https://www.sodacitynews.com Breaking news, civic reporting, and gameday coverage from Columbia, SC. en-us 2026-09-26T05:47:37Z https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/breaking-nolan-wells-federal-court-motion-audio-records-2026 https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/breaking-nolan-wells-federal-court-motion-audio-records-2026 2026-09-26T08:00:00.000Z newsdesk@sodacitynews.com (Wes Adams, Investigative Reporter) Breaking News Attorneys Ben Crump and family representatives petition U.S. District Court in Jackson, citing discrepancies in blunt-force trauma documentation. https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/weather-midlands-weekend-fall-festival-forecast-sept26-2026 https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/weather-midlands-weekend-fall-festival-forecast-sept26-2026 2026-09-26T07:30:00.000Z newsdesk@sodacitynews.com (Chief Meteorologist Ray Gallagher) Weather Chief Meteorologist Ray Gallagher breaks down ideal, zero-rain conditions for Soda City Market, tailgating, and outdoor festivals. https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/gamecocks-williams-brice-sec-saturday-walkthrough-prep-2026 https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/gamecocks-williams-brice-sec-saturday-walkthrough-prep-2026 2026-09-26T07:15:00.000Z newsdesk@sodacitynews.com (Cody Campbell, Gamecocks Beat) Gamecocks With 78,000 garnet-and-black faithful arriving in Columbia, South Carolina looks to capitalize on top-rated defensive pass rush. https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/politics-sc-general-assembly-clean-water-bond-advance-2026 https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/politics-sc-general-assembly-clean-water-bond-advance-2026 2026-09-26T06:45:00.000Z newsdesk@sodacitynews.com (Jonathan Reynolds, Statehouse Bureau) Politics Bipartisan legislative coalition agrees to accelerate culvert expansions and flood mitigation across the Midlands and Pee Dee corridors. https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/business-columbia-innovista-tech-campus-semiconductor-expansion-2026 https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/business-columbia-innovista-tech-campus-semiconductor-expansion-2026 2026-09-26T06:15:00.000Z newsdesk@sodacitynews.com (Marcus Vance, Financial Editor) Business Public-private partnership with USC and global semiconductor fabrication partners brings 180 high-wage engineering jobs to downtown Columbia. https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/latest-columbia-congaree-riverfront-greenway-extension-2026 https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/latest-columbia-congaree-riverfront-greenway-extension-2026 2026-09-25T07:00:00.000Z newsdesk@sodacitynews.com (Marcus Vance, Midlands Desk) Latest News A new 3.2-mile paved pedestrian and cycling loop unites Riverfront Park with Cayce Riverwalk, offering scenic Midlands commuting. https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/latest-sc-fall-agri-tourism-season-kicks-off-2026 https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/latest-sc-fall-agri-tourism-season-kicks-off-2026 2026-09-25T06:45:00.000Z newsdesk@sodacitynews.com (Elena Morales, Agriculture Reporter) Latest News Family-owned farms across Pelion, Gilbert, and Chapin report record opening day turnout as autumn agritourism activities kick off. https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/latest-columbia-high-school-stem-innovation-lab-grant-2026 https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/latest-columbia-high-school-stem-innovation-lab-grant-2026 2026-09-25T06:30:00.000Z newsdesk@sodacitynews.com (Deion Sanders, Education Desk) Latest News Four Columbia public high schools will install cutting-edge fabrication and clean-energy research laboratories by spring semester. https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/latest-midlands-craft-beverage-trail-passes-major-milestone-2026 https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/latest-midlands-craft-beverage-trail-passes-major-milestone-2026 2026-09-25T06:15:00.000Z newsdesk@sodacitynews.com (Chloe Bennett, Lifestyle & Culture) Latest News The Midlands culinary trail expands into West Columbia and North Main, adding artisanal coffee roasteries and non-alcoholic brewing labs. https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/latest-lexington-medical-center-cardiac-robotic-surgery-milestone-2026 https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/latest-lexington-medical-center-cardiac-robotic-surgery-milestone-2026 2026-09-25T06:00:00.000Z newsdesk@sodacitynews.com (Dr. Arthur Sterling, Medical Correspondent) Latest News Surgical teams celebrate landmark achievement using next-generation da Vinci 5 robotic cardiovascular precision tools. https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/breaking-nolan-wells-press-conference-ben-crump-federal-petition-2026 https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/breaking-nolan-wells-press-conference-ben-crump-federal-petition-2026 2026-09-25T08:00:00.000Z newsdesk@sodacitynews.com (Soda City News Investigative Desk) Breaking News In an impassioned national briefing, civil rights attorney Ben Crump released private autopsy trauma images and challenged Mississippi grand jury findings. https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/breaking-sc-coastal-high-wind-advisory-issued-2026 https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/breaking-sc-coastal-high-wind-advisory-issued-2026 2026-09-25T07:45:00.000Z newsdesk@sodacitynews.com (Chief Meteorologist Ray Gallagher) Breaking News A fast-moving autumn cold front pushing into South Carolina prompts high wind alerts for the Midlands and coastal waterways. https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/breaking-i26-westbound-fuel-spill-hazmat-cleared-2026 