The proposed $278 million budget represents an increase of $43 million over the current year’s budget. While it is likely, council has yet to confirm any potential tax increase.

The City of Anderson Public Works Division will begin repair a crosswalk in front of 315 North Main Street beginning Monday. The street will be closed to thru traffic between Federal St and Orr St through Thursday. 

The return of the rebooted Anderson Soirée was greeted by good weather and big crowds Friday and Saturday. The return of the festival also saw a big boost in the participation of local artists and vendors who filled downtown.

On Friday night, when the Anderson County Museum, the home to the fountain since 2002, the lights on the icon blazed to life at a 9 p.m. ceremony on the edge of downtown.

With her election, and thanks to the party's recent revamp of its primary schedule, four of the five states in which Democrats will vote first next year — Georgia, Michigan, Nevada and South Carolina — now have Black women chairing their state parties.

“This budget is a work in progress,” said Anderson County Council Vice Chairman Brett Sanders, who chairs the finance committee. “We had a very good meeting Thursday, but we still have a long way to go.”

A 22-21 vote Thursday marks the third time a near-total abortion ban has failed in the Republican-led chamber since the U.S. Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade last summer. Six Republicans helped block motions to end debate and defeated any chance the bill passes this year.

As many as 440 junior and high school teams are expected to compete. Each two-angler team is accompanied by a coach who runs the boat and can give advice on fishing techniques and patterns.

The bill passed on a 79-35 vote with a few Republicans joining Democrats to vote against the proposal. After one more routine vote the bill heads to Gov. Henry McMaster, who has promised to sign it into law.

Downtown Anderson’s signature festival is set Friday from 4:15-9 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m.-9 p.m., with music, food, arts and crafts and other activities closing off Main Street from Federal Street to John Street.

The South Carolina Senate is gearing up for a final vote on a near-total abortion ban that the Republican-controlled chamber has repeatedly rejected over the past year.

"The presence of such eyesores has been a real hazard for these communities," said Anderson County Council Chairman Tommy Dunn. "We work hard to provide funding to clean up our county, and now residents in the area will finally be able to say goodbye to the depilated structures."

Games, demonstrations and hands-on activities and story time were part of the day.

Despite the early rain, an estimated crowd of more than 3,000 visited Belton for Saturday's event, which also featured music, events for kids and a car show.

Spring brings baby goats to the Anderson County farm, which has gained a reputation around the world for its feta cheese, one of many products offered.

Kern, 55, of Anderson, was the managing partner of Upstate Law Group law firm, and from approximately 2012-2021, used her law firm to facilitate a fraudulent scheme involving illegal assignment of veterans’ benefits. Victims of the scheme lost more than $31 million.

The Senate plan spends $166 million to give state workers a $2,500 bump in their base pay if they make less than $50,000 and a 5% raise if they make more than $50,000. The House's budget for fiscal year 2023-24 spends $42 million less. Workers making less than $83,000 would get a $2,500 raise and those making more would get a 3% pay bump.

Funding for roads and bridges has been lacking for decades in the county, which has 1,534 miles of county roads, and the new proposal would generate an estimated $30 million annually. The additional funds would be used exclusively for roads and could not be transferred into other parts of the budget. Other ideas such as a vehicle fee, which could raise $3 million per year were rejected in favor of asking voters to approve a penny tax.

A series of other litter pickup events are also going on in the county this week and beyond. For details on efforts to combat litter in Anderson County, visit CleanAnderson.org

Brennan took home both a trophy and a check for $10,000.