🌱 'Stand Up For Life' At Statehouse + City Trash Pickup Delays

Hey, Columbia! Here's everything you need to know to get this Monday started off right.

First, today's weather:

Cooler with decreasing clouds. High: 53 Low: 30.

Here are the top 3 stories today in Columbia:

1. On Saturday, pro-life supporters gathered in Columbia for the Stand Up for Life March and Rally. The “Proudly Pro-Life” weekend event gathered members of South Carolina’s Citizens for Life group, who came together with the goal of eliminating abortion from society. The walk ended at the South Carolina statehouse for a series of speakers to share their message, including South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson and Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette. (WIS10)
2. Two years since she was first diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor, a Columbia girl has won her battle and celebrated the holidays at home with her family. Nine-year-old Harmony Leonard enjoyed her second Christmas cancer-free at home. She now only has to make quarterly hospital visits since her last chemo treatment in 2020. (WACH.com)
3. If you've noticed yard waste piling up at your home, there's a reason: several open positions, combined with a heavy leaf season, have created "a perfect storm” for the city of Columbia’s solid waste department. As such, they've fallen behind on yard waste and bulk trash pickup; due to the rotational collections schedule, the delays will eventually affect every neighborhood in the city. (The State)

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Today in Columbia:

• Caring For You And Your Baby - Lexington Medical Center (6:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The Columbia Chamber of Commerce has named Jean Cecil Frick, a communications professional and chamber executive board member, as its new chair. (columbiabusinessreport.com)
• An ongoing scam is targeting renters in the Midlands: rental property lockboxes are being smashed in by people pretending to be the owners. (WIS10)
• The Columbia Police Department introduced its first group of new officers for the new year, nicknamed the "Lucky 7." (Facebook)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Monday. I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow with another 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.