Augusta, GA

Ossoff shows off Georgia Cyber Center to White House key adviser

Published

2 years ago

June 10, 2024

Ossoff shows off Georgia Cyber Center to White House key adviser

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff on Monday hosted National Cyber Director Harry Coker Jr. at the Georgia Cyber Center in Augusta, where they met with key cybersecurity leaders.

The visit highlighted Augusta’s role in cybersecurity in both the public and private sectors.

Coker, who advises the president on cybersecurity policy and strategy, visited to understand the investment being made in Augusta’s future as a national cybersecurity capital.

Ossoff’s big message was highlighting the importance of elevating Augusta as a national cybersecurity hub.

Ossoff and Coker discussed the importance of collaboration between the federal government and cybersecurity experts here in building a strong cybersecurity workforce and protecting national security assets from cyber threats.

Ossoff outlined how he plans to make this happen.

He noted that he delivered $163 million through the bipartisan government funding package to help renovate, upgrade, and expand Fort Eisenhower’s Cyber Center of Excellence, which provides training to cyber, electronic warfare, and signal professionals in the U.S. Army.

He also pointed out that Augusta was designated as a National Workforce Hub and a National Tech Hub, highlighting the region’s vital role in cybersecurity and workforce development.

Ossoff said this means wealth creation and good-paying jobs in the CSRA.

“One out of every 20 jobs recently in the United States that was opened was in cybersecurity,” Ossoff said. “These jobs pay six figures in many cases. These are stable. long-term careers. We want folks here in Augusta to be able to take advantage of that opportunity.”

Last November, during his nomination hearing before the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, Coker committed to Ossoff to visiting Augusta once confirmed and working with him to support Augusta’s leading role in cyber.

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Augusta, GA

Structure fire blocks multiple lanes on Peach Orchard Road

Published

7 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Press Room

Structure fire blocks multiple lanes on Peach Orchard Road

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and Augusta Fire Department responded to a structure fire early Saturday morning in the 3600 block of Peach Orchard Road.

Fire truck shortage forces local departments to wait years for equipment

Emergency crews blocked multiple lanes as they battled the fire, according to a Facebook post from the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.

News 12 has reached out to the Augusta Fire Department to determine the cause of the fire and to inquire about any reported injuries.

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Augusta, GA

Finding Solutions: Augusta Juvenile Court receives grant for gang prevention

Published

19 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Finding Solutions: Augusta Juvenile Court receives grant for gang prevention

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Augusta Juvenile Court received a grant of more than $1 million to prevent youth from joining gangs by addressing underlying factors that lead to criminal behavior.

The grant from the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council will allow the court to expand services beyond its current programs and serve a broader population of at-risk youth.

“This allows us to build on the work we are currently doing. It also allows us to serve a different population of youth that we have not been able to serve on such an extended level, so we have additional funds that will serve even more kids and to hopefully assist the sheriff and district attorney in not having youthful offenders become adult offenders that they have to obtain and prosecute,” said Chief Judge Tianna Bias.

Addressing root causes

The funding will target factors that make youth vulnerable to gang recruitment, including poor school attendance and reading difficulties.

“Whether it’s that they have poor school attendance, not reading on grade level. One thing we’ve seen is that when you are not reading on grade level that has an impact on many other areas of your life. It’s really just an opportunity to offer wrap-around support for these kids so we can prevent them from getting into unfortunate situations that they may not end up in front of a juvenile court judge later,” Bias said.

Dr. Audrey Armistad, chief intake officer for the juvenile court, said the court’s goal is rehabilitation rather than detention.

“We put them in programs and services that help them to be able to develop mentally, socially and physically when it comes to kids involved with the juvenile court,” Armistad said.

Expanding services

The juvenile court currently serves at-risk youth through the THRIVE program. The court is also expanding services with a new computer lab set to open next month.

“It helps us to be able to provide instruction to kids getting GEDs, parents wanting GEDs, as well as we provide learning loss instruction to kids enrolled in Richmond County who may need remediation in math and reading,” Armistad said.

A gang prevention expert will meet with the juvenile court team to provide recommendations on how the grant money should be spent.

Bias said success will be measured by fewer teens in courtrooms and more in classrooms.

“We are meant to rehabilitate not to punish and we want to help these parents get kids on track so we can see a better Augusta for everyone,” Bias said.

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