WCSC - NEWS Environment

What you need to know about new Google privacy rules

Kristen Miranda — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:52:00 EST

8 ways to be sure your private information is protected.

Charleston police upgrade forensic equipment

Fri, 6 May 2011 14:38:00 EDT

The Charleston Police Department Traffic Division has recently upgraded its forensic mapping equipment and software.

SC bill would expand safe haven law

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 14:42:00 EDT

Legislators have delayed voting on a bill that would expand South Carolina's safe haven law to older children.

Nature enthusiasts strip down at Angel Oak

Deja Knight — Mon, 16 May 2011 08:27:00 EDT

25 men and women posed nude for a California photographer Saturday at Charleston's legendary Angel Oak. The group took the picture to make a statement to remind others to preserve nature. Photographer

Salmonella contamination prompts tomato recall

Mon, 2 May 2011 18:43:00 EDT

A Florida tomato grower is voluntarily recalling its grape tomatoes after a sample tested positive for salmonella.

AAA sees more drivers running out of gas

Sat, 30 Apr 2011 15:00:00 EDT

AAA of the Carolinas says rising gas prices seem to be increasing the number of people who run out of gas. Comparing the first three months of 2010 to the same period in 2011, AAA saw an increase in calls for gas of 16.5 percent this year. Comparing Easter weekend between the two years, AAA saw an increase in calls for gas of 25 percent.

First Look: SCE&G ramping up construction of new nuclear reactors

Mark Davenport — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 11:24:00 EDT

After the severity of Japan's nuclear crisis increased Monday placing it on par with the 1986 Chernobyl disaster in Ukraine, many eyes re-focused back home on the safety of nuclear reactors in the United States. But even with the crisis overseas, South Carolina's nuclear future hasn't fizzled. In fact, it's growing.

SCE&G says Japan's nuclear problems unlikely here

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 14:28:00 EDT

South Carolina Electric & Gas Co. plans to discuss concerns about its nuclear operations in light of problems with reactors in Japan following a massive earthquake and tsunami.

Graham suggests solution to harbor conundrum

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 14:54:00 EDT

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham thinks he has a way to clear a channel for the deepening of Charleston Harbor.

Rare tusked pig joins the Riverbanks Zoo family

Tue, 15 Feb 2011 09:21:00 EST

It moves like a deer, has skin like a hippo, but it's a rare pig and it's now on exhibit at Riverbanks Zoo.

Lowcountry fishermen upset over new federal regulations

Alex Kreitman — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 10:47:00 EST

Fishermen from all over the state are fighting federal regulations that may close seasons indefinitely and put restrictions on some fish populations.

Duke Energy customers set winter power record

Thu, 30 Dec 2010 11:38:00 EST

Duke Energy says its Carolina customers have set a record for winter power use and should expect to see higher electricity bills this month.

US Army Corps wants comments on Lake Hartwell plan

Thu, 30 Dec 2010 11:37:00 EST

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers wants the public to weigh in on the environmental impact of a proposed reduction to water levels in Lake Hartwell.

SC officials list ways to recycle Christmas trees

Mon, 27 Dec 2010 11:53:00 EST

Now that Christmas has come and gone, South Carolina wildlife officials say Christmas trees can have a second life that's good for the state's fish and small animals.

Cold water kills thousands of starfish off SC coast

Bob Nicolai — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 11:36:00 EST

Officials say thousands of dead starfish near Charleston are the first sign of what could be a dangerous winter for marine life along South Carolina's coast.

Hurricane preparedness always work in progress

Sat, 18 Dec 2010 10:39:00 EST

Hurricane season is more than five months away, but the forecast for next year's hurricane season is already getting some attention.

Keeping the cold air out of your home could save you money

Sat, 18 Dec 2010 09:27:00 EST

As temperatures drop, the last thing you want is cold air to sneak into your home, but it happens in both old and new properties.

Lowcountry drivers upset over rising fuel prices

Sun, 12 Dec 2010 19:50:00 EST

Many drivers say paying more at the pump for gasoline will mean less holiday travel.

Blythewood opens first electric fueling station in the region

Fri, 10 Dec 2010 20:39:00 EST

The future will be a lot more clear, if electric car makers have their way. A plan to set up electric fueling stations launched on Wednesday, a place where cars would plug in to fill up. One Midlands town is leading the way.

