Columbia

Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder is the Democratic nominee for Tennessee’s new 5th Congressional District seat. This district spans 17 counties, including Memphis, and he will face Republican candidate Charlie Hatcher in November’s general election.

Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder was projected to advance to face Rep. Andy Ogles in Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District general election. Molder, who sought to unseat Ogles, won the Democratic primary against Carrie Ann Iacomini. The projection was reported by Decision Desk HQ.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation is conducting a long-range study of the I-65 corridor from Nashville to Columbia to address congestion and improve travel times. Public meetings will be held August 13, 17, and 18, with comment submissions accepted until September 8.

The late Sen. Lindsey Graham was honored with a procession and memorial service at First Baptist Church in Columbia. Photos from the events were provided by the Associated Press.

Sen. Lindsey Graham returned to South Carolina for his funeral after dying suddenly on July 11. The funeral included a procession to First Baptist Church and a private burial, with his political legacy highlighted through events at the Statehouse and U.S. Capitol. Graham's death has triggered a Republican special primary in South Carolina to replace him for a full six-year term.

Lindsey Graham returned to South Carolina for a funeral and burial after his sudden death likely due to an aortic tear. His political career and legacy in Washington and South Carolina were highlighted, with his sister Darline Graham named to hold his Senate seat temporarily. A special primary will determine his replacement.

The senator’s funeral service will be held in Columbia, the capital. His remains will be buried in Pickens County, S.C., where he was born and raised.

M&F Bank, North Carolina’s oldest minority-owned financial institution, is merging with Optus Financial Corp. to form a $1.3 billion bank headquartered in Columbia. The combined company will operate 10 locations across the Carolinas, with M&F CEO James Sills leading as chief executive officer while remaining based in Durham.

Mohamed Zeeshan, an Indian national, obtained a green card in 2021 through self-petitioning and moved to the US in 2023. He expresses concerns about the uncertainty of H-1B visas for immigrants today.

A Columbia homeowner in Maury County, Tennessee, is dealing with severe flooding damage to her home on Alpine Drive, which she describes as the worst she has ever experienced. Lisa Rocca, a single mother, reports that her basement is ruined and the house's foundation is eroding due to a nearby creek blockage. She emphasizes that her property is not in a flood zone and lacks flood insurance, urging the city to address the issue.

A federal appeals panel reversed a lower court decision that had ordered the release of pro-Palestinian activist Mohsen Mahdawi, potentially allowing for his re-arrest. The ruling overturns the previous court order, which had mandated his release.

Funeral services for Senator Lindsey Graham are scheduled for July 28th in Washington, D.C., and July 29th in Columbia and Pickens County, South Carolina. The services were announced by Senator Darline Graham, and the public is invited to attend.

Memorial services for Sen. Lindsey Graham, who died on July 11 at 71 from an aortic tear, are scheduled for July 28 in Washington, D.C., followed by events in Columbia and Pickens County. His sister Darline was sworn in to complete his Senate term, with a special primary for the seat set for August and a November general election.

Mahmoud Khalil, an anti-Israel agitator at Columbia, has not been deported and recently filed a lawsuit alleging the deportation effort is a Jewish conspiracy.

Funeral arrangements for Sen. Lindsey Graham are scheduled for July 28 in Washington and July 29 in South Carolina. Sen. Darline Graham is considering a run for a full Senate term after being appointed to replace her late brother. Several politicians, including Reps. Russell Fry, Nancy Mace, and Ralph Norman, as well as Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, are also vying for the seat.

Columbia scientists discovered that serotonin may accelerate the progression of degenerative mitral regurgitation in individuals taking SSRIs and carrying a specific genetic variant, potentially leading to earlier valve damage and surgery.

Frontier Schools plans to open Columbia’s first charter school, Frontier STEM Academy, in 2027, targeting low-income students and starting with preschool through second grade. The Missouri Board of Education approved the school in April, and Frontier is currently exploring locations and planning operations.

Missouri homebuilders report declining business amid a national housing slump, with construction starts and permits dropping significantly in May 2025. Builders attribute the downturn to rising mortgage rates and high costs, leading to reduced sales and construction activity in Missouri metro areas.

Columbia will close the Mt. Olivet Bridge starting July 13 due to structural safety concerns. The bridge closure is scheduled to begin on Monday as a result of these concerns.

A new AI tool has been developed to detect heart problems. Dr. Pierre Elias from New York Presbyterian and Columbia explains its functionality.

Nearly 2 inches of rain fell in about an hour on July 8, causing flash flooding in parts of Columbia. The heavy rainfall led to sudden flooding in the area.

