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Laurens
Laurens County, South Carolina
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District 55 transportation disruption: Changes to longstanding pay practices lead to driver shortage
Laurens County School District 55 has faced school-bus delays and missed pickups after changing longstanding driver pay practices. The disruption led the district to announce an e-learning day on Nov. 9. Interim…
Bus staffing struggles stretch Laurens Co. school district thin
Laurens School District 55 activated an e-learning day Monday as seasonal illness worsened an ongoing shortage of bus drivers. The district has 46 drivers serving 3,800 students, and absences have caused pickup and…
Laurens District 55 to return to normal schedule Tuesday
Laurens County School District 55 will return to its normal schedule on Tuesday. The notice concerns the district’s operating timetable and signals a return to regular arrangements for students and staff. No further…
Laurens District 55 returns to regular schedule after bus issues
Laurens County School District 55 will resume its regular schedule Tuesday after bus problems forced students to switch to eLearning on Monday. The district said all routes and planned field trips are covered, though…
VIDEO: Inside PTC’s New $1 Million Nursing Center in Laurens County
Piedmont Technical College has opened a new $1 million Prisma Health Center for Nursing in Laurens County. The video feature takes viewers inside the facility, which is intended to support nursing education and…
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Three Raider cheerleaders earn All-Region honors
Three seniors from Laurens District 55 High School—Mary Frances Kennedy, Marley Benson, and Summer Nations—have received All-Region honors for their contributions to the school's competitive cheerleading program. The…
SC: Sanctuary asks for donations for treating injured bald eagle
The PAWS Animal Wildlife Sanctuary in Laurens is seeking public donations to cover medical costs for an injured bald eagle. The bird was rescued by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources after being struck…
Fears of 90-day blackout fuel gun sales in South Carolina
Gun and supply sales have surged in South Carolina due to online rumors regarding a potential 90-day blackout. Store owners report a significant increase in demand for ammunition and firearms as residents prepare for…
Laurens Academy rolls past Wardlaw, advances to second round of SCISA 8-Man playoffs
Laurens Academy advanced to the second round of the SCISA 8-Man playoffs after a dominant 42-8 victory over Wardlaw Academy. The Crusaders built a 36-0 halftime lead, fueled by Caleb Hardy's four total touchdowns and a…
LA routs Wardlaw to advance in 8-man playoffs
Laurens Academy advanced in the SCISA 8-man state playoffs with a dominant 42-8 victory over Wardlaw Academy at Todd Kirk Field. Senior running back Caleb Hardy led the Crusaders with four first-half touchdowns, while…
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Upstate store owner reports sales increase amid online posts about 90-day blackout
A store owner in Laurens County reports a significant surge in sales of survival supplies, citing online rumors of an impending 90-day blackout. Experts clarify that the rumors stem from a misunderstanding of Defense…
Laurens County parents frustrated at bus delays, district responds
Parents in Laurens County, South Carolina, are facing significant school transportation disruptions as the school district struggles with bus driver shortages and seasonal illnesses. On Friday, 17 buses were delayed…
Laurens County School District 55 to hold E-Learning day due to staff illness, driver shortage
Laurens County School District 55 has announced an E-Learning day for students due to a combination of staff illness and a shortage of bus drivers. The district is adjusting its operations to manage these staffing…
Bus driver shortage, staff illnesses shift District 55 to e-learning Monday
Laurens County School District 55 has announced a shift to an e-learning day for Monday, November 9. The decision follows ongoing challenges with bus transportation, exacerbated by a shortage of drivers and widespread…
Runoff election to be held Nov. 17 for Seat 6 on District 55’s Board of Trustees
A runoff election for Seat 6 on the Laurens County School District 55 Board of Trustees will be held on November 17. Candidates Nick Babb and Lee McDaniel failed to secure the required 50% majority in the November 3…
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Run-off election dates set for District 55 Seat 4
A run-off election has been scheduled for November 17 in the Laurens County School District 55 race for Seat 5. Candidates Nick Babb and Lee McDaniel will face off after neither secured the required 50%-plus-1 vote…
Laurens County School District 55 bus drivers call out sick, causing delays
Laurens County School District 55 is experiencing significant bus delays this morning due to a high number of drivers calling out sick. The disruptions are primarily affecting the Gray Court and Waterloo areas, with…
Crusaders welcome Wardlaw Academy in first round playoff matchup
Laurens Academy prepares to host Wardlaw Academy this Friday in the opening round of the SCISA 8-Man football playoffs. The Crusaders, who have reached the state championship game in each of the last two seasons, enter…
Laurens County Museum gears up for festive holiday season
The Laurens County Museum is preparing for the holiday season with its second annual Festival of Trees. Organizers report that only a few spots remain for participants interested in hosting a Christmas tree for the…
Patterson named GoLaurens.com Athlete of the Week
Brayden Patterson, a student at Laurens District 55 High School, has been named the GoLaurens.com Athlete of the Week. The weekly recognition, which highlights outstanding local student-athletes, is presented in…
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City of Laurens to celebrate Little River Park revitalization, new Willow Walk
The City of Laurens and the Laurens County Chamber of Commerce will host a community celebration on November 19 at 4 p.m. to mark the revitalization of Little River Park. The event will also feature the unveiling of the…
Quest for a state title begins Friday for Red Devils, Crusaders
Laurens Academy and Clinton high school football teams are preparing for the opening round of their respective state playoffs this Friday. Both teams from Laurens County are beginning their postseason journeys as they…
Red Devils, Crusaders open play in state playoffs on Friday
Two Laurens County football teams are set to begin their postseason journeys this Friday night. The Laurens Academy Crusaders, top seeds in their SCISA region, will host Wardlaw Academy, while the Clinton Red Devils…
Laurens County voters favor Republicans; School board races deliver closest contests
Laurens County voters favored Republican candidates in most races during the November 3 General Election, according to unofficial results. With a 56% turnout, Republicans secured victories in several South Carolina…
Shealy, GOP notch local wins, Andrews tops Graham
Republican Rick Shealy won the District 14 seat in South Carolina, while Democrat Annie Andrews flipped a U.S. Senate seat previously held by Republicans. Local GOP candidates maintained their hold on other regional…
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Patterson named Laurens County Touchdown Club Player of the Week
The Laurens County Touchdown Club has named Laurens District 55 High School senior wide receiver Brayden Patterson its Player of the Week. Patterson earned the honor following a standout performance in the…
Local contested races highlight Tuesday’s General Election ballot
Voters in Laurens County are heading to the polls this Tuesday for the 2026 General Election. The ballot features several contested races for the South Carolina House of Representatives, alongside multiple seats for the…
Vote now for the GoLaurens.com Athlete of the Week
Voting is officially open for the GoLaurens.com Athlete of the Week contest, presented by Self Regional Healthcare. Nominees include Brayden Patterson, Ethan Collins, and Mia Carles, who recently won the A/AA individual…
King joins GoLaurens.com as sports reporter, digital producer
Dunlap Media Group has announced the appointment of Landon King as a new sports reporter for GoLaurens.com. In his new role, King will also serve as a digital producer for the Laurens Raiders Sports Network and the…