The Greenville News
Public defender shortage ripples across legal system
The Oregon Supreme Court on Feb. 5 issued a ruling that will have a wide impact. More than 1,400 criminal cases had to be dismissed, the justices ruled, due to lack of adequate counsel available for defendants. Like other states, Oregon must provide...
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U.S.-Iran ceasefire on tenuous ground
President Donald Trump’s ceasefire with Iran was on tenuous ground on April 9 after Israel launched its deadliest day of strikes on Lebanon yet and Tehran vowed not to desert its allies. A day after announcing the Iran war ceasefire, Trump took to...
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‘Secession Hill’ is where South Carolina withdrew from Union
After the election of President Abraham Lincoln in 1860, South Carolina began plans to withdraw from the Union, and the meeting grounds in Abbeville were an important site at the beginning of the Civil War. On Nov. 22, 1860, nearly 3,000 local...
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Reddy prepares for the challenge
Editor’s note: The Greenville News invited all current gubernatorial candidates to a sit-down interview on their campaigns and plans for the governor’s office. Rom Reddy, founder of DOGE SC, became the latest Republican to join the governor’s race on...
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Staley and SC overachieved, but loss is still crushing
PHOENIX — Dawn Staley woke up 40 minutes away from a fourth national championship, but the South Carolina women’s basketball coach fell short. The Gamecocks had no answers for their opponent once again, losing 79-51 to UCLA on April 5, one year after...
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Two Tigers help launch NASA’s journey to moon
On April 1, two Clemson University alumni carved their place in history as key contributors to the Artemis II launch team carrying astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen on a 10-day crewed mission around the...
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SC poets decry pick made by McMaster
On March 20, Glenis Redmond received a call from a representative with the South Carolina Arts Commission. She was updated on a question she'd been wondering about for several years: Who would be the next South Carolina poet laureate? Redmond serves...
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Trump funding cuts axed nutrition program
If the government had found a way to save $10 for every dollar it spent helping low-income people get healthier, wouldn’t it make sense for it to keep doing that? Well, that’s exactly what the U.S. government did when it piloted the SNAPEd program in...
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Fox Carolina’s Carmen shares brain cancer story with People
In 2025, Fox Carolina news anchor Tori Carmen was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor. Carmen, 38, announced to viewers that she would be taking a break from the air for the next several months. Before the diagnosis, the Greenville resident had...
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BEST CHEF
Joe Cash, owner and head chef at Scoundrel, has been named a 2026 James Beard Award Finalist. In January, the James Beard Foundation announced its 2026 Restaurant and Chef Award semifinalists, where two Greenville-area food and beverage talents were...
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‘She was and will continue to be a powerful force’
In the center of her former neighborhood, a community center will bear the name of a local leader who helped drive growth, change, and equality in Greenville. h Located at 813 Hampton Avenue, a new city-endorsed neighborhood hub will soon be known as...
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‘No Kings’ protest draws thousands of attendees
Thousands of “No Kings” protesters rallied throughout downtown Greenville on March 28 in opposition to the war in Iran, cuts to social program spending and immigration crackdowns that have happened during President Donald Trump’s second term in...
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Simpsonville’s new Food Lion is open
A newly built Food Lion opened up at 2131 W. Georgia Road on March 25, becoming the fifth location in Simpsonville for the North Carolina-based grocer. Beginning with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 7:45 a.m., nearly 500 customers and neighbors gathered...
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‘Trump slump’ hits tourism in 2025
With an upcoming FIFA World Cup being staged across the nation, 2026 was supposed to be a bumper year for tourism to the United States, driven in part by hordes of arriving soccer fans. And yet, the U.S. tourism industry is worried. While the rest of...
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Movement fights mental health crisis
AT TOP: Poor mental health among teens and young adults has become a growing crisis. Jayla Cole never experienced the carefree teenage years. She could not get a driver’s license because of epilepsy and frequent seizures. She didn’t want to take...
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Sports fans react
Sports fans who traveled to Greenville for March Madness are raving about the city online. Recently, Greenville hosted the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament and the SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. In a social media...
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Red Flag Fire Alert issued for state
A statewide Red Flag Fire Alert has been issued by the South Carolina Forestry Commission on Tuesday, March 24. The alert does not prohibit outdoor burning when other state and local regulations are adhered to, but the commission strongly discourages...
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Does Graham have enough support to win a fifth term?
Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham is under fire from progressive South Carolinians and national Republicans alike over his push for the war in Iran. Graham, a senator from Central, has represented South Carolina in the U.S. Senate since January 2003. On...
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MARCH MADNESS FAN ZONE BRINGS BIG CROWDS
The Furman University area was packed with fans coming to Fan Zone and the games on March 19. As part of March Madness, the Greenville GameDay Fan Zone was in the Upstate March 19 & 21. The event was outside the Bon Secours Wellness Area in downtown...
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LOSE IT ALL’
Almost one year ago today, Katrina Martinez and her husband, Jeff, had to evacuate from their Table Rock home in fear of a raging forest fire. On March 21, 2025, fires engulfed Table Rock Mountain along with Persimmon Ridge. In the largest wildfire in...
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AI school flips learning on its head
Matt Shenker recently witnessed a group of fourth and fifth graders at Alpha School Scottsdale doing what he said boys that age do: calling each other fat and making jokes at each other’s expense. At most schools, a teacher or staff member would step...
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Concert series at NOMA Square returns
Greenville officials announced the return of Piedmont Natural Gas Downtown Alive and Greenville Heritage Main Street Fridays, live music events that will be held each week at the north end of Main Street. Proceeds from Downtown Alive will serve as the...
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SCDOT: Growth challenging road improvements
South Carolina Secretary of Transportation Justin Powell told a group of Spartanburg area business people on March 16 that the state’s fastest-in-thenation growth will likely present challenges for road planners, traffic engineers, and motorists for...
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Community leaders honor Betty Farr’s support
A Greenville businesswoman and beloved philanthropist is being remembered for her passion for the arts and her commitment to the wellbeing of children. Betty Farr died on March 12 at the age of 92. She was a supporter of numerous local organizations...
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‘We’ll see you in Philly!’
Fans decked out in purple streamed into the Timmons Arena on March 15, erupting in cheers as the Furman University Men’s Basketball team strode onto the court. “Go Furman go,” the marching band yelled to greet the team. More than 200 fans and...
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Two projects are key to growing tourism
Project leaders for two large scale developments hope to make Greenville a strong host city for events ranging from concerts to business conferences. The Bon Secours Wellness Arena, located between North Academy Street, Beattie Place and North Church...
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‘We never gave up’
Nestled atop a hill near Table Rock is a large soapstone boulder that offers a direct view of the surrounding peaks. Beside it sits Soapstone Baptist Church, a sanctuary for many in the small Blue Ridge community of Liberia in Pickens...
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MALARIA FIGHT MOVES FORWARD
Every year, malaria kills more than 600,000 people worldwide. Most of them are children under 5 in sub-Saharan Africa. But the disease isn’t confined to poor, rural areas – it’s a global threat that travels with people across borders. For decades, the...
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New power plant divides Anderson community
Nancy Looney and her husband, Ken, live only a mile and a half from the proposed Duke Energy 1,400-megawatt natural gas power plant that would be on Highway 81 South near True Temper Road. The plant is expected to cover around 200 acres and will be...
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‘No stone left unturned’
The City of Greenville got the green light to enter into purchase agreements for the land it wants to turn into its next large-scale downtown development project. City leaders have been considering plans for a new conference center for about eight...
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Redemption leads to March Madness
ASHEVILLE, NC — Tears fell from Cooper Bowser’s eyes as Furman basketball made the trip from the hotel to the arena for its Southern Conference quarterfinal matchup against Samford on March 7. He teared up because the last memory he had of playing in...
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Officials honor Jackson at street ceremony
A Wreath Memorial Ceremony commemorating the life and birthplace of the Rev. Jesse Jackson took place at the intersection of Haynie and Augusta Street on March 6. Jackson died at the age of 84 on Feb. 17 in Chicago. A celebration of his life took...
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Former presidents honor civil rights icon Jackson
CHICAGO – Former presidents, music legends and thousands of people were celebrating the life of the Rev. Jesse Jackson on March 6, as mourners gathered to honor his vision of social justice and advancing civil rights. Jackson, one of the world’s...
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‘ GREENVILLE IS ’ MY FOUNDATION
For more than a decade, Broadway and Hollywood have been home to Danielle Brooks — an awardwinning actress, Juilliard School graduate, and Greenville native. h On Feb. 28, the Grammy Award recipient (Best Musical Theater Album for “The Color Purple”)...
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A FOODIE’S GUIDE TO THE TOURNEY
New and returning visitors to downtown Greenville are here for the 2026 SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament, which will host five days of high-level, women’s college hoops between Wednesday, March 4, and Sunday, March 8. Those attending games near Bon...
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Greenville to be showcased on Season 23 of ‘Top Chef ’
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA — “Top Chef Carolinas” is here. The muchbuzzed-about Bravo culinary competition show has launched its 23rd season, showcasing the bounty, the talent, and the nuance of the Carolinas. Episode one will air on March 9, but it is...
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‘HE IS A HERO’
COLUMBIA — In a medium-lit, 2,500-capacity house of worship, Brookland Baptist Church functioned as the final stop in a day of celebration recognizing the life of South Carolina-native, the Rev. Jesse Jackson. As an oval-shaped pulpit and...
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Rev. Jesse Jackson’s legacy honored at memorial services
Thousands stood in a line that wrapped around the South Carolina Statehouse on March 2, waiting to pay their respects to the late Rev. Jesse Jackson. h Jackson, a Greenville native and trailblazer in the American Civil Rights Movement, died on Feb. 17...
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Chamber CEO urges Greenville leaders to be ‘fearless’ for growth
Suzanne Clark, U.S. Chamber of Commerce president and chief executive officer, encouraged Greenville County business leaders to be “fearless” when she spoke at the Greenville Chamber’s Greater Together annual meeting on Feb. 26. “Business leaders are...
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Greenville families mourn Jackson, reflect on legacy
Days before his memorial at the South Carolina state capitol on March 2, descendants of Nicholtown neighborhood royalty are still searching for an appropriate way to grieve the death of Greenville native and close friend, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who...
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Citizenship means ‘anything is possible’ for immigrants
One by one, 45 new United States citizens stepped forward to receive a certificate documenting their naturalization and a pocket-sized booklet containing the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. h They held small American flags and smiled...
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Push to automate science with AI has constraints
Consistent with the general trend of incorporating artificial intelligence into nearly every field, researchers and politicians are increasingly using AI models trained on scientific data to infer answers to scientific questions. But can AI ultimately...
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SC lawmakers, residents attend Trump’s SOTU
South Carolina lawmakers and several Greenville residents were in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 24 for President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address. Sen. Tim Scott, R-South Carolina, helped escort the president into the House chamber leading up to...
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Greenville, state government honor legacy of Jesse Jackson
The Rev. Jesse Jackson will lie in state at the South Carolina Statehouse in Columbia on Monday, March 2. Gov. Henry McMaster announced the plans on Monday, Feb. 23, and directed that flags over the Statehouse be lowered to half staff from sunrise to...
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Foster hometown pride to grow civic engagement
Eileen Higgins won a historic victory in December. She became the first woman ever elected mayor of Miami, as well as its first Democratic mayor since 1997. h Although the stakes in the city’s Dec. 9, runoff election were high, interest was not − 4 in...
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Price cuts lead to prime cuts
If not for the closing of Bi-Lo on Pleasantburg Drive in 2021, one of Greenville’s most popular Black-owned meat and butchery stops may have never opened. During their liquidation, Patrick Cheatham used a $1,200 budget to purchase a discounted...
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Father fights for ‘Addy’s Law’ after special needs daughter’s homicide
Addison Rebecca Carr went six and a half minutes without oxygen when she was born — a split moment in time that would cause severe brain damage and affect her fine motor skills. The birth complication, due to hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, would...
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Lasting impact on U.S. politics
In 1988, the Rev. Jesse Jackson was at the height of his career in electoral politics. He inspired delegates that year at the Democratic National Convention, as well as millions of Americans watching on television, by recalling his impoverished...
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STUDY: PLANET IS IN WATER BANKRUPTCY
The world is now using so much fresh water amid the consequences of climate change that it has entered an era of water bankruptcy, with many regions no longer able to bounce back from frequent water shortages. h About 4 billion people – nearly half...
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GOP governor candidates make voter pitch at forum
Five Republicans running for governor of South Carolina made campaign pitches to voters attending a Presidents’ Day forum hosted by the Spartanburg County Republican Party. Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, Attorney General Alan Wilson, State Sen. Josh...
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Key moments shaped Jackson’s career
Marc Ramirez | The Rev. Jesse Jackson was a tireless activist, dynamic orator, skilled diplomat and influential politician whose two campaigns for the White House transformed politics and diversified the Democratic Party. He died Feb. 17 at age...
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A voice for equality
The Rev. Jesse Jackson, a Greenville native and iconic American civil rights leader who worked alongside the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and who made history as the first Black man to launch a groundbreaking campaign for president, has died. He was 84....
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Grand Ole Opry owner to manage CCNB Amphitheatre
A Nashville-based company will take over management of Simpsonville’s CCNB Amphitheatre at Heritage Park. h Simpsonville City Council approved an 11-year contract with Opry Entertainment Group on Feb. 10. The company owns and manages iconic country...
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Auto industry fuels $300B impact in SC
South Carolina’s largest footprint for manufacturing jobs is in the Upstate, which is bolstered by a strong automotive industry, according to a recent study from the South Carolina Manufacturers and Commerce. During the 15th annual South Carolina...
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Upstate Cajun restaurant named one of best in U.S.
White Wine & Butter is a tee shot for the taste buds, as chef and owner Michael Sibert and his “Cajun comfort food” imprint serve up country-club dishes with a cultured twist. h Now, the restaurant’s French and Southern roots are being introduced well...
