South-Carolina
Greenville, Spartanburg among top 5 friendliest cities, towns in the South, says Southern Living
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VIDEO: Spartanburg Soup Kitchen prepares Easter baskets for local children
This Easter at the Spartanburg Soup Kitchen will be full of Easter baskets for local children. Volunteers prepared more than 300 baskets for local children.
When it comes to living in the South, most southerners would bet on their town being the friendliest.
This is due to the tradition of southern hospitality being passed on from friends and family to neighbor and stranger. Down in these parts, you can expect to make friends while running your daily errands. Southerners love to meet new people, and they are not afraid to chat up a storm, whether it’s while waiting in line at the grocery store or walking your dog around the neighborhood.
While there are many charming cities and towns in the South that keep up with the tradition of southern hospitality, there are only a few that made Southern Living’s recent list.
SC cities on Southern Living’s friendliest list
South Carolina dominates the top of Southern Living’s 15 Friendliest Cities in the South analysis. Charleston ranks No. 1, while Greenville is No. 3. Here’s what Southern Living had to say about these cities.
No. 1 Charleston
Charleston is a favorite among Southern Living readers, and the magazine says it has topped the annual list “for more years in a row than we can count on one hand.” It cites the city’s dining, waterfront views and architecture as standout features. But what about friendliness? One reader was quoted in the article: “I was walking down King Street with my family, and it started pouring rain. A perfect stranger stopped in his car, handed us an umbrella, said ‘Welcome to Charleston,’ and drove away.”
No. 3 Greenville
One thing Southern Living said it liked about Greenville is that it still feels like a small town with its walkable downtown. It singles out Falls Park on the Reedy River as a distinguishing feature of the city. Southern Living also mentions the Swamp Rabbit Trail: “Time in the great outdoors is good for the soul, so maybe that’s what makes Greenville locals so sunny? A leisurely bike ride along the Swamp Rabbit Trail … could turn even the deepest of frowns upside down.”
∎ No. 1: Charleston, South Carolina
∎ No. 2: Savannah, Georgia
∎ No. 3: Greenville, South Carolina
∎ No. 4: New Orleans, Louisiana
∎ No. 5: Nashville, Tennessee
∎ No. 6: Wilmington, North Carolina
∎ No. 7: Asheville, North Carolina
∎ No. 8: Franklin, Tennessee
∎ No. 9: Lexington, Kentucky
∎ No. 10: Lafayette, Louisiana
∎ No. 11: Chattanooga, Tennessee
∎ No. 12: San Antonio, Texas
∎ No. 13: Austin, Texas
∎ No. 14: Bentonville, Arkansas
∎ No. 15: Cary, North Carolina
SC towns on Southern Living’s friendliest list
Beaufort and Spartanburg are two S.C. towns that made appearances; Beaufort ranked No. 2 out of 20 Friendliest Towns in the South, while Spartanburg came in at No. 4. Here’s why the magazine recognized these towns as some of the friendliest.
No. 2 Beaufort
The city of Beaufort, located on Port Royal Island, is mostly known for its beaches and antebellum style mansions such as the John Mark Verdier House Museum. It is also known for the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront, which looks over the Beaufort River and Woods Memorial Bridge. Southern Living has listed the city on its South Best Awards several times throughout the years. But what is it that makes the city a friendly place?
“I’d prefer to keep it a secret, but y’all have let that cat out of the bag. The city itself is like a warm hug, her people are icing on the cake,” said one Southern Living reader. “Folks greet each other on the street, share stories over ice cream cones on benches, kids play and engage in the riverfront park, folks will scooch over a seat or two to make room for others. It’s just a lovely corner of home in this crazy world.”
No. 4 Spartanburg
Earlier this year, Spartanburg made Southern Living’s Best Cities on the Rise list due to its population growth and upcoming development projects. Readers of the magazine enjoy living in the Upstate city and appreciate the well managed city service and helpful employees.
One reader said: “They have great shopping downtown and friendly staff. The library is fantastic and worth visiting to look around. The staff there is also helpful with local history. Everybody says hello on their walking trail, families stop to chat and let their kids play on the trail. All around great experience.”
