AGP Executive Report

Trauma-Informed Care: Hammocks on the Edisto in Jacksonboro is spotlighting a women-only, 30-day residential program that treats substance use alongside trauma, using therapies like CBT, DBT, CPT, and EMDR. Public Safety & Justice: A S.C. father filed a wrongful death lawsuit after his autistic teen died in a Midlands Center restraint room, alleging hyperthermia tied to a canvas “Humane Wrap” and broken air conditioning. Violence in the Carolinas: Four teens charged as adults face murder counts after gunfire killed a 4-year-old in northwest Charlotte. Community Support: SCETV and partners are rolling out Domestic Violence Awareness Month resources statewide through South Carolina Speaks. Local Living & Lifestyle: Toll Brothers held a grand opening of clubhouse amenities at The Pines at Sugar Creek, a 55+ community in Indian Land. Education & Opportunity: Winthrop University shared how it uses student engagement results to update core competencies and improve learning quality. Health & Prevention: BHDD is urging South Carolinians to talk openly about substance use and mental health during October’s prevention push. Fitness Push: RFK Jr. plans a nationwide school competition to boost participation in the Presidential Fitness Test. Business & Growth: USC and Westinghouse announced a nuclear workforce development partnership with hands-on training and AP1000 simulator work.

Healthcare & Women’s Health: Solis Mammography and HCA Healthcare Trident Hospital launched a new joint venture to expand breast imaging across the Charleston market, bringing Solis’s patient-first screening approach to more Lowcountry women. Public Safety & Families: A Spartanburg County mother, Taylor Gosnell, faces four charges after investigators say her son’s call led to her two children being found with about 50 stab wounds. Community Health & Crime Trends: Greenville County data shows gang activity is down slightly, but the most severe offenses—drugs, weapons violations, and aggravated assaults—remain a serious concern. Local Business & Growth: Woman-owned Charleston digital marketing agency Custom Digital Solutions was named a Stevie® Awards finalist for fastest-growing women-owned/led companies. Healthcare Leadership: MUSC Health named Jason Cox CEO of the Pee Dee Division, overseeing multiple hospitals and behavioral care. Culture & Travel: Charleston guides spotlight underrated experiences beyond King Street, Rainbow Row, and beaches. Faith & Community: A new Young Adult Mass in the Lowcountry offers monthly worship with adoration, confession, and an alcohol-free social dinner. Health Policy: Senators asked the CDC to explain a nearly four-week delay in ordering free COVID shots for low-income children.

Education & Community: Winthrop University highlights how student engagement results are shaping its undergraduate core curriculum and learning goals. Faith & Culture: Catholic Charities’ Office of Immigration Services in South Carolina pairs legal help with community outreach, while a new Lowcountry Young Adult Mass keeps worship alcohol-free and social afterward. Arts & Travel: The Akram Khan Company cancels Charleston performances after U.S. visa issues, and a U.S. Open week weather update keeps Southport-Oak Island tournament plans on track. Sports (SC ties): Prisma Health names Dr. Douglas W. Lundy president of its Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Institute. Public Safety: A Ladson homeowner faces homicide by child abuse charges after children were found dead during a welfare check. Health & Food: FDA assigns the highest risk recall to Salata Salad Kitchen Jalapeño Avocado Dressing over possible Salmonella contamination. Local Life: Ware Shoals High School marks 100 years with a week of events. Tech & Jobs: USC and Westinghouse expand nuclear workforce development through a new partnership tied to the state’s Nuclear Innovation Center.

Education & Assessment: Clemson and Winthrop are leaning harder into student engagement data, using NSSE results to shape curriculum and teaching goals. Local Governance & Growth: Building permits for 9.30.26 show major commercial and housing activity, including large electrical and shell projects plus new apartments. Public Safety: A Spartanburg mother is jailed after deputies say she stabbed her 3- and 6-year-old children about 50 times; investigators say the kids remain hospitalized. Sports & Community: South Carolina’s Dylan Stewart is out for now after a suspension, while Clemson’s Dabo Swinney pushes “Tigers for Tatas” breast cancer awareness with $15.2M raised for his foundation. Arts & Identity: SC Arts Commission puts grants for Upstate LGBTQ groups on hold pending a key vote. Family & Health: Hawthorne Pharmacy’s “Flu Shots for a Cause” ties vaccinations to Harvest Hope hunger relief, and FAFSA guidance highlights that applying can unlock grants and work-study. Outdoors: Lake Hartwell Country releases a fall waterfall guide near Clemson, spotlighting easy hikes for families and pets.

