Keith Olbermann suspended from ESPN after insulting tweet about Penn State
Keith Olbermann has been suspended from ESPN for the rest of the week after making an insulting comment toward Penn State students on Twitter, The State reported.
A Penn State alum tweeted at Olbermann "We Are!" along with a link to an article about students raising over $13 million to fight pediatric cancer. Olbermann replied by tweeting "...Pitiful."
The network released a statement saying that Olbermann's comment was inappropriate and did not reflect the views of ESPN. They added that Olbermann recognized that he was wrong and agreed to being off air for a week.
Olbermann apologized on Twitter, saying that he was referring to Penn State in general and not the students who fundraised. He congratulated the students on their efforts in his apology. Olbermann will be returning to ESPN on Monday.
— Madeleine Collins, Assistant News Editor
Jeb Bush to visit South Carolina in March
Jeb Bush is returning to South Carolina in March, The State reported. This is the first time he has visited South Carolina since announcing his run for the presidency in December.
Bush is planning to attend a breakfast for the Upstate Chamber Coalition on March 17. The next day he will attend a fundraiser in Columbia for the South Carolina House GOP. He will also be attending private events while in the state.
South Carolina is the first presidential primary state in the south.
Bush, former governor of Florida, is the son of former President George H.W. Bush and brother of former president George W. Bush. Jeb Bush has supported Nikki Haley’s election campaigns for governor and she has sought his advice while serving in this position.
— Brandon Waltz, Assistant News Editor
Lexington school district students put into shelters due to chemical spill
Lexington School District Two put students into shelters as a precaution after a tanker truck crashed in the area, according to The State.
The truck was carrying isobutyl acetate, which is a chemical used as a thinning agent in the manufacture of sealants and lacquers. It is also used in making perfumes and as a flavoring agent.
However, isobutyl is highly flammable. The vapors, if inhaled, can cause coughing, sore throat, dizziness, headache and loss of consciousness.
A contractor for the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) said that only a small amount leaked and that the material has been contained.
The decision to shelter the students was made by DHEC and local law enforcement.
— Madeleine Collins, Assistant News Editor