Morning Answer Daily

CLEMSON, S.C. — Head Coach Dabo Swinney and Clemson Football announced Wednesday that defensive end Justin Foster has indicated his intention to return to Clemson for the 2021 season.

Foster had previously announced his intention to step away from football on Feb. 24 following complications related to asthma and COVID-19.

Earlier this week, he informed Clemson coaches of his intent to return to the team and resume training for the upcoming season.

"For me, the decision came when I went to Duke a couple weeks ago and the doctor was positive on me recovering in the near future," Foster said.

"In the next month or two, she thought I'd recover enough to compete at the college level, and she motivated me and said that if I wanted to play again, she'd encourage me to and support me and she would do the best she could to get me back healthy. She believed that I will be healthy and, for me, that was a big stepping stone," Foster added...

GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. — Greenville County Council voted 7-5 Tuesday evening to send back a rezone proposal to Planning and Development that would allow for nearly 500 new homes in an undeveloped section in the western part of the county.

Right now, 152 acres across from Grove Elementary School, is zoned industrial. But, property owner Phil Hughes and Hughes Investments are pushing for it to be zoned residential, which would allow Meritage Homes, a home building company, to build 481 homes.

“The issue is whether or not you want it to be industrial or would you like to see houses there,” said District 17 Councilman Joe Dill Tuesday afternoon. “So that’s the decision that we’ve got to make. I don’t think that’s a good place for industrial, but it’s ideal for houses..."

GREENVILLE, S.C. — When one door closes, another door opens. The Greenville Army and Navy Store started a new chapter Saturday.

After 75 years, the longtime Greenville store closed its downtown location at the beginning of April.

MCDOWELL COUNTY, N.C. — Beware of anyone calling you claiming to be an Apple employee.

The McDowell County Sheriff's Office sent a warning to residents about a new scam.

Victims reported that they received calls on Thursday from people claiming to be Apple representatives.

One caller told the local resident that her Apple account was suspended, and he needed her credit card information to unlock it.

Another caller offered a McDowell woman Apple anti-virus software and advised her to purchase Apple gift cards for him to activate it.

CLEMSON, S.C. — From No. 1 recruit to No. 1 pick.

On Thursday night, Trevor Lawrence, the winningest quarterback in Clemson history, added another distinction to his college legacy as the first Tiger selected first overall in the NFL Draft.

Jacksonville's choice of Lawrence was the worst-kept-secret of the pre-draft buildup, with Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer playing a key role in Lawrence's hastily put-together Pro Day in February, prior to Lawrence's labrum surgery.

As a starter at Clemson, Lawrence was 34-2, the fifth winningest record by any quarterback who made at least 30 starts in FBS history. The 2020 ACC Player of the Year and Heisman Trophy runner-up arrived at Clemson as an enormously hyped recruit as the top-ranked player in the Class of 2018. By the fifth game of his freshman year, he was Clemson's full-time starter, and by the end of the season, he had guided the Tigers to a National Championship over Alabama, 44-16, becoming the first true freshman to lead his team to a title since 1986...

BOONE, N.C. — Two deputies were killed and three other people including a suspected gunman were found dead after a lengthy standoff in North Carolina, a sheriff’s office said Thursday.

The Watauga County Sheriff’s office said Sgt. Chris Ward and K-9 Deputy Logan Fox were dispatched to a home in Boone at 9:44 a.m. Wednesday after the homeowner and his family didn’t report to work or answer telephone calls. Both were hit by gunfire. Other officers were able to pull out Ward, who later died at a hospital. Fox died at the scene.

“The individual suspected of killing the two officers is also suspected of killing two civilians in the residence. The names of the civilians are not being released at this time,” the statement said.

A Boone Police officer also was hit by gunfire during an initial attempt to rescue the deputies, but he was uninjured due to his protective equipment, the statement said...

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Tim Scott, the only Black Republican senator, is often happy to dart past Capitol Hill reporters without saying much. This time, he and the spotlight have found each other.

Brought up by a single mother who worked back-breaking hours as a nursing assistant, Scott, 55, has spent a decade in Congress representing South Carolina. Now, the lawmaker who combines a willingness to address racial questions with an advocacy of conservative causes is giving his party’s nationally televised response to President Joe Biden’s Wednesday night address to Congress.

CHEROKEE COUNTY, S.C. — A lawsuit has been filed against the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office claiming excessive use of force and police brutality.

Yet in a show of solidarity, church and community leaders, including the Cherokee County NAACP, came out Monday in support of the sheriff's office.

The case involves a traffic stop that took place on April 10.

The report shows a deputy tried to pull over Shaquita Holmes after noticing her headlight was out. The deputy stated she led him on a chase that ended when she ran into a utility pole, and she got out of her car and ran away.

Those who have seen the body camera videotape of the incident say it shows the officer giving multiple warnings, before releasing his K-9 officer, a Belgian Malinois named Tuco, to stop Holmes, who had also dropped a suspicious package....

COLUMBIA, S.C. — After recently filing paperwork to run for governor in South Carolina, former Congressman Joe Cunningham is starting to roll out his campaign.

The former congressman for South Carolina’s First District lost his seat to Republican challenger Nancy Mace this past November.

However, on Wednesday, just months after losing his seat, Cunningham filed paperwork indicating he would be running for governor.

While Cunningham’s office did not make a formal statement Wednesday, the Cunningham team has since updated their official website, as well as the candidate’s official Facebook page...

