MORNING NEWSBREAK | Today is Southern HIV/Aids Awareness Day (SHAAD), and South Carolina’s Department of Public Health says almost 15,000 people, including children and teens, are living with HIV infection or AIDS in the state.
According to Palmetto Community Care, an organization that offers free HIV testing, South Carolina ranks in the top 10 states or areas of new HIV diagnoses per 100,000 people.
“It’s crucial for us to talk about it, especially on Southern AIDS Awareness Day because there’s so many layers that make testing difficult for people,” Palmetto Community Care spokesman Richard Reams told WCSC-TV.
Throughout the day, Palmetto Community Care will offer free testing from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at 5064 Rivers Avenue. Any individual who comes in for testing today will also receive a $10 Walmart gift card.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “recommends all patients between the ages of 13 and 64 get tested for HIV at least once as part of routine health care.”
Palmetto Community Care also offers free, confidential HIV testing 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Wednesdays, 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Thursdays, and 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Fridays, in addition to their mobile testing van that can be found throughout the Lowcountry at various locations.
In other recent headlines:
CP NEWS: From hot sauce to hot language and more on the first day of the DNC. As South Carolina’s delegates, alternates, pages and family members at the Democratic National Convention chowed down on fruit, eggs and hot sauce (one on every table) , one of California’s most prominent congressmen stirred their spirits Monday morning. Click the link to learn more about how S.C. native Jaime Harrison, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, kicked off the convention Monday.
CP FOOD: Kwei Fei celebrates customer favorites all month. Now through the end of August, diners can enjoy dishes from a crowd-sourced “customer favorites” menu at James Island’s Kwei Fei on James Island.
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Charleston leaders working to improve pedestrian safety downtown. To keep things safer, the city is working to add a “connected vehicle and traffic responsive signal system.” This system will use artificial intelligence and sensors to collect data from each intersection along the road.
New data show hundreds of Lowcountry law enforcement pursuits happen each year. Many law enforcement agencies keep track of their vehicle pursuit data which give an idea of how many chases they’re engaged in every year.
Charleston Co. schools say cyber-disruption came from unknown hackers. After Charleston County School District reported network security issues in July, the district said Monday that the disruption came from unknown parties who obtained data.
College of Charleston students get ready for a new year. Many students have been moving into their dorms the past few days as The College welcomes in a brand-new class of freshmen to campus. Meanwhile, upperclassmen are also returning to campus Tuesday to start the year.
Developers suggest 288-unit development in West Ashley. Developers presented a concept to the City of Charleston Planning Commission Monday for a multi-family development topping 288 units near West Ashley Circle. The complex would include several buildings reaching from one to three stories.
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- West Ashley business association holding raffle with top prize being a Ford Bronco.
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