Back to School, College Completion Campaign

ATLANTA, GA (PR) - Gov. Nathan Deal, along with University System of Georgia Chancellor Hank Huckaby and Technical College System of Georgia Commissioner Ron Jackson, announced Georgia’s "Go Back. Move Ahead." campaign. The campaign will encourage many of the more than 1 million Georgians who have completed some college to return and finish their degrees.

Georgia Governor Open to Deal with Children Refugees

ATLANTA, GA (PR) - Gov. Nathan Deal today met with a diverse group from the state’s Latino community to discuss how the nation’s unaccompanied minor crisis is affecting Georgia and how we can find humanitarian solutions.

Congress' Inaction Fuels Immigration Activists to Act

Release of 2014 National Immigration Score Card showing Congress’ failures and rejection of immigrant communities 

WASHINGTON, D.C. (PR) -  National Latino and Asian American and Pacific Islander groups as well as labor and Evangelical leaders have announced an unprecedented alliance and civic engagement initiative, beginning with release of the 2014 National Immigration Score Card that shows how Congress failed on the issue of immigration reform.

Climate Rally in Atlanta

Environmentalists Rally in Support of EPA

ATLANTA, GA (PR) - UPDATE: As the result of a large scale power outage at the Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center, Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has decided to move the July 29 and 30, 2014, Atlanta Clean Power Plan public hearings to the nearby Omni Hotel.

The hearing dates and times have not changed. The hearings will be held on July 29-30 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., EST. The new location is adjacent to the CNN Center subway (MARTA) stop, and a short walk from the Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center. Parking is available at and around the hotel. EPA staff will be on hand at the SNAFC to direct attendees to the new hearing venue.

Immunizations Lessons at the Public Library

AUGUSTA, GA (PR) – The first in a series of monthly Lunch & Learn programs sponsored by Healthy Augusta will address the importance of immunizations for children and adults.

Susan Edmunds, the Child Health and Immunization Coordinator for the East Central Public Health District, will discuss the importance of being vaccinated against preventable diseases, what’s required for child care centers, schools, and colleges, as well as what immunizations are recommended for all ages.

Georgia’s First Lady Initiatives

ATLANTA, GA (PR) - Georgia’s First Lady Sandra Deal began her service to the Peach State as an educator after graduating from what is now Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville. Since Gov. Deal took office in 2011, Mrs. Deal has used her platform as first lady to make a positive impact on Georgia citizens by creating educational incentives, promoting community activism and advocating for child welfare.

Banning Housing to Child Refugees Challenged

First in the nation to directly confront municipal efforts to prohibit housing of child refugees

AUSTIN, TX (PR) - A complaint filed with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development challenges a resolution passed by League City, Texas, that denies housing to child refugees in their city. The complaint is the first action of its kind since jurisdictions in Texas began passing anti-refugee resolutions in response to the 57,000 children who have arrived at the U.S. border this year to escape violence in countries including El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala.

Art Summit in Augusta

First Friday Vendor Rules (Effective 9/1/2014) Broad Street - Downtown, Augusta

To be accepted as a First Friday vendor the follows criteria must be met.

Driver License Deals for South Korean in the South

South Carolina and Georgia (Special Report) - Department of Driver Services Commissioner, Rob Mikell, and Consul General of the Republic of South Korea, He Beom Kim, have signed an agreement exempting South Korean citizens from written and road tests when applying for Georgia licenses. The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles and the Republic of Korea have also reached driver’s license reciprocity agreement that promises to aid international business and the military.

Deal to Obama: We Need a Plan About Border Children

ATLANTA, GA (PR) - Gov. Nathan Deal today sent this letter to ask the Obama administration to define the status of the Central American unaccompanied minors being held by federal authorities before asking private or state organizations in Georgia to take them in.

High Education Metamorphosis in Augusta

Doctor Ricardo Azziz fourth years in Central Savannah River Area (CSRA)

$1 Billion to Close the Wi-Fi Gap

When I stepped to the podium at the Library of Congress on Digital Learning Day earlier this year, I made one point very clear: E-Rate modernization is a BIG deal. The challenge has been clear to everybody: we needed to move from a program that was designed for the 20th century, towards a program that is gives our educators the ability to take advantage of 21st century technologies and learning strategies, and allows our libraries to better serve their patrons and communities.

