Police on scene of deadly crash in Greer; traffic being diverted

AT 644, IN TIME FOR NEWS TO GO, WE HAVE A LOOK AT TODAY’S TOP NEWS STORIES. YOUR TRAFFIC AND YOUR WEATHER ALL BEFORE YOU HEAD OUT THE DOOR. WE START WITH BREAKING NEWS. WE’RE FOLLOWING THE BILL TO REDRAW THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS IN SOUTH CAROLINA IS ADVANCING, AND IF PASSED, THE NEW MAP COULD FAVOR REPUBLICANS. MARK IS TELLING US HOW THIS LATE NIGHT SESSION PLAYED OUT. YEAH. HEY, ERIN AND DESTINY, THE VOTE PASSED OR THE BILL PASSED WITH A VOTE OF 74 TO 37. AND THAT WAS AFTER A LOT OF DISCUSSION LAST NIGHT. SPARTANBURG REPRESENTATIVE ROSALYN HENDERSON MYERS MADE A MOTION FOR THE BILL TO BE READ OUT LOUD IN ITS ENTIRETY, WHICH SPANS OVER 100 PAGES. AND THEN RIGHT AFTER THAT, MAJORITY LEADER DAVID HYATT ISSUED A CALL OF THE HOUSE, WHICH REQUIRES ALL MEMBERS BE PRESENT UNLESS THEY HAVE A WRITTEN EXCUSE. NOW, TOWARD THE END OF THE BILL, THE MEASURE OUTLINES SOME PROVISIONS THAT COULD IMPACT POLLING LOCATIONS. IF THIS PASSES, INCLUDING IN CONDUCTING THE SPECIAL PRIMARIES AND RUNOFFS. EACH COUNTY BOARD OF VOTER REGISTRATION SHOULD COMBINE POLLING PLACES FOR REASONS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE AVAILABILITY OF POLL WORKERS, POLLING LOCATIONS PROVIDED EACH COUNTY BOARD OF VOTERS MUST ENSURE THAT VOTERS HAVE ADEQUATE NOTICE OF THESE POLLING PLACES. NOW, REDISTRICTING USUALLY HAPPENS AFTER A CENSUS, WHICH IS EVERY TEN YEARS. BUT TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR SCREEN RIGHT NOW. THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THE NEW MAP MAY LOOK LIKE. SOME NOTABLE CHANGES INCLUDE FLIPPING PART OF PICKENS COUNTY AND REARRANGING MUCH OF THE SIXTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT. THE BILL WILL HEAD TO A SENATE COMMITTEE TODAY AND WILL GO TO THE FULL SENATE, LIKELY TOMORROW. BUT FOR NOW, REPORTING LIVE IN DOWNTOWN GREENVILLE, ISABELLE MARAK WYFF NEWS FOUR. WELL, SIX STATES, INCLUDING GEORGIA, HELD PRIMARIES ON TUESDAY. THE RESULTS OF THE RACES IN THE PEACH STATE HAVE BEEN SCROLLING AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SCREEN ALL MORNING, WHICH INCLUDE RACES FOR GOVERNOR AND SENATE. A FEW RACES APPEAR TO BE HEADED TO THE RUNOFFS. YOU CAN SEE THE FULL RESULTS AT WYFF 4.COM. YOU CAN SEE HOW THE VOTING PROCESS WORKS FIRSTHAND IN GREENVILLE COUNTY. THE ELECTIONS OFFICE WILL HOLD A PUBLIC DEMONSTRATION OF VOTING TODAY. IT WILL EXPLAIN HOW YOU SHOULD PROPERLY CAST YOUR BALLOT AND AIMS TO BUILD VOTER CONFIDENCE. YOU CAN VISIT MCALLISTER SQUARE AT 4:00 THIS AFTERNOON TO LEARN MORE. WE’RE ALSO LOOKING AT THE SPENDING PRIORITIES FOR BUNCOMBE COUNTY NEXT YEAR. THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HOSTED A PUBLIC HEARING OF THE 2027 PROPOSED BUDGET YESTERDAY. NINE PEOPLE SPOKE ON THE TOPIC AT THE MEETING. THE BUDGET COMES IN AT ABOUT $485 MILLION. THE LARGEST SPENDING CATEGORIES INCLUDE EDUCATION, PUBLIC SAFETY AND HUMAN SERVICES. SOME COSTS WOULD INCREASE DUE TO INFLATION AND THE BUDGET WOULD ALSO FUND 32 NEW POSITIONS. NO ACTION WAS TAKEN YESTERDAY. THE BOARD IS EXPECTED TO VOTE ON THE PROPOSAL AT ITS MEETING JUNE 2ND. TODAY, NORTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR JOSH STEIN IS EXPECTED TO HONOR CHILD CARE PROVIDERS. THERE WILL BE A RECEPTION FOR CHILD CARE PROVIDER APPRECIATION AT 430 THIS AFTERNOON AT THE NORTH CAROLINA EXECUTIVE MANSION. GOVERNOR STEIN WILL HIGHLIGHT EFFORTS IN THE STATE’S BUDGET PROPOSAL TO EXPAND CHILD CARE ACCESS