South-Carolina
University of South Carolina student, 21, killed in hit-and-run crash involving illegal immigrant: DHS
An illegal immigrant on the run from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement was busted for a devastating hit-and-run crash that killed a University of South Carolina student Wednesday, according to police and sources.
Rosali I. Fernandez-Cruz, 24, allegedly fled the fatal scene after he failed to yield and rammed his pick-up truck into a motorcycle operated by Nathanial Baker, 21, on Blossom and Assembly Streets near the university’s campus in Columbia around 2 p.m., according to the Columbia Police Department.
The careless motorist, who was allegedly driving without a license, was wanted by ICE since 2018, a Department of Homeland Security source told The Post.
“A South Carolina student was killed yesterday because of an illegal alien who had no right to be here,” South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace said in an X post Thursday.
“We’re going to fight like hell to get every last illegal alien out of South Carolina. We’re praying for the victim, his family, and the students at USC who have been touched by his passing. Hold the Line South Carolina.”
Sources said Fernandez-Cruz, a native of El Salvador, illegally crossed the US-Mexico border at an unknown date but was arrested by border patrol in Hidalgo, Texas on Dec. 24, 2016. He was released the next day and issued a notice to appear as DHS initiated removal proceedings.
An immigration judge in Charlotte, North Carolina, then ordered the undocumented migrant to be sent back to his home country on Sept. 6, 2018, sources said.
South Carolina police said Fernandez-Cruz was driving with two male passengers when he killed Baker, a business major from Glen Allen, Virginia, and fled the crash site. He then abandoned his truck and was nabbed by a nearby officer who found and detained him near the 1100 block of Greene Street, according to cops.
ICE was notified of the arrest after police discovered Fernandez-Cruz’s name listed in the National Crime Information Center database.
The two passengers, who also ran from the scene, aren’t facing criminal charges, police said.
Scores of grief-stricken USC students have since created a memorial on a sidewalk near the deadly crash site, leaving behind messages in chalk, flowers, pictures, and candles, according to local reports.
“Rest in Peace, Nate,” one message said, WACH reported.
“Thank you for the memories. We love you so much.”
Baker’s fraternity, Phi Gamma Delta, also shared their sorrow on Instagram, calling their fallen brother a leader, role model and a true embodiment of what their group stands for.
“Nate Baker brought light, laughter, and love into all of our lives,” the fraternity wrote in the post.
“Nate will always be remembered for the way he showed up for others and the impact he had on everyone around him. His passion, loyalty, and love for this brotherhood will never be forgotten. May we honor his memory by living with the same kindness, selflessness and generosity that he showed to everyone around him.”
The university released a statement calling the situation a tragedy. School officials offered their deepest sympathies to Baker’s family and friends while reminding the campus community that university counselors are available to grieving students.
Fernandez-Cruz was charged with hit-and-run resulting in death, failure to give information and render aid, failure to yield the right of way, and driving without a license.
He is being held without bond at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.
Crews in South Carolina rescued a stranded dolphin after heavy rains in the area last week. (Credit: Bluffton Township Fire District)
BLUFFTON, S.C. – First responders are used to rescuing people and animals, but in South Carolina, they were shocked when they were called to rescue a stranded dolphin.
The Bluffton Township Fire District said the dolphin, named “Lucky,” was found stranded in a shallow tidal lagoon inside the Hampton Lake community over the weekend.
Watch: Momma moose searches Alaska fire department for her calves
The female dolphin is measured at 7 feet, 10 inches, weighing between 400–500 pounds, and is known to researchers at the University of South Carolina Beaufort (USCB), where they track dolphins in the area.
Dig deeper:
Crews believe Lucky swam in the lagoon through a culvert connecting to the May River during last week’s heavy rains and high tides.
They believe once the waters receded, Lucky became trapped in shallow waters just 2–3 feet deep.
A passerby spotted the distressed mammal and contacted a neighbor who then alerted the Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network.
A rescue team was deployed from Charleston, South Carolina, including firefighters trained in water rescue.
They were able to corral the dolphin using a specially designed marine rescue tarp with stabilizing poles. Lucky was eventually safely guided onto the tarp.
The dolphin was released into deeper waters.
