Dolly Parton’s donation helps make new hospital in South Carolina more inviting
AT 643, WE HAVE A LOOK AT TODAY’S TOP NEWS STORIES, TRAFFIC AND WEATHER ALL BEFORE YOU HEAD OUT THE DOOR. WE’RE STARTING WITH OUR ISABELLE MARAK, WHO’S LIVE IN ANDERSON WITH A MENTAL HEALTH MESSAGE FROM COUNTY OFFICIALS. HEY, ERIN AND DESTINY. ANDERSON COUNTY IS SEEING A RECORD NUMBER OF SUICIDES COMPARED TO YEARS PAST. SO THE ANDERSON COUNTY CORONER’S OFFICE IS ALREADY RESPONDED TO A QUARTER OF THE SUICIDES THEY SAW IN 2020 FOUR. THE OFFICE SAYS THAT LAST YEAR THEY RESPONDED TO 37 SUICIDES. AND SO FAR THIS YEAR, THERE HAVE ALREADY BEEN EIGHT. THE CORONER’S OFFICE IS URGING PEOPLE TO TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH, TO BREAK THROUGH THE STIGMA OF THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, TO HELP PEOPLE FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE REACHING OUT FOR HELP. REMEMBER, IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS STRUGGLING, HELP IS AVAILABLE 24 OVER SEVEN. YOU CAN CALL THE NATIONAL SUICIDE LIFELINE AT 988. AGAIN, THAT NUMBER IS 988. REPORTING LIVE IN ANDERSON, ISABELLE MARAK WYFF NEWS FOUR. ISABELLE. THANK YOU, PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP. TARIFFS ON IMPORTS FROM MEXICO, CANADA AND CHINA GO INTO EFFECT TOMORROW. THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS TRUMP IS DECLARING AN ECONOMIC EMERGENCY, PUTTING A TARIFF RATE OF 10% ON ALL IMPORTS FROM CHINA AND 25% ON IMPORTS FROM MEXICO AND CANADA. TRUMP SAYS THE TARIFFS ARE MEANT TO FORCE THOSE COUNTRIES TO DO MORE TO STOP THE FLOW OF FENTANYL INTO THE U.S. ECONOMISTS SAY TARIFFS COULD DRIVE UP PRICES IN THE U.S. ON A WIDE RANGE OF PRODUCTS. MEXICO AND CANADA HAVE ALREADY RESPONDED WITH THEIR OWN TARIFFS ON THE U.S. ALMOST 50% OF VOTERS SAY THEY EXPECT U.S. TARIFFS ON GOODS MADE IN OTHER COUNTRIES TO HURT THE ECONOMY, WHILE 42% EXPECT THEM TO HELP THE ECONOMY. THAT’S ACCORDING TO A NEW QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY POLL. DESPITE THAT, PUBLIC OPINION OF PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP IS MORE FAVORABLE IN 2025 THAN IT WAS IN 2017, WHEN HE STARTED HIS FIRST TERM, 46% OF VOTERS APPROVE OF THE JOB TRUMP IS DOING, WHILE 43% DISAPPROVE AND 11% DIDN’T OFFER AN OPINION. IN 2017, 36% OF VOTERS APPROVED, WHILE 44% DISAPPROVED. A MAJORITY OF VOTERS ALSO DISAPPROVE OF ELON MUSK PLAYING A PROMINENT ROLE IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. MOST DEMOCRATS AND INDEPENDENTS DISAPPROVE, WHILE REPUBLICANS APPROVE. ISRAEL’S PRIME MINISTER WILL BE THE FIRST FOREIGN LEADER TO MEET WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP AT THE WHITE HOUSE. AN OFFICIAL AT THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS THE PRESIDENT EXTENDED THE INVITATION TO BENJAMIN NETANYAHU. THE MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE TOMORROW, ACCORDING TO NETANYAHU’S OFFICE. THE VISIT COMES JUST WEEKS AFTER THE CEASE FIRE DEAL BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS. NETANYAHU WAS LAST AT THE WHITE HOUSE IN JULY WHEN HE MET WITH THEN PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN. DIVE TEAMS HAVE NOW RECOVERED THE REMAINS OF 55 VICTIMS FROM THE WRECKAGE OF THE MID-AIR COLLISION BETWEEN AN AMERICAN AIRLINES REGIONAL JET AND AN ARMY BLACK HAWK HELICOPTER OVER WASHINGTON, D.C. THEY’RE STILL SEARCHING FOR THE REST OF THE VICTIMS. OFFICIALS SAY AT FIRST LIGHT TODAY, THEY WILL BEGIN USING A CRANE ALREADY IN PLACE TO LIFT OUT PIECES OF THE WRECKAGE AND FUSELAGE FROM THE POTOMAC RIVER. