🌱 Columbia Mayor Election + Toddler Dies In Accidental Shooting

Welcome back, Columbia! It's Monday, so let's get you started with everything you need to know going on around town today.

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First, today's weather:

Sunny and pleasant. High: 71 Low: 44.

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Here are the top stories today in Columbia:

1. There are no statewide elections in South Carolina on Tuesday, but a number of people still will have a reason to go to the polls for local races. About 200 city, county, and other local elections are scheduled for Tuesday, according to the South Carolina Election Commission. The highest-profile race is in Columbia, where Mayor Steve Benjamin decided not to run for a fourth term and now four candidates are running for the job. (WACH.com)
2. The Richland County Sheriff's Department reports that a small child has died after accidentally firing a gun on Friday night. The shooting happened north of Columbia in the 2400 block of Blue Ridge Terrace around 9:25 p.m. according to the sheriff's office. When deputies arrived, they found a 3-year-old girl who had accidentally shot herself. (WLTX.com)
3. This weekend, Home Works and Youth Corps teamed up to fix up three Columbia houses for homeowners in need. (WLTX.com)
4. A small earthquake struck beneath the Monticello Reservoir, about 30 miles northwest of Columbia, but was barely felt by citizens. (Charleston Post Courier)
5. South Carolina's COVID-19 has been on the decline since early September according to DHEC data. It now hovers around 5%, which health experts say is a much more controllable level of infection. (WIS10)

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You're all caught up for today. See you all tomorrow morning for another update! If you're into these newsletters, consider inviting some of your friends and neighbors to read along. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— Sean Peek

About me: Sean Peek is a writer and entrepreneur with a degree in English Literature from Weber State University. Over the years, he has worked as a copywriter, editor, SEO specialist, and marketing director for various digital media companies. He currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.