Augusta, GA

Augusta commissioners receive updates on apartment safety improvements, SPLOST 9

Published

1 week ago

January 6, 2026

Augusta commissioners receive updates on apartment safety improvements, SPLOST 9

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta commissioners received a progress report on safety improvements at two apartment complexes that promised upgrades in August.

Redwood Housing provided updates on work at the Bon Air and Richmond Summit apartments.

The attorney for the housing company said the upgrades at both complexes are close to completion, from renovations inside to new security measures. Commissioners heard a long list of changes being made at both complexes.

The sheriff’s office and code enforcement backed up the improvements, saying their calls at both complexes have decreased compared to six months ago.

“We have to keep their feet to the fire. I’ve received a number of horror stories from people living in both properties, from it being 100 degrees outside, and they’re not having air conditioning, to 13-year-olds being gunned down because of the lack of safety precautions at these facilities,” said Jordan Johnson, District 1 commissioner. “And, the list of these issues just goes on. I think it’s our responsibility to make sure that people have quality and affordable housing.”

District 3 Commissioner Catherine Smith Rice said she has seen improvements at the properties.

“Some people might say they are putting lipstick on a pig, but if you ride by there and see what they are doing, it’s a heck of a lot better improvement than what was there six months ago,” Smith Rice said. “I feel like, though. I’ve had more of a better response with Redwood than I have in the past.”

Ongoing oversight planned

Commissioners said they will keep checking in with Redwood Housing, including regular updates and meetings that include the sheriff’s office.

Redwood Housing is hosting what they call a grand reopening for both the Bon Air and Richmond Summit on Feb. 4. That will be at 10 a.m. at the Bon Air and 2 p.m. at the Richmond Summit.

SPLOST 9 discussions continue

City leaders are deciding how to spend sales tax dollars through the SPLOST 9 project list, which totals more than $300 million. The list includes money for jail renovations, new parks and road projects.

SPLOST 9 is a one-cent sales tax that would last six years. It includes $85 million to renovate the jail, but also includes money for parks, roads and sewer improvements.

For months, commissioners have debated what should make the list. Some commissioners said there needs to be more attention to infrastructure.

“We gotta be able to grow. And the only way you can grow is ensuring that your infrastructure, your sewers, and are expanded and improved appropriately,” said Don Clark, District 5 commissioner. “Roadways need to be improved. The sewers, we still have a lot of folks that are on septics. We gotta get ‘em out of that and get the sewer lines improved, not just for the residents, but even for the introduction of businesses into the environment as well.”

The SPLOST 9 project list goes to voters in May. Commissioners are still debating the details.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta Jaguars preparing to host cross-town rival USC Aiken Pacers

Published

8 hours ago

January 14, 2026

Press Room

Augusta Jaguars preparing to host cross-town rival USC Aiken Pacers

AUGUSTA, GA (WJBF)- The Augusta men’s basketball team is gearing up to host cross-town rival the USC Aiken Pacers Wednesday night in a Peach Belt Conference matchup.

The Jags held their last full day of practice at Christenberry Fieldhouse before they take the court against the Pacers. Augusta holds a 54-33 lead in the overall series, but the Pacers swept the Jags last season.

Both teams this year off to a slower start in conference play, with just five wins combined between the two programs. So, this matchup will serve as a strong evaluation on where the teams are at now, and what they can improve on moving forward.

“We started the season off a little slow. But each game you can see the progress that we’re making in practice, the progress that we’re making. As a team we’re starting to click and understand what it takes,” said AU point guard Kyndon Wilburg.

“Rebounding the basketball is probably the most important thing, getting back in transition. This would be a huge win for us, coming off a tough loss from lander. I think it would be a great way to kick start what we’re about to do,” Wilburg said.

Tip-off for the men is set for 7:30 p.m. at Christenberry Fieldhouse.

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Augusta, GA

We the People: Augusta Museum showcases new America’s 250th exhibit

Published

20 hours ago

January 13, 2026

Press Room

We the People: Augusta Museum showcases new America’s 250th exhibit

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Augusta Museum of History is launching a new America’s 250th exhibit that showcases the area’s Revolutionary War, Civil War and modern-day connections.

“When people think of the Revolutionary War, a lot of times they think of up north, you know, New England and Paul Revere, but there’s just as much history down here,” Krystal Lyons, head of education, said.

The exhibit is a chronological journey through Augusta’s past

The exhibit moves chronologically through Augusta’s history, telling specific stories through objects that have not been displayed before or in a long time.

The display starts with Native Americans and the Stallings Island community, progresses through the Revolutionary period and into the Civil War and antebellum period before arriving at the modern day.

Visitors should plan multiple visits to see all the historical stories the artifacts tell, as the exhibit will change every three months.

“These stories that each of these artifacts has, it has a little story that we can connect to people today, so it might feel like a long time ago, 250 years ago, but there’s a lot of things that we do that are just the same today as they were 250 years ago.”

You can also visit the Augusta Museum of History’s social media pages as they deep dive into one artifact per week throughout the year.

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Augusta, GA

GameStop to close 16 Georgia locations, including 1 in Augusta

Published

1 day ago

January 13, 2026

Press Room

GameStop to close 16 Georgia locations, including 1 in Augusta

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Video game retailer GameStop is reportedly closing 16 stores in Georgia, including one Augusta location, as part of its “comprehensive store portfolio optimization.”

The store in Augusta is located in the Southpointe Plaza at 3209 Deans Bridge Road.

The retailer announced in an SEC filing that it plans to close “a significant number of additional stores in fiscal 2025.”

While an official list is not available, emails sent to customers and notices sent to employees indicate 16 stores in Georgia are on the chopping block.

All Georgia locations closing include:

North Point Mall, 1198 North Point Circle, Alpharetta
Lenox Square Mall, 3393 Peachtree Rd. NE Suite 2027, Atlanta
Howell Mill, 1801 Howell Mill Rd. NW, Atlanta
Southpointe Plaza, 3209 Deans Bridge Rd., Augusta
Shops @ Main Street, 455 Cherokee Pl., Cartersville
Chamblee Village, 1841 Chamblee-Tucker Rd., Chamblee
Peachtree Mall, 3131 Manchester Expwy. #34B, Columbus
Cumming Marketplace, 1060 Market Place Blvd., Cumming
Dublin Commons, 2421 Hwy. 80 W, Dublin
Hartwell Station, 115 Walmart Dr., Hartwell
4959 Bill Gardner Pkwy., Locust Grove
McDonough Square, 1144 Hwy. 20-81, McDonough
Pharrs Village, 1830 Scenic Hwy. N, Snellville
Stone Mountain Festival, 1825 Rockbridge Rd., Stone Mountain
Cofer Crossing, 4363 Lawrenceville Hwy., Tucker

GameStop’s board of directors recently approved $35 billion in performance-based stock options for CEO Ryan Cohen, should the company’s market cap hit $100 billion. The company’s market cap is $9.3 billion.

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