Local Budget & Public Safety: Fort Mill approved a $74.7 million budget for 2026-27, raising the property tax rate from 83 to 87 mills to fund firefighters, including 15 positions backed by a FEMA grant, plus Fire Station No. 3 and an operations center. Education & Accountability: A Charleston County school board member, Darlene Dunmeyer-Roberson, faced a first-of-its-kind hearing tied to possible conflicts and confidentiality breaches as the state weighs whether she should be removed. Workforce & Energy: Westinghouse and the University of South Carolina announced a nuclear workforce development partnership centered at USC’s Nuclear Innovation Center. Community & Culture: Taplife Hero Foundation is bringing a regional tap dance experience to Waxhaw, with mentorship and performances aimed at keeping the art form thriving. Health & Public Policy: A new study warns that dropping measles vaccine mandates could trigger the biggest U.S. outbreak in nearly 500 years, as cases rise amid weakening coverage. Public Safety (Crime): A Spartanburg County mother was charged with attempted murder after two children were found covered in blood following an alleged knife attack. Family & Local Events: FamilySearch will offer free consulting at York County Library’s Genealogy & Family History Expo in Fort Mill.

College Sports Policy: The U.S. Senate passed the Protect College Sports Act (77-22), setting a national framework for athlete pay, transfer rules, and eligibility, with South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott’s amendment requiring disclosure of foreign funding over $600. Local Government & Safety: Hollywood, S.C. became the latest town to pass a hate crime ordinance, adding penalties tied to race, religion, gender, and sexual orientation. Education Access: Riverstone High School opened in North Charleston as a tuition-free charter for at-risk students, offering flexible 4-hour sessions and multilingual support. Campus Leadership: USC’s College of HRSM launched the Dawn Staley Leadership Academy with a first cohort of 110 students. Health & Wellness: Hilton Head Health says its GLP-1 program pairs medication with lifestyle support, pushing back on the idea that drugs alone are enough. Community Watch: WIS Investigates raised questions about $4M in state funds sent to the AME Vision Center amid concerns about public access agreements. Local Politics: Democratic Senate candidate Dr. Annie Andrews called for a two-year moratorium on new data center projects.

Education & Workforce: USC Sumter was named No. 1 in Niche’s 2027 Best Community Colleges in South Carolina, highlighting the Palmetto College system’s push to expand access. Higher Ed Cuts: S.C. State University’s board voted to end multiple low-enrollment degree programs, affecting fields from education tracks to engineering tech. Child Care Access: The S.C. Department of Social Services launched an online waitlist for child care scholarships as funding stays tight. Women’s Sports Policy: The U.S. Department of Education rescinded the 2024 Title IX rule and reinstated the 2020 framework, a major win for sex-based protections. Community & Culture: A butterfly release at Saluda Shoals Park supported foster children, pairing local families with USC’s Alpha Xi Delta. Public Safety: The S.C. AG announced the arrest of Glenn William Sickles IV on charges tied to sexual exploitation of minors. Health & Wellness: Hilton Head Health says GLP-1s work best with nutrition and behavior support, as more South Carolinians look to medical weight-loss programs. Politics: A Trafalgar poll shows Sen. Darline Graham leading Dr. Annie Andrews in the U.S. Senate race by about 1 point.

Outdoor hoops in Charleston: South Carolina women’s basketball kicked off its 2026-27 season with a 91-60 exhibition win over College of Charleston at Credit One Stadium as part of the TheLinkU Invitational, with Joyce Edwards leading (28 points, 16 rebounds) and Dawn Staley noting key players Chloe Kitts and Ashlyn Watkins sat out due to injuries. Local sports spotlight: TheLinkU Invitational also featured an outdoor men’s exhibition tripleheader, including Virginia vs. Vanderbilt and other matchups, bringing fans from across the Lowcountry. Education & civics: Fourth grade teachers across South Carolina can apply for the 2027 Liberty Day at the Statehouse (Feb. 19, 2027), a hands-on history and government experience tied to the state’s 250th American Revolution anniversary. Statehouse leadership move: Dr. Brenda Schrantz left District 56 to become an executive director at the South Carolina Department of Education, focusing on curriculum and instruction. Voting access watch: Votebeat reports election officials are preparing for possible federal intervention in the 2026 midterms, including legal filings and contingency planning. Arts in the South: Selma native photographer Jerry Siegel will be featured by the Selma Art Guild in October and November, with a reception Oct. 4.

