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Fort Gordon’s Eisenhower Army Medical Center could face near-shutdown

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Fort Gordon’s Eisenhower Army Medical Center could face near-shutdown


AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Sen. John Ossoff is demanding answers from military health officials about reported plans to reduce services at Eisenhower Army Medical Center.

In a letter to the Defense Health Agency, Ossoff asked about potential cuts that could include closing inpatient, emergency room and operating room services at the Fort Gordon hospital.

The letter states hospital staff says Eisenhower currently serves 30,000 to 40,000 people.

The facility operates as a teaching hospital with 80 residents and employs about 1,500 people total.

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Ossoff asked the Defense Health Agency specific questions about the facility’s future, including whether there are plans to reduce the scope of care and services offered at the hospital.

The senator also questioned whether leaders reviewed data to determine whether Augusta hospitals could absorb additional patients if cuts occurred.

The letter asks if the Naval Hospital in Jacksonville, Fla., and the facility in Beaufort, S.C., are among those the Defense Health Agency is considering for service reductions.

Ossoff set a deadline of Nov. 28 for responses from the agency.

News 12 reached out to a spokeswoman for the post and got an automated reply to an email that stated, in part:

“Thank you for your note. As a result of a lapse in appropriations, I am out of the office. I will return to the office once appropriations are approved and I am informed to do so.”

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We reached out to a higher-level public affairs address listed in the email and haven’t heard back.



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Augusta, GA

Women’s Healthy and Beauty Expo in Augusta celebrates Women’s History Month

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Women’s Healthy and Beauty Expo in Augusta celebrates Women’s History Month


AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Cher’s Sisters Only Club hosted a CSRA women’s health and beauty expo in Augusta to celebrate women’s history month.

The event took place at the Julian Smith Casino on Broad Street, where there was a fashion show, vendors, community engagement and some wellness resources.

“We had CrossFit, we had Fit to Run, we have some other vendors that has like branding wellness type products and things like that, but as a whole, we had 42 vendors that have enjoyed, and the people that come out have seemed to enjoy it too,” Vonteice Davis and Cher Best of Cher’s Sisters Only Club.

The Augusta Parks and Recreation partnered with the club for Sunday’s event.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta teen summit focuses on deterring crime and gang ties

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Augusta teen summit focuses on deterring crime and gang ties


AUGUSTA, Ga (WJBF)- Saturday afternoon local leaders in Richmond County held a Community Teen Summit and Youth Forum at May Park Community Center to combat the rise in teen violence.

“We wanted to bring in some of the young adults in our community to a safe place where they can utilize their voice. They can be heard,” said Cheryl Bryant, one of the event coordinators.

The forum was centered on reaching teens who may be at risk of joining gangs or other criminal behaviors.

“We see so much happening with our youth. We’ve seen it in the news. I see it in our courtrooms, whether I’m representing the youth or if I’ve seen a youth before me, and if there’s any information I can share that can protect them from coming into the court system, whether it’s for a criminal charge or for some other reason, I like to do that,” said Katrell Nash, a Juvenile Attorney and Judge.

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The event featured community leaders like Sheriff Eugene Brantley and included panel speakers and other vendors designed to support local youth.

“We’re here to let the youth know that there are resources in the community for them. There’s job opportunities. There is mentoring. We’ve got gang mentors,” explained Stephanie Allen, the Public Education Specialist for the Augusta Fire Department.

A recurring theme of the event was “It Takes a Village.” Community members said it is important to show up for youth who may be struggling and help them make better life choices.

“We just want them to know that they’re not alone and that whatever their struggles are, whatever they’re going through– cyber bullying, peer bullying, feel like they don’t have the support at home, that they can reach out to community members and that we’re here to help them. All they have to do is ask,” Allen said.

“That they feel as if we care and we want to help and that they know that there are things in place for them to get help,” added Sheriff Eugene Brantley.

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The summit was well attended with between 100 and 200 people. Leaders said it made them hopeful that more of Richmond County’s youth will turn from violence and crime and walk a better path.

“I love to see that children are engaged, that they want to know more about their rights. They want to know more about what the law says, as well as what they should do in these situations. It makes me very optimistic about their futures and the future of our community at large,” Nash explained.

“I think it’s going to like open them up to other opportunities. And I hope that they go back to school on Monday and tell their peers what they learned here today,” said Allen.

“Hopefully the kids and the youth who are here will engage with the sponsors and the mentors that are here, and hopefully they’ll learn and make better choices and make better decisions. And learn to respond instead of react to things,” said Sheriff Brantley.

Organizers are hoping the teen summit will become an annual event.

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Photojournalist: Avery Van Dusen.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF.



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Augusta, GA

Augusta church hosts 12th annual storybook brunch

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Augusta church hosts 12th annual storybook brunch


AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A fundraiser to help give back to pediatric burn patients was held in Augusta on Saturday.

The 12th annual storybook brunch took place at the First Baptist Church of Augusta, and several storybook characters attended.

Steve Chalker, who is the chief operating officer of the Burn Foundation of America, spoke about how this event helps.

“It just helps raise funds for direct patient services we provide every single day, and this particular event does help burn patients. It’s an event for kids, but it helps benefit them as well,” Chalker said.

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News 12’s Zayna Haliburton was there as Princess of Ceremonies.



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