Lydia Blackstone

1 day ago | wjcl.com | Lydia Blackstone

From the farmlands of Afghanistan to a U.S. Army uniform, one soldier stationed at Hunter Army Airfield is using both his military experience and personal heritage to serve others in a new way — through food. Staff Sgt. Saidajaa Denarkhail, an Afghanistan native, now co-owns The Silk Route, a Middle Eastern restaurant in Savannah. The idea was born from a desire to help fellow service members reconnect with the region many once deployed to — not through combat, but through cuisine.

2 days ago | wjcl.com | Lydia Blackstone

Before South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster can sign off on the state’s annual budget, he’s required to roll out his list of vetoes. He did just that Tuesday at the State House in Columbia. McMaster issued 11 vetoes, a significantly lower number than the 42 he issued during his first year in office. The governor praised lawmakers for aligning 80% of the new budget with the priorities he outlined in his executive budget.

3 days ago | wjcl.com | Lydia Blackstone

Savannah Mayor Van Johnson is calling for a thorough investigation after a video showing a use-of-force incident involving Savannah Police went viral online.The video, recorded outside a McDonald’s on Skidaway Road, appears to show officers forcefully arresting a woman, later identified as Verene Ross. According to a police report obtained by WJCL 22 News, officers were responding to a call involving Ross’s son, Qua’maine Williams, who was accused of threatening someone with two metal pipes.

1 week ago | wjcl.com | Lydia Blackstone

Few honors compare to serving as the personal physician to the President of the United States. For Dr. Robert Darling, a Navy veteran and former White House physician under President Bill Clinton, it was the pinnacle of a remarkable career that began far from the halls of power. Raised in a working-class family on Long Island, Darling never imagined his path in military medicine would one day take him to the Oval Office.

1 week ago | wjcl.com | Lydia Blackstone

A new liquor liability bill signed into law Wednesday is offering hope to restaurant and bar owners across South Carolina who have long struggled with soaring insurance premiums. The measure, which lowers the state’s minimum required liquor liability coverage from $1 million to roughly $500,000, is expected to increase competition among insurers and make it more affordable for hospitality businesses to operate.