Augusta, GA

Pride organizers work to keep public safe during weekend activities

Published

2 years ago

June 21, 2024

Press Room

Pride organizers work to keep public safe during weekend activities

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – June is Pride Month, and Augusta’s celebrations are some of the largest in the Peach State.

Last year, a record 16,000 people came to Pride to celebrate.

We were live in downtown Augusta where Beats on Broad held its hours-long music party at the Augusta Common.

With so many people expected to turn out this weekend, public safety is top of mind.

It’s a time to recognize everyone in the CSRA.

“We’ve grown and grown every year. And we’re hoping that we have at least 15 to 16,000 people show up in the next two days,” said Augusta Pride Secretary James Mintz.

It’s a weekend Mintz says you can come as you are with no fear.

He says organizers took great lengths to try and make that a reality.

“We utilize Richmond County Sheriff’s Department to do our security. And we’re very happy with the announcement that there are more patrols in downtown Augusta to just try and give people more a sense of safety and crime is down in general nationwide. So, there’s no reason why you can’t come out to the Augusta common tonight and tomorrow and celebrate,” he said.

Public Safety Officer Doug Ruben was named officer of the year.

It’s an atmosphere vendors say they are willing to take the extra effort to maintain.

“We’ll keep an eye out for everybody’s boots. Like our young lady over here. She had to walk away. We’re gonna watch out for everybody to make sure there’s no crime going on. And if so, we know who to report it to,” said vendor Kirby Eckleberry.

Organizers say it’s a bright weekend of festivities to look forward to.

“A hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, drink plenty of fluids. Several booths will be offering free water and just come check out each booth that’s available here because we think that there’s some good resources here,” said Mintz.

The festivities don’t stop after Friday night, the parade and festival will be happening tomorrow on Saturday.

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Augusta, GA

Golden Harvest hosting 15th Annual Georgia Legal Food Frenzy

Published

2 hours ago

April 20, 2026

Press Room

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Golden Harvest Food Bank is partnering with local legal organizations for the 15th Annual Georgia Food Frenzy.

The fundraising competition is held in partnership with Feeding Georgia, the Office of the Georgia Attorney General, the State Bar of Georgia, and the Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Georgia.

The two-week competition runs from April 20th through May 1st, and every dollar raised stays local, supporting Golden Harvest’s work across the state of Georgia.

Groups can register at www.galegalfoodfrenzy.org/sign-up, and registration will remain open throughout the competition.

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Augusta, GA

Geoff Duncan campaigns in Augusta ahead of Election Day

Published

15 hours ago

April 20, 2026

Press Room

Geoff Duncan campaigns in Augusta ahead of Election Day

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.

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Augusta, GA

What is the cheapest city in Georgia to live with a roomate?

Published

1 day ago

April 19, 2026

Press Room

What is the cheapest city in Georgia to live with a roomate?

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.

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