City Council approves funds for Canal repairs
The Columbia City Council approved almost $5 million for repairs to the historic Columbia Canal, WIS reports. The funds will be used to address damage to the Canal by last year's historic flooding. Planning the repairs took time because the wall that floodwater broke through has to be both repaired and strengthened to avoid future incidents. The rest of the money for the repairs, which will cost $100 million in total, will mainly come from federal funds.
- Compiled by Mary Ramsey
South Carolina unemployment rate hits 15-year low
The unemployment rate in South Carolina fell again based on July's job numbers, The Post and Courier reports. The rate fell from 5.6 percent to 5.4 percent, a 15-year low in the Palmetto State. However, the Palmetto State is still above the national average, which sits at 4.9 percent. The Lowcountry had the lowest regional unemployment.
- Compiled by Mary Ramsey
Local church hosts community relations forum
Columbia's Second Nazareth Baptist Church hosted a forum to discuss the relationship between local police and the community, WLTX reports. Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin and Police Chief Skip Holbrook were among those who participated in the panel. Pastors at the church said they wanted to provide a safe space for the community to discuss how they can prevent incidents in the future.
- Compiled by Mary Ramsey