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THEY WERE GOING TO RECOVER EVERYONE IF WE KNEW WHERE THEY WERE, THOUGH, WE WOULD. WE WOULD ALREADY HAVE THEM OUT. SO WE HAVE SOME WORK TO DO AS THE SALVAGE OPERATION GOES ON AND WE WILL ABSOLUTELY STAY HERE AND SEARCH. AND UNTIL SUCH POINT IS WE HAVE EVERYBODY, THE ARMY’S IDENTIFIED CAPTAIN REBECCA LOBACH OF DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA, IS THE THIRD SOLDIER WHO DIED IN THE CRASH. THE NAMES OF THE OTHER TWO WERE RELEASED ON FRIDAY. THE SHERIFF IN YANCEY COUNTY IS WARNING PEOPLE ABOUT CON ARTISTS ACCUSED OF PREYING ON VICTIMS OF HURRICANE HELENE. SHERIFF SHANE HILLARD SAYS THERE ARE REPORTS OF PEOPLE GOING INTO THE AREA WHO ARE LOOKING TO EXPLOIT THE GENEROSITY AND VULNERABILITY OF LOCALS. HE WENT ON TO SAY THAT BEHAVIOR WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. THE SHERIFF SAYS SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY BEEN ARRESTED. YOU CAN READ MORE ABOUT THE WARNING ON WYFF4.COM AND OUR MOBILE APP FOR NORTH CAROLINA. LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MARK ROBINSON SAYS HE’S NOT RUNNING FOR ANY ELECTED OFFICES IN THE FUTURE. THAT COMES AFTER ANNOUNCING HE IS DROPPING THE DEFAMATION LAWSUIT AGAINST CNN. ROBINSON SAYS CONTINUING THE CASE WOULD BE A FUTILE EFFORT. YOU MAY REMEMBER HE SUED CNN BACK IN OCTOBER AFTER AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORT THAT CLAIMED THE GREENSBORO REPUBLICAN POSTED GRAPHIC AND RACIST COMMENTS ON AN ADULT FILM WEBSITE. THAT REPORT WAS RELEASED JUST WEEKS BEFORE THE 2024 ELECTION. THREE TIME WNBA MVP A’JA WILSON’S NUMBER 22 JERSEY WAS HUNG IN THE RAFTERS YESTERDAY AT COLONIAL LIFE ARENA. THE LAS VEGAS ACES STAR LED THE GAMECOCKS TO ITS FIRST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2017. SHE WENT ON TO BE THE NUMBER ONE WNBA DRAFT PICK IN 2018, AND WILSON WAS PART OF THE U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM THAT WON THE GOLD MEDAL IN PARIS THIS PAST SUMMER. THOUGH THE UNIVERSITY DOESN’T OFFICIALLY RETIRE NUMBERS, THE SCHOOL CONFIRMED THAT THE NUMBER 22 WILL NEVER BE WORN AGAIN BY ANY BASKETBALL PLAYER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA. PRISMA HEALTH IS STARTING ITS DEMENTIA EDUCATION SERIES AGAIN THIS WEEK. THE GOAL THERE IS TO PROVIDE HELPFUL INFORMATION FOR PEOPLE CARING FOR LOVED ONES WITH MEMORY, HEALTH CONDITIONS. THE SESSIONS ARE FREE AND YOU DON’T HAVE TO REGISTER AHEAD OF TIME. EACH WEDNESDAY EVENING IN FEBRUARY OFFERS A DIFFERENT TOPIC. YOU’LL FIND THE CLASS AT 255 ENTERPRISE BOULEVARD IN GREENVILLE CONFERENCE ROOM A, AND YOU CAN CALL DIANA JEFFREYS AT THE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN WITH ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE. WELL, IT’S 649 AND PUNXSUTAWNEY PHIL CAUGHT SIGHT OF HIS SHADOW, MEANING SIX MORE WEEKS OF WINTER THIS YEAR. PHIL HAS PREDICTED A LONGER WINTER FAR MORE OFTEN THAN AN EARLY SPRING, BUT HE’S NOT THE MOST ACCURATE GROUNDHOG AND IS RIGHT LESS THAN HALF THE TIME. THIS YEAR MARKS THE 139TH CELEBRATION OF GROUNDHOG DAY. THE TRADITION DATES BACK TO THE 1800S. PARELLA. HEY, GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. 649 THERE WILL BE SIX MORE WEEKS OF WINTER, BUT WE’VE GOT A WEEK OF SPRING AT LEAST, AND THAT IS INCLUDING TODAY. EVEN THOUGH WE’RE FREEZING RIGHT NOW IN PICKENS. 