The Greenville News
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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Legislative subcommittee gives approval to new voting map
Protesters erupted in chants of disapproval after a subcommittee of lawmakers in Columbia voted to advance a bill to redraw South Carolina’s congressional map. South Carolina Republican lawmakers are trying to fast track policies to redraw the state’s...
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OPENING DAY OF ARTISPHERE
ABOVE: Wilder Things Than Us performs during Artisphere. ABOVE, LEFT: “The Granite Goddess” walks through the street during Artisphere. LEFT: Blocks for screen printing are set out during Artisphere.
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GCS budget includes teachers, employees pay raises
Greenville County Schools proposed an almost $1 billion FY27 General Fund Budget, which included teacher and district staff pay raises without a millage rate increase. A first reading of the proposed FY 27 General Fund Budget was presented by...
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Local farms, big flavor
Red clay and relationships are at the fabric of the Upstate’s farm-to-table industry. It’s embedded into the potency of the South Carolina Chef Ambassador’s crème brûlée, in the distinct sweetness of carrots used by a Michelin Guide-recommended...
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‘It will never be developed’
Ashley and Platt Moore drove their Kawasaki Mule across rolling hills in Fountain Inn on a chilly February afternoon, pointing out calves born during a winter storm along the way. The couple owns AM-PM Farms, a roughly 500-acre cattle farm that they...
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Charting his own path
It’s been nearly 1,000 years since King Henry IV stood barefoot in the Italian snow to beg forgiveness after clashes with Pope Gregory VII, and over two centuries since Napoleon imprisoned Pope Pius VII in France. Now, a battle is underway between a...
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Artisphere brings art, music for Mother’s Day weekend
Greenville’s top art expo takes place this Mother’s Day Weekend, featuring 140 artists along downtown Main Street, with food, music, and family activities, free for all to enjoy. In an event that attracted around 80,000 patrons in 2025, the three-day...
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Senate, House at odds over details
The South Carolina legislature is fine-tuning a bill to speed up road repair work. The South Carolina House and Senate each drafted a bill this legislative session to reform the South Carolina Department of Transportation: House Bill 5071 and Senate...
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SC State Univ. funding in jeopardy
At a campaign stop in Spartanburg on May 1, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette would not say whether she agreed with nine state lawmakers who have called for South Carolina State University to lose funding after school leaders rescinded Evette’s invitation to give...
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Anderson, Spartanburg counties short poll workers
Two election offices in the Upstate are facing critical shortages of poll workers leading up to the June 9 primary elections. The Anderson County and Spartanburg County Voter Registration and Elections offices are amplifying calls for more poll...
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Evette will not speak at SCSU’s commencement after student protests
The South Carolina State University’s president said student civic engagement and safety concerns led the school to rescind the lieutenant governor’s commencement invitation. Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette was invited to speak at SC State’s May 8 graduation,...
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Once a Giant
Forty years ago, the New York Giants achieved their first Super Bowl win, defeating the Denver Broncos in Pasadena, Calif. h The win left a lasting legacy on the franchise and the athletes who played the game. h Today, the victors of Super Bowl XXI are...
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World’s great fish migrations collapsing
Hidden beneath the surface of the world’s rivers, some of Earth’s great animal movements unfold – migrations that rival, in sheer biomass, the famous mass movements of zebra and wildebeest across the Serengeti. h For centuries, fish migrations were as...
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MUCH-NEEDED
“Much-needed” rainfall has reached Upstate South Carolina, and more is expected over the coming weekend. Storms and rain showers continue to move across the Greenville, Spartanburg, and Anderson area on Wednesday, April 29, bringing “much-needed” rain...
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A look inside the steakhouse filling Urban Wren spot
A new steakhouse is opening in downtown Greenville, replacing a longtime favorite, and with a menu featuring dry-aged steaks, 100-plus wine options, and a fresh-faced dining experience in the West End. Located at 116 N. Markley St., Cork & Cleaver...
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GOING BANANAS
Greenville went bananas for Banana Ball. Even without the actual Savannah Bananas in town, there were three days of sold-out performances ending April 26 at Fluor Field for baseballbased Banana Ball Championship League games between the Firefighters...
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Nicholtown Community Center reopens after $4.9M renovations
Nicholtown Community Center reopened in Greenville on April 23 to hand claps and cheers from an excited community. At the ribbon cutting, Greenville officials showcased significant changes to meet the needs of the local community, including interior...
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Candidates outline plans to govern at recent forum
Three of the six Republican candidates for governor made their stances known on topics like abortion, gambling and energy sustainability at a recent governor’s forum. Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, Attorney General Alan Wilson and U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman,...
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Searching for the perfect date night experience, expanding your social circle, and even activities for the kids? There are various food-centric, live-music, and arts-education events to attend in the Upstate in 2026. In Greenville, Spartanburg, and...
