In recognition of National Heart Month and in conjunction with the Go Red movement promoting heart disease awareness, Columbia will host the third-annual Jump Start Your Heart Day Party this Saturday, February 21, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Finlay Park. The free community event will feature a wideContinue Reading
The cursed door no longer seals the mausoleum By Tom Poland, A Southern WriterTomPoland.net A road down Edisto Island way will take you past green swamps and oaks dripping with Spanish moss and shanties with bright, sky-blue doors. Churches white as egg whites line the road. Hauntings live there. AsContinue Reading
A minor earthquake shook the Irmo area around 6:45 p.m. on Friday the 13th, triggering a surge of 911 calls and prompting questions about the safety of the Dreher Shoals Dam. According to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, the quake registered a magnitude 2.8 and occurred approximately twoContinue Reading
The annual Black History Month Scavenger Hunt launched February 1 and is now underway across the Midlands. The free, self-guided experience invites residents, families, students, and visitors to explore Columbia and surrounding communities while learning about local Black history, culture, and community impact through a digital platform on the SodaContinue Reading
Richland County Sheriff’s Department Chaplains play key role within the department and throughout the community By W. Thomas Smith Jr. The Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) has for decades maintained a viable corps of chaplains, officially the RCSD Chaplaincy Program (spiritual caregivers who serve the needs of those within theContinue Reading
Community members are invited to take part in the 2026 Walk, Run & Roll on March 22 from 2–5 p.m. at Canalside in Columbia, an inclusive event supporting brain injury survivors and their families — including veterans impacted by service-related traumatic brain injuries. Organizers say many individuals in the communityContinue Reading
As measles cases continue to rise in South Carolina, Prisma Health has implemented additional protective measures across its hospitals, effective February 5, to help safeguard patients, visitors and staff. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), South Carolina currently has the nation’s largest measles outbreak. New SafetyContinue Reading
The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) will host a drop-in public meeting Tuesday, February 17, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the DoubleTree hotel, 2100 Bush River Road in Columbia, to discuss Phase 3C of the Carolina Crossroads Project. The multiphase Carolina Crossroads initiative is designed to reconfigure andContinue Reading
By Tom Poland, A Southern WriterTomPoland.net Cell phones are a big deal but to some of us the transistor was an even bigger deal. I was disobeying my parents staying up late (school night) in my bedroom listening to clear channel WLS in Chicago over a transistor radio. I wasContinue Reading
The Crooked Creek Art League’s Feb. 16 meeting will feature clay sculpture artist Diane Gilbert, who will present “Cheminement.” Gilbert’s sculptural work is inspired by the natural world, where mosquitoes can be just as fascinating as monkeys and snakes. Her clay creatures—both large and small—emerge from a lifelong curiosity aboutContinue Reading
Columbia took a major step toward shaping the future of its riverfront at the Dec. 16 City Council meeting, approving a professional services contract with Field Operations LLC to lead planning and design of a comprehensive master plan for the Riverfront District and a schematic design for a new RiverfrontContinue Reading
By Jennifer Tardy Recipe of the Week: One-Pot White Bean Stew When the weather turns chilly and time is short, this one-pot white bean stew is a reliable go-to. It’s comforting, nourishing, and easy to prepare—perfect for a simple weeknight dinner and just as satisfying reheated for lunch the nextContinue Reading
Stamp collectors and history enthusiasts alike are invited to attend the Columbia Philatelic Society’s fall/winter stamp show, scheduled for Friday, Feb. 13, and Saturday, Feb. 14, in West Columbia. The show will be held at the Tri-City Leisure Center, located at 485 Brooks Avenue, the same venue used for theContinue Reading
The Jasper Project has announced the roster of Midlands-area visual artists selected to participate in Jasper’s Degenerate Art Project II, to be held February 11–28 at Stormwater Studios, 413 Pendleton Street in Columbia’s Congaree Vista. A total of 43 artists were chosen by a panel of artists and Jasper ProjectContinue Reading
S.C. Military Veterans Hall of Fame recognized in a concurrent resolution by the S.C.House and Senate By Chris Carter The South Carolina Military Veterans Hall of Fame was formally recognized and honored in a concurrent resolution adopted by the S.C. General Assembly, Tuesday, February 3, 2026. A portion of theContinue Reading
By Tom Poland, A Southern WriterTomPoland.net He was charismatic and a lightning rod for trouble. He was a roadie for the Allman Brothers Band. What little I know of his life tells me one thing: his is a movie in the waiting. Twiggs Lyndon. Too bad he’s dead. In 1974Continue Reading