Connect with us

Augusta, GA

Despite progress, city far from recovery after cyberattack

Published

on

Despite progress, city far from recovery after cyberattack


AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – It’s getting close to two weeks since a cyberattack took down the city of Augusta’s computer systems, and things are getting better – even if they’re not yet back to normal.

As of Wednesday, probate court is no longer closing around the middle of the day, as it had been.

The Richmond County Tax Commissioner’s Office says all three locations are open for motor vehicle processing, kiosks are running and motor vehicle transactions can be performed online at arctax.com.

EARLIER COVERAGE FROM NEWS 12:

Advertisement

Property tax operations will continue once officials get notice of having an operable network up and running.

The Augusta Utilities staff now has access to customer information. While payments could be made in person since the cyberattack, employees lacked access to accounts to tell customers what they owed.

The department is still holding off on service shutoffs until the staff can read meters.

For a few days, this sign had said probate court was closing early, but now the sign is blank.(WRDW/WAGT)

And although the kiosks in the offices didn’t appear to be working Thursday, online payments are functioning.

“Normally come in and get a ticket in place and go straight up front now you basically have to wait in line you know extra few minutes it wasn’t too bad,” said Kendrick Padgett, Augusta resident.

Advertisement

The first of the month means paying his water bill in person for Padgett. This month was different and brought new questions.

“Yeah it’s longer than usual,” said Padgett. “When I went to and used my card. I was like is there any way my card will be hiked by using my bank card? Other than that, she said no, it didn’t have anything to do with it and it was fine.”

At the jail, families reported some inmates were unable to purchase hygiene items from a kiosk that normally serves as the source for such supplies. The families also said visitation had been curtailed. We reached out to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office to verify this, and the agency wouldn’t answer.

We do know that the sheriff, the information technology department and a judge executed a plan to release some offenders with minor charges.

The judicial system still are without accessing certain files and documents, stalling bond hearings.

Advertisement

Chief Judge Daniel Craig of Augusta Superior Court said: “To determine if that person is a threat to the community, or he’s a threat to witnesses, or if he’s a threat to commit additional felonies, or if he’s a threat to abscond the jurisdiction of the court. And a lot of that depends on access to his criminal history. And when we don’t have criminal histories then sometimes, we have to simply delay a decision on something like that.”

As of Thursday morning, they had their first virtual hearing since the cyber-attack.

We may learn more on Friday after the Augusta Commission holds a meeting about the cyberattack.

Although the executive session will be behind closed doors, Mayor Garnett Johnson is likely to offer an update afterward.

“I want to give the people the confidence and knowing that we are working as diligently and as expediently as we can to get to the bottom of this so we can come back to 100% for functionality,” said Johnson said earlier this week.

Advertisement



Source link

Augusta, GA

13th Street construction continues as projects fail brick by brick

Published

on

13th Street construction continues as projects fail brick by brick


AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – If you drive in downtown Augusta near the 13th Street bridge, you’ve likely dealt with the construction traffic as part of Augusta’s beautification.  

Brick-in-laid crosswalks were recently finished, and while they look great, they didn’t last long. 

John Ussery, assistant director of traffic, says they have already fixed some of the crosswalks on Telfair Street and 13th and Greene Street. 

Now, they are making their way down to Jones Street, and he says they’re almost done with the project — again.  

Advertisement

“I’m driving. I’m like, “Yay, good job, guys.” And I hit this bump in the road, and I was like, “Where did this bump come from? It’s a perfectly good road,’” said Jesse Cheadle, who drives in Augusta.

Just when residents thought they saw the light at the end of the tunnel, crews are back out again. 

“I’m looking at it and the brick had literally been broken. And coming into the road,” said Cheadle. 

In October, the city installed brick sidewalks at the intersection of 13th Street and Jones Street. 

They said the construction would take about two weeks. 

Advertisement

“It’s frustrating because it’s such a high-volume area,” said Cheadle. 

But now, three months later, they’re starting over. 

Hillcrest Farms after Hurricane Helene

“They laid the brick in there loosely. What did they think was gonna happen?” said Cheadle. 

