Anderson County Council on Tuesday gave unanimous and final approval to a measure to protect waterways from runoff and pollution. All properties of 50 acres or less will require a riparian zone of 50 feet buffer and properties of greater than 50 acres a 100-foot buffer. A riparian zone is the transitional area between a body of water and the surrounding land. It's essentially the area where terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems meet, influencing both the soil, vegetation, and overall environment. River/stream banks and flood plains are among the areas impacted by the new ordinance.

One of the biggest annual tournaments at Green Pond Landing and Events Center will bring as many as 400 anglers to Anderson beginning Thursday for the Association of Collegiate Anglers 20th Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship.

This no-entry-fee competition, set for Thursday and Friday, will crown a national champion from the 200 teams in competition and distribute more than $30,000 in prizes. Triple points will also be awarded towards the prestigious Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia.

The three-story, 134,621-square-foot facility, is being built on 46-acres off S.C. 153 near Easley. Construction on the hospital, made possible by $100 million in state funds, is expected to take approximately two years. The new location is licensed for 112 beds and will replace Prisma’s 65-bed Marshall I. Pickens Hospital, which was built in 1969.

The Civic Center of Anderson will host the Great Anderson County Yard Sale and Food Truck Rally Saturday from 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. with all proceeds benefiting programs and services in Anderson County.

The public is invited to this family-friendly event where visitors will be able to explore hundreds of yard sale booths and sample and dine with fare from some favorite local food trucks.

Anderson County officials were recently notified of a scam operation wherein a customer of the Planning Department received fraudulent invoices via email with instructions to wire payment to a particular web address.

The scam emails originated from an address with a “@usa.com” domain. Authentic emails from Anderson County will be from an “@andersoncountysc.org” domain. The Planning Department does not ask for wired transfers as payments.

Council meets at 6:30 p.m. in the historic courthouse downtown. Full agenda should be available tomorrow.

Distribution of vouchers will be held at the Anderson County Famers Market from 8-10 a.m. on the following dates:

Iva Farmers Market - June 4

Anderson Farmers Market - June 5

Belton Farmers Market - June 6

the bill has drawn criticism and worry from student advocates and congressional Democrats over how the proposed changes would impact higher education affordability and access.

The proposal in the U.S. House would allocate $5 billion a year in tax credits for people donating to organizations that provide private and religious school scholarships and is baked into the Ways and Means Committee’s piece of a massive reconciliation package to fund President Donald Trump’s priorities.

Issuing their third ruling on abortion since 2022, justices unanimously decided state law’s definition of “fetal heartbeat” — the sound of which makes an abortion illegal — applies to when an ultrasound first detects cardiac activity.

Attorneys for Planned Parenthood argued the ban that took effect in August 2023 should apply at nine weeks rather than six, since the heart doesn’t actually form until roughly the ninth week of pregnancy.

One of America’s aviation pioneers may be more famous for her international contributions to flight, but she’s also likely one of the key reasons Anderson County moved to build a more modern airport.

Anderson School District Five’s free Summer Lunch Program will run from May 27-July 18 for any child aged 18 or under. Meals are provided without regard to race, color, sex, age, disability, religion or national origin or free and reduced meal price status.

Anderson School District Five and Culinary Services will provide an average of 2,300 meals per day as part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Summer Feeding Program.

Councilmen Kyle Newton, Luis Martinez, Greg Steele and Councilwoman Bea Thompson voted against the measure.

Anderson County is combining Dolly Cooper Park’s two largest annual events for a day-long series of activities, with the Saluda River Rally and Rhythm on the River scheduled for June 7.

It’s Mother’s Day, a time to honor our mothers who are still with us or remember the ones who have gone on before us. For some of us, this is good, but not so much for others.

Mother’s Day is one of those strange holidays where many folks set aside a few hours to have lunch with their mom, or devote an hour on the phone if miles between are too great.

But it’s also a time that offers too brief moment to properly acknowledge the never-ending role of motherhood.

AnMed Health’s 21st annual Teddy Bear Clinic on Saturday served not only as a children's introduction to doctors and nurses, but as a community open house for the new Piedmont facility.

Families lined up to visit the event, some with stuffed animals in hand while others were given a teddy bear, to demystify doctor and hospital visits for children (and their parents) through a series of activities and displays offering simulation of medical procedures with the teddy bear, or other stuffed animal as the patient.

The legislation, H.3276, passed the House and Senate earlier this year and sent the final version to McMaster last week. Those in violation of the law face a $100 fine for a first offense, and other infractions within a three-year period would cost them $200 and two points on their motor vehicle record.

A 180-day warning period would begin Sept. 1, during tickets would not be issued.

Anderson County is one of seven counties in South Carolina to close offices Friday to mark Confederate Memorial Day, S.C. is one of seven Southern states that still hold a day for the memorial. It is only an official holiday in three states.

It’s a good time to reflect upon and study the history surrounding the reasons for the continued support for the day, a uniquely American holiday, particularly in the South.

Though statues in general have largely lost their place as a public tribute, Confederate statues still dot town squares across the South, where more than 700 statues and memorials reside, including the one on the courthouse square in Anderson. Workers installed the Confederate memorial in downtown Anderson in 1902.

In 2022, the S.C. Senate passed a bill that would make Juneteenth a floating holiday, but it died in the S.C. House. In March 2022, the Senate also passed a bill that would allow public employees to choose Juneteenth as a paid holiday, but the House sent it to a committee where it died without a hearing.

The vote means data centers also will continue receiving sales tax credits for the computer equipment they purchase.

Utilities’ efficiency programs won’t be held to a set standard in terms of energy savings.

And power companies won’t be required to give landowners an earlier notice when construction of power plants, power lines, substations and pipelines impact their property.

The vote was not along party lines. The “no” votes came from three Democrats and eight Republicans