Abismal ignorancia del ACA en Georgia

AUGUSTA, GA (Anibal Ibarra) - Se estima que un 75% de los hispanohablantes residentes en Georgia no sabe de la existencia de ayuda financiera para cobertura médica y desconoce dónde acudir. Get Covered America, la organización nacional que promueve el Affordable Care Act (ACA) se reunió con representantes latinos y autoridades de la comunidad para tratar de reducir el abismo desinformativo sobre la ley del seguro médico.

Meet the Augusta Commission for 2015

District 1
William Fennoy
Term 2013 - 2016
Contact
Ph: (706) 726-4014 (cell)

District 2              (Watch the Interview)
Dennis Williams
Term 2015-2018

District 3
Mary Davis
Term 2013 - 2016
Contact
Ph: (706) 910-2574 (cell)

District 4
Sammie Saias
Term 2015 - 2018

District 5
Bill Lockett
Term 2013 - 2016
Contact
Ph: (706) 798-7175 (home)
Ph: (706) 825-1847 (cell)

District 6
Ben Hasan
Term 2015 - 2018

District 7* (Donnie Smith resigned September 8, 2014)
Successor will be elected March 15, 2015, to finish term until 2016

District 8
Wayne Guilfoyle
Term 2015 - 2018
Contact
Ph: (706) 592-2385 (home)
Ph: (706) 796-3444 (work)

District 9
Marion Williams
Term 2013 - 2016
Contact
Ph: (706) 910-2582 (cell)

District 10
Grady Smith
Term 2015 - 2018
Contact
Ph: (706) 825-9473 (cell)
Ph: (706) 733-9473 (work)

> CURRENT AUGUSTA RICHMOND COUNTY COMMISSION <

—> Edited by Anibal Ibarra with some photos by the City of Augusta.

Exposición "Mi casa, Your Casa"

ATLANTA, GA (PR) - El pasado 18 de julio el Cónsul General de México en Atlanta, Ricardo Cámara, participó en la ceremonia de inauguración de la exposición “Mi Casa, Your Casa” llevada a cabo en la explanada central del High Museum of Art.

National Day of Action for Gaza

Palestine Solidarity Vigil in Augusta

UPDATE 7/25/2014: The CSRA Peace Alliance hosted a vigil to request the end of the US support of Israel’s latest attacks on Palestinians in Gaza at the intersection of 15th St and Walton Way from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm.

Detroit: Distorted Reality

Democracy Shut Off -
Week 70 of the Occupation
By Shea Howell

The human toll of living under Emergency Management was made clear through the water crisis. Detroiters have endured an unprecedented assault on our basic human right to water for nearly 6 months before any action was taken.

The decision to aggressively pursue nearly half the city for being behind in water bills of $150 while ignoring corporate scofflaws who owed thousands was made by the Emergency Manager. The decision to sacrifice the well being of people in order to make the sale of the water department more attractive to investors was made by the Emergency Manager. The decision to persist in the shut off policy in spite of outcry from local activists was made by the Emergency Manager. The decision to continue shut offs in spite of escalating demonstrations, civil disobedience, and the condemnation of the United Nations was made by the Emergency Manger.

Georgia Primary Run-off Elections Today

U.S. Senate (R)

Total Votes: 476,375 Reporting: 147 out of 159 counties reporting
Jack Kingston (R) 234,238 49%
David Perdue (R) 242,137 51%    Winner

GA State Senate: District 22 (D)

Total Votes: 10,025 Reporting: 57 of 57 precincts reporting
Corey Johnson 3,911 39%
Harold Jones II 6,114 61%    Winner

Augusta Commission: District 6

Total Votes: 2,371 Reporting: 7 percents of 7
Bob Finnegan 1,128 48%
Ben Hasan 1,243 52%    Winner

Fight For Open Internet Is Not Over

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is considering rules that will change the internet, enabling Comcast and other owners of the internet backbone to charge those who originate or receive content whatever the market will bear, dividing the internet into so-called "fast" and "slow" lanes.

