🌱 Early Morning Fire Put Out + Legislative Leader Out Of Prison

Rise and shine, Columbia! Here's everything you need to know to get this Wednesday started off right.

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First, today's weather:

Turning sunny; warmer. High: 56 Low: 27.

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Here are the top stories in Columbia today:

1. A morning fire damaged a home on Tuesday, but fortunately, no one was hurt. According to the Columbia Fire Department, the fire broke out at around 9:15 a.m. Tuesday in the 200 block of Charleswood Drive. Third shift crews put out the fire. (WLTX.com)
2. A former South Carolina legislative leader is out of prison after serving less than six months of his sentence on misconduct and perjury charges in the Statehouse corruption probe. Jim Harrison, 70, was released on Dec. 10 by the state parole board, according to the state Department of Corrections. (Charleston Post Courier)
3. On Tuesday, volunteers with the Columbia Urban League and Walmart joined together to bring meals to nearly three hundred families and seniors in need. One hundred and fifty food-filled backpacks were given to youth in foster care and low-income housing.(WACH.com)

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Today in Columbia:

• Winter Solstice Lantern Parade At 312 Laurel St. (5:45 PM)

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From my notebook:

• Experience Columbia SC is offering a local insider tip to check out the University of South Carolina's campus to see the Christmas charm during the holiday break, and to take a stroll through the Historic Horseshoe this week. (Instagram)
• US National Weather Service in Columbia South Carolina reminded locals that yesterday was the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year. While it was cold and wet with less than 10 hours of daylight, the days will start to get longer from here. The "reason for the seasons" is the tilt in Earth's axis which results in uneven heating of our planet. (Facebook)
• U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 Austin Norris, Detachment 5, Company B, 2-641st Aviation Regiment, South Carolina Army National Guard, completed his final flight aboard a Fairchild C-26E Metroliner fix-wing aircraft from the Columbia Metropolitan Airport, in Columbia, South Carolina. (Instagram)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed. I'll be in your inbox tomorrow with your next update!

— 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.