Flock cameras in the Clover community: Security or intrusion?

CLOVER, S.C.-Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now a near-universal digital utility in businesses and everyday life. With the rapid growing usage of AI, more databases, housed in data centers, are needed. The government plans to invest around $500 billion in the Stargate project. This initiative is a part of the Trump Administration’s private deal to “revolutionize” infrastructure for the leading AI corporations such as: Oracle, OpenAI and SoftBank. QTS Data Centers are one of the largest and fastest growing hubs for large-scale AI, cloud computing and high-performance computing workloads. QTS currently has 14 new data centers in construction in addition to their near two dozen running locations. In 2023, QTS bought land in Lake Wylie and recently expanded that land to around 143 acres. The data center will cover this land, spanning across Handsmill Highway and Paraham Road. According to the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI), larger data centers can consume 5 million gallons of water daily, which is about equivalent to a town with a population of 30,000. To add, data centers must use fresh water, which is already scarce with only 3% of all water being fresh. For data centers to function without overwhelming their computers, they must use hefty amounts of water to cool their systems. Data centers in dryer locations pose a threat to the local water supply. However, QTS states their water will come from York County Water & Sewer, which is Lake Wylie/Catawba River water that is treated and filtered, then purchased from the City of Rock Hill. Unlike traditional data centers, QTS uses a closed loop system, which means water is recycled over and over through the system. This means that water is a one-time fill for the initial start of operations. After operations begin, the system “does not withdraw, consume, or discharge water” says Karen Cohen, the QTS Senior Public Relations Manager. QTS says after that they only use another 20,000 gallons a month for appliances like toilets and sinks. QTS data centers guarantee around 5 gigawatts of power to their privately signed customers. To put this into perspective, 4.8 gigawatts could power around 3.25 million homes struggling to pay electricity bills. QTS keeps the specific power needs of each data center confidential for security purposes. Global warming is not a “new” topic whatsoever, but what is new is the exponential rate at which it is happening. 2024 and 2025 have been recorded as the most dramatic and warmest years for climate change. 2024 was also one of the “big boom” years for generative AI. Since then, there have been thousands of data centers built, with plans for more. It can be predicted, and expected, that climate change will continue to be affected negatively. According to their website, QTS is trying their best to not contribute to carbon emissions and global warming. They work to become carbon neutral and minimize environmental impacts. QTS promised full transparency with Clover to maintain mutual trust, keeping our community up to date with the data center construction. Many believe QTS has not earned the trust of the Clover community due to suspicion that our County Council is not being forthcoming. York County Council Member Andy Litten has talked and posted about this topic on Facebook, for those looking for more information. On an economic scale, QTS should benefit Clover. Their website states a study “found that between 2017 and 2023 the industry’s total fiscal support to federal, state and local governments increased from $66.2 billion to $162.7 billion”. In spite of this, some are concerned about QTS paying a set fee in lieu of taxes. This means they will pay a set fee instead of normal property taxes for a contracted amount of time. However, Cohen says that the data center is “expected to boost regional growth and advancements”. QTS is also working to disrupt the community as little as possible. There are many projects in development in the Clover and Lake Wylie area, making many concerned about having yet another construction site. The base development is predicted to be complete in 2027. As development is speeding up, QTS says they will minimize impacts regarding dust, roads, cleaning, and traffic. QTS is only a small part of South Carolina’s electricity cooperatives plan to up the rate of data center projects, according to the SC Data Center Development Act. Every data center company operates differently with different regulations and precautions. Countless centers pump dangerous chemicals into the air and waste water, but some take the other side and work to be as environmentally friendly as possible. From the information shared, QTS positions itself as the second type of data center. With everything said, the future is uncertain, but the Clover community should go into this new era with an open mind. QTS seems to be working to set a new standard to oppose the current stigma and backlash on data centers.