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Lebanese see echoes of civil war
BEIRUT – An Israeli invasion of southern Lebanon, bombings in Beirut, massive displacement and rising sectarian friction. The year is 2026, but for those who lived through Lebanon’s civil war five decades ago, it may as well be the 1970s. Lebanese who...
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Novant Health expands by buying TD Bank campus
North Carolina-based Novant Health wants to be a competitor in the Upstate's healthcare industry, and its latest property acquisition along Interstate 85 in Greenville will continue its mission. Greenville County property records show the former TD...
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Greenville eyes new 5-story condo plan on Main Street
A new five-story building will be up for discussion in June, a decision that would change one of downtown Greenville’s signature locations along Main Street. At 127 S. Main St., a residential, office-retail, and parking structure is being considered...
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Beloved campus dog honored with memorial
Students at Furman University gathered together on April 12 to paint a memorial tribute in honor of the school’s unofficial mascot: a special dog named Riley Knox. A rainbow bridge stretches between buildings A and F of North Village in remembrance of...
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Hotel would include speakeasy, rooftop bar, restaurant
The next steps to convert the former Café & Then Some building and the former Buick dealership into a 17-room boutique hotel and social space have been approved by the Greenville Design Review Board (DRB), subject to conditions. On April 16, the city...
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‘If you would, please let 212 live’
Just a few blocks from Unity Park in downtown Greenville sits a two-story home with chipped white paint and a crumbling stone walkway. While unassuming from the outside, 212 Asbury Avenue has a deep history in the Jim Crow era. Now, the owners and a...
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Blockbuster cancer drug corners the market
Just a few weeks after President Donald Trump’s December promise that prescription drug prices would plummet “fast and furious,” Patricia Brown checked into a California clinic for an infusion of Merck & Co.’s blockbuster cancer drug, Keytruda. When...
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Farmers markets to visit throughout Upstate SC
Produce growers, food producers, and craftspersons are approaching a prime season for locally sourced goods, as the Upstate’s farmers market season is upon us. According to South Carolina Certified — a subsidiary of the South Carolina Department of...
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Fort Hill has ties to politics, slavery, founding of Clemson
A white-columned house stands quietly preserved on Clemson University’s campus. Fort Hill is a national historic landmark and the former home of John C. Calhoun. The home has a layered history, from its ties to politics and slavery to its role in...
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Ambassadors for Israel, Lebanon to hold talks
The U.S. military is mustering forces in the Middle East again, this time to enforce a blockade of Iran-linked vessels leaving the Strait of Hormuz, the critical oil shipping lane that has become a focal point of the war. The U.S. blockade involves...
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Airlines weather Iran war turbulence
A combination of rising prices and geopolitical uncertainty are making many American travelers question if it’s better to stay closer to home or travel farther afield this summer. “Out of the three international trips, I’ve already canceled the first...
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‘euphoria’ festival to return this fall
Greenville’s award winning food fest has announced its lineup for 2026. “euphoria,” the four-day weekend extravaganza showcasing the city’s culinary chefs and musicians, returns on Thursday, Sept. 17, running through Sunday, Sept. 20. Nearly 90...
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TINY DICE HOUSE
Step out of the earthly realm and into a board game paradise with Greenville’s whimsical Airbnb experience. h Stacked in the woods of Paris Mountain, the Tiny Dice House — also known as “Pairadice” — is one of the city’s best kept hideaways. Inspired...
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Public defender shortage ripples across legal system
The Oregon Supreme Court on Feb. 5 issued a ruling that will have a wide impact. More than 1,400 criminal cases had to be dismissed, the justices ruled, due to lack of adequate counsel available for defendants. Like other states, Oregon must provide...
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U.S.-Iran ceasefire on tenuous ground
President Donald Trump’s ceasefire with Iran was on tenuous ground on April 9 after Israel launched its deadliest day of strikes on Lebanon yet and Tehran vowed not to desert its allies. A day after announcing the Iran war ceasefire, Trump took to...
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‘Secession Hill’ is where South Carolina withdrew from Union
After the election of President Abraham Lincoln in 1860, South Carolina began plans to withdraw from the Union, and the meeting grounds in Abbeville were an important site at the beginning of the Civil War. On Nov. 22, 1860, nearly 3,000 local...
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Reddy prepares for the challenge
Editor’s note: The Greenville News invited all current gubernatorial candidates to a sit-down interview on their campaigns and plans for the governor’s office. Rom Reddy, founder of DOGE SC, became the latest Republican to join the governor’s race on...
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Staley and SC overachieved, but loss is still crushing
PHOENIX — Dawn Staley woke up 40 minutes away from a fourth national championship, but the South Carolina women’s basketball coach fell short. The Gamecocks had no answers for their opponent once again, losing 79-51 to UCLA on April 5, one year after...
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Two Tigers help launch NASA’s journey to moon
On April 1, two Clemson University alumni carved their place in history as key contributors to the Artemis II launch team carrying astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen on a 10-day crewed mission around the...
