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SC Department of Corrections launches anti-drone strategies as problem worsens

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SC Department of Corrections launches anti-drone strategies as problem worsens


CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) – It’s taken years, but the South Carolina Department of Corrections has finally implemented a new drone detection technology as part of a “multi-layered” effort to cut down on the threat of drone “attacks.”

“It’s not just one thing. It is a combination of things. It’s technology. It’s human capital. It’s investing in what we need to invest in to stop these drones from coming in and stop the contraband,” SCDC Director Bryan Stirling said.

The problem surfaced a few years ago and even prompted the passage of a law in South Carolina, criminalizing the act of operating a drone near a state prison without explicit permission.

The National Institute of Justice issued an advisory report in June on the concern of the “growing capabilities of drones that can deliver contraband into a facility.” It also addresses the legal and technical barriers that still exist in correctional facilities’ efforts to protect against them.

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“This is a national problem. This is in state prisons. This is in federal prisons. It’s very dangerous,” Stirling said.

READ MORE: ‘This is a war’: Drone-delivered contraband on the rise in South Carolina prisons

The tech called “Dedrone” is operated by artificial intelligence and alerts prison officials when drones enter their restricted airspace.

It can also track flight paths and locate where the device launched.

It’s the same tech used by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division during Bridge Run last year.

It cost $240,000 to implement at four institutions as well as a mobile unit but this was paid well before the program launched in late spring of this year.

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They plan to expand to four more.

“The likelihood of [pilots] being watched and caught has gone up exponentially,” Stirling said.

The department’s drone team has also expanded and has between 20-25 members. They are used to counter-surveil the area, find hidden contraband drops on roofs and in hard-to-find places and assist in searches with local law enforcement.

Another hurdle to overcome in connection to the drone issue is illegal cell phones.

“Contraband’s been a part of prison since they’ve had prisons, but cell phones make it so much easier to coordinate,” Stirling said.

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Drone drops are believed to be coordinated, in part, by illegal cellphones.(Live 5)

The department has lobbied Congress unsuccessfully for years to jam these devices because the Federal Communications Commission outright bans the practice.

But it did recently launch a work around and reports early successes, with hundreds of contraband phones rendered unusable at Lee Correctional earlier this year.

The strategies are relatively new, so it’s unclear how well they’re working.

But Stirling remains optimistic.

“We are definitely catching more contraband. We’re catching more contraband at the front gate. We’re catching more drones than I’ve seen,” he said.

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SCDC reports 735 sightings of drones at its institutions since 2019 and 198 this year alone.
SCDC reports 735 sightings of drones at its institutions since 2019 and 198 this year alone.(Live 5)

Each year, that number has increased significantly as drones have become more accessible to be used to fuel lucrative contraband market.

“It’s gotten worse,” Stirling said.

Prison officials believe this year will continue to break records.

Lowcountry facilities, Lieber and Ridgeland continue to have the most activity.

Multiple arrests related to attempted drone drops since January
Multiple arrests related to attempted drone drops since January(Live 5)

SCDC reports 11 individuals have been arrested since the start of the year in connection with drone drops, with one as recently as Wednesday.

Authorities also say two have been caught more than once.

Joshua Jordan of Summerville is one of those people. In May, authorities arrested him after they say they saw him

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attempting to fly two bags of tobacco into Lee Correctional.

Last year, Jordan was arrested outside of Lieber Correctional in January for an illegal drone drop where the device crashed into a prison yard. According to arrest warrants, correctional staff found more than 500 grams of marijuana and tobacco respectively, as well as hacksaw blades and lighters intended for prisoners inside.

“This doesn’t only affect… inside the prison, it affects folks outside,” Stirling said. “We’ve got a lieutenant here who is doing a very good job at finding contraband and they tried to burn his house down in Summerville.”

In that case, it was Jordan who was charged with attempted arson and later released on a $200,000 bond.

The detection tech was launched around the time authorities caught Jordan and it was able to detect that he had used the same drone each time he was arrested.

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It is important to note, drones are not the only way contraband can get into the hands of prisoners, it can also come from visitors and staff.

At least six former employees have also been charged for providing contraband to prisoners in 2023.



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Boeing to lay off hundreds of workers in South Carolina

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Boeing to lay off hundreds of workers in South Carolina


CHARLESTON, S.C. (WBTV) – Hundreds of Boeing employees in South Carolina will be laid off after the new year, according to a state document.

The most recent WARN report shows that 220 workers will lose their jobs. Boeing’s notice was submitted on Nov. 15, and the layoffs will happen Jan. 17, 2025.

Sister-station WCSC reported that eligible employees will get severance pay, career transition assistance and some health care benefits for up to three months after leaving the company.

“We are adjusting our workforce levels to align with our financial reality and a more focused set of priorities,” Boeing said in a statement to WCSC. “We are committed to ensuring our employees have support during this challenging time.”

