Dram Shop Injury Attorney in Spartanburg, SC

The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) is reporting six new cases of measles in the state since Tuesday, bringing the total number of cases in South Carolina related to the Upstate outbreak to 985.

There are currently 61 people in quarantine and two in isolation. The latest end of quarantine for these is March 20.

Based on the new cases, DPH has identified public exposures at Sugar Ridge Elementary (fewer than five individuals in quarantine). Additionally, individuals remain in quarantine from Libertas Academy (17 individuals in quarantine), Willow Creek Gathers Homeschool Co-op (17 individuals in quarantine) and Mabry Middle School (fewer than five individuals in quarantine).

DPH has identified a new public location where exposures to infectious measles have occurred. DPH has defined the time of potential exposure at the following location:

The risk of exposure in these locations is limited to the specific dates and times announced. Once that time frame has passed, the location is not an ongoing risk for measles exposure. Exposures occurred only when an infectious person was present during the defined time. These locations are not a source of ongoing exposure, and businesses and locations identified are not responsible for a person with measles having been present.

People who were exposed at Costco, especially those without immunity through vaccination or previous disease, should monitor for symptoms through March 15.

Vaccination continues to be the best way to prevent measles and stop this outbreak. Vaccines are available at many primary care provider offices and pharmacies, as well as DPH Health Departments.

DPH has received requests for Mobile Health Unit services to offer measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination and has scheduled an event provide MMR vaccines to the public at no cost on Tuesday, March 3 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Grace Community Church, 570 Magnolia Street, Spartanburg.

To stay up-to-date on the latest measles outbreak information, visit our dedicated webpage here. For additional data related to the outbreak, visit our Measles Dashboard.

Outbreak Data PointsAge breakdown of 985 cases:Under 5: 2585-17: 63318+: 85Unknown: 9

Vaccination status:919 unvaccinated, 19 partially vaccinated with one of the recommended two-dose MMR sequence, 26 vaccinated with the two-dose MMR sequence, and 21 unknown.

SPARTANBURG — In the wake of local officials pulling support for steep property tax cuts amid a public uproar, TigerDC has decided not to build a $3 billion data center in Spartanburg County.

“Project Spero remains appreciative of the time and engagement shown by County Council, staff, and community members during this review,” the company stated in a Feb. 27 press release. “Major infrastructure investments require alignment among stakeholders, and Project Spero recognizes that alignment ultimately has not been achieved.”

The announcement came two hours before a Feb. 27 county council vote against offering a property tax abatement to the company.

“We’re thrilled with this no vote by our County Council,” said Eric Allison, a retired Spartanburg native who started the No Data Centers in Spartanburg Facebook page to give a voice to folks concerned about Spero and other projects.

“That’s what we wanted all along, was for our elected representatives to hear the voices of the people that elected them and then vote accordingly to the residents’ wishes,” Allison said.

Councilmember Monier Abusaft, who voted to approve the deal on second reading, said he was personally comfortable with the data center and didn’t believe it would have any adverse effects.

But he said the community opposition and the state’s ongoing debate over data center regulations were the determining factors that caused County Council back off from the project. He said the statewide debate would give people a chance to get more information on data centers from trustworthy sources.

“Obviously, they’re safe because we’ve already approved some,” Abusaft said. “Nobody’s walking around here with two heads. The water’s going to be clean. But when people are distrustful, sometimes, local government just needs to say ‘Let’s stop and let them get as comfortable as we are.’ ”

Spartanburg County Council in November passed the first of three readings of an ordinance to give the company a fee-in-lieu-of-tax agreement that would lower its property tax rate from 10.5 percent down to 4 percent for the next 40 years.

On Jan. 8 and 9, members of the council’s economic development committee met with TigerDC CEO Jerry Tang and his project team, county spokesperson Scottie Kay Blackwell said. They also formally pledged to Spartanburg County Council that the project would comply with any state or federal data center regulations.

Council tabled a planned second reading over community concerns, but on Jan. 27, TigerDC announced in a news release that it was coming to Spartanburg. That announcement tried to ease worries about power and water usage.

