Roofer in Columbia, SC

Columbia will get more time to deal with a demand from the state Attorney General to repeal an ordinance banning conversion therapy for minors.

In April, South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson wrote to Columbia leaders ordering that they repeal a city law that prohibits conversion therapy, a controversial practice that is largely opposed by the medical community.

The practice seeks to change a person’s sexuality or gender identity, and leading health and psychology organizations have deemed it ineffective and harmful.

Wilson’s office previously threatened legal action if the city did not walk back the ban, saying it violates state law and the First Amendment. The city responded to Wilson’s request by saying it would give it “proper attention.”

“As you are probably aware, any action taken to repeal or amend our ordinances requires two public readings. Council is fully prepared to provide proper attention to your request. However, we request 30-60 days in order to provide the required public notice and calendar the item,” the city’s letter to the Attorney General’s office, dated May 5, reads.

The Attorney General’s Office is granting the city the extension, but expects to hear an update from Columbia leaders by July 7, according to a letter from the office sent to the city.

It is not immediately clear how Columbia leaders plan to respond when the conversation therapy ban comes before the city council. Mayor Daniel Rickenmann was not available for an interview Wednesday because he was in Washington D.C., according to an aid. He previously voted against the ordinance, saying he believed it was a family decision.

But when the Attorney General’s letter hit the city’s desk in late April, Rickenmann raised an eyebrow, saying, “This hasn’t been an issue for four years. … Is it just a reminder or ... is it political season?”

Attorney General Wilson is a likely candidate for governor in 2026.

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April 23, 2025 11:10 AM

Just a few days after the city sent its letter to the Attorney General’s Office, the city council heard testimony from over half a dozen people, and received a letter signed by hundreds more urging the city to stand behind the ordinance passed in 2021, at Tuesday night’s regularly scheduled council meeting.

“Conversion/reparative practices are not only ineffective, but cause severe trauma to individuals and their families. These are practices that every major medical and mental health organization opposes,” that letter reads. “Repealing this ordinance tells our youth, and subsequently our adults, that Columbia knows the harm ‘conversion therapy’ causes, and is bending to specific ideology regardless of the extreme risk it poses to the lives of those in our community who are forced to endure it.”

The ACLU of South Carolina, Reformation Lutheran Church and over half a dozen other organizations signed that letter, along with 429 members of the public.

Matthew Butler, a representative for the ACLU who spoke before the city council Tuesday, reiterated that message, saying he is proud that Columbia was the first city in South Carolina to have a law against conversion therapy for minors.

“Do not retreat,” he said, “Do not abandon the children in the community your ordinance was written to sheath.”

Others who spoke included members of Reformation Lutheran Church, mental health clinicians and members of the LGBTQ community who said they have have witnessed or experienced first-hand the fallout of conversion therapy practices.

Actress and member of Reformation Lutheran Church RaéVen Kelly Dinwoodie gave a passionate plea to council, saying, “Please, Mr. Mayor and council members, make the kind, the loving and the Christ-like decision to send a message to the world. Back here in Columbia, we protect all of our residents.”

The ordinance first passed in a 4-3 council vote in June 2021, with Rickenmann and former Mayor Steve Benjamin both voting against it at the time. The other no vote was Councilman Rev. Ed McDowell, who along with Rickenmann has remained on the council since that vote.

Of the four council members who voted in favor of the conversion therapy ban in 2021, just Will Brennan is still on the council.

Brennan declined to comment when reached by The State Wednesday.

The ordinance restricts any licensed healthcare or mental health provider in Columbia from providing conversion therapy, and promises a fine of up to $500 per violation.

Rickenmann previously said no fines have been issued since the ordinance was passed. The policy came from conversations with LGBTQ members of the public and therapy practitioners who specifically asked for it.

“We believe that it’s protecting people who are most marginalized, who need the protection,” said Dylan Gunnells, President of SC Pride, adding that even if the ordinance has not yet been used by the city, it is still an important guardrail.

This story was originally published May 7, 2025 at 1:33 PM.