AND TO REDUCE COSTS FOR FAMILIES. THE BATHROOM BILL REGULATING WHO CAN USE WHAT RESTROOM IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS NOW LAW. IN SOUTH CAROLINA, GOVERNOR HENRY MCMASTER SIGNED HOUSE BILL 4756, TITLED THE STUDENT PHYSICAL PRIVACY ACT LAST WEEK, AND IT REQUIRES ANYONE IN ANY PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDING TO USE THE BATHROOM OR LOCKER OF THEIR SEX ASSIGNED AT BIRTH. SINGLE USER RESTROOMS HAVE TO BE MADE AVAILABLE. SUPPORTERS SAY IT ENSURES PRIVACY OF STUDENTS AND GENDER SEGREGATED SPACES, WHILE OPPONENTS SAY ENFORCEMENT OF THE RULES WILL OPEN UP CHILDREN TO STEREOTYPING AND UNFAIR TREATMENT. IN CHEROKEE COUNTY, THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS REQUESTING AN INVESTIGATION INTO A MAJOR WITH GAFFNEY POLICE, WHO’S ALSO RUNNING TO BE THE COUNTY’S NEXT SHERIFF. THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS ASKING THE ATF AND SLED TO LOOK INTO MAJOR BRIAN BLANTON. THEY CLAIM HE VIOLATED FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS WHILE OPERATING HIS ARMORY BUSINESS. THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE ALSO ALLEGES MISCONDUCT TIED TO THE BUSINESS AND ISSUING TICKETS. NO OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN LAUNCHED INTO BLINN’S ACTIONS. HE’S CURRENTLY ON LEAVE AS HE RUNS FOR SHERIFF. WYFF NEWS 4 HAS REACHED OUT TO BLANTON FOR A COMMENT ON THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE REQUEST FOR AN INVESTIGATION. WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE. A SUSPECTED THIEF IS IN JAIL AFTER A CHASE THROUGH THE STREETS OF SPARTANBURG ENDED IN A CRASH AT 9:00 MONDAY NIGHT. SPARTANBURG POLICE FIRST SAW THE STOLEN HONDA PILOT AT NORTH CHURCH STREET AND WEST SAINT JOHN STREET. THEY SAY WHEN THEY TRIED TO PULL THE CAR OVER, IT DIDN’T STOP. AND THEN THE CAR WAS SEEN AGAIN. ABOUT 30 MINUTES LATER, NEAR NORTH CHURCH STREET IN WEST SAINT JOHN STREET. AGAIN, THE CAR DIDN’T STOP AND POLICE DISENGAGED FOR PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS. FINALLY, YESTERDAY MORNING AT ABOUT 10:00, OFFICERS FOUND THE HONDA PILOT AGAIN IN A PARKING LOT NEAR SOUTH CHURCH STREET. THE SUV LEFT THE PARKING LOT AND OFFICERS TRIED TO PULL IT OVER, BUT AGAIN, THE DRIVER TOOK OFF AND DURING THE CHASE, THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO ANOTHER CAR AT THE INTERSECTION OF CRESCENT AVENUE AND JOHN WHITE SENIOR BOULEVARD. THE DRIVER, IDENTIFIED AS TRAVIS RAPLEY, WAS BOOKED INTO THE SPARTANBURG COUNTY JAIL ON SEVERAL CHARGES. POLICE DO SAY THE DRIVER OF THE CAR HE RAN INTO WASN’T SERIOUSLY HURT. A SENIOR PRANK INVOLVING PICKLES, PIGS AND AN INFLATABLE MECHANICAL BULL TO SOUTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL IS NOW A POLICE INVESTIGATION. BEAUFORT COUNTY BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT STAFF SAY CUSTODIAN LET STUDENTS INTO THE BUILDING THURSDAY NIGHT. INSIDE, FIRE EXTINGUISHERS WERE DISCHARGED AND CLEANUP CREWS FOUND SIRUP, SOAP, OLIVE OIL AND TOILET PAPER SPREAD THROUGHOUT. THE SCHOOL. STAFF ALSO SAY SOME FURNITURE WAS OVERTURNED AND AN INFLATABLE MECHANICAL BULL WAS DISCOVERED OUTSIDE. THAT INCIDENT REMAINS UNDER POLICE INVESTIGATION. GREENVILLE WOMEN GIVING IS AWARDING MORE THAN $525,000 IN GRANT FUNDING TO SEVEN GREENVILLE COUNTY NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. CREATIVE REUSE CENTER WAS AWARDED MORE THAN $52,000 TO HELP COLLECT EXPENSIVE CREATIVE MATERIAL DONATIONS AND REDISTRIBUTE THEM. THE AUGUSTINE LEWIS LITERACY