IN TIME FOR NEWS TO GO. WE HAVE A LOOK AT TODAY’S TOP NEWS STORIES. YOUR TRAFFIC AND YOUR WEATHER ALL BEFORE YOU HEAD OUT THE DOOR. WE BEGIN WITH OUR ISABELLE MARK AND A NEW BILL PASSED IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA STATE HOUSE. ISABELLE. HEY, ERIN. GOOD MORNING. IT’S CALLED THE SOUTH CAROLINA KRATOM CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT, AND IT WILL PREVENT ANYONE UNDER THE AGE OF 21 FROM PURCHASING THE SUPPLEMENT. DEMOCRATIC STATE SENATOR RUSSELL OTT SPONSORED THE BILL THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION. HE SAYS HE FOUND IT CONCERNING THAT TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS CAN GET THEIR HANDS ON THE SUBSTANCE PRETTY EASILY AND IN LARGE AMOUNTS. DOCTORS SAY IT GREW IN POPULARITY OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS AS A WAY TO FIGHT OPIOID ADDICTIONS. HOWEVER, SINCE IT IS MARKETED AS A SUPPLEMENT, IT IS MUCH HARDER TO REGULATE. THERE ARE CURRENTLY CLINICAL TRIALS GOING ON TO SEE IF THERE COULD BE A THERAPEUTIC USE FOR THE SUPPLEMENT SUPPLEMENT. THAT IS. BUT THE REALITY IS DOCTORS ARE NOT READY FOR THAT YET. THE LEGISLATION GOES INTO EFFECT IN EARLY JULY. ERIN ISABELLE, THANK YOU. MEANWHILE, IN OCONEE COUNTY, DEPUTIES SAY AN AR 15 STYLE RIFLE WAS STOLEN FROM A BUSINESS OVER THE WEEKEND. DEPUTIES SAY IT HAPPENED ON SATURDAY AT DEEP SOUTH ON HIGHWAY 123 NEAR SENECA. THIS IS VIDEO OF THE SUSPECT SEEN ENTERING AND LEAVING THE STORE. DEPUTIES SAY THE BUSINESS OWNER TOLD THEM AN AR 15 STYLE RIFLE HAD BEEN STOLEN. SO THE ATF IS OFFERING A $3,000 REWARD FOR ANY INFORMATION THAT LEADS TO AN ARREST. TWO MORE PEOPLE ARE FACING CHARGES IN ANDERSON COUNTY IN CONNECTION WITH A FIGHT AT A SOFTBALL GAME. DEPUTIES SAY THAT HAPPENED FRIDAY NIGHT DURING A GAME AT BELTON-HONEA PATH HIGH SCHOOL. CHARLES RUDDER AND STONEY PLUMLEE ARE BOTH CHARGED WITH DISRUPTING SCHOOL, AND DEPUTIES SAY THE ARRESTS COME AFTER GOING THROUGH THE SURVEILLANCE FOOTAGE AND ALSO SPEAKING WITH WITNESSES. OFFICIALS SAY DYLAN CHAPMAN, BRIANNA BROWN, DONALD CHAPMAN AND WAYNE SMITH ARE ALSO CHARGED. PAY RAISES, NEW HOUSING AND MORE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS WERE KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF SPARTANBURG CITY COUNCIL’S LATEST MEETING. MEMBERS ADOPTED ITS 2025 2026 OPERATING BUDGET, WHICH INCLUDES A 3% WAGE INCREASE FOR CITY EMPLOYEES. NO MILLAGE RATE INCREASES INCLUDED. CITY COUNCIL ALSO APPROVED A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT FOR A $22 MILLION HOUSING PROJECT IN THE DRAYTON ROAD AND SKYLAND DRIVE AREA. PLANS ARE ALSO IN THE WORKS FOR A MICROTRANSIT PILOT PROGRAM TO HELP ADDRESS TRANSPORTATION NEEDS. THE CITY SAYS IF THAT’S A SUCCESS, IT COULD EXPAND CITYWIDE BEFORE NEW HOUSING PROJECT BREAKS GROUND IN PICKENS. CITY LEADERS SAY THEY NEED MORE ANSWERS. PHOENIX JOINS US FROM PICKENS WITH THEIR CONCERNS. TANIQUA. WELL, GOOD MORNING AARON. SOME PEOPLE FEEL THIS PROJECT WILL TAKE AWAY FROM THE IDENTITY OF PICKENS. NOW DEVELOPERS WANT TO PUT A 140 HOME DEVELOPMENT ALONG WOLF CREEK ROAD NEAR MALDON LAKE ROAD. AT WEDNESDAY’S MEETING, SOME PEOPLE VOICED THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROJECT, SAYING IT FEELS LIKE IT WILL BENEFIT THE DEVELOPERS MORE