(Rock Hill, S.C.) -- The Winthrop University Theater Department hosted a performance of "Everybody" by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, last weekend in the Johnson Hall Studio Theater, which explored the themes of life, death and its meaning. The show was a 21st-century adaptation of the 15th-century morality play "Everyman," as the main travels down a road…

(Rock Hill, S.C.) -- Winthrop University officially ended its search for a new chief of police by promoting Charles S. Yearta from interim chief to the role full-time on Sept. 12. Yearta, who was excited to take on his new role, said was both honored and intimidated by the responsibilities that came along with being the chief of police at Winthrop.…

(Rock Hill, S.C.) -- Edward Serna celebrated his fifth month as the new Winthrop University president on Dec. 1 and he appeared as the first guest on the Palmetto Report's new vodcast to discuss his first few months on the job. Serna, who is a Winthrop graduate, returned to the school after serving as president of the University of Maine at Farming…

(Rock Hill, S.C.) -- NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is one of the many non-profit organizations that are centered around mental health and education on mental illness. NAMI offers many virtual tools, including a helpline, a video resource library and online discussion groups. However, different locations around the country offer dif…

(Rock Hill, S.C.) -- NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is one of the many non-profit organizations that are centered around mental health and education on mental illness. NAMI offers many virtual tools, including a helpline, a video resource library and online discussion groups. However, different locations around the country offer dif…

(Rock Hill, S.C.) -- There are a number of construction projects underway on the Winthrop University campus, which are causing issues for some students, faculty and staff. Winthrop has started working on its campus beautification initiative; a construction project focused on renewing and revitalizing the campus grounds. The project is currently foc…

(Rock Hill, S.C.) -- A number of Winthrop University students say they've noticed a difference between the way sports are played in the U.S. versus internationally, with soccer being one of the best examples. The Palmetto Report's Logan Elrod spoke with Emily Patterson, president of the Winthrop soccer club, and Arthur Le Corguillé, an internationa…

(Rock Hill, S.C.) – Mac Banks has seen a lot of changes in the print industry since he graduated from Winthrop University in 1999, including the closure of hundreds of newspapers and the loss of thousands of jobs in print media. Banks -- who currently writes for the Lancaster News -- has started Fort Mill Prep Sports, which is a website that covers…

(Rock Hill, S.C.) — The Pathways Community Center in Rock Hill has joined with a number of community partners to develop and present an immersive art exhibit, which is intended to raise awareness and break the stigma surrounding homelessness. The "Humanizing Homelessness" exhibit will be on display May 12-19, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m, at the Lowenstein…

(Rock Hill, S.C.) – Changes to the Winthrop University board of trustees’ bylaws last summer, which removed the student and faculty representatives from the board, have drawn criticism, including from some who have seen the changes firsthand. The changes, which were unanimously approved in June 2021, called for the creation of student, faculty and …

(Rock Hill, S.C.) – Students from across York County were able to showcase their skills, singing songs and performing music, over the weekend at the 3rd annual All On Board Coalition student talent, which was open to students in grades from 7-12. All On Board uses the event, which was held April 29 in Rock Hill, to connect with young people and rai…

(Rock Hill, S.C.) -- Winthrop University's streaming radio station returned to the air with a student staff this spring after three semesters of limited operations, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and technical problems. Eagle Air, which is operated by the mass communication department, broadcasts 24 hours a day via web stream and and the free TuneIn …

(Rock Hill, S.C.) – As COVID-19 moves from the pandemic phase to endemic and restrictions across the globe are reduced, the study abroad program at Winthrop University has returned and school officials are looking to recruit students to participate. Prior to the pandemic, Winthrop sent hundreds of students to study abroad over the last decade, as t…

(Rock Hill, S.C.) — The South Carolina Department of Corrections announced on March 18 that it's now able to carry out an execution by firing squad, which has started a national conversation about the appropriateness of the method. No one has been executed in South Carolina since 2011, as the state has had trouble gaining access to the drugs needed…

(Rock Hill, S.C.) – The Winthrop University esports team continues to compete, despite not having a full-time coach to work closely with students, after former head coach Josh Sides stepped down from his position in December last year. Chuck Rey, Winthrop's interim athletic director and head volleyball coach, has stepped in to help oversee the team…

(Rock Hill, S.C.) -- Winthrop University says it's making preparations to become a "laptop campus" by August, which would require every student to have a laptop for the 2022-23 school year. The school says it's making upgrades to its Wi-Fi system in residence halls and academic buildings and the Winthrop Bookstore will begin selling laptops, which …

(Rock Hill, S.C.) – Winthrop University is hosting its annual senior exhibition, which features the work of senior students who are completing their degree requirements in the Department of Fine Arts. The exhibit entitled “Menagerie,” which opened April 4, will be on display until May 6 in the Rutledge Gallery and Lewandowski Student Gallery. Winth…

