.
The festival runs until 10 p.m.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Augusta Dream Center is seeing more families turn to its food pantry this summer as children lose access to school lunches.
Organizations like the Augusta Dream Center see a surge in families who relied on school lunches during the academic year, according to Hallie Kohan, assistant director.
“We see a lot more families that have young kids who are in need that simply don’t have those meals they are normally getting,” Kohan said. “We see an influx of families that come through.”
Demand is up, but the food supply is not keeping pace.
“Right now we are having some food distribution issues so while we are seeing an increase in families, we are seeing a decrease in the amount of food coming through our doors,” Kohan said.
The center is asking the community to host food drives or donate kid-friendly items such as mac and cheese and oatmeal.
Every Sunday the Dream Center opens its doors for a hot meal, serving as many as 120 people.
“Families can come in and get their hot meal. They sit down, it’s dignified, it’s a diner,” Kohan said. “It’s a welcoming experience for kids to come in and not feel like they are in need.”
No paperwork is required to receive help.
“Just because you think someone is in a great situation, in today’s economy you never know,” Kohan said. “It could be your neighbor, mom, or best friend.”
The Augusta Dream Center food pantry is open Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to noon and Thursdays from 5 to 6 p.m. Hot meals are served Sundays from 5 to 6 p.m.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Construction continues on the James Brown Linear Park in downtown Augusta, with ceiling tiles now installed inside the park structures.
The tiles feature designs showcasing the Godfather of Soul from different years in his career.
According to the city, the completed park will include an interactive water feature that will “dance” to Brown’s greatest hits. A statue of the music icon will return to a new stage at the park.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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