The sun goes up and down, but it’s always free. | Photo by COLAtoday team
If you’re like us, you’ve had money on the mind recently. There’s been a lot of news about the costs of goods changing, but the US Bureau of Labor Statistics is indicating some stability in Columbia. Based on its Consumer Price Index in the South, annual inflation (comparing March 2024 to March 2025) was 1.9% — the lowest it’s been in three years.
What’s going down?
Overall, annual inflation was still a positive number, but there are some categories where costs have gone down. Compared to March 2024, the biggest change can be found at the pump; motor fuel prices decreased by 11.9%. Other categories where inflation was moving in reverse:
Transportation — down 1.9%, including lower costs for new cars, parts, and service
Apparel — decreased by 1%
Education + communication — prices fell by 0.2%, likely driven by communication services and technology
While food prices increased as a whole, fruit + veggie costs fell by 1%, which might be a good reminder to hit up the farmers market.
On The Town with USC Wind Ensemble | 7:30-8:30 p.m. | Lexington School District 2 Performing Arts Center, West Columbia | Free | The Wind Ensemble concludes its season with works performed throughout the semester + a premiere of “Leave No Doubt.”
Wednesday, April 16
Astronomy on Tap | 6:30 p.m. | Bierkeller Brewing Company | Free | Explore the universe — beer in hand — as two local speakers discuss dark matter, black holes, and other interstellar phenomena.
David Ramirez | 7 p.m. | New Brookland Tavern | $20 | The modern Americana and country singer takes his sounds to the Five Points stage.
Thursday, April 17
Sunset Sessions on Boyd Plaza | 4-7 p.m. | Columbia Museum of Art | Free | Grab a bite and enjoy live, outdoor music — this week features Boomtown Trio + food for purchase from Smokey Loggins.
Flashlight Egg Hunt | 7-8 p.m. | Melvin Park, Chapin | $3+ | Bring a basket and flashlight for this hunt where you’ll search for eggs in low light.
Friday, April 18
The Big Bounce America | Friday, April 18-Sunday, April 20 | Times vary | Historic Columbia Speedway, Cayce | $22+ | Hop through five inflatable courses at this bouncy experience with sessions for families, adults, kids, and toddlers.
Tax Day — or the federal tax filing deadline. If you haven’t submitted your 2024 tax return yet, don’t panic. All South Carolina residents have been granted an extension until Thursday, May 1 due to impacts from hurricanes Debby and Helene.
Edu
USC will require all of its workers to return to campus starting Tuesday, July 1 as part of an effort to better support students and improve campus culture. Currently, the university has over 700 virtual or hybrid employees who will be impacted by the transition. (The State)
Closing
Carolina Western Pub shared that it will close on Saturday, May 17 unless the state’s liquor liability laws change. The Vista spot opened in 2018 and is known for line dancing, but will no longer be able to sustain operations based on insurance costs impacted by the law. (The State)
Outdoors
Nonprofit Big Homie Little Homie helped revitalize the Marvin Heller Community Garden on Gervais Street over the weekend, part of its Community Garden Initiative. About 20 participants cleaned the area to address a growing need for green space. The mentorship program will continue maintaining the garden through the end of 2025. (WISTV)
Eat
Fridays are for foodies at Segra Park. The ballpark will serve special items across eight Fridays this season, which can be found at the Grits Y’all cart on the Scout Deck. Next up, dig into brisket cheese fries on April 25.
Job
Looking for a job working for Columbia? The city is hosting its 4th Annual Career Fair to help fill vacancies. You can register to attend on Tuesday, April 22, starting at 9 a.m. at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.
Trending
White Knoll High School took its Easter egg hunt to new heights over the weekend. The Lexington County school dropped 21,000+ plastic eggs from a helicopter onto its football field for its annual egg hunt. Then, kids 11 and under scrambled to fill their baskets with the colorful eggs. (WLTX)
Sports
The Hurricanes clinched a playoff spot, but they ended their home schedule with a loss against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Go beyond the scoreboard and behind the scenes of the Carolina Hurricaneswith Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Number
$1,300. That’s what you could spend on a brand new tablet, smart watch, and noise-canceling earbuds — or what you could spend overpaying for car insurance. If you like the former option, see what you could save by switching car insurance providers.*
Restock your wine fridge ahead of spring + summer events. For a limited time, Swirl Wine Shop is offering up to 70% off premium collections of red, white, and mixed selections.*
Category
History
⚾️ A visit for the history books
Jackie Robinson was greeted by supporters in 1968 when he arrived at Columbia Metropolitan Airport. | Photo via Richland Library
Each year, baseball fans remember Jackie Robinson on April 15. The trailblazing player broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball by becoming the first Black player signed to an MLB team. He debuted on April 15, 1947, with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
While Robinson never played in Columbia, he did visit the city after retiring from baseball. At that point, he was serving as a civil rights speaker and advocate for the NAACP.
Robinson arrived in the Soda City on Oct. 21, 1968 during a Humphrey-Muskie campaign stop. He used his platform to encourage Black voters to cast their ballots in the 1968 presidential election. The next day, he delivered a speech at Allen University.
Robinson died in 1972, but continued to be an advocate for anti-racism until his last days. In 1997, Robinson’s No. 42 jersey number was retired and MLB designated April 15 “Jackie Robinson Day.” The observance is celebrated across baseball, and the Columbia Fireflies will honor Robinson at their game on Friday, April 25.
The Buy
A breathable long-sleeve tee, great to pair with jeans and jackets on cool spring days.
Over the weekend, I watched the Netflix show “Black Mirror,” which uses technology to depict modern “Twilight Zone” scenarios. As interesting as the show may be, it made me more appreciative of my ability to disconnect and go into nature — it’s probably a good time to plan a hike.
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