Another reader shared they have been “warmly welcomed at every turn” since retiring to the city.
Southern Living’s 20 Friendliest Towns in the South
∎ No. 1: Covington, Louisiana
∎ No. 2: Beaufort, South Carolina
∎ No. 3: Fairhope, Alabama
∎ No. 4: Spartanburg, South Carolina
∎ No. 5: Oxford, Mississippi
∎ No. 6: Southport, North Carolina
∎ No. 7: Round Top, Texas
∎ No. 8: St. Augustine, Florida
∎ No. 9: Fredericksburg, Texas
∎ No. 10: Laurel, Mississippi
∎ No. 11: Carolina Beach, North Carolina
∎ No. 12: Eureka Springs, Arkanas
∎ No. 13: Gatlinburg, Tennessee
∎ No. 14: Hendersonville, North Carolina
∎ No. 15: Williamsburg, Virginia
∎ No. 16: Ocean Springs, Mississippi
∎ No. 17: Auburn, Alabama
∎ No. 18: Paducah, Kentucky
∎ No. 19: Henderson, Kentucky
∎ No. 20: Fernandina Beach, Florida
Nina Tran covers trending topics. Reach her via email at ntran@gannett.com
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South-Carolina
Sheri Biggs wins South Carolina GOP primary runoff election to succeed Rep. Duncan
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Sheri Biggs, a nurse practitioner who had the backing of Gov. Henry McMaster, defeated her GOP primary challenger in a Tuesday runoff election to clinch the Republican nomination to replace outgoing GOP Rep. Jeff Duncan in South Carolina’s 3rd Congressional District.
The runoff election between GOP candidates Mark Burns and Sheri Biggs was triggered earlier this month after neither candidate received a majority of the vote in the state’s Republican primary election for the district.
Burns received around 33% of the vote, receiving a little more than 27,000 votes in the June 11 primary election. Biggs received about 28% of the vote in the same election, garnering just over 23,500 votes.
Biggs, a lieutenant colonel in the Air National Guard, ran as a “pro-life, pro-Second Amendment lifelong Republican.”
“I’m running for Congress to continue my lifetime of service and treat Washington’s health problem with bold, conservative, servant leadership,” she said on her campaign website.
Biggs had been endorsed by Gov. McMaster and had also highlighted her commitment to work with former President Trump, despite his endorsement of Burns.
“Sheri Biggs epitomizes the greatness of the people of South Carolina — an unwavering belief in God, a commitment to selfless service and a true resolve to fight for our shared values,” McMaster said in his endorsement.
“While her distinguished military and health care careers are truly admirable, her passion to help heal our nation’s fiscal, mental and spiritual health problems is exactly what we need representing us in Congress. Sheri Biggs will work with President Trump to secure our border, protect tax dollars, defend our conservative values, keep the promises to our veterans and drain the swamp.”
Trump, in his endorsement of Burns on Truth Social, described the pastor as “an America First Fighter” who is “a good man, a hard worker, and will not let you down!”
Ken Ruinard / staff / USA TODAY NETWORK
The former president cited Burns’ positions on border security, upholding the rule of law, the economy and defending “our always under siege Second Amendment.”
Burns has touted his positions on the border and pushing back against the “woke” agenda. He had also loudly touted his endorsement from Trump on his campaign website.
A former member of the South Carolina National Guard, Burns set up a church in Easley and has embraced the label by Time Magazine as “Donald Trump’s favorite pastor.”
Ken Ruinard / staff / USA TODAY NETWORK
Duncan decided not to run again for the seat after seven terms.
Duncan’s wife filed for divorce last year, accusing him of several affairs.
“At some point in a career, one needs to step aside and allow others to bring fresh ideas and abilities into the fight for liberty,” Duncan said in a statement in January.
Bryon Best, who manages a Sherwin Williams paint store in Greenwood, won the Democratic Party’s nomination to represent the district in the state’s June 11 primary election, defeating high school science teacher Frances Guldner by more than 2,050 votes.
The district is a mostly rural area in the northwestern part of the Palmetto State.
