VA loan in Richland, SC

One of Columbia’s longest-serving school board members is resigning from his seat.

Jamie Devine, who was elected to the Richland County School District 1 more than 17 years ago, is pursuing a seat on Richland County Council, for which he is running unopposed.

Throughout his tenure, Devine served as chair of the Richland 1 board in 2013, 2019 and 2020, as well as vice chairman in 2012, 2017 and 2018. He is currently the board’s parliamentarian.

“Serving the students, families, educators, and taxpayers of Richland County School District One has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” Devine wrote in a news release. “I am deeply grateful for the trust the community has placed in me over the past 17 years.”

According to a news release, Devine is “optimistic” about the future of the school district, as well as the board’s leadership.

Devine, an advocate for public school choice and school safety, was first elected in 2008. His resignation is effective November 3.

What will happen to his school board seat?

Devine was reelected to a four-year term in 2024. By the time of his departure this upcoming fall, there will be two years left.

According to Travis Alexander, director of the Richland County elections office, filing for the seat will begin three weeks from Devine’s notice, which was submitted on Monday. Filing will be open for seven days. Then voters will choose candidates while filing out their ballots for the 2026 general election in the fall.

Devine’s District 2 seat was hotly contested during the last election, with three challengers seeking to beat the incumbent. While Devine won just shy of 34% of the vote, one of his opponents, Stephen Diaz, lost by a margin of about 4%.

COLUMBIA — A historic plantation in Richland County could become part of a state-owned nature preserve, according to a funding request to a legislative oversight committee.

All told, nearly 1,700 acres of land are under consideration for purchase by the state across conservation agencies. Some would expand existing nature preserves, while others would establish new ones. One would potentially open a new campsite for visitors across from the state’s largest public shooting range.

Goodwill Plantation

The largest project under consideration would expand the Wateree Heritage Preserve and Wildlife Management Area in Richland County by 736 acres.

The 4,459-acre preserve is best known as the home of Cook’s Mountain, a 372-foot-tall peak in an otherwise low-lying area.

The Department of Natural Resources is still in the early stages of evaluating the property and deciding whether it would be a good fit for the nearby nature preserve, according to agency documents.

A large part of the property is the Goodwill Plantation, established in the 1790s and listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1986. Part of the neighboring heritage preserve already includes a portion of the plantation, including graves, ditches and dikes dating back to the 1800s.

Originally owned by the prominent Huger family, Goodwill was purchased in 1858 by Edward Barnwell “Barney” Heyward, grandson of Nathaniel Heyward (South Carolina’s wealthiest rice planter), and father of Duncan Clinch Heyward, South Carolina’s governor from 1903 to 1907.

As many as 976 people were enslaved at Goodwill during the Civil War. Richland County tax records indicate Heyward’s relatives sent slaves from their Lowcountry plantations to Goodwill to “wait out the war.” When it was over, Heyward employed former slaves as day laborers, according to National Register documentation, which doesn’t give specifics. But without slave labor, he didn’t keep it long. Goodwill was sold to a New Yorker in 1869.

Subsequent buyers included famed showman P.T. Barnum, who bought it in 1888 for his granddaughter and reportedly kept circus animals there during the winter.

The property includes a millpond and canal irrigation system built in the 1820s, which is one of the first known attempts to farm on low-lying land in the state, according to the state Department of Archives and History.

Several buildings dating back more than 150 years still survive on the piece of land DNR is considering buying.

The oldest of those, the overseer’s house, was built in 1857. Other buildings that still stand include two slave cabins built in 1858, a blacksmith shop dating back to 1865 and the main house, from 1890, according to oversight documents. A second house was built on the property in 2010.

The Department of Natural Resources doesn’t plan to renovate any of the existing buildings or build new ones, according to documents provided to the Legislature’s Joint Bond Review Committee.

If state officials find no problems with the property, The Conservation Fund, a conservation-based nonprofit, plans to donate the land to expand the nearby heritage preserve.

The state’s Conservation Bank already chipped in $12.6 million to help the nonprofit buy the land, which was priced at a total $13.8 million.

New conservation areas

Another major project under consideration would create a new, 650-acre wildlife management area in Clarendon County.