High temperatures in the US are causing power demand to exceed forecasts, affecting areas from Chicago to New York City and New Orleans, leading to increased health risks. Nearly half the country is experiencing hot and humid conditions through the week.

Twelve top US universities, including Columbia, are expanding all-gender facilities on campuses, according to findings by the parental resource arm of a conservative advocacy group.

Legacy apparel brands including VF Corp., Levi's, and Columbia are turning to women to fuel their next phase of growth by increasing investments in women's products and marketing.

Noah Peters, known as the Singing Barber, has opened a barbershop on The Square in downtown Columbia, Tennessee. He gained fame on social media for singing while cutting hair and reports overwhelming community support, including gifts from local businesses. The shop is hiring barbers due to early demand.

Communities in Missouri and the U.S. are navigating multibillion-dollar data center proposals by seeking clear goals and transparent guarantees to balance economic benefits with resource and infrastructure impacts. Experts recommend using community benefits agreements, model regulations, and proactive planning to address challenges like power grid strain and infrastructure needs.

Communities across the U.S. are navigating decisions about multibillion-dollar data center proposals, balancing economic opportunities with concerns about resources and infrastructure. Experts recommend proactive planning, model regulations, and community benefits agreements to ensure equitable outcomes.

Codex, OpenAI's agentic coding platform, is gaining mainstream traction as usage shifts from chat-based AI to delegated work. A report by OpenAI, Columbia, Duke, and the University of Pennsylvania reveals 99.8% of OpenAI employees use Codex for most output tokens, with organizations and individuals showing rising adoption. Non-developers are the fastest-growing user group, and agents now handle tasks like managing calendars, files, and scripts.

The article discusses recent advances in human embryo genome editing using CRISPR technology, including a new preprint on base editing from Dieter Egli's lab at Columbia. Despite these scientific developments, ethical questions about the use of such technologies remain unresolved.

The US Nuclear Pilot Program achieved a second reactor breakthrough. High temperatures and humidity across nearly half the US are increasing power demand and health risks.

Tender Hearts Ministries opened a new maternity home in York County, South Carolina, to provide stability and resources for homeless mothers. Keyona Howard, a mother of three who faced homelessness, credits the program with offering long-term support through housing, financial education, and spiritual guidance over a three-year period.

South Carolina Gamecocks running back Sam Williams-Dixon and his brother were arrested and charged with multiple larceny and conspiracy offenses after allegedly breaking into vehicles and stealing items totaling thousands of dollars. Williams-Dixon was released on a $150,000 bond and suspended indefinitely by the university, though he remains on the team roster.

Chaz Molder, Democratic mayor of Columbia, challenges Republican Congressman Andy Ogles in Tennessee's 5th Congressional District. Molder criticizes Ogles for failing voters and prioritizing social media over constituent needs, despite recent redistricting changes that removed part of his home city from the district.

A protester at Columbia is challenging a deportation order. The individual is resisting removal from the country.

Non-target school students are using Wall Street Oasis, a $7,000 course platform, to break into Wall Street careers. The platform offers financial modeling courses, mock interviews, and a network of 3,000 mentors, with 88% of students completing 90% of courses securing jobs within 12 months. A Georgia State University student used it to land an internship at Wells Fargo.

Rick Chow, a South Carolina store owner, was acquitted of murder after shooting and killing 14-year-old Cyrus Cormack-Belton outside his store in 2023. The jury found Chow not guilty, with the defense claiming self-defense due to the teen's armed actions, while the prosecution argued the weapon posed no immediate threat.

A South Carolina jury found Chikei Rick Chow not guilty of murder in the shooting death of 14-year-old Cyrus Carmack-Belton. The incident occurred when Chow shot the teen in the back after chasing him from his Columbia convenience store.

A South Carolina jury found store owner Chikei Rick Chow not guilty of murder in the 2023 shooting of 14-year-old Cyrus Carmack-Belton. The incident occurred after Chow chased Carmack-Belton from his convenience store, claiming self-defense to protect his son, while prosecutors argued the teen was shot in the back without posing a threat.

Chikei Rick Chow, 61, was acquitted of murder after shooting Cyrus Carmack-Belton in the back during a confrontation at his Columbia convenience store. Chow claimed he acted to defend his son during the incident.

A South Carolina jury is deliberating in the trial of Chikei Rick Chow, a store owner charged with murder after fatally shooting 14-year-old Cyrus Carmack-Belton during a foot chase. Prosecutors claim the shooting was unprovoked, while defense lawyers argue Chow fired to defend his son, who allegedly faced a gun threat from the teen.