Augusta, GA
Downtown Augusta business owners share safety concerns with sheriff
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Business owners in downtown Augusta shared safety concerns with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday.
The sheriff’s office says they’re increasing deputies in the area, specifically at night to keep families safe.
The goal is to collaborate with these business owners.
Sheriff Brantley says having these face-to-face conversations is key when it comes to ensuring safety for those who live, work and visit downtown.
When you’re talking about businesses – homes – apartments – these are places people are proud of .
“At the end of the day, if you take good care of your house and you have a presence in your house, your house will be respected,” said Ernest Jones, CEO, Realty One Group Visionaries.
Many look at downtown Augusta as home.
“And I think that’s what Richmond County authorities are doing, they’re taking and having a presence in the downtown area, so this space will be respected,” said Jones.
Having face-to-face conversations is a start.
“And also to let them know that we want to know when there are concerns of theirs and make sure that we hear them and their concerns are being met with actions,” said Sheriff Brantley.
It’s something many business owners have asked for, going back several years.
“The change already is good with everything else, it just takes time. So really it just. I’m looking forward to how it, when it all comes down and the smoke settles, ‘cause it’s still new. Five months into the year, it’s still all new. A year from now, two years from now, I mean, who’s to tell? Downtown’s gonna be great,” said Adrian Estrada, owner, The Loft.
Safety is the key to making downtown thrive. “Like I said, we still have some things we have to tweak and work on to continue to make downtown safer and make people want to come and enjoy what we have to offer downtown,” said Brantley.
The sheriff’s office downtown safety plan is already in place.
During the day, they have community safety officers out to observe and report any potential issues while assisting business owners with their needs.
At night, the sheriff says they have one deputy per block on foot patrolling, they have a mix of marked and unmarked cars out as well.
However, he says they are prepared to add more staff as needed, especially as summer events start soon.
“We will have a mobile command staff that will be available that deals with large events and event staff,” said Brantley. “It will be a host of traffic crime suppression and different specialized units working in the area to make sure we have enough coverage to be able to deal with any problems that may arise.”
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Georgia gubernatorial candidate Geoff Duncan campaigned in Augusta ahead of Election Day, making stops at two churches and meeting with local faith leaders.
The former lieutenant governor visited Good Hope Baptist Church on Cedar Street, where he spoke with the Greater Augusta Interfaith Coalition’s “Music to the Polls” group.
Duncan told us that, if elected governor, he wants to expand Medicaid, pass what he called “common-sense gun legislation,” and create more economic opportunities statewide. He also pointed to affordability concerns impacting families and businesses.
“I want to take $1.7 billion of our state’s fund and wrap it around the axle of poverty,” Duncan said, adding that he wants to lower child care costs and improve temporary assistance programs.
Duncan also stopped at Miles Memorial Church on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
NJ apartment dwellers, renters have these options for help with rent
State and local officials say several programs are designed to help low and moderate-income households stay housed in the face of financial distress.
As rent prices continue to strain budgets, a new study is highlighting where Georgians can save the most by splitting housing costs.
According to a report from SmartAsset, some cities in Georgia offer major savings for renters who choose to live with a roommate.
Here’s what to know.
Where can you save the most in Georgia?
The study ranks Augusta as the top city in Georgia for roommate savings, and No. 6 in the country.
Renters there can save about 45% on monthly rent, or roughly $450 per month, by sharing an apartment.
Here’s how the costs compare in Augusta:
- One-bedroom rent: $1,000
- Two-bedroom rent: $1,100
- Estimated monthly savings with a roommate: $450
Why are roommate savings so high?
With rent prices rising, splitting costs has become one of the easiest ways to cut monthly expenses.
The study shows that sharing rent can significantly reduce housing costs, especially in cities where prices have climbed in recent years.
How does Georgia compare to the rest of the country?
Here’s the top 10 cities in the US for saving with a roomate:
- Cleveland, OH
- Baton Rouge, LA
- Jersey City, NJ
- Memphis, TN
- Boise, ID
- Augusta, GA
- New Haven, CT
- Chattanooga, TN
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Shreveport, LA
Methodology
The study analyzed 100 U.S. cities using rental data from March 2025 to March 2026 from Zumper, comparing one-bedroom rents to half the cost of two-bedroom apartments to estimate savings from sharing with a roommate.
For more information, visit smartasset.com/data-studies/roommate-savings-2026.
Vanessa Johns is the Trending Topics Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team Georgia. Email her at Vcountryman@gannett.com.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Families had the chance to sharpen their money skills at a financial literacy event hosted by local nonprofit Crown Her Mentoring at the Bernie Ward Community Center.
The free event offered resources for all ages, from kids learning the basics to adults planning for their financial future.
Attendees could sit in sessions about budgeting, credit, opening banking accounts and insurance options.
Organizers said the event was designed to make financial education accessible during Financial Literacy Month.
“People need to understand the importance of a checking account, a savings account—how to manage your money. How to invest your money. People need to learn about life insurance,” said Torrecka Davis, organizer.
Crown Her Mentoring will host a mental health awareness event on May 23. Open enrollment for new mentees will begin on May 10.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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