Tropical Depression Three has formed off the Southeast coast, expected to strengthen into Tropical Storm Chantal, bringing rain, gusty winds, rip currents, and potential minor flooding to the Carolinas, with impacts lasting through the weekend.
Rivalry week in college football saw major upsets and dramatic comebacks, impacting conference title races. Ohio State lost to Michigan, jeopardizing coach Ryan Day's future, while Miami's poor game management led to a loss against Syracuse, affecting their playoff chances. South Carolina's QB LaNorris Sellers shone in a win over Clemson, and Baylor continued their winning streak. The SEC contenders struggled but secured wins, and Tulane's loss to Memphis hurt their CFP hopes.
Greenville, South Carolina, has been named the fourth best city to live in the U.S. by U.S. News, praised for its affordability, mild climate, and low unemployment rates. The city has transformed into a bustling metropolis with a vibrant downtown, thanks to an influx of manufacturing jobs. Greenville offers a lower-than-average cost of living, a favorable housing market, and excellent outdoor recreation. It is home to over 40 Fortune 500 companies and has a strong educational system, making it attractive to both young professionals and seniors.
South Carolina's defensive tackles DeAndre Jules and Nick Barrett have been ruled out for the upcoming game against Vanderbilt, as per the SEC's player availability report. Additionally, walk-on defensive back Buddy Mack will not play. Despite these absences, freshman wide receiver Mazeo Bennett is cleared to play after recovering from an upper body injury sustained in the previous game against Texas A&M. The SEC has implemented a new injury report system requiring schools to update player availability leading up to game day.
No. 1 South Carolina won the SEC Tournament title against No. 8 LSU, but the victory was marred by a fourth-quarter fight leading to ejections. In another game, No. 3 Iowa rallied past Nebraska in overtime to win the Big Ten Tournament, and No. 14 Notre Dame secured the ACC Tournament championship by defeating No. 10 North Carolina State. Additionally, No. 9 UConn advanced to the Big East Tournament finals with a win over Marquette.
Vice President Kamala Harris visited Myrtle Beach as part of her campaign trail, speaking at the annual women's retreat of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. This trip is one of many aimed at rallying support ahead of the 2024 Democratic primaries, with South Carolina holding a significant early primary. Harris is focusing on highlighting the Biden-Harris administration's achievements and engaging with voters, particularly in states with upcoming critical primaries, to support President Joe Biden's bid for a second term and to help Democrats regain full control of Congress.
A new report details the prevalence of respiratory disease outbreaks in South Carolina, with significant activity in long-term care facilities, schools, and childcare settings. From Oct. 8 to Dec. 30, there were numerous outbreaks of COVID-19, flu, and RSV, with the flu leading to over 5,000 hospital visits in one week. Health officials emphasize the importance of vaccination, handwashing, covering coughs, staying home when sick, and mask-wearing in crowded places to prevent the spread of these illnesses.
South Carolina is experiencing a significant viral outbreak, with the state reporting the highest level of flu activity in the region, compounded by rising COVID-19 cases and other viruses. Low vaccination rates are a contributing factor, with only 22.68% of South Carolinians having received the flu shot and even lower rates for the updated COVID-19 booster. Public health officials are concerned about vaccine hesitancy, which has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic. Hospitals are seeing a rise in admissions due to these viral infections, and there are reports of co-infections with multiple viruses, although these are rare. Health experts emphasize that it is not too late to get vaccinated, as the current flu vaccine is considered a good match for circulating strains.
A storm system is expected to bring a wintry mix to parts of North Carolina and South Carolina late Friday into Saturday. While most of the Upstate will experience cold rain, areas in the mountains and north of the Upstate may see a mix of rain, freezing rain, and light snow, especially north and west of Asheville. The forecast is complex due to varying surface temperatures and could change with slight temperature shifts.
South Carolina, particularly the Anderson area, is experiencing a rise in flu cases, with AnMed Health witnessing increased flu and COVID inpatient admissions. AnMed recommends precautions such as vaccination, limiting hospital visits, wearing masks, and practicing good hygiene to prevent the spread of the flu. Residents are advised to stay home if sick and seek medical attention if necessary. The CDC notes that flu can lead to serious complications, especially in vulnerable groups.
South Carolina is experiencing a 'very high' level of flu activity, with the CDC reporting high flu activity in two-thirds of the U.S. Over 7 million cases have been estimated nationally, with 73,000 hospitalizations and 4,500 deaths. In South Carolina, there have been 25,068 lab-confirmed flu cases, 1,561 hospitalizations, and 18 deaths this season. Upstate counties such as Oconee, Pickens, Greenville, Anderson, Laurens, Spartanburg, and Newberry are reporting flu cases above the state's baseline. Hospitals like Prisma and Spartanburg Regional have implemented visitation restrictions due to the surge. Health officials are urging vaccinations and prompt medical attention for those who fall ill.
Prisma Health, South Carolina's largest healthcare system, is now out-of-network for UnitedHealthcare insurance plan members due to a failure to reach a contract agreement. Prisma Health accuses UnitedHealthcare of not accommodating for inflationary costs, while UnitedHealthcare describes Prisma's requested price increases as excessive. UnitedHealthcare remains open to discussions, while Prisma Health suggests that patients switch to a plan that includes Prisma as in-network during the Medicare Open Enrollment period. UnitedHealthcare will provide continuity of care for certain patients currently undergoing treatment.
South Carolina remains the No. 1 team in The Associated Press women's basketball poll, receiving 34 of 35 first-place votes. UCLA, at No. 2, received the other first-place vote. Syracuse entered the AP Top 25 at No. 25 after beating Notre Dame, while North Carolina fell out of the rankings. Iowa's Caitlin Clark made history by moving into fifth on the Division I all-time scoring list and becoming the Big Ten all-time assists leader. UConn rose to No. 12 in the rankings after a significant win over Marquette.
South Carolina's women's basketball team remains at the top of the AP Top 25 poll as of January 1, 2024, maintaining their dominant position from the previous year despite changes in their starting lineup. The Gamecocks, along with UCLA and Iowa, hold the top three spots, with UCLA ready to take over should South Carolina show any signs of weakness. The poll has seen significant movement with ranked teams losing to unranked opponents, leading to shifts in the rankings. South Carolina's recent victory over East Carolina and their upcoming SEC opener against Florida are key highlights, while Iowa's Caitlin Clark continues to chase the all-time scoring record, contributing to her team's high ranking.
South Carolina remains the top-ranked team in the AP women's basketball poll, receiving 34 of 35 first-place votes, while UCLA received the remaining vote after defeating USC. Syracuse entered the Top 25 for the first time since 2021, and North Carolina fell out of the rankings, ending a 34-week streak. Iowa's Caitlin Clark made history by moving into fifth on the Division I all-time scoring list and becoming the Big Ten all-time assists leader. UConn rose to No. 12 after a significant win over Marquette.