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23 Converse University student-athletes earned prestigious  Conference Carolinas Fall 2025 Academic All-Confere team  accolades.The Conference Carolinas Academic All-Conference teams consist of junior and senior student-athletes in the conference who have competed in a conference-sponsored sport and maintained a cumulative grade-point average of 3.25 or higher on a 4.0 scale in all work completed at their member institution. The GPA is calculated based on the cumulative avera

Attorney James “Merk” Merklinger understands all the legal ramifications of helping children with autism, but it's mainly a personal challenge. Merklinger’s son was diagnosed with autism.  That makes it very personal. Not surprisingly, he leads an organization that leads the charge against autism, which is devoted to supporting children and families affected by autism. “The Autism Society phone rings nonstop because of the need,” says Merklinger. “In South Carolina, there are

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

Whooping cough cases surged in Greenville County, SC, in 2025, with 24 cases reported by late July, making it one of the hardest-hit areas in the Upstate, second only to Spartanburg County. The Upstate, including Greenville, saw significant activity, prompting health officials to emphasize vaccination and hygiene as cases rose statewide and nationally, with a substantial increase compared to 2024, said the SC Department of Health. Whooping cough is a highly contagious respira

Clemson is now helping impaired students excel. Intellectual impairment refers to limitations in mental functioning and adaptive skills. No wonder his peers have named Joseph Ryan the Class of ’39 Award of Excellence. Imagine a major university finding ways to incorporate practical lessons for people with impairments. Ryan is the Sue Stanzione Distinguished Professor at Clemson University’s College of Education. He is the founder and executive director of the ClemsonLIFE™ (Le

After years of coursework, research, and dissertation writing, Greenville native Christine Brockman recently earned her Ph.D. in Materials Science & Engineering from Oklahoma State University (OSU), which is not an HBCU, even though many Black women overwhelmingly earn their doctorates from such institutions. More on that later. Brockman earned her BS at Georgia Tech. Dr. Brockman says it was intimidating to stand before her Ph.D. committee and defend her research, fielding q

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

The SC Department of Public Health (DPH) recommends the measles vaccine. As of December 30, there are 176 measles cases in Spartanburg, despite the availability of the vaccine. There are 3 other cases reported in the state, says DPH. The outbreak, linked to declining vaccine rates, has triggered the surge, leading to hospitalizations and hundreds of quarantines. Most patients are unvaccinated, the DPH said. These numbers are high. For comparison, this year, New York state has

Seasonal influenza continues to surge, as in past seasons, but the severity remains low, the SC Department of Public Health (SCDH) said in its weekly report. But the influenza spread is expected to continue. According to the CDC, three pediatric flu-related deaths have been reported. The influenza A viruses are the most frequently reported this season. The SCDH reports seven flu-related deaths and 742 flu-associated hospitalizations. The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months

Furman’s head soccer coach, Doug Allison, recently announced his plans to retire next season. The 16th-seeded Paladins earned a bid to the NCAA College Cup, or the final four, while boasting the nation’s longest unbeaten streak at 14 games. That run was broken when the Paladins lost to Washington 3-1 on December 12. However, Allison remains optimistic about the team’s future.

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

Confusing talk can be concerning. Especially talk that links popular holidays with increasing suicide rates. Can we get to the bottom of this rumor? Enters Kathleen Hall Jamieson. Who is she? A renowned American communication scholar, professor at UPenn’s Wallenberg School, and Director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center, known for her research on political communication, misinformation, and the media’s role in democracy, co-founded FactCheck.org , and authored influential

The Hispanic Federation, a national organization, earmarks $1.4 million to address gaps left by SNAP benefit cuts and ongoing food insecurity, says its website. The Hispanic Federation (HF) was founded in 1990 by a group of visionary Latino leaders in New York, growing from a small collective into a national force. Its current leadership includes President and CEO Frankie Miranda, who took the helm in 2019 and continues to build on its legacy of empowering Latino communities,

Just as you think you have seen it all, then painted puppies, an endangered wild dog species, arrive at the Greenville Zoo. Meet Bailey and Parker, not twins but sisters. Bailey takes the lead, and Parker dutifully follows. These colorful dogs are not just dazzling eye candy; they are also known for their intelligence. These wild African dogs arrived in Greenville this year from a safari park in Ohio. Happily, they can now be seen at Greenville’s very own Mary H. Huse African

The Greenville-Spartanburg Airport District has named William Petty as the new Chief of Police. Petty assumed his post on December 8, following a national search. Dave Edwards, president and CEO of the Greenville-Spartanburg Airport District, said that Petty will be an asset to the team. “His extensive management experience and collaborative leadership style will enable the District to continue advancing programs that strengthen safety and security for the millions of passeng

The investigation continues today into the shooting that occurred at Unity Park last night. The adult female victim was shot and treated at the hospital and has since been released.   The victim was near the playground area at the time of the incident, which occurred between two parties near the Unity Park sign. Detectives have determined the victim was not involved in the altercation and is considered an innocent bystander. No arrests have been reported.   The police are ask

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

Allen Smith, President and CEO of OneSpartanburg, Inc., said the county has invested more than $250,000 in road improvements over the past year. ALLEN SMITH Funds are coming from the new penny tax, which started about a year ago. Many shoddy roads have already been paved, painted, and repaired, Smith said. Sloan Grove Rd. and Zion Hill Rd., one of the most dangerous intersections in the county is now being made into a round-about, he said. According to Smith, Spartanburg main

The First Eight: A History of the eight Black Congressmen from South Carolina. Jim Clyburn is the ninth. The Civil War started in South Carolina. So did Jim Crow, the overthrow of Reconstruction, and a long and cruel history of suppression and tyranny against Blacks. Therefore, it is remarkable that nine congressmen have been elected against this backdrop. South Carolina is the state that gave rise to the Civil War. Three days after Abraham Lincoln was elected president, its

Archie Means, though multi-talented, has cut hair for a lifetime and still maintains shop hours at his location on Kennedy Street, where he has been since 1983. Means,“ Speedster”, has been a bowling champion, a second baseman for the Spartanburg Sluggers of the Negro League, a truck driver, and a husband and beloved father of productive children. MAYOR JEROME & SHAY RICE His daughter, Shay, is married to Spartanburg Mayor Jerome Rice. Aubrey Lee Means is an executive for an