Augusta, GA

Augusta food pharmacy teaches new moms about nutrition, resources

Published

2 years ago

June 18, 2024

Augusta food pharmacy teaches new moms about nutrition, resources

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A new food pharmacy is helping pregnant and postpartum mothers make sure they get the right resources for nutrition.

We spoke with a mom about how this is helping her and other moms in our area.

The National Institute of Health ranks Georgia as number two in the country for maternal mortality.

What’s the biggest issue they face here in Augusta? Access to healthy food and knowledge of how to take care of their body both before and after the baby is here.

Augusta University, the HUB and Augusta Locally Grown are all teaming up to find solutions and teaching moms to use food as medicine.

Pregnancy complications were never in the cards for first-time mom Sara Clark.

“My blood pressure skyrocketed. And I didn’t really know a whole lot about that. But I do know now that it is part of pre-eclampsia, which I have the MTHFR gene, which is very common nowadays. But you are predisposed to preeclampsia,” said Clark.

When she brought baby Trace home, she says her health took the backseat.

Trace continued to pass milestones and because Clark’s blood pressure was rarely checked, it continued to rise.

Without proper follow-up care, Dr. Marlo Vernon says moms like Clark can develop chronic health issues leading to death.

“We have one of the highest rates of maternal mortality in the country. And the way we look at maternal mortality is not just during pregnancy, but throughout the first year postpartum. And people forget that moms still need to be monitoring their own health and ensuring that they have healthy lifestyles after those first six weeks postpartum,” said Vernon.

This is why this food Farmacy at the HUB was created.

Tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce are just a few of the items that come from our local area farms straight to the table of new and expecting moms along with recipes for a happier and healthier lifestyle.

“We provide that to moms enrolled in our program, alongside teaching methods, how to make healthy meals for yourself how to shop for healthy, healthy foods and how to access healthy meals,” said Vernon.

A drug used to help people who are immunocompromised fight COVID-19 is in high demand but...

Vernon says once-a-week cooking classes target blood sugar, gestational diabetes and postpartum health control.

“One thing we’re trying to teach moms is and providing them the tools to get there right, is that a healthy diet can also be your medicine. Being physically active, and eating well, are two key factors to reducing your risk of a lot of diseases,” said Vernon.

It’s helping moms just like Clark flip the script to use food as medicine.

Clark said: “Learning that that puts the focus back on the mom and just being like, what can you do after pregnancy? Or after you have the baby? What are some safe ways that you can, you know, also take care of your baby, but take care of yourself.”

The next class cooking class is on Wednesday.

Leaders say they are looking for women with chronic health conditions, food insecure and expecting or recently postpartum. It is set to run for the next six months and comes at no cost to those who qualify.

20 women have already signed up, and they’re looking for 20 more.

If you want to sign up, click here.

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Augusta, GA

Law enforcement converges on home in west Augusta

Published

10 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Law enforcement converges on home in west Augusta

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – There was a large law enforcement presence Thursday morning at a home in west Augusta near Fort Gordon.

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force were in the area attempting to find a suspect, according to deputies.

Witnesses said around 11:25 a.m. that officers had been surrounding a home at Harper-Franklin Avenue and Covington Court.

That’s in a neighborhood of mostly two-story brick-fronted homes built in the past three or four years just east of Jimmie Dyess Parkway and a couple of blocks north of Gordon Highway.

As noon approached, law enforcement had left.

But a Facebook post from earlier did show a large presence,including marked and unmarked cars, and officers all around the house. A witness said police dogs were on the scene, as well.

News 12 has reached out to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office for information.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta mayoral candidate holds town hall as election season begins

Published

22 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Augusta mayoral candidate holds town hall as election season begins

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Steven Kendrick held a town hall on Wednesday at the Henry Brigham Community Center as he prepares to challenge Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson.

Kendrick, who serves as chief deputy tax commissioner for Richmond County, previously ran against Johnson in 2022. The town hall was part of Kendrick’s campaign tour as he seeks to unseat the incumbent mayor.

“Some of the people felt as though we really needed to dig a little deeper and we dug a little deeper,” Kendrick said after the meeting. “But that’s how you gain understanding, where everybody’s not going to agree about everything. Some of them we didn’t agree on. I certainly enjoyed the interaction. I learned some things, and I hope they learned some things as well.”

Multiple Commission seats up for election

The mayoral race is not the only contest facing Richmond County voters. Several Augusta Commission seats are up for election across multiple districts.

District 8 will have a new commissioner because Commissioner Brandon Garrett is term-limited and cannot run again. Michael Cioffi and Evett Williams have filed to run for the District 8 seat.

Districts 2, 4, 6 and 10 are also up for election. Stacy Pulliam currently serves in District 2.

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Augusta, GA

2026 is off to a deadly start, but what’s ahead for Augusta?

Published

1 day ago

January 7, 2026

Press Room

2026 is off to a deadly start, but what’s ahead for Augusta?

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Richmond County deputies are investigating their first homicide of 2026, which occurred early Monday morning on Hines Street just off Laney Walker Boulevard.

The victim was 21-year-old Thaddeus Kirkland. He was found bleeding on scene around 2 a.m. and died a short time later.

Suspect wanted for questioning

Deputies are seeking 24-year-old Bruce Wesby for questioning in connection to the incident. Wesby is known to frequent the Waynesboro area. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call the sheriff’s office.

Crime data shows progress in 2025

The first homicide of 2026 happened five days into the new year, two days sooner than the first homicide of 2025.

According to the sheriff’s office data, violent crime decreased significantly in 2025 under Sheriff Eugene Brantley’s leadership. Homicides dropped 35% year-over-year from 2024 to 2025 to their lowest level since 2021.

Aggravated assaults also dropped 35% to their lowest mark since 2018. Armed robberies fell 36% year-over-year to their lowest mark since crime data for Richmond County was first recorded in 2011.

Law enforcement focused on high-risk areas, including downtown Augusta, to lower response times and keep people safe.

“What they really want is for their families that they’re raising in this area to have safe lives, just like the citizens of Augusta that vote them in,” said M. Steven Fishman, president of Sidney’s Department Store & Uniforms. “They want to be able to go to work, come home, and enjoy their lives with their children, knowing that they’re safe.”

As 2026 gets underway, the sheriff’s office is continuing upgrades for technology and equipment to continue its goal of reducing violent crime. The office sent a statement saying the progress is in large part due to the community and deputies working together.

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