THAN THE CITIZENS. THE MAYOR SAYS IT’S UP TO HIM AND THE COUNCIL TO MAKE SURE THE PROJECT IS GIVEN A FAIR FIGHT. THE COUNCIL VOTED IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE FIRST READING, BUT THE PROJECT STILL NEEDS TO GO BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION BEFORE ITS SECOND READING. A DATE FOR THAT HAS NOT YET BEEN SET. FOR NOW, REPORTING LIVE IN PICKENS TANIQUA, PENIX WIFE NEWS FOR THANKS TANIQUA. FROM THE GROCERY STORE TO YOUR ONLINE SHOPPING, WE’RE ALL LOOKING FOR WAYS TO SAVE MONEY, RIGHT? AND THERE ARE SOME SIMPLE STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO PUT CASH BACK IN YOUR POCKET. FIRST, WRITE A LIST BEFORE YOU GO TO THE GROCERY STORE SO YOU AREN’T BUYING ANYTHING IMPULSIVELY. ANOTHER SIMPLE THING YOU CAN DO IS SWITCH YOUR SAVINGS ACCOUNT OVER TO A HIGH YIELD SAVINGS ACCOUNT, SO YOU’RE GETTING A HIGHER INTEREST RATE ON YOUR MONEY. BE SURE TO TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR CREDIT CARD BILL OR BANK STATEMENT, AND CANCEL OR DOWNGRADE ANY SUBSCRIPTIONS OR MONTHLY SERVICES YOU NO LONGER NEED. CALL YOUR CABLE AND INTERNET PROVIDERS AND EITHER DOWNSIZE YOUR PLAN OR ASK FOR A BETTER DEAL. AND BE SURE TO LOOK INTO CANCELING ANY STREAMING SERVICES YOU NO LONGER NEED. AS WE GO THROUGH TIME, CERTAIN THINGS TAKE ON MORE IMPORTANCE AND SIGNIFICANCE IN OUR LIVES, AND CERTAIN THINGS TAKE ON LESS. AND IT’S IT’S SILLY TO KEEP SPENDING MONEY ON THINGS THAT ARE NO LONGER RELEVANT OR SIGNIFICANT TO YOU. SO JUST BECAUSE YOU BOUGHT SOMETHING A MONTH AGO, SIX MONTHS AGO, A YEAR AGO, IT’S GOOD TO TAKE INVENTORY EVERY FEW MONTHS TO SAY, DOES THIS THING STILL MATTER? CONSIDER RESTRICTING YOUR ONLINE SHOPPING INSTEAD OF IMPULSE BUYING ITEMS ONLINE WHEN YOU NEED THEM. NO ONE CLICK BUYING. MAKE A LIST INSTEAD AND BUY THEM ALL AT ONE TIME. YOU CAN ALSO REMOVE YOUR CREDIT CARD INFORMATION SO YOU HAVE TO MANUALLY PUT IT IN EACH TIME, GIORDANO SAYS. IT’S SO IMPORTANT TO SET A MONTHLY BUDGET AND REGULARLY REFERENCE IT TO SEE WHERE YOUR MONEY IS GOING. PARELLA GREAT ADVICE. HEY, GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. 648 HERE WE GO. LIVE. LOOK OVER LAKE HARTWELL. OH, I JUST LOVE THIS. I LOVE LOOKING AT THE LAKE THIS MORNING. THERE’S JUST SOMETHING CALMING ABOUT IT, ESPECIALLY AS YOU’RE TRYING TO KIND OF GET UP AND GET OUT THE DOOR. 59 DEGREES RIGHT NOW IN CULLOWHEE. WE’VE GOT 68, ALMOST 70 DEGREES FOR A GOOD PART OF THE UPSTATE AND EVEN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. EVERYONE IS A LOT WARMER THAN WE WERE YESTERDAY. AT THIS TIME. WE’VE GOT THESE CLOUDS THAT’S KEEPING THAT WARM AIR KIND OF TRAPPED. AND THEN WE’VE GOT RAINFALL ON THE WAY SPILLING INTO GEORGIA, HEADING OUR WAY. SO KEEP THE UMBRELLA HANDY TODAY AND TOMORROW. AFTER THAT, IT GETS A LITTLE BIT OF A BREAK. BUT THE FARTHER INTO THE DAY WE GO, THE BETTER THE CHANCES FOR RAIN WITH HIGHS NEAR 80 FOR THE UPSTATE, MID TO UPPER 70S IN THE MOUNTAINS. TOMORROW WE’VE GOT SOME THUNDERSTORMS. A COUPLE COULD BE STRONG TO SEVERE. WE’LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE LATEST TIMING WITH THAT AND A LOOK AT YOUR FOUR DAY PLUS WHICH HAS THE ENTIRE WEEKEND COMING UP IN ABOUT 7 OR 8 MINUTES FROM RIGHT NOW. FIRST, THOUGH, LET’S SEND IT OVER TO