As it announced its withdrawal, TigerDC said its team had “worked diligently and in good faith” to provide extensive documentation and public clarification regarding the facility’s design — stressing that Project Spero uses a closed-loop cooling system with negligible water impact and a self-contained power strategy they said was designed to avoid strain on the local residential grid.

Council Chair Manning Lynch said he met with Tang once for about 45 minutes as part of the vetting process.

At county leadership’s request, the developer also publicly launched the TigerDC brand and identified the company well in advance of final FILOT approval — an unusual move during a confidential economic development process.

“TigerDC has operated responsibly in Spartanburg County since 2022 and remains proud of our existing presence here,” the press release stated. “Project Spero represented a significant private investment that would have generated substantial long-term tax revenue while strengthening America’s leadership in AI and advanced computing. TigerDC will now focus our efforts on communities that are ready to move forward with this type of infrastructure.”

On Feb. 16, in the face of raucous opposition from the community, environmental advocates and local power player The Johnson Group, council passed second reading of the ordinance anyway, with Paul Abbott and Grant DeShields voting no.

A week later — as the Facebook groups swelled, the petition signatures increased and a website called stopprojectspero.com went live — the fractures deepened.

Lynch and Abusaft, who’d both voted yes on second reading, announced they would vote no on third reading, resulting in a hypothetical 4-3 vote against the FILOT. Without the deal, county officials said, the company wouldn’t set up shop.

On Feb. 26, councilmembers held a news conference flanked by state legislators where they announced their intention to vote against the FILOT and let the state take the lead in regulating data centers.

As it announced the project’s end, the company said it was “deeply grateful to the local business leaders, community partners, technical experts, and residents who engaged thoughtfully throughout this process.”

“Our commitment to building secure, responsible digital infrastructure that supports American innovation and national competitiveness remains unchanged,” TigerDC said.

SPARTANBURG, S.C. —

A large data center project is moving forward in Spartanburg County. The project, titled "Project Sperro," would create a data center facility proposing over $3 billion of investment and 50 new jobs.

Monday's meeting saw a line nearly out of the front doors at the Spartanburg County office building, and people piled into the hallway that couldn’t get into the county chambers. The meeting was frequently interrupted with shouting and boos from the audience.

A crowd poured into the hallway since the chambers reached capacity. A loud portion of the crowd voiced concern over the development.

"We're going to be the ones paying for it. How can you look at us after we've put you in office and be like 'screw y'all because we don't care.' We're the ones that pay the bills. All of these people in here, and no one cares? What is that?" said Spartanburg Resident Allison Herb during public comment.

Other public speakers voiced support for the development.

"It's a low-demand system. It's state-of-the-art. When people are asleep. When people are asleep. It uses power. It uses power. It doesn't use power when you need to cook, wash, and clean. And then that loads the power companies' pocket up with more money so they can lower your power bill. So you don't have to pay another $50," said another resident, Greg Hill.

The council voted 5 to 2 to move the proposal into third reading.

"I think that this is a bad business deal. I think we can get more than 4% if council chooses to pass it. This is an industry that makes millions and, for people making money, but we give a tax rate to residential. I just don't think that's the best business deal we can make," said Councilman Paul Abott.

"Information that I've received that these systems are like the radiator in your car; one - they're very efficient, they use a total amount less than a lowes or a Home Depot, and that ones the system fills up, like a radiator that works properly, you don't fill them up again," said Councilman Mo Abusaft.

Right now, South Carolina lawmakers are debating a proposed bill, S.867, that would change how the state regulates data center development.

Keep up with what's happening around our area by downloading the WYFF News 4 app on the App Store or Google Play.

SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - Spartanburg County Council approved the second reading of Project Spero in a 5-2 vote Tuesday night, advancing the proposed $3 billion artificial intelligence data center despite outpouring of public opposition.

The council meeting lasted nearly four hours as hundreds of residents packed council chambers to voice concerns about the high-performance AI data center planned for Tyger River Industrial Park along Highway 290.

Council members Grant DeShields of District 4 and Paul Abbott of District 3 voted against the project.

Energy concerns dominate hearing

The top concerns raised by residents included energy costs, health issues and environmental impacts from the proposed facility.

Council chambers can hold about 160 people, but the crowd was so large deputies asked some attendees to listen from the lobby. The line wrapped around to the front entrance.

