They live here and work every day to bring you local news. Meet our Columbia reporters
If you’re like me, you’re sick of hearing it:
Columbia, it’s close to everything — close to the beach, close to the mountains, close to Charlotte, close to Atlanta.
It’s a common refrain. But if you’ve lived here for any decent stretch of time, you know there’s more to Columbia than what it’s close to.
This is the state capital, bustling with movers and shakers and political intrigue — and, often, people mounting demonstrations to let their elected leaders know how they feel about things. But that’s not all that goes on in Columbia.
There’s the dynamic downtown with its ever-popular Soda City market on Saturdays, an increasingly tasty and diverse dining and nightlife scene, and the overwhelming array of festivals and events that pack the area each spring and fall. There’s the University of South Carolina — its many students, its beautiful campus, its passionately followed sports teams. There’s Lake Murray, a recreational oasis a short drive from the heart of the city center. There’s growing communities in Lexington, Blythewood and beyond that continue to add to their own rich culture.
And that barely scratches the surface.
Such a vibrant, multifaceted area deserves the attention of reporters who live right here, exploring the Midlands in detail — its hopes, its personalities, and the issues it faces as it pushes forward. And those are the kind of reporters we have at The State, 17 of them living right here. We also employ a locally based opinion editor, who works separately to bring you additional perspective.
Meet some of your Midlands neighbors who work hard every day to keep you informed.
Alexa Jurado, Education Reporter (Higher Education and K-12)
What do you like most about your beat?
I’m involved with a lot of different things like city development, state politics and even college sports sometimes, while also having a focus on issues that affect local teachers and students.
How can we connect with you?
Send an email to ajurado@thestate.com or find me on X @AlexaJurado6 or Bluesky @alexajurado. I value feedback, both positive and negative, and always willing to listen to tips, suggestions and general conversation about the community (or the paper).
What is your favorite thing about the Columbia area?
Columbia is a sleeper city. You have to put in the work to find out how wonderful it is!
Why do you call the Columbia area home?
I’ve lived here since 2022, but I still don’t call the Columbia area home. At least not yet!
What is your favorite spot in the Columbia area?
The Riverfront Park, Goat’s cocktail bar or just about any of our local coffee shops.
Why did you join The State?
I was born and raised in Illinois and attended college in Wisconsin, so I’m a Midwesterner through and through. I wanted to move to a new region to learn new things!
What’s a fun fact about you?
Before deciding to study journalism and digital media, I nearly went to art school! When I find the time, I enjoy creating with watercolor paints, oil pastels, ink and linoleum printing.
Bristow Marchant, Lexington County Reporter
What do you like most about your beat?
It’s elastic. I can write about almost anything, from government controversy to features on interesting people, as long as the story has some connection to the area I cover.
How can we connect with you?
My email is bmarchant@thestate.com. I’m also on X, Bluesky and Threads
What is your favorite thing about the Columbia area?
This is an underrated community that offers a little something for everyone, if you know where to look.
Why do you call the Columbia area home?
I was born here! I grew up in Columbia and I’ve covered the area for The State since 2016.
What is your favorite spot in the Columbia area?
Standing at the corner of Meeting and State streets in West Columbia gives you a great view of the downtown skyline.
Why did you join The State?
I wanted to have an impact in the community where I grew up. The State allows me to explore the Midlands in more depth than I could otherwise, and share what I learn with our readers.
What’s a fun fact about you?
I host a podcast! You can listen to it here: https://bit.ly/41kBe46
Chris Trainor, Retail Reporter
What do you like most about your beat?
My favorite thing about the retail beat is that it keeps me constantly on the move. The Midlands is a growing region with a burgeoning restaurant scene and an accelerating climate for business.
How can we connect with you?
You can email me at chtrainor@thestate.com, or you can find me @ChrisTrainorSC on X, Threads, Instagram or Bluesky.
What is your favorite thing about the Columbia area?
My favorite thing about the Columbia area is the spirit of its people. There are times when I’m walking in downtown Columbia that I’m nearly compelled to say aloud, “God, I love this town.”
Why do you call the Columbia area home?
I’m a lifelong South Carolinian, and my wife and I moved to the Columbia area in 2014 after she had a transfer in her job. I was delighted to call the area my new home, and haven’t regretted a day of it since.
What is your favorite spot in the Columbia area?
There are few places on this earth that I’d rather be than at the corner of George Rogers Boulevard and Bluff Road — Williams-Brice Stadium — on a Saturday afternoon in the fall. Some things, simply, are forever.
Why did you join The State?
I joined The State in 2020 after working 16 years at other newspapers in South Carolina. I relished the opportunity to join the staff here, at what I have long considered the premier newspaper of record in the Palmetto State.
What’s a fun fact about you?
I consider it a requirement to eat at least three churros when visiting Universal Studios in Florida.
Hannah Wade, Lexington County Reporter
What do you like most about your beat?
I like that covering Lexington County includes anything and everything happening in the county — it gives me the chance to be creative and to look for stories everywhere.
How can we connect with you?
I can be reached by email at hwade@thestate.com. On Instagram and Threads, I’m under @hannahwadereporter. On Twitter, it’s @hannahwade2000.
