By Dr. Akil E. Ross. Sr. On June 8, 2026, the Lexington Richland Five Board of Trustees approved the second and final reading of the 2026–2027 annual budget in the amount of $255,715,126.81. I am excited to summarize what this budget means for our students, staff, families, and taxpayers. TheContinue Reading
Photo – Winnsboro’s clock tower, the country’s longest-running clock By Tom Poland, A Southern WriterTomPoland.net In my journeys across the South, Georgialina, in particular, I take note of clock towers, watchtowers, and steeples. How can I not. They command the eye. They set me to thinking. I’ve written many timesContinue Reading
Pictured are speaker sponsor David Deal, Bonnoitt, and Optimist Club President David Kafitz Jim Thorpe In 1913, Jim Thorpe, who many argue was the greatest athlete in U.S. history, was forced to return the gold medals he had won in the 1912 Olympics. Researchers had discovered that Thorpe had playedContinue Reading
Photo – Before their peers from across the state, sixteen members of the Columbia-Richland Fire Department were honored for their work during closing events at this year’s South Carolina Fire-Rescue conference. By Michael DeSumma CRFD 1st Shift crews on Engine 1, Rescue 1, Engine 6 and Ladder 7 were selectedContinue Reading
Prisma Health Baptist Parkridge Hospital has been named one of Becker’s Hospital Review’s 2026 “100 Great Community Hospitals,” earning national recognition for delivering exceptional clinical care and serving as a vital healthcare resource for the Midlands. Prisma Health Oconee Memorial Hospital was the only other South Carolina hospital included onContinue Reading
If you’ve ever looked up at the night sky over Lake Murray and wondered what might be out there, a new study suggests South Carolina is among the more active states for reported alien encounters. According to research by Canada Sports Betting (CSB), South Carolina ranks 14th in the nationContinue Reading
The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) will close the Dutch Fork Road (U.S. 76) bridge over the CSX Railroad in Richland County beginning Monday, July 13, for bridge repairs. The work is part of SCDOT’s Statewide Closed and Load Restricted Bridge Repair Program and is designed to extend theContinue Reading
Five students from Lexington-Richland School District Five have been recognized for outstanding achievement during the Tri-District Arts Consortium (TriDAC) summer program. The District Five honorees are: Me’Leah Council, Dutch Fork High School — Teachers’ Choice Award in Dance Ana Gomez, Irmo Middle School — Stephen Nevitt Award in Visual ArtContinue Reading
A 21-year-old Columbia man has been sentenced to 16 years in federal prison for robbing a federal confidential informant at gunpoint during a firearms and narcotics investigation. According to evidence presented in court, Tah’Kel Ar’Key Wilson committed the robbery on Aug. 9, 2024, after federal agents with the Bureau ofContinue Reading
Fireworks with the Phil lit up Segra Park on June 27, bringing together patriotic music, community spirit, and a spectacular fireworks finale. This year’s annual celebration was part of South Carolina’s SC250 observance, commemorating the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. The evening featured a live performance by the SouthContinue Reading
By Sarah Ostergaard It’s summer and school’s out. But education doesn’t take a rest. Members of the Social Studies Standards Revision Committees are volunteering their time and expertise to draft new standards for SC’s K-12 Social Studies courses. The final draft of the revised standards is due later this month,Continue Reading