Local News

Columbia Mayor to Host Drills and Skills

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO)– Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin and the City of Columbia Parks and Recreation will host a press conference to announce the 8th Annual Drills & Skills Clinics for youth ages 6-13. “Drills and Skills has become an exciting tradition for our young leaders, and it represents the investment we are willing to make in their development,” said Mayor…

Body of Missing Benedict Student Found in Pond, Officials Say

LANCASTER, SC (WOLO)- The Lancaster County Coroner’s Office confirmed the body found in a pond Saturday morning is that of a missing Benedict College Student. Jerell White, 22, was last seen at a Fourth of July party on Pleasant Road.  Deputies believe there was some kind of fight there and White left, walking down the road. The sheriff said the…

RCSD Saves Child After High Speed Chase

RICHLAND COUNTY, SC (WOLO)- A father is facing multiple charges after leading deputies on a high speed chase and putting his 2-year-old daughter in danger. The incident was capture on the A&E TV Show “Live PD,” on Saturday night. Deputies responded to the 1100 block of Furwood Circle and observed an SUV take off at a high rate of speed….

Lawsuit Says S. Carolina Prisons Ignore Inmate Rape Reports

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – Three inmates are suing the agencies that run South Carolina prisons, saying officials don’t do enough to try to stop sexual assaults behind bars. The inmates are asking that the lawsuit eventually include any inmate who has been sexually attacked behind bars since 2012. They want prisons to spend more money to protect inmates and compensate…

SC Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murder

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) _ A prosecutor says a man who strangled a woman in front of her 8-year-old great-granddaughter during a burglary has been sentenced to life in prison. Solicitor Dan Johnson said a Richland County jury found 44-year-old James Heyward guilty of murder, armed robbery, kidnapping and other charges in a six-day trial this week. Johnson says Heyward demanded…

Columbia Walmart Supercenter First in SC to Debut Pickup Tower

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO)- A Midlands Walmart unveiled a new feature that will make ordering online a lot easier for residents. The remodel of the Walmart Supercenter at 7520 Garners Ferry Road is complete and it’s the first store in South Carolina to debut the company’s new Pickup Tower technology. These 16-foot tall structures function like high-tech vending machines and can…

Ammonia Leak Caused Evacuation at Newberry County Plant

NEWBERRY, SC (WOLO)- An ammonia leak at the Louis Rich Plant in Newberry County caused the evacuation of 200 employees Saturday Morning. The employees that were evacuated to the Newberry County Detention Center parking lot have been cleared to return to the plant. Newberry County and City Fire units, Newberry County Haz Mat, along with Newberry City Police, Sheriff, EMS…