3 the richland 3 penny tax program just released its annual report and... in it ...details on where millions of tax dollars have gone since the program started.news 19's loren thomas explains what the county hopes to get done this year. 3 richland county residents should be prepared to see more construction like here on greene street as the penny program plans to do even more work on roads in the county this year. " we just finished the year so we thought it would be a good idea of what's been accomplished and give the citizens an idea of what they n see go to construction this year.."richland county transportation director rob perry says 31 million dollars went toward construction projects around the county last year. " this year you're going to see more resurfacing, sidewalks, bikeways and our first real projects going into construction."according to the penny report ....127 million dollars in sales tax has been collected since the program's start in 2013. "we're projecting another 110 million to construction by the end of 2016. so for 736 million in projects, getting 140 plus million to construction is really going to be a huge delivery to the citizens."12 projects are expected to start this year including the widening of hardscabble road at least 6 projects around the county are expected to be completed in the next six months. "most people don't realize how long it takes to get a major project to construction, but federal highway standards is usually 6 to 8 years to get a major widening to construction from the time you start. so to have some go into construction in year three i think it shows major progress."one project that is expected to wrap up soon is this greene street phase one project that runs from assembly to gadsen streets. it's s expected to be complete in the spring. in columbia loren thomas news 19 wltx. 3 for a complete look at the penny program report you can head over to our website wltx.com. 3 3 lieutenant governor henry mcmaster has endorsed billionaire donald trump for president.in announcing his endorsement...mcmaster said that trump speaks the truth in words everyone can understand. however...the endorsement is also considered a bit of surprise since mcmaster republican establishment in south carolina....a base that for the most part is endorsing jeb bush.mcmaster is the highest ranking state politician to come out in support for the republican frontrunner. 3 that endorsement took place during a campaign rally at the harmon tree farm in lexington county.it also comes one day after trump dropped out of the iowa debate.news19's chuck ringwalt was there ....as people from all across the area showed up to hear what trump had to say. 3 that's right. thousands of supporters we're here to listen to exactly what donald trump had to say. ---"sb"trump was welcomed by a large and loud crowd wednesday night...an audience so big...that a tent had to be set up outside for the overflow crowd. the event kicked off with an endorsement from lt. governor henry mcmaster. "sb"trump stuck to his main talking points. building a wall along the creating jobs. "sb"and although he has decided to not participate in the fox news debate thursday night....he did say what he would be doing in iowa. "sb"the latest cbs poll shows trump holding a double digit lead over his nearest republican challenger in the state of south carolina. ---and with that endorsement from lt governor henry mcmaster...it will interesting to see if and other south carolina politicians will do the same. in lexington county chuck ringwalt news 19 wltx. 3 3 after donald trump announced debate and instead raise money for charity, some midlands students decided to do the same.students for trump will host a debate watch party at carolina ale house on lady street from 8pm until 11. the event will collect money and supplies to the wounded warrior project.the group says that 100 percent of donations will go to wounded warriors. 3 on the democratic side...a new poll shows hillary clinton's lead in south carolina getting bigger.the poll...which was conducted for cbs news... shows clinton with 60 percent while her nearest challenger here...bernie sanders has 38 percent.there were no numbers of support listed for martin o'malley or willie wilson. 3 3 health officials say an increase in birth defects means they need to educate more women about proper nutrition ... specifially folic acid.the number of babies in south carolina born with neural tube defects was up 31 percent last year. although the precise cause of the increase is unknown ... the risk for this kind of birth defect.before folic acid supplementation ... birth defects occureed in about one in every 500 babies in our state.it has since dropped to less than one in 1000 in the past 15 years. 3 there are only 4 days left until the final enrollment deadline for health coverage through healthcare-dot-gov.so far more than 215-thousand people in south carolina signed up for coverage through the website. if you don't enroll in healthcare you could pay a penalty of 695 dollars or more come tax time. 3 palmetto health baptist will offer free diabetes screenings today.screenings will take place at their office of community health from 11 this morning until one p-m.that office is located on sumter street.to find out if you qualify to register call 803-296-care. 3 3 for the fifteenth year in a row, identity theft is the top federal trade commision. today, a lunchtime lecture series is trying to reduce your risk.the lourie center presents identity theft awareness and why you need to be concerned.guest speaker sarah mitchell will discuss the six most common types of identity theft.in addition to the steps you can take to reduce your risk.the lecture takes place from eleven thirty a-m to twelve thrity p-m 3 ranked number two on the lisis of fast casual dot com's top 100 list, blaze fast-fire'd pizza will open today in columbia.(***scando***)and for the grand opening, blaze is offering free build your own pizzas tomorrow, january twenty-ninth from eleven a-m to eleven p-m.free pizzas go to anyone who follows blaze pizza on instagram, twitter or facebook.the new location is in northwest columbia on park terrace drive off of interstate 26. 3 lawyers getting ready for the dylan roof trial.the number of people who will be summoned to court as possible jurors and 3 plus, it's a warmer start to the day, but you'll need to take your umbrella with you this morning. meteorologist efren afante is tracking rain before you head out the door. 3 3 600 charleston residents will be summoned to court as possible jurors in the dylann roof trial.police say roof confessed to killing 9 people attending a bible study at mother emanuel ame church back in june.on june 28, the 600 potential jurors will report for general qualification, they will complete a questionnaire...and also some will be excluded for basic reasons. they'll report back to the downtown charleston county judicial center in groups of 20 starting on july 11 for another courtroom procedure...then... they'll be quizzed about possible biases and life experiences. once the list is whittled down to 12 jurors and some alternates, the main portion of the trial will begin. now charged with neglect in connection to the death of an 82 year-old woman who died after she sat in the same chair for 6 months.they are 43- year old david howell and 74- year old carole howell.the two were the nephew and sister of the victim, 82-year old barbara anne beam. police say beam was found dead inside her home where she lived with both howells. they say beam's sister told them the woman couldn't move on her own andnd hadn't gotten up from the chair in six months. carole howell is now out on a personal recognizance bond while her son is being held without bond. 3 3 3 just in time for the superbowl...the budweiser clydesdale family welcomed a new member.this is mac...he was born at the warm springs ranch in boonville, missouri tuesday. he's the first foal to be born in 2016...he joins the herd of more than 160 clydesdales.mac will live at the ranch while he learns the ins and outs of being a budweiser clydesdale. and maybe we'll see him star in one of those budweiser commercials. 3 an exotic animal usually found in south american florida woman the scare of her life...veterinarian don harris describes what happened. he lady is sound asleep and she feels something on her chest and she slowly wakes up, and realizes that there an animal curled up sleeping on her chest...i don know, i guess her first impression was it might be a cat, but when they both got a look at each other, they both freaked out. the lady screamed, the kinkajou went into her attic. the animal rned out to be a kinkajou, which looks like a monkey but is actually in the raccoon family...they are sometimes known as "honey bears"the woman called her daughter and a friend who were able to lure the mysterious animal out of the attic. it was then taken to a miami animal hospitalit turns out that the kinkajou was someone's lost pet. 3 growing yoyog minds one book at a time.how one group is combining reading and haircuts. forecast when you join me and

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