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Fire danger on the rise across South Carolina due to dry, windy conditions 22 Oct 6:22 PM (6 hours ago)

SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) - Despite no red flag warning, officials have urged South Carolinians not to burn anything over the next few days due to increased risk of fire danger.

The South Carolina Forestry Commission (SCFC) said a very dry air mass will be pushed into the state Thursday, bringing relative humidity values down to the low 20s with sustained winds of 10 to 12 mph. Possible wind gusts could be as high as 20 mph.

After Thursday, relative humidity is expected to increase. Friday temperatures are anticipated to be much cooler, between the lower 40s and upper 30s.

Firefighters with the Boiling Springs Fire Department explained that the conditions mean small sparks can turn into big problems.

"The concern with that is any little thing can spark a brushfire," Lt. Philip Burns said. "Anything from throwing out cigarette butts or a chain dragging on the road, causing sparks to fly or actual outdoor burning can cause a pretty devastating fire.”

SCFC Fire Management Officer, Clay Howard, encouraged everyone to use extreme caution, or better yet, hold off on burning until conditions improve.

“Things can escalate quickly,” Howard said. “That’s the number one thing I hear from landowners or private residents when we show up to a fire, is ‘I didn’t know it would happen that fast.’”

If you do plan to burn outdoors, check with your local authorities first.

"We’re just asking that if you do burn, have a water source with you close by, stay away from any outdoor structures, whether it be a shed or a house, have some distance there, and notify the forestry commission anytime you do outdoor burning," Burns said.

Even though there is no burn ban in effect currently, officials said that could change if the South Carolina's climate remains dry or fires start picking up.

"We don’t want it to get to like it was this spring with the Table Rock fire or Persimmon Ridge fire and the coastal fires,” Howard said. “It can get out of hand fairly quick, and resources can be stretched very thin through the state.”

The warning spans across the Upstate, western North Carolina and northeast Georgia.

SCHP investigating officer-involved crash in Easley 22 Oct 5:00 PM (7 hours ago)

EASLEY, S.C. (WSPA) -- Troopers with South Carolina Highway Patrol (SCHP) are investigating a crash involving an officer with the Easley Police Department.

Police said the crash occurred around 5:20 p.m. on Highway 123 near Rock Springs Road.

SCHP has not yet revealed what led up to the crash.

Details remain limited at this time. Stay up to date with 7NEWS on the air and online as more information is made available.

No bomb found after restaurant evacuated in Anderson Co. 22 Oct 4:20 PM (8 hours ago)

WEST PELZER, S.C. (WSPA) -- Deputies responded to reports of a potential bomb at a restaurant in West Pelzer on Wednesday night.

According to the Anderson County Sheriff's Office, multiple calls reported bombs being at the combination KFC and Taco Bell restaurant on Depot Road.

Officers with the West Pelzer Police Department evacuated the restaurant out of precaution.

Shortly after 9 p.m., deputies said the no bomb was found at the restaurant. Officials have since left the area.

5 times the White House underwent major renovations 22 Oct 4:11 PM (8 hours ago)

(The Hill) – President Trump's construction of a grand ballroom attached to the White House — starting with the demolition of part of the East Wing this week — will not be the first time a president has left a lasting mark on the people's house.

Presidents from Teddy Roosevelt to Barack Obama have remade parts of the building to their liking. And Harry Truman oversaw a major modernization of the White House, built in 1792.

"The South Portico, the North Portico, the East Wing, the West Wing, and the Truman Balcony all raised concerns at the time — but today, we can’t imagine the White House without these iconic elements," the White House Historical Association said this week.

However, nothing done in the past matches Trump's ambitions, Ed Lengel, who served as the chief historian for the White House Historical Association from 2016-18, told The Hill.

“There’s never been anything like that before. And I think I can say that with total confidence. There’s been nothing on that scale, even close to that scale, has ever been done before," he said.

Trump envisions a massive ballroom, paid for by private donors, attached to the East Wing for entertaining world dignitaries and other guests. 

The White House has hit back at criticism of the project, calling it "a bold, necessary addition that echoes the storied history of improvements and renovations from commanders-in-chief to keep the executive residence as a beacon of American excellence."

Here’s a timeline of other major White House renovations:

1902

The creation of the West Wing, which houses the offices of the president and his closest staff, started under former President Theodore Roosevelt and was completed under former President Taft.

Prior to 1902, presidents would work from different spaces in the executive mansion, but there was no designated spot for official business. Roosevelt wanted a central office for the commander in chief and hired workers to build a rectangular space on the west side of the White House for the first presidential office, which was later called the "Roosevelt Room."

The Roosevelt renovation was planned and carried out by the “famous” New York architectural firm McKim, Mead and White, according to the White House. 

Roosevelt worked in his new office for the first time on Nov. 5, 1902, and held his first Cabinet meeting there the next day, according to the White House Historical Association (WHHA).

Taft expanded what was called a temporary executive office building into the West Wing seven years later, placing an oval-shaped office at its center.

1933

Former President Franklin D. Roosevelt added 25,000 feet of permanent office space to the West Wing when he took office three decades later, according to the White House.

“A ‘penthouse’ story and an enlarged subterranean office area with a light well were built,” the WHHA said. “The Oval Office was relocated to the West Wing’s southeast corner-its present location-to overlook the Wilson Rose Garden.”

Roosevelt also added an indoor pool in the West Terrace for the president to exercise amid his battle with polio, according to the WHHA. The $12,000 to build the pool was raised by The Daily News, which established the Roosevelt Swimming Pool Fund.

That pool has since been covered by the White House briefing room. But an outdoor pool, built under President Ford, still exists on the South Lawn. It was funded through private donations.

1948

Truman oversaw the White House's most significant construction project, moving to the adjacent Blair House after parts of the normal residence were deemed unsafe.

