Local crime, high school sports, county politics, events tonight, and business closings — the daily Midlands report from HEREIrmo.
Sports
The South Carolina men's soccer team achieved a 4-0 victory against USC Upstate in its home opener on Monday, August 24, in Columbia. This win brings the Gamecocks' season record to 2-0, while USC Upstate stands at 0-2. The match at Eugene E. Stone III Stadium drew an attendance of…
Sports
NFL teams are preparing for significant roster reductions this week, with approximately 1,184 players expected to be cut as teams trim their 90-man rosters to the initial 53-player limit by Sunday's deadline. This annual process sees many players released, though some may return to practice squads or be re-signed later…
Sports
A federal appeals court ruling on Saturday, August 22, froze a Colorado court's decision that would have granted a fifth year of eligibility to members of the 2022 high school class. This decision has left hundreds of college athletes across various sports, including those in the Aiken area, in a…
The push to shorten the American undergraduate degree reached a federal milestone this month. The US Department of Education published a proposed rule on August 20, 2026 that would bar accrediting agencies from categorically blocking degree programs that take less time than tradition requires, and on August 24, 2026 the…
Education
A new public opinion poll released this week indicates a strong bipartisan desire among Americans for stricter regulations regarding artificial intelligence (AI) use in K-12 classrooms. The research, conducted by The Century Foundation (TCF), found that a significant majority of voters believe the federal government has been too slow to…
Education
President Donald Trump and Secretary of Education Linda McMahon hosted a Back to School event at the White House on Monday, August 24, 2026, highlighting efforts to dissolve the Department of Education and advance school choice initiatives. The event took place as students across the country, including those in Washington,…
Business
US equity futures showed an upward trend pre-bell on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, driven by a rebound in technology-related stocks following a previous session's selloff. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures increased by 0.5%, S&P 500 futures were up 0.5%, and Nasdaq futures saw a 1% rise.This market movement occurred as…
Business
Canada is finalizing a list of retaliatory tariffs on US goods, including steel, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, electronics, and pulp and paper, in response to recent US tariff threats. This move comes as Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Saturday that Canada supplies a significant portion of US energy…
Business
The stock market experienced varied movements this week as investors reacted to new economic data and corporate announcements. On Tuesday, August 25, the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average both saw slight gains, while the Nasdaq Composite advanced more significantly, driven by a rally in semiconductor stocks.The S&P 500…
Politics
Senator Darline Graham secured a victory in South Carolina's Republican Senate primary runoff on August 25, 2026, defeating Representative Ralph Norman. This outcome marks a significant endorsement win for President Donald Trump, who actively supported Graham's campaign.Graham's win follows a concerted effort by Trump, who recruited, endorsed, and campaigned for…
South Carolina Republicans resolved a statewide fight over their United States Senate nomination on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, when a special primary runoff gave Senator Darline Graham a narrow lead over Representative Ralph Norman in unofficial returns posted by the State Election Commission, and the State Board of Canvassers is…
Politics
Darline Graham, a political newcomer, secured a victory in the special Republican primary runoff on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, to replace her late brother, Senator Lindsey Graham, on the South Carolina ballot. The Associated Press projected her win, which followed a special Senate primary earlier this month.Graham, who received an…
Health
The rate of exemptions from routine childhood vaccines among US kindergartners reached a record high of 4.2% during the 2025-26 school year, according to new data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Monday. This marks an increase from 3.6% in the previous school year and…
Health
New research indicates that consuming approximately a handful of nuts daily could be linked to a reduced risk of developing high blood pressure. A systematic review and meta-analysis, published on August 4 in the British Journal of Nutrition, analyzed eight prospective studies and found that each additional 1-ounce (28-gram) serving…
Health
Public health officials across the Midlands are reiterating comprehensive guidance on extreme heat safety, emphasizing preparation, prevention, and prompt treatment for heat-related illnesses. These advisories come as extreme heat events are increasingly recognized as a significant public health challenge, responsible for more fatalities than any other weather phenomenon annually, with…
Home and Garden
Irmo residents, particularly those in suburban areas, may find themselves sharing their yards with nine-banded armadillos, a species naturally migrating into South Carolina. While these animals are often secretive, their presence can lead to significant property damage, as evidenced by observations in West Ashley, where a resident documented armadillo activity…
Home and Garden
A recent garden photograph featuring a hummingbird moth has captured significant attention online, offering a detailed look at this unusual pollinator. The image, shared on a popular gardening forum, depicted the insect feeding on cosmos flowers.Commenters on the forum expressed delight and surprise at the moth's appearance. One person noted…
Home and Garden
A creator behind Glass Root Garden, an online presence, suggests that a yard appearing spotless, without visible insect activity or other creatures, may not be supporting local wildlife. The creator stated that a pest-free environment often signifies a starving ecosystem rather than a healthy one.For many years, gardeners in urban…
Technology
A recent discussion on August 24, 2026, featuring Jungwon Byun, co-founder of Elicit, explored the evolving role of artificial intelligence in scientific research. Byun highlighted how AI tools are being developed specifically to assist scientists in identifying new hypotheses, mapping research fields, and making evidence-based decisions, moving beyond general question-answering…
Technology
Georgia State University is actively exploring the integration of artificial intelligence into its teaching and learning practices, with a recent pilot program concluding on August 14, 2026. This initiative aims to leverage AI to foster critical thinking and effective communication among students, while also providing faculty with resources and best…
Technology
A new, free artificial intelligence model named Ox Alpha has emerged, capturing the attention of developers and tech leaders in Silicon Valley since its appearance on OpenRouter on Thursday. The model, described as a stealth offering from an anonymous third-party provider, is designed for coding, sustained agentic work, and production…
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