High-speed chase attorney in Greenville, SC

GREENVILLE, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - Tropical Depression 9 has strengthened into Tropical Storm Isaias as it gradually moves east-northeast through the southern Gulf. It’s expected to continue to strengthen into a hurricane by early Thursday morning and stay a hurricane as it approaches the Gulf Coast Friday night.

Warm water temperatures in the Gulf help to fuel the storm and while there is some wind shear in the area, it doesn’t look like it’ll have a big impact on weakening the system.

Meandering in the Gulf as it Strengthens

TD 9 is currently slowly meandering in the Gulf, moving slowly east before turning north late Thursday and heading toward the Gulf Coast. It begins to speed up Friday nearing the US Friday night into Saturday morning. The current forecast has a landfall anywhere from the Western Panhandle of Florida to the coast of Mississippi.

Tropical Rains for the Carolinas and Southeast

Heavy rain is expected to impact parts of the Southern U.S., with the earliest impacts arriving Friday along the Gulf Coast and spreading north through the weekend. The Carolinas are on the east side of the system, staying outside the area of some of the heaviest rain. However, we are still in line to get some beneficial rain over the weekend.

What to Expect in the Western Carolinas:

Stay Informed

Shifts in the track could also shift timing and rainfall totals so stay up to date with the latest updates as things evolve. There will be changes to the forecast in the coming days and you need to stay up to date.

First Alert Weather will continue to track this system and provide updates as new information becomes available.

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GREENVILLE — Plans to open South Carolina’s first Ikea in Greenville have hit a snag.

Developers want to open what public documents identify as a small-scale Ikea on Woodruff Road, one of the busiest, most congested roads in the county.

Because of that, the city of Greenville wants developers to redesign the entrance to the Magnolia Park shopping center, accommodating new traffic patterns.

But that requirement means construction will take longer — and it could mean Ikea pulls out altogether, Magnolia Park said.

Magnolia Park and city staff outlined the dispute in nearly 700 pages of documents filed in advance of an Oct. 8 Board of Zoning Appeals meeting. The seven-member board will decide what comes next.

The proposed store would occupy a 59,000-square-foot space previously occupied by Urban Air Adventure Park at 1025 Woodruff Road, according to information filed by Magnolia Park.

That’s much smaller than typical Ikea stores. The Charlotte Ikea store, for example, is 356,000 square feet.

In recent years, Ikea has begun opening small-format stores in high-traffic shopping centers and cities. In the 2026 fiscal year, it opened nine small-format stores, the company said in August.

In response to a request for comment, Ikea wrote, “We are always looking at new opportunities for expansion and growth. As we continue to transform our business, we are considering new ways to meet our customers' needs across the U.S. However, Ikea has not announced any plans for a new location in the Greenville area.”

The proposed location is on a busy stretch of Woodruff Road near Costco, Bass Pro Shops and the Regal Hollywood movie theater, as well as the intersection of Interstate 85 and 385.

Much of the dispute between Magnolia Park and the city is from different interpretations of city code. But at the core is a familiar problem: traffic.

In October 2025, Magnolia Park applied for a permit to remodel the former trampoline park for a new tenant, identified as Ikea Greenville.

The city determined the project would require changes to the entrance, costing roughly $1.5 million.

Magnolia Park disputes that requirement: It says that construction of an Ikea would actually decrease traffic compared to the previous tenant.

Nevertheless, in what Magnolia Park describes as “an effort to work amicably with the City,” it agreed to make changes.

Between April and July, Magnolia Park, the city and the S.C. Department of Transportation — which owns Woodruff Road — began negotiating a fix.

In July, they settled on a solution: Magnolia Park would widen its driveway to create a separate left-turn lane, one through lane and another separate right-turn lane, all exiting onto Woodruff Road.

While Magnolia Park has agreed to do the work, it says construction would take too long — potentially 12 to 15 months.

That could endanger the entire project, because the lease deal would allow Ikea to back out if a permit for construction weren’t obtained by September 2026, according to Magnolia Park’s appeal.

Magnolia Park is asking for a permit to open Ikea before doing the construction work. It offered to post a $1.5 million bond to guarantee the work is completed, as long as they could open first.

In its response, staff said city code doesn’t allow for that. Staff told Magnolia Park it must submit updated plans before the process can move forward, and so far, they say Magnolia Park hasn’t submitted those plans.

City staff dismissed the appeal on both procedural and substantive grounds, arguing Magnolia Park has not yet followed the proper permitting process to begin work. Its proposed alternatives aren’t allowed, the city says.

Tracking Isaias: Heavy rain, gusty winds, and severe weather possible in the Upstate

GREENVILLE, S.C. —

Heavy rain, strong winds, and storms expected this weekend from Isaias

Tropical Storm Isaias forms, with the latest track showing landfall from southeast Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle, as a Category 2 hurricane by Friday.

Latest track:

Some uncertainty

There is still significant uncertainty surrounding the eventual strength of the system. Higher-resolution models range from a tropical storm up to a Category 1 hurricane, some with stronger solutions. An area of strong wind shear near the northern Gulf Coast could weaken the storm as it approaches land. Even with some weakening before landfall, damaging winds could still be possible across portions of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle.

Spaghetti Models:

Heavy rain may become an equally important concern. Current guidance suggests 6 to 10 inches of rain could fall near portions of the Gulf Coast, with a broader 2 to 4 inches possible farther inland along the eventual track. The exact corridor of strongest winds and heaviest rainfall will depend heavily on where a well-defined center forms and how quickly the system organizes.

