Rachel Ripp

Dec 1, 2024 | wltx.com | Rachel Ripp

SWANSEA, S.C. — Friends and family members got festive in Swansea on Sunday afternoon as the town hosted its annual Christmas parade. Many non-profit organizations, churches, local leaders and other groups rode through town on floats, golf carts and cars. Event organizer Casandra Riley said she's been helping with the event since around 2019.

Nov 24, 2024 | wltx.com | Rachel Ripp

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Four days ago, a parole board unanimously decided that Susan Smith should stay in prison. This decision comes 30 years after she was convicted of killing her two young sons by rolling her car into a South Carolina lake in Union County while they were strapped in their car seats. We spoke to a local criminal defense attorney and a former federal prosecutor, both unaffiliated with the case, about why people are still fascinated with this case 30 years later.

Nov 23, 2024 | wltx.com | Rachel Ripp

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The Central Midlands Council of Governments would like your opinion on traffic congestion in the Midlands. This regional planning body said it has been working with the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) on a traffic management plan since late 2023. Leaders involved with this group said the Federal Highway Administration requires them to update their Congestion Management Plan. "Our goal is always to work in concert to improve the transportation network.

Nov 17, 2024 | wltx.com | Rachel Ripp

LEXINGTON, S.C. — It's nearly time for families to go out and choose a real Christmas tree to decorate their homes for the holidays. But some Christmas tree farms in the Midlands were hit hard by Hurricane Helene. One of those farms was Price's Christmas Tree Farm in Lexington. The owner, Bryan Price, said about 130 of his trees drowned, according to the Clemson Extension and Forestry Service. He said this was after his farm received about 20 inches of rain within a two-week period.

Nov 16, 2024 | wltx.com | Rachel Ripp

EASTOVER, S.C. — The South Carolina Department on Aging is working to help the Midlands' dementia and Alzheimer's community. Organizers said the department's Alzheimer's Resource Coordination Center gets about $150,000 yearly to award dementia-specific grants. This year, the Antioch AME Zion Church in Eastover is getting $10,000 to help their Alzheimer's support group. Last year, organizers said they got $20,000.