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In October, WCSC reported that Boeing had plans to reduce its workforce by 10 percent.

The vast majority of the layoffs will happen in North Charleston.

Charlotte-based company laying off roughly 6-7% of workforce

Watch continuous news coverage here:

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Warde Manuel compares resumes for Clemson, South Carolina with rivalry showdown looming

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Warde Manuel compares resumes for Clemson, South Carolina with rivalry showdown looming


In the latest rankings from the College Football Playoff selection committee, No. 17 Clemson clocked in two spots ahead of in-state rival and No. 19 South Carolina. And the two arrived in the teens of the rankings with much different resumes.

While Clemson has mostly dominated a weaker ACC since getting throttled by Georgia in the opener, South Carolina has been a bit more volatile. Either way, not much separates the teams save for one win or loss either way — Clemson is 8-2 and South Carolina is 7-3.

“Well, both are coming off wins,” Manuel said. “The win by Clemson and South Carolina’s win versus Missouri. The difference, as you can see, Clemson has lost two games. They bounced back from that Louisville loss and had back-to-back road wins against Virginia Tech and Pitt. Significant loss to Georgia at the beginning of the season, but they’ve come back. Cade Klubnik has really controlled the offense and done very well. That run to end the game against Pitt was phenomenal. I just think they are playing good football as well as South Carolina.”

The question in ranking the two might come down to valuing mindlessly winning like Clemson had until stumbling against Louisville or the flashes of upside that South Carolina has shown.

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The Gamecocks hold the best win of the two teams, pulverizing Texas A&M at home. But Clemson’s road wins clearly hold some weight with the committee. And given the two teams are mere spots apart in the rankings, there’s not much to separate them in the eyes of the committee.

Which should make it all the more exciting when the two teams face off to end the season, as the Tigers will also potentially be monitoring results around the ACC with a path to the title game still open.

“So it’ll be interesting to see — as you can see they’re very close,” Manuel said. “The committee feels that Clemson and South Carolina are very close to each other as it relates to how we see those two teams.”



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South Carolina’s Shane Beamer Issues a Challenge to Gamecocks’ Fans

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South Carolina’s Shane Beamer Issues a Challenge to Gamecocks’ Fans


South Carolina will welcome the Wofford Terriers for the last home game of the season inside Williams-Brice Stadium. Gamecocks head coach Shane Beamer spoke on the matchup and challeneged fans to show up for a special night.

Coach Beamer opened the press conference announcing this game as the Salute to Service game. This is a special moment for Beamer as it gives his program an opportunity to thank those who have served or are currently serving.

“Saturday is our Salute The Troops game,” Coach Beamer said. “It’s always one of the highlights of the season for me. So grateful for them. All of the miliatry branches, the men and women,the sacrifices they make for their service to our country. Really proud and honored to be able to recognize them this Saturday.”

Not only is it the Salute to Service game, but with it being the last home game of the 2024 season it’s also Senior Night. Coach Beamer wants to send a special group of seniors out the right way.

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“We need to make sure we honor the seniors the right way on Saturday. Gamecock Walk needs to be electric because for so many of those seniors that will be getting honored on Saturday that is the last Gamecock Walk they’ll ever get to do. We will honor them right after pre-game warmups, right around 3:30ish,” Coach Beamer said about Senior Night.

Then a challeneged was issued to Gamecock fans. This is the last time these players will get to walk into Williams-Brice Stadium and suit up in front of a raucous crowd. Coach Beamer stressed the importance of getting there early and being loud.

“I would ask all of our fans to shut the tailgates down early. There’s plenty of opportunities in the future, God willing, to tailgate. This will be the last opportunity, and only opportunity, to recognize a really special group of seniors. I would love nothing more than for Williams-Brice Stadium to be absolutely packed thirty miniutes before kickoff, so we can give those seniors that’ll be playing their last game in Williams-Brice Stadium the recognition with their families on the field and the ovation that they deserve,” Coach Beamer on the fans importance for this game.

Saturday’s matchup against Wofford will be the first meeting between the two schools since 2017. Wofford comes into the game with over 30 players on their roster from the state of South Carolina. The staff knows how excited the Terriers will be for this matchup.

“Coach Watson has done a nice job there in his time,” Coach Beamer speaks on this week’s game. “The improvements they made from last to this season are evident. Proud program with a ton of tradition. Obviously 37 players on their team from the state of south carolina, so we know how juiced up they’ll be for this week.”

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Finally, Coach Beamer gave an update on the team’s injury list heading into the weekend.

“Obviously Brady Hunt won’t play. Outside of that, I would say that we’re optimistic on everyone else that didn’t finish the game. Judge Collier should be fine. He practiced today,” Coach Beamer updates the team’s injury.

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