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Several staffers fired after ‘insensitive’ Mexican costumes at South Carolina school sparks outrage

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Several staffers fired after ‘insensitive’ Mexican costumes at South Carolina school sparks outrage


Several South Carolina elementary school staffers were canned after photos emerged showing employees posing as Border Patrol agents and wearing stereotypical Mexican clothing at a school event this week, officials said.

Staff members at Royall Elementary School in Florence donned the offensive outfits for an “Olympic Parade” event on Wednesday — a professional development day before students’ first day of class. 

Photos from the event posted to the school’s Facebook page showed two employees wearing sunglasses and gray shirts with “US Border Patrol” posing in front of a hand-made brick wall display.

In another picture, several staffers wore bright-colored sombreros in front of a sign that said Royall “Cantina” — Spanish for “bar.”

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Dozens of parents and community members took to social media to condemn the images as racist and unacceptable, WCIV reported.

One post showed two staff members wearing “US Border Patrol” shirts in front of a makeshift brick wall. Royall Elementary School , /Facebook

“There were so many other ways to represent Mexico in the “Olympic Parade” Neither Border Patrol actually has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with “Back to School” or the “Olympics” in case yall did not know! And a “Cantina” is also an inappropriate representation of the Mexican culture,” posted one mother of a Royall student, who wished to be anonymous.

The mom’s post has gone viral with backlash pouring in from all over the country, calling the teachers’ actions “insensitive,” according to WCIV.

Annette Fling, a Mexican-American mother who has children in the district, called the stunt “a disgrace.”

Anothe photo showed teachers in sombreros in front of a display with a “Royall Cantina” sign. Royall Elementary School , /Facebook

“As a Mexican American, as an Hispanic woman, as a mother of biracial Hispanic children in the Florence 1 School district. I’m highly offended, highly offended,” Fling told the outlet.

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“These are educators with degrees that should have known better. Out of all the things they could have done to the culture, community, country of Mexico, they chose to use the U.S. Border Patrol,” she continued. “And Royal Cantina, which is a Spanish word for bar. Inappropriate, racial. Just all around flat out a disgrace.”

School District Superintendent Richard O’Malley contacted parents and said that several employees were fired over the controversy.

“I wanted to inform you that, due to the serious nature of this incident, several employees are no longer employed by the district or have been placed on leave by the district’s administration. As superintendent, I will not tolerate anything of this nature in our school district,”  O’Malley said in Friday email, obtained by the Post and Courier.

District officials confirmed that several employees were fired. Royall Elementary School , /Facebook

It’s unclear which, if any, of the employees pictured were among those let go.

The school also offered an apology saying the post showed “an insensitive disregard for the current challenges our Hispanic population faces.”

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The Post has reached out to school and district officials for comment.

The Racial Justice Network released a statement and accused the district of having a “habitual past of displaying discrimination” and blamed the teachers for pushing “Trump’s agenda,” WPDE reported.

“There was a lot of work, time, effort, and thought put into this display. There was no regard for the students and how some would feel and what message they were sending to others,” the organization said.

“We would like to know what the motives behind this were and what did the school hope to gain from this. The only thing they would gain would be to push Former President Trump’s agenda. School is no place for racism and politics,” they said.

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Dozens of rescuers search for a grandmother and 3 grandchildren missing on a hike in South Carolina

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Dozens of rescuers search for a grandmother and 3 grandchildren missing on a hike in South Carolina


CLEVELAND, S.C. (AP) — Dozens of rescuers scoured rugged terrain on Tuesday using drones, helicopters, offroad vehicles and dogs to search for a grandmother and three grandchildren who authorities believe got lost while hiking in a South Carolina state park.

The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office said a boy called 911 on Monday evening saying he and three family members had been lost for about three hours in the area of Caesars Head State Park near Cleveland, South Carolina. A vehicle matching one described by the boy was found at the Raven Cliff Falls trailhead, the sheriff’s office said in a statement.

The sheriff’s office identified the missing hikers as Tonda Michelin, 53; Melody Bangs, 14; Michael Lawton, 11; and Dale Moser, 9. Authorities have not said whether they live locally, or why the grandmother did not place the call.

During the 911 call, the child said his phone battery had almost run out, Lt. Ryan Flood of the sheriff’s office told WHNS-TV.

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The search began Monday and at least 50 people from half a dozen agencies including the National Guard are involved in the search.

