Richland County Teen Still Missing + Richland Northeast HS Fire

Hey, Columbia! Here's everything you need to know to get this Thursday, September 30 started. Here's everything worth knowing in town today.

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First, today's weather:

Partly cloudy throughout the day. High: 90 Low: 68.

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Here are the top stories in Columbia today:

1. Deputies continue searching for a missing Richland County teen who disappeared on Sept. 5. Sierra Stevens, 17, was last seen leaving a home on Stanford Street on foot and has not been in communication with friends or family since. Stevens reportedly has medical issues that require treatment, and anyone with information about her whereabouts should contact police or submit a tip to Crime Stoppers. (WIS10)
2. On Wednesday morning, a fire broke out on an under-construction area of the roof of Richland Northeast High School. Officials with the Columbia Fire Department say an HVAC unit caught fire on the roof, causing smoke and water damage to the classroom below the unit. The building was evacuated and no students or faculty were injured. (WIS10)
3. Some Elmwood Park residents are voicing concerns about a downtown Columbia charter school's plans to expand into the Elmwood Avenue area. (WLTX.com)
4. Over $15 million in federal funds were awarded to 21 South Carolina health care centers, including $1,176,588 for Eau Claire Cooperative Health Center in Columbia. (fox28media.com)
5. A federal ruling temporarily blocked Proviso 1.108, which banned South Carolina schools from using state funds to enforce mask mandates. This means that local public schools can now require students to wear masks. (ABC13)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed! See you all tomorrow morning for your next update. If you're liking these newsletters, consider inviting some of your friends and neighbors to read along. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— 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.