Augusta, GA

Former Augusta mayor wants investigation of current mayor

Published

2 years ago

April 20, 2022

Former Augusta mayor wants investigation of current mayor

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — A former mayor of Augusta needs a civil investigation into how the present mayor is spending cash.

Former Mayor Bob Younger instructed native information shops Tuesday he had despatched a letter to Superior Court docket Decide Daniel Craig urging that he empanel a particular grand jury to research Mayor Hardie Davis.

“Data are being withheld or their launch stonewalled, unchecked spending has occurred in violation of county insurance policies and a state investigation is beneath approach regarding using public sources for political functions,” Younger wrote to Decide Craig.

The grand jury wouldn’t carry legal costs, however Younger mentioned it may ahead proof of any crime to legislation enforcement.

Davis, who has 9 months left in workplace and is barred from in search of a 3rd time period, could possibly be sanctioned by the state ethics fee for failing to file marketing campaign finance reviews in 2019 and 2020 whilst he collected greater than $10,000 in contributions. In a divorce submitting final week, his spouse accused him of getting an affair with a advisor paid by the mayor’s workplace, which Davis denied. He’s had his bank card spending curbed by the city-county fee.

A minority of Augusta commissioners have known as for forensic audits of the mayor’s workplace or all the city-county authorities, however lack sufficient votes to proceed. Younger mentioned a particular grand jury may have the same impact.

Younger mentioned the decision in a speech earlier than a civic membership. He mentioned an investigation may take greater than 12 months, however mentioned it’s necessary for residents of Augusta-Richmond County to know what occurred, even when Davis leaves workplace earlier than an inquiry concludes.

“It’s a disservice to previous and future mayors to permit the workplace to be demeaned and tarnished,” Younger instructed WJBF-TV.

Davis mentioned in a press release that Younger “is now a non-public citizen, and, as such, he’s free to supply his opinion.” An accounting agency is already analyzing Davis’ use of metropolis bank cards.

“This subject continues to be mentioned by the town’s elected leaders,” Davis mentioned in a press release. “I consider that it could not be smart for the courtroom to insert itself into this dialogue and should solely result in an additional lack of confidence in our judiciary.”

Craig instructed the Augusta Chronicle it could be inappropriate for him to remark.

When Younger was mayor 20 years in the past, he known as for a particular grand jury to research an Augusta hearth chief. A jury was empaneled, with Craig then serving as district lawyer. Grand jurors discovered the chief violated metropolis coverage and awarded unfair promotions, however no legal costs resulted.

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Augusta, GA

2 injured in shooting at Walmart Neighborhood Market in Augusta

Published

1 hour ago

June 1, 2024

Press Room

2 injured in shooting at Walmart Neighborhood Market in Augusta

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Two people were injured in a shooting at the Walmart Neighborhood Market on Windsor Spring Road.

According to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, at 7:12 p.m., deputies responded to the 3600 block of Windsor Spring Road in reference to a shooting on Friday.

Upon arrival, deputies say they located two subjects who had been shot at least one time.

The sheriff’s office says the victims were transported to the hospital for treatment of their injuries.

A News 12 crew is on the way to the scene.

The incident comes amid an outbreak of violent crime that’s claimed more than 150 lives across the CSRA in two years. It’s affected communities large and small on both sides of the Savannah River. But as the largest city in the region, Augusta has been hit especially hard.

Authorities have blamed much of the problem on gangs, and many of the victims as well as the suspects have been young men.

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Augusta, GA

Key things to know about June 18 runoff in Richmond County

Published

8 hours ago

May 31, 2024

Press Room

Key things to know about June 18 runoff in Richmond County

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – On June 18, voters in Augusta-Richmond County will head to the polls to cast a vote in the general primary and nonpartisan election runoff.

On the ballot will be the Democratic sheriff runoff and nonpartisan Superior Court judge runoff.

The voter registration deadline and date for changes in registration was April 22.

Voting by mail began Wednesday. Applications are being accepted now. You’ll have to submit an absentee ballot request form that’s available at www.augustaga.gov/vote. Applications can be mailed to the Richmond County Board of Elections at 535 Telfair St., Suite 500, Augusta, GA 30901, faxed to 706-821-2814 or emailed to richmondelections@augustaga.gov. Voters can also apply for a ballot by visiting the online absentee portal at securemyabsenteeballot.sos.ga.gov/s/. The last day to request a ballot is June 7. In order to be counted, voted mail-in absentee ballots must be received by 7 p.m. June 18.

There will be a drop box open in the Linda Beazley Room during the advance voting period as allowed by law.

This flow chart shows who can vote in the runoff.(Contributed)

Advance voting will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday beginning June 10 in the Linda W. Beazley Community Room of the Augusta-Richmond County Municipal Building at 535 Telfair St., the Charles Evans Community Center at 1866 Highland Ave., the Robert Howard Community Center at 103 Diamond Lakes Way, and the Warren Road Recreation Center at 300 Warren Road. The last day to vote advance will be June 14.

Election Day voting will be available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. June 18, and all polling locations in Augusta-Richmond County will be open. Voters must report to their assigned precinct in order to vote on Election Day.

Sample ballots will be available at voting sites or can be viewed at www.augustaga.gov/vote or the My Voter Page at www.mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/. For more information, contact the Board of Elections Office at 706-821-2340.

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Augusta, GA

Suspect arrested in Augusta shooting over PlayStation

Published

15 hours ago

May 31, 2024

Press Room

Suspect arrested in Augusta shooting over PlayStation

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A wanted man has been arrested in connection with a shooting over a PlayStation at Azalea Park apartments, authorities said Friday.

Authorities say ZyRick Jackson, 18, of Augusta, was wanted in reference to a shooting that occurred on May 9 at the Azalea Park Apartments located at 1814 Fayetteville Drive.

He was arrested Thursday, according to Richmond County jail records.

Around 8:30 p.m., deputies say they arrived and saw the suspect, Jackson, who had been shot in both legs.

The victim told authorities, Jackson had pulled a firearm on him after an argument over a PlayStation 4.

He only tried to get the gun in defense, and when he ran away, Jackson shot at him at least once, according to authorities.

Jackson told authorities he was attempting to keep his gun away from the victim, and while doing so, the gun accidentally discharged a round into his left leg, authorities say.

He stated he wasn’t sure if the victim grabbed the gun, causing him to shoot himself, according to authorities.

Authorities say Jackson did tell authorities he shot at the victim once when he was running away.

Jackson told authorities he was not sure whether he shot himself in the right leg or not.

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