🌱 Charleston Parks Conservancy Volunteers + Rudy Pyatt

Happy Thursday, people of Charleston! Let's get you all caught up on what's happening locally to start today off on an informed note.

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First, today's weather:

Cloudy. High: 68 Low: 40.

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Here are the top three stories today in Charleston:

1. A man with Charleston ties has been identified as a suspect in the fatal stabbing of a UCLA student. 31-year-old Shawn Laval Smith has been accused of stabbing and killing 24-year-old Brianna Kupfer, an employee of a Los Angeles furniture store, on Jan. 13. Smith has a long history of arrests in the Southeast and has been booked in to the Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center over 10 times. (WCBD News 2)
2. The Charleston Parks Conservancy is looking for volunteers to help with Garden in the Parks. The conservancy is seeking volunteers, with or without experience, to help care for the parks alongside trained horticulturists. Registration is required for those interested in volunteering on Wednesdays from 9:00-11:00 a.m. at Colonial Lake. (holycitysinner.com)
3. Rudy Pyatt, the first Black reporter to be hired at a major Charleston newspaper, died at 88-years-old on Jan. 7. Pyatt was among an early cadre of young Black reporters breaking barriers in the South and eventually went on to find success in the nation's capital. On Jan. 22, a memorial service will be held at the Carolina Memorial Gardens, located at 7113 Rivers Ave. in North Charleston. (Charleston Post Courier)

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Today in Charleston:

• Garden Starter Bags, At Hurd/St. Andrews Library (All Day)

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From my notebook:

• The North Charleston Fire Department is highlighting Community Risk Reduction Week. CRR is an ongoing nationwide movement focused on decreasing the number of emergencies. The 5E's (Education, Engineering, Enforcement, Economic Incentive & Emergency Response) method is used to accomplish this goal. (Twitter)
• Due to today's cold weather forecast, Aldersgate UMC Warming Shelter and Seacoast West Ashley Warming Center will be open to the public. CARTA will provide free transportation to individuals seeking to access the centers. (Twitter)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed. See you all tomorrow morning for another update!

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.