Gobernador Deal: Georgia está contigo, Israel

ATLANTA, GA (Anibal Ibarra) - “Orando por la protección y la paz de Israel. Georgia está contigo, Israel”. El mensaje puesto por el gobernador Nathan Deal en su Facebook ha superado los 10 mil simpatizantes y al mismo tiempo ha generado un encendido debate sobre la división existente entre residentes en el estado entre quienes apoyan la causa israelita contra el pueblo palestino y aquellos quienes consideran un abierto genocidio, con la complicidad de Estados Unidos, de la población árabe.

30 Years of the Green Party in the U.S.

St. PAUL, MN (PR) - The party of sustainability, justice, peace and democracy -- the Green Party of the United States (GPUS) -- will hold its 2014 National Committee Meeting in St. Paul, MN, from July 24-27, 2014. The 2014 meeting marks the 30th anniversary of the first national get-together of Greens, which took place at Macalester College.

Man’s Efforts to Save Child Applauded

AUGUSTA, GA (PR) – Safe Kids Greater Augusta presented Nick Ortalaza with a Badge of Courage Award for saving a child left alone in a hot vehicle on July 12 near Woodcrest Apartments in Hephzibah. Ortalaza noticed the boy, found a way into the vehicle, and quickly removed him from danger while his wife called 911.

“He stayed fairly calm during the situation,” said Christine Ortalaza. “We’re just glad we were there and that the little boy is OK.”

Ortalaza, who has two children of his own, said he’d do anything to help keep a child safe.

Minority Mental Health Awareness

In 2008 the month of July was proclaimed National Bebe Moore Campbell Minority Mental Health Awareness Month by the House of Representatives of the Congress of United States.  Mental illness affects one in four adults and one in ten children in America. The U.S. Surgeon General reports that minorities are less likely to receive diagnosis and treatment for their mental illness, have less access to and availability of mental health services and often receive a poorer quality of mental health care. The Office of the Census U.S. estimates that minorities will be the majority in the United States by the year 2042.

Influx of Child Abuse and Neglect in Georgia

ATLANTA, GA (PR) - Gov. Nathan Deal approved the hire of 100 new child protective service workers to assist with a recent influx of cases. The number of reports of child abuse and neglect has significantly increased since the opening of a centralized 24/7 Child Protective Services Intake Communications Center.

Hiccups From New Mugshot Regulation

AUGUSTA, GA (PR) - The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office is committed to maintaining the general interest of public safety and also maintaining a positive working relationship with local media outlets. The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office is attaching a “Letter of Affirmation”, which will be completed by a selected member of the media outlet.

Goodwill Receives National Award

Ivey Hall (left), the Director of Volunteer Services for Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia and the CSRA, accepts the national award for Volunteer Program of the Year from Goodwill Industries International Board Chairman Larry Ishtol on June 29 during the 2014 Goodwill Delegate Assembly in Austin, Texas.

Cumplen 65 años a diario unos 10 mil estadounidenses

UC Newsroom, News Report, Anne Kavanagh - Tenaz y un poco luchadora, Hellen Aitel alcanzó sus 90 años disfrutando de una vida mayormente autosuficiente.

Hasta que le realizaron una operación en 2012.

"Entró al hospital caminando y regresó a casa en una silla de ruedas", dice su hijo Stephen Aitel. La condición de Hellen Aitel se empeoro aún más después de una temporada en un centro de rehabilitación, pero ella estaba decidida a regresar a su casa cerca del lago Merced en San Francisco.

AHEC Named Best in the Country

The Georgia Statewide Area Health Education Center Network, comprised of six regional centers and a program office at Georgia Regents University, received the 2014 Eugene S. Mayer Program of Excellence Award, which recognizes the most outstanding AHEC program in the country. Pictured (L to R) are Kathy English (Three Rivers AHEC), Pam Reynolds (Southwest GA AHEC), Denise Kornegay (Executive Program Director), Daphne Byrd (SPCC-Atlanta AHEC), Sheila Griffin (Foothills AHEC), Sharon Norman (Blue Ridge AHEC,) and Mary Kate Pung (Magnolia Coastlands AHEC).

