• Yesterday, DHEC released a new dashboard, which provides detailed data from the county-level to look at the impacts of COVID-19 in SC. This new dashboard was developed by DHEC’s data analysts, GIS specialists + epidemiologists using information gathered through the agency’s expansive coronavirus monitoring resources. View the dashboard here.
• Columbia Museum of Art announced it has been selected as a CARES Act economic stabilization grant of $150,000 recipient from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The award will support the plans for the upcoming major exhibition Visions from India: 21st-Century Art from the Pizzuti Collection.
• Participating banks across SC distributed $5.7 billion in small business loans as part of the Paycheck Protection Program funded by the CARES Act. The program, which lasted for ~90 days, aimed to help small businesses continue to pay their employees during the COVID-19 shutdown. (Metro Columbia CEO)
• SC ranks eighth of states whose COVID-19-related unemployment claims are recovering the quickest. According to a recent report, there are currently 17.8 million Americans unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in total. (WalletHub)
• As of Monday, all 81 of South Carolina’s school districts have been approved to proceed with reopening plans, whether those plans are for in-person or online instruction. There are 17 districts that have opted to begin classes in one week, while 31 others have pushed back the first day to September 8 + other districts are somewhere in between. (Post and Courier)

Weather

• 91º | Scattered thunderstorms | 40% chance of rain

ComingSoon

• Republic Biergarten and Kitchen will open in the former Flying Saucer location in the Vista, located at 931 Senate St. The new sports bar is expected to open within the next two weeks. 🍺 (Cola Daily)

Announced

• SC Codes, a statewide program aimed at providing free access to code education, announced Kaity Miller as its new program director. The program currently offers eight modules with free content available to anyone in SC with an interest in computer programming. 💻

Cause

• Columbia Animal Services will be waiving adoption fees on Aug. 14 for dogs, cats + kittens. The “clear the shelter” event runs from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Check out some of the animals available for adoption here. 🐱 (WLTX)

Ranked

• In a recent WalletHub survey, SC ranked 50 on a list of the best and worst states to have a baby. The survey accounted for factors such as cost + health care accessibility. Massachusetts ranked first while Alabama was ranked last. (WalletHub)

Dish

• The War Mouth is now offering no contact delivery service from 4-8 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday within a 3-mile radius of the restaurant.

NowOpen

• Have you tried Tasty as Fit? Now open at 3001 Millwood Ave., their smoothies recently got some love from Devine District, whose lucky residents are within walking distance to the healthy grab-n-go restaurant. 🍓Ⓟ

WaterCooler

• Four local middle school students became national champions at the AAU Track and Field Championships this past weekend. The 11 and 12-year-olds, Paris A., Madison R., Peyton H., and Olivia T. became the youngest group of females from SC to win a national championship in the 4 x 400 AAU relay. Congrats! 🎉 (WLTX)

Health

• Young women not only have changing bodies and health needs, they also experience new emotional and social pressures. Prisma Health gynecologist Dianna T. Gurich, MD, shares five reasons to see a gynecologist before age 21. Ⓟ
• Unfortunately, a global pandemic doesn’t mean other major issues – like the opioid crisis – go away. CEO and President of Nephron Pharmaceuticals Lou Kennedy was recently interviewed about how COVID-19 has exacerbated the opioid crisis + what hospitals can do to help. Ⓟ

DYK

• When you use Lowes Foods To Go, a personal shopper gathers your groceries so you don’t have to. (Read: They're the real MVPs.) 🛒 Ⓟ