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SC leaders say new program will cut nation’s lowest reincarceration rate even more

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SC leaders say new program will cut nation’s lowest reincarceration rate even more


COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCSC) – A decade ago, about a third of inmates released from South Carolina prisons were back behind bars within three years.

Now the state’s recidivism rate has plummeted to 17%, the lowest in the nation, and the head of South Carolina’s prison system is confident the number of repeat criminal offenders should soon drop even further.

On Wednesday, the South Carolina Department of Corrections announced a new partnership that it says will reduce crime and make South Carolinians safer without costing a cent to the state’s taxpayers.

“This not only will transform that person that was incarcerated. This is going to transform their family. This is going to transform their community. This will transform their county. This will also transform the state,” Corrections Director Bryan Stirling said.

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The Department of Corrections is partnering with the nonprofit Concordance to bring a reentry program and center to South Carolina.

The voluntary, 18-month program starts before inmates are released from prison and then works with them after release through job training, education, substance use and mental health treatment, and more.

“If you can’t heal someone first, then a lot of the other things that we offer don’t really matter,” Concordance Chairman and CEO Danny Ludeman said.

The South Carolina center will be located in the Greenville-Spartanburg area, where one in five South Carolina inmates moves after their release, with a projected March 2024 opening, according to SCDC.

“We’re going to have conversations later about where else we can go with this,” Stirling said, adding about 6,000 inmates are released from South Carolina’s prisons annually.

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This is the first center Concordance has planned outside its home state of Missouri, where it has seen a 56% reduction in the reincarceration rate among the 1,600 people who have come through the program.

“Our evidence-driven model has broken the generational cycle of incarceration. Approximately 60% of crime in this country is committed by formerly incarcerated individuals,” Ludeman said.

Concordance approached the South Carolina Department of Corrections to be the first state with which it is partnering in its nationwide expansion because of the success Stirling and his staff have had in reducing recidivism.

South Carolina leaders believe this will shrink the nation’s lowest reincarceration rate even more.

“If you have a loved one that is incarcerated, if you would tell them about this program, encourage them to get in this program, you will change their lives,” Stirling said.

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Wells Fargo has committed to donating up to $60 million as Concordance plans to open 40 centers across the country in the coming years, which is why this center is coming at no cost to South Carolina taxpayers.



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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

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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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