GREENVILLE, S.C. — If you have been waiting to head back to the movie theater-- here's your chance.

Regal Hollywood & RPX in Greenville is opening Friday.

The theater on Woodruff Road will headline new movies including "The Unholy" and "Godzilla vs. Kong," along with a strong slate of highly-anticipated movies opening in the coming weeks including "Spiral," "A Quiet Place Part II" and "F9."

For movies and showtimes, click here.

Reopening plans include a wide range of health and safety measures that adhere to the CinemaSafe protocol and guidelines...

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A resolution requiring South Carolina schools to offer in-person classes to students five days a week is heading to Governor Henry McMaster's desk.

Once signed, students would be able to return in-person full time starting Monday, April 26.

The House passed the Senate-passed resolution Wednesday.

It also includes a requirement that districts must pay teachers more next school year if they have them directly teaching students who are in person and those online at the same time.

Gov. Henry McMaster said he would sign the resolution....

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A judge upheld a 20-year prison sentence on Monday for former police officer Michael Slager in the killing of Walter Scott, an unarmed Black man who ran from a traffic stop in South Carolina, rejecting Slager’s claims his lawyer did a poor job.

Slager had appealed his sentence, saying his lawyer never told him about a plea offer from prosecutors that could have cut years off his eventual prison term for shooting Scott five times in the back.

But federal Judge Richard Gergel wrote in his ruling Monday that he believed Slager’s lawyer Andy Savage, who said in 2017 court papers that he told his client about every plea offer. Slager testified during a hearing last week he didn’t know about the initial deal from prosecutors.

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Greenville County Schools is holding another job fair later this month in an effort to fill several more positions.

GCS has openings for bus drivers, bus aides, custodians and food workers.

Starting salaries will range from $11 to $19 per hour, according to the district.

Employees working 30 or more hours a week will also be eligible for health and dental benefits, sick leave and free life insurance, the district said.

The job fair will be on Tuesday, April 27 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Armstrong Elementary School on White Horse Road.

GCS hiring managers will be there to answer questions from applicants...

WASHINGTON — The United States will likely move to resume Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine this coming week, possibly with restrictions or broader warnings after reports of some very rare blood clot cases, the government’s top infectious diseases expert said Sunday.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, in a series of news show interviews, said he expects a decision when advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention meet Friday to discuss the pause in J&J’s single-dose vaccine.

“I would be very surprised if we don’t have a resumption in some form by Friday,” he said. "I don’t really anticipate that they’re going to want it stretch it out a bit longer.”...

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) — Fort Jackson military leaders have decided to suspend the soldier accused of assaulting a man outside of his Richland County, South Carolina, home.

Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Pentland has been suspended from his instructor duties on the base while his case is being investigated.

Pentland was charged with third-degree assault and battery for shoving a young Black man walking in front of his home in the Summit neighborhood. He was arrested Wednesday morning.

“Soldier conduct on and off duty must be exemplary to retain the trust of our communities and our nation,” said Fort Jackson Commander Brig. Gen. Milford Beagle, Jr. “Fort Jackson continues to work with and support Sheriff Lott, our local law enforcement professionals, and community & civil leadership as this case moves forward.”...

GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. — Greenville County Schools will begin making changes in high school classroom Thursday afternoon ahead of a possible return to 100% of students returning in-person five days a week, GCS spokesman Tim Waller said.

No decision has been made about an official return for all GCS high school students on Monday, April 26, Waller said.

"Greenville County Schools is preparing to meet the legal requirements of this mandate," Waller said...

COLUMBIA, S.C. —

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) released the following statement concerning the federal announcement about the Janssen vaccine, also referred to as the Johnson & Johnson vaccine:

"South Carolina public health officials received word this morning, like many throughout the nation and the state, that the CDC and FDA have recommended immediately pausing use of the Janssen vaccine due to concerns with blood clotting. Our top priority is protecting the health and safety of the public. This pause is evidence of very close safety monitoring as part of the strict quality assurance that is in place to ensure patient safety...

WASHINGTON, D.C., D.C — The U.S. is recommending a "pause" in using the single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine to investigate reports of potentially dangerous blood clots.

In a joint statement Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration said they were investigating unusual clots that occurred 6 to 13 days after vaccination. The clots occurred in veins that drain blood from the brain and occurred together with low platelets. All six cases were in women between the ages of 18 and 48; there was one death.

The reports appear similar to a rare, unusual type of clotting disorder that European authorities say is possibly linked to another COVID-19 vaccine not yet cleared in the U.S., from AstraZeneca.

More than 6.8 million doses of the J&J vaccine have been administered in the U.S., the vast majority with no or mild side effects...

COLUMBIA, S.C. — University of South Carolina leaders say it’s their fault for not reaching out to Darla Moore after her 89-year-old mother died on April 1, leading the school’s biggest donor to write off the university.

“I deeply regret the way our response was delayed, and I take full responsibility as a president of the university,” President Bob Caslen said Thursday.

Darla Moore has donated more than $75 million to the school, and its business school is named after her.

Caslen said that he sent Moore a handwritten note, and USC board Chairman Dorn Smith said he has tried to call Moore. Neither have received a reply.

Moore’s silence is a sign of the fractured relationship between the state’s largest university and its biggest benefactor. Two years ago, she asked trustees to restart the search rather than hire Caslen, a retired general and U.S. Military Academy superintendent...