Augusta's Unemployment First-Timers Increasing

Georgia's initial claims to unemployment insurance has increased 80.7% percent since last January. Ours here in Augusta was slightly below that at 79.1%, but well above the rates of cities such as Columbus (21%), Macon (41.1%), Valdosta (35.4%), and Savannah (39.1%). According to the U.S. census 14.5% of Georgians are below poverty level, but 22.5% of Augusta-Richmond County residents are living in poverty. Mayor Deke doesn't seem to figure either of these statistics into his formula for good economic health. "The fundamentals of our economy are strong" echoes in his ringing endorsement of our fair city last month. Augusta is "faring better than any city in the state and better than most across the country. ... We're a community that's praying. That's what's doing it."