The Greenville News
‘Until we meet again’
U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham was remembered by political leaders, close friends, and South Carolinians in services on July 29. h Following a statehouse processional, an F-16 flyover, and memorial services at the First Baptist Church of Columbia, Graham was...
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Graham memorialized in emotional ceremony
Senators, representatives and Vice President JD Vance memorialized South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham in an emotional ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda that left some relatives and lawmakers in tears after officials recalled his tenacity in public debate...
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‘This one just might take the cake’
the second consecutive year, Greenville has graced the Top 10 in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards, continuing its streak as one of the most expressed citing cities to visit in the U.S. “There are many cute places in the Carolinas, but this one...
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‘This is creating a lot of anxiety’
Immigration and community advocate say a recent move by the Trump administration to remove legal status for Haitian refugees could spark a humanitarian crisis, forcing immigrants to return to a country that is just as dangerous as when they...
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ALWAYS WATCHING
The firing of two Greer police officers over improper use of Flock license plate reader cameras has reignited debate over one of law enforcement’s fastestgrowing investigative tools, with supporters calling it indispensable and critics warning the...
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Some tips to stay safe, foods to watch out for
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging Americans to take steps to prevent cyclosporiasis, a foodborne illness caused by a microscopic parasite. Nationwide, the CDC announced it has tracked 1,645 infections across 34 states, leading...
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Graham to receive ‘special Capitol honor’
Lindsey Graham’s office has released details of services in Washington, D.C. and South Carolina to honor the senator who died on July 11. Services begin on July 28 with an arrival ceremony at the U.S. Capitol. His casket will be escorted into the...
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No end in sight as U.S., Iran continue strikes
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump welcomed the president of Lebanon to the White House July 21 as he insisted that Iran “desperately” wants to meet to end the war. Trump made the assertion pushing back at a reporter who claimed in a question that...
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BED BUG INVASION
South Carolina is heading into the thick of summer just as conditions become ideal for an unwelcome seasonal surge of bed bugs. And two Palmetto State cities are among the ones with the most in the nation. h With heat and humidity driving indoor...
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Greenville Zoo debuts red river hogs
A pair of wild hogs found in the savannas of sub-Saharan Africa are now living at the Greenville Zoo, and they aren’t like your average farm pigs. “They’re very strong,” said zookeeper Christine Dear, who described the red river hogs’ observance of...
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‘A truly national senator,’ but he never lost the connections to his hometown
Michael Smith has worked at Time Drive In near downtown Seneca for four decades. h The restaurant is a slice of Americana, a traditional fast-food spot where locals enjoy hamburgers, chicken fingers, and the house specialty — gravy fries. h It’s the...
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Rainfall deficits reach 12 inches as drought persists
South Carolina remains firmly in drought territory, with the state’s Drought Response Committee keeping all 46 counties in moderate-to-severe drought status. Scattered showers have offered brief, localized relief in the Upstate, but rainfall has been...
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North Main residents oppose 7-home proposal
Residents of Greenville’s historic North Main neighborhood are fighting a planned development in their community. The Gallo Company, a Greenvillebased real estate company, has plans to construct seven single-family homes on a 1.4 acre property at the...
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Darline Graham sworn in as brother’s replacement
Darline Graham became the first woman to represent South Carolina in the U.S. Senate, replacing her brother, Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, three days after he died. Sens. Tim Scott of South Carolina and Katie Britt of Alabama escorted her into...
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Graham’s sister to fill Senate seat
Gov. Henry McMaster has appointed Darline Graham Nordone, the sister of Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, to fill his U.S. Senate seat. The South Carolina governor fulfilled the responsibility of selecting a temporary senator to fill the vacant...
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FROM CRITIC TO SUPPORTER
Sen. Lindsey Graham, who died unexpectedly on July 11, leaves behind a complex legacy that mirrors the political transformations that have reshaped America over the past three decades. h The former Air Force lawyer from South Carolina died from an...
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A life in public service
U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, a fixture in state and national politics for more than three decades, has died at the age of 71. h His death followed “a brief and sudden illness,” according to an official statement from his office. h Graham was among the...
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Makers control initial infant formula probes
In September 2016, a distraught mother sent infant formula maker Mead Johnson a message: “REMOVE ME FROM YOUR LIST !!!! DO NOT EMAIL OR MAIL ME ANY MORE! “It is because of your animal based pre-term artificial baby food crap that you peddle to...
