Hello Columbia! Here's our latest buzz. Let's get into it. āļø
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In today's newsletter:
Also on today's calendar: Brown Horse @ The Senate and 3 more events.
Today's riddle: What is the 1 way to guarantee winning a small fortune at the casino? š¤ (Answer below!)
1. Community rallies behind family of fallen Columbia Officer Chris DeLong (wistv.com) ā Columbia residents are uniting to support the family of Officer Chris DeLong, killed in a weekend shooting that also wounded his partner during a confrontation at a local park. A memorial has grown outside Columbia Police headquarters, and nonprofit Serve & Connect is coordinating official donations, while public visitation and a Celebration of Life in Columbia and Irmo invite the entire Midlands community to pay respects.
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2. Capital City/Lake Murray Country celebrates tourism growth, looks ahead to Lake Murray centennial (thecaycewestcolumbianews.com) ā Tourism leaders meeting in Columbia highlighted strong visitor growth and laid out big plans to use Lake Murray's 100th anniversary in 2027 to draw even more people to the Capital City/Lake Murray region. New marketing, special centennial events, and even a commemorative beer are in the works to spotlight Columbia attractions like Finlay Park, the BullStreet District, and nearby Lake Murray.
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3. Thousands of new families are eligible to apply for full-day 4K under the state budget. See if your child qualifies (wltx.com) ā Families in Columbia and across South Carolina may now qualify for free, full-day 4K if they earn up to 300% of the federal poverty level, opening the door for about 14,000 more households. Local providers in Columbia say the expansion will ease childcare costs, help fill remaining First Steps 4K slots, and better prepare young children for kindergarten readiness.
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4. SCDPH: Overdose deaths down in SC according to most recent data (abccolumbia.com) ā State health officials in Columbia say South Carolina's overdose deaths dropped more than 30% in 2024, though fentanyl remains the leading cause. To keep that trend going, DPH is offering free overdose safety kits with naloxone and drug test strips at health departments statewide, with materials in English and Spanish.
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Ok Columbia! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: By starting with a large fortune. (Thank you Kourtney Z. for sending it in!)
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