Augusta, GA
Challengers argue Georgia’s new maps still harm Black voters
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – (AP) – Challengers on Thursday told a federal appeals court that Georgia lawmakers are still violating Black voters’ rights after redrawing the state’s congressional and legislative maps.
If judges uphold the challenges, they could order different district lines to be used in Georgia for the rest of the decade, making it possible that more districts would elect candidates favored by Black voters — usually Democrats.
The voting rights groups argued in three cases that lawmakers created additional majority-Black districts, but didn’t do enough to address the harms suffered in the areas where they proved at trial that there was illegal vote dilution.
For state Senate and House maps, the area in question is in Atlanta’s southern suburbs. For the congressional map, it’s in areas north and west of downtown Atlanta. But lawmakers drew in Black voters in other parts of the metro area to make new Black-majority districts.
“Going to a different part of Atlanta to create opportunities for Black voters is not sufficient,” said Ari Savitzky, a lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union representing those challenging state legislative maps.
Lawyers for the state, defending the current maps, say that the state has complied with a court ruling ordering new maps and that the challengers can’t demand new districts in exact locations. Stephen Petrany, Georgia’s solicitor general, says the challengers are really trying to elect more Democrats, and that the court shouldn’t let them use the lawsuits to do that.
“Are these the right number of districts? Yes. Are they in the right area? Yes,” Petrany told judges. “That is the end of this case.”
Judge Adalberto Jordan said any decision on redrawing maps would wait until after a ruling on a separate challenge to U.S. District Judge Steve Jones’ original decision by Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. In that case, argued in January, Raffensperger contends that Jones’ decision should be overturned and the state should revert to the maps that lawmakers drew in 2021 before Jones ruled they were illegal under the 1964 Voting Rights Act. Section 2 of that law protects minority voters.
The challengers have a steep climb. Jones ruled in 2023 after a trial that lines were drawn to illegally dilute Black votes. But he accepted maps drawn by lawmakers in special session as fixing the illegalities. For the three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn the map, the judges must rule that Jones abused his discretion.
Jones rejected claims that the new maps didn’t do enough to help Black voters. Jones said he couldn’t interfere with legislative choices, even if Republicans moved to protect their power. But challengers say Jones was too deferential to lawmakers even when he had already found they had acted illegally.
Jordan repeatedly pushed the challengers on how many of the affected voters had to be included in new districts. Lawyers for the challengers said there was no set standard, but that Georgia lawmakers hadn’t done enough.
Abha Khanna, representing challengers in two lawsuits said the new map “laundered Black voters across districts deftly to create the illusion of new opportunities.”
While the maps created additional Black-majority districts, they also locked in Republican advantages. In a state where GOP candidates in competitive races win at best 53% or 54% of the vote statewide, Republicans hold 64% of congressional seats, or 9 of 14. They hold 59% of state Senate seats, or 33 of 56. The state House is a little closer to parity, with Republicans holding 100 of 180 seats, or 56%.
If the current maps are not overturned, Georgia is likely to use them through the 2030 state elections.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Augusta Technical College announced the Robert Fields Annual Scholarship has been created to benefit students pursuing instruction in various construction-related fields.
In a press release sent Monday, Augusta Tech said the scholarship was founded in Fields’ memory by his cousin, Ms. Adrian Arnold of Sacramento, California. Fields, who died in 2011, lived in the CSRA and many of his family members still reside in the area.
A surprise party was held to introduce the creation of the scholarship on Dec. 5.
“My cousin, Robert A. Fields, was dedicated to a lifetime of improving himself and those around him,” Ms. Arnold said. “As an honor to his mother, Ms. Elease Harris, I chose to financially support the construction trades students at Augusta Tech. Prayerfully, these resources will be used to assist many in improving their educational endeavors in her son’s name.”
According to the college, the scholarship will be administered by the Augusta Tech Foundation, an independent 501(c)3 organization that works to raise and appropriate philanthropic resources to support workforce education.
Arnold who is originally from Augusta, said she admires Augusta Technical College for its commitment to students and the community.
“We are delighted to help Ms. Arnold honor her cousin with this new scholarship,” said Cheryl Ciucevich, Augusta Tech’s Vice President for Institutional Advancement. “Although our tuition and fees are much lower than other colleges in the area, most of our students face financial barriers to accessing good-paying, sustainable careers. Scholarships like the Fields Scholarship ensure that more people in our community will be able to achieve their goals.”
