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A proposed federal reform bill could put historic sites across South Carolina at risk by weakening public involvement in the review of federally funded projects. The Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act is scheduled for consideration by the U.S. Senate on Nov. 9 as part of a larger funding bill. Preservation advocates, specifically the Preservation Society of Charleston, are urging Gov. Henry McMaster and U.S. Sens. Tim Scott and Darline Graham to oppose changes to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. Under the current Section 106 process, projects receiving federal resources must consult with parties potentially…

York County Council on Nov. 2 advanced four economic development incentive agreements representing about $235.6 million in investment and more than 400 jobs. Action, a Dutch discount retailer, and Munzing, which plans to move its North American headquarters to Clover, identified themselves as Projects Pear and Utopia and passed second reading. Project Blue Mako, a Rock Hill precision manufacturer, and Project Elevate, a $170.5 million plant expansion in southern York County, passed first reading, and council authorized applications for $13 million in related state grants. Council also passed first reading of two rezonings, started an update of the county’s 20-year-old…

Rock Hill, S.C. – The South Carolina Public Charter School District (PCSD) and Superintendent Chris Neeley officially designated York Preparatory Academy (YPA) as the state’s newest Workforce Center of Excellence (WCOE) during a special ceremony at the school on Thursday, October 29.  The designation recognizes YPA’s commitment to ensuring all students graduate prepared for college, careers, and military service.  “Being recognized as a Workforce Center of Excellence affirms our belief that education should do more than prepare students for graduation, but also prepare them for life and real world experiences. At YPA, we are committed to building meaningful pathways from classroom to…

Republican Alan Wilson will be South Carolina’s next governor, Rock Hill’s Wes Climer will represent York and Lancaster counties in Congress, and Democrat Annie Andrews defeated Republican Sen. Darline Graham in a U.S. Senate race that drew national attention, according to unofficial returns from Tuesday’s general election. Republicans held every constitutional office on the statewide ballot, from lieutenant governor to agriculture commissioner. Closer to home, Republican James Burns won the special election for Climer’s former state Senate seat, Republican David Martin won S.C. House District 26, and Democrat Heather Hart won S.C. House District 66 by fewer than 500 votes….

December 5 charity race benefits Crisis Response International, the Rock Hill nonprofit that trains and mobilizes volunteers to serve in times of crisis and disaster. ROCK HILL, S.C. (October 30, 2026)- When disaster or crisis strikes, trained volunteers can make a difference for people whose lives have been turned upside down. This December, local runners and walkers can help put those volunteers in the field. Crisis Response International (CRI), a disaster relief nonprofit headquartered in Rock Hill, will host the 3rd Annual 4.01K Reindeer Run on Saturday, December 5, at the Rock Hill Criterium Course. Presented by the Transamerica Foundation,…

Harrisburg Global Academy will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday, Nov. 5, to recognize the community partners, families and leaders who helped bring the Indian Land school to life. The noon ceremony at the school’s campus, located at 11774 Harrisburg Road, will celebrate the founding board members, planning committee and supporters who helped make the school’s opening possible. Although the school has been serving students since September, the event provides an opportunity to recognize those involved in its development. Principal Rivas will lead the program, which will include a student pledge and remarks from Jennifer Lucas and Justin Matthews of Alliance…

A French short film about a young woman pulled into the world of cockfighting has won the first tournament held by Plink, a streaming platform for independent filmmakers run from Fort Mill. “Beaks,” directed by Xavier Demoulin, took the Plink Season 1 Championship after a single elimination bracket of nine independent films that ended Oct. 26. Viewers decided every matchup, and under Plink’s rules a vote counted only if the viewer had watched both films. “Roll Pin Punch,” a mixed martial arts drama by Debbie Vu of IronWorx Media in Durham, North Carolina, finished as runner up and took the…

Columbia, S.C. (November 2, 2026) – The South Carolina Department of Transportation will conduct lane closures on Interstate 77 northbound over Celanese Road (SC 161) for repairs in York County beginning Sunday, November 8. The two left lanes of I-77 northbound between mile markers 81 and 82 will be closed until Thursday, November 12. The lane closures are needed to perform ongoing deck repair work on the bridges over Celanese Road. SCDOT asks that drivers slow down and pay attention when driving near the work zone. Thomas Hyslip Thomas Hyslip lives in Tega Cay with his wife and daughter. After…

An 84-year-old Rock Hill man was killed early Sunday after being struck by a vehicle while walking along McConnells Highway, according to the York County Coroner’s Office, as reported by WSOC. The victim was identified as Marcus Hicklin of Rock Hill. Coroner’s officials said they responded to the area of 4390 McConnells Highway during the early morning hours of Nov. 1 to investigate the incident. Hicklin was pronounced dead at the scene. An examination and toxicology testing are expected to be completed this week, with results pending. The South Carolina Highway Patrol and York County Coroner’s Office are investigating the…

Sunday is a big grilling day for me, in particular smoking different cuts of meat on my charcoal grill. Between my daughter’s soccer, family obligations and other life events, I don’t always have the opportunity to enjoy a “lazy Sunday,” but when I do, grilling and NFL football take precedence.  I love to smoke tougher cuts of meat for two reasons: they’re usually cheaper and present more of a challenge than the top shelf variety. For all you grill aficionados, you’re familiar with the term “low and slow.” For anyone else, it’s exactly what it sounds like. Cooking meat slowly…

The South Carolina chapter of Mothers Against Media Addiction, in partnership with the Less Than Three Foundation, will host an event to inform adults and teens about online dangers. Representative Brandon Guffey will share the story of the loss of his son due to sextortion, as well as his mission to address the epidemic of harms to our youth due to unregulated social media. South Carolina Strawberry Queen Olivia Mile’s will share her personal experiences that led her to found her platform, Mind Over Media, to connect with teens on this important topic. The event will take place on Tuesday,…

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) Law Enforcement Division has achieved national accreditation through the North American Wildlife Law Enforcement Accreditation (NAWLEA) program, agency officials announced. The Division formally accepted the honor during an Oct. 28 ceremony at the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies conference in Nashville, Tennessee. The NAWLEA accreditation establishes national standards specifically designed for agencies enforcing wildlife, fisheries, boating, and natural resource regulations. To achieve accreditation, agencies undergo a rigorous evaluation of operational policies, officer safety, evidence management, investigations, training, and overall administration. SCDNR initiated its accreditation review in 2024, culminating in an…

Catawba Ridge 19, Clover 14 In a tight, defensive battle that came down to the wire, Catawba Ridge pulled off a thrilling 19-14 victory over Clover to close out their regular season. Both defenses set a physical tone early. Clover struck first in the opening quarter with a 2-yard rushing touchdown by Grady Stone to take a 7-0 lead. Catawba Ridge responded right before halftime when Nate Odell hauled in a 7-yard touchdown pass, locking the game in a 7-7 tie heading into the locker room. The third quarter turned into a defensive duel as Clover intercepted two Catawba Ridge…

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson is applauding a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announcement that it will vote next month on final rules allowing correctional facilities to use technology to jam contraband cellphones. The proposed rules would give state and local correctional facilities the option to use cellphone jamming technology to disrupt cellular transmissions from unauthorized devices. The rules would permit the practice but would not require facilities to adopt it. Wilson has supported the proposal for several years, citing concerns that inmates use contraband cellphones to coordinate crimes, intimidate witnesses and threaten public safety. In September 2025, Wilson joined…

Salt & Spa Tega Cay will introduce a unique wellness experience featuring halotherapy, personalized spa treatments, and a thoughtfully designed retreat for relaxation and renewal. TEGA CAY, S.C. — A new wellness destination is coming to our community, offering residents a fresh way to relax, recharge, and explore a different approach to self-care. Salt & Spa Tega Cay is preparing to open behind ACE Hardware on Gold Hill Road, in the former location of Sanctuary Massage & Facial Spa. The family-owned business will feature himalayan salt rooms, massage therapy, customized skincare treatments, and a variety of spa experiences. At the…

Located in the highly desirable Lake Ridge community of Tega Cay, South Carolina, this beautifully updated 5-bedroom, 4-bath home offers approximately 3,200 square feet on an oversized 0.20-acre corner lot, complete with sidewalks and walking trails throughout the neighborhood. Built in 2010 and freshly painted throughout, this move-in-ready home showcases a bright, modern feel, highlighted by a white kitchen and thoughtfully updated finishes. The main-level primary suite features wood flooring, dual vanities, and a renovated spa-like bath with quartz countertops, a walk-in tile shower, and a soaking tub. The main level also includes a dedicated office with French doors, a…

A bat found near Pinewood and Belleview roads in Rock Hill has tested positive for rabies, the South Carolina Department of Public Health announced Wednesday. The state agency also confirmed a rabid bat in Greenville County, found near Bessie and North Flat Rock roads in Piedmont. One person was exposed to that bat and has been referred to a health care provider. Both bats were sent to the DPH laboratory Oct. 23 and confirmed rabid Oct. 26. The Rock Hill bat is the eighth animal in York County to test positive for rabies this year, according to DPH, one shy…

Picture taken from votestumbo.com (enhanced to include title of article) With less than a week remaining before the Nov. 3 general election, Republican Attorney General nominee David Stumbo has secured endorsements from 31 South Carolina sheriffs, including law enforcement leaders from Chester, Lancaster and York counties. The sheriffs cited Stumbo’s more than 20 years of prosecutorial experience and his focus on supporting law enforcement, protecting victims and holding violent criminals accountable. Stumbo serves as solicitor for South Carolina’s Eighth Judicial Circuit, where he has prosecuted violent criminals, drug traffickers and repeat offenders while working with law enforcement officers and deputies….

An estimated 500,000 gallons of sewage flowed into Little Allison Creek in Lake Wylie after a York County Utilities pump station lost power Monday evening, county officials said. The Little Allison Creek Pump Station is equipped with a backup generator and an alarm system designed to alert staff to problems. Neither worked, according to a statement York County Utilities released Wednesday, because of a problem with wiring that supplies power to the pumps. The overflow has stopped, the county said Tuesday. Officials said the only water safety guidance in effect covers the immediate area around the spill, and that no…

New legislation establishes requirements for restrooms, locker rooms, and changing facilities in public schools and colleges. FORT MILL, S.C. — State Representative Jackie Terribile (R–District 66) is highlighting the passage of the South Carolina Student Physical Privacy Act, legislation she proudly co-sponsored and supported to protect privacy and safety in public schools and institutions of higher learning. The legislation requires public schools and public institutions of higher learning to designate multi-user restrooms, locker rooms, and changing facilities based on biological sex. “It’s common sense: boys’ bathrooms and locker rooms are for boys, and girls’ bathrooms and locker rooms are for…

by Tyler Teresa, Regional Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration  Across America, small business owners are working every day to grow their companies and take care of the employees who make their success possible. From manufacturers and retailers to restaurants and service businesses, quality health coverage can help employers recruit talent, retain skilled workers, and support working families. But small employers often face a health care system that was not built with Main Street in mind. Large corporations can rely on human-resources departments, outside consultants, and benefits teams to manage complicated plans and annual renewals. Small business owners are busy running…

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster has announced 25 appointments to the Governor’s Conservation Commission, bringing together members from the private and academic sectors to help guide the state’s conservation and preservation efforts. The appointees will serve alongside ex officio members, including South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Director Tom Mullikin, Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Director Duane Parrish, Chief Resilience Officer Ben Duncan and State Forester Scott Phillips. Created through Executive Order 2026-24, the commission will advise the governor and executive branch on conservation strategies, promote coordination among state and local agencies, and help local governments establish conservation goals….