Opposition to Unregulated Abortion

ROME, GA (PR) - The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on a bill that would nullify numerous state pro-life laws across the country. The Georgia Life Alliance (GLA) stands opposed to this law that would subject women to unregulated and unsafe abortion practices.

“America: Mother of Exiles” Initiative

When Hurricane Katrina drove thousands of New Orleans residents to Atlanta and other cities, I took part in an initiative to help these displaced families find temporary lodging, after hotel vouchers and local shelters were exhausted, with local residents.

This initiative was very successful in a number of ways---one of which was that many “white” and more affluent Americans opened their homes to many poorer people from different cultures and races, living up to our American motto that “all men are created equal” and have the inalienable right to the pursuit of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Class-action Lawsuit on Behalf of Children

By Beth Werlin - The thousands of children fleeing violence and persecution and seeking refuge in the United States have brought to the forefront the issue of how our immigration system deals with children. The current system subjects kids to the same deportation laws as adults. They are ordered to appear in immigration court, where they face off against a prosecutor, and a judge calls upon them to mount their own defense against deportation. And, just like adults facing deportation, children are not provided government-appointed counsel to represent them in court. As a result, each year, thousands of children are forced to navigate the immigration court process alone.

Desmantelan bandas de narcos en Augusta

AUGUSTA, GA (Especial) - El 10 de julio la Policía del condado de Richmond (RCSO) y la oficina federal de Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) ejecutaron 12 órdenes de aprehensión, en relación a dos investigaciones de largo plazo vinculados en la distribución de drogas.

Vigilia por desaparición de Jessica Hernandez

AUGUSTA, GA (Anibal Ibarra) - ULTIMO MOMENTO: Fuentes extraoficiales indican  el 16 de julio del 2014, escuetamente, que Jessica Hernández fue encontrada y que se dirige a su casa de Grovetown.

Violence in Honduras and Border Children

HONDURAS (FOA) - The Honduras Accompaniment Project/Proyecto de Acompañamiento internacional en Honduras (PROAH) expresses its grave concern regarding the armed assault and abduction carried out against Father César Augusto Espinoza Muñoz and Father Abel Carbajal, priests of the parish of Arizona, Atlántida and three international human rights accompaniers with PROAH (Two Swiss and one French citizens).

James Brown: Una vida de película

AUGUSTA, GA (Anibal Ibarra) - "Get On Up" es la historia de James Brown. La película acerca del “Godfather of Soul” con ciertos rodajes hechos en Augusta, Georgia, es la crónica de James Brown, quien de la extrema pobreza ascendió a una fama inconmensurable y se convirtió un uno de los más influyentes artistas en la historia musical.

The Distinctive Spheres of Costa Rica

SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA (PR) – Four archaeological sites in the Diquís Delta in the Southern region of Costa Rica have been recently declared as official Cultural World Heritage Sites by the World Heritage Committee of The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The sites of these settlements are revered for their distinctive nearly perfectly cylindrical stone spheres whose use and origin remains unknown.

“Receiving UNESCO’s designation as a Cultural World Heritage Site is truly an honor for our country,” said Luis Guillermo Solis, President of Costa Rica. “The Diquís society is a significant representation of Costa Rica’s pre-Columbian legacy and the country’s rich history, and we take great pride in preserving and celebrating their archaeological treasures.”

Religious Freedom in America

AUGUSTA, GA (PR) - Robert Boston will discuss his latest book Taking Liberties: Why Religious Freedom Doesn’t Give You the Right to Tell Other People What to Do at the Headquarters Library, 823 Telfair St, in Augusta at 6:30 pm on Monday, July 14.

The Pursuit of (happiness) Profits

Thinking for Oursleves: Water Choices. Week 65 of the Occupation. By Shea Howell.