Truman in March 1949 asked Congress to create the Commission on Renovation of the Executive Mansion to address severe architectural inadequacies in the White House. It comprised six members: two each appointed by the president, House and Senate.

Truman and his family moved out soon after his re-election in 1948, spending much of his second term in the nearby building that now hosts foreign dignitaries during their visits.

The renovations cost approximately $5.7 million, which amounts to more than $50 million in today's dollars, according to the Truman Library Institute.

The White House was gutted, but the Trumans sought to preserve the building as much as possible, working together with architect Lorenzo Winslow.

Truman was happy with the result, if not the price tag.

“Bess & I looked over the East Room, Green Room, Blue Room, Red Room and State Dining Room. They are lovely. So is the hall and state stairway," he said of his return to the residence. "With all the trouble and worry it is worth it—but not 5 ½ million dollars."

“If I could have had charge of the construction it would have been done for half the money and in half the time!”

1973

Former President Nixon added one-lane bowling alley to the White House.

White House staffers and visitors still occasionally using the bowling alley, located under the driveway leading to the North Portico.

The underground space was paid for by private donors, according to the White House museum. However, it wasn’t the White House’s first bowling area.

Under Truman, a bowling lane was added to the space that is now used as the Situation Room in 1947. At the time, staff started a bowling league. Former President Eisenhower moved the alley to the basement beneath the Old Executive Office Building. 

2009

Former President Obama converted the White House tennis court into a full scale basketball court in 2009. It was adapted for both tennis and basketball use, according to the White House. 

College basketball championship teams and Wounded Warriors have played on the court, according to Obama's White House.

During his first term, President Trump added a new White House tennis pavilion. The project, overseen by first lady Melania Trump, included a refurbishment of the existing tennis court and the adjacent “Grandchildren’s Garden," according to a press release at the time.

Measles cases on the rise in South Carolina: What to know 22 Oct 2:54 PM (9 hours ago)

SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) - The South Carolina Department of Public Health (SCDPH) is facing low turnout at its measles mobile vaccination units in Spartanburg County, despite a recent outbreak that has led to four new cases.

The increase in cases was reported Tuesday. SCDPH officials said two of the new cases are close contacts to known cases who have been quarantining at home. Officials said they were not present at any school settings while contagious.

The other two cases were associated with a business in Spartanburg and SCDPH said there were no public exposures.

State epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell emphasized the importance of vaccination to prevent further spread. Despite the uptick in cases, she said there is good news.

"Because these individuals were quarantining at home before they became infectious, no additional exposures occurred with these new cases," said Bell.

The outbreak resulted in the quarantine of over 150 students from two Upstate schools, though this number has decreased as unvaccinated students return to school after completing their quarantine period.

"Yesterday, the exclusionary period for Global Academy School ended for students exposed in the school setting. And today, the exclusionary period for the Fairforest Elementary School ends," Bell continued.

Though mobile vaccination units have been deployed, SCDPH leaders said the turnout has been disappointing.

Only seven doses of the MMR vaccine were administered to the public last week, raising concerns about ongoing community transmission.

Karen Henderson, a Greer resident, was vaccinated at one of the mobile units.

"I'm in an age group where my mom says I had my shot when I was little, but we have no record of that," she explained. "There's also a gap, some gap years, like from 1958 to 1964 or something, that if you were born between those years, you may not be protected against measles. So, I came up today to get that protection."

The Upstate region has the lowest student vaccination rate in South Carolina. Health officials have considered increasing hours that vaccine units are open, a move experts believe will encourage more people to get vaccinated.

Spartanburg School Resource Officer's might be getting body cameras: What to know 22 Oct 2:45 PM (9 hours ago)

SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) - The Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office has received permission to apply for a grant that would give body-worn cameras to all school resource officers in the county.

School resource officers, or SRO's, are assigned to various elementary, middle, and high schools in Spartanburg County to ensure the safety of students and staff.

Despite body cameras being used by law enforcement in the U.S. since the early 2000s, not all officers are required to use them.

Lieutenant Graham McLellan, with the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office, said the department has been working for years to get additional cameras for SRO's, and the grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) would help greatly.

"Body cams allow us to ensure that our officers are doing things the right way. It provides our officers protection from people who said maybe they didn't do something the right way. We want everybody to be able to have a body cam, because it does lead to an extra level of insurance for us and the officer," Lt. McLellan said.

The Sheriff's Office is seeking $43,912.80 from the BJA FY25 Body-Worn Camera Grant which would provide 45 body cameras and 3 years of licensing.

During the October 20th Spartanburg County Council meeting, along with giving the sheriff's office permission to apply, council members agreed to match the grant allotment with funds from the school contribution carryover fund.

Prior to body cameras, SRO's had to rely solely on school security footage. Lt. McLellan said the cameras will give officers a closer view of a situation, along with better quality and audio.

"We want to ensure that our officers are doing the best job while they're at the school with your student. We want to make sure that they're doing what they're supposed to do," Lt. McLellan explained. "But we also want to provide them protection in the event that there's something else that goes on. It's not going to change at all how the officer works, what they do, or the protection that they provide for your student."

The application for the grant closes November 3, 2025, and if the sheriff's office receives the money, they plan on SRO's having body cameras no later than next school year.

SC Supreme Court hears challenge to lawmakers’ pay increase 22 Oct 2:02 PM (10 hours ago)

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSPA) - The South Carolina Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday in a challenge to a new pay increase for state lawmakers, centered on a monthly payment known as “in-district compensation.”

During this year’s legislative session, lawmakers approved a budget proviso raising payment from $1,000 to $2,500 per month.

Ken Moffitt, of the Senate Clerk’s Office and representing Senate President Thomas Alexander, defended the increase.

"These guys go home, and they experience an increase in expenses in the same way that we all have. Prices have risen, and the proviso reflects that."

