Winter storm leaves thousands without power
Power outage reports dropped to 89,148 cases this weekend, down from the 346,000 reported cases Thursday morning, The State reported.
Over the weekend, utility crews worked to restore power and assess damages across the state. Several thousand homes were without power in Aiken County as of Sunday, according to S.C. E & G; Orangeburg and Lexington County also saw outages, but no power was still lost in Richland and Kershaw counties.
In Aiken, one of the hardest hit areas in the state, National Guard soldiers helped with debris cleanup, after storm-caused debris was left on roads, fields and property.
Eight shelters now housing 88 people remained open through the weekend. Feeding operations in Georgetown and Berkeley counties were supported by the Red Cross, Salvation Army and Southern Baptist Convention.
Police chief hopefuls contested by City Council
Hiring Columbia’s next police chief has proven to be a hotly contested task for the City Council, according to The State.
On Tuesday, City Council will once again debate the five candidates for the position; Tuesday is also the day the finalists will begin the three-day interview process.
Two city councilors said the search should not be taking place since the list of finalists was not up to snuff.
“I’m extremely concerned over who the next police chief is, and I’m not overly impressed with who is on the list,” said Councilman Brian DeQuincey Newman.
A search committee appointed by City Manager Teresa Wilson selected the five finalists who were chosen from a pool of 49 applicants.
Those being considered for the position have leadership experience in law enforcement agencies in South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and the Air Force.
Black candidates set statewide record
Seven African-American candidates in South Carolina are running for state offices in this year’s election, a record number according to The State.
Though some candidates could be knocked out in the primary elections this June, at least three will continue to the general election in November. These numbers could beat out the two black candidates who ran and lost in 2002.
These candidates are running for positions of all levels, from U.S. senate down to county board of education.
All three candidates in the U.S. Senate race — Tim Scott, Rick Wade and Joyce Dickerson — are black, meaning the elected official will be black.
An African-American candidate has not been elected to a statewide office in South Carolina since 1872 when Richard Howell Gleaves was voted lieutenant governor. Gleaves was South Carolina’s second and last black lieutenant governor.