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🌱 Patch AM: How Columbia hotels figured into a major child trafficking conviction

Make time for Birdwatching in the Gardens on the Columbia Patch calendar

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Wednesday September 9th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Cheers Columbia! We're back, helping you stay up to date with what's happening. Let's take on the day together! ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • How Columbia hotels figured into a major child trafficking conviction
  • What police say really happened in USC tight end's arrest
  • How Cumulus layoffs could shake up Columbia's WOMG and WTCB lineup

Also on today's calendar: Free Bra Fittings to Support Breast Cancer Awareness and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: Why did the burglar wear blue gloves? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high of 90 and low of 70 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
  • Thursday: Humid; a stray p.m. t-storm, temps: high: 89, low: 71.
  • Friday: Some sun, a t-storm; humid, with a high of 90 and low of 71 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• 'Monster': West Columbia man sentenced to 25 years for leading child sex trafficking ring (wistv.com) — A West Columbia man has been sentenced in Columbia federal court to 25 years in prison for leading a multi-state child sex trafficking ring that recruited teens, including outside a local Columbia high school and at area hotels. Columbia police and federal agents dismantled the operation in 2023, and authorities are now urging local hotel workers and residents to report any signs of human trafficking.
   

• More information on arrest of USC football player (abccolumbia.com) — A University of South Carolina freshman tight end faces charges after Monck's Corner police say he was racing at speeds up to 113 mph, with three others later arrested on gun and assault charges. ABC Columbia obtained the incident report, which details weaving through traffic and a tense scene as bystanders approached the officer during the stop.
   

• Cumulus Cuts Staff in Multi-Market Layoff Round (newmusicweekly.com) — Radio listeners in the Columbia market may soon notice changes, as Cumulus Media has laid off Leo "LB" Baldwin, program director for local stations WOMG and WTCB, amid a nationwide restructuring. The company is cutting staff across multiple states while it works through Chapter 11, and has not yet announced how these changes will affect programming or who will fill key on-air and leadership roles.
   

📸 Around Columbia

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Update: Pet Reunited
    A dog who went missing in Lake Carolina, SC, has been safely reunited with their family after 4 hours, 48 minutes. Message from Finder: "He is very… (Nextdoor Woodlake)
  • Next door to me is a house in foreclosure.
    The backyard grass is high, the bushes in the front is also growing higher, no one been to that house since May 6 since tenant moved out. It looks… (Nextdoor Shoreline)
  • Government Jobs posted a job opening for Program Coordinator I / Assistant Branch Supervisor III - 191786 in Columbia. Apply here.
  • Disabledperson, Inc posted a job opening for Specialist, Payroll - Vantagen at Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP in Columbia, South Carolina in Columbia. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Columbia here.

🗞 Nearby News

Cayce

  • Herbert A. Wood Elementary School in Pine Ridge is celebrating its 50th year with special activities (westmetronews.com)
  • Labor support groups to celebrate Labor Day (wach.com)
  • Pedestrian dies after being hit by 3 vehicles early Monday morning on Interstate (westmetronews.com)

West Columbia

  • Midlands retreat offers safe place for veterans with PTSD (wistv.com)

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: So he wouldn't get caught red handed. (Thank you Vicki B. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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