COLUMBIA, S.C. (FOX Carolina) – On Saturday afternoon, officials with South Carolina’s State Emergency Division urged the state’s residents to prepare for winter weather and extreme cold.

Officials stressed the importance of taking action now to ensure safety during the cold.

“Arctic air is expected to move into the state Sunday night, with the possibility of snow and ice impacting parts of the state on Tuesday and Wednesday,” officials said.

Officials encouraged residents to take the following precautions:

• Assemble an emergency kit with non-perishable food, water, medications, flashlights, batteries, a first-aid kit, and important documents. Ensure the kit can sustain your household for at least three days.
• Insulate exposed pipes and let faucets drip overnight to prevent freezing and bursting.
• Prepare alternative heating sources, such as ensuring you have enough dry, seasoned wood for your fireplace. Keep fire extinguishers accessible, and make sure everyone knows how to use them.
• Keep kerosene heaters and generators outside, properly vented, and away from flammable materials. Never use a portable generator indoors.
• Check on pets and ensure they have access to food and water, while also protecting them from the cold by keeping them indoors if possible.
• Keep an emergency supply kit in your vehicle with essentials like water, snacks, and a flashlight for unexpected situations.
• Be cautious when walking or driving on ice, particularly black ice.
• Limit travel, especially during freezing conditions or overnight when temperatures are expected to drop.
• If travel is essential, slow down, increase your following distance, and remain alert.
• In the event of a minor collision without injuries, move your vehicle off the road and call local law enforcement or dial *HP (*47) for assistance.
• Share your travel plans with family or friends, including your destination and estimated time of arrival.

You can download the FOX Carolina First Alert Weather app for more updates on incoming weather.

Copyright 2025 WHNS. All rights reserved.

LUBBOCK, Texas (Jan. 17, 2025) – South Carolina Track & Field standout JaMeesia Ford paced the Gamecocks in the opening day of the Corky Classic in Lubbock, Texas.

South Carolina won a pair of events on the first day, led by a new world-leading time in the women’s 400 meter sprint by Ford. The Fayetteville, N.C. native clocked 51.20 to win the event, posting the second best time in Gamecock indoor history. In addition, Ford’s time ranks first in the NCAA this season. Ford’s teammate, Zaya Akins, also posted a new personal best in the 400m, running 52.15 to place third overall in the event. Akins’ new personal best time also ranks third in the NCAA and is currently third in the world standings.

The Gamecock women competed in just two field events with Omaria Gordon recording a new personal best in the women’s long jump for the third consecutive meet. The freshman jumper posted a mark of 6.19m (20-3.75) for the seventh best indoor long jump in program history, finishing fifth overall.

South Carolina’s men’s team captured one win as well, as Channing Ferguson secured the title in the men’s long jump. The All-American athlete jumped 7.47m (24-6.25) for the win, recording the seventh best jump in program history and ranking 16th in the NCAA.

All three Gamecocks who ran the men’s 400m set new personal best times, led by Josiah Wrice who clocked 46.38 for the sixth best indoor time in program history. In addition, Wrice’s 400m debut currently ranks him fifth on the NCAA leaderboard.

The Gamecocks will return to action tomorrow in the final day of the 2025 Corky Classic. The first event for South Carolina will be at noon (EST) with the women’s 200 meter sprint.

Men’s Individual Results
60 Meters (Prelims)
19. Antwan Hughes Jr. – 6.77q
21. Anthony Greenhow – 6.80q

60 Meters (Semis)
18. Antwan Hughes Jr. – 6.76
21. Anthony Greenhow – 6.83

400 Meters
4. Josiah Wrice – 46.38*
10. Devan Crumpton – 47.04*
19. Jasauna Dennis – 47.44*

60-Meter Hurdles (Prelims)
10. David Warmington – 7.92q

60-Meter Hurdles (Semis)
15. David Warmington – 7.95

Long Jump
1. Channing Ferguson – 7.47m/24-6.25

Women’s Individual Results
60 Meters (Prelims)
9. Cynteria James – 7.40Q
13. McKenzie Travis – 7.42q*
17. Jayla Jamison – 7.46Q