Outdoor Sports & Community: South Carolina women’s basketball kicks off the season with its first outdoor exhibition, taking on College of Charleston at Credit One Stadium in Charleston (4 p.m. ET, ESPN+), part of the LinkU Invitational tripleheader. Local Culture: Reba Jones brings a classic “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” moment in SHOUT! Black Gospel Music Moments, spotlighting the Scranton, SC-rooted singer’s gospel legacy. Arts & Events: Tom Crowley reads from his poetry collection The Maine Thing: Trout Slippers at Lincolnville Community Library (Oct. 8, 6:30 p.m.), with an open mic for poets. Public Life & Policy: The Trump DOJ ended decades-old federal school desegregation consent decrees, with many tied to the South including South Carolina. Civic Tech Debate: Activists are pushing back on “going digital” for citizen ballot measures, arguing it could reshape fraud risk. Immigration Update: USCIS reports 6,685 H-2B worker approvals tied to South Carolina worksites in fiscal 2026 through June 30, 2026 (100% approval rate in the reported set). Safety: A motorcyclist died in an Anderson County crash after the bike left the road and hit a tree.

College & Campus Culture: Clemson and Winthrop are leaning harder into student-engagement surveys, using NSSE results to shape curriculum and assessment in a more systematic way. Women’s Sports Spotlight: South Carolina women’s basketball opens its outdoor exhibition at Credit One Stadium in Charleston, but Dawn Staley says injuries mean the full roster won’t be ready. Gamecock Momentum: USC swimming and diving starts the season strong, beating UNC-Wilmington with 22 event wins and four pool records. Local Crime & Safety: Three Darlington County men were arrested on child sexual abuse material charges tied to the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Food & Lifestyle: National Chocolate Milk Day gets a recovery-focused push from The Dairy Alliance, touting protein and carbs for post-workout routines. Public Accountability: An editorial calls out South Carolina lawmakers for expanding the voucher program despite ongoing trouble getting usable test results. Community & Pride: The SC Arts Commission accelerates a decision timeline for funding LGBTQ+ arts groups, amid recent statewide attention to LGBTQ+ advocacy.

Education & Assessment: Winthrop and Clemson are leaning on NSSE results to tighten undergraduate competencies and make campus learning goals more measurable, showing how South Carolina colleges are turning student engagement into a system. Local Degrees: Pickens County colleges conferred 8,522 degrees and certificates in 2023-24, while Richland County reported 11,451 awards—both counts reflect credentials, not individual students. Arts & Community: The SC Arts Commission sped up a decision on funding for two LGBTQ+ arts groups, as Columbia also marked the legacy of Harriet Hancock, a longtime LGBTQ+ rights champion who died at 89. Public Safety: SC Attorney General warns students and families about overdose risks after two deaths at Ole Miss, noting kratom may be contaminated with hard-to-detect synthetic opioids. Schools Governance: A hearing is set for Charleston County school trustee Darlene Dunmeyer-Roberson, following an executive order. Culture & Food: A guide breaks down the many colors of barbecue sauce, from tomato reds to mustard yellows, while a Mumbai food tour spotlights chef-driven street-food culture. Skywatch: South Carolina stargazers can catch the Harvest Moon peak this weekend, with Saturn nearby for telescope views.

Politics & Pop Culture: Rep. Nancy Mace’s leather “Catwoman”-style outfit from her “Get Maced” podcast sparked major online buzz, turning a foreign-policy chat into a style moment. Right to Read: A “Right to Read” night for Banned Books Week spotlights Jacqueline Woodson’s “Brown Girl Dreaming,” with the book’s removal battles still hitting libraries and schools. Public Health & Families: Prisma Health launched an annual Healthy Start symposium aimed at cutting infant and maternal mortality by tackling systemic gaps with local partners. Black Culture & Tourism: A Charleston conference is pushing Black tourism as an economic engine, offering workshops on funding, grants, and building authentic experiences. Community & Education: SC State University terminated nine academic programs due to low enrollment, while USC Palmetto College named Dr. Jason C. Darby to lead an Office of Corporate & Community Engagement. Local Infrastructure: Charleston Water System is seeking input for a major lead service line replacement phase to remove hundreds of known lead pipes. Arts & Heritage: The Porgy House on Folly Beach received a historical marker honoring “Porgy and Bess” roots. Lifestyle/Local Fun: Stewart Farms in Laurens County opens a Dolly Parton-themed corn maze for fall, with proceeds supporting Imagination Library. Crime & Safety: The SC AG announced arrests tied to child sexual exploitation material in Darlington County. Sports/School Life: SC State Career Day Extravaganza connects students with 100+ recruiters, and Week 6 SCHSL high school football scores rolled in.

