The design of the mixed use building planned for downtown Aiken has been approved. The Aiken Design Review Board voted 5-1 at a special-called meeting Thursday evening to approve the design of the building.

A defamation lawsuit involving a former city of Aiken official has been settled.Tim O'Briant's lawsuit against Don Moniak and his company, Eureka Research LLC, settled last week according Aiken County Court of Common Pleas records.

The Aiken Design Review Board is expected to consider the concept plan and design for a 36,000 square-foot mixed use building planned for downtown Thursday evening. The Design Review Board will met at 7 p.m. in the city council chamber of the Municipal Building to consider the plan and design according to an agenda published early Monday afternoon. 

The city of Aiken and its engineering firm are currently working to obtain the permits necessary to replace its 1950s-era water treatment plant. Late last year, the process of obtaining permission to construct the $65-70 million new plant began, Marie Corbin, a senior project engineer at Goodwyn Mills Cawood, told the Aiken City Council Monday evening. 

Four people received an environmental award unique to Aiken Monday evening. Eugene White and Jim Marra, members of the city's energy and environmental committee, presented four green horse awards to members of the Aiken community at the city council meeting. Kandace Cave, Bob Newburn, Richard Johnson and Allen Riddick received the green horses.

The Aiken Department of Public Safety and several tourism-related events are getting a helping hand from the city of Aiken.

The Aiken City Council voted 6-0 Monday evening to approve a resolution allocating $106,000 from Capital Sales Tax IV proceeds for replacement equipment at the Department of Public Safety. 

The city council voted unanimously March 25 to approve a recommended allocation of $484,853.83 of projected accommodations tax proceeds to several tourism-related events. 

A group of Aiken area Republicans got to meet three candidates running to the Republican nominee for Aiken County sheriff Tuesday afternoon. Stuart Prettel, Marty Sawyer and Ed Wilson participated in a candidate forum at the Aiken Republican Club meeting held at Newberry Hall. 

A real estate firm will soon begin seeking potential buyers for the Hotel Aiken and four other properties downtown. The Aiken City Council voted 6-0 Monday evening to approve an agreement with Colliers International to market the Hotel Aiken, the Holley House/Motor Court, the Taj Aiken building, the C.C. Johnson building and the Warneke Cleaners building to potential buyers. 

The effort to save several downtown Aiken buildings once slated for demolition could move forward Monday evening. The Aiken City Council is expected consider an agreement with Colliers International for the firm to market the Hotel Aiken, the Holley House/Motor Court, the Taj Aiken building, the C.C. Johnson building and the Warneke Cleaners building to potential buyers.

The judicial circuit that includes Aiken County now has a second judge. The South Carolina General Assembly voted by acclimation Wednesday to elect Martha Rivers Davisson to a newly created seat on the Second Judicial Circuit bench. 

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster wants the Aiken County Council to delay consideration of the House of Raeford ordinance so that the county and the company can work toward a "mutually agreeable solution." McMaster sent a letter to Aiken County Council Chairman Gary Bunker ahead of the council's meeting Tuesday evening in which it is to consider second reading of an ordinance approving a fee-in-lieu of tax agreement with the company. 

More development is on its way to Aiken's Northside. The Aiken City Council voted 6-0 Monday evening to approve the second and final reading of an ordinance annexing and zoning approximately 72 acres and approving a concept plan for the properties being annexed. 

The Aiken City Council could give its final approval Monday evening to a plan calling for a 250-home subdivision to be constructed between May Royal Drive and Crosland Park. On the agenda for the 7 p.m. city council meeting is the second and final reading of an ordinance annexing and zoning approximately 72 acres and approving a concept plan for the property. 

Aiken County native and Washington, D.C. developer Tracey Turner had big plans for the old Aiken County Hospital.  Those plans, however, aren't going to happen and now Turner's development company, Turner Development LLC, is suing Aiken County. 

The South Carolina House of Representatives got a look at an Aiken business before it voted 111-0 to approve a bill last week. S.C. Rep. Bill Taylor, R-eastern Aiken County, showed a photo of Radioactive Pinball Arcade before the House voted to approve the second reading of a bill making it legal for minors to play pinball in the Palmetto State.

There won't be a formal endorsement but U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham is supporting Kevin Bishop in the race for the Republican nomination in South Carolina's Third Congressional District. Graham addressed the race during a news conference held in the city council chambers of the Aiken Municipal Building Thursday morning. 

As it considers the design and concept plan of a 36,000 square feet mixed-use building planned for downtown, the Aiken Design Review Board has a new leader. Vice Chairwoman Faith Hawks became acting chair of the board Thursday.

The Aiken City Council has spent another $8 million of the $25 million it received from the state's settlement with the Department of Energy over plutonium stored at the Savannah River Site. The Aiken City Council voted 6-0 Monday evening to approve the second and final reading of an ordinance allocating money to eight projects: 

The Aiken Design Review Board got its first look at the design and concept plan for a 36,000 square feet mixed-use building planned for downtown Thursday evening. Architects Richard Fletcher and Cam Scott presented the design and concept plan at a worksession and public comment session held at 4:30 p.m. in the city council chambers of the Municipal Building. 

