The (Columbia) State week in review
SC runoff election guide: Date, races and more
South Carolina voters head back to the polls for runoff elections Tuesday, June 23, to determine party nominees for governor, attorney general, and some congressional seats. Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and Attorney General Alan Wilson advanced to the Republican governor runoff. State Sen. Stephen Goldfinch and Eighth Circuit Solicitor David Stumbo compete for the Republican attorney general nomination. Danny Ford II and Cody Simpson vie for agriculture commissioner. Democratic candidates Zyon Khalifa and David Robinson II face off in the 1st U.S. House district runoff, while Republicans Mark Smith and Jenny Cosa Honeycutt also square off.
Reported by Lucy Valeski, published June 15
USC-themed venue coming to Five Points’ Harden Street
A new Gamecock-focused venue called 5 Points Social is set to open at 632 Harden St. in Columbia’s Five Points district. The joint venture between Cocky Hospitality and Cocks by 90 will occupy the former Cotton Gin building, most recently home to the New Brookland Tavern music club. The venue promises sports, live music, food, drinks, exclusive member experiences and community, while honoring the building’s history. No official opening date has been announced, though an August timeframe is possible. Cocks by 90 is the brand of Jeff O’Hara, who also has ownership in the CB18 and Breakers Live bars in Five Points. The Five Points Association welcomed the news warmly, saying it can’t wait to see the vision come to life.
Reported by Chris Trainor, published June 11
CDC data reveals SC’s top causes of death in 2024
New CDC data shows South Carolina’s average life expectancy rose from 73.5 years in 2021 to 75.1 in 2022, though several preventable conditions remain top killers in the state. Heart disease leads with 12,494 deaths at a rate of 175 per 100,000 residents, followed by cancer at 11,452 deaths. Rounding out the top eight are accidents, stroke, chronic lower respiratory disease, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes and chronic liver disease/cirrhosis. Dr. Brannon Traxler, acting director of the South Carolina Department of Public Health, noted that longer lifespans and increased exposure to environmental factors like PFAS contribute to cancer’s rise. Traxler emphasized that staying active, eating well, and keeping up with screenings such as mammograms and colonoscopies are key to preventing deadly disease.
Reported by Miles Shea, published June 12
Food critic sues Florence eatery over alleged assault
A Black food critic and social media personality known as Ben-a-Critic has filed a lawsuit against Percy Willie’s, a Florence, South Carolina, restaurant, after a viral video allegedly showed him being physically removed from the establishment. Trayvon Turner’s suit accuses owner William Hal Neel III of using his body to push Turner out of the restaurant after a dispute over his video recording a review. The suit further alleges Neel falsely reported to police that Turner struck him, a claim the complaint says is contradicted by video footage. Police responded but made no arrest and filed no charges. Operating partner Jeffrey Chamblee is also accused of blocking Turner’s vehicle to prevent him from leaving. Turner claims the restaurant’s no-recording policy was applied in a racially discriminatory manner. The complaint includes counts of assault, battery, defamation, and false imprisonment, among others.T urner says the incident caused death threats, emotional distress and weeks of lost work.
Reported by Javon L. Harris, published June 13
New Chick-fil-A coming to northeast Columbia area
Chick-fil-A is building a new restaurant in the 4600 block of Hard Scrabble Road in Columbia, at the corner of Hard Scrabble and Rice Meadow Way. A banner at the site confirms the chain is “coming soon,” though no official opening date has been announced. Construction was well underway when a reporter visited June 15. The new location will sit across from a Publix-anchored shopping center and near Rice Creek Elementary and Ridge View High School. The company has been active in the Midlands, opening locations on Gadsden Street and Bush River Road, remodeling Columbiana Centre, and expanding the Lexington Saluda Pointe drive-thru, all in 2025. Most recently, the Five Points Harden Street location temporarily closed for $1 million in renovations.
Reported by Chris Trainor, published June 16
SC data center plan dropped after public outcry
A Texas-based data center developer has dropped plans to build a large facility in Marion County, South Carolina, citing utility timing constraints. Stream Data Centers had sought to develop roughly 400 acres near the city of Marion, with reports indicating the project would have required 400 megawatts of power. Critics raised concerns about secrecy, saying much of the deal was negotiated behind closed doors. Resident Gwen Strickland said she was removed from a County Council meeting after asking questions. The withdrawal is part of a broader pattern of public resistance to data centers across South Carolina, with moratoriums adopted in Newberry, Chesterfield and Colleton counties.
Reported by Sammy Fretwell, Lucy Valeski and Olivia Sisson, published June 12
This story was originally published June 17, 2026 at 6:00 PM with the headline "The (Columbia) State week in review."