Augusta, GA

Augusta lawmaker happy with progress on school safety measures

Published

12 months ago

March 5, 2025

Augusta lawmaker happy with progress on school safety measures

ATLANTA, Ga. – Georgia lawmakers passed a handful of school and firearm safety bills Tuesday, including one that an Augusta legislator called a good compromise for both Republicans and Democrats.

The bills round out a package of legislation House Speaker Jon Burns had slated as a priority just hours after the Apalachee High School shooting last year.

Tuesday marked six months since the Apalachee High School shooting left two students and two teachers dead. Burns, in a letter to the House Republican Caucus the same week of the tragedy, said more school safety measures were needed.

The speaker got two items on his wish list passed Tuesday, including a bill that would offer tax incentives to Georgians up to $300 for purchases of firearms training courses, gun locks and other safe storage equipment. House Bill 79 passed overwhelmingly by 165-8, enjoying wide support from Democrats.

The bill defines safe storage devices as “any device originally manufactured to securely store or disable a firearm,” including gun locks, fingerprint or biometric identifiers, and gun safes.

While dozens of Democrats in the House threw their support behind the bill, some suggested it was a good step but not nearly enough to make a difference in one of Georgia’s most prevalent causes of death. Some wanted the safe storage program to be mandatory, not voluntarily incentivized.

“HB79 is a start, but what’s it going to take before this body will answer the call of 80% of Georgians who support more impactful common-sense solutions?” said Rep. Shea Roberts, D–Atlanta. “Respectfully, a school safety bill that doesn’t require safe storage isn’t complete.”

Rep. Mark Newton, R-Augusta, said the bill was a good compromise for both parties.

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“We have put some guardrails around it that I think are respectful of your Bill of Rights, your Second Amendment rights, but also allows responsible gun owners the option that they need,” he said.

Burns’ other high priority bill also passed the House on Tuesday. Perhaps a bit more controversial, House Bill 268 would introduce a statewide database accessible to school districts and law enforcement that would allow them to view a student’s academic and disciplinary records.

In a rare move, Burns stepped off the dais and argued his support for the bill himself, calling it “common sense.”

“I believe this legislation will usher in a new culture in our school systems, where we run towards our children facing struggles,” said Burns, addressing concerns over the privacy issues some lawmakers raised.

“It’s very important when a student transfers into a new school, and the receiving school does not have the information on that student,” said Burns. “Not an invasion of privacy, but just information on how you deal with all the issues that young people can face today, that all people can face.”

Rep. Holt Persinger, a Republican who represents the district that includes Apalachee and sponsored HB268, said the database could have prevented the Apalachee shooting by alerting the district that the alleged shooter previously struggled with mental health issues and had run-ins with law enforcement.

“We know that a lack of information sharing occurred with the accused shooter at Apalachee, and this measure directly addresses that breakdown in communication,” he said. “This will help ensure that students who are facing a mental health crisis receive the resources and support they need when they need it most.”

Persinser reiterated that not every student would have their information stored in the system, and that in fact, most won’t. But the legislation immediately raised additional questions about profiling issues.

“What exactly are we doing here?” asked Rep. Mekyah McQueen, D–Smyrna. “We are being asked to create a state-run student surveillance database, a watch list for children readily available for law enforcement access.”

McQueen also asked how long a student would remain on the list, and expressed concern that their presence there could prevent them from getting jobs or even into colleges.

“The talking points meant to be reassuring are, this isn’t a watch list, it’s just a safety tool, we track attendance, we track grades, why not this?” said McQueen. “Because this is different. This isn’t neutral data. This is subjective labeling.”

Both bills passed Tuesday will now move to the state Senate.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta 911 call center earns statewide honor

Published

8 hours ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

Augusta 911 call center earns statewide honor

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Augusta 911 center has been named 2025 Communications Center of the Year at the Georgia Emergency Communications Conference in Athens.

The award recognizes excellence in public safety communications, innovation, leadership and service.

The award recognizes a center that demonstrates strong performance in emergency response coordination, training, technology and community engagement.

The Augusta center was selected among agencies statewide for its consistent service, professional standards and coordination with public safety partners.

“This recognition reflects the work our team does every single day,” said Daniel R. Dunlap, 911 director. “Our communications officers are the first point of contact during some of the most difficult moments in a person’s life. They provide reassurance, direction and critical coordination until help arrives. I am incredibly proud of the dedication and strength they show.”

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Augusta, GA

Popn’ Off Gourmet Popcorn opens on Broad Street in Augusta

Published

20 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Popn’ Off Gourmet Popcorn opens on Broad Street in Augusta

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A new gourmet popcorn shop has opened on Broad Street, bringing a Chicago-style twist to downtown Augusta.

