Augusta, GA
Homeless ‘point in time’ count is seeking on your help
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The cold weather could help Richmond County as the annual “point-in-time”, or PIT, count is preparing to take place.
This is a way for Augusta to take stock of how many people are struggling with homelessness.
The face of homelessness is ever-changing, and the number is increasing.
“The average person on the street who is experiencing homelessness today is 48, so that speaks volumes to me that my generation is who is experiencing homelessness now,” said Bethany Trapp, who helps plan the count.
It’s why the homeless task force is gathering volunteers.
“Because of the fact that Hurricane Helene did hit our area so hard we have seen an uptick of folks coming into the shelter, requesting longer stays just because they have nowhere else,” said Trapp.
They’re getting a head count of just how many people are experiencing homelessness in our area.
“We have Salvation Army Center of Hope, Garden City Rescue and Augusta Rescue mission, so we’ll be doing surveys with them,” said Trapp.
The count will take place over the next several days.
“The last 10 days of every January, because that’s typically when it’s coldest,” said Trapp.
But their overnight count is Friday, and they need your help.
Brennan Meagher, chair of the Street Outreach Committee, said: “We need about 100 volunteers that will come out. Help us.”
Together, volunteers, the homeless task force and the sheriff’s office will work to reach everyone in the community.
“Everyone will be split into teams, and we’ll go out to certain areas where we know encampments are or where we know our street outreach team has encountered homeless numbers of our community,” said Meagher.
They do the count as part of their partnership with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
But it’s more than just a headcount.
Trapp said: “These numbers are used for grant funding, and we look at that, especially with the homeless task force to see how many people were experiencing homelessness and how can we fix that?”
It’s the first step to connecting people in our community with resources to make sure no one is overlooked.
“We need to know what the gaps and services are so that we can start making those connections,” said Trapp.
There is still time for you to sign up to volunteer to help with the PIT count.
To sign up to help, fill out this form.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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An Augusta biomanufacturer will start making ammunition in the global fight against malaria.
Manus last week broke ground at its local plant on Lovers Lane on a production facility to produce artemisinin. The chemical is a key starting component in drug treatments to treat the deadly mosquito-borne illness. Malaria killed more than 600,000 people worldwide in 2024, according to the World Health Organization
“This groundbreaking reflects a shift from dependence to capability,” said Ajikumar Parayil, Manus’ founder and CEO. “For decades, the U.S. has relied heavily on overseas supply chains for the building blocks of essential medicines. What we’re establishing in Augusta is a new model – one that restores control, strengthens resilience, and proves that advanced biomanufacturing can be deployed at scale, here at home.”
About 80% of key ingredients for essential U.S. medicines are made or sourced overseas, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
That has led companies such as Manus to pursue biomanufacturing production models capable of making medical compounds domestically, efficiently and on a large scale.
Earlier in 2026, Manus won federal funding to expand production to make shikimic acid, a key compound in the antiviral medication oseltamivir, better known by its brand name Tamiflu.
On April 30, Manus announced a partnership with the University of Georgia to start a structured biomanufacturing apprenticeship program in Augusta. With a UGA “academic blueprint,” according to Manus, apprentices would receive extensive training on live production equipment to produce more experienced professionals for bio-industrial manufacturers nationwide.
Manus reopened Augusta’s old NutraSweet plant in 2019. In 2021, it introduced NutraSweet Natural, a zero-calorie stevia sweetener made using a smaller environmental footprint.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Brent McMillian is being appointed as the new director of athletics at Augusta University, President Russell Keen announced Monday.
McMillian will begin the role on June 8, 2026.
According to AU, McMillian brings 13 years of athletics experience to the position. He previously served as Senior Associate Athletic Director for External Engagement and Revenue Generation at Lipscomb University at Nashville.
“His vision aligns seamlessly with our goals for Jaguar Athletics: to champion student-athlete wellbeing, strengthen our competitive success, deepen community engagement, and build a vibrant, spirited campus culture,” Keen said. “His experience, combined with his personal connection to Augusta University, positions him to hit the ground running in a meaningful way.”
McMillian is a graduate of Greenbrier High School and attended Augusta University before completing his degree at the University of Tennessee.
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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Local restaurants hosted brunches for Mother’s Day, allowing neighbors to celebrate the day with the special women in their lives.
The Brunch House of Augusta on Greene Street hosted a brunch. The restaurant served berry pancakes and French toast, waffles, ham and cheese breakfast sliders and more breakfast foods.
One of the owners said the holidays are a great time for them to make connections with the community.
“We just had a group here come here that’s been coming here every year Mother’s Day for three years, every year basically since we’ve been open, they come in every year for Mother’s Day. We have people from out of town come and travel and visit us, so it’s definitely building that connection,” said Ashley Brown, co-owner of The Brunch House of Augusta.
Brown said they will be offering some specials for the upcoming Juneteenth holiday next month.
The Frog and the Hen also hosted a Mother’s Day brunch. The restaurant had about 350 people come in as of around 3 p.m.
They served foods like fried chicken, cheddar biscuits, French toast casserole and more.
The general manager said she enjoys seeing families come in for holidays like Mother’s Day.
“I feel like these are all my children here, so I feel like this day just in general, like I get to be the mother here, and so this is like I’m mother hen, so I get to take care of all this. I love supporting all the people as well and just being able to get the best food possible, the best chicken everywhere,” said Sheridan Roberts, general manager of Frog and the Hen.
Roberts said they often have to stop making reservations a few weeks ahead of the holiday due to the amount they receive.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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