What is your favorite thing about the Columbia area?
I love that there are things to do, but that Columbia still has a “small town” feel. I grew up in a rural area where everyone knows each other and I like that Columbia, a place I did not grow up in, feels that way while still having a lot of great restaurants, coffee shops and breweries. I also really love the riverwalks.
Why do you call the Columbia area home?
I stuck around Columbia after graduating from the University of South Carolina and have found some of my best friends and favorite hang-out spots here — from trivia at Rockaway’s (and now, The Hoot) to Sunday afternoons spent doing a crossword at Drip, Columbia has become home.
What is your favorite spot in the Columbia area?
At the risk of sounding embarrassing, do I have to pick one? I’m narrowing it down to three — Drip in Five Points, Columbia Riverfront Park and Lula Drake Wine Parlor.
Why did you join The State?
I joined The State because I wanted to stay here in Columbia and to work alongside reporters whose work I’ve long admired and who I felt I could learn a lot from.
What’s a fun fact about you?
My freshman year of college I went skydiving as part of my Capstone personal challenge.
John Monk; Courts, Crime and Justice Issues Reporter
What do you like most about your beat?
It puts me in touch with all kinds of endlessly interesting people and situations.
How can we connect with you?
What is your favorite thing about the Columbia area?
The people.
Why do you call the Columbia area home?
Because, all things considered, I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.
What is your favorite spot in the Columbia area?
USC’s Horseshoe, the Assembly Street main library, the federal courthouse, Drew Wellness Center pool, anywhere I can see the sky.
Why did you join The State?
So many fascinating things to cover, all in one city and state.
What are some fun facts about you?
I’ve been called “a dying breed.” I’m a former competitive swimmer. I survived a shipwreck.
Matthew T. Hall, South Carolina Opinion Editor
What do you like most about your beat?
Learning more about the people and places of South Carolina.
How can we connect with you?
What is your favorite thing about the Columbia area?
The people. Also, the culture, the cuisine, the coffee and the craft beer. Honestly, it’s hard to choose between a night with the Fireflies, a reading at All Good Books, a stroll through the CMA or a meal at a restaurant list that is always growing. What’s your fav thing? Email me.
Why do you call the Columbia area home?
It’s home to The State and has the appeal of a capital city, a big college town and great BBQ.
What is your favorite spot in the Columbia area?
Does “Chris Trainor’s essentials: A Midlands restaurant guide” count? It does.
Why did you join The State?
I took a buyout at my last journalism job, and did more dad stuff, played a lot of video games and went for very long walks. Then I realized I really missed editing and writing. I had lived in the Northeast and the West, so I looked around, and the lure of rebuilding the South Carolina opinion section in a newsroom with the long history of The State was strong.
What’s a fun fact about you?
I once walked 100,353 steps in a single day.
Morgan Hughes, City of Columbia Reporter
What do you like most about your beat?
I always say being a city reporter is like being a professional resident of a place. I write about local government, development, quality of life, culture and more, all through the lens of trying to understand what makes Columbia tick. And I enjoy helping people understand their community better. Nothing makes me feel more helpful than getting a call from someone who has a follow up question about one of my articles.
How can we connect with you?
My email is mhughes@thestate.com and my work phone number is 803-771-8330.
What is your favorite thing about the Columbia area?
Columbia has so much character. The thing I love most is how much other people who live here love it. The energy for this city is contagious.
Why do you call the Columbia area home?
I call Columbia home because it’s a welcoming community that cares about having a say in its own future.
What is your favorite spot in the Columbia area?
Where do I begin? Riverfront Park, Five Points on a Sunday, Owens Field Park with a stop at The Hangar after, happy hour at The Hoot on Rosewood, Boyd Plaza at lunchtime on a weekday, any of the excellent coffee shops around town, Main Street during Soda City/Jam Room Fest/Gamecocks parade days.
Why did you join The State?
I joined The State because I love local news and this is an institution that has been committed to delivering that news for more than 100 years.
What’s a fun fact about you?
When I was 10 years old, I was on the local TV news in Northern Wisconsin for getting lost on a bike ride and accidentally riding more than 30 miles away from my grandparents house.
Sammy Fretwell, Environment Reporter
What do you like most about your beat?
Shining the light on issues that affect people’s health and quality of life. Writing about the environment is a privilege.
How can we connect with you?
sfretwell@thestate.com or through Instagram at fretwell_environment. Or 803-771-8537.
What is your favorite thing about the Columbia area?
Columbia is a thriving city that at times has a small town feel. Business at the state capitol and Carolina sporting events keep it hopping for much of the year. The city also has good nightlife. But Columbia calms down in the summer. I like all of that.
Why do you call the Columbia area home?
I’m in Columbia because I was hired to work at The State in 1990. It was a homecoming because I attended the University of South Carolina. I like being in a state capital with plenty to do.
What is your favorite spot in the Columbia area?
The concourse along the first base line at USC’s baseball park.
Why did you join The State?
It was a chance to write and report for a newspaper with statewide influence, while returning to a city I enjoyed as a student at Carolina in the early 1980s.
What’s a fun fact about you?
I’m a big fan of 1960s-era TV westerns.
This story was originally published February 19, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
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