60 Meters (Semis)
9. Cynteria James – 7.31*
11. Jayla Jamison – 7.35
17. McKenzie Travis – 7.44

400 Meters
1. JaMeesia Ford – 51.20*
3. Zaya Akins – 52.15*

60-Meter Hurdles (Prelims)
18. Kennedy Flynn – 8.66q

60-Meter Hurdles (Semis)
17. Kennedy Flynn – 8.66

Long Jump
5. Omaria Gordon – 6.19m/20-3.75*

Pole Vault
12. Lena Richardson – 3.76m/12-4
— Emma Stone – NH

* – denotes indoor PR

COLUMBIA — South Carolina coach Dawn Staley is the highest-paid coach in the history of women’s college basketball as of Friday with a new contract that takes effect immediately and will run through 2029-30.

Staley, who won her third national championship at South Carolina in 2024, will receive an annual salary of $4 million with a $250,000 increase every season and a $500,000 signing bonus that makes the total value approximately $25.25 million.

“I’ve never been driven by money at all, never, ever,” Staley said on Friday afternoon. “Money is the byproduct of your success and your ability to work hard and be successful in your space. I do think it represents what can be in other professions that women for whatever reason are not paid for doing the same type of work, for the same type of job and I think this is an example of what it can look like, feel like, sound like and I hope everybody is happy about it for what it represents.”

Before the new contract, LSU coach Kim Mulkey was the highest-paid coach at $3,264,000.

Staley’s salary was the third-highest among women’s college basketball coaches, according to the USA TODAY Sports database from March 2024 but both she and UConn coach Geno Auriemma were making $3.1 million in terms of total pay.

“I think what it represents is, we play to a certain standard and I do think when we are able to get a raise like this, it’s to your standard,” Staley said. “I don’t think anyone expects us to play lower than our standard and we haven’t. Rewarded is a hard work for me because it’s earned. When you’ve done what you’re suppose to do and well above what you’re suppose to do you should be paid accordingly.”

Although she said she doesn’t usually share this kind of information with her players unless they ask, she did talk about what a contract like this may mean to them down the line.

“There’s going to be a time in their lives where they’re going to feel like they’re doing a job and they are getting paid less,” Staley said. “How to handle those instances. It’s a fight no matter what, it’s a fight … it’s a fight to explain to people what your worth is. You have to do some comparisons with coaches here, and coaches in other spaces and it’s the way it is, it’s negotiations. Our negotiations as women are a little bit different because we are valued a little bit different but I think when it’s all said and done, it’s the same things you apply to this game … negotiations are a game … you go back and forth.”

THURSDAY NIGHT: How South Carolina women’s basketball freshman Joyce Edwards was difference vs Alabama

Staley said former athletic director Ray Tanner, who had been working as AD until a little over a month ago, played a huge role making her new contract happen and that current athletic director Jeremiah Donati came in towards the end.

“It took a while for it to happen, a long time and fortunately we got to this great place that makes me look good but it makes our University and athletic department look great in the grand scheme of things,” Staley said. “Ray Tanner did a great job, ran a hard bargain.”

On the men’s side, Kansas coach Bill Self was the highest-paid coach as of March 2024 with a total pay of $9,625,624. In March, South Carolina men’s basketball coach Lamont Paris was given a six-year deal that pays him $26.25 million over the life of the contract, or an average of $4.375 million per year.

“The board of trustees did something that is extraordinary because it really just doesn’t happen but I’m glad it’s South Carolina, our University and our board, that no matter what, we look good,” Staley said. “I’m glad I am the person to be able to handle it because I truly don’t care about the money, I do care about the principle of it. Don’t care about the money but it’s the right thing to do though.”

Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at lkesin@gannett.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Lulukesin