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Salvation Army of Augusta is calling on the community to help make sure no child is left without Christmas joy through its Forgotten Angels initiative.
Forgotten Angel tags, now available at all participating Angel Tree locations, list the most-needed toys, clothing and essentials to ensure every registered child receives items appropriate for their age and needs.
The Salvation Army says the need is urgent for older children, who are often the last to be adopted and the first to be overlooked when gifts are not returned.
HOW TO HELP:
- Visit an Angel Tree location and select a Forgotten Angel tag
- Purchase any of the items listed
- Return gifts to the Kroc Center, 1833 Broad Street, by the deadline listed on the tag
- shop directly from the Walmart Registry, which ships straight to the Salvation Army of Augusta
Forgotten Angel tags include suggested items such as coats, hats and gloves, art supplies, science kits, sports equipment, teen-friendly gifts and more.
All donated gifts will support local children through The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program, which provides Christmas assistance to families facing financial hardship.
“Every child we serve deserves to feel seen and cared for on Christmas morning,” said Major Jonathan Raymer, Area Commander for The Salvation Army of Augusta.
“When community members pick up a Forgotten Angel tag, they help us bridge the gap for families who are counting on us. It is one of the most meaningful ways to share hope during the holiday season.”
Angel Tree and Forgotten Angel tags can be found at locations throughout the Augusta Area. A full list of participating sites is available at SalvationArmyAugusta.org.
The deadline for all Angel Tree and Forgotten Angel tags is Tuesday.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A shooting in Richmond County left one male victim dead Sunday evening, according to officials.
The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 3400 block of Lucie Street at 6:45 p.m., where they found one male victim with an apparent gunshot wound, officials say.
The victim, identified as John Bennett, 60, was pronounced dead on the scene at 7:37 p.m., according to the Richmond County Coroner’s Office.
A criminal investigation immediately began, which resulted in issuing warrants on Kenneth Murray Jr, a 40-year-old male of the same address, who had fled the scene, authorities say.
Within three hours, deputies Murray and took him into custody without incident at 9:56 p.m. in the 2200 block of Rosier Road.
Richmond County Sheriff Eugene Brantley provided a statement: “Violence in any form is tragic but violence within families and between people who live together is especially heartbreaking. Too often these situations begin with anger frustration or unresolved conflict that continues to build until it reaches a point of no return.”
Brantley encourages anyone who is struggling or feels a situation is escalating to reach out for help before it leads to irreversible consequences.
The investigation is ongoing.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Detroit Red Wings blank Vancouver Canucks 4-0
Grading San Francisco 49ers offensive line at the bye week
Letters to the Editor — Dallas City Hall, Ken Paxton, Texas wildlife, James Talarico
Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier pleads not guilty to sports gambling charges – UPI.com
DA, Boston police investigate death of Suffolk County inmate
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Video: ‘It Didn’t Have to Happen This Way:’ U.Va. Faculty Call for Review of Police Response to Protests
Top Mamdani appointee faces heat amid promise to make NYC more affordable: ‘Embodiment of inflation’
Honduran election authorities resume vote tallies amid allegations of fraud
Bullets in Mangione bag convinced police he was CEO killing suspect, court hears
DC sandwich-throwing case was a laughingstock in court, jurors reveal
European Commission to unveil €1.2 trillion plan to upgrade the EU's electric grids, leak shows
-
Alaska3 days agoHowling Mat-Su winds leave thousands without power
-
Politics6 days agoTrump rips Somali community as federal agents reportedly eye Minnesota enforcement sweep
-
Ohio5 days agoWho do the Ohio State Buckeyes hire as the next offensive coordinator?
-
News6 days agoTrump threatens strikes on any country he claims makes drugs for US
-
World6 days agoHonduras election council member accuses colleague of ‘intimidation’
-
Texas3 days agoTexas Tech football vs BYU live updates, start time, TV channel for Big 12 title
-
Miami, FL2 days agoUrban Meyer, Brady Quinn get in heated exchange during Alabama, Notre Dame, Miami CFP discussion
-
Cleveland, OH2 days agoMan shot, killed at downtown Cleveland nightclub: EMS