A Democrat has not won the district since Lindsey Graham flipped the seat in 1994.
Burns and Biggs sparred with five other Republicans who originally sought their party’s nomination in the race for the GOP-held seat. State Rep. Stewart Jones; businessman Franky Franco; and Kevin Bishop, a former staffer for South Carolina GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham, also sought the nomination.
South-Carolina
Pedestrian deaths have fallen for the first time since the pandemic
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Crossing the street is finally becoming a bit safer. After hitting a 40-year high in 2022, pedestrian deaths decreased in 2023, according to a report published Wednesday by the Governors Highway Safety Association.
The report shows a 5.4% fall in the annual number of pedestrian deaths, the first decrease since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The association’s CEO, Jonathan Adkins, says the progress is a step in the right direction.
“We’re happy to see it going down, but we’re not having a party,” said Adkins.
The number of fatalities — 7,318 — is still far more than in 2019, before the pandemic. But Adkins said there’s some evidence that new safety initiatives could be helping. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also says that overall traffic deaths are trending down so far in 2024.
Road safety advocates have pushed for a variety of measures, including lower speed limits, more sidewalks and better lighting in pedestrian areas. Adkins says that layering multiple methods is the key to preventing deaths.
“There’s a lot of construction going on across the country that’s making the roadway safer. We’re engaging law enforcement in some new and creative ways,” said Adkins. “We’re looking at vehicle technology. So we’re doing a lot of different things, and that’s a different approach to safety in the United States.”
He singled out California, which saw the greatest decrease in pedestrian deaths, for working closely with local governments. “That’s different than, certainly, historically in roadway safety,” he said.
Adkins says that the report’s findings could reflect the start of a new trend in pedestrian safety, as initiatives continue to be implemented across the United States.
“It’s really just started in the last few years. And so I’m hopeful that that’s starting to pay off,” he said.
Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reveals many pedestrian deaths in 2023 occurred at night in areas without sidewalks. They were most likely to involve SUVs or other large vehicles.
Copyright 2024 NPR
South-Carolina
Follow the race: Runoff elections expected to make big impact in SC politics
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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Around 30 runoff elections are taking place across South Carolina — many happening across the Midlands.
These are for races in which no candidate received a majority of votes during last week’s primaries, ranging from local races like sheriffs and county council to seats representing South Carolinians on Capitol Hill and at the State House.
- RICHLAND COUNTY: Rep. Thigpen, Councilman Walker challenge each other again for Senate seat
That is especially the case throughout much of South Carolina, where the vast majority of legislative districts lean heavily toward one party or the other, making them uncompetitive in a general election.
But the South Carolina Election Commission said runoffs are usually low-turnout races, with most garnering single-digit turnout among eligible voters.
MORE: Am I eligible to vote in the runoff today?
Eligible voters can also head to the polls on runoff day, which is Tuesday, June 25.
Polls will be open that day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the counties where there is at least one runoff. Check your sample ballot at scVOTES.gov.
South Carolinians voting in person, or if they are voting absentee by mail and returning their ballot in person, will need to bring a photo ID with them.
Check here for U.S. Senate, U.S. House results in South Carolina
SC Statewide Primary Runoff
Ivory Thigpen (D) | 0 | |
Overture Walker (D) | 0 |
Katrina Shealy (R) | 0 | |
Carlisle Kennedy (R) | 0 |
Chris Smith (R) | 0 | |
Jason Guerry (R) | 0 |
Austin Floyd (D) | 0 | |
Jeffrey Graham (D) | 0 |
Lindsay Agostini (R) | 0 | |
Michael Jones (R) | 0 |
Billy Garrett (R) | 0 | |
Charles Bumgardner (R) | 0 |
Johnny Felder (D) | 0 | |
Jerry Govan (D) | 0 |
Sheri Biggs (R) | 0 | |
Mark Burns (R) | 0 |
Sean Fogle (D) | 0 | |
Montez Haynes (D) | 0 |
Kayla Berry (R) | 0 | |
Abigail Ridgell (R) | 0 |
IncumbentWinner
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