🌱 Vegas Knights Shooter Charged + Mardi Gras Celebrations

Welcome back, Columbia! Let's get you all caught up to start this day off on an informed note. Here's what's going on around town today.

First, today's weather:

Sunny to partly cloudy. High: 81 Low: 48.

Here are the top three stories in Columbia today:

1. A man has been charged with murder after being involved in a shooting that occurred outside of the Vegas Knights club in Columbia on Feb. 13. Antwon Brown is facing murder charges for allegedly shooting a man in the parking lot of the nightclub. As of now, no motive has been released. (WLTX.com)
2. The South Carolina Secretary of State is warning Columbia and Richland county citizens of a group illegally soliciting donations. The group is the Miracle House of Hope Ministries, which claims to be a homeless charity but has failed to register as a charity for years. They currently owe about $12,000 in civil fines to the Secretary of State's Office. (WLTX.com)
3. Mardi Gras celebrations are promising to bring "the good times" to Columbia this Saturday. For the 12th year, the Krewe de Columbi-Ya-Ya will host the event. A parade will start the day on Saturday at 11 a.m. at 1005 Airport Boulevard in Columbia and conclude at City Roots, where the festivities will continue. (ColaDaily.com)

From our sponsor:

Tackling a big to-do list around the house to start the new year? Our partners at Thumbtack, the home services app, have made hiring trusted local pros for pretty much any job extremely easy and intuitive. In minutes, you can find a painter, plumber, roofer or someone to help with small jobs such as trash hauling or appliance repair. And Thumbtack's rating system can give you confidence that you're hiring a quality pro you can count on. Click here to get started.

Today in Columbia:

• Ribbon Cutting At The Gala Event Center (11:30 AM)
• Saluda Shoals At Tin Roof (6:00 PM)
• tick, tick... BOOM! At Trustus Theatre (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• A fire safety tip from the Columbia Fire Department: It’s important to always remember when burning wood to use dry, seasoned wood! It will produce more flame with less smoke. (Facebook)
• Columbia Animal Services is hosting an adoption special on International Rescue Cat Day!
  All cat adoptions will be $5 on Wednesday, Mar. 2! (Facebook)
• The next Free First Thursday at the Columbia Museum of Art is only a week away! Enjoy free admission thanks to BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina along with extended hours. (Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Learn How To Reduce Your Risk For Heart Disease During American Heart Month (February 28)
• Add your event

Loving the Columbia Daily? Here are all the ways you can get more involved:

• Send a friend or neighbor this link so they can subscribe
• Get your local business listed in front of readers

You're officially in the loop for today! See you tomorrow for 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.