Simple Civics: Greenville County

Five years after Chromebooks came home during COVID, Greenville County Schools has a new rule on classroom technology and a new framework for AI. Catherine Schumacher talks with Dr. Susan Stevens, Associate Superintendent for Academics, about what changes at each grade level, how student voices sparked the shift, and where AI tools like MagicSchool fit.

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Every Greenville County voter will see two countywide penny tax questions on the November ballot, and residents of the cities of Greenville, Mauldin, Simpsonville and Travelers Rest will see a third. Katy Smith of Greater Good Greenville and producer Nathaniel DeSantis walk through what each referendum would fund, why there are both county and city referenda on the ballot, and how the same tax can be called both a penny and a 17% increase. The goal is not to sway your vote, but to give you clear, neutral facts before you head to the polls.

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Who's running for U.S. House of Representatives in South Carolina's District 4? Meet Jessica Ethridge, Courtney McClain, and William Timmons, the three candidates on the ballot in the November 3, 2026 general election. Hear where they stand on the issues facing voters, then share this episode with your neighbors before Election Day.

How the interviews worked:
All candidates received the same question at the time of their invitation to join us, and they were given 10 minutes for their interview. Candidates were allowed to bring along a companion, such as a campaign manager, family member, or...

Who's running for U.S. House of Representatives in South Carolina's District 3? Meet Sheri Biggs and Eunice Lehmacher, two of the candidates on the ballot in the November 3, 2026 general election. Hear where they stand on the issues facing voters, then share this episode with your neighbors before Election Day. Libertarian Brian Corriea was invited to participate but was unable to join us.

How the interviews worked:
All candidates received the same question at the time of their invitation to join us, and they were given 10 minutes for their interview. Candidates were allowed to...

Who's running for South Carolina House of Representatives in District 28? Meet Alan Buckalew and Chris Huff, the candidates on the ballot in the November 3, 2026 general election. Hear where they stand on the issues facing voters, then share this episode with your neighbors before Election Day.

How the interviews worked:
All candidates received the same question at the time of their invitation to join us, and they were given 10 minutes for their interview. Candidates were allowed to bring along a companion, such as a campaign manager, family member, or friend, and to record our...

Who's running for South Carolina House of Representatives in District 27? Meet John MacCarthy and David Vaughan, the candidates on the ballot in the November 3, 2026 general election. Hear where they stand on the issues facing voters, then share this episode with your neighbors before Election Day.

How the interviews worked:
All candidates received the same question at the time of their invitation to join us, and they were given 10 minutes for their interview. Candidates were allowed to bring along a companion, such as a campaign manager, family member, or friend, and to record our...

Who's running for South Carolina House of Representatives in District 24? Meet Caroline Avinger and Bruce Bannister, the candidates on the ballot in the November 3, 2026 general election. Hear where they stand on the issues facing voters, then share this episode with your neighbors before Election Day.

How the interviews worked:
All candidates received the same question at the time of their invitation to join us, and they were given 10 minutes for their interview. Candidates were allowed to bring along a companion, such as a campaign manager, family member, or friend, and to record our...

Who's running for South Carolina House of Representatives in District 22? Meet Josh Kendrick and Paul Wickensimer, the candidates on the ballot in the November 3, 2026 general election. Hear where they stand on the issues facing voters, then share this episode with your neighbors before Election Day.

How the interviews worked:
All candidates received the same question at the time of their invitation to join us, and they were given 10 minutes for their interview. Candidates were allowed to bring along a companion, such as a campaign manager, family member, or friend, and to record our...

Who's running for South Carolina House of Representatives in District 21? Meet Dexter Reaves, one of the candidates on the ballot in the November 3, 2026 general election. Hear where she stands on the issues facing voters, then share this episode with your neighbors before Election Day. Republican Dianne Mitchell was invited to participate but did not respond to our numerous requests.

How the interviews worked:
All candidates received the same question at the time of their invitation to join us, and they were given 10 minutes for their interview. Candidates were allowed to bring along a...

Who's running for Greenville County School Board in Area 26? Meet Amanda Brett and Stephanie Meek, the candidates on the ballot in the November 3, 2026 general election. Hear where they stand on the issues facing our schools, then share this episode with your neighbors before Election Day.

How the interviews worked:
All candidates received the same question at the time of their invitation to join us, and they were given 10 minutes for their interview. Candidates were allowed to bring along a companion, such as a campaign manager, family member, or friend, and to record our...

Who's running for South Carolina House of Representatives in District 18? Meet Virginia Maclure, one of the candidates on the ballot in the November 3, 2026 general election. Hear where she stands on the issues facing voters, then share this episode with your neighbors before Election Day. Republican Alan Morgan was invited to participate but did not respond to our numerous requests.