What they’re saying:
“This was a textbook example of interagency teamwork and calm under pressure,” Lauren Rust, Executive Director of LMMN, said in a news release. “From our trained responders to the Bluffton firefighters and helpful community members, everyone played a vital role in ensuring Lucky’s safe return home.”
The Source: The information in this story comes from a news release by the Bluffton Township Fire District and statements from the Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network (LMMN). This story was reported from Los Angeles.
South Carolina narrowly missed the College Football Playoff a year ago, so perhaps Shane Beamer is biased.
Whatever the reason, Beamer said Monday that he’s in favor of further expanding the playoff beyond its current 12-team format. The CFP was at four teams from 2014-13, then went to 12 teams last year, though there remains constant chatter it could be expanded to 14 or even 16 teams in 2026 and beyond.
“I’m all for more teams getting opportunities,” Beamer said Monday during his appearance at SEC Media Days in Atlanta. “I want to make sure we have the greatest regular season in any sport in college athletics, in my opinion, because every regular season game means something. So you want to make sure that the regular season doesn’t lose meaning and confident that it won’t if we expand. It’ll still make a lot more games meaningful in the month of November in my mind, and then gives more teams opportunities to go compete for a championship, which is what anybody wants.”
South Carolina went 9-4 last season, including a victory over eventual ACC champion Clemson on the final weekend of the regular season. However, when the final CFP rankings were released in early December, the Gamecocks were No. 15, left out along with the likes of Miami and Ole Miss.
There has also been talk of expanding the SEC’s schedule from eight games to nine for 2026. Beamer said that with South Carolina’s annual rivalry game with Clemson, the Gamecocks in effect already play nine “conference-level” games per year.
As Beamer noted, only South Carolina, Florida (with Florida State), Kentucky (Louisville) and Georgia (Georgia Tech) among SEC schools play the same non-conference rival each season. Beamer said that if the SEC went to a nine-game schedule, it would have to be made equitable across the board.
“Competition is a core value of our program, so I’m never gonna shy away from competition,” Beamer said. “… We have a schedule that we get to play, but we also get to play Clemson every season as well, and that’s a nonconference rival that we have that not every school in this league has. … I know everyone is going to play a power (conference) team in the regular season typically, but in my mind, we’re already playing nine conference games. Then if we go to nine, we’re now playing 10 conference games. And then we’ve also got future schedules with Miami on it, Virginia Tech this year, North Carolina, North Carolina State.
“So I’m all for competition, but I want to make sure that the other teams in this league aren’t playing nine SEC games and then playing three … games that they should win, because that’s not very smart as the head coach of South Carolina to be doing that if that’s what the other teams in this league aren’t doing it.”
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots: What to know in case you win
Here’s what to know in case you win the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.
Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
The South Carolina Education Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at July 13, 2025, results for each game:
Winning Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL numbers from July 13 drawing
Evening: 9-9-0, FB: 0
Check Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL numbers from July 13 drawing
Evening: 0-2-2-3, FB: 0
Check Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from July 13 drawing
Evening: 10
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Palmetto Cash 5 numbers from July 13 drawing
02-07-25-31-36
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:
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
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.
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.
Storms bring flash flooding in northern Wisconsin. Heavy rains are possible elsewhere.
Best Virginia Finalizes Roster Ahead of 2025 TBT in Charleston
Public information meeting scheduled for North Platte Park Utilities Project update
Russian National Charged With Laundering $530 Million Through Cryptocurrency Companies
Fed independence faces a ‘showdown’ between Trump & the market
-
Culture1 week agoTry to Match These Snarky Quotations to Their Novels and Stories
-
News6 days agoVideo: Trump Compliments President of Liberia on His ‘Beautiful English’
-
News1 week agoTexas Flooding Map: See How the Floodwaters Rose Along the Guadalupe River
-
Finance1 week ago
Do you really save money on Prime Day?
-
Business1 week ago
Companies keep slashing jobs. How worried should workers be about AI replacing them?
-
Technology1 week agoApple’s latest AirPods are already on sale for $99 before Prime Day
-
News5 days agoVideo: Clashes After Immigration Raid at California Cannabis Farm
-
Politics1 week agoJournalist who refused to duck during Trump assassination attempt reflects on Butler rally in new book