(Rock Hill, S.C.) -- The Winthrop University music department has allowed many students to strengthen and share their musical talents, both in and outside of the classroom. For James Amaker II, a freshman music education major, the program has enabled him to create and experiment with his craft. “I've been able to connect and create with so many st…

(Rock Hill, S.C.) -- The Nurse-Family Partnership is a program that works with low-income, first-time mothers to help them to improve their lives and create a better future for themselves and their babies. The program pairs women with specially trained nurses who regularly visit the young, soon-to-be moms early in their pregnancy until the child’s …

(Rock Hill, S.C.) -- A group of Winthrop University students is working to raise awareness of accessibility issues on campus, including elevators that don't work, broken blue light emergency phones or a lack of ramps and street crossing signs. WU Students for Change, a campus advocacy group, has started to draw attention to the issues with elevator…

(Rock Hill, S.C.) – Developing muscle and getting stronger and faster is something that can be challenging for many Winthrop University athletes who are trying to compete at the division one level. Winthrop head strength coach Ben Abbott says he understands the challenges athletes face and takes it upon himself to give them the best chance to devel…

(Rock Hill, S.C.) -- Rock Hill’s Miracle Park baseball league, which invites people of all abilities and ages to play, opened play Oct. 9. The Palmetto Report's JaKayla Cornish speaks with Terry Hagen, programmer for Miracle Park, about the opening of the park and its baseball league.

(Rock Hill, S.C.) — Winthrop University hosted the 23rd annual U.S. Disc Golf Championship (USDGC) Oct. 6-9, which is one of the most prestigious events in the sport. Jacob Cullum speaks with USDGC tournament director Jonathan Poole about the event.

(Rock Hill, S.C.) – Winthrop University’s campus programming board, the DiGiorgio Student Union (DSU), celebrated Hispanic Heritage month -- Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 -- by hosting two back-to-back events highlighting Hispanic culture. Hispanic students make up about 5% of the student body at Winthrop, but in recent years, some students have said they've…

(Rock Hill, S.C.) -- The annual ghost tours of Tillman Hall on the Winthrop University campus are planned for Oct. 22-23 from 7 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. However, Tillman isn’t the only building on campus that is reportedly haunted. Margret Nance, Johnson Hall and the Little Chapel are also said to be haunted, according to many current and former students…

(Rock Hill, S.C.) – During the height of the pandemic in August 2020, the Mercantile, located on in Rock Hill, came up with a way to help those in need by starting the "Rock Hill Community Fridge." The fridge is available 24 hours a day for individuals to pick up, but also drop off food items, as needed. The Palmetto Report's Kevin Seabrook speaks …

(Rock Hill, S.C.) -- Jeuel Bannister Esmacher was a junior at Winthrop University -- known then as Winthrop College -- in 1943 when the military took over Bancroft Hall to set up classes and living space for the Army Air Corps Cadet Training Program. It was at that time, during the height of World War II, when Esmacher, now 97, was first introduced…

(Rock Hill, S.C.) -- Winthrop University's first in-person commencement ceremony since December 2019 is set to take place with five separate ceremonies that will span three days from May 6-8. Each ceremony will have a capacity of about 1,400 people in the Winthrop Coliseum, with an allotment of four guests per graduate. The Palmetto Report's Krista…

(Rock Hill, S.C.) -- The Winthrop University Office of Student Activities held its annual leadership conference, which is intended to educate students on leadership skills, provide networking opportunities and create self-awareness. The LIFT Conference -- short for Leadership Institute for First-Timers -- is a student led, one-day professional deve…

(Blacksburg, S.C.) -- The Kings Mountain National Military Park is conducting a series of controlled burns this spring, which are intended to reduce the risk of wildfires and improve the habit of wildlife. The Palmetto Report's Kevin Seabrook speaks with Jennifer Schafer, an assistant professor of biology at Winthrop University, about the importanc…

(York County, S.C.) -- Many groups throughout York County are working together to combat homelessness, by implementing programs, such as rent assistance and providing temporary housing, to help the homeless in the county. The Palmetto Report’s Savannah Scott speaks with Leslie Starnes, executive director of Family Promise of York County, about the …

(Fort Mill, S.C.) -- As LaJoyce Jones was nearing graduation from Winthrop University in 2018, with a master of business administration degree, things seemed to be going well, as she had just found a job and moved into a new apartment. However, Jones was struggling mentally and emotionally and her closest family was three hours away in her hometown…

(Rock Hill, S.C.) -- Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, pet adoption rates have soared across the country, as many adoption centers have reported an increase in people wanting some form of companionship, due to an increased amount of isolation that people have been experiencing. The Palmetto Report's Alex Romano speaks with Katie Harrelson, manager …

