Augusta, GA

Green racket: DC mayor took ‘economic development’ trip to Masters on taxpayers’ dime

Published

2 weeks ago

April 18, 2024

Green racket: DC mayor took ‘economic development’ trip to Masters on taxpayers’ dime

District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser may want a mulligan on this one.

The Democrat took a taxpayer-funded “sports and economic development” trip to last week’s Masters golf tournament in Augusta, Ga.

Bowser, 51, announced the jaunt on her public schedule and a spokeswoman for the mayor’s office confirmed that DC residents paid for all related travel expenses to get inside the gates at the fabled Augusta National Golf Club, DC News Now reported.

Susana Castillo, Bowser’s communications director, told the outlet that the mayor was invited by Jodie McLean and Deborah Ratner Salzberg, who are co-chairs of a city task force “to revitalize the Gallery Place and Chinatown Neighborhood.”

The spokeswoman did not disclose the total cost of the more than 500-mile flight south, nor did she immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.

“No matter where I am, my team is working and always in touch with me at a moment’s notice,” Bowser added in a statement of her own to DC News Now.

The mayor has faced sharp criticism for her handling of a crime spike in the nation’s capital before pivoting last fall amid mass resignations by city police — including former chief Robert Contee III.

Violent crime surged 39% in the nation’s capital from 2022 to 2023, with homicides rising 35% and robberies up a whopping 67%.

In two recent high-profile incidents, armed carjackers stole the vehicles of an FBI agent and Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), while a former federal official in the Trump administration was shot and killed by another car thief in February.

Bowser embraced the Black Lives Matter movement during the riots that followed the police killing of George Floyd in 2020, but reversed course in 2023 to fight the city council over a radical crime bill that lightened sentencing for robberies, carjackings and other gun-related felonies.

Last year, she also opposed a progressive policing law that hampered officers’ ability to apprehend suspects and increased disciplinary measures, making them “scared to do their job,” according to Bowser.

The crime spike had briefly threatened a $515 million deal with Washington Wizards and Capitals owner Ted Leonsis, who entertained moving the NBA and NHL teams to a new northern Virginia arena before reaching an agreement with Bowser to stay in the nation’s capital.

It’s unclear what other projects Bowser may be pursuing in Chinatown.

“As mayor, I frequently attended meetings and events to foster economic development, strengthen partnerships, and build rapport with people interested in investing in our city,” DC councilman Vincent Gray, who served a single term as mayor before being unseated by Bowser in the 2014 Democratic primary, told DC News Now.

“I met with people in countless venues, be they overseas, in downtown DC conference rooms, or sometimes at high-profile gatherings,” he said. “I see no controversy in travel that is intended to promote the District in furtherance of opportunity that benefits residents and local businesses.”

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Augusta, GA

Separate crashes cause traffic in Augusta; at least 1 injured

Published

7 mins ago

May 1, 2024

Press Room

Separate crashes cause traffic in Augusta; at least 1 injured

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A crash caused unknown injuries on Jones Street in downtown Augusta on Wednesday morning, according to authorities.

Dispatch says the call came in at 8:12 a.m. for a two vehicle crash on Jones Street and St. Sebastian Way in downtown Augusta.

Officials say they don’t know at this time if anyone has been injured.

We were on the scene at 8:51 a.m.

Deputies were still on the scene as of 9:10 a.m., dispatch says they are unsure if any lanes are closed.

We have reached out to learn more about the accident.

Early Tuesday morning, one person was injured after a two-vehicle crash on Gordon Highway, according to authorities.

Richmond County dispatch says the call came in at 5:09 a.m. for a crash on Gordon Highway and Timber Creek Lane.

1 injured after early morning crash on Gordon Highway(WRDW/WAGT)

Dispatch says one person was injured, but the severity of the injuries is unknown.

They were still on the scene as of 6:15 a.m. and no lanes were blocked.

Dispatch says they cleared the scene just before we arrived around 6:30 a.m.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta Christian baseball, North Augusta softball shine playoff debuts

Published

7 hours ago

May 1, 2024

Press Room

Augusta Christian baseball, North Augusta softball shine playoff debuts

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – It’s playoff time, which means it’s time for the rubber to meet the road for all of the teams who carry championship expectations with them.

The defending state champion Augusta Christian baseball team is coming off their first state title since 2007, and they had themselves a ball game against Ben Lippen in the first round.

Santiago Pacheco was in his bag, throwing a complete game shutout.

He led the Lions to victory, 1-0.

“Santiago pitched a heck of a game, you can’t say enough about him and what he did tonight. He led this team, and you know, Malachi Duncan coming up with a big hit there late in the game, but it’s just playoff baseball. Survive and advance, you win them 10 to nothing or one to nothing it doesn’t matter, you just have to win,” said Head Coach Austin Robinson.

Augusta Christian has home-field advantage throughout the state playoffs and they’ll be back in action on Friday.

IN NORTH AUGUSTA…

The North Augusta softball team won their region title once again this year.

The Lady Jackets went head-to-head with Pickens in the first round.

The game was close for most of the way, but a big-time home run in the bottom of the fourth by senior Jordan Wiley helped power the Lady Jackets to an 11-3 win.

OTHER TUESDAY NIGHT SCORES:

Greenbrier 14, Ola 2; Greenbrier advances to GHSA Class 5A State Elite 8.
Saluda 6, Batesburg-Leesville 5
Fox Creek 15, Eau Claire 0

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Augusta, GA

Augusta business owner aims to fill your bowl and soul

Published

15 hours ago

April 30, 2024

Press Room

Augusta business owner aims to fill your bowl and soul

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A downtown business is following through with its pledge to feed those who need it most on the last business day of the month for the next two years.

Toaste of Augusta has partnered with the Project Refresh Shower Day at the Department of Public Health.

Adding Toaste to the community line-up offers a real ‘restaurant’ experience and helps connect with those who are often overlooked.

“I just wanted to make sure that I had food. Now I have Dom, so I don’t even have to think about it. I used to have to think, I need volunteers here, but that’s a lot to take on. This is what Dom does,” said Rev. Lisa Ann Wheeler with the Georgia Department of Public Health.

Wheeler is talking about Dominik Cartrel, who owns Toaste of Augusta. It’s his second time working with the other community partners for this particular event.

“We just want folks to come down and enjoy themselves, no judgment whatsoever. If you know somebody that’s in need of a good meal, sit down, and we’ll take care of them,” said Cartrel.

Cartrel also provides a service called “God’s Grits,” where every month he opens his restaurant up to whoever needs a plate of food at no cost and no questions asked.

“My events are normally averaged about, say, right at 100 was my most. The last event we had here was 250 people. So I saw the need. It was very eye-opening, simply because it was word of mouth. There are a lot more people that actually need our assistance. Not so much as homeless but so many that people are in different situations,” said Cartrel.

He’s giving his community an experience many take for granted.

“We wanted folks to have a nice dining experience,” he said.

He compared the experience to buying a car.

“They didn’t know if I had a million dollars in the bank or if I had $10 in the bank. They treated me like an individual. And that’s how I treat folks, when they come inside my restaurant, no matter what dollar amount, I still want to provide the same experience,” said Cartrel.

Cartrel said the experience is a gift.

“I didn’t know so many folks had kids weren’t eating a hot meal, or just a meal in general,” he said.

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