Ussery says they are having to redo all of the brick sidewalks because the contractor decided to try a different technique than what the manufacturer had suggested. 

But this time around, they’re following the recommendation. 

“Well, you had one job and you failed,” said Cheadle. 

Advertisement

Cheadle says he’s hoping it’s all done soon because it’s not just about convenience, but also safety. 

“That ambulance needs to get to a hospital in a timely manner. They don’t have time to go around I-20. They don’t have time to go around Gordon Highway,” said  

Luckily, the city says they do not have to pay for them to fix the crosswalks this time around. 



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Augusta, GA

‘We need help’: Ga. airport underfunding could hinder expansions

Published

on

‘We need help’: Ga. airport underfunding could hinder expansions


ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) – Municipal airports across South Georgia could see improvements paused or canceled because of a lack of funding from federal and state officials.

Regional Airports need $83.5 million per year for improvement projects, but Albany, Valdosta, Savannah, Augusta, Macon, Brunswick, and Columbus only receive $16 million from the FAA and $2.8 million from the state.

Airports outside of Atlanta are receiving the shorter end of the stick when it comes to federal and state funding. Airport officials say that they hope that with more grant funding and the expansion of a few projects, it will increase more revenue right here in the Good Life City.

“If we don’t improve our infrastructure and our facilities, we will continue to lose our business aviation to other states. Some of the other states are receiving anywhere from 30 to 80 million dollars worth of funds, where we’re getting around 19 to support 7 airports outside of Atlanta and that’s a challenge,” officials say.

Advertisement
Colonial Pipeline leak Paulding County

In Albany, the airport has upcoming projects to bring bigger planes, more commercial flights, and Cargo airplanes to the city. But with the lack of funding, the completion of that project is at risk.

“We’re looking at a runway extension which will be a huge project over 100 million dollars and funding has not been identified for that project. So where would we get that money? Well, we need the Federal Administration and the State of Georgia to give us more support,” officials say.

While officials say the airport needs some improvements, passengers say they love the convenience of being able to travel right outside their backyard.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Augusta, GA

North Augusta Baseball gets one last swing at Riverview Park

Published

on

North Augusta Baseball gets one last swing at Riverview Park


AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – We’re just under two months away from baseball season and this year will be a bittersweet one for North Augusta’s baseball and softball teams.

While many players would much rather play at a brand-new facility, Riverview Park has been home to the Yellowjackets for a long time now.

After this season, however, North Augusta will finally have a new place to call home.

But, they will have one more chance to close out a phenomenal season before transitioning to the new stadium next year.

Advertisement

You’ve seen the construction and you can see the vision.

In just a few more months, across the street from North Augusta High School will be two brand-new facilities.

The newest home of the Yellowjackets baseball and softball teams.

“It’s a chance to have something that is ours,” said Lynn. “Our own atmosphere at school. It’s going to be exciting.”

The over $8 million project was slated to be completed ahead of this year’s season, but after multiple delays like the impact of Hurricane Helene and just how big of a project it truly is, the facilities are still several months from being ready for play.

Advertisement

In the event construction concludes as originally planned, Head Coach Kevin Lynn says the team has no plans to move fields in the middle of their 2025 season.

“I don’t want to have summer ball starting there, I want our kids to start a regular season there,” said Lynn. I want them to open the season up and have a true home opener.”

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (11) looks on during pre-game warm-ups before an...

The good news is, nothing about this year will feel different for the team.

The Yellowjackets have called Riverview Park home for over 40 years and they’ll get one more chance to send it out with a grand slam.”I grew up watching my brother play here and many people before him, so being able to play here one last time feels really good.”

“I’d like to go out on a high note and finish up strong here. Our goal is to win all of our games at home since we play here all the time and know the layout more than anybody else. It’d be nice to accomplish those goals in our last season.”

Lynn’s team will open up on the road against Strom Thurmond on Feb. 11.

Advertisement

The Yellowjackets are 40 and 40 under Lynn as head coach.

It’s hard to believe we’re almost to baseball season, before we know it we’ll be talking about the Masters.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending