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$4.5 billion at stake: Richland hosts public hearing for new transportation penny tax
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Concerned citizens from across Richland County gathered at the county council chambers Tuesday evening to share their thoughts on the proposed transportation penny tax. While the hearing was primarily scheduled to discuss the adoption of tax itself, most of those who spoke discussed their thoughts on...
Chapin development raises concerns amongst residents
CHAPIN, S.C. — The Chapin Planning Commission met to discuss a new development around the Brighton Boulevard area, but some community members are concerned. “Nothing has been done for many years and so finally there's a proposal for at least part of that project,” Sandy Wade said. Wade...
Richland One approves budget, increases starting teacher salary
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Richland One approved the third reading of the district's General Fund Budget for the 2024-1015 fiscal year. The $409.2M budget will include raises for Richland Ones' starting teacher salary from $43,640 to $50,100 a year. “We are pleased to offer these well-deserved increases to our teachers...
Lawmakers invest millions from SC budget in roads
COLUMBIA, S.C. — More than $300 million dollars of roads improvements are headed to South Carolina, as part of the new state budget, which went into effect July 1. The South Carolina Department of Transportation will get $117 million to fix rural roads, while $200 million will be set aside for counties to apply for grants to pay for local roads projects.
Body found in pond near Harbison area, death investigation underway
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The Lexington County Sheriff's Department is investigating after they say a body was found in a pond near the Harbison area. Officers said the discovery was made late Tuesday afternoon in the 200 block of Crossbow Drive. That's not far from Columbiana Drive which runs off Harbison Boulevard.
Holly Hill invests in police and maintenance vehicles
HOLLY HILL, S.C. — Since August of 2022, the Orangeburg County Town of Holly Hill has purchased six new police cars, and last month they purchased two pick up trucks for their sanitation department. Prior to this purchase Melvin Fogle, the town’s sanitation supervisor, was driving around a 1997...
Teenager killed in shooting in southeast Columbia, coroner confirms
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Authorities have identified the victim of a fatal shooting at an apartment complex off Rosewood Drive on July Fourth. Dives Evans, 17, of Columbia, SC, died after being shot at Woodland Terrace on July Fourth, according to Richland County Coroner Naida Rutherford. Columbia Police said they...
Bird leads to brief, but large power outage in downtown Columbia
COLUMBIA, S.C. — A large power outage in downtown Columbia Tuesday briefly caused some problems for people and businesses in the area. News19 first began getting reports just after 2 p.m. Tuesday of a problem. The Columbia Police Department put on social media that the issue was due to a transformer problem in the 900 block of Lady Street. The issue caused traffic lights to lose power at Main and Sumter Street and from Gervais Street to Hampton Streets. News19 also got reports that some buildings were also without electricity.
After almost a week, Gadsden Park Community Center reopens
GADSDEN, S.C. — After being closed on July 3, the Gadsden Park Community Center has reopened to the public as of Tuesday, July 9. Richland County Recreation Commission (RCRC) had temporarily closed the center due to electrical problems in the building. Just after noon on July 9, RCRC said in a statement that the electrical issue that caused a lack of air conditioning, and a faulty air conditioning unit, have been repaired.
Oak Ridge Boys vocalist Joe Bonsall passes away at 76
HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. — Joe Bonsall, a longtime member of The Oak Ridge Boys, has passed away. Bonsall was 76 years old and died from complications of ALS. He retired in January after battling the neuromuscular disorder for more than four years. Bonsall was a member of the Grand Ole...
Traffic again moving along I-26 East blocked near Sandy Run
LEXINGTON COUNTY, S.C. — Traffic is once again moving after an overturned tractor trailer has been removed from the roadway along the eastbound lanes of I-26 near Mile Marker 126. The incident occurred around 8:32 Tuesday morning near Sandy Run. As of noon, crews are still at the scene...
Columbia gets $2.5 million for Five Points garage, other money for other projects
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Anyone who looks at the recently approved state budget will notice that the City of Columbia received $2.5 million for a new parking garage in Five Points, plus another $2.5 million for additional Five Points projects. In 2021 News19 reported that a resolution had been adopted...
Bowman sewers backed up again
BOWMAN, S.C. — The Town of Bowman experienced another sewer system back up last Tuesday, but this time it was from cable wire. Mayor Patsy Rhett says they believe this was done through manholes as the wire could not have been flushed down a toilet. “The toilets in our...
Dominion Energy customers voice concerns about potential rate increase
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Editor's note: An additional meeting that was originally scheduled to take place on Tuesday, July 9 was cancelled. Dominion Energy customers could see an increase in their electric bill. The energy company is requesting a 14% rate hike from regulators. The Public Service Commission held two hearings Monday to listen to customers' concerns.
Two years after murder, Sumter County deputies make breakthrough in case
SUMTER COUNTY, S.C. — Two years after a local man died, Sumter County deputies say they have made a breakthrough in the case and issued an arrest warrant. On July 8, 2022, deputies say they responded to a call on Edgehill Road and found Stephen Collins deceased with multiple gunshot wounds.
Humane Society, law enforcement looking into case of animal abuse at Columbia apartment complex
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Content warning: News19 is including the photo of the cat that was provided by the Humane Society further down in this article. Some readers may find the image too disturbing to look at. The Humane Society in Columbia, along with the Richland County Sheriff's Department (RCSD)...
South Carolina man with memory loss missing for nearly a year
LANCASTER COUNTY, S.C. — Authorities in Lancaster County are asking for the public's help again to find a man who hasn't been seen since leaving his home on Aug., 17, 2023. Danny Kaye Squires left his home on Lynwood Drive in Lancaster around 10 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023, according to the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office. Squires left on foot and was last seen walking toward the BP gas station on Lynwood Drive, deputies said. He suffers from memory loss and might seem lost of confused.
New international production of 'Swan Lake' alights at Columbia's Koger Center
COLUMBIA, S.C. — A new production of Swan Lake will wing its way to Columbia's Koger Center for the Arts in early 2025. That's when the State Ballet Theatre of Ukraine is scheduled to perform Tchaikovsky's classic on January 14 at 7:30 p.m. The performance will feature completely new...
Public Service reminder: New Upstate area code goes into effect July 19
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Public Service Commission (SCPSC) wants to remind you a new 821 area code overlay in the South Carolina Upstate now covered by the 864 area code will go into effect July 19. At that time, all calls placed will have to use ten-digit phone numbers to make any call in the region. Calls using only seven digits (numbers dialed without the area code) will not be completed.
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