South Pointe High School senior Reece Adams won the boys individual title and led his team to the championship at the Class 4A Region 3 cross country meet Oct. 22 at Lake Wylie High School, while Nation Ford High School won the girls team title. South Pointe senior Libba Faircloth won the girls race in 18:43.82, giving the Rock Hill school both individual champions. She finished 38 seconds ahead of Nation Ford senior Haley Garcia. All seven schools in the region come from York and Lancaster counties. South Pointe is in Rock Hill, Nation Ford and Catawba Ridge are in…

Mallory Dittmer, Democratic Nominee for the 5th Congressional District, today affirmed her support of the Fort Mill School District (FMSD) School Board’s decision last Friday to seek a formal role in litigation between York County and the Silfab Solar manufacturing company. FMSD wants to ensure that the interests of its students, teachers, staff and families are adequately represented and that the District’s health and safety concerns are heard by the Circuit Court. “The Silfab project should never have been approved for this location, a fact the Court affirmed this past July” Dittmer said. “The critical question now is how to…

Project Lifeline 250 will provide six months of free cybersecurity support to South Carolina’s rural hospitals through a partnership of federal, state and private-sector groups. COLUMBIA, S.C. — Gov. Henry McMaster and White House National Cyber Director Sean Cairncross announced Project Lifeline 250 on Monday, a six-month pilot program designed to shore up cybersecurity defenses at rural hospitals across South Carolina at no cost to the hospitals, according to the Office of the Governor. The initiative pairs the federal Office of the National Cyber Director with the South Carolina Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity program, private technology companies, federal agencies and local…

The S.C. Commission on Higher Education will host five online sessions this fall to help high school counselors and administrators prepare students for Palmetto Fellows Scholarship early applications. The South Carolina Commission on Higher Education will offer a series of virtual workshops this fall to assist high school counselors and administrators with the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Early Application cycle, according to the commission. Two types of sessions will be available. One is a full Early Application Workshop that walks participants through the updated digital application process step by step, including instructions for submitting applications electronically. The other is a shorter…

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster joined lawmakers, law enforcement officials and prosecutors at the Statehouse last week for a ceremonial signing of legislation expanding the state’s Homicide by Child Abuse statute. Senate Bill 405, signed into law March 9, 2026, extends the statute’s protections to victims under age 18, closing a gap in the previous law that limited the maximum age of victims to 11. Under the former statute, children ages 12 through 17 were excluded from the specialized homicide by child abuse charge. When an older child died as a result of abuse or neglect, prosecutors had to pursue…

The Clover School District (CSD) Board of Trustees has appointed Rod Ruth as the district’s next Superintendent. reached during tonight’s School Board Business Meeting following executive session contract negotiations. Ruth will succeed Dr. Sheila Quinn, who announced her upcoming retirement in August. A Decade of Proven Leadership Board Chair Rob Wallace highlighted Ruth’s long-standing dedication and performance within the district as key factors in the Board’s decision. “As a board, we were impressed with the caliber of the senior leadership team and knew that we had the opportunity to consider all options here in Clover School District before looking elsewhere,”…

As the holidays approach, it seems we’ll never get away from the curse of overspending. Even Halloween, a holiday that once required a pumpkin, a pillow case to hold candy and a $10 mask has now been co-opted by Spirit Halloween and ten foot tall yard inflatables. The choices of what can be purchased are fun but they’re also expensive. At a time of the year when belt tightening is more prudent, it’s become increasingly more difficult to resist the orange glow emanating from the Halloween aisle at Lowes.  So, what’s to be done? Should we buy anything we want,…

JT Sutton won his first Tega Cay Men’s Golf Association Club Championship, posting rounds of 73 and 75 for a 36 hole total of 148, 4 over par, at Tega Cay Golf Club. Sutton reached the 18th tee with a three shot lead over Bryce Wittmer, who was playing in the group ahead. Wittmer birdied the final hole to cut the margin to two. Sutton put his approach 30 feet from the cup and took an easy three putt for bogey to win by one stroke. Wittmer’s finish capped a strong second day. He opened with a 79 and trailed…

An orange and white cat named Mamba and a 4½ month old retriever mix named Hunter are this week’s featured adoptable pets at the Humane Society of York County shelter on Regent Parkway in Fort Mill. The shelter has placed 569 animals in homes so far in 2026, including 119 dogs and 450 cats, according to Mary Beth Knapp, a Humane Society of York County volunteer. Mamba needs a quiet start Mamba arrived at the shelter as a stray. Staff estimate she is 1 year and 9 months old. She can be nervous with new people, Knapp said, but warms…

LEOs and Lions joined forces on September 26, 2026, to “serve” guests at Tega Cay’s Catawba Fest! Guests enjoyed ice-cold apple cider generously donated by Windy Hill Orchard & Cidery and served by the Lions. Meanwhile, LEO Vice President Lyla Dobleske and her dad kept the kids entertained at the craft table, where children created Halloween necklaces and received fun giveaways. Their efforts brought smiles to the faces of children and parents alike! It was a wonderful opportunity for LEOs and Lions to work side by side, share some fall fun, and demonstrate the spirit of community service. A big…

On October 19, Lions Donna, Karl, Dee, Amy, and Mary brought the gift of vision screening to more than 800 elementary-aged students at Flint Hill Elementary! The event was a great success, with several exciting milestones for the team. Lion Dee, a newly inducted Tega Cay Lion, joined in serving the students, while Lion Amy celebrated becoming an officially trained Kidsight camera operator. Congratulations, Lion Amy! And, as you can see, Lion Karl was all smiles as he reassured the children that their “eyes are good to go”! His enthusiasm helped make the screenings a positive experience for the students….

OCTOBER 25, 2026 (Fort Mill, SC) — Nation Ford High School Marching Band won their 12th State Championship title on Saturday, October 24, 2026. The band’s 2026 win marks a three-peat achievement after earning the 5A State Championship title in 2024 and 2025. South Carolina State Championships are hosted by South Carolina Band Directors Association (SCBDA), taking place over three weeks for classes 1A – 6A. Class 5A State Championships were held at River Bluff High School in Lexington, SC. 5A State Championships Preliminary and Finals Results In preliminary competition, Nation Ford was named the 5A Upper State Champion, earning…

South Carolina lawmakers are preparing for a major debate over data center development during the 2027 legislative session, as concerns grow about the facilities’ effects on electricity demand, water resources and community involvement. Supporters say data centers bring billions of dollars in investment and strengthen the state’s position in technology and artificial intelligence. Critics argue communities need more information about proposed projects and their potential environmental and infrastructure impacts. Sen. Tom Davis, R-Beaufort, is drafting legislation that would establish new requirements for future data centers. His proposal would mandate closed-loop cooling systems that recycle water, encourage companies to generate their…

JT Sutton shot 1 over par 73 from the black tees Saturday to take a one shot lead after the first round of the Tega Cay Men’s Golf Association Club Championship, played in a cold, steady wind that pushed scores up across the field at Tega Cay Golf Club. Juan Melchor is second at 74, and Tom Cannarrozo is third at 75 heading into Sunday’s final round. Billy Hall and Tyler Patterson are tied for fourth at 77. No one in the nine player Club Championship division broke par. The two round event crowns the association’s champions in five divisions,…

New legislation reduces property taxes and eliminates unnecessary requirements for South Carolina boat owners beginning in 2027. FORT MILL, S.C. — For families in Fort Mill and Tega Cay, Lake Wylie is part of what makes the community special. But South Carolina has long placed a significant property tax burden on boat owners. State Representative Jackie Terribile (R–District 66) was a proud co-sponsor of H.3858, legislation passed by the South Carolina General Assembly that begins reducing property taxes on qualifying watercraft in 2027. The new law also ends the practice of separately taxing a boat and its outboard motor by…

York County says fraudulent invoice emails claiming to be from its Planning & Development office are circulating, and it will never ask applicants to wire money. York County is warning residents about scam emails that claim to be invoices from the county’s Planning & Development department, according to a notice posted by the county on Oct. 23. The county said anyone who receives such an email should check the sender’s address closely. Legitimate invoices for application fees come only from addresses ending in “@yorkcountysc.gov” and never from the Planning Director personally, the county said. Real invoice emails will always include…

Tega Cay Police Chief Joey Crosby announced two new department programs at the Oct. 20 Tega Cay City Council meeting, one designed to improve communication between officers and residents with disabilities or medical conditions and another designed to help officers find residents who wander away from home. The Blue Envelope Program and Project Lifesaver are both voluntary and free to city residents. Residents can sign up for either one through online registration forms the city has posted. Both programs are built for families living with conditions such as autism, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, where a traffic stop can quickly become…

One person died following a house fire late Wednesday night, Oct. 21, in Rock Hill, according to fire officials and as reported by WBT. The fire broke out shortly before 11 p.m. on Maple Street, behind Friedheim Park. When Rock Hill firefighters arrived, the home was already engulfed in flames. Firefighters began suppression and search operations, locating one person inside the burning residence. The individual was removed from the home and transported to a hospital, where they later died. A second person who was inside the house escaped without assistance and was also hospitalized with minor injuries. As of Thursday,…

The South Carolina State Museum in Columbia will bring back Áróra, a 21-minute planetarium show about the Northern Lights, beginning Nov. 1. The show will run through Feb. 28, 2027. The show takes audiences through remote Icelandic landscapes and out into space to explain what causes the aurora. It plays on the 55-foot digital dome of the museum’s BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Planetarium. According to the museum, the award-winning show was created by a group of well-known Icelandic scientists, writers, photographers and musicians. For many York County residents, the subject is no longer abstract. Strong solar storms in 2024…

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster has established a new commission to advance his goal of protecting 10 million acres of land statewide by 2050, approximately half of South Carolina’s total land area. McMaster announced Thursday that he signed an executive order creating the Governor’s Conservation Commission to coordinate conservation efforts and help preserve the state’s natural resources, historic sites and cultural heritage. Approximately 3.4 million acres in South Carolina are currently protected in some form, including about 400,000 acres added since 2017. The South Carolina Protected Lands and Conservation Coordination Act of 2026 established a long-term goal of protecting 7…

York County Reads will celebrate five years of tutoring struggling readers with a family afternoon in Tega Cay on Sunday, Nov. 15, capping a weeklong readathon that asks children to read for pledges. The celebration runs from 1 to 5 p.m. at Maisie’s Green Brae, 2150 Gold Hill Road, and will feature games, puppet shows, local vendors and children’s activities, according to the organization’s event flyer. Money raised supports the nonprofit’s tutoring, which it provides to underserved York County children at no cost or a reduced rate. How the readathon works The readathon opens Sunday, Nov. 8, and closes at…

COLUMBIA, S.C. (Oct. 15, 2026) – Three York County students have been named 2026–2027 PalmettoPride Youth Ambassadors: Hannah Dean and Maeve Hardy of Fort Mill and Jurnee Rainey of Rock Hill. They are among 16 students selected statewide from nearly 200 applicants. Hannah Dean, a senior at Catawba Ridge High School in Fort Mill, is returning for a second year. During her first year as an ambassador, she helped remove more than 3,000 pounds of trash through community cleanups and presented her work to the Fort Mill Town Council. Each month, she collects water samples from the Catawba River to…

YORK COUNTY,  S.C. — Every fall all across York County congregations of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hear sermons taught by the most unlikely preachers: the children. These children, ages 3-11, prepare all year to present their feelings about Jesus Christ and His gospel through music and the spoken word during one worship session on a Sunday each fall. Congregations in Catawba and Fort Mill have already heard their children teach, and eight more across York, Lancaster, and Chester counties will witness the children present the sermon throughout October and November. When asked the reason for this…

YORK, S.C. York County Council on Monday, Oct. 19, refused to let Dream Finders Homes extend county sewer beyond the Urban Services Boundary for a proposed 250-home neighborhood off Paraham and Harper roads, and gave first reading approval to incentive packages for two corporate headquarters projects, one in Fort Mill and one in Clover. Council also passed second reading of a rezoning at Highway 557 and Ridge Road near Clover, approved a 20-item consent agenda and, after executive session, voted 6-1 to authorize condemnation of a tract needed for the Sutton Road, Fort Mill Parkway and U.S. 21 widening project….