The property, which is near Lake Marion, is “one of the most valuable inland wetland tracts available in South Carolina today,” according to the agency documents.

Operating as a duck hunting club, the area’s many ponds and dams create an ideal spot for migratory birds to stop in the winter, according to agency documents.

Because the property is already in use for hunting, DNR wouldn’t have to build new roads, trails, water control structures or storage buildings, as is typical in conservation projects, oversight documents read.

All of that together means the property’s “value for waterfowl conservation is immediate, substantial, and difficult to match elsewhere in the state,” the agency wrote in its request. The land’s owner offered to donate the property, with the state paying $50,000 for land surveys and other preliminary work.

DNR is also looking to add a new nature preserve in Pickens County.

The 106 acres, which the agency is planning to buy for $475,000, would join more than 70 heritage preserves statewide, a network of sites protecting significant ecological and historical areas.

The property would become part of the existing 33,000-acre Jocassee Gorges Wildlife Management Area and is near 37-acre Wadakoe Mountain Heritage Preserve.

The area has “a diverse array of wildlife, including some of the most abundant salamander and black bear populations in the southeast,” according to oversight documents. The untouched land, which includes properties attractive to developers along Eastatoe Creek, is part of the scenic views from Highway 11, the agency wrote.

Visitors would be able to fish, hunt or hike a series of trails, according to agency documents.

Other expansions

Harbison State Forest near Columbia could expand by 71 acres under a Forestry Commission request.

The property, which was clearcut in 2017, would allow the agency to expand the 18-mile trail system already in the 2,200-acre state forest, according to the agency’s request.

“This property and surrounding area are in (imminent) danger of being lost to development,” agency documents read.

Congaree Land Trust, a Columbia-based nonprofit, is planning to buy the land for $1.4 million before selling it to the state for the same price.

Paris Mountain State Park could get nearly 88 acres bigger with a purchase the state parks department is considering.

The Altamont Pass in Greenville County sits between the 1,700-acre state park, as well as land owned by the Department of Transportation and conservation nonprofit Naturaland Trust. The land trust has offered to donate the property to the state.

Proposed campsite

Visitors to the state’s largest public shooting range could have a chance to stay overnight across the street.

The Department of Natural Resources is considering buying 114 acres across the road from the shooting complex, which opened last year. The land is owned by the Love family, which sold the land for the shooting range to the state.

If the state decides to buy the property, which has an expected value of $1.3 million, the land would create a buffer between the shooting range and other nearby properties, keeping the area private, according to oversight documents. The agency could also open up the property for camping, fishing and “aquatic education,” the request reads.

The forested land includes a 13-acre pond, which the owners say is 12 feet deep, as well as a small stream. That makes the area ideal for common species of fish and birds, such as bass and pileated woodpeckers, according to the agency.

Officials must still determine whether the land is fit for use by the state.

The Columbia area boasts two of the highest achieving school districts in South Carolina, as measured by student assessment data.

Both Lexington School District 1 and Lexington-Richland School District 5 slotted in among the top 10 districts in the state on the 2025-26 SC READY exam, according to data released Monday by the South Carolina Department of Education.

Lexington 1 students ranked eighth in the state on the standardized assessment, which measures proficiency in English language arts and mathematics for students in grades 3 through 8, while Lexington-Richland 5 students finished 10th.

Roughly two-thirds of the students tested in each district met or exceeded expectations in English language arts and more than half were proficient in math, according to SC READY data.

Both figures compare favorably to state averages, which were at their highest recorded level during the 2025-26 school year.

On a whole, more than 61% of South Carolina elementary and middle school students met or exceeded expectations in English language arts and nearly 48% met or exceeded expectations in mathematics.

In many, but not all cases, district performance on the SC READY assessment is closely related to students’ socioeconomic status.

Districts with fewer pupils in poverty tend to register higher scores than districts with higher rates of poverty, data shows.

While no other district in Richland or Lexington County topped the state average in either subject area, virtually every district in both counties showed a year-over-year improvement in SC READY scores.

In most cases, local gains in English language arts and math proficiency exceeded average state gains in both areas.

Lexington 2 saw a 21% jump in students who met or exceeded expectations in mathematics, while Richland 1, Lexington 3 and Lexington-Richland 5 all increased their math proficiency scores by more than 10%, data shows.

