Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: Why is Leesburg Road’s long-running construction now delayed another 18 months?
Spotted on the Columbia calendar: Hot Cocoa, S'mores & Balloon Twisting at Kids' Night- Cayce

Greetings Columbia! Your go-to source for what's happening in town is here. Stay in the loop and read on. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- Why is Leesburg Road’s long-running construction now delayed another 18 months?
- How will SCETV stay strong after losing millions in federal funds?
- Why Columbia advocates are suing Gov. McMaster over Guard deployments
Also on today's calendar: Hot Cocoa, S'mores & Balloon Twisting at Kids' Night- Cayce and 5 more events.
Find out what's happening in Columbiafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Find out what's happening in Columbiafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Sunday: Breezy and cooler, with a high of 60 and low of 28 degrees.
- Monday: Plenty of sunshine, temps: high: 53, low: 28.
- Tuesday: Sunshine and a few clouds, with a high of 62 and low of 38 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• Columbia's Leesburg Road under construction for years. Why the delay? (thestate.com) — If you drive Columbia’s Leesburg Road, expect construction headaches to last much longer: the widening project along Fort Jackson’s southern edge has been pushed from late 2025 to spring 2027. State transportation officials blame complex utility relocations, even as they work to expand the busy corridor to four lanes and add turn lanes to ease daily congestion for thousands of local drivers.
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• SCETV, radio on secure footing despite dissolution of federal broadcasting arm (postandcourier.com) — South Carolina’s public TV and radio network, headquartered in Columbia, says it can absorb the loss of $3.2 million in annual federal funding after the shutdown of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Leaders point to strong state support, member donations and a budget shift request that would move key SCETV positions into the state’s general fund to stabilize operations and protect local programming.
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• Lawsuit Challenges McMaster's Deployment of SC National Guard to Washington (holycitysinner.com) — Columbia-based advocates are asking the S.C. Supreme Court to block Gov. Henry McMaster’s deployment of South Carolina National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., arguing he exceeded powers granted by state law. The lawsuit, backed by Democracy Forward and the ACLU of South Carolina, claims the Guard can only be activated under specific emergency conditions that plaintiffs say do not exist.
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📸 Around Columbia
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🗓 Upcoming Events in Columbia
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
- Hot Cocoa, S'mores & Balloon Twisting at Kids' Night- Cayce
East Bay Deli- Parkland , 917 State St , Cayce
5:00 pm - Hot Cocoa, S'mores & Balloon Twisting at Kids' Night- Clemson Rd
East Bay Deli- Clemson Rd , 2708 Clemson Rd , Columbia
5:00 pm - Hot Cocoa, S'mores & Balloon Twisting at Kids' Night- West Columbia
East Bay Deli- West Columbia , 108 Sunset Ct , West Columbia
5:00 pm - MLK Day Celebration
EdVenture , 211 Gervais St , Columbia
9:00 am - Marionette Monday: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Columbia Marionette Theatre , 401 Laurel St , Columbia
10:00 am - Readers & Writers Luncheon with Author Raegan Teller
Lizard's Thicket Restaurant , 10170 Two Notch Rd , Columbia
11:30 am - The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show - Columbia, SC
The Peanut Man , 3905 Fernandina Rd , Columbia
6:00 pm - Candlelight: Coldplay & Imagine Dragons
Harbison Theatre at Midlands Technical College , 7300 College St , Irmo
8:45 pm
Monday January 12
Tuesday January 13
Wednesday January 14
Monday January 19
Tuesday January 20
Saturday January 24
📣 Columbia Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
- Central Carolina Comic Con
South Carolina State Fair , 1200 Rosewood Dr , Columbia
11:00 am - Lake Murray Bridal Show-Winter 2026 Wedding Expo
Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center , 1101 Lincoln St , Columbia
1:00 pm - Second Sunday at The Well Collective
3000 Rosewood Dr , Columbia
4:00 pm - The Leading Ladies Cabaret
S BAR AND GRILL , 7535 Garners Ferry Rd , Columbia
7:00 pm
Sunday January 11
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Columbia PatchAM possible:
- Collaborative Leadership Mindset (CLM) — (803) 764-7111
Transforming leadership. - Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible! - John W. Molony Law Firm, LLC — (843) 762-5732
Arrested? Call Criminal Defense & DUI Lawyer John W. Molony!
Click here to show your appreciation! 💚
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Free kittens!
They are approx 8 to 9 weeks old. Born under my house and raised between my house and the creek. We thought it more important to spay mom who is… (Nextdoor Bush River Rd) - Loving, happy dog is looking for a good home.
I fostered Moana for a few days until her owner could be found after she was found running around a friend's apartment complex for a few weeks… (Nextdoor WildeWood)
- From investigating environmental crimes to protecting shellfish harvesting waters, SCDES law enforcement officers serve SC every day. On National Law... (X: SC_EnvServices)
- As ICE steps up enforcement in the US, know your rights in SC if you get stopped... (X: thestate)
- South Carolina Staffing posted a job opening for Porter in Columbia. Apply here.
- Kroger Family of Companies posted a job opening for Online Grocery Pick-Up Clerk in Columbia. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Columbia here.
🗞 Nearby News
Cayce
- Who represents Richland, Lexington County in the statehouse? Here's who to know (thestate.com)
West Columbia
- Here are the major developments to watch for in Lexington County in 2026 (thestate.com)
- Where to see the Buddhist monks' Walk for Peace in Columbia, SC on Saturday (thestate.com)
- Feds Say R.J. May Was a 'Hub' of Child Porn Distribution, Seek 20-Year Sentence (fitsnews.com)
Blythewood
Ok Columbia! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I see food and I eat it.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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