31 DEGREES FOR YOU. 32 IN GAFFNEY, 32 IN RUTHERFORDTON. EVERYONE IS COLDER THAN WE WERE YESTERDAY MORNING. AT THIS TIME, HOWEVER, AS WE FAST FORWARD INTO LATER TODAY, WE’RE GOING TO END UP A WHOLE LOT WARMER. LOOK AT THIS LOW TO MID 60S BY LUNCH. UPPER 60S AFTER THAT. SO HIGHS NEAR 70 DEGREES. DON’T FORGET THE SUNGLASSES ALONG WITH THE SHORT SLEEVES UNDERNEATH THAT COAT. TODAY HIGHS NEAR 70 FOR WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. IT IS GOING TO BE BEAUTIFUL. AND IF YOU LIKE THE WARMER TEMPERATURES IT’S GOING TO BE EVEN WARMER TOMORROW. WE’LL TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR FOUR DAY PLUS IN LESS THAN 8 OR 9 MINUTES FROM RIGHT NOW. FIRST, LET’S GET YOU OUTSIDE. GET A CHECK ON THOSE ROADS. HEY, PARELLA, RIGHT NOW LET’S TAKE A LIVE LOOK FROM SKY FOUR. IT’S AN EXCLUSIVE LIVE LOOK RIGHT NOW YOU CAN SEE A STALLED VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF YOUR SCREEN. WE’RE TAKING A LIVE LOOK AT I-85 AT HIGHWAY 14. IT SEEMS TO BE CAUSING A LITTLE BIT OF A SLOWDOWN, BUT NOT TOO MUCH OR TOO HEAVY TO EXPECT THIS TIME OF MORNING. LET’S GO AHEAD AND TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE TRAVEL TIMES AS WELL. AT SEE 42 ASHEVILLE HIGHWAY SHOULD TAKE YOU 12 MINUTES ANNA’S AIRPORT TO ON WOODRUFF ROAD. SEVEN MINUTES IN FAIRVIEW ROAD TO DOWNTOWN 13. DESPITE PERSISTENT INFLATION AND EXPECTED TARIFFS, SHOPPERS PLAN TO SPEND AN AVERAGE OF NEARLY 189 BUCKS ON VALENTINE’S DAY THIS YEAR. IF YOU ARE SPENDING THAT, YOU CAN BE MY VALENTINE. I WOULD LOVE THAT. ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL RETAIL FEDERATION, THAT’S UP BY ABOUT A $3 AVERAGE OVER LAST YEAR. IN TOTAL, PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO SPEND A RECORD $27.5 BILLION. THE SURVEY SUGGESTS THE SPENDING BUMP COULD BE DUE TO MORE PEOPLE PLANNING TO CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAY. BUT AS FOR GIFTS, THE MOST POPULAR CATEGORY THIS YEAR IS CANDY, FOLLOWED BY FLOWERS, GREETING CARDS AND AN EVENING OUT. WELL, THE 67TH GRAMMY AWARDS WERE HELD LAST NIGHT IN LOS ANGELES. WHERE FIRES THAT HAVE DESTROYED MORE THAN 16,000 HOMES ARE STILL BURNING. THE CEREMONY FEATURED MULTIPLE TRIBUTES TO THE CITY, INCLUDING ONE FROM KENDRICK LAMAR, WHO WON FIVE GRAMMYS, INCLUDING RECORD AND SONG OF THE YEAR FOR NOT LIKE US. BEYONCE WON THREE GRAMMYS, INCLUDING ALBUM OF THE YEAR, PUSHING HER RECORD CAREER TOTAL TO 35. OTHER MULTIPLE WINNERS INCLUDED SABRINA CARPENTER, CHARLI. BEFORE THE SHOW ENDED, HOST TREVOR NOAH ANNOUNCED VIEWERS HAD CONTRIBUTED MORE THAN $7 MILLION TO LA FIRE RELIEF. NBC’S THE VOICE IS BACK TONIGHT, AND SO IS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL COACHES. ADAM LEVINE RETURNS AFTER SEVERAL SEASONS AWAY, AND HE’S JOINED BY ROOKIE COACH KELSEA BALLERINI THERE, ALONGSIDE MICHAEL BUBLE AND JOHN LEGEND, TO ROUND OUT THE COACHING PANEL. THE VOICE RETURNS TONIGHT AT EIGHT, FOLLOWED BY THE PREMIERE OF THE NEW DRAMA THE HUNTING PARTY AT TEN. YOU CAN WAT
Dolly Parton’s donation helps make new hospital in South Carolina more inviting
Updated: 9:41 AM EST Feb 3, 2025
Three major donations, including one from Dolly Parton, have helped bring a new $55 million medical center to Union, South Carolina and make it more inviting to patients, their families and the community. A ribbon cutting is being held Monday for the new Union Medical Center campus in Union County. More news: Drug paraphernalia in plain view ends in Greenville County drug bust, deputies sayThe new hospital campus is located at 1201 Furman L. Fendley Hwy. in Union. It offers an array of essential medical services, including: Emergency care Imaging Gibbs Cancer Center infusion services Inpatient care Lab Bearden-Josey Center for Breast Health mammography services Outpatient services Pharmacy