New Fraud Scam Alert

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office wants to bring to the attention of the public the latest in Visa fraud. Royal Bank received this communication about the newest scam. This is happening in the Midwest right now and moving across the country.

Human Trafficking to be Discussed March 6

AUGUSTA, GA (Jennifer Hilliard Scott) – Georgia Regents University is hosting two presentations next month with internationally known experts in the fight against human trafficking.
Drs. Gloria Halverson and Clydette Powell will discuss “Human Trafficking: Hidden in Plain Sight” from 10-11:15 a.m. Thursday, March 6, in the Jaguar Student Activities Center Ballroom on the Summerville Campus. Student and faculty breakout discussions will follow from 11:15-11:45 a.m.

Azziz Elected Trustee for Commission on Colleges

AUGUSTA, GA (Jennifer Hilliard Scott) – Dr. Ricardo Azziz, President of Georgia Regents University and CEO of Georgia Regents Health System, has been elected to the Board of Trustees for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Azziz, who will serve a two-year term, was elected during Commission’s College Delegate Assembly Business Meeting in December.

Eugene Yu Turns Away From Senate Race

AUGUSTA, GA  - I am announcing today that I am entering the race for the 12th Congressional district of Georgia. In early May 2013, I made the decision to enter the US Senate race because, like many of you, I was not satisfied with our politicians and what has been going on in Washington.

GA Legislature Keeps The Latino Lobby Busy

ATLANTA, GA (GALEO) - There is a lot going on and your actions and raising your voice is necessary.  It is needed to both stop efforts to deny DREAM'ers access to driver's licenses, but also to help move immigration reform forward.

Latinas abogan por la salud en Georgia

NUEVA YORK —  Jessica González-Rojas, directora ejecutiva del Instituto Nacional de Latinas para la Salud Reproductiva, se unió a otros líderes del Movimiento de Familias Fuertes en solidaridad con el Séptimo Evento Anual “Legislate THIS!“ de SPARK Reproductive Justice. 

FDA ordena suspender venta de tabacos

(Gloria Sanchez) - La Administración de Alimentos y Medicamentos (FDA, por sus siglas en inglés) de los Estados Unidos dio órdenes hoy para que dejen de venderse y distribuirse cuatro productos de tabaco ahora disponibles en el mercado. Ésta es la primera vez que la FDA ha usado la autoridad que le confiere la ley de Prevención Familiar del Tabaquismo y Control del Tabaco para ordenarle a un fabricante de productos de tabaco actualmente disponibles que deje de venderlos y distribuirlos.

No Evidence to Support Humane Society Against GRU

Augusta, Ga (Kelly Jasper) – The United States Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare has found no evidence to support the Humane Society of the United States’ allegations that animals are used or cared for inappropriately in research at Georgia Regents University.

Fire in Georgia Republican Camp

Atlanta, GA (AJCGPA) - Today, in response to House Bill 1033, a sweeping law which would allow convicted child predators and registered sex offenders to loiter around our school yards and playgrounds, the American Jobs Council Georgia Political Action, Inc. launched a Facebook Page and released the following statements:

An Open Letter to Prosecutor Angela Corey and the Legal Community

We write this letter out of our deep commitment to racial equity, as well as in the principles of fairness upon which this country was built. The trial of the People of Florida v. Michael Dunn underscores the need for our legal system to understand and address racial bias. We are not all attorneys, so we will not offer a detailed legal analysis here.

Georgia Seeking Regional Super Tuesday Primary

Atlanta, GA - Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp released a plan to make Georgia and other southern states key players in the 2016 Presidential Election.  Following the announcement of Kemp's Southeastern Regional "Super Tuesday" Primary proposal, Georgia Republican Party Chairman John Padgett issued the following statements of support:

Blood Supply in State of Emergency

AIKEN, S.C., Feb. 19, 2014—The American Red Cross needs blood and platelet donors to help restock the blood supply this February.

In the South Carolina Blood Services Region, last week’s winter storm forced the cancellation of 40 Red Cross blood drives, resulting in more than 1,300 uncollected blood and platelet donations.

Augusta Ready for Recovery from Storm Pax

SUNDAY 16, 2014: Augusta Richmond County has worked with The American Red Cross volunteers to close the shelter at the Richmond County Board of Education Bus Depot at 12:30PM.

As the number of people that needed shelter due to power outages has decreased and families have been able to return to their homes, the need for this immediate assistance no longer is needed.
The Emergency Operations Center will transition back to normal operation hours, Monday through Friday 8:30AM to 5:00PM. We will continue to monitor the number of those without power and provide information and assistance to those in need.

IRS pide que no llamen y que usen la web

WASHINGTON – El Servicio de Impuestos Internos (IRS) recordó a los contribuyentes que el periodo del feriado por el Día de los Presidentes ( 17 de febrero ) típicamente marca una de las semanas más ajetreadas de la temporada de impuestos para sus líneas telefónicas. Existen mejores alternativas para ayudar a los contribuyentes a encontrar respuestas a preguntas de impuestos comunes en esta época.

