Daily editionFriday, July 17th, 2026
Good morning, Aiken.
The 5AM Aiken Team
Here’s your local news at a glance for Friday, the 17th of July.
Community
Acts of Aiken is holding a Christmas in July sale at its resale stores through the end of the month + all proceeds will help families in need.
WRDW/WAGTRead more
Education
Aiken County students can get ready for school at the 15th annual Fit 4 School event on Saturday, July 18 at the Family Y in Graniteville from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., where free supplies, health screenings and haircuts are available from local sponsors including Chandler Law Firm.
The Aiken StandardRead more
The Hitchcock Woods Foundation plans to build an environmental education center behind the Green House (its headquarters) to offer classroom lessons and displays of local archeological finds; construction is expected to begin next year pending board approval and grants.
The Aiken StandardRead more
Government
Aiken City Council approved transferring 2,658 acres to the South Carolina Forestry Commission on July 13 to create a new state forest near I-20.
The deal protects drinking water, supports habitat management, and will give 25% revenue from the tract to local schools.
WGACRead more
South Carolina restaurants will need to update their menus to state if shrimp is imported starting Oct. 28 under a new state law; all establishments serving shrimp must comply with this rule.
WRDW/WAGTRead more
Health
Aiken resident Maria Duthie survived a near-fatal equine accident in 2023 and now shares her recovery in a new memoir, recounting how horses helped her overcome a shattered C2 vertebra and vision loss + the book is available through Aurora Corialis Publishing online.
Aiken StandardRead more
The South Carolina Department of Public Health reminds families to update their children's vaccines for the upcoming school year (students in 5K to 12 must be current) following a large measles outbreak last year.
WRDW/WAGTRead more
Real Estate
Realty Income US Core Plus 3 acquired two properties housing Parker’s Kitchen convenience stores for over $13 million in late May.
The sale includes a 3.25-acre Aiken site and a 5.5-acre North Augusta site (sold by Drayton-Parker Companies LLC).
WGACRead more
Sports
The Nike EYBL Peach Jam tournament is underway today in Aiken, where local players get a chance to show their skills as NBA prospects and college scouts watch closely.
WFXGRead more
Gray Media and the Atlanta Hawks announced a partnership to show all non-nationally televised regular season games free over the air on Channel 26.2 in the CSRA during the 2026 to 2027 season (markets include Albany, Augusta, and Savannah).
Additional national and preseason game details will be shared later.
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