10/26 NEWSBREAK: Maine manhunt underway after at least 16 killed in two shootings

Authorities in Maine are searching this morning for a 40-year-old “person of interest” after grisly shootings Wednesday in which multiple people — as many as 16 according to news reports — died at a bowling alley and a bar in the city of Lewiston. Dozens were hurt.

According to CNN, a law enforcement official said the suspect is a “certified firearms instructor and a member of the U.S. Army Reserve [who had] had recently made threats to carry out a shooting at a National Guard facility in Saco, Maine, and also reported mental health issues, including hearing voices.”

According to the Associated Press, the Wednesday mass shooting was the nation’s 36th this year. “At least 188 people have died in those killings, which are defined as incidents in which four or more people have died within a 24-hour period, not including the killer — the same definition used by the FBI.”

In other news:

CP FOOD: Charleston Beer Week kicks off Oct. 27. Charleston Beer Week will be held Oct. 27 through Nov. 5, featuring 30-plus events, from oyster roasts to Halloween parties. Palmetto Brewing Co. kicks off the event Oct. 27 with a party featuring live music, a costume contest and guest taps from other Charleston-area breweries.

Charleston residents to vote on $70M parks improvements project. Charleston voters may have noticed a $70 million referendum question on the ballot to fund the Charleston Parks and Recreation Master Plan, which identified past and future needs across the city to renovate and create new parks for the next ten years.

Charleston County Council votes to preserve the protection of settlement communities. Charleston County Council decided against amending a law designed to protect historic settlement communities from suburban sprawl.

Lowcountry school district considers possible book bans. A committee for the Berkeley County School District will continue its review and provide recommendations on whether multiple books should be banned from the district after a parent challenged 93 books based on objections to age-inappropriate sexual content and obscene language.

State launches new online school dashboard. S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster was joined by the State Superintendent Ellen Weaver for the launch of a new online tool parents can use to track school district spending. South Carolinians can see how their local districts are spending their taxpayer dollars from their computer screens or phones to provide unprecedented transparency into where this money is going.

Philanthropist makes historic scholarship gift to MUSC. Barbara Harter Rippy of Union has created a first-of-its-kind endowed scholarship at the Medical University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy, designed to become the college’s first full-ride scholarship. Meanwhile, MUSC health warns Cigna patients that the insurance may soon be out-of-network.

Boeing boosts production of Dreamliner jets to 5 per month. Boeing Co. is starting to build five 787s per month at its North Charleston plant as customers continue to order more planes. Boeing said it plans to roll out 10 new 787s per month by 2025 or 2026.

Shrimp and grits return to former Hominy Grill space with The Rutledge Room. West Ashley-based company Hamby Catering and Events opened The Rutledge Room in September where Hominy Grill served for over two decades.