Threatening text message heightens school security
A threatening text message sent from a former South Carolina Republican Party executive to a Lexington teacher has led Irmo High School to increase security and police to investigate, WIS reported.
On the same day that Irmo High School was evacuated due to smoke in the building, an unnamed teacher received a message reading, “I’m about to burn Lexington-Richland District 5 to the ground,” from attorney Todd Kincannon.
Officials learned of the text message shortly before the school was evacuated after someone found smoke coming from a vent. The incident was caused by a motor in a heating and air conditioning unit and not related to the text message.
Kincannon denied sending the text, saying is phone had been hacked, and said he was “certainly never going to burn district schools or buildings down.”
—Amanda Coyne, Assistant News Editor
New poll shows increase in popularity for Haley
South Carolina residents currently favor President Barack Obama over Gov. Nikki Haley, according to a poll from Winthrop University.
Obama’s approval rate came in at 47.6 percent, only four percentage points lower than his national approval rating. However, 46.5 percent of South Carolinians disapproved of the president.
Haley’s approval rating has risen to 43.7 percent from 34.6 percent in December 2011. Her disapproval rating is 39.1 percent. Winthrop reported that Haley’s most recent numbers before this month’s poll were “nearly even” between approval and disapproval.
Tea party membership is down in the notably red state; the percentage of voters in South Carolina identifying with the movement dropped from about 10 percent in December 2012 to 6 percent currently.
South Carolinians also expressed concern with state and federal government, with a majority approving of neither.
—Amanda Coyne, Assistant News Editor
Charlotte possible host of 2024 Olympic games
Charlotte could be hosting the Summer Olympics in 2024, WBTV reports.
The United States Olympic Committee has asked Anthony Foxx, the city’s mayor, if Charlotte would be interested.
Charlotte is one of 35 cities that have been asked about their interest in hosting the games.
While some of the cities may be automatically eliminated due to requirements like 45,000 available hotel rooms, Charlotte shouldn’t have to worry. An audit conducted after the Democratic National Convention shows that 61,246 hotel room nights were used.
The committee hasn’t decided whether to pursue a bid from Charlotte, but has already started choosing which cities to pursue. It will have to determine the city for the United States’ bid in two years, and the International Olympic Committee will choose the city that will host the 2024 games in 2017.
—Amanda Coyne, Assistant News Editor