The raise is being challenged by Senator Wes Climer (R–York) and a South Carolina resident, who filed a lawsuit arguing the increase violates the state constitution’s ban on lawmakers granting themselves pay raises during their own term.

Attorney Phillip Barber, representing Climer and another plaintiff, said this rule has existed for centuries:

"The clear intent since the 18th century was that you cannot increase the payment for services rendered without giving the people a chance to have an election beforehand. You can increase for a future legislature, not for yourself."

A key part of the legal debate stems from a 1988 terminology change when what was once called a “legislative expense allowance” was renamed “in-district compensation.” Attorneys argue that wording determines whether the payment is a reimbursement for expenses, which could be constitutional, or additional salary, which would not be.

Barber said, "If the proviso specifically directed that the money be used to reimburse official expenses... that would be constitutional...It just says compensation. It doesn't even use the word expenses."

Moffitt countered that the intent is still reimbursement.

"Compensation essentially means to reimburse...It is an expense."

Because the budget line for the increase was tied to the existing stipend, lawmakers have not received their $1,000 monthly in-district compensation while the case is pending. Payments at both the old and new rates are suspended until the court issues a ruling.

Representative Hamilton Grant (D - Richland) said the pause is hurting lawmakers who already pay many expenses out of pocket.

"I want to be clear that this is not something that we're looking to get rich...There are demands, there are places you need to be, there are things that you need to do for your constituents...and we're paying out of pocket for those expenses," said Grant.

The South Carolina Supreme Court has not said when it will issue its decision. Until then, the issue remains in limbo.

North Carolina adopts new Trump-backed US House districts aimed at gaining a Republican seat 22 Oct 1:42 PM (10 hours ago)

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina's Republican legislative leaders completed their remapping of the state's U.S. House districts on Wednesday, intent on picking up one more seat for President Donald Trump's push to retain GOP control of Congress in next year's midterm elections.

The boundaries approved by the state House aim to thwart the reelection of Democratic U.S. Rep. Don Davis, an African American who currently represents more than 20 northeastern counties in what's been the state's only swing seat. The state Senate already approved the plan in a similar party-line vote Tuesday.

Republicans hold majorities in both General Assembly chambers, and Democratic Gov. Josh Stein cannot veto redistricting maps under state law. So the GOP’s lines can now be implemented unless anticipated litigation by Democrats or voting rights advocates stops them. Candidate filing for 2026 is scheduled to begin Dec. 1.

Republican lawmakers made crystal clear that their proposed changes answer Trump’s call for GOP-led states to secure more seats for the party nationwide, so that Congress can continue advancing his agenda. Democrats have responded with rival moves in blue states. A president’s party historically loses seats in midterm elections, and Democrats currently need to gain just three more seats to flip House control.

“The new congressional map improves Republican political strength in eastern North Carolina and will bring in an additional Republican seat to North Carolina’s congressional delegation,” GOP Rep. Brenden Jones said during a debate that Republicans cut off after about an hour.

Black Democratic state Rep. Gloristine Brown accused mapmakers of purposefully diluting African American votes in her region with the plan.

“North Carolina is a testing ground for the new era of Jim Crow laws,” Brown said. “You are silencing Black voices and are going against the will of your constituents.”

North Carolina the latest state in remapping battle

Republican-led Texas and Missouri revised their maps. Democrats then asked California voters to approve a map in their favor. Jones accused California Gov. Gavin Newsom of ramping up the redistricting fight.

“We will not let outsiders tell us how to govern, and we will never apologize for doing exactly what the people of this state has elected us to do,” Jones said.

By exchanging several counties in Davis’ current district with another coastal district, Republicans have calculated based on election data that they can increase their dominance from holding 10 of the state's 14 House seats to 11, in a state where Trump got 51% of the popular vote in 2024 and statewide elections are often close.

District altered has elected Black lawmakers for decades

Davis is one of North Carolina’s three Black representatives. Map critics argue this latest GOP map should be sued over as an illegal racial gerrymander in a district that has included several majority Black counties, electing African Americans to the U.S. House continuously since 1992.

“It is morally reprehensible and legally indefensible — and it will be challenged in court,” former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, who heads the national Democratic Party's redistricting efforts, said in a news release.

Republicans countered that the redrawing was based not on race but on gaining political advantage, an allowable aim based on recent federal and state court decisions.

Davis won in district that also chose Trump

Davis, a political moderate, was already vulnerable — he won his second term by less than 2 percentage points, and the 1st District was one of 13 nationwide where both Trump and a Democratic House member was elected last year, according to the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia.

Davis on Tuesday called the replacement map “beyond the pale.” He still plans to run in 2026 if the map stands, his campaign spokesperson confirmed Wednesday — either in the 1st or the adjoining 3rd District represented by GOP Rep. Greg Murphy, a district also altered in the legislation.

Hundreds of Democratic and liberal activists swarmed the legislative complex this week and accused GOP legislators of doing Trump’s bidding through a speedy and unfair redistricting process.

During Wednesday’s debate, General Assembly police cleared the House gallery of dozens of protesters who disrupted the proceedings.

State GOP leaders say Trump won North Carolina all three times that he’s run for president and thus merits more GOP support in Congress. Senate leader Phil Berger called it appropriate "under the law and in conjunction with basically listening to the will of the people.”

Stein said in a video released Wednesday that passing the map was “disgraceful” and he would veto it if he could.

House Minority Leader Robert Reives warned Republican colleagues that one day they'd be targeted by the same Trump-backed GOP that's going after Davis should they fail to toe the party line.

"Mark this day because one day they’re coming to you, they’re going to ask you to do something that you just can’t do,” Reives said. “And because we have set the precedent that only one person in the party matters, you’re going home.”

__

Associated Press writer David A. Lieb in Jefferson City, Missouri, contributed to this report.

