AGP Executive Report

College Football Spotlight: South Carolina State shut down Florida A&M 28-13 in the Orange Blossom Classic in Miami Gardens, with Mason Pickett Hicks running for 210 yards and two TDs while FAMU’s Isaiah Knowles left injured. Pageantry & Local Pride: Miss Texas Regan Hutsell won Miss America 2027 at the Kravis Center, and Oxford native Madalyn Sullivan earned first runner-up in Miss America’s Teen 2027. Media & Entertainment: Netflix is developing Richard Osman’s cozy-mystery series “We Solve Murders” into a new crime TV show. Sports Culture in SC: The Game & Geek Expo returned to the capital for its second year, bringing cosplay, e-sports, and family-friendly gaming. Weather Watch: Severe storms and thunderstorm alerts moved across the Carolinas, with damaging wind and hail risks noted for the Charlotte region and upstate SC. Tech/Regulation Buzz: FCC chair Brendan Carr said the agency is “looking at a lot of actions” to curb fake polls and partisan coverage ahead of midterms. NASCAR: The Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington kicks off the Cup postseason, with free-stream options highlighted.

NASCAR Spotlight: The 2026 Cup Series Chase kicks off Sunday at Darlington with the Cook Out Southern 500, with USA Network carrying the race and HBO Max streaming coverage, plus a revamped points chase format. Clemson Football Fallout: Dabo Swinney’s Tigers took a brutal Week 1 hit on national TV vs. LSU, and the fallout includes talk of how much it would cost Clemson to buy out the rest of Swinney’s contract. Tech & Regulation: Tesla’s Cybercab robotaxi rollout in Austin is now under a federal audit after NHTSA opened a review of about 1,000 vehicles, testing how far self-driving tech can go under existing safety rules. Local Sports/Community: HYLO Fitness is set to open in Greenville’s former “Baby Bi-Lo” space, bringing HIIT and heated Pilates/barre-style classes to downtown. Public Safety: A motorcycle driver died after a two-car crash on U.S. 25 in Greenville County, while firefighters rescued a racehorse after a semi crash on I-95 in Colleton County. Remembering 9/11: Bluffton and Hardeeville are holding 25th-anniversary remembrance ceremonies this week, alongside Columbia’s annual observance.

Gamecocks Kickoff Statement: LaNorris Sellers threw 3 TDs and 270 yards as South Carolina routed Kent State 57-0 in Columbia, piling up 645 total yards and a shutout with no turnovers. Heat Safety in the Spotlight: Record temperatures hit Williams-Brice Stadium, with heat index readings climbing near 110 during the Gamecocks’ opener. NASCAR at Darlington: Weather canceled Busch Light pole qualifying, setting the Southern 500 Chase lineup by rule; Tyler Reddick will start from pole. Local Fitness Scene: Foxtrot Company Ruck Club launched in Laurens County, bringing rucking to the community with group walks and outdoor events. Community & Culture: Fountain Inn was named South Carolina’s “Most Charming Small Town” by AFAR, spotlighting local spots like Bobby’s BBQ and the Swamp Rabbit Trail. Online Scam Warning: Athens police say South Carolina man Caleb Mills used catfishing identities, including “Hailey Morello,” to target victims across multiple states.

Lowcountry Business Spotlight: Saltwater Moving is doubling down on local ownership as national moving chains push into Charleston, arguing that Lowcountry know-how matters for everything from historic-district streets to coastal humidity. Game Day Sports (SC): South Carolina opens its 133rd season at Williams-Brice Stadium vs. Kent State, with LaNorris Sellers back and a new-look staff debuting key roles. Primetime Rivalry Watch: Clemson starts the 2026 season at LSU in a nationally televised matchup at Tiger Stadium, with Christopher Vizzina set to lead the offense. Upstate Local Incident: A Walmart in Boiling Springs was reportedly evacuated by shoppers, but deputies say law enforcement never officially ordered an evacuation during a suspicious-person chase. Community & Culture: Paris Baguette plans a new Greenville cafe on Woodruff Road at Magnolia Park, bringing its self-serve pastry-and-coffee format to a major retail corridor. Arts for a Cause: Hallie Hill Animal Sanctuary’s “Animals, Art & Automobiles” fundraiser returns Sept. 13 at Charles Towne Landing. College Sports Notes: Winthrop women’s soccer fell to Mercer 4-0, while local athlete roster updates keep rolling across the week.

