Augusta, GA
What’s the plan for Augusta’s opioid settlement money?
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Fentanyl is Augusta’s number one killer for 30- to 50-year-olds, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health.
Richmond County Coroner Mark Bowen says last year, 100 people died from opioid overdoses, with another 85 deaths pending confirmation.
In Mayor Garnett Johnson’s State of the City address on Tuesday, he talked about how the city plans to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars that are already in the bank in opioid settlement money.
In two settlements over years, more than $7 million is going directly to the city.
The mayor says the problem is payments are spread across 18 years and the hundreds of thousands we do have have to be planned out carefully.
The city has almost $700,000 from the settlements, with hundreds of thousands coming in the next 18 years.
Dr. Bedder works at Augusta’s VA and as director at AU’s Addiction Medicine Fellowship Program. He says some of the most vulnerable victims of this epidemic are those in recovery.
“If you don’t treat the withdrawal, they’re going to go right back out into the street to get more drugs to treat their withdrawal,” he said.
Bedder says a solution needs to come soon, which is what Mayor Johnson is pushing for in treatment vending machines.
“Not only hotel lobbies but bars, nightclubs, anywhere where someone is perhaps experiencing a need for treatment as a result of any of these opioids,” said Mayor Johnson.
Dr. Bedder says the real solution however is long-term care.
“I think the Mayor’s idea is a good idea, but it’s only a band-aid. It’ll prevent some deaths which is great, but the core is treatment and the detox facilities. We have seen nothing from the state, we have tried to tap into some of that settlement money that’s coming in,” he said.
But with the amount coming by the year, Mayor Johnson says these machines are the best way to create an immediate dent.
“I don’t know if the settlement dollars will flow that far, based on the settlement dollars we’re getting. But if we can, and we can make it work, I’m certain and open to having that conversation,” said Mayor Johnson.
Mayor Johnson says the soonest they can get something on the agenda to move forward is sometime after March.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Georgia Lt. Gov candidate state Rep. David Clark made a stop in Augusta Saturday. He says that some of his priorities if he wins include expanding school choice, eliminating the state income and property taxes, and reaching out to younger voters.
Clark is also an Army veteran, who served overseas. He hopes to represent all Georgians.
“Before politics and parties we’re Americans, we’re Georgians. That’s the biggest thing. People want someone who stands up and listens to people,” said Clark.
“I’m not saying we’re always going to agree, but in the end—we’re the American family, we’re the Georgian family.”
The Georgia primary will take place on May 19th, and the general election will be on November 3rd.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Car enthusiasts met Saturday morning at the Augusta Richmond County Judicial Building to show off their cars and meet others.
It was also an opportunity for these people to network with others.
One of the group leaders spoke about the event.
“So we like to be a community-oriented club. We give back to charities with the money that we make off the car shows. So we just like to come hang out and just look at other cars, and talk to other car enthusiasts,” said Mike Anchor, CSRA Mustang and Ford Club.
There are get-togethers like this every month.
They’re normally the first Saturday of the month and start at 9 a.m.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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