Morning Answer Daily

ANDERSON, S.C. — A standoff an Upstate motel Thursday night ended with one man in custody.

It happened at the Red Roof Inn off of North Main Street.

WYFF News 4's crew at the scene said around 11:30 p.m. law enforcement approached a room, broke a window and threw in flash and smoke grenades.

Moments later, a man stepped out of the room and was arrested by law enforcement.

Authorities said he was taken to the hospital for evaluation...

GREENVILLE, S.C. — New, affordable family homes will be built in Greenville’s Nicholtown community over the next two-and-a-half years.

But what does it mean for a home to be ‘affordable?’

“Our families will typically be $25 to $35,000 dollars a year income. We guarantee that their mortgage will be less than 30 percent of their income,” said Monroe Free, president and CEO at Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County.

Habitat for Humanity will build 29 single-family homes on a lot off Webster Road.

The Greenville Housing authority said developments like Heritage Hills make a big difference — especially right now, with COVID-19 and inflation...

GREENVILLE, S.C. — What used to be the most expensive day to fill up your tank is now the cheapest.

New data from GasBuddy shows Saturday is the cheapest day to buy gas in South Carolina.

As gas prices rise about 50% higher than a year ago, the price-tracking platform continues to collect data every single day. While Saturday is the cheapest, Thursday is at the top of the list for the highest prices at the pump in 28 states, including South Carolina.

In 17 other states, Monday is the cheapest day to get gas...

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady made it official Tuesday morning: He is retiring from the National Football League after 22 seasons.

"I have always believed the sport of football in an “all-in” proposition – if a 100 percent competitive commitment isn’t there, you won’t succeed and success is what I love so much about our game. There is a physical, mental and emotional challenge EVERY single day that has allowed me to maximize my highest potential. And I have tried to my very best these past 22 years. There are no shortcuts to success on the field or in life," Brady wrote in an Instagram post...

GREENVILLE, S.C. — An Upstate man has been declared inactive on a kidney transplant list after he said he has no plans to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Jason Wilson, of Easley, has had kidney failure since he was 10 years old.

For a while, his condition improved, he said.

But about two years ago, he began dialysis and was placed on MUSC Health's list for a kidney transplant.

It was on Nov. 1 that he got a letter from the health system that said he would be moved to inactive status if he didn't get the COVID-19 vaccine by Jan. 1, 2022...

GREENVILLE, S.C. — This weekend will be cold — very cold.

But before the extreme cold comes the chance of snow.

The mountains will see light snow.

Evening flurries continue for some of us — namely, parts of Cherokee and Union counties are still the most likely to see light snow accumulations of 1-2 inches.

Everywhere else should see no more than 1 inch, if anything at all. Snow ends around midnight.

After midnight, extremely cold air starts moving in from the north. Temperatures will be sinking quickly into Saturday morning — lows expected in the middle teens to upper 20s. Wind chills at sunrise likely in the teens to single digits...

GREENVILLE, S.C. — We have another chance Friday of some flurries in the Upstate and light accumulation in Western North Carolina.

Clouds will increase Friday ahead of a few scattered rain showers Friday afternoon and evening.

As temperatures drop, that rain changes to snow showers across the mountains late afternoon and early evening and into the Upstate Friday night into early Saturday morning.

Light snow accumulation is expected for the mountains with an inch or less across the valleys...

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Ice on Main will remain in downtown Greenville, where it began more than 10 years ago.

Greenville City Council on Monday night voted in favor of a resolution that grants Windsor Aughtry Company -- the owner of the plaza that is home to Ice on Main -- the ability to expand an outdoor dining space.

"The agreement doesn't call for Ice on Main, but their staff has worked with our team and we have figured out how to make it all work," said Angie Prosser, Parks, Recreation & Tourism Director for the city of Greenville.

Windsor Aughtry request the ability to expand the outdoor space back in November. It would allow for additional seating space and a fireplace, among other features...

S.C. — Next week state senators are set to talk about a bill that would legalize medical marijuana in South Carolina.

