• The capsule will contain artifacts from all 50 states, U.S. territories, and the federal government.
• South Carolina contributed a commemorative challenge coin and an official SC250 lapel pin to the project.
• The time capsule will be sealed on July 4, at Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia.

As the nation prepares for its 250th anniversary, one of the efforts underway is America’s Time Capsule.

The time capsule project is led by America250 and meant to bring together carefully selected artifacts and documents from all 50 states, five U.S. territories, the District of Columbia, and each branch of the federal government.

This national project is designed to capture the story of the United States at this historic 250th birthday, according to America250.

Here’s what South Carolina contributed to the national project.

What did South Carolina put in the America250 time capsule?

South Carolina is marking the nation’s 250th anniversary by contributing two historic items to the national America’s Time Capsule project, according to America250.

As part of the SouthCarolina250, which is the state’s initiative for the U.S.’s 250th celebration, commemoration effort, the state has provided a commemorative challenge coin and an official SC250 lapel pin.

Both will be buried inside the capsule on July 4, along with items from other states. And it is set to be reopened 250 years later in 2276.

• A significant heat wave is expected to bring dangerous temperatures to much of the central and eastern U.S.
• The heat dome will cause temperatures in the 90s to low 100s, with heat indices reaching up to 115 degrees.
• This period of extreme heat is forecasted to last through the Independence Day weekend, until around July 6.

A “significant” heat wave is on the way.

According to the latest forecast from the Weather Prediction Center, dangerous heat is expected across much of the country, including Tennessee, beginning June 28, and lasting into next week.

The National Weather Service is anticipating temperatures in the 90s to low 100s.

“These hot temperatures combined with high humidity will lead to heat indices of 100-110 degrees and locally as high as 115,” wrote the weather service in a June 25 statement. “Low temperatures only dropping into the 70s will provide little overnight relief.”

Here’s what to know.

What is a heat dome?

Heat domes, also called ridges of high pressure or death ridges, are large bulges of sinking warm air that can stretch up to 1,000 miles in summer, driving temperatures 30  degrees above normal and creating hazardous, drying conditions that often lead to deadly, multi‑day heat waves, Weather.com said.

According to climatecheck.com, the term describes the “oppressive” high-pressure atmospheric systems that cause warm air to be pushed to the Earth’s surface and trapped there for long periods of time.

LEAKEY, Texas – A giraffe that escaped a ranch in the Texas Hill Country two weeks ago has been located, according to the manager of the ranch.

The giraffe named Gracie disappeared from the Cedar Hollow Ranch on June 12.

What’s new:

Vick Jones, who manages the ranch, told FOX Local on Friday that Gracie was spotted by a helicopter about 7:30 a.m. nearly 4 miles away from the ranch.

According to Jones, she is in a heavily wooded and brush-filled remote area. He said Gracie was in good shape and had lots of trees to eat and water to drink. 

Jones said there are no roads leading to where she is, so a veterinarian is assembling a team to figure out the best way to get her back to the ranch. She’ll have to be tranquilized and loaded onto a trailer, which will take “the better part of a day.”

Gracie the giraffe is seen from a helicopter in rough terrain in the Texas Hill Country on June 26, 2026. (Real County Sheriff Nathan T. Johnson/Facebook / FOX Local)

What they’re saying:

According to Jones, the exotic-animal ranch has had giraffes for about 30 years. He said Gracie ventured into an area most of the giraffes don’t go and was able to get out of a gate.

“We released her into the canyon,” Jones said. “She actually started going up and feeding in an area we’d never had giraffes feed in before. It’s up on a rock slab, just a limestone slab, and she goes up the hill and went up over the mountain.”

An image of Gracie the giraffe was shared by authorities after the animal went missing June 22, 2026. (Real County Animal Rescue-Shelter/Facebook / FOX Local)

What’s next:

Gracie should be back at the ranch within the next day or so, Jones predicted.