Someone who recently bought a Powerball ticket at a gas station in Columbia didn’t win Saturday’s regular drawing, but they were just one number shy of capturing the grand prize in the night’s Double Play drawing, South Carolina Education Lottery officials said Monday in a news release.

For coming so close in the Double Play event, the ticket buyer will be rewarded with a $50,000 Powerball prize, according to the release.

Now the search is underway for the winner.

The five-figure winning Powerball game was sold at the Simba Express gas station/convenience store at 2932 Alpine Road, officials said. That’s in Columbia, near the Cardinal Newman School and the junction of Interstate 77 and Interstate 20.

For an additional dollar, players can add Double Play to their Powerball ticket for another chance to match their Powerball numbers in a separate drawing, with a $10 million grand prize at stake, according to the release. Double Play drawings are held after the Powerball drawings on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, officials said.

The winning numbers in Saturday’s Double Play drawing were 14, 23, 33, 38, 60 and Powerball: 3.

The odds of matching four white numbers and the red Powerball number are 1-in-913,129, officials said.

The winner has 180 days to claim the prize, according to lottery officials.

The winner will be allowed to retain some privacy, as South Carolina is one of 11 states — along with Arizona, Delaware, Georgia, Kansas, Maryland, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio, Texas and Virginia — that allow lottery winners to remain anonymous.

“Sign the back of your ticket and put it in a safe location until you’re ready to come forward to claim the prize,” lottery officials said.

For complete information on claiming prizes, go to sceducationlottery.com.

When the ticket is claimed, the Simba Express is expected to receive a commission for selling the winning game.

With no grand prize winner, the jackpot for Monday night’s Powerball drawing has increased to $54 million, officials said.

Anyone looking to buy a ticket must make a purchase by 9:59 p.m. Monday for the 10:59 p.m. drawing. Tickets are $2, and could cost more with additional options.

The odds of winning Powerball’s grand prize are 1-in-293 million.

COLUMBIA — As summer approaches in the Midlands and the weather heats up, it’s the perfect time to celebrate and support Columbia’s vibrant AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) community. Whether you’re exploring new flavors, discovering local artisans or uplifting AAPI-owned businesses, there are countless ways to engage with the culture and creativity that help make our city shine.

Bollywood Beats + Balance

What: In honor of AAPI Heritage Month, FIT Columbia owner Angela Yong Sellers is hosting a free, soul-soothing evening celebrating Indian culture through mindful movement and music. Join for Bollywood Balance + Beats — a beginner-friendly outdoor yoga session blending gentle flow with vibrant Bollywood-inspired beats. Bring your own mat and settle in for a 45-minute beginner class with time to mingle before and after.

Where: 24 Hour Pickleball Club, 2401 Sumter St.

When: 5:30-7 p.m., May 22

Price: Free

More info: tinyurl.com/58nsj57j

Open Mic: A Taste of AAPI Voices & Delectable Bites

What: Enjoy Asian American Pacific Islander Month through Open Mic performances while tasting Asian cuisine. This family-friendly event combines food with live performances, which will feature DJ Maya Wang, Ethan Sosa, traditional Filipino dancers and more.

Where: Richland Library Northeast, Northeast Large Meeting Room, 7490 Parklane Road, Columbia

When: 6-7:45 p.m., May 29

Price: Free

More info: tinyurl.com/59j8stvw

5th Annual South Carolina AAPI Business Day

What: Celebrate AAPI Business Day Proclamation — a day dedicated to acknowledging the profound impact of the Asian and Asian-American community on S.C.'s economy, culture and society. The ceremony will honor the achievements of AAPI businesses and individuals who are driving economic growth.

There are many facts of life in Columbia and the Midlands.

Columbia serves as the seat of state government, is home to South Carolina’s flagship university and hosts the nation’s leading Army training installation in Fort Jackson. The Midlands, in general, has a steadily growing population, an accelerating business climate, and an abundance of natural resources, highlighted by Lake Murray and numerous scenic rivers and streams.

And, by God, we love some chicken tenders.