A new bill has been passed and is awaiting Governor McMaster’s approval, and it could change how minors use social media and screen time overall. The South Carolina Social Media Regulation Act passed the General Assembly and was ratified by the State Senate. Aimed to protect minors and set restrictions on large tech companies, the goal would require those companies to provide tools to limit addictive features. If passed, this would allow parents to restrict their child's access to social media platforms mostly during the later hours, from 10 P.M. to 6 A.M. Another goal of the bill is to limit social media during school hours. This bill was passed by lawmakers to make companies give more power to parents. The goal is more parental control and to protect minors from harmful or explicit content when they are online. This also limits how much data social media companies can collect on minors and limits platforms that earn more than 25 Million dollars from doing so. This won’t be the lawmakers' only move as they plan to further push to make tighter protection for minors. The bill raised concerns for places such as small-owned businesses that rely on social media to promote products. An additional concern is reaching customers through social media. It would be addressed as only targeting for one demographic and would not damage any small businesses. Under the new proposed law, social media companies would be charged for handling minors' data, such as collecting and sharing. If improperly reported data comes the social company is charged. They would need to make reports from third-party auditors detailing features and the minors' activity. Failure to do so cost them. Governor McMaster will review the bill being passed once it hits his desk, and if signed, the new law will take effect. The bill passed both the House and Senate and was sent to the Governor on February 4, 2026, but it will take effect as soon as Governor McMaster signs it off.

SC Lawmakers are a step closer to dismantling the 113-year-old South Carolina High School League. The SCHSL is the governing body for high school athletics in SC. This move marks a long-running feud between the General Assembly and the league, which has overseen sports in the state since 1913. Under the House Bill 4163, State leaders cited multiple primary reasons from multiple legislative complaints. Student athletes public safety, Pointed out by legislators, failures to ensure EMS staffing at athletic contests showed a lack of accountability by SCHSL. This is one of the big reasons why legislators want to dissolve the league. Transferring: a changed transfer rule would allow student-athletes to be eligible to play immediately after transferring once during middle school and once during high school. The current league rule forces student-athletes to sit out a season unless they win a formal appeal. The changes won’t be huge, but they will be significant and include revamped rulings in South Carolina Sports. The S.C. House of Representatives voted 112-0 to pass the bill, but it was heavily revamped and allowed SCHSL to keep its name. This changes multiple rulings and is put under legislative oversight and a few other agencies. Clover High School's Athletic Director Bailey Jackson, when asked about issues with SCHSL, said, “I would be in favor of being more strict on the transferring, they're moving in another direction where it's less strict. The new rules will eliminate 16 different exceptions and one free transfer.” “As for them supposedly favoring charter schools, if they live outside the little attendant zone. They only have 500 to 600 kids as opposed to 2,800 like we do. They are put in a bigger classification to balance it. It's called competitive balance to make it more competitive.” “The EMS situation in my opinion is an isolated event, we have athletic trainers and like any other school we all have emergency action plans written down that goes through every specific thing that we could possibly encounter. Injuries and transport to the hospital is one of them.” With the bill potentially going into effect and significant pressure from SC lawmakers. As of March 2nd, Jerome Singleton, the SCHSL Commissioner since 2005, is now set to retire as late as July 1st, 2027 with approval of the league executive committee unanimously approving of his said retirement. As of early 2026 the bill has passed the state house. The bill still has to be passed by the state senate and signed by Governor Henry McMaster. Moving from SCHSL to a more state-controlled athletics, would be the most significant reorganization of South Carolina youth sports in 113 years.

FORT MILL, S.C. - Silfab Solar confirms the leakage of harmful chemicals in Fort Mill. On March 3, 300 gallons of potassium hydroxide were spilled, followed by a leak of hydrofluoric acid on March 5. While both incidents have no confirmed injuries or pose a threat of imminent harm, the temporary shutdown of Flint Hill Elementary has officials expressing frustrations, in some cases even calling for the shutdown of the facility. The York County, SC Facebook account posted, “We are incredibly disappointed that another issue at Silfab Solar has occurred; York County does not have regulatory authority but will continue to coordinate with those agencies who do.” Two subsequent leaks two days apart raise speculations about the competency of Silfab Solar. Potassium Hydroxide (KOH) exposure may cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), a serious and possibly life-threatening emergency that makes it hard to breathe. Mistakes like these may not have caused harm this time, but continued issues like this present danger to not just Fort Mill and Lake Wylie, but also the general area of Clover. If the leak had escaped into the air, it would have caused an evacuation radius of over a mile. Parents were outraged at the incident and took it to the school system. According to a WCNC article, one parent shared, “Today was not a hypothetical. Today actually happened, and your schools were caught completely flatfooted,” WCNC reported. Fort Mill Superintendent Grey Young assured that no chemical properties were found on campus. Testing was run by Citadel EHS, but this did little to reassure parents and homeowners in the area, some even going as far as pulling their children from the district completely. According to comments to the press by a Silfab official, the March 5 leak was confirmed to actually start Feb. 27. Silfab officials knew the leak started a week ago, but claimed it was not large enough that it required any notification to county or state regulatory or emergency officials. Plant Manager Greg Basden says they’ve “got nothing to hide, a drip of that magnitude far from qualifies for notification.” Silfab reached out to parents of students affected by the leak to apologize. Most parents agree the knowledge of the leak alone should have been reason enough to raise concerns from employees. Silfab has agreed to continue to halt all production and operations while U.S. EPA and SCDES assessments are conducted. Fort Mill School District administrators were still outraged and called for the immediate shutdown of the facility. Representative David Martin has been advocating for the facilities stoppage for years, claiming, “I don’t really trust what I’m being told from Silfab.” Martin has been to Columbia to advocate for a bill made directly in response to Silfab’s operation. House Bill 4293 allows local governments to have the authority to cease industrial projects that are violating zoning regulations. The Roaring Eagle will continue to rigorously look into and follow this situation.

