Leaders to gather to help plan Midlands’ future

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — People from around the Midlands are getting together to map out a possible future for a region that is expected to grow by roughly 450,000 people in the next 30 years. About 300 community leaders are gathering Tuesday at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center for Midlands Reality Check Game Day. Participants are using tools including large-scale, regional maps to project where jobs, housing and transportation should develop to sustain the area’s prosperity. On Thursday, participants and the public are invited to hear an analysis of the exercise and participate in live polling to rank the findings and discuss the proposed vision.