College Football Kickoff (SC focus): Clemson named Christopher Vizzina its starting QB for the Week 1 showdown at LSU, with Dabo Swinney saying Tait Reynolds will still get chances—keeping pressure on Vizzina. SEC Season Buzz: Alabama opens its 2026 season at home vs. East Carolina (ABC, noon ET), while LSU-Clemson is the headline prime-time matchup in Lane Kiffin’s debut. Game Day Guide: Here’s where to watch Alabama, plus TV/streaming info for Kent State vs. South Carolina and other Week 1 slate details. High School Football (Week 3): Dutch Fork beat Spartanburg 56-14, Chapman topped Seneca 27-13, and Wren shut out Travelers Rest 61-0. Arts & Culture: At the Met, a boa constrictor named Princess won the audition for a role in “Così fan tutte.” Community Events: Columbia’s South Carolina Weinerfest returns Sept. 12 at Gather COLA. Public Safety/Local Life: SCDOT announced a temporary I-26 Exit 129 ramp closure (Sept. 11-14).

USC Sports Tribute: South Carolina Gamecocks will honor longtime attorney and benefactor Joe Rice with a moment of silence and scoreboard tribute before the Kent State season opener, with more tributes planned across USC channels. Local Sports & Community: The Gamecocks will also honor Columbia police officer Chris DeLong before kickoff. College Golf: Jacksonville men’s golf opens its season at the Myrtle Beach Golf Trips Intercollegiate hosted by Coastal Carolina at Grande Dunes Resort Club. Pro Football Weekend Guide: A full slate of college football TV listings highlights Kent State at South Carolina (SEC Network) and Coastal Carolina at West Virginia (TNT/HBO Max). Entertainment & Culture: Netflix’s true-crime hit “Death of the Pastor’s Wife” is topping global charts, leaving viewers “baffled” and “enraged.” Public Safety: Federal prosecutors say a Chesterfield County dogfighting case led to the largest single-property dog seizure in SC history, with more than 100 dogs seized. Food Recall: Walmart recalled Great Value frozen organic triple berry blend in 16 states, including South Carolina, due to possible E. coli contamination.

Local Arts Spotlight: Harrisburg’s 2026 Harrisburg Arts Scholarship went to Hickory Ridge grad Marley Brown, who’ll head to USC’s Darla Moore School of Business while continuing dance. Film & Community: Regal Global Entertainment is extending its Dolly Parton celebration in South Carolina with $9.25 screenings of “Steel Magnolias” and “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,” benefiting the Dollywood Foundation’s Imagination Library. Live Performance: Athens Area Council for the Arts brings the American Patchwork Quartet to the AACA Big Time Small Town series Sept. 25 in the Sue E. Trotter Black Box Theater. Sports Law Shockwave: A Louisiana judge granted an injunction letting LSU potentially add former NFL rookies for a fifth college season, setting up a clash with the SEC and NCAA. South Carolina Tragedy: A Sumter County double homicide investigation follows the deaths of a mother and daughter found shot at a home. NASCAR in the Palmetto State: Dale Earnhardt Jr. returns to Florence Motor Speedway Friday for a late-model race in the CARS Tour.