Education & Assessment: Clemson and Winthrop are leaning on NSSE results to tighten curriculum and student outcomes, showing how South Carolina colleges are turning engagement surveys into real campus changes. Local Schools Accountability: Charleston County School board member Darlene Roberson faces an unprecedented hearing tied to allegations of misconduct and conflicts of interest, with the Inspector General report at the center. Child Safety: South Carolina DPH warns that about 60% of car seats are installed incorrectly, urging parents to match seats to kids’ age/height and follow manuals. Culture & Community: The SC State Museum removed a 1950s KKK flyer from an exhibit after visitors said it created a misleading link to Strom Thurmond. Caregiving & Health: A caregiver’s story from the Charleston area highlights dementia, dignity, and the growing role of men in aging support. Family & Fun: A Laurens County farm is launching a Dolly Parton-themed corn maze benefiting Imagination Library early literacy. Policy & Access: USC’s Palmetto College may pause dual enrollment for high schoolers unless funding holds, as lottery scholarship support per credit hour has dropped. Immigration & Paperwork: IRS draft forms may soon ask taxpayers about citizenship or work authorization when filing. Sports & Entertainment: “The Traitors: New Blood” returns with new episodes and weekly drop details, while Week 4 college football schedules keep fans glued to TV.

Child Care Relief Watch: South Carolina is reopening access to help with child care costs via an Oct. 1 online wait list for families who don’t qualify under federally protected categories, with scholarships limited by age and household funding rules. Education & Equity: A new study argues school choice can leave immigrant students behind, using Charleston as a case study. Arts & Community: Columbia’s MOJA Arts Festival kicks off today at Marion Square, spotlighting Black culture with music, art, food, and events through the weekend. LGBTQ+ Legacy: Harriet Hancock, the “Mother of SC Pride” who helped build PFLAG in South Carolina, has died at 89. Local Culture & Food: Greenville’s JINYA Ramen Bar is set to open Oct. 7, and chefs at a sold-out Euphoria event highlighted diverse, culture-forward flavors. Public Safety & Justice: A Fort Mill man was sentenced to 20 years for transporting child sexual abuse material, while York County agencies are set to receive $1.1M in crime victim grants. Higher Ed Spotlight: Clemson tops South Carolina schools again in U.S. News rankings.

LGBTQ+ Legacy: Harriet Hancock, “Mother of South Carolina Pride” and a longtime advocate who helped launch PFLAG and the state’s first Pride March, has died, leaving a major mark on Columbia’s community support network. Public Health & Kids: After a delay, states can now order updated COVID vaccines for low-income children through the CDC’s Vaccines for Children program. Higher Education: Clemson topped South Carolina’s national university rankings in U.S. News & World Report’s 2027 list, with USC second and Furman leading the state’s liberal arts colleges. Community & Faith: A church women’s ministry in Orangeburg is hosting a voter education and civic engagement event with voter registration office guidance and a hands-on look at voting equipment. Workforce & Reentry: Williamsburg Technical College and FCI Williamsburg launched a CDL program for eligible incarcerated students, aiming to expand career options after release. Culture & Sports: The Atlantic Council Global Citizen Awards highlighted leaders building “what comes next,” while local sports coverage includes Big South women’s hoops scheduling and more SC athlete updates. Health & Safety: A Greenville coroner report on Hayden Panettiere’s death says fentanyl and paraphernalia were found in her apartment weeks after she died.

Ashley River: SCDNR is asking for public input on a revised management plan for the Ashley Scenic River, including an online survey open through Oct. 31. Health & Families: Attorney General Alan Wilson joined a bipartisan push urging consumers to check eligibility and file claims tied to inflated generic drug prices. Housing for Heroes: LENS IOP launched an affordable housing program for first responders, offering stop-gap help, flexible rent options, and a path toward homeownership. Community Support Grants: SC crime-victim services are set to receive more than $29 million in federal and state grants, including awards for shelters, advocacy, and child-focused programs. Education & Youth: Deion Jamison was named South Carolina’s first Black male Teacher of the Year, while Park Elementary students got new shoes through a community partnership. Sports & Local Culture: The Charlotte Hornets announced a new over-the-air broadcast partnership with Gray Media, expanding free game access across multiple SC markets. Cancer Update: Former Gamecock QB Stephen Garcia’s wife says his Stage 4 colorectal cancer surgery went successfully, with cancer removed and a long surveillance road ahead.