The 'South Carolina Compassionate Care Act,' S. 150 in the Senate and House companion bill H. 3361, would create a system to recommend and sell medical cannabis.

After Gov. Henry McMaster's State of the State address Wednesday, the Democratic response called for action.

“Let’s also pass the medical marijuana bill," said Rep. Spencer Wetmore, D-Charleston, "To help ease the suffering of South Carolina families living with chronic illnesses.”...

MAULDIN, S.C. — The Greenville Triumph soccer club hopes to work with Greenville County and the city of Mauldin to build a multipurpose stadium.

“It’s a huge opportunity,” said Rebecca Krouchick, a member of the Reedy River Riot, who came to the finance committee meeting to support the project. “Soccer is an amazing sport. Everybody’s starting to realize how cool it is.”

There was a lot of green – The Greenville Triumph’s team color — at Thursday’s meeting.

“I ask you to allow Mauldin to join with you and work toward what will become an opportunity, a potential transformative opportunity, for our area's future,” said Mauldin Mayor Terry Merritt...

WASHINGTON — Voting legislation that Democrats and civil rights leaders say is vital to protecting democracy collapsed Wednesday when two senators refused to join their own party in changing Senate rules to overcome a Republican filibuster after a raw, emotional debate.

The outcome was a stinging defeat for President Joe Biden and his party, coming at the tumultuous close to his first year in office.

Despite a day of piercing debate and speeches that often carried echoes of an earlier era when the Senate filibuster was deployed by opponents of civil rights legislation, Democrats could not persuade holdout senators Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Joe Manchin of West Virginia to change the Senate procedures on this one bill and allow a simple majority to advance it...

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Gov. Henry McMaster is expected in his State of the State address Wednesday to say South Carolina needs to be bold and seize opportunities created by billions of additional budget dollars to continue to be a great state for businesses.

McMaster is set to speak to lawmakers at 7 p.m. at the Statehouse. The annual speech will be carried live on WYFF News 4 on air and at the top of this page.

The speech is a chance for the Republican governor to tout what he sees as his accomplishments from last year, likely to include a new law that bans most abortions in the state. That law has been suspended as the courts review its constitutionality.

McMaster also is expected to set out his goals for 2022, many of which he has already revealed in news conferences late last year or in his budget proposal to the General Assembly earlier this month. The state has more than $5 billion extra to spend this year because of a booming economy, money saved in past years and federal COVID-19 relief...

SUMTER, S.C. (WIS-TV) — A 17-year-old in South Carolina is accused of tampering with a state sign and having it display a racial slur, according to Sumter police.

The suspect is considered a juvenile under South Carolina law, so his name will not be released.

He will be charged with aggravated breach of peace and is being held in a state Department of Juvenile Justice facility, according to Sumter police.

Officers obtained surveillance video of a man walking in the area of the sign that was tampered with.

Bruce Kneece, with Convergent Information Security Solutions, explained hacking into the sign is physically breaking a lock, and remotely bypassing a password, which is often the default password not even changed...

GREENVILLE, S.C. —

• The snow and ice on the ground will chill the air around the area so daytime highs will land in the upper 30s.
• Overnight lows will send us into the deep freeze dropping to the coldest lows of the season.
• The mountains will not get above freezing Monday.
• Sunshine takes over and will help the snow melt, bringing us to near 50 by Thursday.
• More snow is in the forecast for Friday and Saturday. No ice in the forecast so far, so maybe we can enjoy some fluffy snow

Click on the story title for full forecast

'Tis the season for frost and ice creeping into our mornings. It's good to know the best way to properly defrost your car windshield so you can drive as safely as possible.

To quickly and efficiently defrost your car windows and windshield, here are a few nifty hacks that will prevent damage to your car and get the job done in no time:

1. Pour lukewarm water over your windows

This is an easy and obvious way to get rid of ice on your car, but the key is to make sure the water isn't boiling. If the water is too hot, it could actually crack the window and cause damage.

