Garden City Gossip Files Open Records Lawsuit Seeking HCD Audit Records From Augusta
Garden City Gossip has filed a lawsuit against Augusta-Richmond County in an effort to force the release of records connected to the city’s ongoing Housing and Community Development (HCD) audit. The lawsuit, filed February 11, 2026, in Richmond County Superior Court, was brought by the publisher on behalf of Garden City Gossip, following the city’s refusal […]
Sentence, Social Media and Scrutiny: Conviction in Swainsboro Officer Shooting Sparks Protest
SWAINESBORO, Ga. — What began as a 2023 officer-involved shooting during the execution of a search warrant has evolved into a broader community debate over sentencing, prosecutorial messaging, and judicial credibility in Georgia’s Middle Judicial Circuit. Earlier this month, an Emanuel County jury convicted Me’elle Layquon Merrion of aggravated assault and possession of a firearm […]
Augusta Government Provides Update on HCD Audit
The City of Augusta has issued a press release providing an update on the ongoing audit of its Housing and Community Development (HCD) Department. According to city officials, Augusta recently received a preliminary response from the auditing firm Cherry Bekaert related to the HCD audit. However, the report is not yet finalized. After reviewing the […]
Wait—Election Season Is Already Here? Candidates, Please Call Us!
Well… this escalated quickly. If you’re a local candidate in Augusta and already knee-deep in campaign season, we have a confession to make: we’re new, and yes, we’re realizing a bit late that voting season is right around the corner. That said, we still want to hear from you — and more importantly, our readers […]
A Letter from the Publisher – “Never”
Dear Readers: I was born one hot August day in Raleigh, North Carolina in 1982. I grew up a healthy, happy child, and the word never was only really a part of my world in a positive way: I was never worried that WHETHER I’d not have enough to eat. I was never […]
Warnock Champions Amendment to Block Funding for ICE Detention Centers in Georgia
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock (D–Ga.) unveiled a legislative amendment this week aimed at blocking federal funds from being used to establish new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities in the Georgia communities of Social Circle and Oakwood, a move he says reflects the will of residents across the state. Warnock’s amendment, […]
Legendary Actor Robert Duvall Dies at 95
Robert Duvall, the Oscar-winning actor and Hollywood icon, has died at the age of 95, his wife Luciana Duvall announced. The celebrated performer passed away peacefully at his home, surrounded by loved ones, according to a statement shared on his official social media pages. Duvall’s career spanned more than six decades and included some of […]
Missing Teen’s Body Found in River; Adds to Recent Waterway Recoveries
Augusta, Ga. — The body of missing 16-year-old Michael Houston was recovered Sunday from the Savannah River in Augusta, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office confirmed. Authorities are working with the coroner to complete identification and determine the cause of death. Houston’s death is the latest in a series of bodies found in Augusta’s waterways over […]
Trial Begins for Father of Apalachee High School Shooting Suspect
WINDER, Ga. — Opening statements began Monday in the trial of Colin Gray, the father of the teenage suspect accused in the deadly 2024 shooting at Apalachee High School, marking the start of a closely watched case with statewide and national implications. Gray faces multiple felony charges, including second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter and cruelty to […]
Attorney Alexia Davis Payne Challenges Incumbent Judge in Local Judicial Race
Augusta, GA — Voters in the Augusta Judicial Circuit will see a contested race for Superior Court Judge this May, as local attorney Alexia Davis Payne challenges incumbent Judge Ashley Wright in a nonpartisan election. Payne brings nearly 20 years of legal experience to the race, including more than a decade as a public defender, […]