Good morning, Aiken.

Advocates continue to call for tougher hazing laws 12 years after Tucker Hipps died during a fraternity run, with campus programs raising awareness about safety.

The Hipps family will host the 12th annual memorial golf tournament at Southern Oaks Golf Course on Oct. 2 (8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.) to honor his legacy.

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Fox and the Bee Farm will open a brick-and-mortar store at 120 Laurens St. N.W on Nov. 2, replacing Indigo Bleu.

Owners Dan and Julie Goodwin will sell their farm goods + host art classes in the new location.

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Aiken County Public School District approved exploring a traditional middle school structure (which may see Aiken Intermediate, Schofield, and Kennedy schools serving sixth through eighth grades) and will study enrollment trends (including potential magnet academies) in Area 1.

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The Board of Zoning Appeals granted an exception on Sept. 22 for the former County Council building on Richland Avenue West to be used as a restaurant and catering center.

Blue Collard owner Christian Carlisle plans to convert the historic 1960s building into a hub for his operations.

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Federal and state grants totaling over $29 million have been approved for crime victims services statewide — Aiken County programs like Child Advocacy Center, Cumbee Center, Helping Hands and The Bridge 2 Home receive more than $855,000 to help victims through services such as the Victims of Crime Act.

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A 29-year-old from Lancaster died on June 26 from an accidental overdose of mitragynine found in a legal 7-OH product sold at gas stations, and his family is urging lawmakers to tighten regulations while working with attorneys to hold manufacturers accountable.

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A new freestanding emergency room will open today at 8:00 a.m. on Martintown Road in North Augusta.

The 12,032 sqft facility offers 24-hour care for all ages and provides on-site testing (CT scans, X-rays, and lab work) with direct transfers to Aiken Regional for severe cases.

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High school football enters Week 6 with key matchups as Aiken will face Strom Thurmond on Friday, Sept. 25; teams like Wagener-Salley and North Augusta are expected to focus on fundamentals to secure early momentum (coaches advise clean play to limit mistakes).

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At Peach Belt Conference Media Day on Tuesday at Georgia College & State University, Augusta and USC Aiken coaches previewed the upcoming basketball season.

Augusta women were named the preseason favorite and coaches stressed determination for both programs, as regular play begins in November (Augusta men's coach dismissed low rankings).

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Aiken County man Robert Duncan died when his riding mower overturned into the Augusta Canal on Sept. 12 and another man in Greer died when his mower flipped off an embankment; officials urge checking safety features (like automatic shutoffs) and keeping children away from yardwork machines.

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