Vice Chair Bill Malinowski celebrating the opening of Richland Library Ballentine at its new location, 1200 Dutch Fork Road. The 13,000-square-foot structure has more than quadrupled in space and includes a children's play area, teen room, reading nooks, meeting spaces, a patio and a "makerspace" for crafts and experiments. Several pieces from local artists are part of the interior decor. The renovations were made possible through a $59-million bond referendum supported by Richland County voters. 

The 2017 edition of Richland 101 wrapped up this week with a special graduation ceremony for the residents who participated in this year's classes. Richland 101 is a free, annual course that gives residents an inside look into County government through facility tours, presentations by staff and conversations with elected officials. At Monday's ceremony, Richland County Council Chair Joyce Dickerson presented participants with certificates, and Council Vice Chair Bill Malinowski and Councilmembers Greg Pearce and Jim Manning addressed the "students," praising them for taking the initiative to attend Richland 101 and become more engaged and informed residents. The Columbia Museum of Art hosted the event and provided a tour of two current exhibits. For more photographs of this year's Richland 101, click here.

Richland County Councilmembers participated in a festive parade to congratulate the University of South Carolina Lady Gamecocks Basketball Team for bringing home the 2017 NCAA Women's Championship. Councilmembers took part in a parade that ended at the State House, where Council Chair Joyce Dickerson, Vice Chair Bill Malinowski and Councilman Norman Jackson presented keepsakes to players and Coach Dawn Staley.

Councilman Livingston joined other Councilmembers and state officials in celebrating the ground-breaking ceremony for the new China Jushi fiberglass manufacturing plant located in the Pineview Industrial Park off Shop Road. The new production plant – which will be China Jushi’s first manufacturing operation in the United States – is expected to bring $300 million and 400 jobs to the local economy. It is the second largest economic investment in Richland County's history. Click here to read more.