How the interviews worked:

All candidates received the same question at the time of their invitation to join us, and they were given 10 minutes for their interview. Candidates were allowed to bring along...

Who's running for South Carolina House of Representatives in District 17? Meet Mike Burns and Rich Nicoloff, the candidates on the ballot in the November 3, 2026 general election. Hear where they stand on the issues facing voters, then share this episode with your neighbors before Election Day.

How the interviews worked:

All candidates received the same question at the time of their invitation to join us, and they were given 10 minutes for their interview. Candidates were allowed to bring along a companion, such as a campaign manager, family member, or friend, and to record...

Who's running for Greenville County School Board in Area 22? Meet Leslie Fatum and Lynda Leventis-Wells, the candidates on the ballot in the November 3, 2026 general election. Hear where they stand on the issues facing our schools, then share this episode with your neighbors before Election Day.

How the interviews worked:
All candidates received the same question at the time of their invitation to join us, and they were given 10 minutes for their interview. Candidates were allowed to bring along a companion, such as a campaign manager, family member, or friend, and to record our...

Who's running for South Carolina House of Representatives in District 16? Meet Lynn Ramirez, one of the candidates on the ballot in the November 3, 2026 general election. Hear where she stands on the issues facing voters, then share this episode with your neighbors before Election Day. Republican Mark Willis was invited to participate but did not respond to our numerous requests.

How the interviews worked:

All candidates received the same question at the time of their invitation to join us, and they were given 10 minutes for their interview. Candidates were allowed to bring along...

Who's running for South Carolina House of Representatives in District 5? Meet Neal Collins and David Jones, the candidates on the ballot in the November 3, 2026 general election. Hear where they stand on the issues facing voters, then share this episode with your neighbors before Election Day.

How the interviews worked:

All candidates received the same question at the time of their invitation to join us, and they were given 10 minutes for their interview. Candidates were allowed to bring along a companion, such as a campaign manager, family member, or friend, and to record...

Who's running for Greenville County School Board in Area 20? Meet Robert Giles and Chuck Saylors, the candidates on the ballot in the November 3, 2026 general election. Hear where they stand on the issues facing our schools, then share this episode with your neighbors before Election Day.

How the interviews worked:
All candidates received the same question at the time of their invitation to join us, and they were given 10 minutes for their interview. Candidates were allowed to bring along a companion, such as a campaign manager, family member, or friend, and to record our...

Who's running for Greenville County Council in District 28? Meet Kyle Long and Thomas Sanders, the candidates on the ballot in the November 3, 2026 general election. Hear where they stand on the issues facing voters, then share this episode with your neighbors before Election Day.

How the interviews worked:
All candidates received the same question at the time of their invitation to join us, and they were given 10 minutes for their interview. Candidates were allowed to bring along a companion, such as a campaign manager, family member, or friend, and to record our session themselves...

Who's running for Greenville County Council in District 19? Meet Benton Blount and Cody Dean, the candidates on the ballot in the November 3, 2026 general election. Hear where they stand on the issues facing voters, then share this episode with your neighbors before Election Day.

How the interviews worked:
All candidates received the same question at the time of their invitation to join us, and they were given 10 minutes for their interview. Candidates were allowed to bring along a companion, such as a campaign manager, family member, or friend, and to record our session themselves...

Who's running for Greenville County School Board in Area 18? Meet Becky McLaughlin and Ann Marie Middleton, the candidates on the ballot in the November 3, 2026 general election. Hear where they stand on the issues facing our schools, then share this episode with your neighbors before Election Day.

How the interviews worked:
All candidates received the same question at the time of their invitation to join us, and they were given 10 minutes for their interview. Candidates were allowed to bring along a companion, such as a campaign manager, family member, or friend, and to record...

Greenville County needs 2,000 poll workers to run the November 2026 election. Dennis Stone of the county elections board explains what poll managers actually do, who can serve, and the simple steps to sign up at scvotes.gov.

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Simple Civics: Greenville County is produced...

Six Greenville County School Board seats are up this November, and with no primary and no runoff, the most votes wins. Catherine Schumacher and Derek Lewis map out which areas are voting, why these nonpartisan races matter to everyone, and where to find unedited candidate interviews, questionnaires, and forums before you head to the polls.

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Dolly Parton's treasured legacy lives on in Greenville County. In this tribute episode, we explore how her Imagination Library has mailed 95,000 free books to local children, share how any family with a child under five can enroll for free, and celebrate that the program will continue for generations.