North Myrtle Beach installs first shoreline wind turbine

Sun, 5 Dec 2010 22:39:00 EST

The city of North Myrtle Beach is home to the state's first-ever off shore wind turbine, paving the way for a new source of green and renewable energy.

SC foresters say they're planting 5 billionth tree

Fri, 3 Dec 2010 17:47:00 EST

Forestry officials in South Carolina are about to plant a special tree to mark Arbor Day.

Experts disagree whether Gulf seafood safe to eat

Fri, 19 Nov 2010 15:31:00 EST

Experts at an international conference in South Carolina disagree on whether it's safe to eat seafood from the Gulf of Mexico after this year's oil spill.

Charleston grabs $500,000 energy efficiency grant

Sam Tyson — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 17:29:00 EST

Charleston was one of two winners of a nationwide competition for grant funding from the Home Depot Foundation. As a result, the city will get $500,000 to help develop a sustainability program.

SC's highest peak now more accessible

Fri, 5 Nov 2010 13:25:00 EDT

It's easier to get to the highest point in South Carolina and it's easier to see the area from the top.

Custody battle brews over rescued Kennerleigh Farms horses

Sam Tyson — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 18:33:00 EDT

A custody battle is brewing over a group of horses seized from a Johns Island farm.

Negotiations move forward on McLeod sale

Sam Tyson — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 16:58:00 EDT

The Board of Trustees of Historic Charleston Foundation Wednesday night unanimously approved a motion authorizing its executive committee to move forward with negotiations for the purchase of McLeod Plantation.

No one hurt after fire at Berkeley County school

Sam Tyson — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 17:28:00 EDT

An electrical panel fire Tuesday led to the evacuation of H.E. Bonner Elementary School in Moncks Corner, officials said.

Charleston police detail flooded intersections, downed traffic lights

Sam Tyson — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 16:30:00 EDT

Charleston Police Monday afternoon produced a list of problem intersections as heavy rains continue to fall across the Lowcountry.

Coast Guard conducts oil spill response exercise in Stono River

Tracey Amick — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 17:29:00 EDT

The Coast Guard is teaming up with local agencies to conduct an oil spill response exercise on the Stono River.

Over 13-foot alligator caught by Rocks Pond

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 09:26:00 EDT

A group of gator hunters caught a more than 13-foot alligator by Rocks Pond in Lake Marion over the weekend. The hunters said it took them about 90 minutes to secure and hoist the giant gator onto their pontoon boat.

DOT head says public opinion of 526 project mostly negative

Sam Tyson — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 08:46:00 EDT

Charleston County will have to come up with almost an additional $70 million to complete the controversial Interstate 526 extension project.

Chemical spill closed off Goose Creek road Monday

Sam Tyson — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 17:19:00 EDT

The chemical spill that closed off a Goose Creek road Monday evening took almost 12 hours to clean and reopen, officials for the Goose Creek Rural Fire Department said.

La. neighborhood wakes to outdoors coated in oil

Tue, 14 Sep 2010 15:50:00 EDT

Residents in one Westlake, La. neighborhood woke up to an oily mess on Saturday morning. Oily droplets covered vehicles, lawn ornaments and even mailboxes in the small community.

Ariz. fire grows to nearly 1,000 acres

Tue, 14 Sep 2010 15:33:00 EDT

An Arizona wildfire has now grown to 927 acres after an increase in fire activity over the weekend, according to a press release Monday.

Fish with 'human-like' teeth found in SC lake

Tue, 14 Sep 2010 12:52:00 EDT

A fishing trip on Lake Wylie went a little differently than one Clover man planned when the fish he caught bit him with human-like teeth.

Earl causes erosion issues on Folly Beach

Alex Kreitman — Fri, 3 Sep 2010 17:22:00 EDT

Officials say they have seen 5 to 15 feet of beach erosion onFolly Beach after Hurricane Earl passed by to the east Thursday.

Carnival says Earl will not change cruise plans

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:21:00 EDT

Officials with carnival cruise line say that, for now, Hurricane Earl will not affect the next sailing of the Carnival cruise ship Fantasy.

Rare whale flown to treatment facility dies

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:49:00 EDT

An extremely rare whale that beached itself on Maui earlier this month has died, according to officials at NOAA.