Pentagon touts 'next generation' press corps of mostly right-wing outlets 22 Oct 1:26 PM (11 hours ago)

The Defense Department on Wednesday announced the "next generation" of the Pentagon press corps, including mostly right-wing outlets, following the mass exodus of legacy outlets from the building who refused to sign the department’s restrictive new press policy.

More than 60 journalists, “representing a broad spectrum of new media outlets and independent journalists,” have signed the Pentagon’s media access policy and will join 26 journalists from 18 outlets who already had building access and agreed to the new rules, according to chief spokesperson Sean Parnell.

In a statement to X, Parnell used the announcement to denigrate the outlets that refused to sign to keep their access badges as “self-righteous media who chose to self-deport from the Pentagon.”

He claimed the new batch of media outlets — the majority of which appear conservative or far-right — “have created the formula to circumvent the lies of the mainstream media and get real news directly to the American people.” 

The Pentagon declined to release a list of the new media outlets to The Hill, but posts to social media on Wednesday indicate that the additional journalists work across far-right websites such as Human Events; its sister company, Canadian website the Post Millennial; the National Pulse; The Gateway Pundit; and LindellTV, started by MyPillow CEO and President Trump ally Mike Lindell. 

Also included are Just the News, right-wing podcast host Tim Pool’s Timcast, Turning Point USA’s media brand Frontlines, and a Substack-based newsletter called the Washington Reporter.

They will join the likes of One America News Network, the Federalist, and the Epoch Times, a handful of foreign outlets, and freelancers and independent journalists who already had a press badge, though only One America News Network regularly reports from the building.

Every major television network, wire, publication and radio outlet reporter — including for the conservative Fox News, Newsmax, the Washington Times, the Washington Examiner and the Daily Caller — refused to sign the policy, under which journalists could be deemed a vague “security or safety risk” should they ask DOD personnel for information deemed sensitive or unclassified that’s not authorized for disclosure  

The Pentagon Press Association issued a blistering condemnation of the policy, accusing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and defense leadership of trying to “stifle a free press” by sending “an unprecedented message of intimidation to everyone within the DoD.”

The rules also follow a steady stream of directives out of Hegseth’s office that have sought to severely kneecap press access and accommodations in the Pentagon since the start of the year, even while insisting this is the “most transparent administration ever.” 

Former CNN reporter and longtime Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr, who has criticized Hegseth over the press rules, on Wednesday called out Parnell over his comments, pointing out that the ousted reporters continue to cover the building. 

“First we wish any legitimate journalist well on their journey to cover the news. But ‘your’ government announcement of a next gen press corps is shall we say beyond odd,” Starr posted to X. “The Pentagon press corps still is working every day no matter how afraid of it you all seem to be. ‘Self deport’?  Naw. Too busy working!”

How fast is your food? Study reveals the speediest drive-thrus for 2025 22 Oct 12:49 PM (11 hours ago)

(NEXSTAR) – From coffee to prescription drugs, Americans love making a purchase from the comfort of their vehicle – but when it comes to speed of service, not all drive-thrus are equal.

A new study from Intouch Insights and QSR Magazine tested the wait time at drive-thrus in three categories: Classic fast food restaurants, Chicken restaurants and Beverages.

One hundred sixty-five mystery shoppers across the United States visited the various drive-thrus at different times and on different days of the week between June and July, 2025, to gather research for the study.

Among the Classic restaurants, Taco Bell took the crown for the fifth year in a row with an average total time spent in the drive-thru of 4:16. Taco Bell was followed by Arby's (4:32), Wendy's (4:53), Burger King (6:02) and McDonald's (6:03).

Taco Bell has recently revamped its order-taking system by deploying AI at over 500 drive-thrus.

"For our customers, AI is delivering more relevant communications and helping customers find more great food options across our menu, more quickly," Dane Mathews, Taco Bell’s global chief digital and technology officer, told QSR. "Over time, AI will be at the center of orchestrating Taco Bell’s drive-thru transformation for both customers and team members."

When it comes to chicken orders, KFC was the clear winner (4:21), followed by Raising Cane's (6:23), Popeyes (6:50), and Chick-fil-A – America's favorite fast food chain for 11 years running – which had the slowest drive-thru time of 7:06.

As for beverages, Tim Hortons was the fastest (4:25), followed by Dunkin' (5:09), Starbucks (6:13) and Dutch Bros (6:22).

While fast food chains work to streamline their operations, for many Americans drive-thru times are less important than one other factor: the price.

According to one survey, nearly 8 in 10 Americans said they now view fast food as a "luxury."

Inn restored to showcase Travelers Rests' history 22 Oct 12:47 PM (11 hours ago)

TRAVELERS REST, S.C. (WSPA) - A piece of Upstate history opened its doors to the public on Wednesday.

The Spring Park Inn is one of the oldest structures in Travelers Rest.

“The inn was originally built in the early 1800s," said Mark Garrison, President of Travelers Rest Historical Society. "It was expanded and made into an inn in 1851 and then further expanded."

According to Garrison, the inn was once the focal point of town, providing a place to rest for weary travelers.

In fact, the inn contributed to how the town got its name.

“There were livestock drivers, that drove cattle and other livestock from western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee all the way to Charleston," Garrison continued. "So, when they came over the mountains, this would be a resting spot for them on the way, hence the name Travelers Rest."

The building later became a private residence until 2019, when it was donated to the historical group. Garrison said they spent five years restoring the inn, hoping to one day open it up to the public.

“The restoration specialist came in and he color matched all the colors to what were found on all the door frames and whatnot," he added. "Also, 80% of the furniture that we have inside was here originally back in the 1800s."

From the paint color, to the original lock and key, the inn is a snapshot of the Gilded Age. Garrison said it's a community treasure preserved for generations to come.

"We really just want to share the house, share the inn and share the stories and the history of Travelers Rest and that is the mission of the historical society," he continued.