In the last several years, a number of established or burgeoning chicken tender chains have proliferated in the area, as I’m sure you’ve likely noted. Zaxby’s, of course, has long been a player in the area, but the last few years have seen the opening of other spots, including Slim Chickens, Dave’s Hot Chicken, Cash’s Chicken, Cocky Rooster and, most recently, Guthrie’s Chicken in Lexington.

Recently, as a service to our readers and to the detriment of my arteries, I set out to try a half-dozen of these palaces of poultry and report back on my findings. I’m calling it the 2025 Chicken Tender Tour.

First, before anyone hollers at me, some ground rules:

This tour didn’t include your places like Bernie’s or Zesto and others that are famed for their bone-in chicken. Or any of the sandwich-focused spots like Chick-fil-A. Rather, I focused on that very specific lane of places that, for the most part, are often known for offering some variation of chicken tenders, seasoned curly fries, Texas toast and an orange “special sauce.”

The establishments are presented below in the order in which I visited them. And yes, as part of this project, I ate chicken tenders and fries for lunch for six consecutive days. My blood is now 38% special sauce.

This is the new kid on the block, at least in the Midlands. On April 22, Guthrie’s, which was founded in Haleyville, Alabama, opened its first South Carolina location at 2404 Mineral Springs Road in Lexington, just off Sunset Boulevard in one of the busiest retail corridors in the region. While Guthrie’s may be new to the area, it is not new to the chicken finger game. In fact, the company claims in a release that, in 1982, it opened the “first-ever chicken finger-only restaurant.”

As you might imagine, Guthrie’s has been busy since it hit town. There’s nothing people love more than a new restaurant. The traffic flow around the place during my recent visit would have made a New York cabbie blush.

Lunch, however, was quite good. The menu at Guthrie’s is pretty stripped down. They’ve got chicken fingers, fries, toast, slaw and, of course, the requisite “signature sauce.” The chicken was plump, flavorful and perfectly breaded, and the sauce has a nice little zing. The star for me at Guthrie’s was the Texas toast, which was buttered and cut thicker than most other chicken tender places.

So there’s a great little scene in the fifth episode of the second season of FX’s acclaimed show “Atlanta” — the episode is titled “Barbershop” — in which Paper Boi and the eccentric barber known as Bibby are riding in a car together after a long day in which Bibby has dragged Paper Boi through a host of frustrating schemes and scenarios. As a mea culpa, Bibby tells Paper Boi he’s going to get him something to eat.

“Hey, you like Zaxby’s?” Bibby asks.

“Don’t be rude,” Paper Boi replies. “Of course I love Zaxby’s”

I’m on the same wavelength as Paper Boi on this one. Zaxby’s, long a presence with multiple locations in the Midlands and across South Carolina, is a reliable purveyor of flavorful fingers and the omnipresent Zax Sauce. For this roundup I visited the location at 2320 Augusta Road in West Columbia and got the four-piece chicken finger plate.

While Zaxby’s is known for its fingers and other items — they’ve recently started offering quesadillas, oddly — their fries have always been the highlight for me. It’s that special fry seasoning that does it. Even my wife, a notorious crinkled fry hater — don’t get her started on Rush’s new fries — likes Zaxby’s seasoned delights.

Here’s an Arkansas traveler that has emerged on the Midlands scene in the last three years, with locations on Garners Ferry Road, in Forest Acres and on Killian Road in northeast Columbia.

Founded in Arkansas in 2003, Slim Chickens has expanded to more than 200 restaurants across the U.S. through the years. While it certainly fits in the chicken tenders/fries/toast/sauce genre that we’re exploring here, Slim Chickens also branches out a bit more with its menu, offering everything from chicken & waffles to mac & cheese bowls to chocolate brownie pudding jars and more.

Staying with the assignment, I recently popped into the Slim Chickens at 2089 N. Beltline Blvd. and got the Classic Meal — four tenders, fries and toast. Slim’s diverges from some of the others in that it has straight-cut fries, rather than crinkled. It all made for a good meal, but what I perhaps liked best about it was that the signature orange Slim Sauce runs a little sweeter than some of the competitors. Also, calling it “Slim Sauce” is seemingly a bit of a misnomer, something I took into account when having chicken fingers and fries for lunch for the third consecutive day.

