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MORNING HEADLINES  |  While the Upstate braces for a winter storm that may bring the region’s first big snowfall in years, the Lowcountry isn’t expected to see a single flake this weekend. But that doesn’t mean the Holy City is in for sunshine and daisies. 

The National Weather Service in Charleston has issued a ‘cold weather advisory’ for much of the South Carolina coastline as very cold temperatures move into the region. This means cold air temperatures or wind chill values, but not extremely cold values, are expected or occurring. While Charleston is no longer under a winter weather advisory, the National Weather Service has highlighted the area’s temperatures as “hazardous.”

Meanwhile, Columbia’s winter weather advisory remains in place, as temperatures drop even lower over the weekend. And Upstate cities like Spartanburg and Greenville are bracing for a chilly blanket of ice and snow. Residents are cautioned to stay home all day Friday and avoid the roads into Saturday morning.

Tips for keeping safe and warm:

  • Wear warm clothing, a hat and gloves if you have to go outside.
  • Keep your pets indoors, and frequently check on older family, friends and neighbors.
  • Use portable heaters correctly, and only plug them directly into a safe outlet, never an extension cord or power strip.
  • Know the warning signs of hypothermia, including shivering, pale and cold skin, confusion, drowsiness and slow breathing.

In Friday’s issue of the Charleston City Paper:

BREAKING, CP NEWS: Charleston to host major national Democratic forum on Jan. 24. Charleston will be in the glare of national politics Jan. 24 when it hosts a forum among candidates who want to be the next chair of the Democratic National Committee, sources confirmed this morning.

CP OPINION: Grade for Charleston’s new mayor: meh. “Charleston Mayor William Cogswell has been in office for a year now, so it’s probably a good time to check in with how he’s doing.”

CP NEWS:  Middleton readies for next 2 years as Charleston County Council chair. The Charleston City Paper spoke with the Rev. Kylon Middleton about his priorities now that he’s at the helm of Charleston County Council.  Topics in the discussion:  traffic, infrastructure, animals, flooding and rebuilding trust.

CP FOOD: Resolve to eat and drink well in Charleston in 2025. Charleston is, for many folks around the country (and the world!), a dining destination. We’re lucky enough to live and eat here every day and we never take our local bars, restaurants, bakeries and breweries for granted.

CP ARTS: Tragedy inspires Platt’s new poetry book. Soft-spoken and genial, Eugene Platt wears his 86 years jauntily, like a feather in a hatband. But it does not obscure the thoughtfulness of the man, a poet of distinction.

CP MUSIC: Erode the Dream puts their nightmares on neon vinyl. The Metallica, Soundgarden and Alice in Chains singers that inspired Mauricio Masáre’sas a teen are also frequent subjects of his paintings, which layer lines — often in three-dimensional fashion — to form an image.

In other recent headlines:

Lowcountry police look to keep building community connections this year. Thursday marks National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day and several local agencies say they are grateful for the communities that show their support and appreciation not only on this special day but year-round.

North Charleston mayor reflects on first year in office, addresses FBI probe. North Charleston Mayor Reggie Burgess is reflecting on this past year in North Charleston as he wraps up his first year in office.

Dominion Energy holds workshop downtown to discuss tree trimming project. Dominion Energy held a public workshop Thursday afternoon at the Charleston Marriott to discuss an upcoming tree trimming project set to begin later this month.

Charleston County’s new sheriff meets with officials to discuss safety initiatives. Charleston’s city and county officials met with newly sworn-in Sheriff Carl Ritchie on Thursday to discuss coming public safety initiatives.

Summerville neighbors push for safety gate near new Berlin G. Myers walkway. A newly constructed portion of Berlin G. Myers Parkway creates concerns among some families about connectivity risks.

4 more books slated for removal from S.C. K-12 libraries. Four more books should be removed from South Carolina public schools for including graphic descriptions of masturbation and sex, a State Board of Education panel decided Thursday.

Bill to restart S.C. vouchers for private school tuition is on the fast track. Senators never took a vote Wednesday during back-to-back meetings on legislation that would eventually qualify the vast majority of South Carolina parents for state aid covering tuition for private K-12 schools. But it’s on track to be the first bill passed in 2025.

S.C. statue honoring Robert Smalls to stare down segregationists. The statue honoring Black hero Robert Smalls is set to join dozens of others, many to Confederate and segregationist leaders, where thousands of children on field trips walk from buses to the Statehouse each spring. Backers hope that will spur conversations about a man who lived a heroically full life.

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