The (Rock Hill) Herald week in review
Mosque, shopping centers and homes planned for region
In separate projects across the region around Rock Hill, a new mosque, retail developments and residential projects are in the works. In Indian Land, Waxlan Investments purchased a nearly 5-acre property at 10935 Harrisburg Road for about $750,000 and submitted plans for a 3,400-square-foot mosque and residential building, pending Lancaster County Planning Commission approval. York County’s Planning Commission approved the 97-acre Newport Commons project near Rock Hill, featuring 138 homes, 57 townhomes and commercial space, including a site where Target purchased 15 acres for $7.3 million. Mattamy Homes received approval to build 50 homes in Fort Mill as part of the larger Williams Reserve development. Additional approvals included a commercial building off Gold Hill Road, while a convenience store on Chapel View Court was denied because of traffic concerns.
Reported by John Marks, published April 14
Governor seeks probe into Rock Hill charter school
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster has requested the state’s Office of Inspector General investigate the board of Ascent Classical Academy of Fort Mill, a charter school located in Rock Hill despite its name. The request follows allegations of financial irregularities and institutional mismanagement, including claims that money was drained from the school’s accounts. S.C. House Reps. David Martin and Shannon Erickson prompted the inquiry after nearly all board members resigned. The Charter Institute at Erskine, the school’s authorizing sponsor, said it would temporarily assist with operations until a full board is in place. Neither the school nor the institute had responded to requests for comment as of April 14.
Reported by Andrew Dys, published April 14
Woman rescued after jumping from Lake Wylie bridge
A woman was rescued from Lake Wylie on April 10 after jumping from the Buster Boyd Bridge, which connects Charlotte and South Carolina along Highway 49, authorities say. York County and Mecklenburg County emergency responders, including the York County Sheriff’s Office dive team and a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police helicopter, responded after 4 p.m. A civilian boater in the area pulled the woman from the water, according to Sgt. Johnathan Gilbert of the York County Sheriff’s Office. She was treated by EMS. Her age and identity were undisclosed, and the reason for the jump was unclear. Law enforcement did not close the bridge or road, and traffic continued moving through the area, Gilbert said.
Reported by Andrew Dys, published April 10
Dive team recovers man’s body from Lake Murray
A man was pulled from Lake Murray in South Carolina late April 11 by the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department Dive Team. Coroner Margaret Fisher identified the deceased as Travers Antonio Berry, 50, of Columbia. Berry was recovered near the Irmo side of the dam at approximately 11:00 PM on April 11, 2026, and was pronounced dead on scene. Berry had been out on Lake Murray in a boat with friends and family, Capt. Adam Myrick told The State. When the boat returned to a dock on the Irmo side of the Dreher Shoals Dam, Berry got off the boat. A witness said that Berry bent over to put on his shoes when he fell off the dock and into the water, according to Myrick.
Reported by Noah Feit, published April 12
Graham challenger Paul Dans drops out of Senate race
Paul Dans, a contributor to the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 and former White House liaison during President Donald Trump’s first administration, has dropped his bid to unseat U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham in South Carolina’s U.S. Senate race. Dans announced his withdrawal on social media April 10 and endorsed fellow Republican candidate Mark Lynch. He had filed to run two weeks ago, raising just over $275,000 by the end of 2025 and earning an endorsement from conservative commentator Tucker Carlson. Trump, reiterating his support for Graham, commented that Carlson’s endorsement was the “kiss of death” for Dans. The Republican and Democratic primaries are scheduled for June 9.
Reported by Lucy Valeski, published April 10
Nikki Haley rules out a 2028 presidential run
Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley has indicated she will not seek the Republican presidential nomination in 2028. Speaking on CNN’s State of the Union with host Dana Bash, Haley stated plainly, “I will not,” when asked if she would enter the primary conversation. The interview also covered foreign policy topics including the war with Iran and China’s support for the nation. When asked whether Vice President JD Vance should be the 2028 GOP nominee, Haley said it was too soon to tell, noting that “a year is a lifetime in politics.” Haley, who served as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations during Trump’s first term, was the last remaining challenger to Trump in the 2024 Republican primary, dropping out after Super Tuesday having won only Washington, D.C., and Vermont.
Reported by Joseph Bustos, published April 13
This story was originally published April 16, 2026 at 6:58 PM with the headline "The (Rock Hill) Herald week in review."