The South Carolina Department of Transportation is asking residents to help shape the state’s public transportation policies and investments for the next 25 years. SCDOT is developing a Statewide Transit Plan to identify transportation needs, improve coordination with local transit agencies and expand access to jobs, health care, schools and other destinations. The plan will also focus on supporting economic growth and guiding future transit programs and policies. Residents can participate through an online survey and a virtual public meeting scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 5, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. The meeting will include a question-and-answer session. Those unable to…

Local actor Emmanuel “Manny” McCord is expanding his Hollywood career with a growing role in the Homestead television series while developing a feature film inspired by brain injuries, cancer and faith. We initially featured Manny in our 2024 article about his role in Homestead, which began as a feature film before expanding into a television series on Angel Studios. The original movie is available on Paramount. Since the first season, Manny’s character, Bing, has grown into one of the series’ main characters. In Season 1, Bing is hired to protect the Homestead but eventually leaves and returns with an army…

Robert L. (Bob) Stone, Sr. passed away peacefully on October 12 after a life spent proving that you’ll never meet a stranger if you treat everyone as a friend. Born in 1932 in Lyndonville, VT, Bob spent his youth in Hanover and Lebanon, NH. Fortunately for the many skiers he coached over the years, Bob failed to make the basketball team at Lebanon High School and went out for the ski team instead, where he wound up skiing for four years under coach Al Merrill. Drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War, Bob liked to say that he…

The South Carolina Department of Public Health is encouraging residents to dispose of unused and expired prescription medications during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, Oct. 24. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at designated U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration collection sites across the state. The DEA partners with local community organizations and law enforcement agencies each April and October to provide safe medication disposal opportunities and help prevent prescription drug misuse. According to the state health department, many prescription drug abuse incidents involve medications obtained from home medicine cabinets, family members or friends. During…

Authorities have released the identities of the two victims killed in a weekend collision and provided new details regarding the suspect’s alleged impairment. Vernell Laurthel Hayes, 45, of Fort Mill, remains held without bond at the York County Detention Center on two counts of felony driving under the influence resulting in death following the tragic crash on Saturday, October 17. According to the York County Coroner’s Office and the Tega Cay Police Department, officers were dispatched in the early morning hours on Saturday to the intersection of West Highway 160 and Tillberg Way following reports of a collision between a…

My youngest daughter had a soccer tournament this past weekend that took us through North Carolina and into the mountains of Tennessee. Although we figured it would take awhile to get there, we weren’t prepared for the amount of traffic we’d run into along the way. The historic floods which devastated that part of the country are still very much an issue on the roadways and, of course, in the everyday lives of the people who were impacted.  Which leads me to something my daughter said that put everything in perspective.  As we crawled past the traffic cones to our…

South Carolina education and public safety officials will highlight efforts to protect students on the road and remind motorists of their responsibilities around school buses during National School Bus Safety Week, Oct. 19-23. State Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver will join South Carolina Department of Public Safety Col. Christopher Williamson, school district transportation officials and South Carolina Highway Patrol representatives for a joint press conference Tuesday, Oct. 20. The event is scheduled for the Richland County Bus Depot at 8012 Wilson Blvd. in Columbia. Officials from the South Carolina Department of Education will discuss measures the agency has taken to…

The Humane Society of York County is looking for homes for Zara, a cat who has spent 548 days at the Fort Mill shelter, and Triscuit, a senior dog who recently completed treatment for heartworms. Both animals are spayed, vaccinated, microchipped and tested, and both are available to meet now at the shelter on Regent Parkway. Zara Zara came to the shelter as an owner surrender through no fault of her own, according to shelter volunteer Mary Beth Knapp. Staff estimate she is about 3½ years old. She spends her days in the shelter’s Cat Lounge, where she mixes with…

In an era where open fields and soaring pine canopy routinely give way to suburban sprawl, York County delivered on a monumental promise to its citizens on Saturday. Yesterday, community leaders and outdoor enthusiasts gathered along the banks of the Catawba River for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony of Catawba Bend Preserve — a sprawling 1,900-acre oasis that now stands as the county’s largest and most ambitious premier park. Although the preserve welcomed visitors for a soft launch earlier this fall, Saturday’s grand celebration marked a major evolution for the public land, introducing a suite of world-class recreation facilities designed to…

Authorities have booked Vernell Laurthel Hayes on multiple counts of felony driving under the influence resulting in death following a tragic crash overnight at the intersection of Highway 160 and Tillberg Way. According to the Tega Cay Police Department, officers were dispatched to the intersection shortly after midnight following emergency calls reporting a serious vehicle-versus-motorcycle crash. Upon arriving at the scene, first responders discovered a grim situation. The male operator of the motorcycle had suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency personnel. A female passenger riding on the motorcycle was critically injured and swiftly transported…

Republican candidate Jackie Terribile raised $18,130 over the summer and early fall in her bid for the South Carolina House District 66 seat, nearly three times the $6,272 reported by Democrat candidate Heather Hart, according to Pre-Election Campaign Disclosure reports both candidates filed with the South Carolina State Ethics Commission this week. The pre-election reports cover activity from July 1 through mid-October. They are the last full accounting voters will see before the Nov. 3 general election. Both candidates live in Fort Mill, and District 66 includes much of Tega Cay and the surrounding Fort Mill area. Terribile filed her…

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) is investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, in York County. York County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a home on Lilly Drive in Clover, SC, for a call for service. When deputies arrived, they encountered a man who drove off in a car. There was a vehicle pursuit that ended in the man’s car going off the road and stopping in a yard on Lloyd White Road. The man pointed a gun at deputies, and deputies shot the man. He was taken to the hospital for treatment,…

Columbia, S.C. (October 16, 2026) – The South Carolina Department of Transportation will conduct lane closures on I-77 northbound over Cherry Road (US 21) for repairs in York County beginning Sunday, October 18. The two right lanes of I-77 northbound between mile markers 81 and 82 will be closed until Thursday, October 22. The lane closures are needed to perform ongoing deck repair work on the bridges over Cherry Road. SCDOT asks that drivers slow down and pay attention when driving near the work zone Thomas Hyslip Thomas Hyslip lives in Tega Cay with his wife and daughter. After 27…

York County and Silfab Solar took each other to court Oct. 16 in lawsuits filed 19 minutes apart that pose one question: whether a 2024 county zoning board ruling against solar panel manufacturing in light industrial districts has any legal hold on the company’s plant at 7149 Logistics Lane near Fort Mill. Silfab’s complaint was stamped at 3:09 p.m. The county’s followed at 3:28 p.m. Both are non-jury actions under the state’s Uniform Declaratory Judgments Act, which lets a court declare the parties’ legal rights without awarding money. Neither side seeks damages. The answer could decide the plant’s future. Opponents…

Mallory Dittmer, Democratic Nominee for the 5th Congressional District, today announced Rally The Vote, a kick-off celebration of early voting (Oct. 19-31), in Rock Hill, SC, on Sunday, October 18.  She will be joined by co-hosts Dr. Jermaine Johnson, Democratic nominee for Governor, and State Rep. John King, Democratic nominee for re-election to the 49th District. The celebration will feature food trucks and performances by the Clinton College Collegiate Ensemble and the Clinton College Sankofa Collective African American Drum Troupe, as well as DJ entertainment provided by Harmony Luxe Entertainment, LLC “It’s been a joy and a privilege to spend…

ROCK HILL, S.C. — The Heart2Heart Foundation and its collaborative partners will present Healthy Heroes, Healthy Community on Wednesday, October 28, from 7:00–11:00 a.m. at the YMCA of Upper Palmetto – Charlotte Avenue Branch in Rock Hill. Held on National First Responders Day, the free event was created to address the health and wellness needs of frontline heroes while bringing screenings, trusted health care providers, and valuable community resources together for everyone. The event is open to the public. YMCA membership and advance registration are not required. North Central Family Medicine will provide free biometric screenings and heart-health assessments for…

In the specialized toxicology laboratories that police the boundary between life and death in South Carolina, the standard panels were returning a baffling result: nothing. When a woman died in Richland County earlier this year, initial toxicology screenings showed no traces of traditional narcotics. It was only through advanced mass spectrometry that forensic investigators uncovered the culprit — a novel chemical compound known as cychlorphine. The detection marked the official arrival in South Carolina of one of the most potent synthetic opioids ever engineered, igniting immediate alarms from the capital to university campuses across the state. What Is Cychlorphine? The…

By Kirsten Gordon The district’s strengths benefit families and the community. For students, they also raise the bar. Fort Mill School District is ranked No. 1 in South Carolina and No. 92 nationally in Niche’s 2027 Best School Districts rankings, placing it among the top 1% of districts evaluated. The recognition reflects real strengths in the teachers, administration, parent involvement, and more. But in a district where many students take rigorous classes and earn strong grades, it also raises a question: How can students distinguish themselves? The advantages of the district are clear. Fort Mill students perform well above state…

Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments for 76 million Americans will increase 3.6 percent in 2027. On average, Social Security retirement benefits will increase by about $75 per month starting in January. Nearly 72 million Social Security beneficiaries will see a 3.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) beginning in January 2027. Increased payments to about 7.3 million people receiving SSI will begin on December 31, 2026. Other Annual Adjustments Several other adjustments that take effect in January of each year are based on increases in average wages. For example, the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social…

The South Carolina State Fair opens Thursday in Columbia, bringing carnival rides, games, food and family entertainment alongside expanded efforts to keep visitors safe. Fair officials are coordinating with multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Richland County Sheriff’s Department and the South Carolina Highway Patrol, to help maintain security throughout the event. The fair attracted approximately 400,000 visitors last year, and organizers hope to increase attendance this year. Ride safety is another priority. North American Midway Entertainment, which provides rides for the fair, conducts multiple inspections to ensure equipment is secure and operating properly. Officials are also reminding visitors to…

More people now ask ChatGPT or Google’s AI for a recommendation instead of scrolling through search results. Here is what decides which local businesses get named, and five things you can do about it this month.

Drivers navigating downtown Fort Mill will need to adjust their daily commutes through Friday, Oct. 16, as the Town of Fort Mill Utilities Department carries out urgent infrastructure repairs along North White Street. Municipal officials issued an updated traffic advisory detailing key adjustments to active detours surrounding the work zone. While essential utility crews work to complete the project, local motorists are urged to exercise caution, plan ahead, and utilize designated secondary routes. Updated Traffic and Detour Guidelines Main Street Access: Drivers traveling onto N. White Street from Main Street will continue to be detoured north onto Old Nation Road….

South Carolina officials have approved guidelines requiring American-made iron and steel in certain state-funded construction projects, a move intended to support domestic manufacturers and workers. The State Fiscal Accountability Authority approved the guidelines Tuesday, outlining how the law will apply to public works projects, including buildings, roads, and water and sewer systems. The law, sponsored by state Rep. Richie Yow, applies to covered projects receiving state funding, even when the state pays for only part of the total cost. Projects managed by the South Carolina Department of Transportation are exempt because they already fall under federal Buy America requirements. Supporters…

Copperheads Golf Claims Regional Glory Behind Mehlhouse’s Low Round The Catawba Ridge girls golf program added another trophy to the case, capturing the regional championship with a stellar team score of 334. Leading the charge was newly minted Region Player of the Year Brooke Mehlhouse, who carded a sharp 76. The championship effort received vital support from All-Region selections Ella Gaither (83), Bella Troxler (87), and EllaRose Hill (88), solidifying a commanding performance on the links. Fort Mill Girls Golf Secures Runner-Up Finish at Woodfin Ridge In Region 2-5A action at Woodfin Ridge Golf Club, Fort Mill earned a strong…

The following is an editorial received from Fort Mill School Board candidate Larry Barnett. No changes were made prior to being made available to the public. By Larry Barnett, Candidate for Fort Mill School Board I believe Fort Mill can keep its schools excellent, support its teachers, and still demand greater financial discipline from the people entrusted with taxpayer money. Those two goals are not in conflict. In fact, I think they depend on each other. Every spending decision our district makes should come with a clear explanation. What is the need? What alternatives were considered? And what exactly is…

By Greg Rickabaugh For Aidan and Bennett Donovan, performing at the Fort Mill Fall Festival is about more than playing music. It is a chance to return to the town where their musical journey began and share what they have built since leaving home. The fraternal twin brothers, both 24, grew up in Fort Mill and graduated from Nation Ford High School. Now based in Columbia, they have spent more than a decade developing The Donovan Twins, a folk-rock and Americana band that combines acoustic guitar, banjo, original songs and close vocal harmonies. They will return to their hometown Saturday, Oct….

