Category 4 Hurricane Simon hugs Mexico coast with flood threat
Hurricane Simon was sitting just off Mexico’s Pacific coast Sunday morning as an extremely dangerous Category 4 storm, with forecasters expecting it to move near or just inland over west-central Mexico later in the day. Simon peaked overnight at 155 mph, only just below the Category 5 threshold. By 6 a.m. Central time the National
SC Highway Patrol adds 28 troopers as recruiting gets harder
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Highway Patrol graduated 28 new troopers on Friday, adding to a statewide force that agency leaders say has become harder to staff as the pool of applicants shrinks. Highway Patrol Class 132 includes 6 pre-certified officers and 22 who are new to the law enforcement profession. With this graduating
Aiken, S.C., marks $8M airport runway resurfacing complete
AIKEN, S.C. — City leaders marked the completion of an $8 million primary runway resurfacing at Aiken Regional Airport with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday at noon. The project replaced aging asphalt with high-strength concrete on the primary runway, a change officials said will extend the pavement lifecycle and improve operational reliability for aviation users. Funding
Lake Murray Cleanup Efforts Begin This Month
Chapin residents have an opportunity this month to contribute to the cleanliness of Lake Murray and surrounding waterways through the annual Lake Sweep/River Sweep event. Organized by Keep the Midlands Beautiful (KMB), this initiative is part of South Carolina’s larger Beach Sweep/River Sweep effort. Volunteers can participate in litter removal from one of 80 waterways
AG questions mayor’s power to hire town attorney
Chapin Mayor Bill Mitchell Jr.’s authority to unilaterally hire and direct a town attorney has been challenged by the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office, which stated on August 6 that state law indicates this responsibility rests with the entire town council. This guidance comes amid weeks of escalating disputes within the Chapin Town Council, culminating
Peter Cullen, Voice of Optimus Prime, Dies at 85
Peter Cullen, the Canadian voice actor renowned for portraying Optimus Prime in numerous Transformers productions and Eeyore in Winnie the Pooh projects, passed away on Wednesday at his Los Angeles home at the age of 85. His agent, Kevin Motley, confirmed his death, stating Cullen died peacefully surrounded by family. Cullen’s family released a statement
Coyote vs. Acme Premieres After Underdog Journey
The film Coyote vs. Acme premiered in Los Angeles on Thursday, August 27, 2026, marking a significant moment for a project that faced an uncertain future. The movie, a hybrid live-action and animation feature set in the Looney Tunes universe, sees Wile E. Coyote pursuing legal action against the Acme Corporation due to its consistently
Senators Press for Hearing on USS Lincoln Deployment
Senate Armed Services Committee Democrats asked the committee chairman on August 24, 2026 to convene a public hearing on extended military deployments, the latest congressional demand tied to the record deployment of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. The request follows weeks in which the President and his administration publicly dismissed concerns about conditions aboard […]
Carolina Wings & Rib House Building New Chapin Location
A new Carolina Wings & Rib House location is currently under construction in Chapin, according to an August 19, 2026, Facebook post from the chain’s Ballentine restaurant. This development marks the fifth establishment for the Midlands-based chicken wing and rib chain. The new restaurant will be situated on Columbia Avenue, slightly outside Chapin’s town center.
Einbinder Defends Ruffalo Amid Paramount Controversy
Actress Hannah Einbinder publicly defended Mark Ruffalo this week, as the actor faces accusations of antisemitism from Paramount Skydance. The controversy stems from Ruffalo linking Larry Ellison’s technology company, Oracle, to the Israeli military, in the context of Paramount’s proposed merger with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). Einbinder, known for her role in Hacks, expressed strong