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SC poets decry pick made by McMaster
On March 20, Glenis Redmond received a call from a representative with the South Carolina Arts Commission. She was updated on a question she'd been wondering about for several years: Who would be the next South Carolina poet laureate? Redmond serves...
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Trump funding cuts axed nutrition program
If the government had found a way to save $10 for every dollar it spent helping low-income people get healthier, wouldn’t it make sense for it to keep doing that? Well, that’s exactly what the U.S. government did when it piloted the SNAPEd program in...
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Fox Carolina’s Carmen shares brain cancer story with People
In 2025, Fox Carolina news anchor Tori Carmen was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor. Carmen, 38, announced to viewers that she would be taking a break from the air for the next several months. Before the diagnosis, the Greenville resident had...
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BEST CHEF
Joe Cash, owner and head chef at Scoundrel, has been named a 2026 James Beard Award Finalist. In January, the James Beard Foundation announced its 2026 Restaurant and Chef Award semifinalists, where two Greenville-area food and beverage talents were...
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‘She was and will continue to be a powerful force’
In the center of her former neighborhood, a community center will bear the name of a local leader who helped drive growth, change, and equality in Greenville. h Located at 813 Hampton Avenue, a new city-endorsed neighborhood hub will soon be known as...
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‘No Kings’ protest draws thousands of attendees
Thousands of “No Kings” protesters rallied throughout downtown Greenville on March 28 in opposition to the war in Iran, cuts to social program spending and immigration crackdowns that have happened during President Donald Trump’s second term in...
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Simpsonville’s new Food Lion is open
A newly built Food Lion opened up at 2131 W. Georgia Road on March 25, becoming the fifth location in Simpsonville for the North Carolina-based grocer. Beginning with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 7:45 a.m., nearly 500 customers and neighbors gathered...
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‘Trump slump’ hits tourism in 2025
With an upcoming FIFA World Cup being staged across the nation, 2026 was supposed to be a bumper year for tourism to the United States, driven in part by hordes of arriving soccer fans. And yet, the U.S. tourism industry is worried. While the rest of...
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Movement fights mental health crisis
AT TOP: Poor mental health among teens and young adults has become a growing crisis. Jayla Cole never experienced the carefree teenage years. She could not get a driver’s license because of epilepsy and frequent seizures. She didn’t want to take...
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Sports fans react
Sports fans who traveled to Greenville for March Madness are raving about the city online. Recently, Greenville hosted the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament and the SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. In a social media...
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Red Flag Fire Alert issued for state
A statewide Red Flag Fire Alert has been issued by the South Carolina Forestry Commission on Tuesday, March 24. The alert does not prohibit outdoor burning when other state and local regulations are adhered to, but the commission strongly discourages...
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Does Graham have enough support to win a fifth term?
Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham is under fire from progressive South Carolinians and national Republicans alike over his push for the war in Iran. Graham, a senator from Central, has represented South Carolina in the U.S. Senate since January 2003. On...
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MARCH MADNESS FAN ZONE BRINGS BIG CROWDS
The Furman University area was packed with fans coming to Fan Zone and the games on March 19. As part of March Madness, the Greenville GameDay Fan Zone was in the Upstate March 19 & 21. The event was outside the Bon Secours Wellness Area in downtown...
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LOSE IT ALL’
Almost one year ago today, Katrina Martinez and her husband, Jeff, had to evacuate from their Table Rock home in fear of a raging forest fire. On March 21, 2025, fires engulfed Table Rock Mountain along with Persimmon Ridge. In the largest wildfire in...
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AI school flips learning on its head
Matt Shenker recently witnessed a group of fourth and fifth graders at Alpha School Scottsdale doing what he said boys that age do: calling each other fat and making jokes at each other’s expense. At most schools, a teacher or staff member would step...
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Concert series at NOMA Square returns
Greenville officials announced the return of Piedmont Natural Gas Downtown Alive and Greenville Heritage Main Street Fridays, live music events that will be held each week at the north end of Main Street. Proceeds from Downtown Alive will serve as the...
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SCDOT: Growth challenging road improvements
South Carolina Secretary of Transportation Justin Powell told a group of Spartanburg area business people on March 16 that the state’s fastest-in-thenation growth will likely present challenges for road planners, traffic engineers, and motorists for...
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Community leaders honor Betty Farr’s support
A Greenville businesswoman and beloved philanthropist is being remembered for her passion for the arts and her commitment to the wellbeing of children. Betty Farr died on March 12 at the age of 92. She was a supporter of numerous local organizations...
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‘We’ll see you in Philly!’
Fans decked out in purple streamed into the Timmons Arena on March 15, erupting in cheers as the Furman University Men’s Basketball team strode onto the court. “Go Furman go,” the marching band yelled to greet the team. More than 200 fans and...
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