Augusta, GA

Super Bowl alcohol sales are on tap for now in Augusta

Published

2 years ago

January 8, 2024

Super Bowl alcohol sales are on tap for now in Augusta

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – For now, the Super Bowl will be on the sole Sunday this year for alcohol sales at Augusta bars.

After an uproar over a decision last year leading to bar closures on New Year’s Eve, Augusta Commission members have been unable to reach a decision for this year that they’re comfortable with. They polled bar owners but weren’t able to get a good read on their sentiments.

The matter was discussed Monday when Augusta Commission members met at the committee level.

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Georgia only allows bars to sell liquor on one Sunday a year, and local governments can decide what day that is. Super Bowl Sunday is usually the automatic decision for the Augusta Commission, and that’s what leaders decided last year.

But that meant bars couldn’t sell alcohol on New Year’s Eve, which was also a Sunday.

No one seemed to realize the extent of the problem until a few weeks before the end of 2023, when it was far too late to do anything about it.

For this year, there had been talk of possibly choosing Cinco de Mayo or St. Patrick’s Day as the designated Sunday.

So a survey went out to more than 60 bars on Wednesday, asking for their views.

The survey got only 15 responses, with St. Patrick’s Day as the top vote.

Only two said they wanted Cinco De Mayo for Sunday sales.

Unsatisfied with the number of responses, commissioners decided not to make any changes for now.

This means Super Bowl Sunday as the sole Sunday for bars to sell alcohol this year unless something else is done.

New Year’s Eve is a Tuesday this year.

Also at Monday’s committee meetings:

Emergency funds for the Charles B. Webster Detention Center got consent and the matter was moved to a meeting of the full Augusta Commission.
Discussion on the Augusta Boat House was pushed to the next committee meetings. Pipes broke in the building, leading to mold contamination, and city leaders have been discussing its future.
A discussion on slumlords dipped into previous conversations on blight and negligent landlords. City leaders agreed to develop an ordinance to address property neglect in 60 days.

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Augusta, GA

AU to cut ribbon on new Student Health Services building

Published

7 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

AU to cut ribbon on new Student Health Services building

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta University is set to cut the ribbon on a new Student Health Services building on Friday.

The ribbon cutting will be held at 2:30 p.m. at 1465 Laney Walker Boulevard in Augusta.

The event will showcase the field of college health and the role the services have on students’ personal development and academic success.

The clinic relocated to the new space last month to make way for AU’s advanced research and clinical innovation, according to officials.

At the event, there will also be snacks, interactive games and clinic tours.

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Augusta, GA

Law enforcement converges on home in west Augusta

Published

19 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Law enforcement converges on home in west Augusta

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – There was a large law enforcement presence Thursday morning at a home in west Augusta near Fort Gordon.

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force were in the area attempting to find a suspect, according to deputies.

Witnesses said around 11:25 a.m. that officers had been surrounding a home at Harper-Franklin Avenue and Covington Court.

That’s in a neighborhood of mostly two-story brick-fronted homes built in the past three or four years just east of Jimmie Dyess Parkway and a couple of blocks north of Gordon Highway.

As noon approached, law enforcement had left.

But a Facebook post from earlier did show a large presence,including marked and unmarked cars, and officers all around the house. A witness said police dogs were on the scene, as well.

News 12 has reached out to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office for information.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta mayoral candidate holds town hall as election season begins

Published

1 day ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Augusta mayoral candidate holds town hall as election season begins

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Steven Kendrick held a town hall on Wednesday at the Henry Brigham Community Center as he prepares to challenge Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson.

Kendrick, who serves as chief deputy tax commissioner for Richmond County, previously ran against Johnson in 2022. The town hall was part of Kendrick’s campaign tour as he seeks to unseat the incumbent mayor.

“Some of the people felt as though we really needed to dig a little deeper and we dug a little deeper,” Kendrick said after the meeting. “But that’s how you gain understanding, where everybody’s not going to agree about everything. Some of them we didn’t agree on. I certainly enjoyed the interaction. I learned some things, and I hope they learned some things as well.”

Multiple Commission seats up for election

The mayoral race is not the only contest facing Richmond County voters. Several Augusta Commission seats are up for election across multiple districts.

District 8 will have a new commissioner because Commissioner Brandon Garrett is term-limited and cannot run again. Michael Cioffi and Evett Williams have filed to run for the District 8 seat.

Districts 2, 4, 6 and 10 are also up for election. Stacy Pulliam currently serves in District 2.

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