Carolina concerns

In the Carolinas, rain chances increase Saturday night and continue into Sunday with 2-4” possible. Winds will begin to increase during the day on Saturday and continue through Monday. Gusts have the potential to reach 35+ mph.

WYFF 4

The next 24 hours will be especially important. Once a defined circulation develops, forecast models should get a much better handle on both the track and intensity. For now, residents from southeast Louisiana through the Florida Panhandle should continue checking the forecast closely as confidence increases.

Spaghetti Models:

WYFF News 4

Latest track:

WYFF News 4

Latest Stats:

Several new restaurants are making their debut across the Upstate this fall, offering everything from all-day breakfast and elevated comfort food to smash burgers and Chicago-style favorites.

As Greenville and Spartanburg continue to see growth, a wave of new dining concepts is giving locals even more options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Metro Diner recently opened its first Greenville location on Woodruff Road, bringing its famous fried chicken & waffles and Guy Fieri-approved Iron City meatloaf to the area.

In Spartanburg, Sheriff Burger is drawing attention with its Colombian-infused smash burgers, fries and shakes. Also in Spartanburg, Dagwood Social will debut soon, serving elevated American cuisine.

Meanwhile, Wolfie's Drive Thru is preparing to open in Greenville, serving Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian beef sandwiches, smash burgers, and thick shakes. Whether you're craving comfort food or looking for the area's next hot dining destination, these newcomers are worth a visit.

Metro Diner's Iron City meatloaf featured on Food Network

Metro Diner recently opened its first Greenville location at 1178 Woodruff Road in the Woodruff Gallery shopping center.

The family-friendly restaurant serves breakfast all day, along with lunch and dinner favorites, including omelets and pancakes, burgers, sandwiches, and barbecue ribs.

The diner is currently open daily from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., with plans to expand to dinner service.

A standout menu item is the restaurant's popular Fried Chicken & Waffle, featuring crispy chicken atop a Belgian waffle with strawberry butter and a sweet-and-spicy sauce. Another favorite is the Iron City Meatloaf, which was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.

Dagwood Social to open in former Ciclops building

The former Ciclops Cyderi and Brewery building across from Barnet Park will be home to the new Dagwood Social at 197 E. St. John Street in Spartanburg.

The restaurant is classified as elevated American cuisine offering sandwiches, shareable plates, and comfort food.

The restaurant combines a casual atmosphere with a menu designed for groups, making it a new option for lunch, dinner, and drinks in the city center.

Signature items include stacked sandwiches and chef-driven takes on familiar American favorites. An official opening date has not been announced.

The Sheriff Burger has a signature Colombian burger

The Sheriff Burger has opened in Spartanburg at 1703 John B. White Boulevard, bringing Colombian-inspired burgers and Latin flavors to the city's growing dining scene.

The restaurant is known for creative toppings and house-made sauces, including its signature Colombian Burger, which features mozzarella cheese, bacon, caramelized onions, pineapple sauce, potato sticks, and a quail egg.

Other menu items incorporate ingredients such as sweet plantains, guacamole, and shredded beef, offering a twist on the traditional burger experience. The burger chain is a familiar staple in the Upstate with locations in Greenville and Simpsonville.

Wolfie's Drive-Thru serves a Chicago-style hot dog

Wolfie's Drive-Thru is set to open at 2112 Wade Hampton Blvd in Greenville on Oct. 9, introducing Chicago-style street food to the Upstate.

The menu features Chicago dogs, Italian beef sandwiches, smash burgers, fries and thick shakes, bringing flavors more commonly associated with the Windy City.

Among the most anticipated items are the authentic Chicago-style hot dog and the Italian beef sandwich, both staples of Chicago's food scene.

Food, Dining and Entertainment Reporter Taniqua Pennix can be reached at TPennix@USATodayCo.com

GREENVILLE, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - Traffic issues have disrupted the potential plans to bring an IKEA to Magnolia Park in Greenville.

According to a report sent to the City of Greenville Board of Zoning Appeals, WD Partners submitted an application to remodel a 58,907 square foot retail space owned by Magnolia Park Greenville, LLC. on Woodruff Road. Proposed plans were submitted on Oct. 31, 2025, that described it as Ikea Greenville.

City officials, the South Carolina Department of Transportation and Magnolia Park have had discussions, beginning in April 2026, regarding the traffic impacts that would come from an IKEA store in that location.

A traffic study recommended the Magnolia Park approach be widened for a dedicated through lane resulting in a separate left-turn lane, one through lane and separate right-turn lane.

Magnolia Park’s attorneys told the city’s Director of Engineering the shopping center would be willing to post a $1.5 million performance bond for traffic mitigation work if work on the renovation could begin. The director replied that further discussion would be needed to see if that would be a possible option. A city attorney later said the city code does not provide the option for the bond under current circumstances.

According to the report sent to the Board of Zoning Appeals, Magnolia Park did not submit a permit revision, a site plan application, or any plans clearly showing the traffic mitigation improvements.

Magnolia Park attorneys, on Aug. 18, asked the city to issue the commercial alteration permit immediately, before the exit lane expansion. The city attorney replied that the city is not able to make a determination on applications or plans that have not been submitted.

Magnolia Park filed an appeal on Aug. 27, arguing that the construction on the exit lane expansion could not be completed until late 2027.

FOX Carolina has reached out to Magnolia Park for a statement.

A Board of Appeals meeting on Oct. 8 is scheduled to discuss the matter, according to its agenda. The board’s staff recommends the appeal be denied.

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