Six Flags has temporarily shut down two of the biggest roller coasters at Carowinds, Fury 325 and Thunder Striker, as part of a precautionary closure of rides at several of its parks following a fatal incident at Six Flags Over Georgia. The company closed nine roller coasters across six parks on Monday, Oct. 12, after one man died and several others were injured on a coaster in Georgia. The closures take two of the park’s signature rides out of service at Carowinds, which sits on the North Carolina and South Carolina state line just minutes from Fort Mill and Tega…

“Ghosts of the Revolution,” funded in part by an SC250 grant, brings living history to Catawba Park on Halloween night TEGA CAY, S.C. – The City of Tega Cay will mark the nation’s 250th birthday this Halloween with Ghosts of the Revolution, a free evening of ghost stories, interactive theatre and living history at Catawba Park on Friday, October 30th. The event is part of a full Halloween lineup that also includes the return of Pumpkin Palooza and a family-fun trunk-or-treat. Ghosts of the Revolution Visitors can step into 1776 as costumed performers portray soldiers, patriots and everyday people from…

With October being National Energy Awareness Month and the average U.S. family spending at least $2,000 per year on utilities, the personal-finance company WalletHub today released its report on 2026’s Most & Least Energy-Efficient States, to see which states save people the most money while also saving the environment. WalletHub compared the energy efficiency of residents’ homes and automobiles in 48 U.S. states. Due to data limitations, Alaska and Hawaii were excluded from our analysis. Energy Efficiency in South Carolina (1=Most Energy-Efficient; 24=Avg.) Overall rank for South Carolina: 48th 48th – Home Energy Efficiency 34th – Vehicle-Fuel Efficiency 37th –…

South Carolina healthcare professionals will be required to complete human trafficking awareness and prevention training under a new state law designed to improve identification and support for potential victims. The Tri-County Human Trafficking Task Force joined Gov. Henry McMaster and the South Carolina State Human Trafficking Task Force at the State House last week for a ceremonial signing of the legislation. The legislation received unanimous approval from the General Assembly, passing the House 113-0 and the Senate 42-0. The training will cover how to identify suspected human trafficking victims, the legal requirements for reporting suspected trafficking and ways to provide…

A 9-year-old boy has died after investigators say he was sick for several days at his home in Fort Lawn, and two adults are facing criminal charges. The Chester County Sheriff’s Office arrested Katie Hill Hefner and Rick Elliot Adkins on Oct. 9. Both face two counts of unlawful conduct toward a child. Emergency crews responded to the home on Lawndale Circle on Sept. 20, where the boy was found unresponsive. Investigators said he had been ill for at least four days and had become too weak to walk, talk or sit up before he was discovered. Authorities also reported…

Ambrosia and Rafiki wait for homes at Humane Society of York County A young cat who can only live as an only pet or with another cat with the same virus, and a dog left at the shelter door in the middle of the night, are this week’s featured adoptable animals at the Humane Society of York County. The Fort Mill rescue, at 8177 Regent Parkway, has placed 543 animals in permanent homes so far in 2026, including 117 dogs and 426 cats, according to the organization. Ambrosia Ambrosia arrived at the shelter as a stray about six months ago…

Swimmers from Nation Ford, Lake Wylie, Clover and Lancaster won six individual and relay titles combined. Nation Ford High School placed second and Catawba Ridge High School finished third at the South Carolina High School League Boys 4A State Swimming Championship on Saturday, Oct. 10, at the University of South Carolina. Riverside won the team title with 480 points. Nation Ford scored 327, and Catawba Ridge scored 255. Lake Wylie High School placed fifth with 218 points, giving York County three of the top five teams. Indian Land High School finished 10th with 131 points. Lancaster High School placed 19th…

When the Fort Mill Town Council gathers inside Council Chambers at 205 N. White Street on Monday evening, local taxpayers will have a front-row seat to a discussion that hits close to the wallet — and the public trust. High on the agenda for the October 12 meeting is the first reading of an ordinance that would bump the annual compensation for the town’s mayor and council members, offering residents an intimate look at how local leadership balances growth, public service, and personal compensation. Under the proposed amendment to Section 2-26 of the town’s Code of Ordinances, presented by Town…

Model A Brewing Co. in Tega Cay won a bronze medal at the 2026 Great American Beer Festival for Amber Hearth, an oak aged winter warmer the brewery first released as its 2024 anniversary beer. Winners were announced Sunday at the Levitt Pavilion in Denver. The festival competition, organized by the Brewers Association, is the largest commercial beer competition in the United States. Judges evaluated 7,267 beer and cider entries this year from breweries and cideries in 49 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. Only 336 medals were awarded, meaning fewer than 5 percent of entries earned one. Amber Hearth…

Being a survivalist is about the furthest thing from reality for someone like me. I’ve lived a pretty pampered life. The closest I ever came to a life or death scenario was when I was retrieving a mattress that fell off the back of a truck on the side of a highway. As I lifted the mattress off the ground, a tractor trailer jack knifed to avoid hitting a box spring and missed me by about ten yards. If the truck had flipped over, I’d surely be dead and this memory along with it.  Although surviving in the woods isn’t…

Professional bass fishing champion and longtime outdoor television host Hank Parker will speak at First Baptist Church Fort Mill on Thursday, Nov. 12, as part of the church’s men’s ministry program. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the program runs from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the church, 121 Monroe White St. in downtown Fort Mill. According to the church’s event listing, Parker will share stories, faith and encouragement with those who attend. The event is open to all adult men and high school men. Parker won the Bassmaster Classic in 1979 on Lake Texoma in Texas and again in…

The York County Library Board of Trustees voted Oct. 8 to move five books out of the library’s children’s and teen sections and into the adult collection, overruling library staff on four of them. The vote came during the board’s meeting at the Fort Mill Public Library on 2nd Baxter Crossing. Books under reconsideration The meeting agenda listed reconsideration requests for “19 Love Songs” by David Levithan, “The Poet X” by Elizabeth Acevedo, “When Aidan Became a Brother” by Kyle Lukoff, “People Kill People” by Ellen Hopkins and “Sold” by Patricia McCormick. Library staff reviewed the complaints under the board’s…

Columbia, S.C. (October 9, 2026) – The South Carolina Department of Transportation will conduct lane closures on I-77 northbound over Celanese Road (SC 161) and Cherry Road (US 21) for repairs in York County beginning Sunday, October 11. The two right lanes of I-77 northbound between mile markers 81 and 82 will be closed until Thursday, October 15, pending any weather delays. The lane closures are needed to perform ongoing deck repair work on the bridges over Celanese Road and Cherry Road. SCDOT asks that drivers slow down and pay attention when driving near the work zone Thomas Hyslip Thomas…

South Carolina has received approval for additional federal disaster assistance to support recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene, increasing the federal share of eligible public assistance costs from 75% to 90%. Gov. Henry McMaster requested the increase from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help communities recover from damage caused by the storm, according to his office. President Donald Trump authorized the additional assistance for South Carolina’s recovery efforts related to Hurricane Helene, which affected the state from Sept. 25 through Oct. 7, 2024, FEMA announced. The increased federal cost share applies to eligible Public Assistance expenses, which can help…

Planned Parenthood Votes! South Atlantic will endorse Democratic gubernatorial nominee Dr. Jermaine Johnson and U.S. Senate nominee Dr. Annie Andrews during an election countdown event in Columbia on Thursday, Oct. 8. The “Pink Out the Ballot Election Countdown” is scheduled for 5:30 to 7 p.m. at 701 Whaley, 701 Whaley St. Johnson will headline the event alongside Andrews, a Charleston pediatrician who is also endorsed by the national Planned Parenthood Action Fund. The organization will also recognize 67 candidates for the South Carolina House of Representatives during the gathering. The event is intended to build momentum ahead of Election Day…

ROCK HILL,  S.C. — Stacy Chalmers, a nurse from Rock Hill, SC had just one wish for her birthday this year: to collect enough toothbrushes and toothpaste to take with her to the Philippines for her volunteer mission with International Medical Relief (IMR). Although not her first mission with IMR, whose missions are based solely on donations, it was her and her husband Kent’s first mission to the Philippines to aid vulnerable communities with dental care. When asked to bring toothbrushes and toothpaste, Stacy, who is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, reached out to…

South Carolina is moving toward a statewide electronic vehicle titling system under a new law designed to modernize the way vehicle ownership and liens are processed. The law requires commercial entities involved in vehicle titling, including automobile dealers, lenders and auctions, to use the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles’ electronic title system. The system will allow businesses to electronically transfer vehicle ownership, apply for and release liens, and complete other title-related transactions. The new electronic titling system is required to be operational for commercial entities no later than March 31, 2027. The system will be funded through transaction fees…

As part of our continuing effort to bring local news that’s impactful to our readers, we’ve proactively reached out to the candidates running for  Fort Mill School Board. We will not manipulate their answers in any way, we’ll simply provide to you, our readers. This will allow you to make an informed choice. This week, we’ll introduce Larry Barnett Engineer, business owner, veteran and former planning commissioner focuses campaign on classroom discipline, financial accountability and action on Silfab FORT MILL, S.C. Larry Barnett, a 40-year Fort Mill resident, engineer, former business owner, Vietnam veteran and longtime community volunteer, is running…

South Carolina has reported 670 measles cases this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, giving the state the second-highest number of reported cases nationwide behind Pennsylvania. The South Carolina Department of Public Health currently reports no active measles cases in the state, but health officials continue to encourage families to make sure their vaccinations are up to date. Health officials identify vaccination as one of the most important ways to prevent measles, a highly contagious disease. They also warn that declining vaccination rates could allow the disease to spread more regularly in schools, churches and communities….

The Fort Mill Tree Fest will return for its second annual event on Saturday, Dec. 5, featuring 17 participating nonprofit organizations from the Fort Mill area. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at St. John’s United Methodist Church, located at 130 Tom Hall Street in Fort Mill. The holiday celebration will feature beautifully decorated Christmas trees created by participating nonprofits. The trees will be displayed throughout the event and offered through a silent auction, giving attendees an opportunity to support local organizations while taking home a holiday centerpiece. Organizers said 100% of proceeds from the…

Re:Build, an integrated engineering and advanced manufacturing firm, has announced plans to expand its advanced composites operations in York County. The company is investing approximately $20 million to open a new 130,000-square-foot facility in Rock Hill, a move expected to create 150 skilled manufacturing and engineering jobs. The expansion site, located at 2021 Williams Industrial Blvd., will support the company’s accelerated growth across the aerospace, defense, and industrial markets. Re:Build operates 12 U.S. locations—including an existing facility in Rock Hill—where it designs, engineers, and produces complex components for sectors ranging from medical and energy to robotics and electrification. Operations at…

Dr. Annie Andrews, a practicing pediatrician and candidate for the U.S. Senate, today launched a high-profile multi-city tour of South Carolina, vowing to take on “Washington corruption and BS” and fight for families “left behind” by soaring healthcare costs and political cuts. Titled the “Patients and Prices Tour,” the campaign swing is taking the pediatrician and public health expert to Charleston, Rock Hill, and Bennettsville on Wednesday and Thursday. Andrews is showcasing her plan to lower the cost of prescription drugs, reverse recent cuts to Medicaid, and reduce insurance premiums. “The corruption and BS coming out of Washington hurts real…

In a scathing formal objection to state environmental regulators, legal counsel for the Fort Mill School District has called for an immediate halt to Silfab Solar, Inc.’s plans to restart chemical commissioning at its local facility, warning that the manufacturer is attempting to fire up operations before completing critical safety and leak-prevention upgrades. The objection letter, submitted to South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) Director Myra C. Reece by attorney Daniel J. Ballou of Morton & Gettys, comes after Silfab signaled it intends to resume commissioning activities as early as October 19, 2026. School district officials argue the proposed…

Tega Cay is one of 11 South Carolina communities named the best small towns in the state for retirees by WorldAtlas, the online geography and travel publication, in a list published Sunday, Oct. 4. The article, written by WorldAtlas contributor Dan Singer, places Tega Cay alongside better known retirement destinations such as Hilton Head, Beaufort and Aiken. It is the only community from York County, and the only one in the Charlotte region, to make the list. Lake, golf and safety cited The writeup centers on the city’s place on Lake Wylie. Singer described Tega Cay as a lakefront suburb…

The South Carolina State Transport Police is conducting Operation Safe DRIVE, a comprehensive program aimed at reducing dangerous driving and collisions on the state’s major highways. Safe DRIVE stands for Distracted, Reckless, Impaired and Visibility Enforcement. The program combines outreach, education and enforcement to address unsafe driving behaviors before they result in crashes. The enforcement component focuses on high-crash corridors, with officers conducting highly visible traffic enforcement and monitoring driver behavior around commercial motor vehicles. Officers will also check commercial vehicles for compliance with federal regulations and enforce South Carolina traffic laws. Safe DRIVE enforcement operations are planned for I-20,…

Bass Pro Shops is preparing for the holiday shopping season and the return of its popular Santa’s Wonderland experience with a national hiring event Oct. 7-8 at its Fort Mill location. The Fort Mill store, located at 1000 Cabela Drive, is among Bass Pro Shops locations seeking candidates for positions across multiple retail departments. The company is looking to fill more than 50 positions in the Charlotte-area market. The hiring event will run from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. both days. Candidates are encouraged to apply in advance through Bass Pro Shops’ careers website, although walk-in interviews will also be…

By: Addison Carlson  The students of the Nation Ford Theater Program are putting on the original jukebox-musical “Finding Your Voice” to raise money for the program. Tickets featuring upgraded seating and prices are on sale now for the three shows that will take place on Oct. 23 and 24. “Finding Your Voice” will be run differently than previous musicals at Nation Ford, and that is by design. “What makes this different is that this show is led by students,” Nation Ford’s Theater Supervisor Scott Albert says. “It’s directed, choreographed – even all social media and this article is written by…

