Good morning, Florence.

Greater Florence Habitat for Humanity dedicated a new home to CreeShona Franklin and her three children on Sept.

10 in Florence —with support from Assurant, Wells Fargo and the City of Florence—. The ceremony ended with a ribbon cutting and a blessing from Rev. Thomas Smith.

A teaching assistant—Alexander Robertson Lewis—was arrested on Sept.

19 at West Florence High School for spraying a product that imitated a fecal smell, which made students ill and led to over $55,000 in air conditioning repairs, and a parent demanded he pay for the damages and any related medical bills.

Gas prices in South Carolina dropped by 3 cents per gallon last week — averaging $2.47 per gallon based on a survey of over 3,000 stations, while the national average rose to about $3.14.

This decline in state prices contrasts with the national trend as colder weather and lower demand may push prices down further.

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson asked the U.S. Supreme Court to let states pass laws limiting girls' sports to athletes born female — he joined 27 other state attorneys general in filing briefs for cases from West Virginia and Idaho.

One year ago, Hurricane Helene hit South Carolina as the deadliest storm in a century — it caused 49 deaths, damaged nearly 5,000 homes, and brought 21 tornadoes and heavy flooding across 33 counties.

Recovery efforts have improved with federal and state agencies providing over $323 million in FEMA aid and more than $145 million in low-interest loans, while crews cleared 10 million cubic yards of storm debris.

South Carolina Department of Public Health is hosting its sixth annual PrEP Awareness Week to boost HIV prevention and offer free HIV and STI testing on September 30.

The initiative includes educational webinars for health care providers from noon to 1 p.m. today through September 26 and outreach events on college campuses throughout the month — a key step to help people know their status.

Nikolai Oskolkov Gallery Opening

5:30-6:30 p.m. — Florence County Library System — Free entry — Celebrate the opening of a captivating exhibit featuring the colorful works of artist Nikolai Oskolkov, complete with refreshments and live music.

Pee Dee IceCats vs. Columbus River Dragons

7:15-9:15 p.m. — Florence Center — Tickets start at $56 — Witness an electrifying ice hockey showdown in Florence, SC.