Finance committee nixes all but 1 point in Sea Island plan

Sam Tyson — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 07:34:00 EDT

Almost two hours of debate and deliberation at Thursday night's finance committee meeting could not move the Sea Island Greenway project closer to realization.

Honey bees make sweet deal for Ritz Carlton

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 19:47:00 EDT

The honey bee hives might look a bit out of place perched atop one of Charlotte's most luxurious hotels, but the product never tasted so sweet.

Oil-soaked bird washes up on NC beach

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 19:58:00 EDT

A bird soaked in black oil washed up on Ocean Isle Beach on Tuesday. It was taken to the River Road Animal Hospital in Southport to be cleaned up.

Senior population in SC to grow 123 percent by 2030

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 19:10:00 EDT

John Legare with the Office of Aging says the growing senior population is one of the biggest issues our nation is facing. The number of seniors in South Carolina is expected to grow by 123 percent by 2030.

Wilmington surfer: 'I kicked a shark. That's when he bit me'

Mon, 9 Aug 2010 19:45:00 EDT

A surfer in Wilmington was out with some friends when he got bit while trying to get back on his board near Figure Eight Island Saturday afternoon.

SPA, Conservation League come to agreement on emissions, rail

Sam Tyson — Fri, 6 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EDT

The South Carolina State Ports Authority and the South Carolina Coastal Conservation League have successfully concluded several months of mediation and reached a settlement, ending a years-long battle and allowing Charleston's new container terminal and port access road to proceed.

St. Frances to reopen in wake of distemper outbreak

Wed, 4 Aug 2010 18:28:00 EDT

Following a brief distemper outbreak, officials at the St. Frances Animal Center in Georgetown say the facility is ready to be re-opened to the public.

First sea turtle nest of the season hatches on NMB coast

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 11:30:00 EDT

While it only took a few minutes for them to scurry out of the nest, it was a project 60 days in the making. RAW VIDEO INCLUDED.

Savannah takes another step towards cruise ship terminal

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 22:15:00 EDT

The city of Savannah has accepted a bid on a feasability study to explore Savannah's cruise ship potential.

NOAA: Gulf's surface oil not a threat to east coast, southern Florida

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 20:15:00 EDT

Assuming the Deepwater Horizon/BP wellhead will remained capped, Southern Florida, the Florida Keys, and the East Coast are not likely to experience any effects from the remaining oil on the surface of the Gulf.

Hundreds of dead fish found on James Island

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 23:15:00 EDT

People living in one James Island subdivision have a real stinky mess on their hands. Hundreds of dead fish are floating on a man-made lake in their backyards.

Oil leaking into Gulf again; Feds say new leaks insignificant

Alex Kreitman — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 08:07:00 EDT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Oil from BP's blown out well is again seeping into the Gulf of Mexico, but this time, more slowly and scientists aren't convinced the cap that stopped the flow last week is making

Shark Expert: Summer attacks not rare

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 18:53:00 EDT

There have now been four shark attacks in less than a month along the beaches of North and South Carolina. RAW interviews with victim and shark expert included.

BP: No oil leaking into Gulf from busted well

Alex Kreitman — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 17:56:00 EDT

BP says oil from its broken well has stopped gushing into the Gulf of Mexico for the first time since April.

North Charleston man has 101-mpg car

Sam Tyson — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 21:57:00 EDT

Karl Troy gets better gas mileage than you and probably anyone you know. He just might be awarded $5 million because of it, too.

Distemper virus confirmed at St. Frances Animal Center

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 12:01:00 EDT

Officials with the St. Frances Animal Center said Wednesday recent diagnostic tests have revealed the canine distemper virus to be present in a small number of animals at the shelter.

EMS: Charleston teen not struck by lightning

Sam Tyson — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:09:00 EDT

Charleston County EMS officials Tuesday said a teen reportedly struck by lightning during Monday evening's thunderstorms was not.

Top 5 Beach Dangers: Sun, sand, and surf pose risks

Sat, 10 Jul 2010 10:00:00 EDT

After talking with veteran healthcare providers who deal with traumas at the beach, we've narrowed down the Top 5 Beach Dangers for your family.

