Atlanta Braves clinch 8th playoff berth in 9 years with victory over Astros
The Atlanta Braves beat the Houston Astros 6-2 Friday in Houston to clinch a playoff berth, their eighth in nine years.
Friday, September 18, 2026
196FIRST ALERT: Scattered rain, storms becoming more likely this weekend
WCSC's weather forecast reports scattered rain and thunderstorms likely across the Lowcountry this weekend, with a tropical system being monitored near the Azores.
SC Highway Patrol investigating fatal train, tractor-trailer collision in St. George
A tractor-trailer driver died Friday evening when a Norfolk Southern train struck his stopped truck at a railroad crossing near U.S. 78 and Byrd Farm Road in St.
New federal bill aims to ban wage garnishment for medical debt
A proposed federal law, the Protecting Workers' Wages from Medical Debt Act, would prohibit courts from garnishing paychecks to collect unpaid medical bills.
Cars replaced by art, music on Button Hall Avenue for Parking Day event
City officials and Goose Creek leaders used Button Hall Avenue in Charleston for a Friday Parking Day event featuring local vendors, music and food to gather community input on the street's future.
FIRST ALERT: Chance of tropical development is increasing with area over the Atlantic
The National Hurricane Center gives Invest 99-L an 80% chance of becoming a tropical system within 48 hours to 7 days, with the next name being Fay.
Portion of Maybank Highway reopened following closure due to a downed tree
A section of Maybank Highway in the 4700 block reopened Friday evening after Charleston County Sheriff's Office crews removed a downed tree that had closed the road.
DCSO responding to pedestrian vs vehicle collision
Dorchester County sheriff's deputies responded Friday night to a vehicle-pedestrian crash at the intersection of Orangeburg and Boone Hill roads, which remained closed for investigation.
Friday Night Rivals: Week 5 high school football scores
News 4's Friday Night Rivals reports Week 5 high school football scores across the Charleston area, including James Island's 24-14 win over Summerville and Richmond Hill's 35-7 victory at Wando.
5-year-old hit, killed walking home from school
A 5-year-old boy, Cooper Villano, was killed Thursday afternoon when a car struck him while walking home from school near Deer Run School in East Haven, Connecticut.
Fallen tree blocks part of Maybank Highway
A fallen tree blocked part of Maybank Highway in Charleston, South Carolina.
‘Devastating’: Grandparents, 2 grandchildren dead following house fire
Two grandparents and their two grandsons, ages 11 and 13, died in a Friday house fire in Fountain, Florida, and one sheriff's deputy was hospitalized for smoke inhalation.
Man who died after being run over in cemetery identified, arrests made
Two men face charges, including reckless homicide, in the death of 45-year-old Carl Kinley, who was run over under a cardboard box at a Louisville, Kentucky cemetery.
Construction worker hit and killed while working on the interstate, police say
A 27-year-old construction worker was killed Friday morning when a car struck him while he worked on Interstate 275 near Springdale, Ohio.
Train vs. vehicle crash closes portion of Highway 78: DCSO
A vehicle-train collision Friday evening closed part of Highway 78 near Gum Branch Road in St.
Finding Furever: Shining a light on pet adoptions in the Midlands
WIS Primetime produced a special program examining pet adoptions and foster care throughout the Midlands region of South Carolina.
Downed tree blocks portion of Maybank highway, officials say
St. Johns Fire Department and Charleston County Sheriff's Office crews are clearing a large tree from the 4700 block of Maybank Highway, which remains closed while awaiting Department of Transportation assistance.
Alternative certification program aims to help fill South Carolina teacher vacancies
A Columbia-based organization, Teachers of Tomorrow, uses alternative certification to place career changers as teachers in South Carolina, amid a statewide shortage that dropped vacancies 32% to 706 this year.
A look at 55 years of the Kennedy Center
A Gray News report traces the Kennedy Center's 55-year history, from Eisenhower's 1958 legislation through its 1971 opening, amid President Trump's dispute over the building's closure and his name on the facade.
‘It’s unimaginable’: Family speaks out after double homicide arrest in Sumter County
Doug Coker Jr. was arrested and charged in the double homicide of Melony Johnson and Lola Hurt, whose bodies were found outside their Sumter County home on Pudding Swamp Road.
Boy born with limb difference pursues sports dreams with help from Shriners Children’s
Zane, an 8-year-old born with a limb difference, is pursuing sports through devices made by Shriners Children's St.