Most residents who spoke opposed the project, particularly citing concerns about electricity costs and grid strain.

“They are raising rates now, so what happens when a huge data center comes in and they suck the power?” one resident said.

Another resident addressed council members directly.

“That’s going to be a strain on our water supply, our electricity, on our gas bill. And you’re going to pass that to us,” the resident said during the public hearing. “How can you look at us when we put you in office?”

Federal power request denied

Many residents in the surrounding area receive power from Lockhart Power and Duke Energy.

Data centers typically require large amounts of electricity. Lockhart Power, which receives some of its electricity from Duke Energy, asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for access to an additional 200 megawatts of power—enough to supply about 160,000 homes. The additional power would require about $40 million in system upgrades.

Federal regulators denied that request in December, saying the costs could end up being passed on to customers in the long run.

Support for Spero

A small group of residents spoke in support of the project, saying it could bring millions of dollars in investment to the county.

“It represents a massive private investment in our county and will generate millions of dollars in new tax revenue every year,” one supporter said. “That revenue can help support public safety [and other services].”

Split vote

Before council members voted, Councilman Mo Abusaft, who supported the project, addressed the audience.

“I know there are people on this council who have opposite positions. [But] they don’t talk about Project Spero the way you talked about it today,” Abusaft said. “I don’t know if you’re aiding your cause based on the way you’re engaging with people.”

Abbott, who voted against the project, spoke about potential energy price hikes.

“I’m not an electrician, and I don’t understand the grid,” Abbott said. “But I do understand when the power goes off. Based on the notice that was sent out, our grid may not be as strong as I thought it was.”

He was referring to a Duke Energy notice urging customers to reduce heat usage during the recent ice storm to avoid adding strain to the grid.

Other council members said they met with Duke Energy representatives, who told them costs would not be passed on to residents. Project officials say the facility would self-generate part of its energy needs.

Project Spero now heads to County Council for a third and final vote at a later date.

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State health officials are reporting 44 new cases of measles in the state since Tuesday, bringing the total number of cases in South Carolina related to the Upstate outbreak to 920.

The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) said there are currently 277 people in quarantine and eight in isolation. The latest end of quarantine for these is March 2.

As of Feb. 6, 840 of those infected are unvaccinated; 20 are partially vaccinated; 24 are fully vaccinated and the vaccination status of 36 is unknown.

Spartanburg County has the highest number of cases, which is currently at 879.

DPH has identified numerous locations where exposures to infectious measles may have occurred. DPH has defined the times of potential exposure at the following locations:

The risk of exposure in the locations is limited to the specific dates and times announced. Once that time frame has passed, the location is not an ongoing risk for measles exposure. Exposures occurred only when an infectious person was present during the defined time. These locations are not a source of ongoing exposure, and businesses and locations identified are not responsible for a person with measles having been present.

People who were exposed at Rick Erwin’s Level 10 Restaurant, Boost Mobile and the Social Security Administration, especially those without immunity through vaccination or previous disease, should monitor for symptoms through Feb. 19. Those exposed at Target should monitor for symptoms through Feb. 20.

Vaccination continues to be the best way to prevent measles and stop this outbreak. Vaccines are available at many primary care provider offices and pharmacies, as well as DPH Health Departments.

In January 2026, there was a strong increase in measles vaccinations across the state and in Spartanburg, where the outbreak is centered. Over 16,800 doses of measles vaccine were administered statewide, an increase of more than 7,000 doses compared to January 2025, a 72% increase. In Spartanburg County, there was a 162% increase in doses administered in January 2026 as compared to January 2025. Almost 1,200 doses of MMR were administered statewide to infants aged 6-11 months in January. These doses given earlier than the routine schedule that begins at 12 months are recommended for infants in an outbreak setting and are essential to protecting the most vulnerable children.

“January was the best month for measles vaccination we’ve experienced during this outbreak,” said Dr. Linda Bell, state epidemiologist and DPH’s Health Programs Branch director and incident commander for the measles outbreak.

In response to the ongoing measles outbreak in the Upstate, DPH will activate its Mobile Health Unit to offer measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination to the public at no cost on: