Morning Answer Daily

CLEMSON, S.C. — A fraternity at Clemson University is under investigation.

Joe Galbraith, a spokesman for the university, told WYFF News 4 Tuesday that the university is aware of allegations involving the Kappa Alpha fraternity.

4:05 UPDATE - Galbraith released the following updated statement from the university:

"The preliminary results of an investigation by the Office of Community and Ethical Standards (OCES) and Clemson University Police Department (CUPD) into an alleged incident involving the Kappa Alpha fraternity have determined earlier reports and rumors of the hospitalization of a student were incorrect."

PENDLETON, S.C. — Bojangles says it has not received any notice about the Clemson-themed restaurant in Pendleton violating the town ordinance.

The restaurant on Highway 76 was recently wrapped in orange and purple with the words "Clemson" and "Tailgate Headquarters."

On Monday, the town planner, David Poulson, told WYFF News 4 the new design doesn't comply with the zoning ordinance, which details the size and number of signs allowed on a building.

To see more pictures, click here.

(WYFF - AP) - Pfizer said Monday its COVID-19 vaccine works for children ages 5 to 11 and that it will seek U.S. authorization for this age group soon -- a key step toward beginning vaccinations for youngsters.

The vaccine made by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech already is available for anyone 12 and older. But with kids now back in school and the extra-contagious delta variant causing a huge jump in pediatric infections, many parents are anxiously awaiting vaccinations for their younger children.

For elementary school-aged kids, Pfizer tested a much lower dose -- a third of the amount that's in each shot given now. Yet after their second dose, children ages 5 to 11 developed coronavirus-fighting antibody levels just as strong as teenagers and young adults, Dr. Bill Gruber, a Pfizer senior vice president, told The Associated Press...

Some familiar faces will soon return to "Jeopardy!" And according to officials for the show, they'll be sticking around for a while.

In a Thursday news release, the quiz show announced Mayim Bialik and Ken Jennings will host episodes that will air through the end of 2021. Beginning Monday, episodes featuring Bialik behind the show's iconic lectern will begin airing. The former "Big Bang Theory" star will continue hosting through Nov. 5.

After that, the show says Bialik and Jennings will split hosting duties as their schedules allow.

The show's 38th season began this week featuring episodes hosted by the embattled Mike Richards. Richards stepped down as Alex Trebek's replacement on Aug. 20, and was ousted as the show's executive producer a week and a half later, after it was discovered podcasts he had made in 2013 and 2014 contained demeaning remarks about women and minorities...

HAMPTON COUNTY, S.C. — The man who authorities say prominent South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh hired to shoot him in the head was in court Thursday morning.

Curtis Edward Smith, 61, was taken into custody earlier this week in connection with the Sept. 4 shooting of Murdaugh.

Smith is charged with assisted suicide, assault and battery of a high aggravated nature, pointing and presenting a firearm, distribution of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, insurance fraud and conspiracy to commit insurance fraud..

HAMPTON COUNTY, S.C. — A prominent South Carolina lawyer who found the bodies of his wife and son three months ago tried to arrange his own death earlier this month so his son would get a $10 million life insurance payment, but the planned fatal shot only grazed his head, state police said Tuesday.

The shooter, Curtis Edward Smith, was charged with assisted suicide, insurance fraud and several other counts in the Sept. 4 shooting of Alex Murdaugh on a lonely highway in Hampton County, the State Law Enforcement Division said in a statement...

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division has opened a new investigation into the case of Alex Murdaugh, officials said Monday.

In a release from SLED spokesman Tommy Crosby, officials said the latest investigation is based on allegations that he misappropriated funds in connection to his position as a former lawyer with the Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth, & Detrick Law Firm in Hampton, South Carolina...

ABBEVILLE, S.C. — Abbeville County deputies are searching for a 23-year-old man last seen Saturday afternoon.

According to a Facebook post from the department, Adam Clark Harvey was last seen wearing a black shirt and black jeans around Mt. Carmel Road around 3 p.m. Saturday.

He is described as a white man, 6'1" tall and has red hair.

The sheriff says Harvey has special needs...

COLUMBIA, S.C. — President Joe Biden announced Thursday night sweeping new federal vaccine requirements.

The government's expansive new rules mandate that all employers with more than 100 workers will require employees to be vaccinated or tested for the virus weekly, affecting about 80 million Americans.

Gov. Henry McMaster took to Twitter to respond.

"Rest assured, we will fight them to the gates of hell to protect the liberty and livelihood of every South Carolinian," the governor said, adding: "The American Dream has turned into a nightmare under President Biden and the radical Democrats."

GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. —

This crash happened at around 9 p.m. Wednesday near Monticello Drive, according to the Greenville County Coroner's Office.

According to troopers, the driver of a Ford truck rear-ended the dump truck. The driver was trapped inside the Ford truck, which caught fire.

Troopers said the driver of the dump truck was not hurt.

A driver was killed in a fiery crash involving a pickup and a dump truck in Greenville County, according to South Carolina Highway Patrol.

Troopers said a dump truck was disabled in the eastbound lane of SC-20, also known as S. Piedmont Highway.

POLK COUNTY, N.C. —  On Tuesday the Polk County Schools' Board of Education voted 5-2 during an emergency meeting to implement a mask mandate.

The temporary mask requirement for students and staff is effective Wednesday, Sept. 8., according to officials.

According to officials, the temporary measure is a means to combat the impact of COVID-19 events and quarantining that has led to clusters in classrooms, staffing issues and the temporary closing of three schools.

The mask requirement will only apply during the school day and in other instructional settings when students and staff are indoors and not eating or drinking, officials said...

HAMPTON COUNTY, S.C. — Alex Murdaugh, the prominent South Carolina attorney whose wife and son were shot and killed earlier this summer, released a statement Monday after he was reportedly shot in the head.

The statement was released by a PR firm out of Columbia, and reads as follows:

“The murders of my wife and son have caused an incredibly difficult time in my life. I have made a lot of decisions that I truly regret. I’m resigning from my law firm and entering rehab after a long battle that has been exacerbated by these murders. I am immensely sorry to everyone I’ve hurt including my family, friends and colleagues. I ask for prayers as I rehabilitate myself and my relationships...”

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Two officers were injured Friday in what the Richland County Sheriff called a "riot" inside the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.

Sheriff Leon Lott said officers were called about 8:30 a.m. to the detention center.

He said several inmates attacked the officers and a shank was the only weapon used.

According to Lott, there were more than 50 inmates in the pod at the time the attack occurred.

He said the two officers were taken to the hospital but are expected to survive.

GREENVILLE, S.C. — The Greenville County School District said Wednesday the district cannot keep up with the number of teachers and students who are out with COVID-19 or who are quarantining.

The district said it would soon have a new, improved, and updated COVID-19 dashboard in place.

Parents have questioned the low number of cases district-wide that have been posted on the district website.

District spokesperson Tim Waller said those numbers are not current.

"We simply have not been able to keep up," Waller said...

GREENVILLE, S.C. (WIS-TV) — The school year just started, but grades are already starting to come in for South Carolina schools.

The South Carolina School Report Card compiles the results of the federal end-of-year assessment given to students in third grade and higher. The SC Department of Education asked the federal government for a waiver to not give these tests last year, as was done in 2020 but was denied.

While officials with the Department of Education say they expected a dip in students being at grade level because of COVID-19, the final numbers worried them...

GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. — A bus driver shortage has Greenville County Schools asking the parents of bus riders to provide transportation to school for their children or drive carpools to transport the children of friends and neighbors if they are able to do so, according to Greenville County school district spokesman Tim Waller.

According to Waller, on Friday, GCS was more than 100 drivers short due to absences and a shortage of people who are qualified to drive a bus.

Reducing the number of bus riders in Greenville County Schools will allow the district to more efficiently serve those students who have no alternative means of transportation, Waller said.

Parents of bus riders who are able to drive their children are asked to notify their school, Waller added.

According to Waller, as a result of the bus driver shortage, most daytime field trips are currently suspended in Greenville County Schools...

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Hurricane Ida blasted the Louisiana coast on Sunday, with the eye of one of the most powerful storms to ever hit the U.S. coming ashore near the barrier island of Grand Isle with violent winds of 150 mph.

What impacts could we see here in the Carolinas and Georgia?

On Tuesday, the remnants of Ida will be moving to our northwest, but will bring its tail end of moisture our way beginning Tuesday afternoon and evening thru Wednesday.

This will mean a better chance for scattered showers and storms...

Kabul, Afghanistan —  A U.S. official says the complex attack outside Kabul airport is "definitely believed" to have been carried out by the Islamic State group.

The official says members of the U.S. military were wounded in Thursday's attack, which involved two suicide bombers and gunmen.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing operations. The Islamic State group is more radical than the Taliban and has carried out a wave of attacks targeting civilians.

The official says evacuation flights have continued to take off from Kabul airport in the waning days of an airlift to help people flee the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan...

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Some parents in Greenville County are frustrated and say they want masks mandated. Others say they're glad it's an option.

The Greenville County School board voted unanimously at a meeting Tuesday to pass a motion allocating 5.5 million dollars in federal funding. The district will allocate $3.3 million for 80 hours of COVID-19-related leave for staff.

The district's current COVID leave program, before Tuesday's vote, was set to end August 31, 2021. It is now extended through 2022 and includes leave to help care for family members. After COVID leave is exhausted, available sick leave would be utilized.

The district also voted to allocate $1.1 million dollars in hiring permanent substitutes and $600,000.00 to hire temporary staff to track student COVID-19 tests, quarantines, isolations and ESSER federal funding compliance.

Masks were not on the agenda.

This year, Greenville County Schools...