Primary care Three donations helped make the campus more inviting for patients, their families and the community by offering places for quiet reflection, a one-mile walking trail, chapel and gardens. More news: Upstate principal arrested for sexual battery with student, deputies sayOne of those donations was from Dolly Parton. Dolly’s roots run deep in Union County.Her mother, Avie Lee Parton, was born on Oct. 5, 1923, in Lockhart. A preacher’s daughter, Avie Lee Parton is often credited as the country music icon and philanthropist’s first musical influence. Dolly Parton Enterprises is investing in the future of the community her mother once called home by donating $100,000.More news: One dead in crash when truck fails to yield, police sayThe philanthropy of J. Carlisle Oxner III, Chairman and President at Arthur State Bank, committed $200,000 to the fundraising effort.Oxner has been with Arthur State Bank since 1987 and has served on numerous boards promoting economic development, education and the protection of South Carolina’s natural resources. Barbara Harter Rippy, well-known across the state and in her home community of Union for philanthropy, donated $100,000 to support the patient enhancement effort. For more than three decades, Rippy, along with her late husband Dr. Bobby Gene Rippy, owned and operated Smith’s Drug Store on Main Street, and their generosity has supported numerous causes.
Three major donations, including one from Dolly Parton, have helped bring a new $55 million medical center to Union, South Carolina and make it more inviting to patients, their families and the community.
A ribbon cutting is being held Monday for the new Union Medical Center campus in Union County.
More news: Drug paraphernalia in plain view ends in Greenville County drug bust, deputies say
The new hospital campus is located at 1201 Furman L. Fendley Hwy. in Union.
It offers an array of essential medical services, including:
- Emergency care
- Imaging
- Gibbs Cancer Center infusion services
- Inpatient care
- Lab
- Bearden-Josey Center for Breast Health mammography services
- Outpatient services
- Pharmacy
- Primary care
Three donations helped make the campus more inviting for patients, their families and the community by offering places for quiet reflection, a one-mile walking trail, chapel and gardens.
More news: Upstate principal arrested for sexual battery with student, deputies say
One of those donations was from Dolly Parton.
Dolly’s roots run deep in Union County.
Her mother, Avie Lee Parton, was born on Oct. 5, 1923, in Lockhart. A preacher’s daughter, Avie Lee Parton is often credited as the country music icon and philanthropist’s first musical influence. Dolly Parton Enterprises is investing in the future of the community her mother once called home by donating $100,000.
More news: One dead in crash when truck fails to yield, police say
The philanthropy of J. Carlisle Oxner III, Chairman and President at Arthur State Bank, committed $200,000 to the fundraising effort.
Oxner has been with Arthur State Bank since 1987 and has served on numerous boards promoting economic development, education and the protection of South Carolina’s natural resources.
Barbara Harter Rippy, well-known across the state and in her home community of Union for philanthropy, donated $100,000 to support the patient enhancement effort.
For more than three decades, Rippy, along with her late husband Dr. Bobby Gene Rippy, owned and operated Smith’s Drug Store on Main Street, and their generosity has supported numerous causes.
