Augusta, GA

S.C. extends voter deadline after Helene; Georgia doesn’t

Published

2 months ago

October 7, 2024

S.C. extends voter deadline after Helene; Georgia doesn’t

With registration deadlines looming, Democrats and civil rights groups are asking election officials in the states ravaged by Hurricane Helene to give voters more time.

A judge in South Carolina on Friday extended that state’s deadline to Oct. 14, but prospects are uncertain in the other hard-hit states.

There’s no indication Georgia is extending its deadline to register and/or update information like an address.

That deadline is Monday.

Richmond County Board of Elections Executive Director Travis Doss says there are some convenient ways to do this:

Visit the Georgia MVP page at https://mvp.sos.ga.gov/s/
Visit the Augusta Board of Elections website at https://augustaga.gov/vote
Visit the Board of Elections’ temporary office in the lobby at 535 Telfair Street, Municipal Building, Augusta, GA, between 9: a.m. and 4 p.m.

If you have questions, contact the Richmond County Board of Elections at 706-821-2340 or via email at richmondelections@augustaga.gov.

The deadline comes as some in Georgia are living in the dark after Hurricane Helene left extensive damage to parts of the state. Secretary of Brad State Raffensperger said he’s reaching out to every county to make sure they’re ready for early voting, which starts on Oct. 15.

Raffensperger reported that as of Thursday, there was no known damage to voting machines. The Jenkins County election office was badly damaged in the storm, but the machines were fine, he added.

Raffensperger also said the office does have additional equipment in reserve.

Esta foto, proporcionada por Laurel Lindsay, muestra a Marcia y Jerry Savage, quienes murieron...

In Georgia, the other major presidential swing state in the storm’s path, at least 40 advocacy groups wrote Gov. Brian Kemp and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, both Republicans, urging them to extend the registration deadline in the affected counties by at least a week beyond Monday’s deadline.

The state’s election board adopted new rules last month, including a hand-counting requirement and more training for every poll worker in all 159 counties —including Nico Parra.

“Before this, we had a poll worker shortage. And so these hurricane effects and the new hand-count rule are simply adding more burden to election offices that are already stuck,” Parra said.

Parra is opposed to hand-counting and said his friends in hard-hit areas of the state like Augusta and Valdosta are just trying to find a place to live.

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Civil rights groups said the storm’s devastation severely limits Georgia voters’ ability to register for the upcoming presidential election, whether online, in-person or by mail.

“If there are any circumstances that would merit extending the deadline, these are those circumstances,” said Amir Badat, a voting rights lawyer for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, one of the groups requesting the extension.

The Georgia Secretary of State’s office said it’s evaluating what effects the hurricane had on elections offices around the state and is making sure polling places are fully functional for voters, spokesperson Mike Hassinger said.

The NAACP Legal Defense Fund sent a similar letter Friday to Florida officials, including Gov. Ron DeSantis and Secretary of State Cord Byrd.

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Augusta, GA

Basel backs splashing the bucks to host Eurovision

Published

7 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Press Room

Basel backs splashing the bucks to host Eurovision | News | wfxg.com

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Augusta, GA

The Major Rager Sets 2025 Lineup: Greensky Bluegrass, Eggy, Easy Honey

Published

2 days ago

November 22, 2024

Press Room

The Major Rager Sets 2025 Lineup: Greensky Bluegrass, Eggy, Easy Honey

The Major Rager has announced the artist lineup for its 11th annual event, set to take place in Augusta, GA on April 12th, 2025 during The Masters. The long-running event takes its name from the professional golf tournament with which it coincides—one of four tournaments known collectively as “the majors.”

Jamgrass favorites Greensky Bluegrass will headline the 2025 edition of The Major Rager. The single-day event, produced by Friends With Benefits Productions, will also feature performances by ever-rising jam quartet Eggy and Charleston, SC-native rock outfit Easy Honey. Tickets for The Major Rager 2025 are now on sale here.

On Tour With Eggy: Waiting Game [Feature]

Greensky Bluegrass’ Major Rager headlining slow will follow an extensive run of early-2025 headlining tour dates across the country. Find a full list of upcoming Greensky Bluegrass tour dates here. Eggy, still riding the momentum of the band’s long-awaited sophomore album, 2024’s Waiting Game, will arrive in Augusta on April 12th fresh off a run of spring festival appearances at Live Oak, FL’s Suwannee Amp Jam #1, Phoenix, AZ’s M3F, Miramar Beach, FL’s My Morning Jacket-hosted One Big Holiday, and Atlanta, GA’s Mental Awakening Festival. Find a full list of upcoming Eggy tour dates here. For Easy Honey, the Major Rager marks the first announced date on the band’s 2025 tour schedule. Find a full list of upcoming Easy Honey tour dates here.

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Augusta, GA

34-year-old and 32-year-old ID’d in related Augusta fatal shootings

Published

2 days ago

November 22, 2024

Press Room

34-year-old and 32-year-old ID’d in related Augusta fatal shootings

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Richmond County Coroner has identified two victims after two related shooting incidents in Augusta, we learned on Friday.

The Richmond County Coroner’s Office responded to Wellstar/MCG about a shooting death.

Jeremy Dontavious McGahee, 34, of Augsuta was transported to Wellstar/MCG by EMS from the 2100 block of C Street with at least one gunshot wound, Coroner Mark Bowen said.

He was pronounced dead at 8:28 p.m., Bowen says. An autopsy has been scheduled.

The Coroner’s Office also responded to the 2100 block of C Street about a possible suicide.

Zyquan Jamarcus Franklin, 32, of Augusta, was found inside a residence with at least one gunshot wound and pronounced dead on the scene at 12:15 a.m. Bowen said. An autopsy has been scheduled.

Bowen says these cases are connected and in the early stages of investigation. Once the next of kin has been notified, the victim’s identification will be released.

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office says deputies responded to C Street around 9:34 p.m. about shots fired with two people down.

Deputies say upon arrival, they located one male and one female subject who had been shot at least one time.

Both victims were transported to a local hospital for treatment, where the male victim succumbed to his injuries.

The sheriff’s office says investigators are still on scene as of 11 p.m.

Also on Thursday, 50-year-old Chavious Kimmerlin was shot dead in his home on Highland Avenue.

The shooting comes amid a two-year outbreak of violent crime that’s claimed more than 180 lives across the CSRA.

Cities large and small have been affected on both sides of the Savannah River. But as the largest community in the region, Augusta has been hit especially hard.

Authorities have blamed much of the problem on gangs.

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