English language arts scores didn’t increase as dramatically as math scores, but still showed improvement in all Richland and Lexington County districts.

The only local district where SC READY scores did not uniformly increase was Lexington 4, where math scores dropped by 1.7 percentage points.

This story was originally published August 12, 2026 at 5:00 AM.

NOTE: The above video is a livestream of WIS featuring current newscasts, Soda City Living and Gray Media’s Local News Live.

LEXINGTON COUNTY, S.C. (WIS) - Lexington-Richland School District Five officials have announced that students outperformed statewide averages in every assessment area on the 2026 SC READY results, with notable gains in mathematics across middle school grade levels.

The South Carolina College- and Career-Ready Assessments (SC READY) measure student achievement in English Language Arts (ELA), science and mathematics for students in grades 3 through 8.

“While assessment results are only one measure of student learning, they provide valuable insight into what our students know and are able to do,” Superintendent Dr. Akil E. Ross, Sr. said.

“These results reflect the hard work of our students, teachers, school leaders and families. We are particularly encouraged by the significant gains in mathematics and the continued strong performance of our students compared to the state. At the same time, we remain committed to examining areas where we can improve and ensuring every student has the opportunity to reach their full potential.”

English Language Arts

In ELA, District Five students increased the percentage meeting or exceeding expectations by 0.4 percentage points from 2025 to 2026 and outperformed the state by 4.8 percentage points. Nearly every grade level from third through eighth grade showed an increase. The largest gain occurred in third grade, which increased by 4.4 percentage points.

Mathematics

Mathematics results showed more significant growth. The percentage of District Five students meeting or exceeding expectations increased by 6.5 percentage points from 2025 to 2026. District Five students also outperformed the state by nearly 7.4 percentage points.

The strongest gains occurred in the middle grades:

Science

District Five students also showed improvement in science. Fourth- and sixth-grade students increased their performance from 2025 and continued to outperform students across the state.

End-of-Course results

The End-of-Course Examination Program (EOC) includes assessments in Algebra 1, Biology 1, English 2, and United States History and the Constitution. District Five students continued to outperform statewide results in Biology 1, English 2, and United States History and the Constitution.

English 2 was particularly strong, with a 92% passage rate among District Five students.

While the percentage of students earning a C or higher decreased in each subject area compared with previous years, District Five students remained above the state in every area. The district also continued to outperform the state in the overall EOC passage rate.

Biology 1 results were affected by a change in course sequencing. In 2025, Biology 1 was recommended primarily for 10th-grade students. In 2026, the recommended sequence included Biology 1 for both ninth- and 10th-grade students, resulting in approximately 1,000 additional students taking the course. Going forward, Biology 1 will be part of the recommended science sequence for ninth-grade students.

Career readiness

District Five students also demonstrated strong performance on the South Carolina Career Readiness Assessment, administered to students in their third year of high school. The assessment measures four areas — data, math, reading and soft skills — that reflect transferable skills employers identify as foundational for career readiness.

District Five students scored above the state average on all four subtests, and every component increased from the previous year.

In 2026, 64.2% of District Five students earned a Level 3 or higher Career Ready Credential, an increase of 2.1 percentage points over the previous year. A Level 3 credential indicates readiness for career pathways identified within the U.S. Department of Labor’s O*NET Job Zone 3. Levels 4 and 5 indicate readiness for progressively higher pathways requiring greater levels of education, training, experience and preparation.

Feel more informed, prepared, and connected with WIS. For more free content like this, subscribe to our , and . Have feedback that can help us improve? .

COLUMBIA — Scout Motors’ community engagement arm in South Carolina will now be headed by a face familiar to Richland County.

Richland County Council Vice Chair Derrek Pugh is taking up the helm as Scout Motors’ South Carolina senior community engagement specialist, according to his July 30 Facebook announcement.

“In this role, I’ll be leading efforts to create strong connections between Scout Motors and the wonderful communities across South Carolina,” Pugh said. “I can’t wait to collaborate, engage, and make a positive impact together!”

Pugh represents District 2, which includes parts of Columbia, the Blythewood area, and, of course, the new Scout Motors facility in northeast Richland County. His term expires in 2028.