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson has requested additional information from Flock Safety regarding the company’s privacy and security policies, including its use of artificial intelligence, data access and data retention practices. In a letter to the company, Wilson said Flock’s public representations about its policies must comply with South Carolina’s Unfair Trade Practices Act, which prohibits deceptive practices. Flock provides automated license plate recognition technology used by law enforcement agencies across South Carolina and the country. According to Wilson’s letter, the company’s network includes more than 120,000 cameras in 49 states. The attorney general’s office is seeking clarification on…

In a display of precision, artistry, and musical dominance, the Nation Ford High School Marching Band captured the 5A Class Championship and repeated as Overall Champion at the 2026 BandBEAT Marching Band Championship on Saturday, October 3, hosted at Catawba Ridge High School in Fort Mill. The victory marks the second consecutive year Nation Ford has claimed the top prize at the prestigious regional competition. Executing their 2026 program with sharp field coverage and exceptional tone quality, Nation Ford finished atop the 5A division with a winning score of 87.500, outpacing local rival Fort Mill High School (85.200) and North…

GREENVILLE, SC (10/05/2026)– Maurice Littlejohn, a resident of Fort Mill, has been named to the Bob Jones University Bruins men’s basketball team roster for the 2026-27 academic year. Littlejohn is a Freshman majoring in Sport Management at BJU. After a scrimmage on October 22, the Bruins host Carolina Christian College on November 11 to officially begin their season in the first of 14 home games at the Davis Field House this season. The Bruins’ first-semester schedule includes several exhibition contests against strong regional programs, including Furman University, USC Upstate, North Greenville University, and Winthrop University. “We’ve set our schedule up to…

LANCASTER, SOUTH CAROLINA —A remarkable true story of friendship, independence, belonging and the determination to pursue a dream comes to the big screen with “Rise and Shine,” opening October 23, 2026, in select AMC Theatres nationwide. Tickets go on sale October 6. Based on the true story and memoir Remembering Terri by Lancaster, South Carolina author Janice Cameron Steele, Rise and Shine follows Steele’s daughter, Terri, who was born with cerebral palsy, as she pursues friendship, independence, belonging and her lifelong dream of attending high school and going to prom. At its heart, Rise and Shine is about the universal desire to be accepted, experience life’s milestones and have…

FORT MILL, S.C. — The Humane Society of York County is highlighting two special animals this week who are hoping to find loving forever homes: Hydrangea, an affectionate young cat, and Polyester, a handsome husky mix. Cat of the Week: Hydrangea Hydrangea came to the shelter as a stray and is estimated to be about 10 months old. Although relatively new to the rescue, she is already enjoying life in the Cat Lounge. Shelter staff describe her as an old soul who may need a little time to approach but rewards patience with plenty of sweetness. She prefers not to…

Admiral William H. McRaven gave a commencement speech at the University of Texas several years ago. In the speech, he shared that starting each day by making your bed can help change the world. He argued this initial completed task provides you with a sense of pride and sets a standard for further accomplishments throughout the day. It’s easy to brush this off as “military speak,” however, having a set routine can yield both negative or positive results depending on our focus.  My father was a smoker for most of his life. Having started in his early teens, he smoked…

By: Gina Ginther, Gardening on the Cay The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Texas describes the Bottlebrush Buckeye as a “mound-shaped, thicket-forming, deciduous shrub with picturesque, ascending, candelabra-like branching. Lowest branches are horizontal and often rest on the ground”. The operative word, to this writer, is “candelabra”. With a light requirement of part shade, the Bottlebrush Buckeye is the perfect plant to set your “understory table”. In the summer, there are twelve-inch feathery white cylindrical blooms standing atop the foliage. They are punctuated by pink stamens and red anthers that bloom in the heat of the summer. There is…

South Carolina state leaders officially declared October as South Carolina Manufacturing Month on Friday during the launch of the new “More To Be Made” campaign at Mercedes-Benz Vans Charleston. The statewide initiative aims to promote high-tech manufacturing careers as the state continues to expand its industrial sector. According to data released alongside the proclamation, South Carolina’s manufacturing sector generates nearly $300 billion in annual economic impact and supports over 30% of the state’s workforce. The proclamation emphasizes the critical role of advanced manufacturing in driving the state’s economic development, particularly across key industries such as automotive, aerospace, and advanced materials….

The following is a press release received from the Fort Mill School District. No changes were made prior to being made available to the public.  The Fort Mill School District obtained a copy of the third-party report submitted to SCDES by Silfab Solar on September 28, 2026, and reviewed York County’s public response to the report. This third-party report was required under the Consent Agreement signed by Silfab following two chemical incidents at its facility in March 2026. Based on the reports findings and York County’s response, the district is taking the following actions: State Intervention: We join Representative Martin…

The South Carolina Department of Social Services has launched a new waitlist for families seeking childcare scholarships following the expiration of federal COVID-19 relief funding. The federal funding ended in December, leaving many families without financial assistance for childcare. The new waitlist is intended to identify eligible families if additional scholarship funding becomes available. DSS officials requested an additional $20 million annually from state lawmakers to help offset the loss of federal funding. The Legislature did not approve the request, leaving the agency operating within its pre-pandemic budget. The loss of childcare assistance has affected families and childcare providers across…

FORT MILL, S.C. — State Representative Jackie Terribile has awarded the 2026 General Assembly Women’s Caucus Representative Jackie Terribile Scholarship to Marisol Carranza Garcia, a 2026 graduate of Nation Ford High School who is pursuing a career in welding. Carranza Garcia is continuing her education and training in welding, with the goal of eventually becoming a welding inspector. “When I reviewed the scholarship applicants, Marisol immediately stood out to me,” Terribile said. “I wanted to recognize a young woman who was pursuing the skilled trades, and Marisol had chosen a challenging field with tremendous opportunity. I was thrilled to select her.” Terribile…

The South Carolina Department of Agriculture conducted 91 restaurant and food service inspections in Lancaster County in September. All but three resulted in an A grade, and no establishment received a C. The three B grades went to two locations. Tripstop in Indian Land received two of them on back-to-back follow-up inspections, and Derby in Lancaster received the third. Both locations earned an A on later follow-up inspections before the end of the month. Every food establishment in the state must post its grade at the entrance. The inspection reports behind those grades are public record and show what inspectors…

The South Carolina Department of Agriculture conducted 298 restaurant and food service inspections in York County in September. All but two ended with an A grade. Hickory Tavern in Rock Hill and Lake Wylie Pizza in York each received a B. Both restaurants earned their A back on follow-up inspections later in the month. No establishment in the county received a C. Every restaurant in the state must post its grade at the entrance. The inspection reports behind those grades are public record and show what inspectors found in local kitchens. Under the state’s system, an establishment scoring 88 to…

ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – South Carolina high school students who graduate in the top 15 percent of their class will be guaranteed a Winthrop University merit scholarship. Called the Winthrop Scholars Guarantee, the scholarship will offer at least $5,000 in institutional scholarship funding from Winthrop to high-achieving first-year students for the Fall 2027 semester. There is no income or adjusted gross income restriction, so every South Carolina high school student in the top 15 percent of their graduating class will receive guaranteed admission to Winthrop and scholarship money. President Edward Serna ’02 said the Winthrop Scholars Guarantee supports the…

A volunteer effort that started with two Fort Mill and Tega Cay families is collecting Thanksgiving meal bags for the eighth year, and organizers hope to serve more than the 250 families the program reached across 14 Fort Mill School District schools last year. Individuals, businesses, churches and community groups can take part in two ways. They can sponsor a bag for $65, or they can shop for the items and assemble a bag themselves. Empty bags will be available for pickup at Tega Graze starting Monday, Nov. 2, and both filled bags and sponsorship payments are due by Monday,…

South Carolina’s 2026-2027 recreational shellfish season for oysters and clams opens on Thursday, Oct. 1, and is scheduled to remain open through May 15, 2027, unless conditions require a change. Recreational harvesting is allowed on designated Public Shellfish Grounds and State Shellfish Grounds in areas with open or approved water quality. Twenty public and seven state grounds are managed exclusively for recreational harvesting, while another 58 state grounds allow both recreational and commercial harvest. Harvesters must have a Saltwater Recreational Fishing License, available through the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and authorized license vendors. The daily recreational limit is…

More than $1.1 million in federal and state grants will be distributed to organizations and agencies serving crime victims in York County as part of more than $29 million in statewide funding. The South Carolina Public Safety Coordinating Council approved the grants, with projects scheduled to begin Oct. 1, 2026. The funding is administered through the Department of Crime Victim Assistance Grants in the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office. Six York County organizations and agencies are receiving a combined $1,122,908 through several grant programs. The Children’s Attention Home will receive $251,202 through Victims of Crime Act and State Victim Assistance…

The city will host live music, food trucks and beer vendors at Catawba Park, with parking available on site and several items prohibited from the event. Tega Cay will host a Music in the Park concert on October 10 at Catawba Park, 2351 New Gray Rock Road, according to the city. Food and beer vendors will open at 6:30 p.m., with live music starting at 7 p.m., the city said. Parking will be available at the park, and no shuttle service will be offered. The city is encouraging guests to bring chairs or blankets to the event. Food vendors scheduled…

Silfab Solar plans to resume commissioning chemical and gas systems at its Fort Mill solar cell plant no sooner than mid October, the company said Wednesday as it released an independent engineering review that found its safety measures in line with industry standards but flagged gaps in gas monitoring, design records and emergency communications. The documents, which Silfab provided to the Tega Cay Sun on Sept. 30, answer requirements in the company’s March 16 compliance agreement with the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services following a March 3 spill at the plant at 7149 Logistics Lane. They include the report…

11 U.S. Attorney’s Offices, along with federal investigative agencies, participate in Social Security Administration fraud enforcement surge Today, the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division announced the results of a surge of criminal enforcement actions targeting fraud in the Social Security Administration (SSA)’s benefits programs, including Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Between Aug. 21 and Sept. 18, the Fraud Division and U.S. Attorneys in 11 districts, along with the assistance of the SSA Office of Inspector General (SSA OIG), brought charges against 17 defendants who are allegedly responsible for more than $1.3 million in intended loss to the United States. “The…

South Carolina is preparing for the next phase of nuclear energy growth by expanding efforts to train workers for the industry. The state’s third annual Nuclear Summit held in Columbia earlier this week highlighted South Carolina’s position as a national leader in nuclear power and the need to develop a skilled workforce to support future projects. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, South Carolina ranks third nationally in nuclear energy production. Nuclear power currently provides about 54% of the state’s electricity. A major announcement at the summit involved a new partnership between Westinghouse Electric and the University of South…

WAXHAW, N.C. – Tap dance is passed forward, person to person, through rhythm, shared vocabulary, mentorship, and the experience of learning in a room with other dancers. On Saturday, February 6, 2027, Taplife Hero Foundation will bring that experience to Waxhaw with the third annual LIT Tap Dance Experience at the Waxhaw Woman’s Club. The full day event is designed around more than taking classes. LIT brings dancers, teachers, and families together around the continued development and preservation of tap dance. This original American art form has a history built on cultural exchange, individual voice, and generations of artists sharing…

FORT MILL, S.C. — The Humane Society of York County is highlighting two special animals this week who are hoping to find loving forever homes: Gosling, an affectionate young cat, and Gander, a longtime shelter resident ready for a fresh start. Cat of the Week: Gosling Gosling is just over five months old and came to the Humane Society of York County as a stray. Shelter volunteers describe him as an adorable “love bug” who enjoys spending time in the Cat Lounge and is more than ready to make a connection with a family of his own. Like all Humane…

FORT MILL, S.C. — FamilySearch, the world’s largest free family history organization and website, will be coming to the York County Library’s annual Genealogy & Family History Expo on Friday, October 23 from 6:00-8:00 and Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Courtyard by Marriott in Fort Mill. FamilySearch, which is operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is one of several sponsors from whom attendees can obtain assistance and aims to help individuals discover more about their family, and in turn, more about themselves. According to its website, FamilySearch’s overall purpose…

South Carolina farmers and ranchers looking for new ways to generate income from their land could soon have access to grants of up to $10,000 through a new national agritourism program. Airbnb and American Farmland Trust are launching the Farm to Stay Grant Program, designed to help farmers and ranchers start or expand farm stays and other agritourism experiences. The program comes as small farms across the country face financial challenges. Data cited by Airbnb shows the median small-farm household lost about $2,800 from farming activities in 2024, while farmers and ranchers who hosted guests on Airbnb earned approximately $8,000…

