$675M candy factory, 5-star hoops commit, Five Points lawsuit: SC’s top stories

It was a busy week across the Midlands and beyond, with major economic news, a big recruiting win for Gamecock women’s basketball and legal action tied to pedestrian safety in Columbia.

Here are key takeaways:

• Ferrara Candy Company is bringing 1,000 jobs to Orangeburg. The maker of Nerds, Jelly Belly and Laffy Taffy announced a $675 million investment in a 750,000-square-foot manufacturing facility, with the first production lines expected to be operational in early 2029.

• Five-star forward Oliviyah Edwards committed to Dawn Staley and South Carolina women’s basketball. The No. 3-ranked recruit in the Class of 2026 by ESPN chose the Gamecocks after reopening her recruitment from Tennessee, posting on social media, “Sometimes it takes twice to get it right.”

• A USC student hit by a car in Five Points is suing Columbia and SCDOT. Maya Trowbridge suffered multiple fractures after being struck on Harden Street in October 2025, and her lawsuit alleges negligence in the design of a mid-block crosswalk installed as part of a $5 million pedestrian safety overhaul.

• An alcohol wholesaler’s layoff notice signals a possible sale of its South Carolina operations. Republic National Distributing Company issued a WARN notice indicating 451 jobs could be affected at its West Columbia location as it moves toward selling operations to Reyes Beverage Group, though the company says many employees may continue with the new owner.

• USC’s board of trustees is full for the first time since 2022. The General Assembly elected Richard Bonnoitt of Florence and Frederick “Schipp” Johnston of Murrells Inlet to fill seats that had been vacant for the 4th and 15th Judicial Circuits.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.