YORK COUNTY, S.C.- Every February, communities across the nation recognize Black History Month, a time dedicated to honoring the history, culture, and achievements of Black Americans. In York County, that history is deeply rooted in the land, schools, churches, and historic sites that continue to tell powerful stories of resilience and contribution. Historic Brattonsville This important historical location is in McConnells, S.C. This living history site features a dedicated African American interpretation, which focuses on the history and experiences of enslaved people. The site also includes original slave quarters and the Enslaved Ancestral Burial Ground, where 481 people of African descent are buried. Throughout February, visitors can attend a special Saturday program titled “By Way of the Back Door: The Life and Times of Molly,” which explores African American life through the perspective of a woman who lived at Brattonsville from 1780 to 1865. Roosevelt School Black history is also closely tied to the Roosevelt School in Clover. During segregation, the school served as an all-Black K–12 school and was originally known as the first Clover Colored School. Although the building was destroyed during integration in the mid-1960s, its legacy remains strong. The school once served as the hub for Black education in Clover before segregation ended. Today, a historical marker stands at the former site, which now includes three baseball fields, a playground, a basketball court, and picnic tables. Green Pond United Methodist Church This church has been a very important part of Black history in the area, serving as one of the earliest and longest-lasting places of worship for African-American residents. At that time, Green Pond was widely the only church serving African-Americans in the Clover area and has remained an all-Black church, continuing to serve as a main gathering place for worship, fellowship, and mutual aid in the community. Stellie J. Jackson served as the pastor of Green Pond Church, giving spiritual leadership and guidance to the congregation. Under his leadership, the church continued its mission of strengthening faith while also supporting the social and educational growth of the community. For generations, the church has been a religious home. It has also served as a symbol of resilience, community unity, and the struggle for dignity and recognition. Green Pond Church Cemetery Another significant site is Green Pond Church Cemetery, the first cemetery for Black residents in Clover. The cemetery holds the remains of many formerly enslaved individuals. African Americans lived and worked in the Clover community before the Civil War, first as enslaved people and later as sharecroppers, farmers, laborers, and skilled workers who helped build the local economy. Even during the hardships of slavery and the Civil War, African Americans played an important role in shaping the region. Following the Emancipation Proclamation, formerly enslaved individuals in the Clover area began building independent lives. Many worked as sharecroppers or tenant farmers while striving to reunite families separated by slavery. During this time, African Americans established their own churches, schools, and neighborhoods, laying the foundation for strong Black communities that would continue for generations. Black History Month serves as a reminder not only of the struggles Black Americans have faced but also of their strength, perseverance, and lasting contributions. York County’s historic sites stand as meaningful landmarks for future generations.