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FUN IN BLOOM
Thousands of sunflowers are blooming once again at Denver Downs Farm as the popular Sunflower Festival returns for its eighth season. The festival, billed as the largest sunflower festival in South Carolina, runs weekends from July 11-19 and features...
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Here are 5 spots in Upstate SC to get a delicious burger
Greenville is a city full of delicious, ever-evolving dining options. If you’re craving a good burger night this summer but don’t know where to start, look no further. Greenville, Spartanburg, and Anderson counties have plenty of options, and there...
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‘I failed you’
Former Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright was sentenced Tuesday, July 7, to 41 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release, closing a corruption case that led to his conviction on fraud, drug, and theft charges. Wright will...
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Guskiewicz not taking top job
Clemson University announced on its social media that the school board of trustees learned that president-elect Kevin Guskiewicz has chosen to remain at Michigan State University for personal reasons. At a May 27 board of trustees meeting, the board...
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In 113 years, McAfee Funeral Homes has grown, adapted
Neither Thomas nor John McAfee envisioned a career in their family funeral business. John began a career in the textile industry and Thomas had his sights set on medical school, but both brothers found their way to careers at Thomas McAfee Funeral...
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Preserving city’s history as ‘textile center of the world’
Rusted water towers and brick chimneys mark Greenville’s skyline, representing the decades the city spent dominating the global textile industry. The City of Greenville was once known as the “Textile Center of the World,” for its flourishing textile...
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Iowa Whirlpool plant jobs disappear despite tariffs
AMANA, IA – If any company stood to gain from President Donald Trump’s trade war, it was Whirlpool and the workers assembling its iconic appliances in Iowa. But at its “Big Blue” refrigerator plant, so named because of its robin’segg-colored siding,...
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Bubble baths and ice treats
As a heat dome settles over the southeast, the Upstate is preparing to see temperatures in the upper 90s and even into the triple digits. But people aren’t the only beings trying to stay cool in the heat – so are the animals at the Greenville...
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KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Upstate residents will are expected to flock to Unity Park on Thursday, July 2 for the firework show put on by Clemson MBA. The evening will include food, live music, a special performance from the Greenville Symphony Orchestra and, of course,...
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Tentative date set for Alex Murdaugh retrial
Alex Murdaugh, clad in an orange jumpsuit and shackles in a courthouse in Lexington County on June 29, got a new court date for his murder retrial. It has been three years since Murdaugh’s first murder trial, and he was often seen smiling and...
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FREEDOM BLAST IN GREER CELEBRATES CITY’S 150TH
This year’s Freedom Blast event in Greer marked America’s 250th birthday and the city’s 150th anniversary, with a lineup that included skydivers, fireworks, music, and a military tribute. The event took place on June 27 at Greer City Park with hundreds...
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Funeral held for Greenville police sergeant and in-laws
A Greenville police sergeant and her in-laws, who were among five people killed in a head-on crash in Spartanburg County last month, will be laid to rest June 25 during a family funeral. According to an email from Greenville City Director of...
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Several SC laws kick in July 1
Ahandful of new laws in South Carolina are set to take effect on July 1, including policies to strengthen school responses to medical emergencies and change fishing laws. h The South Carolina Legislature adjourned on May 14 before returning for a...
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FREEDOM BLAST
This year’s Freedom Blast event in Greer will mark America’s 250th birthday and the city’s 150th anniversary, with a lineup that includes skydivers, fireworks, and a military tribute. The event will take place Saturday, June 27, at Greer City Park,...
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Greenville, Simpsonville consider sales tax hike
The Greenville City Council is considering moving forward with a local sales tax, but it faces a tight mid-August deadline to act so the tax can get on November ballots. The city council is reviewing a proposed temporary 1% local sales tax, which...
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Alan Wilson wins GOP runoff for governor
Attorney General Alan Wilson laid out his priorities for the governor’s office at a campaign watch party in Columbia after he was named the winner of the Republican gubernatorial runoff. Wilson was named the projected winner of the Republican primary...
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Candidates meet as Trump move called ‘confusing’
Near the entrance to the sanctuary at Faith Fellowship Baptist Church in Pendleton, a retractable stand-up banner displayed a photograph of President Donald Trump with South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette — both giving a thumbs-up sign — with wording...
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SOUTH CAROLINA VOTERS HEADING TO POLLS AGAIN
Republican candidates for South Carolina governor are in a heated stretch of the campaign as two contenders head to a runoff. Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and Attorney General Alan Wilson finished at the top of the Republican primary on June 9 but must now...
