Morning Answer Daily

GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. — Greenville County Sheriff Hobart Lewis on Tuesday confirmed a deputy was killed after a traffic stop ended in a three-vehicle crash on I-85 and sent two other deputies and two suspects to the hospital.

Lewis said it was "with a broken heart that he confirmed the death of Sgt. Conley Jumper, who is survived by his wife, Sarah, and daughter, Cat.

Lewis said a deputy stopped a vehicle about 3 p.m. near the White Horse Road exit.

He said at least one person in the car got into a fight with two deputies while they were taking the person into custody.

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HAYWOOD COUNTY, N.C. —

Family members of a hiker, who was reported missing last week in the woods of Haywood County, released emotional messages Monday to the public and to the missing man in hopes of finding him.

Chad Seger, 27, spoke briefly with a family member last Monday but has not been in contact with them since, according to Allison Richmond, with Haywood County Emergency Management...

GREENVILLE, S.C. —

The city of Greenville has canceled this year's Christmas parade.

The city posted the following message Thursday morning on Facebook:

"The City of Greenville has made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s Poinsettia Christmas Parade. The health and safety of Greenville residents and visitors is our top priority. Given the number of people this popular event attracts each year, it would be impossible for us to ensure attendees maintain the recommended social distance.

"As our merchants rely heavily on visitors during the holiday season, the Department of Events and Cultural Affairs is working on alternative plans that offer a safe and festive experience all season long.??...

A South Carolina mother who prosecutors say dumped two of her babies in trash bins a year apart shortly after they were born did not show up for her trial on two counts of homicide by child abuse.

Alyssa Dayvault is charged in Horry County and faces a sentence of up to life in prison if convicted. A jury in Dayvault’s trial was picked Tuesday even though she wasn’t in court as the trial got underway, The Sun News of Myrtle Beach reported.

A judge issued a warrant to order Dayvault to come to court. If she isn’t found and the jury convicts her, the sentence will be sealed until she can be brought to court.

Dayvault was arrested in December 2018 after she went to the hospital with heavy bleeding and delivered a placenta, but no child, authorities said.

(WYFF/AP) Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett presented her approach to the law as conservative and fair on Monday at the start of fast-tracked confirmation hearings, while angry Democrats, powerless to stop her, cast her as a threat to Americans’ health care coverage during the coronavirus pandemic.

With her husband and six of their seven children behind her in a hearing room off-limits to the public and altered for COVID-19 risks, Barrett delivered views at odds with the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, whose seat President Donald Trump nominated her to fill, likely before Election Day.

GREER, S.C. —

The family of an Upstate man who is in critical condition after a hit-and-run last week in Greer is looking for the driver responsible.

The incident happened at 11:57 p.m. Wednesday along Batesville Road and Devenger Road, according to Highway Patrol.

Justin Williams, 27, of Taylors, was hit by a vehicle while riding his moped. According to troopers, the driver who hit Williams left the scene.

They said that person could have been driving a Land Rover, which might have damage to the hood.

Williams' mother, Elaine, describes Justin as a good son who cares about his family. He is the father of a five-year-old son and a 10-month-old daughter.

"He’s just like a gentle giant," said Williams...

SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. —

An Upstate high school class decided to use the new direction caused by COVID-19 to show their gratitude for the people who drive them to school.

Students in the South Carolina High School Credential Employment Education Program at the Swofford Career Center are showing their appreciation to bus drivers

GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. —

As Greenville County Schools’ first graders continue their transition to five-day-a-week in-person classes, all remaining elementary students in the traditional school program (not virtual program) will move toward full-time in-person classes as well.

This phased-in return to the classroom, announced Wednesday by Superintendent Burke Royster, begins with K4 and K5 students who will be able to socially distant by utilizing extra space in school facilities and splitting time between the teacher and the assistant.

Other elementary grades will return on a staggered schedule using a combination of plexiglass, masks, and a specific classroom layout to ensure safety...

Eddie Van Halen, one of the greatest guitarists in rock music and the man who co-founded the legendary group Van Halen, died of cancer Tuesday. He was 65.

Van Halen's son, Wolfgang, announced his father's death on Twitter.

"He was the greatest father I could ever ask for," Wolfgang Van Halen wrote. "Every moment I shared with him on and off stage was a gift. My heart is broken and I don't think I'll ever fully recover from this loss."...

WASHINGTON (AP) —

The Supreme Court on Monday reinstated a requirement that South Carolina residents voting by mail in November’s election get a witness to sign their ballots.