The York County Coroner’s Office has identified the motorcyclist who died after a high speed crash on Rawlinson Road in Rock Hill late Sunday night as Kyle Paul Fauls, 31, of Rock Hill. The crash happened moments after a York County deputy tried to pull Fauls over for reckless driving, according to the York County Sheriff’s Office. Fauls was pronounced dead at the scene near the Rock Hill Aquatics Center, the coroner’s office said. The South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating the crash along with the coroner’s office. What deputies say happened A deputy on patrol near West Main Street…

Over 130 eighth-grade band students from Gold Hill MS, Pleasant Knoll MS, and Banks Trail MS joined the Fort Mill HS Band at Bob Jones Stadium on Saturday night to play music and see first-hand what high-school band is like.   After their performance with the middle school band students, the Fort Mill HS Band gave its annual Community Preview performance of this fall’s marching band show, titled “In My Beginning.” Inspired by T.S. Eliot’s poem “East Coker,” the 2026 Fort Mill HS Band show uses music by Max Richter and Gustav Mahler to explore ways we find new beginnings out…

The Fort Mill Town Council will convene for its regular meeting on Monday, Sept. 28, at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers on the third floor of Town Hall, located at 205 N. White St. Heading the agenda is the second reading and final consideration of a comprehensive ordinance to repeal and replace the Town’s Zoning Code. The massive regulatory overhaul updates development standards across the municipality, establishing revised dimensional requirements, refined density thresholds, and updated open-space guidelines for residential districts — ranging from single-family R-25 and R-15 zones to Planned Cluster Developments (PCD) and Planned Neighborhood Developments (PND). Among…

Tega Cay Fire Chief Glyn Hasty has been sworn in as president of the South Carolina State Association of Fire Chiefs, putting the head of Tega Cay’s department in charge of the statewide organization for fire service leaders. Hasty moved up from the post of first vice president, according to the association’s website. The swearing in took place during the association’s 82nd Annual Fire Leadership South Carolina conference, held Sept. 21 to 23, 2026, at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort. About the Association The association’s stated mission is to give volunteer and career fire service managers…

Model A Brewing Wins Gold At 2026 South Carolina Brewers Cup Model A Brewing of Tega Cay won a gold medal at the 2026 South Carolina Brewers Cup. Its winter seasonal beer, Not My Gumdrop Buttons, took first place in the Spiced Beer category. The South Carolina Brewers Guild runs the Brewers Cup, the state’s largest beer competition, and breweries from across South Carolina enter it. Model A was the only Tega Cay brewery on this year’s medal list. Two Fort Mill breweries also placed, bringing the area’s total to 10 medals. A winter beer takes the category Not My…

Fort Mill High School put up 63 points against Westwood on Friday night, and Indian Land and Lancaster both won by more than 30 as York and Lancaster County teams went 6-3 in Week 6 of the South Carolina High School League season. Clover beat Nation Ford 14-2. Northwestern beat crosstown rival South Pointe 56-21 in an all Rock Hill Schools game. Rock Hill High was the only area team to lose outside a head-to-head matchup, falling 20-10 to Ridge View. York County Fort Mill beat Westwood 63-21, the highest point total by any area team this week. Clover’s defense…

One day last week, I was surprised by the sudden chill in the morning air. Without warning, summer had given way to fall and my daughters walk to the bus stop required an oversized sweatshirt to guard against the cold. This could mean only one thing, the holidays are right around the corner.  With the holidays comes the stress of making large purchases either with cash that’s been saved throughout the year or by way of credit cards. It’s hard enough to pay for everyday items like gas and groceries. Finding hundreds or thousands of dollars for holiday foods and…

The South Carolina Attorney General’s Office is warning students, parents and the public about the dangers of illicit and potentially contaminated drugs following two overdose deaths at the University of Mississippi. The advisory, issued Sept. 24, said kratom was found with both students who died. Kratom is regulated in South Carolina and can be legally purchased by people age 21 and older. The Attorney General’s Office cautioned that kratom products could potentially be contaminated or intentionally mixed with synthetic opioids. Messages circulating among University of Mississippi students raised concerns about the synthetic opioid cychlorphine, but Oxford law enforcement has not…

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Fourth grade teachers from public schools across South Carolina are invited to apply for the 2027 Liberty Day at the Statehouse, a one-of-a-kind educational experience that brings South Carolina history and civics to life for students from across the state. The deadline for teacher applications is Friday, October 2, 2026. Liberty Day will be held Friday, February 19, 2027, at the South Carolina Statehouse. As part of the state’s commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, 250 fourth grade students will spend the day learning about the people, places, and ideas that shaped South Carolina…

History will come alive this weekend as the Museum of the Waxhaws hosts the Battle of Charlotte American Revolution Weekend on Sept. 26–27. The two-day event will feature living historians portraying soldiers and civilians from the American Revolution. Visitors can explore period encampments, examine clothing and equipment, watch military demonstrations and learn about the research and preparation behind historical reenactments. The main battles will take place at 2 p.m. each day. Saturday’s schedule includes the Battle of Charlotte reenactment. Gates open at 9:50 a.m. and close at 4 p.m. Sunday will begin with a 10 a.m. church service, followed by…

Five York County agencies will receive a combined $1,122,908 in crime victim assistance grants when the new grant year begins Oct. 1, part of more than $29 million awarded statewide, South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced. Safe Passage in Rock Hill received the largest local award, $721,833. The money will pay for shelter and supportive services for victims of domestic violence, advocacy services for children who have suffered abuse or sexual assault, and advocacy and therapy for sexual assault survivors, according to the attorney general’s office. The grants fund many of the services York County residents turn to after…

A Fort Mill man has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for transporting child sexual abuse material and soliciting minors to produce sexually explicit images. Wesley Keith Zimmer, 31, was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Sherri A. Lydon. He will also serve a lifetime term of court-ordered supervision and was ordered to pay $48,500 in restitution to victims. There is no parole in the federal prison system. According to evidence presented during the investigation, Zimmer possessed, transported and distributed child sexual abuse material and solicited two children to produce such material. The…

York County is excited to invite the community to a one-of-a-kind park along the Catawba River. Please join York County for the official grand opening celebration of Catawba Bend Preserve, which will include the unveiling of ten miles of new mountain bike trails, and two disc golf courses. The grand opening ceremony begins Saturday, October 17, at 10 a.m. with a ribbon cutting, followed by park dedications at 12:30 p.m. The park is located at 4134 Catawba Bend Parkway, off of Neely Store Road east of Rock Hill. York County purchased 1,900 acres of scenic, undeveloped forests, ponds and meadows…

Columbia, S.C. (September 23, 2026) – The South Carolina Department of Transportation requests public comments on proposed intersection safety improvement projects in Lancaster and York counties. The purpose of both projects is to increase operational efficiency while reducing the frequency and severity of crashes. Visit each project website to view preliminary project designs and learn about the specific safety improvements planned for each project. Lancaster County SC 200 (Great Falls Hwy.) at SC 914 (Memorial Park Road)/S-25 (Airport Road) Project Website: projectportal.scdot.gov/sc-200-sc-914s-25-safety York County US 321 (Filbert Highway) at SC 5 (Alexander Love Highway) Project Website: projectportal.scdot.gov/us-321-sc-5-safety Share Your Comments SCDOT will…

The trust fund that pays Social Security retirement and survivor benefits will run out of money in fiscal year 2032. Unless Congress acts, benefits would be cut by 26 percent the next year, according to new projections from the Congressional Budget Office. The nonpartisan agency released its 2026 long range Social Security projections Sept. 17. They show the retirement and survivors trust fund running out during fiscal 2032, which ends Sept. 30, 2032. Federal law does not allow the fund to go negative. Once its reserves are gone, Social Security can pay only what incoming payroll taxes cover. That affects…

Not unlike generations of children before them, Gabriela and Bianca LeDuc were sucked into the Disney universe from a young age. In their case, they were enthralled with a young Miley Cyrus playing the part of Hannah Montana, a teenage girl living a double life as a pop singer. She proved to be the initial inspiration for a lifelong love affair with music, one that spawned a sister duo named Diamond Dixie.  A country act originally from Orlando, they’re known for high energy sets, rhinestone laden guitars and flying tassels. A family move to Nashville in 2015 helped lay the…

The Harvest Moon will rise Saturday night, Sept. 26, bringing one of the most recognizable full moons of the year to the early autumn sky. The Harvest Moon is the traditional name for the full moon occurring closest to the autumnal equinox. This year, the autumnal equinox arrived Tuesday, Sept. 22, at 8:05 p.m. EDT. The full moon is expected to rise around sunset Saturday and remain visible throughout much of the night. The moon earned its Harvest Moon name because its timing historically provided farmers with additional evening light to work in their fields and gather crops after sunset….

South Carolina’s infrastructure is making gradual progress, but aging systems continue to strain under rapid population growth, according to a report released by the South Carolina Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). The state earned an overall grade of C-, a slight improvement from the D+ mark issued in 2021. The report card evaluated eight key infrastructure categories: aviation, bridges, dams, drinking water, ports, roads, transit, and wastewater. Despite the modest upgrade, civil engineers pointed to critical areas requiring urgent attention. Aging drinking-water systems remain a top concern, with several communities still relying on pipes and facilities…

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Duke Energy and county officials will test the outdoor warning sirens around the Catawba and McGuire nuclear stations between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026. Full-volume, three-minute test planned between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. No public action required Why it matters: To ensure they are functioning properly, sirens will sound for three minutes. Anyone who hears a siren during scheduled testing does not need to take action. During testing, some sirens may be tested more than once. Follow-up testing after siren maintenance may be required after 1 p.m. Because this is a…

SCDOT is closing the two left lanes of I-77 South between Celanese Road and Cherry Road for bridge repairs through Sept. 23. Drivers in the Fort Mill area should expect delays on I-77 South through Wednesday, Sept. 23, as the South Carolina Department of Transportation performs bridge repairs between mile markers 83 and 81.5, the stretch between Celanese Road and Cherry Road, according to the Town of Fort Mill. The two left lanes of I-77 South will be closed during the work, and delays are expected on the highway as well as on entrance and exit ramps, the town said….

Runners and walkers will gather Saturday, Oct. 17, for the Choose Kind 5K, a race held in memory of a teenager killed by a drunken driver one week before her 16th birthday. The race starts at 9 a.m. at Maisie’s Green Brae Restaurant, 2150 Gold Hill Road in Fort Mill, and follows the shaded Tega Cay walking trails. The event grew out of #ChooseKind, a campaign her parents started in memory of their daughter, Ashton. According to the race’s registration page, the family has found purpose in sharing her story and asking others to practice kindness in their own lives….

Marching bands from Fort Mill High School, Nation Ford High School and Catawba Ridge High School performed together Saturday, Sept. 19, at the Carolinas Exhibition of Bands, hosted by the Nation Ford High School band. It was the first time since 2019 that all three Fort Mill School District bands appeared at the annual event. The exhibition gave each band a chance to test its 2026 show in front of an audience before competition begins. The bands performed without scores for a panel of clinicians, who gave each program feedback ahead of the competitive marching season. Band organizers describe all…

The York County Soccer Hall of Fame will induct five people into its Class of 2026 on Thursday, Sept. 24, at the Courtyard by Marriott at Kingsley, 1385 Broadcloth St. in Fort Mill. The class includes a longtime Rock Hill referee, a Wofford College All-American who came out of Fort Mill High School, a record-setting goalkeeper from Nation Ford High School, a University of South Carolina captain from Northwestern High School and a Fort Mill High alumna who went on to play professionally. The inductees are George Cobbina, Nick Schuermann, Ellen Bright Borland, Vance Benson II and Taylor Parker McDowell….