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DOJ cuts grants, halting public safety efforts across U.S.
The United States is experiencing one of the steepest declines in violent crime in modern history, including a murder rate at its lowest point in more than a century. Homicides across 35 major American cities fell 21% in 2025, amounting to 922 fewer...
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‘Be cautious’
If you walk into one of these jellyfishlike creatures at South Carolina’s beaches this summer, you might get yourself into a jam. Portuguese man o’ wars, the fluorescent blue marine hydrozoans recognized by their balloon-sail, are reportedly washing...
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Church Street Bridge project concludes
A day that downtown commuters have longawaited has arrived – the Church Street Bridge is officially reopend to traffic. “I can say with full confidence that this is a day that every resident in the city of Greenville has eagerly awaited,” said...
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2 injured in shooting at Haywood Mall
Greenville police responded to reports of gunfire at Haywood Mall on Saturday afternoon, June 13, when two groups of individuals got into a verbal altercation that escalated into gunfire, sending two people to the hospital, officials said. A...
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Greenville County ‘success story’ in economic uncertainty
In a time of extreme economic uncertainty, experts say that Greenville County has stood out as an economic success story. University of South Carolina research economist Joey Von Nessen said international trade and tariffs have increased uncertainty...
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YMCA projects aim to address growth at branch locations
Nine years ago there were about 6,500 youngsters in youth sports at the YMCA of Greenville. In the past year participation has jumped to about 13,000 with a growing waitlist. Only one new sports program, girls flag football, has been added in that...
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Greenville restaurants working to combat rising food costs
As inflation remains on the rise, many Greenville restaurants are seeing their food and operating costs at an all-time high. Essentials like meat and produce are more expensive, with the cost of ground beef rising by 31 percent from February 2024 to...
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SBC pushes a ban on women pastors
With new wind in its sails, a campaign to enshrine a ban on women pastors in the Southern Baptist Convention passed the first of two necessary hurdles. The nation’s largest Protestant denomination affirmed a proposal at the 2026 SBC annual meeting in...
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Johnson wins his primary; Evette, Wilson head to runoff
The Republican race for governor of South Carolina will head into a runoff with Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and Attorney General Alan Wilson, while State Rep. Jermaine Johnson has been declared the winner in the Democratic primary. Five Republican...
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Friends’ plans take flight
An easy rapport between Lauren Good and Trish Ballentine is evident when discussing their new project. The two, who have known each other for nearly three decades, can not only understand what the other is thinking with just a few words, but can also...
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Cleveland Park, part of Swamp Rabbit Trail closed
Greenville’s oldest and largest public park will be closed for renovations this summer. A $3 million Cleveland Park Zoo Playground Revitalization Project will close the playgrounds and shelters below the zoo, along with a portion of the Swamp Rabbit...
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‘It feels like we’re committed to success’
Fans cheered as the Greenville Triumph claimed its first win at its new stadium in front of a sold-out crowd. The Triumph opened the GE Vernova Park on June 3 against Forward Madison in front of a crowd of around 4,300, winning a gritty 1-0. GE...
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Economic issues weigh on voters
Asteady stream of voters filed into the Greenville County Voter Registration and Elections Office in McAlister Square early in the morning on June 3, looking to cast their ballots before a much busier election day. South Carolina shattered state...
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A verdict undone: Netflix doc reveals new details in Murdaugh case
A new Netflix documentary has revealed some startling and contrasting views from people behind the scenes of the Alex Murdaugh murder trial, as well as the lingering and painful impacts this high-profile case continues to have on the lives it...
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Greenville native and Grammy-Award winning singer, dies
Peabo Bryson, a Greenville native and Grammy Award-winning singer best known for his songs “Beauty and the Beast” and “A Whole New World,” has died at age 75. h The popular R&B singer died on Tuesday, June 2, in Marietta, Ga., according to the New York...
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‘Fight for SC values’
running for governor of South Carolina are packing their schedules with Upstate meet-and-greats with just one week until the primary elections. Three Republicans running for governor campaigned in the Upstate on June 1, where they hosted events to...
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‘Greenville is ready for a home like this’
The Greenville Triumph will open GE Vernova Park to fans with a home match against Forward Madison FC, marking the club’s first game in its long-awaited permanent stadium beside BridgeWay Station in Mauldin. The match will take place at 7 p.m. on...
