AUGUSTA, Ga. –
Augusta commissioners held their first regular meeting Tuesday for the first time since mid-May. City leaders say they’re working to get the network back to full capacity after a cyber-attack. FOX54’S Lauren Young was first to break news of a *new* data dump by an alleged ransomware outfit.

On Tuesday, she spoke with a threat analyst about moving the Cyber City forward.
“A path forward”—that’s what one source tells FOX54 the city of Augusta has embarked upon in the wake of the cyber-attack which crippled its network three weeks ago.

FOX54’S Lauren Young spoke with Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson, who says transparency is always his priority—but he must continue to withhold comment at this time, per the advice of legal counsel.   Brett Callow, threat analyst for cyber security firm “Emsisoft” tells FOX54 – this investigation could take time, and as city leaders continue to decline comment. Blackbyte has shared at least 70 gigabytes of Augusta’s data online. “They will try to use that period of uncertainty to their advantage,” Callow said.

One city source tells us local leaders could spend as much as $500,000 to a company which will be tasked with “restoring” the network.
“Attackers could have created back doors into the network that they can use to get back in at a later date. So, the restoration process is about making sure the network is safe and secure, restoring the backup, which isn’t necessarily a quick and easy process—there are very often hiccups, and it’s a matter possibly of bolstering security to make sure this doesn’t happen again,” Callow said.

But the expenses likely won’t stop there. Following a similar cyber security breach, the city of Oakland, California now faces multiple class action lawsuits according to Callow, one from its citizens and one from its police department—and Callow says litigation of this nature may be a part of Augusta’s near future as well.
“There is a distinct possibility of one or more lawsuits being brought in relation to this,” said Callow.

And while experts say the city should not pay the hackers the $400,000 ransom listed on what appears to be Blackbyte’s dark web homepage, the issue stands to cost taxpayers a yet unknown amount in potential damages.  Lauren asked multiple government sources about the city’s insurance policy and if it may pay out on any of the costs related to this situation.  “I can’t share anything regarding that as well,” said Mayor Johnson.
Mayor Johnson tells me he looks forward to sharing information and answering any questions at the conclusion of the investigation. He says his promise of transparency and accountability remain of utmost concern.

FOX54 is continuing to follow this story closely. For all the latest information as we learn more, download the FOX54 news now app for free from Google Play or the App Store.

AIKEN, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) – The old Aiken Mall is about to get a facelift.

Right now, all that sits in the space is a Belk.

Southeastern Development Associated is transforming the space to include shopping, residential space, and greenways.

The new development will house 256 apartments, a park, and two retail buildings that already have two tenants signed on.

A sign reads “no parking fire lane.” It’s one of the last few remaining pieces left of what was the Aiken Mall.

Now it stands as a sign of what’s to come.

Aiken is open for business, big business.

“Even though there are almost two months of revenues yet to be reported were about eight percent above,” said City Manager Stuart Bedenbaugh.

There’s a lot more shopping headed Aiken’s way because one stop is all some people have.

Theresa Hogg, of Barnwell, S.C., said: “It takes away from family time first. And then you have to prioritize what you need where you need to go and make your trip count.”

Hogg makes the trip once a week from Barnwell to meet her shopping needs, while others are making Aiken home.

Bedenbaugh said: “The Savannah River Site, the so-called Gray Tsunami. As folks retire from the site, workers are needed to be hired to replace them. We’re seeing younger workers come in. The climate and the cost of living here, I believe is extremely good.”

More people equals more living space.

“The Village at Woodside is approximately 100 Class A apartments again market-rate apartments. So that’s coming in. There are other potential apartments on the books at Greg Highway near the Robert and Bell Parkway,” said Bedenbaugh.

Hogg said: “We need some family-oriented things. Because you know, we’re getting away from family but there seem to be getting some good food places here. But you know, if you have a one-stop shop, it always works better.”

The Southeastern Development Company says that the shells will be done in the next three to four months, then tenants will start to move in.

They’re hopeful that some of the businesses will open by the end of the year.

Copyright 2023 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Guitars for vets is a non-profit organization that teaches veterans how to play guitar and gives them an instrument free of charge.

We stopped by one of their practices to see how this program benefits our local service men and women.’

Guitars for vets – is a non-profit organization that teaches veterans how to play guitar and gives them an instrument free of charge.

News 12 stopped by one of their practices to see how this program benefits our local service men and women.

For veterans like David Marrero this is more than a chance to learn a new instrument.

“That’s another form of therapy for me,” said Marrero, the Augusta chapter’s administrator, and a veteran.

It started as a way to help him, while he was battling mental health challenges brought on by a more than 30 year career in the army.

“I was having mental issues sleep family life was was going down the drain. And I just, I wasn’t in control, like I normally was used to being,” said Marrero.

That’s when he found Guitars for Vets whose mission is to help veterans like him who struggle with PTSD.

“Sometimes just a minute or two minutes of that, you know, we’re just getting lost in space, that gives you that reprieve,” said Marrero.

He wanted to start a chapter here to help not only himself but and other veterans like Bruce Neal.

“It started a lot of emotional and mental healing,” said Neal, a former student turned instructor for the program.

That healing is something he has noticed in other participants in the chapter.

“You talk to a lot of veterans and they don’t say a word and um they get into this and it’s like a lightbulb goes off,” said Neal.

Neal said it also fosters a community, which is something air-force veteran Jen-Liz Maldonado said she needed after coming back home from the service.

“Just coming back here and meeting new people who can relate to what I relate to,” said Maldonaldo. “We all can bond and feel kind of normal in this transition time.”

Between healing and a sense of community, it’s changing lives one strum at a time.

“You get to playing music and it does something for you, It changed me, it changed them, it’s going to change others who come through this program,” said Neal.

“It does give you a purpose. It gives you a something to strive for something to continue to perfect,” said Marrero.

The program is twelve weeks but also has an advanced class for those who want to keep playing after graduation.

Veterans who graduate do receive a free guitar.

Anyone interested in joining can send an email to ga.augusta@guitarsforvets.org or reach out to via the organizations Facebook page.

Copyright 2023 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.