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How does a fast-growing county protect its farms, parks, and historic places before they disappear? Carlton Owen of the Greenville County Historic and Natural Resources Trust explains how $7 million in local tax dollars leveraged $43 million in protected land, and how landowners and residents can get involved.

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Vincent Sheheen spent twenty years in the statehouse before coming home to be mayor of Camden. He joins Katy Smith to talk about the growth worries that unite South Carolinians across party lines, how a small city can welcome newcomers without sprawling, and why Camden is worth your next weekend.

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Greenville County has no shortage of services for parents. What it lacks is the connective tissue that helps families actually reach them. Derek Lewis talks with Dr. Tim Green of Openfields and Catherine Schumacher of Public Education Partners about the Parenting Landscape Assessment, why availability is not the same as access, and the "No Wrong Doors" initiative now taking shape.

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Vincent Sheheen, Mayor of Camden and former state Senator, House member, and gubernatorial candidate on why South Carolina elects a coroner, why the state owns nearly every road, and why counties had no council until the 1970s.

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Simple Civics: Greenville County is p...

Urban forester Mindy Mohrman joins Kelly Byers to walk through Greenville's Urban Forest Comprehensive Plan: what it covers, what the canopy data and tree inventory show, and why a healthy urban forest depends on private landowners as much as the city. Residents can weigh in at a virtual meeting on August 19th or through a short survey open until August 21st, both at greenvilletreeplan.com.

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The first day of kindergarten and the last first day of senior year are both bigger deals for parents than anyone admits. Two Greenville school counselors share what actually helps, from picture books and goodbye handshakes to handing your senior the car keys on their own college deadlines.

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Simple Civics: Greenville County is produced by Podcast Studio...

Simpsonville is one of the Upstate's fastest-growing cities - and its 125th anniversary is a reminder of the importance of celebrating and preserving the past while looking to what's next. Hear from Simpsonville's city administrator, Tee Coker, on downtown's $23M makeover, who pays for it, and what's at stake.

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Why do companies choose Greenville County? Site selection expert Susan Donkers reveals the hidden science behind corporate location decisions - and how everyday citizens help win (or lose) the deals that shape our community.

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Simple Civics: Greenville County is produced by Podcast Studio X.

Fluor Field is more than a ballpark. Greenville Drive president Jeff Brown shares how a family-owned mini Fenway sparked $300M in economic impact and transformed Greenville's West End through public-private partnership.

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Simple Civics: Greenville County is produced by Podcast Studio X.

South Carolina's 50 state parks largely pay their own way. Gwen Davenport of SC State Parks on the model, the $99 passport, beating the crowds, and the CCC legacy.

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Simple Civics: Greenville County is produced by Podcast Studio X.

How does an ambulance know where you'll need it before you call? Greenville County EMS leaders share how data, dispatch, and house calls save lives in SC.

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Simple Civics: Greenville County is produced by Podcast Studio X.

Discover how the Certified Tourism Ambassador program turns Greenville locals into hospitality experts. Learn to create unforgettable visitor experiences!

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Simple Civics: Greenville County is produced by Podcast Studio X.

How do everyday residents guide how our community grows and thrives? Joanna Reese shares her experience serving on a local board and how you can join a board or commission, too.

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Don't leave the election in overtime! Discover the Greenville County primary results, key voter turnout data, and essential rules for the June 23rd runoffs.

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Simple Civics: Greenville County is produced by Podcast Studio X.

It’s primary election day 2026! Voters have the responsibility of getting to the polls if they haven’t already, but there is a lot of work going on behind the scenes for election officials, candidates, and campaign volunteers. This episode gives you a behind-the-scenes look from pre-dawn to finalizing election results. On this episode we talk with John Michael Catalano, outreach and special projects coordinator with the South Carolina Elections Commission, and Derrick Lewis, who has concluded his second term as an elected member of the Greenville County School Board of Trustees. 

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The 2026 South Carolina primary is breaking early voting records. Get the latest on why your vote matters.

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Simple Civics: Greenville County is produced by Podcast Studio X.

Discover key takeaways on safety, tech, and literacy in our EdTalks Season 1 wrap-up, plus get a sneak peek at what's coming in Season 2!

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Simple Civics: Greenville County is produced by Podcast Studio X.

Meet the primary candidates for United States House of Representatives District 4 in the Republican primary on Tuesday, June 9: David Atchley, Robert E Lee, and William Timmons. Your vote is so important for the 2026 election! Please take a listen and share with your neighbors.

How the interviews worked:
All candidates received the same question at the time of their invitation to join us, and they were given 10 minutes for their interview. Candidates were allowed to bring along a companion, such as a campaign manager, family member, or friend, and to record our session themselves...