"I am honored to join Scout Motors as South Carolina Community Affairs Senior Specialist and grateful for the confidence they have placed in me,” Pugh said in a statement to The Post and Courier. “As someone who has proudly called Blythewood and Richland County home for more than two decades, my commitment to this community has always been, and will remain, my top priority.”

Pugh is a resident of Blythewood and formerly held positions governing the town, including stints as the vice chair for the town’s Board of Zoning and Appeals and a member of its Planning Commission. He also served as a board member for the Blythewood Chamber of Commerce.

"Scout Motors conducted an extensive and thoughtful search to find the right person to represent us in the local community,” a representative for Scout Motors said.

“Derrek Pugh has called Blythewood home for more than 20 years,” the representative continued. “His knowledge of the local issues and passion for South Carolina, particularly the Midlands, and vast experience as a community organizer for various organizations is what made him stand out during our hiring process. We look forward to having Derrek represent Scout Motors as we continue to grow and make a lasting, positive impact."

Wearing two hats

It’s not yet clear what Pugh’s new position will entail or how it will interact with his seat on Richland County Council, but he won’t be required to abstain from future votes that involve the manufacturer.

Council Chair Jesica Mackey is a senior project advisor with NP Strategy. During previous Richland County Council meetings, she’s chosen to abstain from certain votes due to a conflict of interest. That’s encouraged under Robert’s Rules of Order — the system municipal governments typically use to keep meetings flowing — but it’s not required.

“Under the rules in RONR, no member can be compelled to refrain from voting simply because it is perceived that he or she may have some “conflict of interest” with respect to the motion under consideration,” its website says.

“If a member has a direct personal or pecuniary (monetary) interest in a motion under consideration not common to other members, the rule in RONR is that the member should not vote on such a motion, but even then he or she cannot be compelled to refrain from voting.”

Pugh emphasized in his statement that he takes his responsibility as an elected official seriously.

“I am fully committed to maintaining the highest standards of transparency, ethics, and accountability. I will strictly follow all appropriate compliance measures, disclosures, and oversight requirements,” he said. “My service will remain in full alignment with all applicable laws, regulations, and protocols governing the relationship between Richland County Government and private industry — as we all expect of any elected official.”

In his initial announcement, Pugh told residents to stay tuned for updates on how he and the company will work together to support local communities.

Richland County and Scout Motors

Richland County councilmembers have long touted the upcoming Scout Motors plant in Blythewood as a $2 billion project that will spur widespread economic growth.

“The company’s planned $2 billion investment has the potential to create 4,000 or more permanent jobs, both of which would set new all-time records for a Richland County economic development project,” Richland County’s Economic Development office said when the project was announced.

But the project has also put pressure on the town of Blythewood and the northeast region of Richland County to prepare for that growth, raising concerns from some residents about infrastructure capacity, the environment and rapid population growth.

“This opportunity represents a meaningful step forward for our region,” Pugh said July 30. “Scout Motors’ investment brings significant potential for economic growth, workforce development, and long-term opportunity for residents across the Midlands. I am excited to help strengthen the connection between this transformative project and the people it will serve.”

The Volkswagen-backed automaker unveiled its new training center on the 1,100-acre Blythewood site in April. When the entire project is complete, Scout will employ around 4,000 people at the Blythewood plant, with an additional 1,000 or so in the on-site supplier park. The company already has over 600 employees based in South Carolina.

The progress was paired with Richland County paying a $1 million adjusted fine for failing to contain pollutants at the Scout Motors construction site where environmental problems surfaced after work began three years ago.

The county submitted its final $65,000 payment on April 29 for a total of $1 million, the state Department of Environmental Services, which issued the penalty, said.

State regulators fined Richland County $3 million for allegedly allowing sediment and other pollutants to escape from the site in May 2025. The state environmental agency agreed to suspend $2 million “if the facility meets specific requirements by established deadlines,” which the county did earlier this year.

“I believe strongly in doing what’s right for our community,” Pugh said July 30, “and I am confident that this role allows me to continue serving the people of Richland County with integrity while helping ensure that this historic investment delivers lasting, positive impact for all.”