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Starting Thursday, Jan 15, stop by any GCLS location or register online to join this fun challenge for great prizes! Check out the link below for more details! www.greenvillelibrary.org/winter-reading #WinterReading #GCLSLibrary See the prizes. What a blast! It benefits all ages by fostering family literacy, reducing stress, building community, and promoting lifelong learning through shared reading experiences: kids developing early literacy skills, teens and adults exploring

The temporary suspension of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits due to the October government shutdown had immediate and severe consequences. More than half a million South Carolinians were suddenly unable to buy groceries for November. Overnight, there were twice as many people at Greenville charities and food pantries. This surge in demand pushed these organizations to the front lines of a food crisis. The average monthly benefit is about $190 per pers

The CDC has declared the 2025-2026 flu season the “highest level ever,” but it’s clearly on the rise. However, the rise of acute respiratory illness (ARI) hit a record high for the first time, said the CDC. Influenza A viruses are the most common type detected in late December, the CDC said in a report. Eight flu-associated pediatric deaths were reported in week 51. In Context on "Highest Ever”:

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

Review of key events of 2025. Downtown streets to be reconfigured to accommodate more traffic. A new sickle cell disease clinic is reaching more patients with enhanced treatment. The Hispanic Alliance helps feed more people than ever and supports education and skill development. The Greenville Zoo welcomed a giraffe calf and two painted African dogs. GSP continues its run as the best airport in the nation and added a new playground for children, new restaurants, a parking ga

On January 3, the SC Department of Public Health (DPH) identified an individual who visited several Greenville locations while unknowingly infected with measles, according to a statement posted on their website. DPH has defined the times of potential exposure to others at the following locations: Nose Dive restaurant at 116 S. Main Street, Greenville, S.C. on Dec. 24 from 1:30 to 4:30 pm Best Buy at 1125 Woodruff Road, Suite 1201, Greenville, S.C. on Dec. 24 from 3 to 6 p.m.

Michelin intends to appeal the $220 million New Mexico verdict for a fatal tire failure, as announced through its legal representation, attorney Wes Ball (of Laster Lynch Farrar & Ball). The law firm is involved in fighting the case and announced the appeal in late 2025. ATTORNEY WES BALL, NOTED FOR WINING BIG CASES The firm aims to take the case to higher courts after the jury found Michelin 100% liable for the death of three family members due to a defective tire. Yes, Mi

Construction is well underway for the new Swamp Rabbit Trail pedestrian bridge over Verdae Boulevard to connect to Mauldin by the Fall of 2026. Construction of the 1,180-foot bridge began in August 2025. The $7.4 million project is funded by city and state funds. The goal is to create a safer, more direct connection for trail users, eliminating the need to cross busy Verdae Boulevard.

Woodward, Inc., recently announced the construction of a new 300,000-square-foot precision manufacturing facility in Spartanburg County, located within the Smith Farms Industrial Park in Greer. The $200 million investment is expected to bring 275 new jobs to the area, company officials said. APPLY ONLINE FOR JOBS NOW The plant will primarily produce servo-hydraulic actuation systems, critical for aircraft flight control, initially for the Airbus A350. A company spokesman said

A weighted silk visiting dress, a cotton bale on a period scale, freshly baked chestnut bread, free popcorn, other giveaways, history lessons, interactions, purchased keepsakes, and more were on display Saturday at the Greer Heritage Museum (GHM) as it commemorated 150 years of service. History buffs, curiosity seekers, students, teachers — all kinds of people streamed through the museum at 106 S. Main St., near downtown Greer. The museum was recently closed for a facelift. N

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

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