News
Parents notified amid reports that SC school land was once a waste disposal site
2+ hour, 24+ min ago (753+ words) Reports of contaminated land at a new elementary school have caught the attention of a South Carolina school district, which says it is notifying parents about the matter and will work with state regulators to learn more. The Darlington County…...
Weather makes multiple Midlands school districts shift plans on Monday classes
6+ day, 2+ hour ago (407+ words) Some school districts in the Midlands have announced changes to schedules for Monday with the threat of severe weather in the forecast for the Columbia area of South Carolina. The primary threat on Monday is damaging winds, with gusts up…...
The State wins 39 awards for journalistic excellence. Late political writer enshrined
2+ week, 23+ hour ago (382+ words) Journalists with The State were recognized by the S.C. Press Association for their work in 2025, bringing home 39 awards, including first place accolades for staff writers Zak Koeske, Jordan Kaye, Chris Trainor and Bristow Marchant, and visual journalists Tracy Glantz and Josh…...
Why principal of Lexington’s highest-rated school is stepping down, and what’s next
2+ week, 3+ day ago (626+ words) After more than a decade at Lexington's River Bluff High School, Principal Jacob Smith is stepping away. The Lexington 1 school district announced Smith's departure on Tuesday, 13 years after he started as an assistant principal when the district's newest high school…...
How much did Lexington 2 school board spend on travel last year? Here’s the data
2+ week, 3+ day ago (417+ words) Last year, the Lexington 2 school board spent a little more than $7,300 on travel to conferences. Six members of the seven-person board traveled to in-state conferences in 2025, according to documents provided through a public records request. One member of the school…...
Why did Irmo High School band never receive $30K in funding?
2+ week, 4+ day ago (530+ words) What happened to $30,000 that was supposed to go to the Irmo High School band? Irmo Band Booster Club President Beth LoPresti told the Lexington-Richland 5 school board at its Feb. 23 meeting that the supplemental money that band parents depend on was…...
Why did Midlands school board member go to Texas? What expense reports show
3+ week, 2+ day ago (524+ words) Travel expenses for one Midlands school district showed that board members went as far as Texas on school district business last year. The State received copies of school board members" expenses for 2025 through a Freedom of Information request, and the…...
Want a better job in SC? These 11 companies in state among best employers in US, Forbes says
3+ week, 4+ day ago (314+ words) Five South Carolina companies were recently listed as best large company employers by Forbes magazine. Six South Carolina companies were listed in the mid-sized company ranking. "As the state's flagship university, the University of South Carolina uses its more than…...
Meet The State’s new service journalism reporter, Damian Bertrand
1+ mon, 1+ week ago (424+ words) How's it going, Columbia? I'm The State's new service journalism reporter. I grew up in Southern California, where I ate at In-N-Out Burger every week and surfed in my free time. After completing my sophomore year of high school in…...