A conservation easement was made for the 20-acre property, meaning the historical group is in a voluntary legal agreement that limits the use of the land for conservation values. The historical society told 7NEWS the land will eventually become a passive park, with trails open to the public.

Guided tours of the inn are available on Saturdays from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Free public exhibit rooms are open on Fridays from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. –2 p.m.

Reddit sues AI company Perplexity and others for 'industrial-scale' scraping of user comments 22 Oct 12:41 PM (11 hours ago)

Social media platform Reddit sued the artificial intelligence company Perplexity AI and three other entities on Wednesday, alleging their involvement in an “industrial-scale, unlawful” economy to “scrape” the comments of millions of Reddit users for commercial gain.

Reddit's lawsuit in a New York federal court takes aim at San Francisco-based Perplexity, maker of an AI chatbot and “answer engine” that competes with Google, ChatGPT and others in online search.

Also named in the lawsuit are Lithuanian data-scraping company Oxylabs UAB, a web domain called AWMProxy that Reddit describes as a “former Russian botnet,” and Texas-based startup SerpApi, which lists Perplexity as a customer on its website.

It's the second such lawsuit from Reddit since it sued another major AI company, Anthropic, in June.

But the lawsuit filed Wednesday is different in the way that it confronts not just an AI company but the lesser-known services the AI industry relies on to acquire online writings needed to train AI chatbots.

“Scrapers bypass technological protections to steal data, then sell it to clients hungry for training material. Reddit is a prime target because it’s one of the largest and most dynamic collections of human conversation ever created,” said Ben Lee, Reddit’s chief legal officer, in a statement Wednesday.

The lawsuit accuses the companies of unfair competition and unjust enrichment and alleges that some of them violated U.S. copyright laws.

Perplexity said it has not yet received the lawsuit but “will always fight vigorously for users’ rights to freely and fairly access public knowledge. Our approach remains principled and responsible as we provide factual answers with accurate AI, and we will not tolerate threats against openness and the public interest.”

SerpApi's customer success director, Ryan Schafer, said in an email: “We strongly disagree with Reddit’s allegations and intend to vigorously defend ourselves in court.”

Oxylabs said in a statement it was “shocked and disappointed” and “will not hesitate to defend itself against these allegations.”

“Oxylabs’ position is that no company should claim ownership of public data that does not belong to them,” said a statement from Denas Grybauskas, the company's chief governance and strategy officer. “It is possible that it is just an attempt to sell the same public data at an inflated price.”

AWMProxy could not immediately be reached for comment.

Scraping for publicly available online data is a common practice used by businesses and researchers but Reddit compares the companies it is suing to “would-be bank robbers” who can't get into the bank vault, so they break into the armored truck instead. The lawsuit alleges they are evading Reddit’s own anti-scraping measures while also ”circumventing Google’s controls and scraping Reddit content directly from Google’s search engine results."

Lee said that because they're unable to scrape Reddit directly, “they mask their identities, hide their locations, and disguise their web scrapers to steal Reddit content from Google Search. Perplexity is a willing customer of at least one of these scrapers, choosing to buy stolen data rather than enter into a lawful agreement with Reddit itself.”

Reddit made a similar argument in its lawsuit against Anthropic, alleging that the company ignored Reddit's appeals to cease using its content. That case was initially filed in California Superior Court but was later moved to federal court and has a hearing scheduled for January.

Along with digitized books and news articles, websites such as Wikipedia and Reddit are deep troves of written materials that can help teach an AI assistant the patterns of human language.

Reddit has previously entered licensing agreements with Google, OpenAI and other companies that are paying to be able to train their AI systems on the public commentary of Reddit’s more than 100 million daily users.

The licensing deals helped the 20-year-old online platform raise money ahead of its Wall Street debut as a publicly traded company last year.

New customer call center opens in Mauldin 22 Oct 12:32 PM (12 hours ago)

MAULDIN, S.C. (WSPA) - Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Samsung call center in Mauldin had to go remote years ago, but today, the city is welcoming the company back to the area.

It’s on  Brookfield Parkway, where the city is welcoming in a new Samsung call center.

Mauldin city officials said when COVID hit, workers had to leave the office and work from home. 

“They're here now, 150 jobs in their call center, and they will integrate in our community, and they'll be part of, part of the city in Mauldin’s community,” said Mayor Terry Merritt, City of Mauldin.

This accomplishment was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting of the new office. 

The company said working in person brings back a sense of teamwork for employees. The mayor agrees face-to-face interaction with coworkers makes for easier collaboration and improves the quality of customer service. 

“If their initial team doesn't solve the problem. Right across the hallway is the advance team that can come over and do that. You're not going to be given another number to call. Samsung is totally immersed to solve your issue right then,” said Merritt. 

“This is about taking Samsung care to a new level,” said Marcia Ellis- Green, executive director of customer support for Samsung Care.  

Green has worked in customer service for years, she said the main goal when serving others is to do it in a timely manner.

She hopes this call center brings faster help to customers. 

“I love helping people get through their problems. Whether it is my washing machines are not working, my refrigerator isn’t working. People don't understand that there is a real sense of urgency. There are people who have medications and things they need in the refrigerator. We understand that,” said Green.

Merritt said the call center hasn’t reached the 150 employee threshold yet,  but he said the location of the call center is suitable for the city’s growth, welcoming whoever wants to work here. 

“Most of their people are from this area. So to be able to live in Mauldin and drive a mile to a call center like this, this leading edge technology, it just gives them a great sense of place,” said Merritt.

Right now, the facility is 14,000 square feet but has room for future expansion. 
Samsung said they’re still hiring, if you’re interested in applying, click here.

Fall Weather Week: Walhalla State Fish Hatchery 22 Oct 12:00 PM (12 hours ago)

OCONEE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) - Tucked away in far northwestern Oconee County near Mountain Rest is a place that has been raising fish for Upstate rivers and lakes since 1937.

Scott Poore is the hatchery manager.

