Despite the early threat of rain, nearly 100 cars on display in Iva Saturday as part of the town’s Spring Express & Classic Car Show.

A proclamation supporting National Police Week is also on the agenda.

This year alone, only 3 out of 16 South Carolina High School League fall and winter sports team championships in classes 1A and 2A were won by public schools.

Drew presented checks to four local groups as part of the effort, with $10,000 going to Celebrate Anderson and $5,000 each to the Cancer Association of Anderson, Anderson County P.A.W.S. and the Anderson County Sheriff’s Foundation as the gates opened for this year’s fair.

The bill signing capped a nearly 20-year effort that ran through three governors, four House speakers and five education superintendents in a state where Republicans have been consolidating and expanding their power.

A panel representing local government, churches, and community activists discussed what is being done and where the county falls short in finding a way to provide housing and services to the nearly 5,000 people in Anderson County identified and homeless or underserved.

The fair runs through May 14 at the Anderson Civic Center. Admission is $10. And Mega Pass tickets, good for a single day admission and unlimited rides, are $25. Admission is free for children under the age of 10.

Anderson County Council took the first step toward approving a proposed $278 million budget for fiscal year 2023-24 on Tuesday, unanimously approving the work in progress.

The proposed $278 million budget represents an increase of $43 million over the current year’s budget. While it is likely, council has yet to confirm any potential tax increase.

The City of Anderson Public Works Division will begin repair a crosswalk in front of 315 North Main Street beginning Monday. The street will be closed to thru traffic between Federal St and Orr St through Thursday. 

The return of the rebooted Anderson Soirée was greeted by good weather and big crowds Friday and Saturday. The return of the festival also saw a big boost in the participation of local artists and vendors who filled downtown.

On Friday night, when the Anderson County Museum, the home to the fountain since 2002, the lights on the icon blazed to life at a 9 p.m. ceremony on the edge of downtown.

With her election, and thanks to the party's recent revamp of its primary schedule, four of the five states in which Democrats will vote first next year — Georgia, Michigan, Nevada and South Carolina — now have Black women chairing their state parties.

“This budget is a work in progress,” said Anderson County Council Vice Chairman Brett Sanders, who chairs the finance committee. “We had a very good meeting Thursday, but we still have a long way to go.”

A 22-21 vote Thursday marks the third time a near-total abortion ban has failed in the Republican-led chamber since the U.S. Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade last summer. Six Republicans helped block motions to end debate and defeated any chance the bill passes this year.

As many as 440 junior and high school teams are expected to compete. Each two-angler team is accompanied by a coach who runs the boat and can give advice on fishing techniques and patterns.

The bill passed on a 79-35 vote with a few Republicans joining Democrats to vote against the proposal. After one more routine vote the bill heads to Gov. Henry McMaster, who has promised to sign it into law.

Downtown Anderson’s signature festival is set Friday from 4:15-9 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m.-9 p.m., with music, food, arts and crafts and other activities closing off Main Street from Federal Street to John Street.

The South Carolina Senate is gearing up for a final vote on a near-total abortion ban that the Republican-controlled chamber has repeatedly rejected over the past year.