Augusta, GA
Ga. attorney general brings ‘war on fentanyl’ to Augusta
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr on Wednesday hosted a meeting of his statewide opioid task force at Augusta University.
The goal was to discuss the “war on fentanyl” and what Carr’s staff described as his continued efforts to combat the opioid crisis in Georgia.
Carr was joined by local leaders, law enforcement officials, state agency representatives, and recovery and addiction specialists.
“This is a mental health issue, a public safety issue, and most of all, a human issue,” said Carr.
Attendees got updates from public, private, and nonprofit partners who are working to address this issue in the region and throughout the state.
Carr says there’s still a lot of ground to cover in the Peach State’s opioid problem.
“How do we leverage the expertise, the assets and the resources that we have to combat this crisis that’s impacting everybody?” asked Carr.
Carr says success is already being seen in the CSRA with a 15-pound fentanyl drug bust in Augusta alone last fall.
Although recent statistics show overdose deaths have fallen in Georgia and across the country, it’s still a problem.
GBI Director Chris Hosey said: “It’s starting to spread throughout the state, just like an epidemic, as it’s been explained, is getting into our rural counties. And it is something that we’ve got to address in every county in the state.”
The average age for overdose deaths is getting younger. Overdoses are the leading cause of death of people 18 to 45.
Reports show Georgia deaths are down nearly 6% – the first change in an increasing trend since 2011.
Local government leaders are hopeful to combat this with state funding from nearly a billion dollar’s worth of settlements from drug manufacturers and distributors.
Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson said: “We could establish a task force to determine how those dollars can be distributed to the many, many needed organizations throughout our community.”
It’s an issue the state says is not going away anytime soon, efforts will continue until the end.
Carr says those state funds are projected to go into the hands of local governments over the span of the next few years.
Money will be focused on providing resources for treatment and prevention.
It’s small comfort to families in the CSRA who’ve lost a loved one to an overdose – people like the family of Alex King, who was killed by fentanyl in 2020.
“There’s a lot of grief, there’s a lot of anger because a child should never pass away before their parents. It’s just not nature and it’s not natural,” said King’s stepfather, Bryan Lugo.
Colin Magill was prosecuted for the death, but released from prison early after taking a plea deal for drug possession and distribution charges. His release came less than a month before a new Georgia law strengthened efforts to fight the spread of fentanyl.
The strengthened law holds the drug dealer responsible for the crime with a charge of involuntary manslaughter. It carries a sentence of one to 10 years.
Burke County has charged two local suspects under the new law.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Steven Kendrick held a town hall on Wednesday at the Henry Brigham Community Center as he prepares to challenge Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson.
Kendrick, who serves as chief deputy tax commissioner for Richmond County, previously ran against Johnson in 2022. The town hall was part of Kendrick’s campaign tour as he seeks to unseat the incumbent mayor.
“Some of the people felt as though we really needed to dig a little deeper and we dug a little deeper,” Kendrick said after the meeting. “But that’s how you gain understanding, where everybody’s not going to agree about everything. Some of them we didn’t agree on. I certainly enjoyed the interaction. I learned some things, and I hope they learned some things as well.”
Multiple Commission seats up for election
The mayoral race is not the only contest facing Richmond County voters. Several Augusta Commission seats are up for election across multiple districts.
District 8 will have a new commissioner because Commissioner Brandon Garrett is term-limited and cannot run again. Michael Cioffi and Evett Williams have filed to run for the District 8 seat.
Districts 2, 4, 6 and 10 are also up for election. Stacy Pulliam currently serves in District 2.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Richmond County deputies are investigating their first homicide of 2026, which occurred early Monday morning on Hines Street just off Laney Walker Boulevard.
The victim was 21-year-old Thaddeus Kirkland. He was found bleeding on scene around 2 a.m. and died a short time later.
Suspect wanted for questioning
Deputies are seeking 24-year-old Bruce Wesby for questioning in connection to the incident. Wesby is known to frequent the Waynesboro area. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call the sheriff’s office.
Crime data shows progress in 2025
The first homicide of 2026 happened five days into the new year, two days sooner than the first homicide of 2025.
According to the sheriff’s office data, violent crime decreased significantly in 2025 under Sheriff Eugene Brantley’s leadership. Homicides dropped 35% year-over-year from 2024 to 2025 to their lowest level since 2021.
Aggravated assaults also dropped 35% to their lowest mark since 2018. Armed robberies fell 36% year-over-year to their lowest mark since crime data for Richmond County was first recorded in 2011.
Law enforcement focused on high-risk areas, including downtown Augusta, to lower response times and keep people safe.
“What they really want is for their families that they’re raising in this area to have safe lives, just like the citizens of Augusta that vote them in,” said M. Steven Fishman, president of Sidney’s Department Store & Uniforms. “They want to be able to go to work, come home, and enjoy their lives with their children, knowing that they’re safe.”
As 2026 gets underway, the sheriff’s office is continuing upgrades for technology and equipment to continue its goal of reducing violent crime. The office sent a statement saying the progress is in large part due to the community and deputies working together.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Two Augusta organizations have been awarded $200,000 for their community outreach initiatives.
The Hub for Community Innovation Augusta and the Medical College of Georgia were named winners of the National Institutes of Health Build UP Trust Challenge, according to a post on Augusta University’s Facebook page.
The organizations were recognized for their efforts in expanding access to care and elevating community voices in research and healthcare through their Community Outreach through Athletics in Colleges and High Schools (COACHS) program.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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