“Here in 2025 it still fascinates me that those people that came in and built it, were able to locate, and it sustain itself for ninety years.” 

The Walhalla State Fish Hatchery is run by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. It’s one of six hatcheries in the state that stock waterways with native fish.

Here, it’s trout. 

“This is what we’re trying to grow here. The rainbow, the brown, the brook. And this is just one of the fish that will soon make its way to the waters in South Carolina.” 

Annually, 500,000 fish go into mountain-fed rivers and lakes in the Upstate, supporting an active fishing community. 

”My annual budget is roughly three quarters of a million dollars. Some of the surveys that have been done have seen that trout fishing within South Carolina will generate fifteen-plus million dollars to the state’s economy.” 

It’s a 20-month process to raise the fish, starting from nearly two million eggs. 

When the trout are about two inches long they are moved to tanks called raceways, featuring gravity-fed, flowing water from the east fork of the Chattooga River. 

Growing fish are hungry fish.  They go through 84 tons of fish food every year at the hatchery.

Once the fish get to the ten to 20-inch range, it’s time for them to move on. 

”We have special trucks that have tanks on them with aerators. We can put those fish in there and they can transport those fish anywhere locally here in the Upstate or all the way down to Columbia.” 

Fall is a good time to take it all in. Not only for the frenzy of feeding time, but also for a process that starts in late October. 

“We’re in the water with the fish and we’re squeezing the eggs out of the females and fertilizing those eggs with the males. And we have a lot of visitation at that time, people love to watch and ask questions as we do that.” 

“If people just want to come in, they can park, they can come see the sights that are around here, hike the trails...and we have a kiosk and educational signage that they can walk around and view as well.” 

“In this crazy world where everything is going on around us, we’re providing a resource for people to go out, to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life.” 

Woman struck by small plane during crash-landing at California park 22 Oct 11:01 AM (13 hours ago)

(KTLA) – A pedestrian at a park in California was struck by a small aircraft that crashed during an attempted emergency landing on Tuesday, officials confirmed to Nexstar's KTLA.

The emergency landing attempt occurred at around 4 p.m. on a soccer field at Heartwell Park in Long Beach, according to fire officials.

Details of the plane's point of departure, or intended destination, were not immediately available. It's also unclear if the pilot of the possibly experimental aircraft was trying to make it to the Long Beach Airport, which is approximately a mile northeast of the crash-landing site.

"When units arrived, they found one small aircraft on its belly with broken landing gear," fire officials said. "The plane's fuselage was intact."

The pedestrian, only described as a woman in her 40s, was taken to the hospital. The pilot, an elderly male, was also hospitalized after being removed from the aircraft by firefighters. Officials said that both suffered moderate injuries and were in stable condition.

Aerial footage of the crash site showed firefighters and police in an area of the park that had been cordoned off while crews investigated the wreckage. Bits of debris could be seen near the aircraft’s left side rear wing, which appeared to be severely cracked.

The cause of the crash is currently under investigation. The Federal Aviation Administration is not responding to requests for additional information amid the ongoing government shutdown.

Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show is not being reconsidered, NFL commissioner says 22 Oct 9:53 AM (14 hours ago)

NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL is not considering dropping Bad Bunny as its Super Bowl halftime headline performer, Commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday, reaffirming a decision to put the Grammy-winning Puerto Rican artist on the league's biggest stage that led to criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump and some of his supporters.

Goodell addressed the Bad Bunny controversy at his news conference following the annual fall owners meeting. It is the first time he has commented on the move since it was announced in late September, after which it garnered worldwide attention, including an increase in streams of Bad Bunny’s music, along with backlash.

“It’s carefully thought through,” Goodell said. “I’m not sure we’ve ever selected an artist where we didn’t have some blowback or criticism. It’s pretty hard to do when you have literally hundreds of millions of people that are watching.”

The 31-year-old artist, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, has been vocal in his opposition to Trump and his policies. He decided to do a 31-day residency in Puerto Rico, avoiding stops in the mainland U.S., citing concerns about the mass deportation of Latinos.

He performs in Spanish and is expected to do so at the Super Bowl.

“We’re confident it’s going to be a great show,” Goodell said. “He understands the platform that he’s on, and I think it’s going to be exciting and a united moment.”

The San Francisco 49ers are hosting the Super Bowl on Feb. 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. It is unclear if Trump plans to be there, though he has made appearing in person at major sporting events a significant part of his second term in the White House.

Trump, in an interview on conservative news network Newsmax, said he had “never heard of” Bad Bunny.

“I don’t know who he is,” Trump said. "I don’t know why they’re doing it. It’s, like, crazy. And then they blame it on some promoter they hired to pick up entertainment. I think it’s absolutely ridiculous.”

Goodell defended the decision on Wednesday, explaining it was made because of Bad Bunny's immense popularity.

“He’s one of the leading and most popular entertainers in the world,” Goodell said. “That’s what we try to achieve. It’s an important stage for us. It’s an important element to the entertainment value."

2 egg brands recalled for possible salmonella contamination 22 Oct 9:34 AM (15 hours ago)

(NEXSTAR) – A recall issued last week has now expanded to include two brands of eggs that may be contaminated with salmonella.

The two affected brands, according to the Food and Drug Administration, are Kenz Henz and Black Sheep Company, which can both be traced back to a Black Sheep Egg Company facility in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas.

When FDA inspectors took samples from the facility, they found 40 samples were positive for seven different strains of salmonella.

People who eat food contaminated with salmonella usually experience gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea and stomach cramps. They can also develop a fever. Young children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems may experience more severe symptoms and complications.

The Black Sheep Company may have distributed contaminated eggs to companies in Arkansas and Missouri that have also repackaged and distributed them under different brands. Kenz Henz, for example, is based in Santa Fe, Texas, and sold its eggs at retailers around Houston.

