Call Center Company in Augusta, GA

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - It’s time for Georgians to decide who they want to choose their utility rates.

Early voting is now open for statewide special primaries for two seats on the hugely influential Georgia Public Service Commission.

Decisions by the Public Service Commission affect how much people pay for services such as electricity, telephone and natural gas.

Officers across Georgia say they are seeing a rise in traffic crashes and driving violations.

Anytime a utility company like Georgia Power raises its rates, the increase must be approved by the five-member PSC.

Early voting for the primary elections is open Tuesday through June 13.

A total of eight candidates are the races for District 2 and District 3:

District 2

District 3

The Richmond County Board Of Elections confirms Daniel Blackman has been disqualified from seeking nomination for office in District 3. Blackman was a Democratic candidate, and all votes cast for him will be void.

Blackman was ruled ineligible because he has not been a resident of District 3 for a sufficient amount of time, but he’s appealing the decision.

“Our campaign remains firmly committed to making sure every vote counts — and to fighting for reliability, affordability, and transparency for Georgia’s ratepayers,” Blackman said Thursday. “As we enter the final phase of this legal process, our resolve has never been stronger. My focus is clear: we will continue to fight to ensure that every voice is heard, and that the people, not special interests, remain at the center of this campaign.”

Blackman had been endorsed by Georgia Conservation Voters, an environmental advocacy group, which said Thursday it does not plan to endorse another candidate in Blackman’s place.

In Augusta, early voting will take place at the following locations on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.:

Weekend voting will take place Saturday, May 31, and Saturday, June 7, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at all locations.

You can vote on Sunday, June 9, from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Linda W. Beazley Room only.

In Columbia County, you can vote from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and Saturdays, May 31 and June 7, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Voting is at Building G3 in Evans.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. June 17 for Election Day voting. Voters must vote at their assigned precinct and present one of six acceptable forms of photo ID.

The absentee by mail application period is also now open and closes on and mailing period closes June 6.

You can check with your local voting board for more schedules.

The primary winners would move on to a statewide special election on Nov. 4, 2025.

Elections for these two seats were originally scheduled for November 2024, but were placed on hold due to an ongoing lawsuit challenging the at-large election format for PSC members.

Earlier this month, the PSC and Georgia Power announced the power company will not file an expected 2025 rate increase, instead freezing base rates at the current level for at least three years.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WFXG) – In 2019 Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr created a human trafficking prosecution unit that works hand and hand with local state and federal law enforcement to rescue victims and prosecute offenders throughout the state. And now that unit is expanding to right here in Augusta.

Since Carr’s human trafficking prosecution unit was created, there’s been only one Atlanta-based team working to prosecute dangerous offenders.

Officials with the Georgia Attorney General’s office announcing a new local unit, based in Augusta.

With it comes more eyes of highly skills individuals working to reach more victims.

“We are excited now to be able to come out to the Augusta area, we’ve hired a prosecutor and investigators out here and we’re going to be working in this community to fight human trafficking here as well,” said Chief of the Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit, Hannah Palmquist.

The Atlanta team has secured 60 convictions, led or assisted over 330 case investigations and rescued more than 200 children.

Now they come to Augusta as the garden city has become a hotspot for traffickers.

Palmquist says, “The system for transportation that exist within Georgia that makes transportation convenient for you and I, unfortunately makes it convenient for human traffickers as well. So not only does Augusta and cities that sit on interstates have the same human trafficking problem that we all have, but they become a thoroughfare for traffickers passing their victims through to other places.”

The issue spikes when more people visit the area, so the unit will be on the lookout during events like Masters week.

“There will be people away from their homes and families who may attempt to solicit commercial sex so anytime you have more buyers in an area potential, you’re going to have more sellers who come and so certainly we’re going to be watching that and we’re going to be looking at how to counter it,” said Palmquist.

With the average age of a victim being 12 to 14-year-old, parents too can help be on the watch for traffickers targeting your children.

Palmquist says, “A common way that a trafficker is going to reach out to their child is first to reach out to them online so I would caution parents not to give your child unmonitored internet access because you don’t know who they’re speaking to. So, talk to you children educate them and watch what they are doing online.”

If you or someone you know if a victim of human trafficking, the National Human Trafficking Hotline is available 24/7 at: 1-888-373-7888.

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Thinking of moving to a sweet Southern town? Look no further than Augusta, GA.

Augusta, Georgia, is far more than just the iconic home of the Masters Golf Tournament. This vibrant Southern city, with a rich history and a forward-looking spirit, offers an exceptional quality of life.

Great place to grow a career and/or a family. Check.

Pretty affordable. Check.

Friendly people. Check.

Lots to do. That’s right…check!

And, of course, great golf Check, again.

In This Article

1. There are plenty of fun things to do in Augusta.

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Augusta is a town steeped in tradition and history; local pride in both is evident everywhere you go. From the town’s celebration of the Masters Golf Tournament every year to the number of local buildings routinely added to the National Register of Historic Places, it’s clear that Augusta loves her history. The best part? Residents are invited (and encouraged!) to join in on that love, too! For an immersive experience you won’t soon forget, take the “Canal to Cloth” tour, through which visitors get to try their hand at operating a loom and see how the Augusta Canal still generates power for Augusta today.

Augusta also has a rich tradition of celebrating Black history. Augusta is the hometown of James Brown, the Godfather of Soul. At the Augusta Museum of History, the James Brown Exhibit features rare memorabilia and personal artifacts that give you a glimpse into his life via costumes, interviews, records, images and audio-visual stations highlighting concert performances, albums, studio recordings and more. Or, spend some time along the African American History Walk.