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Event draws energized Dems after redistricting
Hundreds of people poured out on to the EdVenture Children’s Museum late Friday for an energetic evening of food, dancing and politics. National and state Democratic Party leaders arrived in Columbia on May 29 for an evening of state party events,...
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City hopes to ‘close critical financial gaps’
Greenville’s new city budget includes a combined $3.75 million in funding for affordable housing. Affordable housing is income restrictive housing in which rent varies by individual and should cost no more than one third of their monthly income,...
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‘Insane’ congestion
Even on a Friday morning the parking lots of Woodruff Road stores are packed, bustling with shoppers trying to get their errands done before the real rush hits the area. Sarah Hoffman has to plan out her trips to Trader Joe’s – her primary grocery...
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Policy and personal jabs mark event at Wofford
A nearly full Leonard Auditorium in Wofford College’s Main Building was the scene of a Republican gubernatorial debate on May 26 that focused mostly on policy but featured several testy, even personal, exchanges between candidates. The one-hour debate...
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Solving big issues
The Spartanburg home of Karen Floyd was the scene of a forum that brought women together for discussions about big-picture issues and proposed solutions to create long-term change. Billed as the inaugural Call for Humanity Summit, the gathering...
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Loss of natural habitat
The concept of a plant that “eats” animals provokes the darker regions of the imagination. In the 1980s musical comedy “Little Shop of Horrors,” a giant Venus flytrap named Audrey II consumes human flesh. The royalty-free photography and graphic bank...
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‘TO ANY EOPLE ARE DYING’
Law enforcement leaders delivered a blunt warning ahead of the summer travel season: Too many people are dying on Spartanburg County roads, and officials say unsafe driving is to blame. At a press conference on May 21 in front of the Spartanburg...
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Battle of Cowpens viewed by historians as key U.S. victory
It’s a classic underdog story – and one that many historians believe holds a key to the success of the American Revolution. The Cowpens National Battlefield, located in Cherokee County near Chesnee, is where it took place. The Battle of Cowpens...
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TOWN TRANSFORMS
JWOODRUFF ust six years ago, Scurry’s on Main barber shop was one of only a few businesses operating on the city of Woodruff’s Main Street. h Derek Scurry, who has been cutting hair in Woodruff for more than 40 years, sat inside his barber shop on a...
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Court rules with Greenville in Frankie’s Fun Park crash
A Greenville County judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by the family of a teenager who died in a 2024 Frankie’s Fun Park go-kart crash. According to Greenville County Court documents, Greenville County Circuit Court Judge Jessica Salvini granted the...
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New NorthMark data center under scrutiny
Kara Bui said the glare of bright lights at the NorthMark Strategies construction site is an ongoing aggravation. But, long-term, she feels like she’s in the dark. Bui said she’s unsure about the possible impacts of the $2.8 billion data center under...
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Elizabeth Davis, Furman’s first female president, to step down
Furman University President Elizabeth Davis is stepping down. Davis announced her decision to the university’s board of trustees on May 16. The campus was informed on May 18. The 2026-27 academic year will be Davis’ final year as Furman’s 12th...
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Upgrades on the way
Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport is in line for new air traffic tower, according to an announcement from federal officials on May 15. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the Trump administration is working toward what he called...
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Civil Rights PIONEER
South Carolina is honoring civil rights pioneer Robert Smalls with a monument on the State House grounds in Columbia. h The once enslaved man who seized his freedom during the Civil War and served as a Union naval pilot and later became a U.S....
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Countering ‘a massive environmental footprint’
A team of researchers at Clemson University has been awarded $11 million to study and develop materials that are helping fuel a more sustainable fashion industry worldwide and a more dynamic agricultural economy in South Carolina. The grant is one of...
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State Supreme Court: Trial was unfair
The South Carolina Supreme Court has decided that formerly convicted murderer Richard “Alex” Murdaugh deserves a new trial. So, what comes next? On May 13, the Palmetto State’s highest court issued a ruling reversing a post-trial appeal denial of a...
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McMaster calls for special session amid redistricting
Gov. Henry McMaster has issued an executive order calling a special session of the South Carolina General Assembly, giving lawmakers the opportunity to continue redistricting and budget discussions. McMaster issued the order calling lawmakers back for...
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Jury meddling leads to new Murdaugh murder trial
The South Carolina Supreme Court overturned Alex Murdaugh’s 2023 murder convictions and ordered a new trial on Wednesday, May 13, citing improper jury communication and tampering by former Colleton County Clerk of Court Becky Hill, among other legal...
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