For the Piedmont section of South Carolina, the hot, dry summer has become the warm and even drier fall. Much of the Upstate is in a prolonged drought. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor , counties in the northwestern area of the state are actually in a severe or extreme drought brought on by almost no appreciable rain, and above average temperature for months. State officials are concerned about the dry conditions. Firefighters have been working for days to contain a wildfire which has

The recent Ron Howard documentary film “The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years” highlights the cultural phenomenon of Beatlemania in the 1960s. The movie captures America’s excitement as John, Paul, George and Ringo stormed the country at the forefront of the most popular musical revolution of the century, the British Invasion. Columbia Beatles fan Jerry Davis was more excited than most, because the major motion picture contains footage he owns of the Beatles’ visit to Detroit in

More than a year after South Carolina’s historic flood, crisis counselors from the state Department of Mental Health’s Carolina United program continue to find and help flood victims. But hearing the woes of thousands of victims over a long period can have detrimental effects on the counselors as well, sometimes producing stress or depression. But the agency has foreseen that possibility and built into the program help for counselors who can become overwhelmed by the magnitude of suffering they

At the end of a busy strip mall, a line is weaving out the door. The Marion County Administrative Office is home to "Team South Carolina" -- a one-day event striving to connect local flood victims with recovery services. More than ten agencies, government and non-profit are organized at the back offering forms, brochures, and advice. Many here are from Nichols, one of the hardest hit towns by the flood that followed Hurricane Matthew. For most, it's the first step towards long-term recovery.

As society becomes more dependent on technology, from smart phones to driver-less cars, the need for security has grown, and not just for financial institutions. The University of South Carolina and Gov. Nikki Haley recently announced the formation of SC Cyber , a coalition of educators, industry and government designed to protect information and anticipate the problems posed by new uses of technology.