Augusta, GA
Augusta University receives $2.4 million grant to address behavioral health challenges
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A new $2.4 million grant is empowering Augusta University students with hands-on training to address the community’s behavioral health challenges.
Local experts say that while the community may struggle with many of these challenges, they hope a new grant will help change that in the long run.
For students like Talynn Saxer, Mahogany Davis and Ariel Figueroa O’Farrill, this is more than just a part of their studies.
“Working out in the community, it’s made me more comfortable working within an interdisciplinary team,” said Saxer.
“It relieves the financial burden while we’re also able to gain the benefit of the clinical experience in field and out of field,” said Davis.
“It really much prepared me for a career in research, if I so choose to,” said Figueroa O’Farrill.
Alicia Becton, Chair of the Department of Research, Counseling & Curriculum at Augusta University, says it’s a pipeline for students to do hands-on learning and give community clinics support.
“So we secured the HRSA grant, which is a $2.4 million training grant to increase workforce development and increase mental health professionals in the community,” Becton said.
The program focuses on training students in behavioral health practices while targeting young people.
“We need nurses, social workers, mental health professionals, everyone at the table,” Becton said.
With recent health care shortages in underserved areas, Dr. Tommy Ginn says health care workers are needed now more than ever.
“The mental health needs are huge in, I would say, all communities. We see anxiety, depression, drug use, all of those things, from kids on up through adults. And like I say, it’s really hard because the number of people taking care of patients like that is limited,” Ginn said.
The program continues with the hope that students will fall in love with the passion to serve.
This is a 4-year program where they partner with other community groups to give these graduate students real world experience to prepare them for next steps.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – April is Autism Awareness Month, and one local group raised awareness with a walk in Augusta on Sunday.
The fourth annual autism walk was hosted by Moving Over Mountains Against autism at Lake Olmstead Park.
All proceeds from the walk support autism awareness initiatives.
We spoke with the CEO and founder of the group, Deidre Roberson, who said this year they are dedicating the walk to their photographer, who died recently.
Roberson told us what she looks forward to the most.
“I look most forward to seeing the different people every year. We always meet different people, new people, and they come from all over the CSRA, so Washington, Wilkes, Carolina,” she said.
There were also several vendors providing resources to families.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF)- Augusta University baseball is in a three-game series matchup against the University of North Georgia.
AU is currently down in the series 0-2 after a close loss Friday and a loss Saturday.
But we aren’t focusing on the Jags, we’re going to take a look at North Georgia’s head coach, Nolan Belcher.
He is an Augusta native who began his career at Greenbrier and Augusta Christian.
He won three state championships, which then led him to play for the South Carolina Gamecocks.
There he won back-to-back national championships and finished runner up in 2012.
His coaching career began after that where he eventually joined the Peach belt Confrence, coaching at USCA and GCSU.
Now in his first season as head coach for the Nighthawks, he is happy to come home and coach in front of his friends and family.
“I’m very fortunate that I got family that, one is still around and they can come watch me do what I love. And, they’ve shown me, nothing but support throughout my whole coaching career and even back on my playing dates are very thankful and appreciative for everything they’ve done for me.”
AU and UNG will have their final series match on Sunday.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Richmond County Coroner’s Office said a person has died after a shooting on Division Street Saturday afternoon.
Officials say the shooting happened at the 2100 block around 4 p.m.
The victim was shot at least one time and taken to Wellstar MCG, where he later died, the coroner’s office says.
The sheriff’s office also went to Division Street at approximately 4 p.m. in reference to the incident, deputies say.
An autopsy has been scheduled.
No further information is available at this time.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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