The pursuit of profits is endangering the health and well being of everyone in Detroit. What Kevin Orr, Jones Day, and the corporate powers they serve termed a business necessity is being revealed to the world as a violation of the most basic human right to water.  This crisis was orchestrated to make the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) more attractive to buyers. Claiming they are not “callous about the plight of lower income residents,” their actions show they are oblivious.

Mega Gathering of Democrats in Augusta

AUGUSTA, GA (RD) - The Democratic Party of Georgia (State Party) is holding a regional multi county meeting on Tuesday July 8 at 6:30 PM at the IBEW HALL, 1250 Reynolds Street, Augusta. The Richmond County Democratic Party (RCDP) has been chosen to host the meeting. Ten county parties have been invited.

Historic Transit Expansion Opportunity

ATLANTA, GA (Sierra Club) - An unprecedented coalition of public transportation advocates, with the Georgia Sierra Club’s Regional Action to Improve Livability (RAIL) Campaign playing a leading role, scored a historic victory on Saturday, as Clayton County officials finally agreed to let residents vote on whether to join Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) as a full member this year. The vote sets up our first serious chance to expand the state’s largest transit provider since it was initially established as a two-county system serving Fulton and DeKalb in 1971.

Savannah River: A Polluted, Still Safe Water?

AUGUSTA, GA - A recent report done by the Environment Georgia research and policy center is calling the Savannah river the 3rd most polluted river in the nation. The Savannah River falls just behind the Ohio-Pigeon River on the list. The study says, middle Savannah River, has the worst pollution. This includes Augusta and below.

Goal: Ending Power of Super PACs by 2016

Since the early 1920s, aviators and mariners have used the word MAYDAY to signal distress. On the sea, when another captain hears that call, there is an obligation to lend aid. At MayDay PAC, we are calling a MAYDAY on this democracy. Americans from across the political spectrum believe our government is broken. More than 90% of us link that failure to the role of money in politics.

Have a Fun and Safe Independence Day

If only we had laser printers and copiers back in the 1700s! Of course, we've all come to know and love July 4th as the day we officially declared our independence from Britain. However, the Second Continental Congress actually voted on the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia on July 2nd, 1776! It just took a couple of days to get everything written down and signed. For me, it's all good. "Second of July Fireworks" just wouldn't feel the same.

Business Students Win Top Honors

AUGUSTA, GA (PR) – Six students in Georgia Regents University’s James M. Hull College of Business received national recognition during the 2014 Phi Beta Lambda National Leadership Conference Awards ceremony June 27 in Nashville, Tenn.

GAGOP Welcome Thousands of New Americans

ATLANTA, GA (PR) - Georgia Republican Party First Vice-Chairman Michael McNeely and 2nd Vice-Chairman Ron Johnson welcomed thousands of new U.S. citizens at a Citizenship Ceremony yesterday in Atlanta.

Standing Up for Transit

MARTA Board members on Wednesday rejected a contract to provide bus service to Clayton County in exchange for a half-penny sales tax on the dollar, putting the county back where it started without any local public transportation unless Commissioners act to approve a full-penny sales tax before Sunday July 6th.

Who Wants Tax Increase in Augusta?

Due to the passage of House Bill 386, the state and local sales and use taxes on energy used in manufacturing was phased out over a 4-year period beginning January 1, 2013. The legislation established a process aimed towards making the impact of this removal of the local sales tax revenue neutral for city and county governments, provided that these governments adopt  a local excise tax on energy used in manufacturing at the same rates.

First Amendment for Human Beings

The Supreme Court further expanded the "rights" of corporations in their decision for Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. The Court majority ruled that corporations have the right to freedom of religion under the First Amendment. This sets the precedent that they can opt out of following laws if they violate the corporation's "religious beliefs".

Sheriff Roundtree Equipped to Deal with "Gun Everywhere"

AUGUSTA, GA  - Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree announced the acquisition of equipments this year. It should be noted that the amount on the list is the value of the equipment however the RCSO paid nothing for these items as they were awarded to the agency as surplus items from the military.