AARON, GET A CHECK ON OUR ROADS. HOW’S TRAFFIC RIGHT NOW? WELL, WE’RE KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON SOME MINOR SLOWDOWNS THIS MORNING AT 6.49. THIS IS I-85 NORTH AT PELHAM ROAD. WE ARE SEEING SOME SLIGHT DELAYS ON 85 SOUTHBOUND FROM ABOUT HERE, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO, SAY, 385 AND A LITTLE BIT FURTHER DOWN. WE’RE SEEING THOSE TO BE ABOUT EIGHT MINUTES, TEN MINUTES. IF YOU’RE LEAVING THAT WAY, YOU’RE HEADED SOUTHBOUND ON 85. RECOMMEND YOU GIVE SOME EXTRA TIME. YOU SEE THAT WITH 85 SOUTHBOUND RIGHT THERE FROM AIRPORT ON WOODRUFF ROAD USUALLY AT SIX MINUTES, IT’S AT 14 MINUTES IN THE RED. AGAIN, TEN MINUTES SHOULD KEEP YOU COVERED THERE. 240 TO ASHEVILLE HIGHWAY LOOKS GREAT AT 11 MINUTES. 35 AT 13 MINUTES. TRIPLE A IS LAUNCHING A NEW SAFETY INITIATIVE, WITH MORE DRIVERS EXPECTED ON THE ROADS THIS SUMMER. LEADERS SAY THE SEASONAL TRAFFIC INCREASE ALSO INCREASES THE RISK OF CRASHES. THE NEW CRASHES HIT DIFFERENT WHEN THEY HAPPEN TO YOU. CAMPAIGN URGES DRIVERS TO STAY AWARE. IT ALSO ADDRESSES SPEEDING, IMPACTED DRIVING, DISTRACTED DRIVING AND NOT WEARING A SEATBELT. THE AGENCY SAYS THOSE FOUR THINGS CONTRIBUTE MOST TO TRAFFIC INJURIES AND DEATHS. THE NC DMV SATURDAY WALK-IN SERVICE HOURS COME BACK THIS WEEKEND. CERTAIN OFFICES IN THE STATE WILL BE OPEN FROM 8 A.M. TO NOON ON MOST SATURDAYS THIS SUMMER. AND THE ASHEVILLE OFFICE ON PATTON AVENUE IS INCLUDED IN THAT. THE SERVICES WILL BE OFFERED THERE INCLUDE ISSUING DRIVER LICENSES, REAL ID OR ID CARDS, RENEWALS OR DUPLICATE ORDERS. ADDRESS CHANGES AND ROAD TESTS FOR THOSE WHO HAVE COMPLETED KNOWLEDGE AND WRITTEN TESTS. WITH SUMMER GRILLING SEASON HERE, YOU’LL WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU KEEP YOUR GRILL CLEAN AND ALSO STAY SAFE WHILE YOU COOK. SO OUR PARTNERS AT GOOD HOUSEKEEPING INSTITUTE TESTED GRILL GEAR TO FIND THE BEST PRODUCTS THAT REALLY WORK. AMY LU IS SHARING SOME OF THEIR FAVORITES. NEED HELP GETTING CAKED ON GREASE OFF YOUR GRILL? THESE GOOD HOUSEKEEPING APPROVED TOOLS SHOULD MAKE CLEANING UP A BREEZE. FIRST, THESE MR. SIGA MICROFIBER CLOTHS COME IN A 12 PACK FOR AROUND $13. THEY’RE NOT TOO EXPENSIVE, AND YOU CAN USE THEM ON THE OUTSIDE TO GET ALL THOSE GREASE. OR YOU CAN PAIR THEM WITH A DEGREASER AND REALLY GET A GOOD CLEAN. THIS ONE IS A FAVORITE FROM GOOD HOUSEKEEPING CLEANING LAB. IT’S THE $16 GRILL CLEANER AND DEGREASER SPRAY FROM PARKER AND BAILEY. IT CLEANS UP MESSES REALLY QUICKLY, AND IT CAN BE USED ON THE INSIDE OF YOUR GRATES OR THE OUTSIDE OF YOUR GRILL. BRISTLES FROM WIRE BRUSHES CAN BREAK OFF AND STICK TO YOUR GRILL GRATES, CAUSING SERIOUS DANGER IF INGESTED. INSTEAD, TESTERS LIKE THIS $20 COILED GRILL BRUSH FROM KONA. IT REALLY SCRAPES THE GRATES. IT’S GREAT FOR YOUR CAST IRON GRATES, AND I WOULD DO IT AS SOON AS YOU’RE DONE COOKING, AND YOU WON’T HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT THE NEXT TIME YOU COOK. THE GREENVILLE ZOO WILL WELCOME A NEW ADDITION SOON. AUTUMN THE GIRAFFE IS PREGNANT AGAIN. THAT’S ACCORDING TO OFFICIALS THERE. AUTUMN’S HAD SIX BABY CALVES WHILE AT THE GREENVILLE ZOO, AND YOU CAN WATCH AUTUMN’S PREGNANCY JOURNEY LIVE ON GREENVILLE ZOO. FOUNDATION.ORG. A LITTLE BACKGROUND. AUTUMN WAS ORIGINALLY TRANSFERRED TO