It’s hard to think of a restaurant franchise name more on the nose for Columbia, home of the University of South Carolina Gamecocks, than “Cocky Rooster.”

(No, seriously, one of the catchphrases on its website is “Time to get cocky!”)

The nascent chain, which was founded in Virginia, opened a location in March at 2019 Devine St. in the heart of Five Points. The Columbia location has tenders, sandwiches and wings, all of which can be dressed out in various sauces. It also has the phrase “Cluck around and find out” emblazoned across one of its walls. I took that as more of an invitation than a dare. I’m always ready to cluck around.

Upon my recent first visit to Cocky Rooster, I found that it is not exactly a 1:1 competitor with the other tenders/crinkle fries/toast/orange-hued special sauce places. They’re doing chicken and fries, certainly, but in a slightly different lane with a variety of dips and sauces and such. I got four tenders and fries, and got some honey mustard BBQ sauce and some garlic Parmesan sauce for the dipping.

There are a couple things I can say about the chicken during my Cocky Rooster stop. One, it was freshly cooked, and I do mean freshly. I think there was about five seconds between it coming out of the fryer and onto my tray. It was slightly hotter than the surface of the sun. And secondly, these were massive, absolutely hulking tenders. I ordered four, but could easily have just gotten two. I imagine this place will do well in the heart of Five Points, particularly with to-go business.

And then there’s the hot one.

Dave’s Hot Chicken has been making its mark in the last several years, expanding from a pop-up in East Los Angeles in 2017 to more than 250 stores across the nation as of 2025. Columbia got its first spicy taste in 2023, when Dave’s opened a location at 4601-A Devine St.

As the name suggests, the centerpiece of the menu at Dave’s is hot chicken, with tenders and sliders that are available in seven escalating heat levels, ranging from no spice on the low end to Carolina Reaper at the hottest. They make you sign a waiver when get the Carolina Reaper, to give you an idea of what you’re getting into there.

Maybe it’s because I’m soft, or maybe it’s because I don’t like signing waivers when I eat lunch, but upon a recent visit, I chose to just go with the second-hottest level of heat — extra hot — when I got my meal. I got the two tenders with crinkled fries, which comes with two pieces of white bread, pickles and Dave’s Sauce.

I’m going to keep it real with you, because that’s all I can do if you’ve stuck with me this far: This was probably my favorite stop on this chicken finger tour. I took the tenders and folded the white bread around them and made little sandwiches, which perfectly offset the extra hot spice level. To be clear, my sinuses were fully opened upon exiting the building, but still. The Dave’s Sauce also was a flavorful way to cut the heat a bit.

My last stop on the 2025 Chicken Tender Tour was at Cash’s Chicken at 145 Chapin Road in Chapin. This restaurant is a local spin on the chicken finger craze — the same group owns the J.R. Cash’s casual dining restaurants in the area — and the space is decorated in a red, white and blue, patriotic theme. Few things are as American as a tender combo and some special sauce.

Cash’s has some juicy, flavorful chicken, and the breading is not overly heavy. They have the requisite crinkled fries, and the special sauce has a zing and a nice consistency.

But the highlight of the show, for me, was the bread. Rather than Texas toast, the chicken tender meal at Cash’s comes with a honey butter croissant. Hot, fluffy, sticky and, frankly, delicious, it was a nice variant to the industry standard. It almost serves as a quasi-dessert, and I mean that in the best possible way.

This story was originally published May 8, 2025 at 5:00 AM.

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The State

Chris Trainor is a retail reporter for The State and has been working for newspapers in South Carolina for more than 20 years, including previous stops at the (Greenwood) Index-Journal and the (Columbia) Free Times. He is the winner of a host of South Carolina Press Association awards, including honors in column writing, government beat reporting, profile writing, food writing, business beat reporting, election coverage, social media and more.

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