Sprouts grocery, USC chase, child porn arrest top SC headlines. Catch up on the news

From a new specialty grocer coming to a beloved Columbia site to a murder suspect captured on the USC campus, South Carolina saw plenty of news this month. Here’s a quick rundown of stories readers shouldn’t miss.

Here are key takeaways:

• New grocer for Devine Street: Sprouts Farmers Market will anchor the Devine Crossing development at the former Piggly Wiggly site known as the “Social Pig,” according to The State. The store, expected to open in 2027, will be the first Sprouts in the Columbia area and the third in South Carolina.

• Madina Okot’s USC career ends: The NCAA denied South Carolina’s waiver request for an extra year of eligibility for the 6-foot-6 forward, The State reported. Okot, who averaged a double-double and led the SEC in rebounding, is widely projected as a first-round WNBA Draft pick.

• Goldfinch calls out budget line item: State Sen. Stephen Goldfinch, an attorney general candidate, criticized a $350,000 annual budget proviso benefiting a nonprofit run by Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, according to The State. Senate Finance Chairman Harvey Peeler asked SLED to review the allegations, while Cobb-Hunter said she stands by her ethics filings.

• Murder suspect caught on USC campus: A fugitive led law enforcement on a chase that ended inside the Strom Thurmond Wellness & Fitness Center on the University of South Carolina campus, The State reported. No injuries were reported, and a Carolina alert was issued.

• Hanahan official arrested in child porn case: Kevin Hedgpeth, mayor pro tem of Hanahan, was arrested on charges of possession and production of child sexual abuse material, according to The State. Federal prosecutors say Hedgpeth paid 47 accounts associated with minors or suspected of selling content, and he faces a minimum of 15 years in federal prison if convicted.

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.