https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/breaking-i26-westbound-fuel-spill-hazmat-cleared-2026 2026-09-25T07:30:00.000Z newsdesk@sodacitynews.com (Traffic Action Unit) Breaking News Emergency environmental protection teams successfully neutralize 150-gallon diesel spill, reopening all travel lanes ahead of rush hour. https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/breaking-sc-senate-passes-urgent-utility-rate-freeze-compromise-2026 https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/breaking-sc-senate-passes-urgent-utility-rate-freeze-compromise-2026 2026-09-25T07:15:00.000Z newsdesk@sodacitynews.com (Jonathan Reynolds, Statehouse Bureau) Breaking News Legislative negotiators agree on a statutory rate stability pact, preventing anticipated 11% electricity surcharge jumps this winter. https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/breaking-gamecocks-defensive-captain-cleared-for-weekend-sec-clash-2026 https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/breaking-gamecocks-defensive-captain-cleared-for-weekend-sec-clash-2026 2026-09-25T07:05:00.000Z newsdesk@sodacitynews.com (Cody Campbell, Gamecocks Beat) Breaking News Shane Beamer confirms South Carolina team captain passes concussion protocol and will start at Williams-Brice Stadium. https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/us-pentagon-announces-new-unmanned-coastal-drone-shield-initiative-2026 https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/us-pentagon-announces-new-unmanned-coastal-drone-shield-initiative-2026 2026-09-25T06:30:00.000Z newsdesk@sodacitynews.com (Washington National Bureau) U.S. Department of Defense unveils https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/us-federal-reserve-signals-final-rate-reduction-ahead-of-q4-2026 https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/us-federal-reserve-signals-final-rate-reduction-ahead-of-q4-2026 2026-09-25T06:15:00.000Z newsdesk@sodacitynews.com (Financial Markets Desk) U.S. Cooling consumer price data and stable hiring figures strengthen market expectations for a quarter-point rate reduction in November. https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/us-department-of-transportation-awards-3b-high-speed-rail-grants-2026 https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/us-department-of-transportation-awards-3b-high-speed-rail-grants-2026 2026-09-25T06:00:00.000Z newsdesk@sodacitynews.com (National Transit Desk) U.S. Federal transit allocations will fund track modernization connecting Atlanta, Charlotte, and Raleigh with future spur to Columbia. https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/us-supreme-court-agrees-to-hear-landmark-digital-privacy-case-2026 https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/us-supreme-court-agrees-to-hear-landmark-digital-privacy-case-2026 2026-09-25T05:45:00.000Z newsdesk@sodacitynews.com (Supreme Court Legal Desk) U.S. High court will determine whether law enforcement agencies violate the Fourth Amendment by buying commercially harvested phone location records. https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/us-national-parks-service-reports-record-fall-visitor-milestone-2026 https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/us-national-parks-service-reports-record-fall-visitor-milestone-2026 2026-09-25T05:30:00.000Z newsdesk@sodacitynews.com (Environmental Desk) U.S. Smoky Mountains, Congaree, and Blue Ridge Parkway see unprecedented domestic autumn tourism bookings. https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/world-geneva-climate-summit-signs-global-freshwater-pact-2026 https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/world-geneva-climate-summit-signs-global-freshwater-pact-2026 2026-09-25T06:00:00.000Z newsdesk@sodacitynews.com (Geneva Bureau Correspondent) World Delegates from 140 nations ratify historic global accord establishing automated sensor monitoring and equitable river quotas. https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/world-european-union-launches-next-gen-quantum-satellite-constellation-2026 https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/world-european-union-launches-next-gen-quantum-satellite-constellation-2026 2026-09-25T05:45:00.000Z newsdesk@sodacitynews.com (International Science Bureau) World Ariane 6 launch places eight quantum key distribution satellites into orbit, creating tamper-proof global data links. https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/world-tokyo-unveils-worlds-first-commercial-floating-offshore-fusion-grid-2026 https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/world-tokyo-unveils-worlds-first-commercial-floating-offshore-fusion-grid-2026 2026-09-25T05:30:00.000Z newsdesk@sodacitynews.com (Tokyo Technology Desk) World A public-private energy breakthrough in Tokyo Bay delivers 200MW of continuous clean base-load power to local municipal grids. https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/world-panama-canal-completes-automated-reservoir-expansion-2026 https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/world-panama-canal-completes-automated-reservoir-expansion-2026 2026-09-25T05:15:00.000Z newsdesk@sodacitynews.com (Global Logistics Bureau) World Newly engineered hydraulic basins eliminate drought-related cargo vessel bottlenecks between Atlantic and Pacific routes. https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/world-archaeologists-discover-unmapped-ancient-pyramid-complex-in-guatemala-2026 https://www.sodacitynews.com/news/world-archaeologists-discover-unmapped-ancient-pyramid-complex-in-guatemala-2026 2026-09-25T05:00:00.000Z newsdesk@sodacitynews.com (Archaeological Discovery Bureau) World High-density laser imaging strips away dense jungle canopy, documenting 400 interconnected temples and irrigation canals.