Cruz kicking off campaign tour in Mount Pleasant
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (AP) — Republican presidential hopeful Ted Cruz is kicking off a weeklong campaign swing with a stop in South Carolina.
The U.S. senator from Texas is kicking off his "Cruz Country Tour" with a rally Friday at Liberty Tap Room in Mount Pleasant.
His campaign says Cruz is hitting eight southern states and holding more than 20 public events. He's slated to make stops in Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas before wrapping up with an event August 13 in Oklahoma.
South Carolina is home to the first presidential primary in the South.
Rand Paul making campaign swing through South Carolina
ROCK HILL, S.C. (AP) — GOP presidential hopeful Rand Paul is returning to South Carolina this weekend for several campaign events.
The U.S. senator from Kentucky is in Rock Hill on Friday for an event at Physician's Choice Laboratory Services.
Later in the day, he travels to Spartanburg for a gathering with Palladian View, a group founded by former state Republican Party Chairwoman Karen Floyd.
Evening events include a meet and greet in Laurens and a "Pints for Liberty" event at River Rat Brewery in Columbia.
On Saturday, Paul is scheduled to attend a Berkeley County GOP Breakfast in Goose Creek.
Richland County standoff with murder suspect ends in suicide
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Authorities say a suspect in a fatal home invasion in Newberry County committed suicide after a standoff with law enforcement in Richland County.
Richland County Coroner Gary Watts says 21-year-old Keon Kelly shot himself in the head Thursday in the upstairs of his Columbia home. Watts says no deputy fired their gun.
Multiple media outlets report the standoff began when deputies tried to arrest Kelly.
Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott says Kelly held his brother hostage and refused to come outside. After releasing his brother, Kelly cut off negotiations.
Deputies entered after tear gas was shot in the home.
Newberry County Sheriff Lee Foster says Kelly was wanted in the July 29 death of a 32-year-old man in Little Mountain. Two other suspects have been arrested and charged with murder.