Once you have poured the water on, wipe away the slush with a scraper — an old credit card or piece of plastic will also work well.

This method is tried and tested, and one of the most effective techniques.

2. Add some alcohol to the water solution

Rather than just using water to get rid of the ice, use 1/3 water and 2/3 rubbing alcohol to do the trick. It's an easy way to get rid of the frost that has gathered on your car overnight.

Click the story to see more...

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Former Greenville County Sheriff Will Lewis was denied parole this week, according to Anita Dantzler, public information officer from the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole, and Public Services.

A judge denied parole Tuesday during a video hearing, Dantzler said.

In October, Lewis' attorney, Rauch Wise said if parole is denied, Lewis would have to serve the entirety of the rest of his sentence, which is six months.

Lewis was convicted of misconduct in office in 2019.

The charges stem from a 2017 budget trip to Charlotte during which Lewis had sex with his assistant at the time, Savanah Nabors. Lewis testified the sex was consensual. Nabors testified that after a night of drinking, the two went back to her hotel room and she woke up with Lewis having sex with her. Nabors filed a civil lawsuit against Lewis in October 2017. A settlement was reached in October 2018. Nabors was paid nearly $100,000 from a state insurance fund in May...

LAURENS, S.C. — Several schools in the Laurens 55 School District will shift to eLearning this week.

The following messages was sent to parents on Wednesday:

"After reviewing the data from the past two days, consulting with principals, and looking at the trend for COVID-related activity in our schools, we have concluded that it has become increasingly difficult to operate some of our schools safely. A few of our schools have reached a critical point where we cannot provide quality and safe educational experiences due to the high percentage of staff member absences required to isolate or quarantine due to COVID-19 exposure. While we remain committed to providing in-person learning to all students, these recent developments in staff shortages have forced us to make the difficult decision to shift the following schools to eLearning beginning on Thursday, January 13, 2022:

• Ford Elementary School
• Gray Court-Owings School
• Hickory Tavern School
• Laurens Elementary School
• Laurens Middle School
• Laurens District 55 High School

"On Monday, January 17, 2022, schools will be closed in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, holiday. All schools will transition back to in-person on Tuesday, January 18, 2022...

GREENVILLE, S.C. — So you're saying there's a chance?

Yes, there is a chance of snow this weekend. But nothing is set in stone.

There are two weather models trending toward snow in the mountains and Upstate on Saturday.

One model brings a lot of snow to the Upstate. Another brings a dusting to an inch.

But it's all tricky at this time and everything depends on the track of the low system and the timing...

ORLANDO, Fla. — Bob Saget, the actor-comedian known for his role as beloved single dad Danny Tanner on the sitcom “Full House” and as the wisecracking host of “America’s Funniest Home Videos,” has died, according to authorities in Florida. He was 65.

Deputies in Orange County, Florida, were called Sunday about an “unresponsive man” in a hotel room at the Ritz-Carlton in Orlando and found Saget dead, according to a sheriff’s statement on Twitter. Detectives found “no signs of foul play or drug use in this case.”

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Health officials in South Carolina said they have ordered nearly 500,000 rapid COVID-19 tests to distribute to communities in the coming days and months.

The Department of Health and Environmental Control said they hope this will help with wait times at testing sites and turnaround times on test results.

.RELATED:

• SC health officials respond to questions about long wait times for COVID-19 test results
• Find a DHEC COVID-19 testing location here
• Greenville lab offers COVID-19 tests with results in 24 hours
• South Carolina hits new one-day record number of COVID-19 cases
• Prisma Health: COVID-19 hospitalizations on rise, surge not yet at its peak

"We know people are frustrated about long lines and the turnaround time for test results, but if more people were vaccinated, this surge and subsequent demand for testing likely wouldn't be as drastic as it is," DHEC tweeted on Friday.

DHEC said the COVID-19 surge fueled by delta and omicron variants of the coronavirus is the reason for the long lines for individuals to get tested and longer turnaround times to produce results...