Google internet safety roadshow teaches Midlands students digital citizenship
Google's Internet Safety Roadshow visited Blythewood Middle School in the Midlands, where students learned about passwords, scams, and online safety, with the program continuing at a Sumter school Monday.
Northwood’s Maliyah Birch commits to Flagler
Maliyah Birch, a Northwood Academy senior basketball player, committed to Flagler University, according to her Instagram announcement.
Charleston County names first female director of 911 center
Allyson Burrell has been named the first female director of Charleston County's 911 emergency communications center, effective Sept. 18, succeeding Jim Lake.
South Carolina hunters get extra doe tag, creating new opportunity to donate venison
The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources is giving hunters an extra antlerless deer tag for the 2026-27 season, allowing more doe harvests and creating opportunities to donate venison to local food banks through Cordray's processor in Ravenel.
New $5.8M Berkeley County public safety campus aims to get help to rural residents faster
Berkeley County opened a $5.8 million public safety campus in Bonneau, housing firefighters, EMS crews and sheriff's deputies to improve emergency response for northern county residents.
Murdaugh attorneys request further evidence ahead of Sumter retrial, accuses State of withholding evidence
Alex Murdaugh's lawyers filed a motion demanding South Carolina prosecutors release DNA, ballistics and crime-scene evidence before his April 2027 retrial in Sumter.
Boater rescued after becoming stuck on oyster bed in Dawhoo River
The Charleston County Sheriff's Office airboat rescued a dehydrated boater stranded for hours on an oyster bed in the Dawhoo River after the Coast Guard requested assistance.
Fire damages Botany Bay Boulevard home in North Charleston; four displaced
Four people were displaced Friday afternoon after a fire damaged a home on Botany Bay Boulevard in North Charleston, with no injuries or cause reported.
New North Berkeley public safety campus brings fire, EMS and law enforcement resources together
A new public safety campus in Bonneau houses the North Berkeley Fire District, Berkeley County EMS and a Sheriff's Office substation, plus a marine patrol boat for Lake Moultrie and the Santee River.
Early-morning fight devolves into triple shooting at Summerville restaurant
Summerville police are investigating a Friday-morning fight that turned into a shooting at the Carolina Ale House on Sigma Drive, leaving three people shot and hospitalized.
‘It’s truly emotional’: St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church to unveil historical marker and monument
St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church at 624 Rutledge Ave. in Charleston will unveil a historical marker and monument this weekend to honor the 1895 congregation built by freed slaves.
A menopause knowledge gap leaves many women with few answers
An InvestigateTV report finds that inadequate medical training and lack of standardized menopause education leave many women struggling to get proper diagnosis and treatment for menopause and perimenopause symptoms.
The Anesthesiologist’s Wife: What Cameras Caught Months Before Her Death
A Following Leads podcast examines home surveillance and body-camera footage from months before nurse Allie Hummel's 2026 death and interviews her family about efforts to help her leave her husband, Dr.
'This is a crime story': Putting polarizing politics aside to cover the killing of Charlie Kirk
Morgan Loew of Arizona's Family joins Laura Hettiger to discuss how journalists set aside politics to cover Charlie Kirk's murder and the Phoenix community's reaction.
Charleston reviews plans for Clements Ferry Road subdivisions, Parker’s Kitchen
Charleston's Technical Review Committee is reviewing plans for two subdivisions and a Parker's Restaurant on Clements Ferry Road as part of the Cainhoy Peninsula Development Plan.
Alex Murdaugh defense seeks DNA, ballistic data ahead of retrial
Alex Murdaugh's defense attorneys filed a motion requesting DNA evidence, ballistic records, and crime-scene laser scans from the state ahead of his April 2027 retrial in Sumter County.
Charleston-area councilman has sparse attendance record. Plus, SC athlete sues to play 5th year.
Three people were shot during a fight at Carolina Ale House in Summerville on Sept. 18, and all were taken to a hospital.
FIRST ALERT: Few showers/storms this weekend, better chances next week
A weather station in Columbia, South Carolina reports a weak cold front bringing a 40% chance of late-night storms, with continued showers through the week and cooler temperatures arriving Tuesday.
Car dealership fires 2 workers after racial slurs were printed on service stickers
A Wichita, Kansas Ford dealership fired two employees after a racial slur was printed on oil-change reminder stickers for four customers.
