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Jesse Jackson (1941–2026) was a towering civil rights leader, two-time presidential candidate (1984, 1988), and international diplomat who reshaped American politics and social justice. Key achievements include founding the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, registering millions of voters, securing the release of international hostages, and championing anti-apartheid efforts Synopsis of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition Originally founded by the Black Panthers in Chicago in 1969, and later re-

Psychologist  Jackie Andrade  and researchers like Jeffrey Wasmsmes have revealed that doodling and sketching improve memory, focus, and cognitive performance across all ages, from children to older adults. Studies show doodlers recall 29% more information, as sketching helps keep the brain alert and reduces stress.   instructor Ashley with her sketching student Thus, sketching can be fun.  And beneficial. Just ask Ashley, the class instructor’s professional name. She teaches

Why change my eating habits now? I’ve been eating junk food all my life, you say. Dr. Joel Fuhrman, a board-certified family doctor and leader in nutritional medicine, promises that, when eating right, most of us can prevent a heart attack or a stroke. Author Joel Fuhrman, MD and nutritionist Cardiovascular disease kills more individuals than all cancers combined, he said. For example, you can stop smoking at any point before you develop lung cancer and reduce your chances of

Snow twice in Greenville this winter. That has locals talking. Residents ask, What’s going on? Ice this far South is rare. Arctic blasts and ice are added to the dreary mix. That’s different, you heard neighbors talking. Are these conclusions subjective? What does the evidence say? Send your comments to sources@whatsupnews.online Increasingly, the impacts of human-caused climate change, combined with natural climate variations and complex atmospheric dynamics, said the Nation

The Greenville Police Department reported responding to 13 car accidents this week, two more than during the previous storm. The SC Highway Patrol (SCHP) advises motorists to slow down, increase the distance between vehicles, and brake early and gently to avoid accidents on ice patches. Avoid abrupt lane changes that could cause other motorists to veer onto ice patches in shady areas, on bridges, or on frozen overpasses. Drive only as necessary, and beware of bridges and over

A powerful Arctic blast hit Greenville on Saturday, bringing 4 to 8 inches of total snowfall, according to the National Weather Service. Wind gusts up to 40 mph created potential whiteout conditions in some areas. This could be the milestone event that people will discuss for years to come, said one man in Taylors. Another person said that many will display pictures of this event in family photo albums. Meantime, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor for S.C., severe to extre

A consortium of Greenville Arts Center presents a Fine Arts Center, events include the Governor’s School Visual Arts Exhibit at the SC Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, and various other First Friday Gallery events. Key Arts Programs and Events (January 2026) Creative Arts Collective Mini-mester  (Jan 13–Feb 10):  A 5-week program for grades 7–12, covering visual arts, film, acting, writing, and dance. Fine Arts Center (FAC) Application  (Deadline Jan 15):  The p

The City of Greenville Public Works is opening its Emergency Operations Center at 1 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, with full crews on 12-hour shifts to manage expected sleet and freezing, according to a statement it posted. Weekend Operations:  Public Works crews will operate in 12-hour rotations, utilizing specialized equipment to handle both snow and ice conditions. Road Safety:  Hazardous travel is expected; residents are urged to stay off roads, particularly from Saturday

Duke Energy announced on its website that it had begun assessing the damage.  That will take some time. The statement said that, next, the appropriate technicians will be assigned specific tasks to restore the downed lines and, in time, better understand how its preparedness can be stronger in the future. In the meantime, here is a list of the outages.

Duke Energy urges consumers to prepare for a severe winter storm on Saturday and Sunday. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster today declared a state of emergency ahead of an icy weekend. Duke urges consumers to prepare for power outages. Duke will have tree and vegetation crews trimming branches ahead of the storm to reduce the risk of outages.  Line crews from the surrounding regions are being strategically placed to respond promptly to down lines and other challenges, off

In 2025, OneSpartanburg, Inc. landed 20 economic development projects on behalf of Spartanburg County and City, resulting in $3.5 billion in capital investment and the creation of 1,024 new jobs. KATHERINE O'NEILL The total investment in Spartanburg County is about $9.6 million per day over the course of the year. “Our continued work to bring high-paying, knowledge-based, and corporate jobs to Spartanburg County paid off in 2025, as a host of innovative companies chose to loc

Greenville Technical College (GTC) has been selected by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) for the Early Career and Technical Skills Exposure Program. The program encourages middle school participants to prepare for a high-wage career that doesn’t require a four-year degree,” said Dr. Candice Lewis, vice president of Greenville Tech. photo is couttesy of GTC “General Motors recognizes the urgent need for workforce development nationwide. That’s why we are i

Let's look at the big picture before rushing to conclusions about weighing advantages and disadvantages between prosecutors and public defenders. Justly or not, public defenders often get a bum rap. What is the success rate of public defenders? While the success rate for other defense attorneys edged up only from 12% to 13%, for public defenders it nearly doubled, soaring from 18% to 35% during the same period from 2008 to 2019. What skews the view? Top law students split bet

Despite two days of rain, Greenville County remains in severe drought (D2) conditions across most of the area, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. On January 8, 93.25% of Greenville County is in severe drought. In fact, 100% of the county is experiencing some level of drought, according to the report. The current conditions reflect below-normal rainfall over the past several weeks, leading to dry topsoil, declining streamflows, and heightened fire-weather concerns, accordi

Greenville’s bar and restaurant scene is adapting to SC’s new liquor law, effective Jan 1, 2026. According to lawmakers, the law is aimed at easing crushing liquor liability insurance costs by capping restaurant liability at 50% and offering discounts for risk-reducing measures like ID scanners, server training, early closures, and providing hope after recent closures, but some owners feel more needs to be done to combat high premiums and frivolous lawsuits that have plagued

The United States reported more than 2,000 measles cases in 2025. How has the highest annual total impacted the measles elimination status? Epidemiologist Linda Bell A medical elimination status means a specific infectious disease is no longer constantly present in a region, though it can still be reintroduced from elsewhere. It’s achieved through successful public health efforts, such as vaccination, resulting in 12 months of continuous local transmission, as verified by org

Greenville (SC) native, Billy “Alan” Thompson was born in Greenville, SC. He played as a defensive cornerback and safety for the Denver Broncos from 1969 to 1981. Thompson was a three-time Pro Bowl selection and was inducted into the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame in 1987. He set an NFL record (since tied) for the most fumble recoveries returned for touchdowns in a career. Also, a Greenville native and legend, John Whiteside, well remembers how talented Thompson was during his f

Leona Theron, a judge of the Constitutional Court of South Africa, will be the keynote speaker at Furman University’s 2026 MLK Community Breakfast.  The breakfast begins at 8 a.m. on Jan. 16 in the Younts Conference Center on Furman’s campus. The program features rousing songs, with remarks from Furman President Elizabeth Davis, Joseph Vaughn Scholar and health sciences major Amiya Young 2026, and Director of Community Relations, Outreach and Impact Chandra Dillard.  Each yea

Greer City Councilman Karuiam Booker, a long-time admirer of Congressman Jim Clyburn, attended the seminar/book-signing in Sumter. BOOKER AND CLYBURN Sumter native Clyburn, 86,  started  his book tour in Sumter on Sunday, Nov. 16, as part of his statewide tour to promote his new book, "The First Eight.” The event was held at Patriot Hall, with the program presentation, followed by a book signing and reception. According to Booker, an excited audience of about 150 people stron

A new Spartanburg restaurant had its pre-grand opening bash Thursday night. Chamber members were welcomed to Rigsby’s Classic Rock Cafe for a meet-and-greet occasion and an introduction to the new restaurant. First-class decor, tasty food, good music, ambiance blend and exudes a party atmosphere and palatable sense of good times. For the moment, no other place exists. Strong vibes resounded that these folks are serious about hospitality, service, entertainment, and teamwork.