news in south carolina

MUSC Breaks Ground on New Pharmacy School

The Medical University of South Carolina recently broke ground on their new College of Pharmacy school in Charleston, South Carolina.

The groundbreaking ceremony took place on Tuesday, April 27 and was led by Dr. William Golod and Dr. Arnold Karig, both of which were previous deans at the university.

The new 24,000-square foot facility will be located on the Horseshoe. It is expected to take 18 months to complete.

Kathy Chessman, a previous student of MUSC’s College of Pharmacy and current professor at the school, is thrilled about the new building. Chessman said, “Dr. Golod said we would be getting a new building back when I was B.S. student at MUSC…The thought of actually breaking ground on a new building and having the construction begin is tremendously exciting…This new facility is a great opportunity to have the quality of our physical appearance reflect the quality of the education experience.”

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Clemson-Based Hotel Will Employ Workers with Intellectual Disabilities

A new hotel in Clemson is working to provide employment opportunities to a vital segment of people here in South Carolina.

The Shepherd Hotel, Clemson’s only downtown hotel, is aiming to decrease the unemployment rate for adults with intellectual disabilities.

The Shepherd Hotel has partnered with ClemsonLIFE to help prepare individuals with intellectual disabilities for employment. ClemsonLIFE, “a program at Clemson University offers a collegiate experience that prepares young men and women with intellectual disabilities for competitive employment and independent living through a combination of academic coursework and career exploration.”

The program is helping to identify the strengths of individuals interested in working at the boutique hotel and training them accordingly.

The goal of the hotel is “to approach the employment of individuals with special needs as a business challenge rather than one designated to social services.”

Students are eagerly anticipating the opening of the hotel, which is expected to be in April 2022.

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Prestigious Sporting Event to Take Place in the Upstate in 2022

One of the world’s largest professional bass tournaments is coming back to Greenville.

B.A.S.S recently announced the decision to hold the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk at Lake Hartwell, a familiar location for the tournament. Since 2008 the tournament has been held in Greenville a total of four times.

Next year’s Bassmaster Classic will take place from March 4th through March 6th. In addition to Lake Hartwell, other tournament events will take place at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena and the Greenville Convention Center.

On the decision to hold the tournament in Greenville, Bruce Akin, CEO of B.A.S.S., said, “Everything about Lake Hartwell and the city of Greenville make them the perfect setting for the Super Bowl of Professional Bass Fishing…Lake Hartwell provides the perfect site for amazing competition, and the city of Greenville provides the hotels, restaurants and other facilities you need for an event the size of the Classic.”

The Bassmaster Classic is a large attraction for the city, providing one of the largest economic impacts for Greenville.

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Food Facility Reopening, Bringing 330 Jobs to the Midlands

Tyson Foods is reopening their South Carolina plant – and, bringing hundreds of jobs to the Midlands.

The facility, located on Bluff Road in Columbia, will be producing pre-packaged beef and pork and is expected to begin production in May.

The total investment of the Tyson Foods plant should reach $55 million over the next three to five years. Tyson Foods received tax cuts and exemptions from the state in exchange for the reopening of the facility.

The Columbia-based facility will employ 330 people to carry out its operations and will be paying them a slightly higher wage than before.

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster is also thrilled about the reopening of the facility saying in a statement that “Tyson Foods’ initial $42 million investment, and the 330 jobs that will result from it, will help continue South Carolina’s tremendous economic growth. We look forward to continuing our state’s fruitful partnership with Tyson and to their continued commitment to South Carolina and our people.”

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NFL Linebacker Starting Foundation to Benefit His South Carolina Hometown

Darius Leonard, a linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts, recently announced the launch of his foundation, Maniac Foundation, which is set to benefit his hometown of Lake View, South Carolina.

The foundation will provide aid to families in need through educational programs and food assistance. Maniac Foundation will serve families in both Indianapolis, Indiana and Lake View, South Carolina – the two places that hold a special place in Leonard’s heart.

The Maniac Foundation’s mission is “dedicated to transforming communities through education, wellness, serving families in need and other charitable causes.”

Leonard said “there are three pillars we want to touch here, first helping families put food on the table, second pillar is getting kids more involved in schoolwork, we’re trying to start ‘Math for Maniacs’ and get kids to fall in love with schoolwork again.”

He started the foundation because he loves to give back and put a smile on other people’s faces. He hopes this is just the beginning of the foundation’s efforts to help people in South Carolina and Indiana.

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Curbside Sale of Beer and Wine Could Become Permanent

The COVID-19 pandemic has indefinitely changed the way we do a lot of things. Could curbside pickup of beer and wine be permanently added to that list?

The case was made to keep curbside pickup of beer and wine, which was initially approved in March of 2020 through an emergency order from Governor Henry McMaster, during a recent S.C. House Judiciary subcommittee meeting.

Now more than ever, customers are taking advantage of curbside pickup orders for groceries and other necessities, so retailers and restaurants want to continue to meet those needs and mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Some individuals are insisting certain restrictions be added to the bill – including only having employees aged 21 and over who are trained at identifying underage individuals be allowed to make the curbside sales.

Another bill was also introduced in the subcommittee meeting that would permit counties or cities in South Carolina to create a binding referendum on the sale of liquor on Sundays.

While neither bill was voted on, the subcommittee is expected to vote on them both during their next meeting.

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Former South Carolina Governor Accepts Nobel Peace Prize

David Beasley, former Governor of South Carolina, recently accepted the Nobel Peace Prize for his work with the United Nation’s World Food Program.

Beasley, who is a native of Darlington, South Carolina, served as governor of South Carolina from 1995 to 1999. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the World Food Program, a humanitarian organization that works to combat hunger across the globe.

According to the WFP, “On any given day, WFP has 5,600 trucks, 30 ships and nearly 100 planes on the move, delivering food and other assistance to those in most need….In 2019, WFP assisted 97 million people – the largest number since 2012 – in 88 countries.”

The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the World Food Program as it recognized the extensive efforts the organization is making to not only combat hunger but also improve the conditions in conflict-stricken areas.

In a tweet, Governor Beasley shared his excitement about receiving the award along with a plea for others to join in on his fight to hunger saying, “We are so honored to accept the #NobelPeacePrize today. At the same time, it is my tragic duty to tell you that famine is at humanity’s doorstep. The silver lining is that we can stop this together. Join us as we call for urgent action.”

Click here to view the presentation of Governor Beasley’s Nobel Peace Prize.

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Historic Building in Columbia Set to Be Renovated After Sustaining Fire Damage

Columbia’s historic Babcock Building has been cleared to undergo renovations after previously catching fire earlier this year.

The Babcock Building, located off Bull Street in downtown Columbia, was first built between 1857 and 1885 and was used to treat patients with mental illnesses. The building caught fire in September, causing extensive damage to the building’s historic dome and much of its interior.

The Babcock Building was undergoing renovations to create over 200 apartments in the historic structure before the blaze took place. The renovations will follow the same plan and cost around $55 million, which is being provided by a low-interest federal loan through the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The project is supposed to take three years to complete and is part of a large-scale redevelopment plan for the BullStreet District.

In a statement on the approval of the renovation, Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin said, “This announcement is a tremendous Christmas gift to all of the Midlands. Babcock has an important place in our past and, more importantly, our future.”