Roundtree Thankful for Help

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank all the citizens of Augusta for their co-operation during this unprecedented Ice Storm.  The Sheriff made the decision to bring in all certified officers to assist with dealing with this incident. 

Georgia en emergencia por tormenta invernal

SATURDAY 15, 2014: Operations Center for the ice storm is in need of some assistance with fielding calls from people asking for help. If you are available Saturday or Sunday for any length of time please let Lucas know. She will give you an orientation at the beginning to help answer questions for the community. 
And if you are bilingual even better.

Preventing Hate Crime and Worker Rights Forums

Augusta’s First Hate Crime Prevention Forum
February 13, 2014, from 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Paine College – HEAL Complex
1235 15th Street Augusta, GA 30901 (UPDATE: THIS EVENT WILL BE RESCHEDULED DUE TO THE WINTER STORM) 

Stolen Truck as a Weapon to Burglarize Businesses

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a pattern of similar cases in which a truck is stolen and then later used to force entry into a business for the purpose of burglarizing the business.
On Sunday January 26, 2014 between 0045 hours and 0120 hours a blue and white 1992 Ford Pickup was stolen from 1830 Heathers Way.

Identity Fraud and Financial Transaction Card Forgery Arrests

On Feb 2, 2014 a Richmond County Sheriff Office deputy conducted a traffic stop west bound on I-20 at mile marker 195 on a vehicle for speeding. During the stop it was learned that the driver, Khille Damon Jackson (B/M, 29 years old, address of 2952 Middleton Road, #197, Atlanta, GA 30311) was driving without a license.

"Black Liberation and Palestine Solidarity" in Augusta

AUGUSTA, GA (CSRAPEACE) - The CSRA Peace Alliance invites you to a public conversation with activist-historians Lenni Brenner and Matthew Quest, authors of the new book,  Black Liberation and Palestine Solidarity. Wednesday, February 19, at 7 pm at The Headquarters Library, 823 Telfair Street, Augusta, GA 30901.
“An informative, incisive, and essential historical analysis of the African American freedom movement’s solidarity with Palestine.”
— Michael Letwin, co-founder of Labor for Palestine and Jews for Palestinian Right of Return.

Black History Month 50 Years After the Civil Rights Movement

Georgia Regents University (GRU) will use the national theme for Black History Month which is “The Golden Jubilee: Celebrating 50 years after the Civil Rights Movement.” Various local events, non-GRU as well as GRU, include the following activities through March, as compiled by Lillian Wan of GRU's Reese Library:

- GRU Reese Library at 2500 Walton Way will host a 1960s yearbook display featuring historic photos and articles of Black students on Summerville campus. The exhibit will run through February.

Charlotte Residents Protest Duke’s Coal Ash Spill

CHARLOTTE, NC (Robert Corriher) — Dozens of Charlotte residents protested outside of Duke Energy’s headquarters today, expressing outrage at the company’s negligence in spilling over 80,000 tons of coal ash into the Dan River, and concern that Charlotte’s own water is at risk of an even larger disaster.

“Whatever remaining trust people had in Duke Energy to protect our safety and well-being, that trust is gone,” said Robert Corriher, Charlotte resident and spokesperson for the group Charlotte Environmental Action. “People on the Dan River will be dealing with toxins in their water for years to come, and we’re concerned that Charlotte could suffer an even bigger disaster if Duke continues to store hazardous chemicals on the banks of the lake that supplies our drinking water.”

Speaker Boehner the RINO Must Go

AUGUSTA, GA (CR) - Brian Slowinski, Columbia County native and Non-Establishment Conservative Tea Party Republican candidate for Georgia's Open 10th Congressional District against 5 establishment candidates, is the second candidate in the country to publicly endorse the National Republican Trust PAC call for new House Leadership.

1500 More Jobs Bringing Outlet Mall to Augusta

AUGUSTA, GA (AL DALLAS) - Premier Outlets, a division of Ben Carter Enterprises, announced today that it is planning a 400,000 square foot fashion outlet mall to open in Fall 2015.  The mall is to be located at I-20 and Riverwatch Parkway (exit 200) next to Costco, Cabela’s and Georgia Theatre.

2014 Could be the Year for Public Transit Expansion

AUGUSTA, GA - In today's agenda of the Richmond County Commission item 19 one of the topics is to receive an update from the Interim Administrator regarding the Augusta Public Transit Citizens Advisory Board, requested by Commissioner Marion Williams. The board was approved last year in order to help the Commission and the private company managing the service to improve and expand the Augusta Public Transit. (UPDATE: This and other items went back to Administrative Service Committee)

Sheriff's Office: Do Not Open Your Door to Strangers

There have been 3 cases in the past week that follow a similar pattern.  In each case an elderly victim is approached by a white male claiming to be with a utility company.  In the later cases the victims opened the door and while they were in the rear of the residence with the white male someone unknown burglarized the residence.