Consumer Stories

B2B Stories

McMaster releases his final budget to put more $$ in taxpayer pockets

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster laid out his fiscal year 2026-2027 budget. He was joined by Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette. The plan included many of the themes that have been a hallmark for McMaster, such as reducing the state income tax and improving teacher pay. Just five years ago, South Carolina had the highest personal income tax rate in the southeast at 7%. McMaster pushed to have it lowered incrementally to its current 6%. He proposes dropping it to 5.9% and continuing to reduce it with the goal of eliminating

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B2B Stories

Major manufacturer in CSRA pledges to help future biz leaders

Aurubis Richmond is the newest company to open a storefront at Junior Achievement’s Discovery Center in Evans. Aurubis is one of the largest copper recyclers worldwide. The company processes complex metal concentrates, scrap metals, and metal-bearing recycling materials into metals from the Augusta Corporate Park in South Augusta. This marks a significant step in the company’s commitment to education and community engagement. “This initiative reflects Aurubis Richmond’s belief that business and community must work together to prepare the next generation for success,” said David Schultheis, President of Aurubis Richmond. Aurubis

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Consumer Stories

Simon Says: Record Employment in CSRA

New records were set in four employment sectors for the end of 2025, including a few traditionally strong areas in the CSRA. The Bureau of Labor Statistics released the long-awaited Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) employment data for October and November last week. There was little change in the total employment in the Augusta MSA, up 200 persons over the two months to stand at 248,800. Education and health services added 100 jobs in October and 40 in November to stand at 38,195, a record. Like the national economy, this sector

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Consumer Stories

Enviropro360: Facility Managers take note

January is National Radon Month with an emphasis on testing buildings and raise awareness about invisible lung cancer. Click read more to see if your building is one that should be tested.

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Consumer Stories

Augusta area legislator pushes for more $$ in our paychecks

Georgia lawmakers are returning to Atlanta for the opening of the 2026 Legislative session. The House will be gaveled into session at 10 a.m. Tuesday. Democratic Senator Harold Jones represents Georgia’s 22nd Senate District, covering Augusta and parts of Richmond County, Georgia, as the Minority Leader in the Georgia Senate, told ABD he expects reducing or eliminating the personal income tax will be one of the session’s key issues. “Other than that, things have been kind of quiet as far as what the major issues are going to be out there,”

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B2B Stories

Brinks Tavern launches catering and business lunch delivery after 4 months

It is a New Year with new initiatives for Ed and Mickie DeFelice and the rest of the team at Brinkley’s Restaurant Group in North Augusta. Now that the upscale sports bar is established in the new Beacon Bluff Center at 200 Georgia Avenue, the operators are setting their sights on outreach to the community with the launch of business lunch deliveries and catering. This reporter and his photographer wife, Melissa, enjoyed a New Year’s lunch sampling a number of small plates, entrees, and desserts. The ambience had something for

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Closings

Augusta Food Retailer Closes Store; Relocates HQ to Florida

It’s been a “nutty 13-year run” for the Kyzers in the CSRA. A few years ago, they moved their family to Florida’s coast just south of Savannah. Now, they’ve moved their headquarters and bakery to the beach. Watanut will still have a big presence in the CSRA. The store at 3309 Washington Road in Martinez closed on December 31, 2025. The Kyzers began their roasted nut and baked shortbread gift business on Jones Street in Augusta, moved to Walton’s Corner, and then to Washington Road.  Handmade daily to order, all

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Consumer Stories

Simon Says: If you hire, chances are you won’t fire

The current labor market has been described as a “low hire, low fire” economy. The graph below shows the number of hires per month in Georgia along with the number of separations. Hiring rose after the pandemic, peaking at 325,000 in February 2022. Separations, including layoffs and voluntary quits, followed a similar upward trend but peaked later in June 2022. Hiring and separations have declined to about half their peak level in the latest data for October 2025. Hires are about 20,000 per month lower than their long-term average, and

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Consumer Stories

Simon Says: Job Outlook

In the first local economic news release since September 19th, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that employment in the Augusta Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) rose in September from August. The largest gains were seen in leisure and hospitality, up 500. Employment in this sector now stands at a seasonally adjusted 28,715, a record high for Augusta. Education and health services employment increased by 250, and government employment increased by 175. In the government sector, federal jobs continued to decline and are down 500 since February. Local government jobs

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Consumer Stories

Five-star awards for Doctors Hospital

AUGUSTA (12/22/2025): Doctors Hospital today announced it has earned fourteen specialty care honors from Healthgrades, the #1 site Americans use when searching for a doctor or hospital. These distinctions reflect Doctors Hospital’s ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality, patient-centered care across a broad range of clinical specialties. Among its 2026 recognitions, Doctors Hospital earned one Specialty Excellence Award, placing the hospital among the top 10% nationwide for Surgical Care. The hospital also received five-star ratings for seven services, including Cardiac, Orthopedics, Vascular, Gastrointestinal, Critical Care, Surgical Care, and Outpatient Services. 2026

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