🌱 Snow Closes Schools + Missing 16-Year-Old

Happy Friday, neighbors! Let's get you all caught up on what's happening locally to start today off on an informed note.

First, today's weather:

Breezy with rain, then ice. High: 35 Low: 26.

Here are the top two stories in Columbia today:

1. Investigators are currently searching for a missing 16-year-old girl in Richland or Lexington County. Elissa Luker was last seen getting into a gray or silver four-door sedan on Thursday. If anyone sees Luker in the Columbia area, please contact local officials. (ColaDaily.com)
2. Columbia area schools will move to virtual learning in anticipation of winter weather today. The University of South Carolina and Midlands Technical College campuses and offices will also shut down. In addition to the schools, government offices will also be closed. (Charleston Post Courier)
3. According to South Carolina officials, a Columbia woman was killed in a late-night crash at a busy Richland County intersection on Wednesday. The two-vehicle collision happened at about 9:40 p.m. at the intersection of Two Notch Road and North Brickyard Road and resulted in the death of Juana Gutierrez, 47. (The State)

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Today in Columbia:

• Nights of Prayer and Worship At Midtown Fellowship: Downtown (6:15 PM)
• Free Throw At New Brookland Tavern (7:00 PM)
• Amos Hoffman Trio At The Joint (9:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• South Carolina Emergency Management Division reported a magnitude 1.6 earthquake occurred near Elgin, SC, at 8:08 Wednesday evening. (Facebook)
• See the new 2022 Real Columbia SC Ambassadors! These folks represent all that is great about the capital city. Among them, you’ll find business owners, writers, musicians, leaders, outdoor enthusiasts, and so much more. (Instagram)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

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You're officially in the loop for today! I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow morning with your next update.

— Dan Casarella

About me: Dan Casarella is a writer, podcast producer, and small business development specialist who formerly worked in late-night television. He’s produced many talk segments, including with President Joe Biden, Kobe Bryant, and Chadwick Boseman. Dan studied Media Studies and Production at Temple University. He also enjoys running, painting, and the highs and lows of Philadelphia’s sports teams.