The Late Edition · Edition No. 1 · May 14, 2026

342 Reasons Florence Should Be Proud

This morning, 342 people walked across a stage at FMU and became something they weren't yesterday.

The Stage. The Gown. The 342.

This morning, 342 people walked across a stage at Francis Marion University and became something they weren't yesterday. Some were the first in their families to graduate. Some had fought through semesters while working night shifts. Some were parents who thought the dream had passed them by — until it didn't.

89% of the graduating class were South Carolina residents — the highest in-state rate of any public university in the state. That means Florence trained them. Florence shaped them. And this morning, Florence let them go — into jobs, into graduate schools, into lives that will ripple back into this community in ways we'll never fully measure.

If you know someone who walked across that stage — call them. Text them. Tell them you're proud of them. They deserve to hear it.

"Florence gave us 342 more of its own — out in the world now, carrying the Pee Dee with them."

— FMU Spring Commencement, May 14, 2026

What Else Happened This Week

The Pulse of Florence

May 7

Florence Named Top 10 "Best Small City for Jobs" by Southern Business Magazine

The magazine highlighted our unemployment rate (below 3.5%), the growth of manufacturing and healthcare sectors, and the Pee Dee International Airport's new routes as factors driving the ranking. Nice to see national attention for the right reasons.

May 6

Downtown's "Art in the Park" Returns for the Season

The popular monthly art market kicked off its spring/summer run on the corner of West Palmetto and Cedar — 40+ local vendors, live music, and food trucks. Rain didn't stop the crowd; neither will summer heat. Next one: June 4.

May 5

Local Soccer Teams Bring Home Three State Championships

West Florence, Wilson Hall, and Robert E. Lee Academy all claimed titles in the past two weeks. Coaches say it's no accident — it's the result of a community that shows up, even on Tuesday evenings in the rain. Congratulations to players, coaches, and the families who drive them.

Worth Knowing

A Resource You Should Have

📞

SC211 — Your Free Lifeline

Dial 2-1-1 (or visit sc211.org) and you'll be connected to a real person who knows the resources in this community. Food. Housing. Utility assistance. Mental health support. Senior services. It's free, confidential, and available 24/7 in over 200 languages.

Save this number. Share it with someone who might need it. In a city like Florence, no one should have to navigate hard times alone.

The Late Edition publishes every other Friday. Free in your inbox. Right here on the site.

See you in two weeks. ✉️

Got a story tip, a resource to share, or something worth knowing? Reply to this email or get in touch. The best editions come from neighbors talking to neighbors.

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