Tragic Campus Shooting Shakes South Carolina State University, Sparks Statewide Concerns and Response

South Carolina faces a critical week following a tragic campus shooting at South Carolina State University in Orangeburg County that claimed two lives and injured another. According to ABC News 4, the shooting occurred Thursday evening inside an apartment at the Hugine Suites student complex, prompting an immediate lockdown that lasted until Friday morning. The university canceled classes through Monday and postponed athletic events as counselors were made available to students. South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is investigating the incident, which authorities believe to be isolated.

Meanwhile, the state legislature continues advancing significant legislation. South Carolina Public Radio reports the Senate approved an NIL bill by a vote of 30 to 13, sealing public records of name, image and likeness contracts between student-athletes and universities. The chamber also tackled property tax exemptions through Senator Harvey Peeler's bill expanding homestead exemptions for seniors aged 65 and older. Additional measures included school district absence policy adjustments and election filing framework modifications.

On the economic front, manufacturing investments continue strengthening South Carolina's business landscape. Coastal Precast Systems announced an approximately 9 million dollar investment in Laurens County that will create about 70 new jobs, according to the South Carolina Economic Development Corporation. The company specializes in precast and prestressed concrete components for infrastructure projects across the Southeast.

Education infrastructure projects are also progressing significantly. According to the Lexington Chronicle, the Lexington-Richland School District Five is advancing multiple bond referendum projects approved in 2024. The district is constructing a new Dutch Fork Elementary School with a 41 million 400 thousand dollar budget and implementing security entrance upgrades across 12 schools totaling 5 million 150 thousand dollars. A new 17 million 6 hundred thousand dollar International School for the Arts project at Irmo High School is expected to be completed by fall 2026.

Public health remains a pressing concern as South Carolina continues battling the nation's largest measles outbreak in 26 years. South Carolina Public Radio reports the outbreak reached 962 cases by Tuesday afternoon, with 115 cases confirmed in February alone. The South Carolina Department of Public Health emphasizes that over 92 percent of cases involved fully unvaccinated individuals and continues operating mobile vaccination units throughout the state.

Looking ahead, South Carolina State's Board of Trustees met in emergency session Thursday evening to address the campus shooting response. The state remains focused on supporting affected university students and communities while advancing legislative priorities and economic development initiatives during the current legislative session.

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