The FDA said it will continue to update the public if more brands are added to the recall.

Recalled eggs may still be in people's fridges, as the expiration dates are recent or have not yet passed. While no illnesses have been reported in connection with the recall, the FDA still encourages people to check their homes for the eggs and either throw them out or return them to the store for a refund.

The egg cartons affected by the recall so far are:

• Kenz Henz 12-count packages of "Grade AA Large Pasture Raised" eggs. The cartons are marked with UPC code 86949400030, a Julian date of 241 (Aug 30) to 244 (Sep 2) and 246 (Sep 4) to 247 (Sep5) with a best by date of 10/11 to 10/14 and 10/16 to 10/17 stamped on the side. 
• Black Sheep Company's 12- and 18-count cartons of "Free Range Large Grade A Brown Eggs" with best by dates of 8/22/2025 through 10/31/2025. The UPC codes are 860010568507 and 860010568538.

SC warns new SNAP benefits won't arrive if government shutdown continues 22 Oct 9:11 AM (15 hours ago)

(WSPA) - The South Carolina Department of Social Services is warning SNAP beneficiaries will not receive their benefits in November if the federal government shutdown continues.

Around 260,000 South Carolina households currently receive SNAP benefits to help pay for food each month.

"Until there is a resolution in Washington, D.C. and the federal government is funded and reopens, SCDSS will not be able to provide the federally funded benefits to new and ongoing SNAP households until further notice," the agency said Wednesday.

DSS said SNAP households can continue to use their EBT card with existing funds at approved SNAP retailers.

The agency also suggested carefully budgeting any remaining funds from previous months and looking to local food banks and food pantries for assistance.

They also suggested locking their EBT cards when not in use, changing your PIN frequently, and turning off the ability to use EBT cards for out-of-state purchases.

To manage your EBT card, visit the South Carolina EBT cardholder portal or use the Connect EBT mobile app.

Winn-Dixie to close grocery stores in Georgia, Alabama 22 Oct 7:38 AM (17 hours ago)

JACKSONVILLE, Fl. (WRBL) — Southeastern Grocers (SEG), the company responsible for grocery store Winn-Dixie, has announced it will close several stores in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana by the end of 2025.

As a part of a company refocusing, SEG says it will "transition ownership of most of its locations outside of Florida."

“For a century, Winn-Dixie has proudly called Florida home," said Chairman and CEO of SEG Anthony Hucker. "As we enter our next century as The Winn-Dixie Company – a brand-new 100-year-old company – we are accelerating growth where our roots run deepest while staying true to our purpose of feeding and enriching the communities, families and neighbors who have supported us for generations.”

According to a news release from SEG, the company has reached agreements or is advancing plans with multiple grocers, which include 32 Winn-Dixie stores and eight Harveys Supermarkets, in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi.

The company says stores in South Georgia (Brunswick, Folkston, Lake Park, St. Simons Island and Valdosta) will remain open and likely undergo planned remodels. The grocer will also expand its liquor store portfolio and pilot new third-party delivery and return kiosks.

Suspicious package leads to road closure in Greenville 22 Oct 7:25 AM (17 hours ago)

GREENVILLE, S.C. (WSPA) - The Greenville Police Department reported certain roads were closed temporarily after they found a suspicious package.

Authorities said East North Street, between Spartanburg Street & Cabot Court in Greenville were temporarily closed. Following an investigation, officers deemed the package safe, and the roads were reopened.

NFL: Pro Bowl festivities moving to Super Bowl week 22 Oct 7:13 AM (17 hours ago)

NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL is moving its Pro Bowl festivities to Super Bowl week beginning this February, the latest adjustment for the all-star event that became a flag football game a few years ago.

Commissioner Roger Goodell announced the change Wednesday at the league’s annual fall owners meeting.

“We’ve spent a lot of time evolving our Pro Bowl, talking about how to make our Pro Bowl more attractive, both for our players participating but also our fans,” Goodell said. “We spent a great deal of time talking about the objectives, and the objectives really are to celebrate and honor our incredible players, and second is to use our game as a global platform.”

The plan is to hold the Pro Bowl Games on Tuesday night, Feb. 3, at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, the venue that is hosting the Super Bowl experience fan fest. The largest ballroom holds 4,000 people, making it a more intimate event than in previous years, with a focus on television.

It remains a flag football game between the AFC and NFC, though executive VP of international events Peter O’Reilly did acknowledge the format could become more internationally focused in the leadup to the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

“Flag has become a global game,” Goodell said. “Our players have embraced playing that in the all-star format, and we think it’s really important to continue that initiative.”

NFL owners unanimously approved players participating in the '28 Games, though work is still being done to finalize the agreement with the union.

The 49ers are hosting the Super Bowl on Sunday, Feb. 8, in Santa Clara, California.

There will be two new coaches, replacing Peyton and Eli Manning, though O'Reilly said the brothers would remain involved in the event in some capacity. The league is not committing to Tuesday night beyond 2026, according to O'Reilly, who said it's a process of continuing to learn about what's best for the Pro Bowl.

Docs reveal what led to 5-year-old falling off Disney cruise ship, dad rescuing her 22 Oct 7:11 AM (17 hours ago)

BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — Documents released this week revealed what led to a 5-year-old girl falling off a Disney cruise ship and her father jumping off to rescue her in June.

The Broward County Sheriff's Office said the family was aboard the Disney Dream on June 29 when the incident occurred. According to documents, the family stopped to take a photo on Deck 4.

The 5-year-old climbed onto a porthole and sat down on a railing while facing her mom. The documents said the girl lost her balance and fell backward into the water, about 49 feet below.

The girl's father told investigators that he did not see his daughter fall; however, he heard her scream and saw her in the water.

Investigators said the girl did not trigger the ship's man overboard sensors when she fell into the water because she was so small.