Coroner identifies body found in Beaufort County creek
The Beaufort County Coroner identified 32-year-old Calvin Armstrong of Beaufort as the body recovered Aug. 30 from Chowan Creek, and deputies separately found an unidentified body in the Broad River.
Dawn Staley honored with special-edition A’ja Wilson Nike shoe
A special-edition Nike basketball shoe honoring South Carolina coach Dawn Staley and South Carolina player A'ja Wilson went on sale Friday in Columbia, South Carolina.
SHR 25.39: On election safety, gas tax, storms, merger
Jack O’Toole and columnists Andy Brack and Frank Knapp discuss November election integrity, a possible gas tax increase and the NextEra-Dominion utility merger in the Sept. 18 Statehouse Report.
Several law enforcement vehicles reported at Carolina Ale House in Summerville Friday
Summerville police responded to the Carolina Ale House around 5 a.m.
2 charged after more than 80 dogs, cats rescued from hoarding situation
Two people in Lincoln County, Kentucky, were charged with animal cruelty after deputies rescued more than 80 dogs and cats from a home where they were kept in poor conditions.
Korean Air finalizes 103-jet Boeing order
Boeing and Korean Air finalized a 103-aircraft order, including 25 Dreamliners built at Boeing's North Charleston, South Carolina facility.
New Parker’s Kitchen proposed for Charleston’s growing Cainhoy area
Parker's Kitchen has submitted plans for a convenience store and gas station at 510 Everly St. along Clements Ferry Road, receiving a revise-and-return decision from Charleston's Technical Review Committee on Sept. 17.
Honoring a hero: Coast Guard ship named for 9/11 first responder arrives in Charleston
The U.S. Coast Guard ship USCGC Jeffrey Palazzo, named for a New York firefighter killed on 9/11, made its first port call Sept. 14 in Charleston Harbor before heading to Guam.
Community invited to make blankets for veterans during 9/11 remembrance event in North Charleston
Blankies 4 My Buddies Foundation is hosting a Sept. 20 blanket-making and service event at the former North Charleston Fire Museum to benefit homeless veterans through Project Street Outreach.
A region at a standstill: Resident survey takes aim at Lowcountry traffic
Mount Pleasant resident Christine Messick launched a Lowcountry traffic survey that has drawn more than 150 responses, aiming to spark regional conversation about congestion and growth ahead of a November transportation sales tax vote.
Man given third life sentence in Georgetown after shooting death
A Georgetown County jury convicted Ryan Woodruff, 33, of murdering 19-year-old Ty'Quez Walker at a tattoo session, sentencing him to life without parole while he was out on bond for two earlier family killings.
Wanted man arrested in connection with Georgetown shooting
Georgetown Police arrested Dy'Qarius Armstrong, 20, at a family member's home in the Choppee Community, charging him with attempted murder in a July 7 shooting on Butts Street.
Lindsay Clancy juror says no evidence showed anything other than a ‘loving, wonderful person’
A juror in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial told WJAR that deliberations revealed no evidence contradicting Clancy being a loving mother, following a mistrial caused by a single holdout.
South Carolina dodged a bullet for midterm elections, officials say
South Carolina officials and voting advocates say a Supreme Court decision that blocked Trump's plan to give the Postal Service control over mail-in ballots prevented chaos in the state's fall midterm elections.
Symphony launches 2026-27 season with classics, collaborations
The Charleston Symphony opens its 2026-27 season Sept. 25 at the Gaillard Center, featuring Ryo Hasegawa's Masterworks debut, pianist Lang Lang, and collaborations with Cheyenne Jackson and Ranky Tanky.
Hogan: The Halsey’s elegant, evocative exhibition mines Southern memory
Four Southern-heritage artists' works exploring land, water, memory and Black life are on view through Dec. 5 at the Halsey Institute and Avery Research Center at the College of Charleston.
Farming town pulls together to harvest crop for neighbor with stage 4 brain cancer
Dozens of farmers in Hillsboro, North Dakota, brought trucks and harvesters Wednesday to complete Bill Cotton's beet harvest after he was diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer.
A guide to Charleston’s cultural heritage for newcomers
A Charleston publication lists 25 cultural influences that originated in or shaped the city, including rice cultivation, Gullah traditions, indigo, jazz, and notable local artists.
New ACLU report is critical of S.C. juvenile justice system
The ACLU of South Carolina released a September 2026 report, "Youth Behind the Fence," criticizing the state's juvenile justice system for racial disparities, long detention stays and conditions that worsen youths' trauma.