Democrats had sought to have the requirement put on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic, but Republicans had defended it as deterring fraud.

While the high court reinstated the requirement, voters have already started returning ballots. The court said that any ballots cast before the court’s action Monday evening “and received within two days of this order may not be rejected for failing to comply with the witness requirement.”...

(AP) White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany says she has tested positive for COVID-19. This comes days after President Donald Trump tested positive for the coronavirus.

McEnany says in a statement that she tested positive Monday morning and is experiencing no symptoms at this time. She spoke briefly with reporters Sunday evening, but says that no members of the White House press corps spent enough time around her to be considered close contacts...

GREENVILLE, S.C. —

The city of Greenville plans to keep its interim police chief at the top of the department through the end of the year.

Greenville officials say they've been pleased with interim Police Chief Howie Thompson's leadership since taking over in December.

"He's served through incredibly difficult, stressful times," said Beth Brotherton, city of Greenville spokesperson.

A search for a new chief was put on hold in the spring because of the pandemic, and right now it will remain that way.

"It just isn't the right time to make a permanent decision or to focus attentions in that area until we get some of the other big pieces out of the way," said Brotherton...

(WYFF) CENTRAL, S.C. — A standoff ended Wednesday night after a man who was being served a search warrant opened fire on police, officials say.

Central Town Administrator Phillip Mishoe said officers from the Central Police Department were serving warrants at the Heatherwood Apartments at 100 Regency Drive.

The warrants were for a 24-year-old suspect in relation to an ongoing investigation, Mishoe said.

The landlord was in the process of letting them into the apartment, and the officers identified themselves, when shots were fired from inside, according to Mishoe.

ANDERSON COUNTY, S.C. —

An Upstate middle school student faces disciplinary action after bringing weapons to school Monday, according to the district.

A student notified Starr-Iva Middle School administration of a potential disturbance involving another student, Anderson District 3 representative Dylan McCullough said.

Administrators found an unloaded BB gun, a knife and a lighter in the student's possession during an investigation. McCullough said.

School officials determined that there was no intent to cause harm, and there was no threat to the students and staff at the school...

SIMPSONVILLE, S.C. —

A Simpsonville woman was hit in the head with an arrow in what police are calling a "freak accident."

It happened about 5 p.m. Thursday at a home on Neely Ferry Road, according to Cheryl Manley with the Simpsonville Police Department.

The woman's husband told WYFF News 4's Dana Griffin that his wife was inside their home and on a conference call when it happened.

He said the arrow broke the glass window and fractured his wife's skull. The woman had emergency surgery and is at home recovering, the husband said...

BAMBERG COUNTY, S.C. —

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division arrested Bamberg County
Council Chairman Kerry Trent Kinard on multiple sex crimes.

Kinard, 49, is charged with first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor, attempted criminal sexual contact with a minor, two counts of criminal solicitation of a minor, first-degree assault and battery and two counts of dissemination of obscene material.

SLED investigated the case at the request of the Bamberg Police Department.

Kinard was booked at the Bamberg County Detention Center.

The case will be prosecuted by the Second Circuit Solicitor’s Office...

ANDERSON COUNTY, S.C. —

An Anderson City police officer was killed Friday morning in a head-on crash in Anderson County, according to the Anderson County Coroner's Office.

The crash happened just after 6 a.m. on the Highway 24 bridge, also known as the Double Bridges.

Anderson police department officials identified the officer as 59-year-old Ethan Kaskin...

ASHEVILLE, N.C. —  Protests in Asheville turned tense for a brief period of time late Thursday following a decision by a Kentucky grand jury not to charge three Louisville police officers directly in the March shooting death of Breonna Taylor.

Around 150 people started protesting outside the police department around 8:20 p.m. Thursday, police said.

At one point, officers said they found a coffin outside the police department that was covered in what they believe is dirt and cow manure.

Protesters marched through downtown Asheville, blocking traffic at some points, officers said.

Around 10 p.m., protesters were marching at Pack Square Park. Officers said one person was assaulted and taken to Mission Hospital. There is no information on that person's condition.

The crowd left the park and the protest ended just before 11 p.m., officers said...

A Greenville County teacher has died, according to the Spartanburg County Coroner's Office.

Coroner Rusty Clevenger confirmed to WYFF News 4 that his office is working the death of Eric Cummings, who was a teacher and track and cross country coach at Riverside High School...