Send us your thoughts!

Double R talks with Ryan White, candidate for 12th Circuit Solicitor, about the work of the solicitor’s office and the challenges facing Florence and Marion counties. White discusses violent crime, case backlogs, specialized prosecution teams, the jail population, and the role of prevention programs and school partnerships.

00:00 Meet Ryan White
01:10 What does a solicitor do?
02:22 The weight of prosecuting violent crime
03:26 The solicitor’s role in community safety
06:26 Shooting cases and a proposed violent crime unit
07:37 Staffing, specialization, and prosecution
10:56 The murder case backlog
11:47 Jail population and moving cases faster
13:19 The proposed 18-month case goal
15:34 Growth and safety in Florence
17:56 What happens after an arrest?
18:43 Repeat offenses and a career criminal unit
20:10 What contributes to crime in the area?
21:00 Prevention, intervention, and mental health court
22:23 School outreach and “hand of one, hand of all”
24:31 Creating more options for young people
26:17 Election information and closing

Send us your thoughts!

In this episode of Double R, Robert and Reeves sit down with Donna Isgett, President and CEO of McLeod Health, and Will McLeod, CEO of McLeod Regional Medical Center, for a conversation about healthcare, leadership, economic development, and community responsibility.

Donna and Will share the story behind McLeod’s founding, the mission that has guided it for 120 years, and what it means to provide excellent healthcare close to home. They also discuss the difficult decisions made during COVID-19, McLeod’s continued growth, the challenge of recruiting healthcare professionals, and the system’s impact as one of the region’s largest employers.

Subscribe for more conversations about the growth, character, and future of our community.

00:00 McLeod Health’s impact on Florence
01:26 Why local healthcare matters
02:56 Caring for someone’s family
04:02 When emergency care becomes personal
05:33 Celebrating 120 years of McLeod Health
06:28 The tragedy that inspired McLeod’s founding
07:37 A mission that has never changed
08:52 Donna and Will’s paths to leadership
13:16 Leading McLeod through COVID-19
16:17 The hardest decisions of the pandemic
17:52 Community partnership and continuous improvement
19:52 McLeod’s next Florence expansion
21:18 Recruiting people who believe in the mission
22:32 More than $31 million in payroll every two weeks
23:39 Practicing world-class medicine in Florence
26:34 Developing Florence’s future healthcare workforce
29:34 Creating opportunities that change generations
31:03 Why Florence’s relationships matter

Send us your thoughts!

Florence is growing—but how does the city prepare for that growth without losing what makes the community special?

Florence Assistant City Manager Clint Moore joins Robert and Reeves to explain the planning behind the city’s development. They discuss Florence’s long-term comprehensive plan, major water and sewer investments, downtown revitalization, neighborhood improvements, infrastructure challenges, and the city’s goal of adding 1,000 residential units downtown.

Clint also explains why public projects can take years to complete, how new development can help improve existing infrastructure, and why community involvement matters as Florence plans for the next several decades.

00:00 Introduction
01:40 Meet Clint Moore
04:45 Beautifying Florence and the Cost of Improvements
09:16 Florence’s Long-Term Comprehensive Plan
11:36 Priorities for Florence’s Future
14:25 Managing Florence’s Accelerating Growth
18:12 Water, Sewer, and the $138 Million Investment
22:42 The Hoffmeyer Road Sewer Project
29:30 How Residents Can Help Move Florence Forward
32:18 Are We Building Too Many Houses?
37:56 Downtown Florence’s Next Chapter
40:30 The Goal of 1,000 Downtown Residences
43:20 Growing Without Losing Florence’s Identity
46:00 Revitalizing Florence’s Neighborhoods
47:35 Final Thoughts