Video surveillance footage showed the girl's parents panicking and attempting to get assistance from crew members. Shortly after, the girl's father jumped overboard in an attempt to rescue her, the documents said.

The ship's "man overboard" protocol was then initiated, and the United States Coast Guard was notified.

A rescue boat was launched and recovered the girl and her father from the water after about 20 minutes.

The father and daughter were then taken to the ship's medical center and remained there until the ship was docked. Then, they were taken to a hospital.

Documents said that the girl suffered no injuries, but her father had two spinal fractures.

According to the report, the mother "initially did not believe her daughter had fallen into the ocean, as she assumed a glass barrier was present. Once she realized her daughter was in the water, she screamed" for help.

Assistant State Attorney Melissa Kelly decided not to press charges against the mother.

"The Defendant believed that there was some sort of protective barrier between the railing and the water. She was innocently capturing a photograph of her daughter when the incident occurred," Kelly wrote in the memo. "This was an isolated incident, and all evidence shows that it was merely accidental. The Defendant was supervising the victim, and while her conduct of allowing her child to sit on the railing was negligent, it does not rise to a standard of culpable negligence or utter disregard for the safety of her child."

Wire maker announces $5M expansion, new jobs in Upstate 22 Oct 6:16 AM (18 hours ago)

OCONEE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) - A company which makes and sells wires used in cars, airplanes and medical offices has announced a $5 million expansion which is expected to bring new jobs to Oconee County.

Ulbrich Specialty Wire Products announced on Wednesday a $5 million expansion to an existing plant in Westminster. The company said the money will go to building improvements, updated machinery and automation and material handling technologies.

"Since acquiring the Westminster site in 2001, Ulbrich has invested over $25 million in its development. This latest expansion underscores our long-term vision for operational excellence and reinforces our dedication to serving customers with precision-engineered wire solutions across a wide range of industries. We are grateful for the support of Oconee County and South Carolina and look forward to continuing our role as a key contributor to the region’s manufacturing strength.” said Ulbrich General Manager of Operations Daniel Day in a press release.

According to the company website, Ulbrich makes steel, nickel, titaium, cobalt and bi-metal wires used in a variety of industries.

The $5 million expansion is expected to create 15 new jobs at the Westminster plant.

Trump nominee Ingrassia withdraws after reported 'Nazi' remark, but remains a White House liaison 22 Oct 6:10 AM (18 hours ago)

(The Hill) – Paul Ingrassia on Tuesday withdrew his nomination to be the head of the Office of Special Counsel after he reportedly referred to himself as having a "Nazi streak," among other racist comments.

"I will be withdrawing myself from Thursday’s [Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee] hearing to lead the Office of Special Counsel because unfortunately I do not have enough Republican votes at this time," Ingrassia posted on Truth Social.

"I appreciate the overwhelming support that I have received throughout this process and will continue to serve President Trump and this administration to Make America Great Again!" Ingrassia wrote.

Ingrassia’s announcement came after several Senate Republicans on the panel reviewing his nomination said they would not support him, calling into question whether he would be able to secure sufficient backing.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) had told reporters Monday that the White House should consider withdrawing Ingrassia’s nomination.

“He’s not going to pass,” Thune said.

Politico initially reported the comments made by Ingrassia on Monday. The outlet reported that Ingrassia, in a text thread, called for the end of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and said you can "never trust a chinaman or Indian.”

Others in the group chat challenged him, to which he reportedly replied, “I do have a Nazi streak in me from time to time, I will admit it.” He also stressed the need to have “competent white men in positions of leadership.”

On Tuesday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) called on Trump to withdraw the nomination.

“These texts are foul and disqualifying,” Schumer said Tuesday on the Senate floor. “And it’s hard to believe there is any process in any White House that would allow such a man through to be nominated.”

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) also called on Trump to withdraw his nomination of Ingrassia. Raskin also referred to Politico's reporting that Ingrassia was the subject of a sexual harassment complaint after allegedly secretly canceling a female co-worker’s hotel room and then telling her she would need to stay with him.

“We have known for months that Mr. Ingrassia lacks any relevant qualifications, having graduated from law school just three years ago,” Raskin said.

“We also know he was the subject of a sexual harassment complaint in June and that he openly admires Nick Fuentes — a rabidly antisemitic right-wing leader, Holocaust denier, and white nationalist. You chose to hire and promote Mr. Ingrassia despite all that — or perhaps even because of it."

While the announcement ends Ingrassia’s bid for a Senate-confirmed role, he remains a White House liaison to the Department of Homeland Security — and a fact that doesn't sit well with critics.

Schumer, after Ingrassia's withdrawal, took to X to urge Trump to rid him from his DHS role.

"This isn’t anywhere near enough," Schumer said of Ingrassia's announcement. "Trump has to fire him immediately."

When contacted by the Associated Press after Ingrassia's withdrawal, a representative for the White House only told the outlet, “He is no longer the nominee.”

Border Patrol, ICE and CBP getting paid during shutdown, Cuellar says 22 Oct 5:56 AM (18 hours ago)

HARLINGEN, Texas (Border Report) -- U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, says U.S. Border Patrol agents, Customs and Border Protection officers and Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers are getting paid during the ongoing government shutdown.

During a call with reporters on Tuesday morning, Cuellar said the payment of federal law enforcement officers came from $10 billion in funds transferred from the Big Beautiful Bill.

Federal law enforcement serving on the line are getting paid "as long as it was tied into border security," Cuellar said.

"I'm glad that they're getting paid, but the civilians or the support staff for the men and women in blue are not getting paid. So they're still at the bridges. They're still at the Border Patrol working, but we need everybody to get paid," Cuellar said.

He says the money is paying salaries of over 61,000 law enforcement agents.

That includes Coast Guard operators, which Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem earlier this month announced would continue to get paid during the ongoing federal government shutdown.

Members of the military also are being paid.

Sandra Sanchez can be reached at SSanchez@borderreport.com.