Could more national retailers come to Aiken? There are nine national retailers and one regional retailer interested in Aiken, a consultant told the Aiken City Council Monday evening. Matt Jaeger of Retail Strategies updated the city council on recruitment efforts during a worksession held before the city council meeting.

Aiken residents concerned that new development is going to cause the city run short of water may not have anything to worry about. Right now, the city has plenty of water for new development, Utilities Director Mike Przybylowicz told the Aiken City Council Monday evening. 

Aiken residents could get their first look at the design of a mixed-use building that could be built downtown Thursday afternoon. The Aiken Design Review Board will meet at 4:30 p.m. for a worksession to discuss the design of a mixed-use building that could be built at 133 and 141 Newberry St. NW. 

The Aiken City Council will once again consider a plan to construct a subdivision between May Royal Drive and Crosland Park Monday evening. On the agenda for the council's 7 p.m. meeting is the first reading of an ordinance annexing, zoning and approving a concept plan for a subdivision to be called Royal Oaks. 

It will take a little more time for the Aiken City Council to decide if it wants to give a water and sewer discount to a company looking to invest $185 million and create 900 new jobs in the county. The Aiken City Council won't consider second and final reading of an ordinance giving House of Raeford a discount Monday, City Manager Stuart Bedenbaugh said Thursday afternoon. 

Aiken County residents could have the opportunity to vote in four primary elections June 11. The four races in which a party's nomination will be contested are House District 81, Aiken County sheriff, Senate District 40 and the Second Congressional District. 

The coming of spring has brought personnel changes to the city of Aiken. Danielle Fox has been hired to serve as the city's capital projects manager and Sabina Craig has been promoted, City Manager Stuart Bedenbaugh announced March 11.

The traffic pattern on Aiken's South Boundary Avenue near its intersection with Whiskey Road has returned to normal. South Boundary Avenue has two westbound lanes near Whiskey Road. The right lane is once again used by people turning north toward downtown Aiken and by people continuing west on South Boundary Avenue and the left lane is used by people turning south toward the city's Southside.

Filing opened Saturday for the partisan offices to be elected Nov. 5 and already two Aiken County seats will be contested. 

A downtown Aiken street that was closed March 7 has reopened but now has a new traffic pattern. The South Carolina Department of Transportation reopened South Boundary Avenue between Whiskey Road and York Street Saturday. 

The Aiken City Council is on its way to spending another $8 million of the funds it received from the state's settlement with the Department of Energy over plutonium stored at the Savannah River Site. 

Three downtown Aiken businesses will get to stay where they are for the next four years. The Aiken City Council voted 6-1 Monday evening to approve the second and final reading of ordinances approving lease extensions for Flawless Glow Cosmetic Studio, a Vampire Penguin franchise and Ginger Bee Boutique. 

Aiken's Eastside continues to grow. The Aiken City Council voted unanimously Monday evening to approve the second and final reading of an ordinance allowing a Clayton Homes display lot to be built at 1740 Richland Ave. E. 

Aiken's Prime Steakhouse is located in one of the oldest buildings in the city's downtown and it was also the scene of a meeting that would ultimately lead to the demise of the $75 million economic development effort known as Project Pascalis. Here's what the Aiken Standard has learned about the meeting.

Another apartment complex could be built near USC Aiken. The Aiken Planning Commission voted 6-0 Tuesday evening to recommend the Aiken City Council approve a rezoning request allowing an apartment complex to be built at the intersection of Gregg Highway and Lokey Drive. 

Aiken is one step closer to building a mixed-use building that could house a Savannah River National Laboratory workforce development center. The Aiken City Council voted unanimously Monday evening to approve a resolution authorizing the purchase of properties where the building would be constructed. 

Aiken will receive $3 million from the federal funding bill President Joe Biden signed into law last Saturday. The bill allocates $3 million to the city for Croft Mill sewer basin improvements, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., announced. 

Five Aiken properties that were once destined for demolition are closer to being saved. 

Aiken County could soon get a poultry plant. The economic development project previously known as "Project Sunny" is House of Raeford, Aiken City Manager Stuart Bedenbaugh told the Aiken City Council Monday evening.

An Aiken street that was closed last week could reopen Wednesday. South Boundary Street between Whiskey Road and York Street could reopen late Wednesday afternoon, S.C. Sen. Tom Young Jr. said Tuesday morning.

The South Carolina Public Service Commission could soon hear two requests that would allow a company to build a data center in Aiken County. The Public Service Commission is expected to meet at 10 a.m. May 14 to hear upgrade requests that would allow Aiken Electric Cooperative to supply power to a data center. 

Improvements to Aiken's Hitchcock Parkway are finally nearing completion. 

The owners of three downtown Aiken businesses likely won't get the opportunity to purchase the building in which they lease space but they could get to stay where they are for four more years. On the agenda for the 7 p.m. city council meeting are the second reading of ordinances approving leases for Flawless Glow Cosmetic Studio, a Vampire Penguin franchise and Ginger Bee Boutique, City Manager Stuart Bedenbaugh said Thursday afternoon. 

It's more likely than not that the person Donald Trump picks to be his running has a connection to Aiken County or has made a visit recently. 

A reality TV star won't get to make changes to the gate outside his home on Aiken's Whiskey Road. The Aiken Design Review Board voted unanimously Tuesday evening to reject Thomas Ravenel's application to make changes to the gate of The Balcony.