PROJECT OF THE UPSTATE WAS AWARDED MORE THAN $97,000 AND $100,000, WENT TO BLUE RIDGE COUNCIL SCOUTING AMERICA TO HELP CLEAN UP CAMP OLD INDIAN LAKE, THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED WAS AWARDED $25,000. $70,000 IS GOING TO FEED AND SEEDCO FOR FUNDING TO BUILD A LONG TERM SUSTAINABLE PROGRAM. UNITY HEALTH ON MAIN WAS AWARDED $100,000 TO EXPAND CLINIC HOURS, AND $81,000 IS AWARDED TO THE JULIE VALENTINE CENTER TO CONTINUE ITS MISSION OF HEALING TO THOSE IMPACTED BY CHILD ABUSE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2006, GWG HAS AWARDED MORE THAN $9.5 MILLION. WE HAVE ANOTHER HOT AFTERNOON OUT THERE FOR YOUR WEDNESDAY TEMPERATURES HEADING TOWARDS THE LOW 90S FOR THE UPSTATE MID TO UPPER 80S IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. WE’RE MAINLY DRY TODAY, WHICH IS GOOD NEWS. BUT AS WE GO TOWARDS THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS, STARTING ON THURSDAY, WE DO HAVE RAIN CHANCES IN THE FORECAST EACH AND EVERY DAY. SO IF YOU DO HAVE GRADUATION TODAY OR MAYBE YOU WORK OUTDOORS, MAKE SURE TO WEAR SOME SHORT SLEEVES, STAY COOL AND HYDRATED. RAIN DOES RETURN TO THE FORECAST LATE TONIGHT INTO THURSDAY, SO MOST OF WEDNESDAY IS NICE AND DRY AS WE GO TOWARDS WEDNESDAY EVENING, WE WILL START TO SEE A FEW ISOLATED SHOWERS TOWARDS WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. 1 OR 2 IN THE UPSTATE. AND THEN THAT RAMPS UP HEADING IN TOWARDS THURSDAY. NOW A COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH SOUTHEAST BY THURSDAY MORNING. SCATTERED SHOWERS ARE BACK THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS AND THEN SCATTERED STORMS THROUGHOUT THE AFTERNOON AS TEMPERATURES HIT NEAR 90 DEGREES AGAIN THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS, WE GET A LITTLE BIT OF DRY TIME AND THEN RAIN. CHANCES ARE BACK IN THE FORECAST FOR FRIDAY. NOW, NO DAY IS A WASHOUT. RAIN WILL BE HEAVY AT TIMES FRIDAY MORNING, AND THEN WE DO GET A BIT OF A BREAK THROUGHOUT THE AFTERNOON. THIS WILL CONTINUE ALL THE WAY THROUGH YOUR HOLIDAY WEEKEND, BUT DON’T CANCEL YOUR OUTDOOR PLANS. AGAIN, IT’S NOT A WASHOUT. JUST MAKE SURE TO GO INSIDE. IF YOU DO HEAR ANY THUNDER. WE’LL TAKE ONE MORE LOOK AT YOUR FOUR-DAY PLUS HERE IN A COUPLE MINUTES. YEAH, VICTORIA AND GOOD. WEDNESDAY MORNING. HALFWAY THROUGH THE WEEK, WE’RE TAKING A LOOK AT YOUR EARLY MORNING COMMUTE. THIS IS 85 OVER AT MALDEN ROAD. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM OUR LIVE SKY4 VIEW, THINGS ARE MOVING SMOOTHLY ALONG I-85. I AM KEEPING AN EYE ON THOSE TRAVEL TIMES. WE’RE SEEING THEM EBB AND FLOW HERE. IT’S THAT TYPICAL 7 A.M. HOUR TRAFFIC. NOW, ONE THING I DO WANT TO FLAG FOR YOU AS YOU HEAD INTO DOWNTOWN GREENVILLE. WE ARE SEEING THESE IMPACTS STARTING YESTERDAY ALL THE WAY THROUGH FRIDAY. LOTS OF GRADUATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS TO THOSE GREENVILLE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THAT WILL BE CELEBRATING AT THE WELL. LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WE CAN EXPECT TO SEE TODAY. 8 A.M. CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL. 11:30 A.M. WADE HAMPTON HIGH SCHOOL. 2:30 P.M., BEREA HIGH SCHOOL. AND AT 6:30 P.M., WE’VE GOT MALDEN HIGH SCHOOL’S GRADUATION CEREMONIES. NOW, JUST A QUICK REMINDER, IF YOU ARE HEADING TO THOSE CEREMONIES, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO GO ONE HOUR PRIOR. THOSE DOORS ARE OPENING, SO DEFINITELY GIVE YOURSELF TIME WITH THAT CHURCH STREET BRIDGE BEING CLOSED IN T