Author: Staff

Area mayors Knox White from Greenville and Jerome Rice from Spartanburg joined North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper and U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in a significant discussion recently. During the meeting, President Biden listened carefully as South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster provided updates on the state’s response to a disaster. Senator Lindsey Graham appeared enthusiastic as he spoke to the president. Biden and McMaster shared moments of agreement, with McMaster occasionally nodding along to Biden’s comments. At one point, the president playfully slapped McMaster on the shoulder, indicating a friendly rapport between them. After about 17 minutes of talks,…

Prisma Health-Upstate Foundation has launched a new initiative aimed at raising funds and awareness for important health services in the community. This campaign, called the OneDay campaign, kicked off at an event on November 19 at Hugenot Mill in downtown Greenville. The OneDay campaign encourages community members to take action and support health services that can make a significant impact on people’s lives. One of the key goals is to gather funds for a new $138 million inpatient behavioral health hospital in Pickens County, which is designed to meet the growing demand for mental health services in the Upstate. The…

A new tax increment financing (TIF) district for Laurens Road has taken a significant step forward. The board of trustees for Greenville County Schools voted in favor of the city of Greenville’s Laurens Road Redevelopment Plan during a recent meeting, with an 8-4 vote. This initiative covers approximately 223 acres along Laurens Road, stretching from Haywood Road to Verdae Boulevard. The Greenville City Council previously approved the redevelopment plan in mid-October. A 45-day period for public comments is currently open, allowing various governing bodies—including the city, Greenville County, and the school district—to weigh in on the proposal. On November 5,…

Here’s a summary of the Greenville County Council meeting held on November 5th. Second Approval: Multiple Tax Incentives The council approved a second reading for several tax incentive measures related to various economic development projects across the county. This includes resolutions for a $19.6 million project from Southpoint Commerce Center LLC, which will develop 23 acres of land with five industrial buildings, each ranging from 25,000 to 100,000 square feet, located near the South Carolina Technology and Aviation Center. In addition to this, the council is looking at projects that anticipate an investment of over $509 million, which would create…

Greenville, S.C. – The Poinsettia Christmas Parade in Greenville has been nominated as one of the top holiday parades in the USA TODAY’s 10Best contest. For more than 75 years, this parade has marked the start of the Christmas season in downtown Greenville, featuring colorful floats, lively dance groups, and performances from local bands. Residents and visitors can show their support by voting for the Poinsettia Christmas Parade once a day until the voting period ends on Monday, December 2, at noon. This is a great opportunity for the community to come together and celebrate this cherished holiday tradition.

Construction has started on a new industrial park in southern Greenville County, named SouthPoint Commerce Center. This $23 million project will feature six buildings with sizes ranging from 15,000 to 80,000 square feet, offering both warehouse and flexible spaces. The industrial park is situated on 25 acres close to the South Carolina Technology and Aviation Center, specifically at 812 and 820 Antioch Church Road. In September, Boyett Properties Inc., a real estate developer based in Greenville, began the groundwork for this ambitious project. Several companies, including KEEL Concepts, CBRE, The Pentreath Co., and SeamonWhiteside, are collaborating on this venture. The…

COWPENS, S.C. – Three family members have been taken into custody by the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office after concerns were raised about the living conditions at a residence in Cowpens last week. Authorities were contacted by the Department of Social Services regarding what they described as “deplorable living conditions” at a home located on Old Johnson Road, where five children were reportedly found. Heather Crutchfield, the biological mother of the children, along with their maternal grandparents, Bridget and Rodney Hickman, have been charged with five counts of unlawfully placing a child at risk. Additionally, law enforcement noted that Heather Crutchfield…

The Upcountry History Museum in downtown Greenville is excited to welcome back “White Christmas — The Exhibition” for the second time in just four years. This special showcase offers visitors a glimpse into the beloved 1954 holiday film that features stars like Rosemary Clooney, Bing Crosby, Vera-Ellen, and Danny Kaye. Heather French Henry from the Rosemary Clooney House explained that the exhibition was first displayed during the COVID-19 pandemic when many events were put on hold. The positive response from that showing encouraged the museum to bring it back now that things have returned to normal. Visitors to the exhibition…

Lawmakers in Louisiana are considering a significant change to the state constitution regarding how juvenile offenders are sentenced. Recently, Senate Bill 2 was passed in the state Senate with a vote of 28-9 and is now headed to the House of Representatives for further discussion. If this bill becomes law, it would eliminate certain limitations on sentencing young offenders. This means that minors could find themselves in adult jails for less serious crimes, such as theft, which is currently not the norm under Louisiana law. At present, only a limited number of violent crimes can lead to juvenile offenders being…

In a recent statement, Phil Ford, a consultant for the group Priority Six, expressed concerns about the current state of governance in South Carolina. He noted that Republican lawmakers appear to be selecting their voters instead of allowing the public to choose their representatives through elections. The political landscape in the Upstate region is shifting, and Democratic leaders are seizing the moment to pursue ambitious objectives that once seemed impossible. While state legislative elections can be challenging to predict, Kathryn Harvey’s campaign for Congress stands out, having raised significantly more funds than typical Democratic candidates. Among the nine legislative campaigns…