Augusta, GA
Local swimmer Olivia Stewart is headed to Olympic Trials
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Former Evans and current Aiken-Augusta Swim League star Olivia Stewart is headed to Indianapolis for Olympic Trials.
There, she’ll be joined by Augusta Prep graduate and current South Carolina swimmer Amy Riordan.
Stewart will compete in the 100M breaststroke event, where her time of 1:10.13 earned her a spot against some of the best in the world. Riordan will compete in the 200M freestyle. The South Carolina swimmer holds the school record at 1:44.08.
Stewart shaved 2 seconds off her initial starting time this season to qualify, “I knew from the start, it was a far reach. I mean, two seconds. It might not sound like a lot, but it’s like a good chunk of time, two seconds. I wasn’t gonna lose anything if I didn’t try. So I just talked to my coach about it. We figured out what kind of splits are needed, what time I we need to go out and the first 50 back and the last 50. And so pretty much from maybe January or November to now we’ve just been slowly working at it, trying to get those splits right,” said Stewart.
“Two years ago, this wasn’t even a thought like I would have been irresponsible for me to even talk about it with her. She’s had a pretty meteoric rise, and I’m pretty excited about that,” said Stewart’s ASL Coach Greg Gillette.
She had 13 attempts at 100M breaststroke to get it right.
“When you fail 12 times in a row, it should wear on you. Most kids, it would kind of wear on them and get them into a negative headspace. But she never once wavered. She was enthusiastic the whole time,” said Gillette.
In one weekend, Stewart swam the event six times. She still failed.
There’s a reason they call it lucky number 13.
“When I hit the wall, and I heard everyone just like screaming and cheering for me it was it was like the most exciting moment of my life. It was so it was incredible,” said Stewart.
Knowing that she’ll be up against some of the fastest in the world isn’t phasing her a bit.
“Just to kind of take a look back at four years ago, when the last Olympic trials was going on. I was barely starting swimming. The more big meets you go to, the more used to it you get. You’ve got to look at it as no one’s really looking at me. Like I’m there for myself. When I’m racing, the whole building isn’t staring at me like, ‘Is she gonna go whatever time?’ It’s just me and trying to go my best time, so I’m competing against myself,” said Stewart.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Georgia gubernatorial candidate Geoff Duncan campaigned in Augusta ahead of Election Day, making stops at two churches and meeting with local faith leaders.
The former lieutenant governor visited Good Hope Baptist Church on Cedar Street, where he spoke with the Greater Augusta Interfaith Coalition’s “Music to the Polls” group.
Duncan told us that, if elected governor, he wants to expand Medicaid, pass what he called “common-sense gun legislation,” and create more economic opportunities statewide. He also pointed to affordability concerns impacting families and businesses.
“I want to take $1.7 billion of our state’s fund and wrap it around the axle of poverty,” Duncan said, adding that he wants to lower child care costs and improve temporary assistance programs.
Duncan also stopped at Miles Memorial Church on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
NJ apartment dwellers, renters have these options for help with rent
State and local officials say several programs are designed to help low and moderate-income households stay housed in the face of financial distress.
As rent prices continue to strain budgets, a new study is highlighting where Georgians can save the most by splitting housing costs.
According to a report from SmartAsset, some cities in Georgia offer major savings for renters who choose to live with a roommate.
Here’s what to know.
Where can you save the most in Georgia?
The study ranks Augusta as the top city in Georgia for roommate savings, and No. 6 in the country.
Renters there can save about 45% on monthly rent, or roughly $450 per month, by sharing an apartment.
Here’s how the costs compare in Augusta:
- One-bedroom rent: $1,000
- Two-bedroom rent: $1,100
- Estimated monthly savings with a roommate: $450
Why are roommate savings so high?
With rent prices rising, splitting costs has become one of the easiest ways to cut monthly expenses.
The study shows that sharing rent can significantly reduce housing costs, especially in cities where prices have climbed in recent years.
How does Georgia compare to the rest of the country?
Here’s the top 10 cities in the US for saving with a roomate:
- Cleveland, OH
- Baton Rouge, LA
- Jersey City, NJ
- Memphis, TN
- Boise, ID
- Augusta, GA
- New Haven, CT
- Chattanooga, TN
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Shreveport, LA
Methodology
The study analyzed 100 U.S. cities using rental data from March 2025 to March 2026 from Zumper, comparing one-bedroom rents to half the cost of two-bedroom apartments to estimate savings from sharing with a roommate.
For more information, visit smartasset.com/data-studies/roommate-savings-2026.
Vanessa Johns is the Trending Topics Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team Georgia. Email her at Vcountryman@gannett.com.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Families had the chance to sharpen their money skills at a financial literacy event hosted by local nonprofit Crown Her Mentoring at the Bernie Ward Community Center.
The free event offered resources for all ages, from kids learning the basics to adults planning for their financial future.
Attendees could sit in sessions about budgeting, credit, opening banking accounts and insurance options.
Organizers said the event was designed to make financial education accessible during Financial Literacy Month.
“People need to understand the importance of a checking account, a savings account—how to manage your money. How to invest your money. People need to learn about life insurance,” said Torrecka Davis, organizer.
Crown Her Mentoring will host a mental health awareness event on May 23. Open enrollment for new mentees will begin on May 10.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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