Augusta, GA
Ga. 21-year-old is youngest female mayor in U.S. history
ARABI, Ga. (WALB) – A 21-year-old Georgia woman is the youngest female mayor in not only the state’s history but also in the history of the United States.
Brooke Huckaby is the mayor of Arabi, a town of just under 500 people.
Huckaby is also a college student studying agriculture technology at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and works part-time at the Georgia Department of Agriculture.
“I’d say that one thing that really inspired me, it was just the lack of interest in all the people my age. They don’t really care about politics, and it really inspired me to take the jump in and get a head start on it. The older generation is not always going to be around to handle things for us,” she said.
While running for office, some citizens questioned Huckaby’s ability to lead at such a young age.
“How is someone supposed to gain any experience without putting themselves into the ring?” she said.
Huckaby said her father, who was the previous mayor of the city, has served as her mentor since she took office in January.
Lindsey Sword has served as the city clerk under both mayors and said that working with Huckaby has been a pleasure.
“Oh, it’s been great! I like having somebody that can think of newer things and bring new, more youth to the community versus some of our all these older councilmen that we have got,” she said.
Huckaby said a typical day consists of doing schoolwork, signing off on work orders for the city, working at the Department of Agriculture and assisting scientists in agriculture research.
“I feel like I’m living three different lives sometimes because I’m bouncing from an interview like this to going to class and then I’m going to work. Balancing all that has not, I would say been a struggle, but it has been a challenge, one that I feel like I’m up to”, she said.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) — The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office has made multiple arrests in a deadly shooting that left one teenager dead and another injured early Saturday morning.
According to deputies, the incident happened June 20, at approximately 12:50 a.m. in the 200 block of Warren Road, where authorities responded to reports of shots fired involving two gunshot victims.
When deputies arrived, they located two 18-year-old men from Augusta.
Officials identified the victims as Eric Markquis Bartley Miller and Joseph Lamar Thomas.
Investigators say Miller sustained at least one gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Thomas was also found with at least one gunshot wound and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office says the circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under active investigation.
As of Saturday afternoon, three teenage suspects have been arrested and charged in connection with the incident.
18-year-old Dmihjay Collins, 17-year-old Tayshaun Thomas, and 17-year-old Joseph Thomas have all been arrested and charged with Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of Machine Guns. They are all currently being held at the Webster Detention Center.
A fourth teenager, 17-year-old Reante Byrd was also arrested, but investigators have not linked him to the murder case. Byrd has been charged with Possession of a Pistol or Revolver by a Person Under the Age of 18. He is also being held in the Webster Detention Center.
No further details in the investigation have been released.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Students showcased drones they built during a two-week summer camp at Augusta Regional Airport on Friday.
12 junior and high school students attended the camp, where they learned to fly and build drones designed to help others.
Anderson Puryear, a student, said the camp focused on delivering small medical supplies.
“It was focused on delivering small medical supplies like an EPI pen or glucose packet for like diabetics and for people with allergies in need in the real world that could obviously help save lives, and if people are like in a place in a boat or like in the desert or in the forest where they can’t easily access those supplies it can save their lives,” Puryear said.
The airport partnered with Georgia Tech, state troopers and the Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Department for the Air Edu Summer Camp.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The 10th annual Juneteenth Augusta Festival brought families to the Augusta Fairgrounds on Friday despite the muggy heat.
Cultural and community-focused events, live music performances and food trucks were available at the celebration.
Tonia Hill, attending the Juneteenth celebration, said she loves the holiday and is supporting the community, though she acknowledged the weather conditions.
“I love Juneteenth. And I’m supporting everybody. It’s hot. It’s hot. It’s hot,” Hill said.
The festival runs until 10 p.m.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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