Caesars Head State Park is about 30 miles (50 kilometers) northwest of Greenville, South Carolina, and is a protected environment for rare animals and plants. The Ravens Cliff Falls trail is a 4-mile (5.6-kilometer) round trip, leading to Caesars Head, a dramatic granite overlook atop the Blue Ridge Escarpment that provides views of many waterfalls.

Another popular trail — a 6.6-mile (10.6-kilometer) round trip — leads to a suspension bridge that crosses the creek above the 420-foot (130-meter) tall Raven Cliff Falls, according to the state park’s website. All the Caesars Head trails are rated as advanced and are in a wilderness setting, according to the website.

Caesars Head connects to Jones Gap State Park in the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area, which includes 17,000 acres (7,000 hectares) of mountainous forest, the website says.

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South Carolina gas prices stable at $2.71, offering relief before Thanksgiving travel

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South Carolina gas prices stable at .71, offering relief before Thanksgiving travel


Gas prices in South Carolina held steady over the past week, averaging $2.71 per gallon on Monday, according to GasBuddy’s latest survey of more than 3,000 stations statewide.

The average is down nearly a penny from a month ago and sits 3 cents lower than at this time last year. Diesel prices nationwide rose slightly, up 0.8 cents to $3.78 per gallon.

GasBuddy reported that the lowest price in the state Sunday was $2.36 per gallon, while the most expensive reached $3.49: a spread of $1.13.

Nationally, the average price of gasoline was unchanged from last week at $3.03 per gallon. The national average is 2 cents lower than a month ago but 2.5 cents higher than a year earlier.

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READ MORE | “South Carolina gas prices rise 3.1 cents, but experts predict holiday stability.”

In neighboring cities, prices varied: Spartanburg rose to $2.73 per gallon, up 2.3 cents; Augusta climbed to $2.77, up more than 9 cents; and Columbia held steady at $2.71.

Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said prices have stabilized heading into Thanksgiving travel but could fall further as refinery maintenance winds down.

“With refinery maintenance wrapping up, we’re likely to see more relief soon, particularly in the Great Lakes and West Coast regions,” De Haan said in a statement. He noted that while some Northwestern states may still be affected by a pipeline shutdown, lower oil prices could bring broader declines heading into the holidays.

Historical data show South Carolina drivers are paying far less than they did in 2022, when the average on Nov. 24 was $3.11 per gallon. The cheapest level recorded in the past decade for that date was $1.83 in 2015.

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South Carolina Lottery Pick 3, Pick 4 results for Nov. 23, 2025

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South Carolina Lottery Pick 3, Pick 4 results for Nov. 23, 2025


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The South Carolina Education Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Nov. 23, 2025, results for each game:

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Winning Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL numbers from Nov. 23 drawing

Evening: 1-0-2, FB: 9

Check Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL numbers from Nov. 23 drawing

Evening: 5-9-8-7, FB: 9

Check Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from Nov. 23 drawing

Evening: 14

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Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Palmetto Cash 5 numbers from Nov. 23 drawing

12-15-25-36-37

Check Palmetto Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

The South Carolina Education Lottery provides multiple ways to claim prizes, depending on the amount won:

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For prizes up to $500, you can redeem your winnings directly at any authorized South Carolina Education Lottery retailer. Simply present your signed winning ticket at the retailer for an immediate payout.

Winnings $501 to $100,000, may be redeemed by mailing your signed winning ticket along with a completed claim form and a copy of a government-issued photo ID to the South Carolina Education Lottery Claims Center. For security, keep copies of your documents and use registered mail to ensure the safe arrival of your ticket.

SC Education Lottery

P.O. Box 11039

Columbia, SC 29211-1039

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For large winnings above $100,000, claims must be made in person at the South Carolina Education Lottery Headquarters in Columbia. To claim, bring your signed winning ticket, a completed claim form, a government-issued photo ID, and your Social Security card for identity verification. Winners of large prizes may also set up an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) for convenient direct deposit of winnings.

Columbia Claims Center

1303 Assembly Street

Columbia, SC 29201

Claim Deadline: All prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the draw date for draw games.

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For more details and to access the claim form, visit the South Carolina Lottery claim page.

When are the South Carolina Lottery drawings held?

  • Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
  • Mega Millions: 11 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
  • Pick 3: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
  • Pick 4: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
  • Cash Pop: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
  • Palmetto Cash 5: 6:59 p.m. ET daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Carolina editor. You can send feedback using this form.



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