Revolutionary War Education: The Blythewood Historical Society wrapped its American Revolution series with Col. Jim Butcher explaining how the flintlock musket’s poor accuracy shaped battlefield tactics. Touring Music: Hayley Williams added a second London Alexandra Palace date for July 3, 2027, expanding her “The Hayley Williams Show” run across the UK/Europe and beyond. Local Arts & Culture: Cayce welcomed artist Thomas Dambo as planning moves forward for South Carolina’s first municipally funded troll installation, with SCETV set to document the project. Literary Call: The Jasper Project opened submissions for “Degenerate Art Project III: The Conversation Continues” anthology, inviting SC writers (no fee) by Dec. 15. Sports Spotlight: A’ja Wilson swept WNBA Player of the Month awards for August, while NASCAR’s revamped Chase for the Cup kicks off with Darlington’s Southern 500. Community Safety: SCDPS is ramping up Labor Day “Sober or Slammer” enforcement to curb impaired driving.

Arts Education: The SC Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities opened applications for tuition-free, residential summer programs and its Greenville-based public residential high school for students in Grades 6–11, with tracks in creative writing, dance, drama, film, music and visual arts. Sports & Community: USC women’s basketball announced five FAM bus trips for the 2026-27 season, bundling round-trip transport and tickets for $200 per game (tickets go on sale in October). Local Arts & Culture: The SC250 Indigo Festival returns Sept. 5 at Williams Vineyard & Farm, celebrating indigo’s colonial history with Gullah Geechee traditions, music, food, hands-on dyeing and living-history demos. Health & Sports Medicine: Midlands Orthopaedics & Neurosurgery says Dr. Robert Browning performed the first arthroscopic cartilage transplant in the Midlands on Aug. 17. Food & Dining Buzz: Shake Shack is set to open in Greenville at the former Fuddruckers site on Woodruff Road, with rumors pointing to next week. Sports Business: City Glass in Anderson expanded its commercial glazing services under one roof, adding multiple specialized categories for Upstate businesses.

Indoor Family Fun: Urban Air Adventure Park Columbia opens Sept. 2 in Harbison with go-karts, climbing walls, slides, and Sky Rider, plus an Urban Café and party bookings. Local Community Spotlight: Cayce Elementary assistant principal Ashley Caulder heads to the Mrs. American competition Sept. 2, competing in honor of her late mother and pancreatic cancer awareness. Youth & Hobbies: Newberry County 4-H club registration is open for 2026–2027, with enrollment deadlines and early practice rules for select teams. Haunted Attractions: Fear Farm SC returns for a Halloween run in Blacksburg with 12 nights, multiple attractions, and special group pricing. Sports (SC ties): Peyton Sorrow’s fishing journey ends in a national Bassmaster College Championship win, with his Abbeville roots highlighted. Health Watch: MUSC research reports sharp drops in cervical cancer screening among young women, urging earlier preventive care. SC Arts & History: Carl P. Borick’s Revolutionary War backcountry book is named a 2026 “Great Read from Great Places” pick by the South Carolina State Library.

Dolly Parton Tribute: The Clinch River Fall Antique Festival in Clinton will honor the late country icon with a “Coat of Many Colors” performance by local group WestWend on Oct. 3. Lowcountry Music Education: Daniel Island Music Academy keeps growing its after-school program, teaching everything from country and rock to classical piano and musical theater vocals. Pro Wrestling in Charleston: Tessa Blanchard is set to debut for Major League Wrestling at Fightland on Sept. 12 in Charleston. NASCAR Chase Starts in SC: The Cup Series playoffs kick off at Darlington Raceway, with the standings reset and Denny Hamlin leading the field into the 10-race run. Local Arts & History Grant: Daniel Island Historical Society received a $15,000 SC250 grant to dig into Revolutionary War-era history on the Cainhoy Peninsula. Food Safety Recall: Hodo Lightly Fried Chili Crisp Tofu is recalled in 29 states due to possible ink contamination from packaging. Sports Spotlight: Lenoir-Rhyne women’s soccer earned an eighth-place Coaches Poll ranking ahead of a key matchup with Francis Marion.