Beyond historical exporations, Augusta’s arts and culture scene is just as diverse as the city’s residents. Augusta thrives on community spirit, which is evident in the tight-knit community. There is a calendar of events that brings residents together to connect and celebrate through a myriad of festivities. The arts are alive and well through the number of local festivals, live music performances and art exhibitions that residents can find around town.

2. Get where you need to go quickly.

Augusta’s central location in Georgia provides residents unique access and proximity to other places. Not that you’ll ever want to leave!

But when the travel bug bites, August is conveniently located in close proximity to several spots, whether you’re traveling for work or leisure. The drive to both Atlanta and Savannah is just two hours from Augusta, and the drive to Florida only takes four hours, making short work trips or a quick beach weekend totally doable. Having access to the unique offerings of large cities while still living day-to-day at a laid-back pace is a rare balance that Augusta strikes well, giving their residents flexibility and options when it comes to maneuverability and getting out of town. Augusta residents, for example, have the luxury of deciding between flying via their local, regional airport or driving to Atlanta or Greenville if they need international connectivity.

3. Explore the endless outdoors in Augusta.

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In the spirit of progressive urban development, Augusta takes pride in putting its green spaces first. Nicknamed “Garden City” for a reason, Augusta’s management of parks, recreation spaces and playgrounds leaves little to be desired but a lot to be utilized!

The city’s Parks and Recreation Department actively encourages citizens to get involved through events such as the Candlelight Music Series, a live music event held in Augusta Common every Sunday in the summer. Looking for something a little more…extreme? No worries! Outdoor activities abound in Augusta, with offerings such as the Savannah Rapids Pavilion, which offers rentals for kayaking, paddleboarding and canoeing so you can enjoy Augusta’s natural beauty from the middle of the Savannah River. For those who prefer to stand on dry land, the Augusta Canal National Heritage Area has several beautiful towpaths that are absolutely worth exploring by foot!

4. Augusta’s job market is on the up and up.

Augusta’s unique culture and location have made it a place where established businesses can grow and thrive, but also leave room for exciting new market opportunities. With the influence of two local universities and one of the biggest medical schools in the country, Augusta’s technology and medical care sectors continue to see rapid growth, particularly at the intersection of research opportunities brought to the town by Wellstar MCG Health. Most notably, there has been some very exciting recent growth in Augusta’s opportunities for Advanced Manufacturing, with the continuous development produced by E-Z Go Textron and GF Casting Solutions, a Swiss company that invested 184 million dollars into a new facility in Augusta last year, bringing hundreds of jobs to the area with plans for continuous growth in the future. Augusta’s market growth brings exciting opportunities for its local population — maneuverability, upward growth and even complete career change are all possible here and will continue to be for a long time to come.

5. Foodies can take their pick of places to feast in Augusta.

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Augusta’s foodie scene has recently been putting in some hard work, and its efforts aren’t going unnoticed! With an influx of local food and beverage offerings ranging from southern comfort to almost any international food you’re currently craving, Augusta’s newfound approach to food is exciting, yes, but it retains a core component of their sweet southern charm, making going out feel easy and inviting. Try a local brew at Savannah River Brewing Co., or grab a bite at local favorite, the Frog Hollow Tavern. In Augusta, food is so much more than a simple meal — it’s community, family and a gateway of self-expression that Augusta takes pride in celebrating, one bite at a time.

NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - If you’re one of the many people feeling frustrated driving down Georgia Avenue, you might be happy to hear about a plan to make the road in North Augusta safer.

Changes like the proposed roundabout that would be happening.

The next step is voting on the engineering portion, which will happen in the coming weeks.

We spoke with one business that says the project is definitely needed.

The owner says other businesses downtown have welcomed the project as well.

Georgia Avenue averages nearly 50 crashes a year.

”Right now, traffic is pretty fast, and it’s hard to walk across Georgia Ave. We have a lot more businesses and pedestrians walking and bikers,” said Jennifer Elliot, owner of Carolina Hills Sandwich Shop.

Now, with a new plan to improve safety and promote businesses like Carolina Hills Sandwich and Sweet Shoppe, “I definitely think that the traffic calming will encourage people to come downtown more. I think it will make them feel safer. They’ll be able to park and walk and and I think those things are good for businesses, and I think that’s good for our community,” said Elliot.

The project also has a proposed roundabout at the intersection of Georgia, Carolina and Jackson Avenue.

”I heard, mainly from the constituents, that people don’t want the roundabout,” said Dennis Briatico, North Augusta Councilman.

But Briatico says there’s a lot that goes into the project before they get there.

”It looks like we’re about to vote on the engineering proportion of it for the first phase of the project, which is not going to be the roundabout, that looks like we’re going to be voting on that within the next couple of weeks. And that’s just the engineering, that’s not the actual construction. It looks like it’s going to be about four years til we probably get to the actual roundabout,” said Briatico.

Along with updated crosswalks, parking downtown will change, too.

From slanted spaces to parallel, ”I know people are afraid to parallel park. That was what a lot of people kept saying. But the reality is we all have to learn to parallel park when we get our license,” said Elliot.

Briatico says at the end of the day, what matters most is hearing from you.

”We should probably try to listen to the taxpayers first before we push this whole thing through,” said Briatico.