Newberry students arrested for bomb threat
Two Newberry High School students have been charged with phoning in a bomb threat at their school on Monday, WIS reports.
Tuesday afternoon, 17-year-old Daisha Kibler and a 16-year-old were taken into custody, and the Sheriff’s Office says more arrests are possible.
The school received a bomb threat around 10:54 a.m. Monday. First responders, bomb searching experts and district officials were called to the school just before noon.
A search of the school did not reveal any evidence of danger, according to sheriff’s deputies. While officers said the threat didn’t appear to be substantiated, they acted with caution in order to ensure the safety of students, faculty and staff.
Once the school was deemed all clear, it was reopened around 1:30 p.m., about two hours after it was evacuated.
— Compiled by Amanda Coyne, Assistant News Editor
State Senate passes open gun carry bill
South Carolina gun owners may soon be able to carry their weapons in public without a concealed weapons permit, the Associated Press reports.
A Senate panel has passed a bill that would allow open gun carrying in the Palmetto State.
Supporters of the bill plan to work on it some more before it goes before the Senate Judiciary Committee in April. They said they want to make sure the bill won’t have any loopholes.
Gun supporters who attended the hearing on the bill said having a concealed weapons permit is unnecessary, since the Constitution gives Americans the right to bear arms.
This is the latest in a few gun measures in the South Carolina State House this legislative term. An earlier bill was proposed, allowing concealed weapons permit holders to bring their guns to places that serve alcohol.
— Compiled by Amanda Coyne, Assistant News Editor
Trader Joe’s to open on Forest Drive Friday
Local foodies will soon have a tough decision to make: which hip grocery store chain to patronize.
Columbia’s first Trader Joe’s store is set to open Friday at 4502 Forest Drive and offers similar fare to Whole Foods, which recently opened its first Columbia location on Cross Hill Road. Both offer organic, fair trade and specialty foods in addition to traditional grocery options.
Trader Joe’s is considered a cheaper alternative to Whole Foods. The store keeps prices down by getting its products straight from vendors and packing the shelves with store-brand items. The Columbia “store captain” told The State that about 80 percent of the grocery chain’s items are Trader Joe’s brand.
The store-brand foods also uphold Trader Joe’s healthy image. None have MSG, artificial trans-fats, genetically modified ingredients or artificial colors, flavors or preservatives, according to The State.
— Compiled by Amanda Coyne, Assistant News Editor