SC Education & Arts: District Five music ensembles earned spots at the South Carolina Music Educators Association conference—Abner Creek Middle School Chorus, Beech Springs Middle School Percussion Ensemble (featured chamber group), and Byrnes High School Wind Ensemble. Archaeology & Local History: USC Honors College students dug near the “Horseshoe” and uncovered 19th-century campus relics, with artifacts headed for a spring exhibit at the South Caroliniana Library and Museum. College Sports (Women’s Soccer): Winthrop fell 1-0 to The Citadel in Charleston despite outshooting the Bulldogs 7-4 on goal. Nuclear Ambitions: USC plans a $100 million Nuclear Innovation Center, aiming to grow research, workforce training, and industry partnerships. Entertainment/Pop Culture: Bachelor in Paradise alum Joe Amabile says his speech is “90% back” after surgery for a malignant brain tumor. Media & Politics: Trump escalates his feud with NBC’s Kristen Welker, threatening FCC action over her “Meet the Press” comments. Sports (NASCAR): The Chase begins at Darlington as NASCAR resets the Cup standings for the 10-race playoff run.

NASCAR in SC: The Chase for the Cup kicks off at Darlington Raceway as standings reset, with Denny Hamlin starting as the top seed and the 16-driver field chasing a 10-race run to Homestead-Miami. Politics & health: Darline Graham’s GOP Senate primary win is being framed as a Trump comeback moment, while her opponent Annie Andrews—an MD—keeps pushing universal health care and science-forward messaging. Arts & healing: Piedmont Opera and Novant Health launch the company’s 50th anniversary season with Renée Fleming’s “Music and Mind” symposium and related events. USC sports on TV: South Carolina opens its season vs. Kent State at Williams-Brice Stadium (SEC Network; ESPN+ streaming). Media clash: Trump says NBC’s Kristen Welker will be reported to the FCC over “mixed results” comments about endorsements. Food safety: FDA expands a sprouts recall and also flags a tofu recall due to possible ink contamination, with distribution including South Carolina. Local jobs: SC’s latest WARN report lists 4,489 impending job losses, including Electrolux layoffs in Anderson.

G20 & Global Business: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met 3M CEO William Brown in Asheville, pitching India as a hub for advanced manufacturing, tech, and R&D while discussing data security and supply-chain ties. Local Sports & Music: South Carolina Gamecock singer-songwriter Mary English unveiled a new anthem, while Clemson’s Sept. 19 ACC matchup vs. UNC is already drawing ticket buzz. College Hoops Spotlight: Dawn Staley’s Gamecocks announced a Thanksgiving-week home tournament with three HBCUs (NC Central, Alabama A&M, Tennessee State) tied to the PowerHer Tournament. Pro Football Moves: The New Orleans Saints released/waived multiple players and set injured reserve moves ahead of the 53-man roster cut. Community & Culture: Jostens partnered with Coastal Carolina University to launch a new official ring program honoring CCU’s heritage. Sports Win: Evan Kung won his first Bassmaster Elite title at the St. Lawrence River, claiming record-setting weight. Everyday Life: A Graniteville lottery player marked a wedding anniversary with a $100,000 Palmetto Cash 5 win. Public Safety: Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal Clarendon County crash on Old Manning Road.

Fashion & Pop Culture: Bravo’s Madison LeCroy is spotlighting her go-to Warby Parker frames, from vintage-inspired Tacha to classic cat-eye Lorena, as she balances mom life, beauty work, and influencer duties. Sports (SC ties): Winthrop women’s soccer heads to The Citadel in Charleston Sunday aiming to stay undefeated on the road. Local Public Safety: Columbia police say Officer Christopher DeLong was killed and another officer injured in a park “gunfight” after a domestic dispute call; the suspect also died. Politics & Media: President Trump escalated his feud with NBC’s Kristen Welker, threatening FCC action over her “mixed results” comment on his endorsements. Courts/Environment: Federal courts dealt more setbacks to Trump’s efforts to weaken environmental rules and cancel climate grant programs. College Football: ESPN updated its Week 1 top 25 after Week 0, with South Carolina listed at No. 23. Human Interest (SC region): A triathlete escaped an alligator attack in the Savannah River by targeting the animal’s eye.