“The President’s Own” United States Marine Band will perform a free concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, at the Clover School District Auditorium as part of the band’s National Concert Tour. Free tickets are available now by phone, and organizers ask that each household limit its request to four. The concert puts one of the country’s oldest military institutions on a western York County stage at no charge to residents. The auditorium, which sits near Clover High School and seats about 1,500 people, is among the largest performance venues in the area. How to Get Tickets To request tickets,…

The Fort Mill High School girls golf team won the annual Milltown Showdown Cup on Monday, Sept. 21, at Fort Mill Golf Club. The Jackets posted a team score of 327 over 18 holes to finish four strokes ahead of Catawba Ridge, which shot 331. Nation Ford was third with a 407. The event brings together the three high schools in the Fort Mill School District for a single round with the cup going to the low team score. Lupton leads the way Addie Lupton set the pace for Fort Mill with a 71, one under par, and was named…

A panel of South Carolina lawmakers, citizen members and state agency leaders will hold a public hearing in Rock Hill next month to hear from residents about issues affecting children and families. The South Carolina Joint Citizens and Legislative Committee on Children will meet from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7, in the City Council Chambers at Rock Hill City Hall, 155 Johnston St. The hearing is open to the public, and anyone who wants to testify may do so. For York County parents, teachers and young people, the session offers a chance to put local concerns in front…

YORK, S.C. — York County Council accepted the resignation of County Manager Josh Edwards after a lengthy executive session Monday night and named former County Manager Jim Baker to take his place effective Sept. 28. Edwards was hired in March 2024. Baker served as York County manager from July 2007 until January 2013, when he resigned to become city manager of Chesapeake, Virginia. The vote to accept Edwards’ resignation was not unanimous, as Councilman Watts Huckabee abstained. Council also voted 6-1 to give second reading to a rezoning that would allow two warehouses on 24.06 acres at Highway 21 and…

Boaters and waterfront property owners across South Carolina could face new regulations governing the size and design of docks under a proposal from the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services. The proposed rules would change how dock permits are reviewed and establish size limits based in part on the width of the waterway where a dock is proposed. SCDES says growing populations and increased development are putting greater pressure on the state’s waterways. As more docks are constructed, the agency is evaluating potential impacts on waterways and surrounding environments. Under the proposal, the size of a waterway would help determine…

Four Sumter County men face multiple animal fighting and conspiracy charges after a South Carolina Law Enforcement Division investigation led to the rescue of 19 dogs. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division charged four Sumter County men in connection with a dogfighting investigation that led to the rescue of 19 dogs, according to SLED. Andrew Jeffrey Bryant Jr., 39, Tevin V. Joyner, 32, and Orlando Raynell Coullette, 49, were each charged Thursday, Sept. 17, with criminal conspiracy, four counts of animal fighting or baiting, and four counts of ill treatment of animals, according to SLED. Robert Brandon Hansley, 44, was…

The current office on South Cherry Road will close Sept. 27, with the new location on Northpark Drive opening to the public Sept. 30. The York County Sheriff’s Office District 3 office in Rock Hill is relocating to a new facility on Northpark Drive, according to the Sheriff’s Office. The current office at 515 S. Cherry Road will close after business hours Friday, Sept. 27. The new office at 236 Northpark Drive will open for public service Monday, Sept. 30, the Sheriff’s Office said. The office will be closed Sept. 28 and 29 while personnel set up the new facility….

Every student in the Fort Mill School District can now eat breakfast at school at no cost, regardless of household income, the district announced Monday in a message to parents and staff. The district said the change is paid for through a funding allocation approved by South Carolina legislators. Until now, Fort Mill families who did not qualify for free or reduced price meals under federal income guidelines paid for their children’s breakfast. No Application Needed The district said families do not need to fill out an application or make a payment. Students can pick up breakfast when they arrive…

CaroMont Health announced Sept. 16 that it has bought land on S.C. Highway 557 in Lake Wylie and plans to build a hospital there, with a projected opening in 2031. The hospital would be the Gastonia, N.C., health system’s first in South Carolina. CaroMont said in its announcement that the facility would primarily serve residents of Lake Wylie, Clover, western York County and southern Gaston County, putting an emergency department and inpatient beds closer to families who now leave the area for hospital care. “For more than two decades, families in York County have trusted our physicians for primary and…

A big orange cat named Bandit and a young stray dog named Jubilee are this week’s featured adoptable pets at the Humane Society of York County, the nonprofit rescue on Regent Parkway in Fort Mill. The shelter has placed 508 animals so far in 2026, including 112 dogs and 396 cats, according to its weekly update. Bandit and Jubilee are among the animals still waiting. Bandit Bandit weighed in at 22.6 pounds during a staff contest to guess his weight, and the shelter is looking for an adopter willing to help him slim down through play and regular activity. Volunteers…

ROCK HILL, S.C. — Families with young children are invited to explore the joy of poetry, play and community during Poetry & Play: A We Are Rock Hill Poetry Festival Event on Sunday, September 27, 2026, from 4–6 p.m. at Miracle Park, 1005 Eden Terrace in Rock Hill. Designed especially for children ages 1–5 and their families, Poetry & Play Fund Day will feature hands-on activities, children’s book readings, treats, family resources and opportunities to connect with community organizations. The event warmly welcomes all families, with a special focus on creating an inclusive experience for children with medical complexities and…

The agency updated math course requirements for incoming freshmen and narrowed which exam programs qualify for college credit statewide. The South Carolina Commission on Higher Education announced revisions to two policies affecting students planning to attend the state’s colleges and universities, according to the commission. Changes begin taking effect this fall. The College Preparatory Course Prerequisite Requirements for Entering College Freshmen Policy keeps the existing 20-unit college preparatory framework but adds clarity on the required fourth math course, according to the commission. The prior policy described a higher-level math course as one meant for students who had already completed Algebra…

Liberty Media Group, owner of the Tega Cay Sun, YoCo News and Fort Mill Sun, has announced a new partnership with Winthrop University aimed at expanding coverage of the university and its athletic programs throughout York and Lancaster counties. Through the partnership, LMG publications will feature Winthrop-related news, with a particular emphasis on Winthrop athletics. The coverage will highlight teams, student-athletes, coaches and accomplishments that may not otherwise receive significant attention in local media. Patrick Byrne, LMG editor and Winthrop alumnus, said, “Featuring my alma mater in our publications is a dream fulfilled for me. I look forward to placing…

Crossing guard struck outside Catawba Ridge High sues school district, SCDOT and driver A Fort Mill crossing guard who was seriously injured while directing traffic outside Catawba Ridge High School in 2024 has sued the Fort Mill School District, the South Carolina Department of Transportation and the driver she says caused the wreck. Leslie Richardson, a York County resident, filed the complaint Sept. 17 in the York County Court of Common Pleas, Sixteenth Judicial Circuit, case number 2026CP4603376. She is represented by Kyle J. White and Drew Bradshaw of the White, Davis and White Law Firm in Anderson, and she…

University of Phoenix announced a new academic agreement with York Technical College that supports building pathways from community college coursework to higher education degree opportunities at the University. The agreement allows eligible York Technical College students to take advantage of transfer pathways for undergraduate degree programs at University of Phoenix. “Students benefit when they have clear opportunities to build on their prior learning and continue making progress toward their goals,” said John Woods, Ph.D., provost and chief academic officer at University of Phoenix. “This agreement with York Technical College helps create a more seamless path to a bachelor’s degree while supporting…

From up here in the press box at Williams-Brice Stadium, looking down at a sodden turf and 78,360 fans who slowly watched a guaranteed party transform into a slow-motion heartbreak, you could feel the exact moment the air left the building. It started with a sky that looked like bruised steel and an 80-minute lightning delay that pushed kickoff back, leaving everyone stewing in the humid Midlands heat. When the lights finally came up, South Carolina looked ready to blow the roof off the place. LaNorris Sellers was slinging it — finishing with 282 yards on 25-of-40 passing — and…

I’ll fully admit, my trips to Wal Mart are becoming far too frequent lately. The close proximity of the store along with the ability to get pretty much anything I need, when I need it, results in multiple trips per week on average. No doubt a Wal Mart executive would be giddy with excitement at reading this.  What may prove less exciting would be my observations of employee morale and behavior. What’s astounding about a store like Wal Mart, aside from the sheer size of it, are the number of employees it takes to keep the place humming. Even more…

Fort Mill has seen substantial change over the years. The downtown has been revitalized, large neighborhoods have replaced family farms and the inevitable traffic that comes with growth has quickly followed. Perhaps no area has seen more change than the 2-3 mile strip off Interstate 77 around Carowinds. Once home to the famed Praise the Lord Ministries (or PTL) of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, the area known for Christian evangelism and the scandal that followed was replaced with a row of seedy gambling dens and check cashing outlets.  It’s here that Rebecca Martin and Yvonne (Birdie) Clark, best friends…

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster is declining calls to suspend or roll back the state’s gas tax as average gasoline prices have climbed above $4 per gallon. The statewide average reached $4.11 per gallon Thursday, Sept. 17, up about 21 cents from the previous week, according to AAA data reported by Spectrum News. The average was $4.03 earlier in the week. McMaster has said he does not plan to call the General Assembly back for a special session to consider suspending the tax. Under state law, suspending the gas tax would require legislative action. South Carolina’s gas tax is approximately…

South Carolina consumers are expected to receive millions of dollars in restitution and debt relief under a $694 million multistate settlement involving Credit Acceptance Corporation, one of the nation’s largest auto finance companies. South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced Sept. 18 that the state joined 40 other states in the settlement, which resolves allegations that CAC originated certain auto loans the company knew or should have known consumers could not afford. The settlement takes effect Nov. 2, 2026. South Carolina is expected to receive approximately $1.3 million in restitution for about 921 consumers, averaging roughly $1,400 per consumer. An…

Tega Cay Shades, a new locally owned window-fashion business, will make its community debut at Catawba Fest in Tega Cay, giving local residents an opportunity to meet owner Scott Frisch and learn more about the company’s elegant window-fashion solutions. For Frisch, the launch represents more than the beginning of a new business. Tega Cay has been home for more than 40 years, and he is building the company with a strong commitment to the community he knows and loves. “Tega Cay isn’t simply where I want to do business — it’s home,” said Frisch. “I wanted to create a business where I could offer…

Early childhood education in Lancaster County reached a new milestone this week as Lightbridge Academy officially opened its doors on Sept. 14, introducing a fresh paradigm of family-focused childcare to the growing Indian Land community. Operating weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., the brand-new facility is designed from the ground up to serve families with children ranging from infancy through Pre-K. The center features state-of-the-art classrooms and a customized outdoor playground, all engineered with a dual emphasis on security, developmental exploration, and physical well-being. Unlike traditional daycare models, Lightbridge Academy operates on a philosophy that views early learning as…

A York County investigation has helped lead to a 25-year federal prison sentence for a former Tennessee sheriff’s deputy who used fake online identities to sexually exploit children. Johnathan Nathaniel Allen, 27, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, was sentenced Sept. 16 after being convicted of producing child sexual abuse material. He will serve 25 years in federal prison followed by 15 years of court-ordered supervision. He also was ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution and $4,000 to a victim services fund and must register as a sex offender. The investigation began after a South Carolina father discovered concerning text messages on his…

“Some will tell you this can’t be fixed, that we’re too far gone. I don’t believe that, and neither should you.” by WES CLIMER *** Every family in South Carolina is feeling it, even if they can’t name it. It’s in your mortgage rate. It’s in your car payment. It’s in your credit card statement. And it’s happening because the federal government has lost control of its balance sheet. I spend my days as a financial advisor, studying markets and helping families plan for retirement and their children’s education. I have learned to pay very close attention to what the…

South Carolina state officials announced nearly $167.3 million in grant awards earlier this week aimed at transforming and strengthening health care access across the state’s rural communities. The investment distributes 228 one-time grants to bolster primary care, maternal and infant health, pediatrics, and behavioral health services. The funding is specifically designed to dismantle long-standing barriers to care while establishing long-term capacity through facility upgrades, advanced technology, and targeted workforce development. Administered by the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS), the grants are part of the state’s Rural Health Transformation Program. The program generated widespread interest across South…

A Fort Mill man is facing an upgraded felony driving under the influence charge following a fatal multi-vehicle collision in Rock Hill earlier this year as reported by WSOC. Joel Smith, 22, was served with the charge in connection with the Feb. 27 crash on Celanese Road near Interstate 77, according to Rock Hill police. Investigators with the Rock Hill Police Department’s Serious Traffic Accident Reconstruction Team issued the upgraded charge after receiving a toxicology report. Police said the results indicated Smith was under the influence of drugs that impaired his ability to safely operate his vehicle. The crash occurred…

South Carolina will receive more than $17 million in federal grants to help veterans experiencing homelessness or at risk of losing their homes. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced Tuesday that eight community organizations across the state will receive funding through its Fiscal Year 2027 grant programs. The grants are part of a record $1.17 billion national investment supporting 680 organizations working to address veteran homelessness nationwide. South Carolina’s funding will be distributed through two VA programs. The Supportive Services for Veteran Families program focuses on preventing homelessness and helping veterans and their families quickly transition into permanent housing….