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences has started a virtual class for viewers globally with its ongoing paleontology series "Old News: What’s New in Paleontology." The series began in January of 2019 and goes live on YouTube once a month. The Palmetto Report's Taylor James speaks with outreach specialist Laura Beth Speer and Christian Kamme…

(Rock Hill, S.C.) -- One year ago Winthrop University fans stormed the court at the Winthrop Coliseum in celebration of the men's basketball program's 11th Big South Conference Championship. Those celebrations were short lived as COVID-19 spread across the U.S. and the world, changing how fans could support their teams. The Palmetto Report's Collin…

(Tega Cay, S.C.) – Mr. Putty’s Fun Park in Tega Cay recently opened its first haunted house, which features a cast of Winthrop University students and alumni. The attraction called the "Frightmare on Dam Road" opened Oct. 2 and organizers say it's the only haunted house in York County. The Palmetto Report's Emily Hildebrand speaks with Robert Casat…

(Rock Hill, S.C.) -- While the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly impacted the lives of most everyone, one group has been particularly affected: musicians. Performing live has become the way that the overwhelming majority of musicians make money and many of them are feeling the financial and artistic consequences of being forced off of the road. Rock Hi…

(Rock Hill, S.C.) -- Many have called drug addiction an epidemic in the U.S., which is affecting communities at city, state and national levels. According to the United Health Foundation, drug deaths have increased by 34 percent in South Carolina over the last three years. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates 20 …

(Rock Hill, S.C.) -- Earlier this year, Winthrop University student Nathan Crunkilton started an online petition calling for the resignation of the school's board of trustees. The petition on Change.org also called for a "vote of no confidence" after what Crunkilton called "alarming and disappointing actions" associated with the hiring of interim P…

(Rock Hill, S.C.) – The Winthrop University softball team is one of countless collegiate sports teams across the country that saw their seasons end early due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The NCAA announced the cancelation of all spring championships on March 12, but with the fate of regular season games and conference championships in the hands of con…

(Rock Hill, S.C.) -- A shooting in February at Clinton College, which is roughly two miles from Winthrop University, has drawn attention to the issues of campus safety and school violence. Feb. 16, two male teenagers, one who was 17 and the other who was 18, were shot at the Clinton College gym in Rock Hill around 1 a.m. WSOC-TV reported the gym wa…

(Rock Hill, S.C.) — Managing personal health among many students can be difficult due to the stress of classes, homework and maintaining relationships and a social life during their time at college. Dr. Shelley Hamill, a master certified health education specialist and professor of health education at Winthrop University, appeared on the Palmetto R…

(Rock Hill, S.C.) -- A report conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) found approximately 1 out of 9 Americans (11.1 percent) were food insecure in 2018 and according to experts it's a "huge problem" in Rock Hill and York County. One group working to combat the problem is Pilgrim’s Inn, a nonprofit organization founded in 1984, which…

(Rock Hill, S.C.) -- Former Winthrop University President Dan Mahony resigned from his position, effective March 1 after five years of service, in order to become president of the Southern Illinois University system. On Dec. 3, students, faculty and staff received an email from the university's board of trustees informing them about the change in l…

(Rock Hill, S.C.) -- The world of sports, and the role of female athletes, has certainly evolved since the days of the peach basket hoop and the moleskin football helmet. Nevertheless, while men’s sports have excelled in drawing fan attention and generating revenue, women continue to struggle to garner similar opportunities. Title IX was passed in …

(Rock Hill, S.C.) – Rock Hill is working to build one of the very first all-inclusive parks in the nation. City leaders officially broke ground in December for Miracle Park, a 15-acre, $8 million project that has been in the making since 2017. The park is expected to have five ball fields total, with two of them being "miracle fields" designed for …

(Rock Hill, S.C.) -- With South Carolina’s primary out of the way and the November presidential election quickly approaching, politics has been a hot topic lately in many households. Whether it was one of Tom Steyer’s numerous online ads prior to the primary or an uncle that brings it up the election in passing, it’s nearly impossible to escape the…

(Rock Hill, S.C.) -- Research by the U.S. Census Bureau shows that over a million children were undercounted during the last census in 2010 and minorities and homeless populations were at a greater risk of being miscounted. The 2020 census begins nationwide this month and the U.S. Census Bureau is working to get an accurate count of every person in…

(Rock Hill, S.C.) — Winthrop University students in the Department of Mass Communication recently were given the opportunity to hear from a media professional who visited the school, as part of an exchange program that connects educators with media organizations. As part of the program, Tasha Stewart, a senior manager of engagement at WCPO, visited…

(Rock Hill, S.C.) -- The Winthrop University men’s basketball team has experienced great success this season, but not without adversity. The Eagles, who earned a share of the Big South regular season title after beating High Point Feb. 29, experienced several ups and downs on their way to earning the two-seed in the conference tournament. Winthrop …