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. (WRDW/WAGT) – SafeHomes Augusta is facing a funding shortfall after Georgia lawmakers vetoed millions in domestic violence funding.
The nonprofit is the only 24-hour domestic violence shelter in the area, serving 10 counties from Augusta to Burke County to Taliaferro.
It costs approximately $1 million to operate a 24-hour shelter that meets Georgia standards, but SafeHomes only receives $647,000 in funding.
Lawmakers vetoed $9.4 million in domestic violence funding and $3 million for sexual assault centers.
Executive Director Aimee Hall said staff is bracing for what comes next.
“I think we’ll still be able to provide services. It’s just going to be on a lower scale. And that’s my concern because there’s so many people who need our services. Last year we provided services to over 1,700 men, women, and children,” Hall said.
Hall said the concern is not just about budgets but about the people who depend on the shelter around the clock.
“We’re not a nonprofit that can close. Domestic violence don’t happen between 8:00 and 5:00,” she said.
Becky Halioua, a survivor who first made contact with SafeHomes in 2015, said the resource likely saved her life.
She said she has continued to share her story in hopes it can help others.
“Nobody starts a relationship saying, well, I can’t wait for this person to put their hands on me,” Halioua said. “Domestic violence really has no face. And I think it’s important for people to know that it affects everybody.”
She said the reality of leaving an abusive situation is something many people do not consider.
“Just imagine if you had to just uproot your entire life suddenly in, you know, maybe the middle of the night and leave with just the clothes on your back,” Halioua said.
Hall said the most important thing the community can do right now is show up. SafeHomes is actively seeking volunteers, and Hall said time is just as valuable as financial donations.
Anyone interested in volunteering or donating can contact SafeHomes Augusta directly at 706-736-2499.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A stabbing incident at an Augusta McDonald’s left one person hospitalized on Thursday morning, according to officials.
Richmond County deputies responded to the McDonald’s on the 1400 block of Walton Way for reports of a stabbing at 8:23 a.m.
Deputies learned the stabbing occurred after an individual confronted several people in the business’s parking lot, deputies say.
The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment, according to the sheriff’s office.
Deputies say the suspect fled the scene on foot but was taken into custody a short time later by Road Patrol deputies.
The sheriff’s office says the incident remains under investigation.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Local organizations in Augusta are working to keep veterans housed through a federal program called Supporting Services for Veterans Families.
The program, known as SSVF, is administered locally through the CSRA Economic Opportunity Authority.
Army veteran Shania Jones said she had reached a low point before connecting with the program.
“I had gave up, you know, I was feeling hopeless,” Jones said.
She joined the U.S. Army in 2019. She said she is now closing on a home and recently started school.
Veterans describe housing instability after service
Navy veteran Stephen Thompson served from 1988 to 2007 and is a Gulf War veteran.
He said housing instability after leaving the military can go unrecognized.
“You can go 20 years and have these issues and don’t even know you got these issues because you’ve done it so long, you begin to think it’s normal,” Thompson said.
He said he was moving between family members and sleeping on couches before receiving help.
Navy veteran Anthony Prince, who served three years, said awareness is a barrier.
“There’s a lot of veterans out here homeless because they don’t know about the programs,” Prince said.
Caseload growing at CSRA EOA
Khristy Murray, director of veteran services at CSRA EOA, said the number of veterans the program serves has increased.
“We went from serving 280 last year. Right now, I want to say we’re up to about 310,” Murray said.
Murray said the organization conducts outreach across a wide area.
“We do outreach. We serve 23 counties, from here to Athens, and then from here to Statesboro,” Murray said.
Thompson said the program’s impact on him motivated him to help others.
“Having seen what she’d done for me, it sort of gave me the desire to do for another veteran,” Thompson said.
Several other organizations in the area are also working to house veterans, including a tiny home village and the Veterans Villa.
The easiest way to reach them is by telephone at 706-364-6548, or at www.csraeoa.com .
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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