Popn’ Off Gourmet Popcorn and Nuts, located at 716 Broad Street next to the Miller Theater, opened late last year. Owner Sheila Jones moved to Augusta from Chicago, where she said gourmet popcorn has a strong following.

“I’m from Chicago where gourmet popcorn is kind of a big deal,” Jones said.

Specialty flavors made in house

The shop offers specialty flavors including caramel, strawberry drizzle, peppermint, Oreo, green apple, and peanut butter — all made in house. Jones said the experience starts before customers even reach the counter.

“The smell is part of the experience. Green apple, strawberry, strawberry drizzle with chocolate. We have a new peanut butter flavor I just did,” Jones said.

A business built for family

Jones said her move to Augusta and her decision to open the business were driven by her son, who is on the autism spectrum. She said she believed he would be more comfortable in Augusta and wanted to build something that would benefit him long-term.

“I wanted him to have something when he gets older. He has a job already if he wants one. He already has a business,” Jones said.

Jones said starting the business has been harder than she expected. She handles most operations herself, with some help from family. She said the purpose behind the shop keeps her motivated.

“Coming into this every day is fulfilling because I built it. I’m building it and I just wanna see how high we’ll go,” Jones said.

Popn’ Off Gourmet Popcorn and Nuts is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The shop is also holding a pop-up Saturday at noon on Gordon Highway.

Here’s a link to their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584084467886#

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Augusta, GA

Deputy fired over on-duty sex with co-worker’s wife, documents show

Published

1 day ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Deputy fired over on-duty sex with co-worker’s wife, documents show

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A deputy was fired for having sex with another deputy’s wife while on duty, according to personnel documents from the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.

And it’s not the first time his love life has raised questions − he left a job in Aiken County after a similar problem.

Sgt. Christopher Chavous was dismissed after the matter was reported by the deputy whose wife was allegedly having the relations with now-fired deputy, according to the documents.

Chavous admitted it when confronted by an investigator on Feb. 16, according to the documents.

He said he first slept with her before Christmas and had continued doing so at least one or two times a week, according to the documents.

He also admitted that he’d done so at least once while on duty, according to the documents.

The husband said he’d suspected for some time that his wife had been sleeping with another deputy, but he initially didn’t know who it was.

Eventually, the husband tracked his wife on his phone to an apartment he knew belonged to Chavous, according to the documents.

Additionally, the husband showed Sgt. Walter McNeil, who was investigating the allegations, a video he’d obtained that showed his wife standing in the doorway of the apartment while kissing Chavous.

The husband also provided additional images of his wife’s car at the complex, as well as Chavous’ unmarked patrol car there.

The husband “advised that he doesn’t feel comfortable with the fact that Sgt. Chavous is in a peer support role with the agency, and he sleeps around with other Deputies wives,” McNeil wrote.

When confronted by internal affairs, Chavous admitted he’d been sleeping with the other deputy’s wife for about a month and a half, according to the documents. Chavous said he was going through a divorce of his own, according to the documents.

“It is imperative for all employees of this agency to always demonstrate sound judgment, both on and off duty,” McNeil wrote in the report. “Additionally, staff members must conduct themselves in a manner that upholds the integrity and reputation of the Sheriff’s Office. The actions of Sgt. Chavous fell short of these established standards.”

The personnel documents state the final disposition for Chavous, who also runs the Support 1 charity: “Termination.”

In response to the action, Chavous told News 12:

“I will have to refer to this to my counsel. I am appealing the decision.”

He faces certain investigation by the state.

Anytime a law enforcement officer is fired in the state, it automatically triggers an investigation by the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council.

Here’s a look at his POST records so far:

News 12 learned that before he came to Richmond County, Chavous retired from the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office in 2023 after a complaint of an inappropriate relationship with a confidential informant.

These sex scandals seem to be a recurring problem for law enforcement agencies across the CSRA:

In January, we reported that Aiken County Sheriff Marty Sawyer took action to demote two employees for allegedly engaging in an inappropriate sexual relationship while on duty, according to officials.
In December, we reported that deputy Diana Santiago was arrested after admitting to an “intimate relationship” with a member of a gang and using Richmond County Sheriff’s Office databases to look up information for that member while on duty.
In 2023, we reported that an open microphone in a patrol car revealed that two supervisors had sex during working hours. They were demoted.
Two other Richmond County deputies were fired after their relationship was uncovered. They were fired not for the relationship but for lying about it.
In 2023, we reported that a deputy had sex with a woman who’d called 911. He was put on probation for one year.
In addition, Burke County Sheriff Alfonzo Williams has been involved in a lawsuit by a former employee who alleges he was involved in sexual harassment.