By KATE BRUMBACK Associated Press ATLANTA (AP) — Security researchers say rapid advances in artificial intelligence are making it more critical to address a flaw in Georgia’s voting equipment that can allow voters to be matched to their ballots after they have been cast. The system’s vulnerability has been drawing increased attention, with election security advocates criticizing state election officials for failing to fix it before the November elections. Georgia election officials say they have taken steps to address the potential harm, but some advocates say the state is not going far enough. The vulnerability does not allow votes to be changed or…

Fifty four students from York, Lancaster, and Chester counties were named to the Summer 2026 President’s List at Southern New Hampshire University, the Manchester, New Hampshire institution announced Wednesday. The President’s List is the university’s top undergraduate honor roll. It requires full time status and a grade point average of 3.700 or higher for the reporting term, according to the university. Full time status means 12 credits earned over a term of 16 weeks or over paired terms of eight weeks grouped in fall, winter and spring, or summer. The summer terms ran from May through August. The announcement comes…

York County Council told staff on Monday, Sept. 14, that it cannot settle on a long-term vision for fire protection until it knows what level of service each of the county’s 16 fire departments provides and needs. Staff will meet with every department and return with a recommended approach, a process expected to take several months. Council took no votes on the fire item during the workshop at the York County Office Complex in Rock Hill, where much of the audience came from the fire service. Members disagreed on how large a role the county should play in a system…

ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – The city of Rock Hill will donate $250,000 each to Winthrop University and York Technical College to encourage manufacturing and job growth in the region. The partnership was announced at a Sept. 15 press conference at Rock Hill City Hall to explain how area entities are preparing for the jobs of tomorrow. They also are encouraging key stakeholders to contribute to the effort. Winthrop President Edward Serna ’02 said that the institution looks forward to being a catalyst for manufacturing growth in the region. “We will use this gift to fill a critical gap in…

FORT MILL, SC, September 15, 2026 — Young Men’s Service League Fort Mill (YMSL-FM) is excited to announce that it’s been awarded a Youth Engagement Grant from 9/11 Day, funded by AmeriCorps. YMSL-FM will donate the grant funds to Rice N Beans Ministries along with more than 350 hours of volunteer service. On Saturday, Sept. 19, the organizations will work together to package more than 50,000 meals for those experiencing food insecurity both locally and abroad in recognition of 9/11 Day and in celebration of Young Men’s Service League’s 25th anniversary. YMSL-FM is a philanthropic organization for moms and their…

In a sweeping demonstration of scholastic dominance, the Fort Mill School District has once again outperformed every traditional public school system in South Carolina, according to newly released state assessment data presented at the latest school board meeting. Presenting the state evaluation data to the board, Dr. Mike Waiksnis and Matt Rohring outlined a comprehensive landscape of student achievement marked by record-setting Advanced Placement (AP) participation, soaring elementary and middle school proficiency, and notable gains in closing the achievement gap for economically disadvantaged students. Statewide Leadership and Career Preparedness The district secured the state’s #1 ranking on the WIN Learning…

Brian Krebs, one of the most respected cybersecurity journalists in the world and the founder of KrebsOnSecurity, was alerted on August 31, 2026 to a new identity theft service that had just launched on a Russian cybercrime forum called Exploit. The service, calling itself Nexus, was advertising access to digital scans of identity documents on more than 170 million people across North America. The reason Krebs’s source flagged it to him specifically: the Nexus operator had used Krebs’s own Virginia driver’s license as a free sample to advertise the service. What Krebs found when he started digging is one of…

Thirteen students from York and Lancaster counties earned a place on the Summer 2026 Dean’s List at Southern New Hampshire University, the Manchester, New Hampshire institution announced Tuesday. The summer terms ran from May through August. Students qualify for the Dean’s List by carrying full time undergraduate status and earning a grade point average between 3.500 and 3.699 for the reporting term, according to the university. Full time status requires 12 credits over a term of 16 weeks or over paired terms of eight weeks grouped in fall, winter and spring, or summer. Southern New Hampshire University enrolls more than…

Ivybrook Academy will welcome its first students to a new Indian Land campus in October, giving Lancaster County families a private preschool option that meets for half the school day. The campus at 2730 Worldreach Drive is the second for Kailee and Titus Bowen, who have owned Ivybrook Academy Fort Mill since 2017. It will serve children from 18 months to 6 years old, including a private kindergarten program. The expansion follows the families themselves. Kailee Bowen, the campus owner and executive director, said a steady stream of Fort Mill students has been commuting from Indian Land for years, and…

Three Fort Mill High School graduates carry lessons from the Carolina Show Ski Team into military service. By Kirsten Gordon On Friday nights in Tega Cay, Windjammer Park becomes bleachers, and Lake Wylie provides a stage. For decades, members of the Carolina Show Ski Team have entertained crowds with colorful costumes, high-speed jumps, human pyramids and precisely timed routines. Behind the music and spectacle, however, something more enduring is taking place: young athletes are learning to trust one another, confront fear, accept responsibility and contribute to a team that becomes a family. Behind the demanding routines, leaders are being forged….

A bat found near Lometa Drive and Waterside Trail in York has tested positive for rabies, and three people and four pets were exposed, the South Carolina Department of Public Health said. The bat was submitted to the department’s laboratory on Sept. 10 and confirmed positive on Sept. 11. The three people who were exposed have been referred to their healthcare providers. Two cats and two dogs were also exposed and will be quarantined as required under the state Rabies Control Act. It is the seventh rabid animal confirmed in York County this year. The county recorded nine cases in…

 LAKE WYLIE, S.C. — State Senate candidate James Burns announced this week that his campaign will award $1,000 to a York County nonprofit chosen by the winner of a community photo contest running now through Election Day. The rules are simple. Participants visit Papa Doc’s Shore Club, find the James Burns for Senate sign on the property, and take a picture with it. Entrants then post that photo publicly on Facebook, tag both Burns for Senate and Papa Doc’s Shore Club, and send a direct message to the Burns for Senate page with a link to the post so the…

Fort Mill built a lead in the first half, took control after an interception on the opening series of the second, and beat Rock Hill 33 to 19 in flag football Monday night. Fort Mill Stalls Early, Then Finds The End Zone Fort Mill took the opening possession and moved the length of the field, reaching the 1 yard line before the drive stalled short of the goal line. Rock Hill needed one snap to answer, breaking a run free for a touchdown on the first play after taking over. Fort Mill responded with scores on each of its next…

Maintaining South Carolina’s more than 41,000 miles of state-owned roads is a significant responsibility for the South Carolina Department of Transportation, and a new program aims to shift some lower-priority roads to local governments. State lawmakers have allocated $12.5 million for SCDOT’s new Road Buyback Program, which will help cities, towns and counties assume responsibility for roads that may no longer be essential to the state highway system. SCDOT will identify roads with lower traffic volumes that function more like neighborhood streets than major transportation corridors. Local governments will not be required to accept the roads. Instead, communities that agree…

Fury 325 at Carowinds has once again been named the world’s best steel roller coaster, extending its record-setting winning streak to 10 consecutive years. The popular coaster received the honor Saturday, Sept. 12, during the 2026 Golden Ticket Awards in Austin, Texas. The latest victory follows Fury 325’s ninth consecutive win in 2025 and further establishes the ride as one of the most recognized steel coasters in the world. Fury 325 is billed as the tallest, fastest and longest giga coaster in North America. Its 1.25-mile track crosses the North Carolina-South Carolina state line, with each ride lasting approximately 3…

When the Fort Mill Town Council convenes this coming Monday evening at Town Hall on North White Street, tucked between heavy-agenda items like a comprehensive 253-page land-use overhaul and a $73 million municipal budget, sits a single pending ordinance that cuts directly to the core of local governance: how much should part-time elected public servants be paid? Council members are scheduled to vote on an ordinance amending Section 2-26 of the Town Code — a move introduced by Town Manager Cary Vargo that would raise the annual salaries of the mayor and six council members. For a town experiencing unprecedented…

Autumn Saturday nights in South Carolina usually belong to tailgate smoke, crisp air, and direct-line football. On Saturday, they belonged to weather radars, late-night endurance, and two wildly different visions of gridiron dominance. While Clemson waded through two hours of pregame lightning delays to grind out a midnight defensive masterpiece, South Carolina turned Williams-Brice Stadium into an old-school rushing clinic, battering Towson with a relentless ground assault. Clemson 22, Georgia Southern 7: Survival in the Death Valley Night If college football were measured purely in style points, Clemson’s home opener wouldn’t earn front-page poster space. But football in September —…

Justin Sandler and Dan Arthur won the 2026 Tega Cay Member Guest on Saturday, closing out the 10 team shootout with a net birdie on the 16th hole. The pair reached the shootout by winning Flight 6, and they got there the hard way. Sandler and Arthur trailed Larry Elia and Ken Berko by 3.5 points after Friday’s three matches, then made up the gap over Saturday’s final two. Half the flights turned over on the closing day. Larry Harley and Dan Page ran down Chris Burns and Michael Frederich to take Flight 5 after starting the day 1.5 points…

U.S. Sen. Darline Graham said Friday she will debate Democratic nominee Dr. Annie Andrews on Oct. 11, accepting an invitation from SCETV in Columbia. It is the only debate both candidates have publicly committed to ahead of the Nov. 3 general election. Graham, a Republican, announced her decision on X Friday evening, writing, “I’m in. On October 11, I will take the debate stage” and adding that she would use the night to attack what she called Andrews’ hidden positions. Andrews confirmed that both campaigns accepted the SCETV invitation. She has pressed for a debate since Graham won the special…

Half a point or less separates the top two teams in three of the eight flights at the Tega Cay Member Guest golf tournament heading into today’s final matches. Teams played three nine hole matches Friday inside their own flights of six, with each match worth 10 points between the two sides. Two more matches remain today, Saturday, putting another 20 points in play before the flights are settled. The closest race is in Flight 8, where Vince Louther and Clint Stephens are tied with Dave Kimpel and Blair Creedmore at 18 points, and Robert Kraft and Doug Hider sit…

Tidal Wave Auto Spa has opened a car wash at 4138 Dobys Bridge Road in Indian Land and is giving away its most expensive wash package for free through Sunday, Sept. 20. The site sits across from Publix in the Lancaster County panhandle and is the company’s 27th location in South Carolina. The closest existing Tidal Wave to Fort Mill drivers had been the wash at 531 Theydon Bend, so the new tunnel adds a second option along a corridor that has absorbed heavy residential growth over the past decade. The free wash promotion began Sept. 9 and runs 12…

The Town of Fort Mill is preparing for a pivotal series of public decisions on Monday evening as Town Council members convene for a packed agenda featuring a complete rewrite of the town’s land-use laws, proposed compensation adjustments for elected officials, and multi-million-dollar budgetary transitions. The meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 14, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chambers at Town Hall (205 N. White Street). Among the night’s headline items is a sweeping proposal to repeal and replace Fort Mill’s existing zoning code in its entirety — a move designed to modernize municipal standards and impose immediate legal…

While walking around CVS the other day, I stopped at one of the end caps after one of the shampoo’s sitting on the shelf caught my eye. I have no idea what the brand was, but it had a unique name and labeling so it made me stop and look, which of course is the point.  Now that I’m holding it in my hand, the next step would be to make the purchase. I consider this until I see the price: $36. That’s right, this single bottle of shampoo, all 16 ounces of it sitting on a CVS shelf, cost…

Nearly half of the formal overpayment notices sent to Social Security recipients failed to follow the federal government’s own disclosure rules, trapping vulnerable beneficiaries in administrative limbo while delaying the recovery of government funds, an inspector general’s investigation has found. A sweeping audit released by the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) reveals a widespread breakdown in how the agency communicates clawback demands to older Americans, survivors, and individuals with disabilities. According to auditors, nearly 470,000 overpayment notices issued in fiscal year 2023 contained major errors, omitting critical context or basic legal rights. The review of Old-Age,…

What began as a series of clandestine, $750 parking-lot transactions for forged paperwork ended in a federal courtroom, where prosecutors laid bare a multi-count scheme that traded in the stolen identities of unsuspecting victims. A federal grand jury in Atlanta returned an expanded indictment against Derly Alvarez-Rodriguez, 41, a Mexican national, charging him with trafficking counterfeit Social Security cards carrying real victims’ numbers and illegally possessing a firearm. According to court filings, Alvarez-Rodriguez ran a illicit cottage industry selling legitimate, stolen Social Security numbers stamped onto fake cards. Between March and May, he reportedly met an undercover agent multiple times,…

A federal audit has revealed a near-perfect accuracy record in how the Social Security Administration assigns numbers to newborns, though thousands of dollars in potential fraud remain exposed through a few hundred unresolved glitches. According to a report released Wednesday by the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG), the agency correctly assigned a single Social Security number (SSN) to infants 99.997 percent of the time between January 2021 and September 2024. Out of nearly 13.9 million numbers issued through the Enumeration at Birth (EAB) program during that nearly four-year period, auditors identified 420 infants who were issued…