COLUMBIA, S.C.- The Clover High School wrestling team became the SC 5A Wrestling State Champions for the first time in the school’s history. The Dirty Birds defeated James Island 34-31 after a long, hard season. Head Coach Michael Fitzgerald started this program 24 years ago. While the program has experienced ups and downs, including some individual state championships, this is the first team win. Fitzgerald credits the team’s success to getting the right people on the coaching staff and building from there. Fitzgerald shared his feelings about the win as well. “Winning the state championship, the first wrestling state championship in school history for wrestling, definitely was a big moment. It couldn’t have been done without my assistant coaches, our wrestlers, the parents of our wrestlers, the administration, and the support from the faculty and staff. So it’s a true team victory across the board”. In the press conference before the state championship, Fitzgerald spoke about the season. “We were intentional about scheduling tough matches in front of our wrestlers, learning through losses and stacking wins.” As a result, they won important matchups throughout the season to make it to the championship match. Fitzgerald shared, “We are ready to embrace the opportunity we have here on Wednesday.” According to Fitzgerald, there were multiple standouts on the team and all worked hard throughout the season. Winning against the likes of Boiling Springs and Blythewood, picking up wins in dual matches, and beating a few perennial power schools in North and South Carolina helped build the confidence needed to take the state title. Wrestler Owen Tatum believed their winning factor throughout the season was having a great coach like Fitzgerald and being willing to go the extra mile to get their win. Throughout the season, the team focused on their belief in each other, acknowledging that the only thing they could control was themselves, and worked to improve every day. That focus helped them understand each other’s abilities during practice and gave them the confidence to push through each match and work to make each other better than the day before. They put in the work all the way to the end of the season. Wrestler Keller Brunnelson spoke of the team mindset heading into the match, “Overall, we are pretty confident, everybody is just focused to go out there and really put their best foot forward, going out there and wrestling with the mindset that we’re gonna leave it all on the mat.” And leave it all on the mat they did, and they brought home the trophy to prove it.

YORK, S.C. - An invasive species known as the yellow-legged hornet has been confirmed in York County, raising concerns among state officials, beekeepers and environmental experts. The hornets, which are native to Southeast Asia, pose a serious threat to honeybee populations and local ecosystems. Officials with the Clemson University Department of Plant Industry confirmed a yellow-legged hornet nest in McConnells, located in York County, in early December 2025. The discovery marked the first confirmed detection of the invasive species in South Carolina. Yellow-legged hornets typically range in size from .07 of an inch ro an inch in length. The head is mostly black, with some front-facing yellow or orange and black eyes. The thorax is black or dark brown. It also has alternating bands of dark brown/black and yellow/orange on the abdomen. The most distinctive feature are the black-brown legs that become yellow on the ends. The yellow-legged hornet was first identified in the United States in November 2023, when it was discovered near Savannah, Georgia. Since then, the species has spread to other areas in the Southeast, prompting increased monitoring and response efforts from state and federal agencies. While the hornets are not considered highly dangerous to humans, officials say their presence poses a significant risk to honeybees. Yellow-legged hornets are known to prey on bees by hovering near beehives and attacking returning workers. Over time, repeated attacks can weaken or destroy entire colonies. Bees play a critical role in pollination, which is essential for the growth of many crops, gardens and native plants. A decline in bee populations can have widespread consequences, including reduced agricultural yields and disruptions to local ecosystems. “When bee populations decrease, the effects ripple throughout the environment,” officials said. Reduced pollination can impact farmers, home gardeners and natural plant life, potentially leading to long-term ecological and economic consequences. The discovery of the hornets in York County has prompted concern among local officials and agricultural track and contain the species. Clemson officials are encouraging residents to remain vigilant and report any suspected sightings, particularly near wooded areas or beehives. Experts advise residents not to approach hornet nests, as the insects can become aggressive if disturbed. Instead, sightings should be reported to local agricultural authorities or Clemson University’s Department of Plant Industry for proper identification and removal. Officials say early detection is critical in preventing the hornet from becoming established in South Carolina. Continued monitoring and public awareness will play a key role in limiting the spread of the invasive species and protecting the region’s bee populations. As efforts continue, state agencies emphasize the importance of cooperation between residents, beekeepers and environmental officials to address the growing threat posed by the yellow-legged hornet. To learn more about this species, including making traps and reporting sightings, visit https://blogs.clemson.edu/regulatory/december-2025-yellow-legged-hornet-update-movement-of-ylh-beyond-lowcountry-confirmed/

YORK COUNTY - York County Council approved an impact fee for Clover School District on Dec. 15, setting the amount at $8,000 for single-family homes.

The Impact Fee Ordinance is up for its third and final reading on Dec. 15, 2025, after passing its second reading unanimously on Nov. 17. However, it only applies to the Urban Service Boundary.