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Social media reshaping research on substance use
When you think of tools for studying substance use and addiction, a social media site like Reddit, TikTok or YouTube probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. Yet the stories shared on social media platforms are offering unprecedented insights...
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Student informants spur academic freedom debate
Texas A&M University told philosophy professor Martin Peterson in early January that he could not teach some of Greek philosopher Plato’s writings that touch on “race and gender ideology.” The university’s local chapter of the American Association of...
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‘We use a lot of rice’
Something new is coming to the lunch menu at Greenville County Schools, and it’s rooted in southern tradition. h J.L. Mann High School students in Greenville were the first to experience the culture and flavor of Carolina Gold Rice on Friday, Feb. 6,...
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Lifting her voice
South Carolina native and R&B singer Coco Jones wowed crowds with a powerful performance of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” during the pre-game festivities at Super Bowl LX on Feb. 8, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. h She was supported by an...
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Artisphere 2026: See the artists scheduled for Greenville festival
Greenville’s premier art festival kicked off early with great fashion, professional creatives in attendance, and an exclusive reveal of the next class of participants for the upcoming 22nd annual Artisphere, presented by Prisma Health. On Feb. 5, a...
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‘It’s really in keeping with Greenville 2040’
Construction is expected to start soon on a new mixed-use affordable housing development in one of Greenville’s historic neighborhoods. The Alliance is a $38 million project that incorporates commercial and residential space, located at the...
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‘NOTHING THAT HE COULDN’T DO’
All Nick Emmanwori needed was one drill. h “Probably one of the quickest evaluations that I’ve ever done in my coaching career,” South Carolina defensive coordinator Clayton White told The Greenville News. h “There was nothing that he couldn’t do. He...
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Trump actions worry free-speech advocates
The FBI search of a Washington Post reporter’s home on Jan. 14 was a rare and intimidating move by an administration focused on repressing criticism and dissent. In its story about the search at Hannah Natanson’s home, at which FBI agents said they...
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‘Long path ahead’
Plans for a new restaurant and a black box theater were among the proposals presented at the City of Greenville’s project preview meeting on Feb. 3. The city holds project preview meetings once a month, so residents can see upcoming planning and...
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3M passengers IN ONE YEAR
For the first time since opening in 1962, the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport exceeded 3 million passengers in a single year. That’s the early estimate of 2025 numbers by airport officials, said GSP communications manager Tiffany...
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Measles outbreak makes history
The measles outbreak centered in Spartanburg County is now the largest the United States has seen since the disease was officially declared eliminated more than 25 years ago. The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) reported 58 new cases...
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5 takeaways from McMaster’s final State of the State address
Gov. Henry McMaster stood before South Carolina General Assembly on Jan. 28 and delivered his last State of the State address, touching on the state’s economic strength, capital investments, and room for growth. The speech was McMaster’s ninth State...
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Polluting plants – disproportionately located in low-income communities – forced back into service ‘VERY DISAPPOINTING’
CHICAGO – In Chicago’s workingclass Pilsen neighborhood, a 1960s-era oil-fired power plant rises up from an industrial lot behind Dvorak Park, which in warmer weather is packed with children climbing on its colorful playground and zooming down...
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Food banks struggle to feed needy after holiday season
After the Christmas trees are taken down and calendars turn to a new year, many food banks and food rescue organizations are left with low inventory as the “season of giving” ends and the real challenge of feeding the needy begins. According to three...
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‘Food truck without wheels’ gets upgrade
Greenville’s “food truck without wheels,” Papi’s Tacos, will introduce an elevated approach to its menu, interior design, and branding sometime around Valentine’s Day weekend. Papi’s Kitchen will soon be the new namesake at 21 Augusta St. — an effort...
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Grants to help group preserve property
The Greenville County Historic and Natural Resources Trust has approved grants that will help a local conservation group preserve 84 acres of land in Paris Mountain State Park and 126 acres below Caesars Head. The trust presented plans for four...
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How SC weathered storms in the wake of a new one
Major winter weather events in South Carolina are relatively rare, but it hasn’t been that long since the Upstate had a snowstorm. The last snowstorm hit the Upstate on Jan. 16–17, 2022, and the last significant ice storm was over a decade ago in...
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WINTER STORM PREP
ABOVE: Anderson County brine truck sprays around the Civic Center of Anderson as Duke Energy command center and supply yard sets up nearby at the Civic Center of Anderson on Jan. 23. BELOW LEFT: A sign before walking on Liberty Bridge says “Caution”...
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RISING ACA PLAN COSTS HIT UPSTATE ‘It’s going to make things harder’
The impact of changes to affordable healthcare plans at the end of 2025 were almost immediate for Upstate residents who saw their year start with rising plan costs, expiring tax credits and skyrocketing deductibles. Enhanced Premium Tax Credits,...
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