Kennel cough forces 2nd closure of animal shelter

Fri, 9 Jul 2010 13:55:00 EDT

A recent outbreak of kennel cough has prompted Saint Frances Animal Center in Georgetown to close for a second time in eight days.

Forest fire continues to smolder along SC coast

Thu, 8 Jul 2010 16:51:00 EDT

A contained, but still active forest fire is creating a lot of smoke along the South Carolina coast and is blamed for a chain-reaction car crash this week that injured four people.

Upper respiratory outbreak closes St. Frances Animal Center

Thu, 8 Jul 2010 16:46:00 EDT

An outbreak of an infectious upper respiratory disease has forced officials at the St. Frances Animal Center to temporarily cease public operations.

Thief takes 60 pounds of homegrown produce in Greer

Mon, 5 Jul 2010 17:28:00 EDT

Varmints have made off with more than 60 pounds of vegetables grown by a South Carolina woman - but it wasn't squirrels or deer.

Special Report: Bug bites causing deadly reactions

Sat, 3 Jul 2010 21:53:00 EDT

When the tiny tick bites, it can change your life forever, leaving you susceptible to what can be a deadly reaction to red meat.

Dozens of baby food items tested for lead

Sat, 3 Jul 2010 12:45:00 EDT

An environmental group is warning parents about dangerous levels of lead discovered in dozens of baby food products. The Environmental Law Foundation filed a notice with the State of California this month.

Stephen Colbert donates ATV to Charleston turtle nesting program

Fri, 2 Jul 2010 11:43:00 EDT

Teens helping to protect nesting loggerhead sea turtles near Charleston will have an easier time tracking the creatures this summer, thanks to a donation from the family of famed comedian Stephen Colbert.

Sick dog prompts quarantine of St. Frances Animal Center

Thu, 1 Jul 2010 15:35:00 EDT

Officials with the St. Frances Animal Center have quarantined the shelter Thursday after a sick dog was brought to the facility by local animal control workers.

911 calls released from Sasquatch sighting in NC

Sat, 19 Jun 2010 08:04:00 EDT

If you've ever visited the northern part of Cleveland County, North Carolina, you've probably heard of Knobby. Back in the 70's, Knobby was the legendary Sasquatch that inhabited certain parts of the county.

SC experts still don't expect much oil on coast

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 13:22:00 EDT

Some experts say they still don't think the Gulf oil spill will cause a significant impact on South Carolina's coast.

Workers remove flock of geese from SC golf course

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 13:21:00 EDT

Federal workers have removed about 50 geese from a South Carolina golf course after operators said the birds were damaging the greens.

Charleston's raptor center still on standby for Gulf

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 14:04:00 EDT

The head of a South Carolina raptor center says he is still standing by to dispatch workers to the Gulf Coast if needed to clean oiled birds.

ETSU releases documentary on beans

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 08:39:00 EDT

East Tennessee State University has released the second in a series of documentary films that examine the food of Appalachia.

Regulators meet on northern SC nuke plant plans

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 08:35:00 EDT

Federal regulators are holding a public meeting to talk about their review of Duke Energy's application to build two nuclear reactors in northern South Carolina.

SC officials investigate woman's May heat death

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 14:43:00 EDT

South Carolina health officials are investigating the heat-related death of a woman at an assisted living home last month.

City of Columbia bans bottled water

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 16:07:00 EDT

A few weeks ago, Columbia's city manager, Steve Gantt, sent out a reminder to city employees about a policy prohibiting bottled water in city buildings.

Evacuation exercise planned for Monday

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 10:53:00 EDT

The South Carolina Department of Public Safety is conducting a hurricane evacuation exercise on Monday to test lane reversal plans for all three major coastal areas of the state.

Council extends red snapper ban off SE Atlantic

Wed, 9 Jun 2010 16:38:00 EDT

A federal fisheries management council has passed a measure that would restrict the fishing of red snapper off the southeast Atlantic coast.

SC law firm files suit against BP for Gulf oil spill

Tue, 8 Jun 2010 19:28:00 EDT

A South Carolina law firm filed suits Monday against BP and three other companies for what has been described as the largest environmental catastrophe in recent history.

SC woman accused of taking $200k from biz

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 08:44:00 EDT

A Lexington woman has been charged with taking more than $200,000 from the trucking company where she worked.