Daily editionTuesday, August 11th, 2026
Good morning, Aiken.
The 5AM Aiken Team
Here’s your local news at a glance for Tuesday, the 11th of August.
Business
The new Ace Wings restaurant on Southside will serve chicken wings, hamburgers (made with fresh ground beef), and ice cream from its 3,636 sqft building at 1725 Whiskey Road.
A grand opening is expected in September.
Aiken StandardRead more
Novolex Holdings LLC will shut down its thermoforming plant on Old Jackson Highway in Beech Island later this year, cutting 133 jobs; workers will start losing positions Oct. 6 and all separations will complete by Nov. 20.
WGACRead more
Education
USC Aiken expects record enrollment as campus housing fills to capacity and the 2026-27 academic year kicks off with new degree programs, renewed business accreditation, and STEM classes in a new facility—move-ins start on Aug. 13 while freshmen convocation and a Downtown Takeover event follow on Aug. 17 and Aug. 22.
WGACRead more
Environment
The South Carolina Drought Response Committee said 21 counties downgraded from severe to moderate drought with recent rain allowing farms to run irrigation pumps, but 18 counties still face severe drought; normal rainfall is needed to sustain these improvements.
WRDW/WAGTRead more
Real Estate
The Aiken Design Review Board approved exterior design changes for The Laureate Hotel, which moves the lobby to a new porte-cochère on Hayne Avenue next to the historic Farmers & Merchants Bank; construction will begin in January with 87 guest rooms planned and finish 16 months later.
WGACRead more