is good news for folks at the gas pump. prices in columbia have dropped per gallon. and the deadline to register for the affordable care act is quickly approaching. the details on those stories coming up. today, people across the country are celebrating, marching and serving the community to honor the legacy of dr. martin luther king jr. good afternoon and thank you for joining us on this mlk day. i'm darci strickland. we started this afternoon with breaking news out of richland county. the columbia fire department is working to rescue someone from a trench. this is a live picture of the rescue is happening off of pine oak road and fernandina road. we're told this is about 14 feet wide by 6 feet deep. fire officials say that rescue efforts could require them to partially shut down parts of

we do have a team on the scene. we will bring you more information as soon as it becomes available. right here in columbia, hundreds gathered at the statehouse for the annual mlk at the dome rally. including three major democratic is into candidates. it started this morning as folks march from zion baptist church to the statehouse. we're live now with the details on what is happening. this is the 15th year. i'm sure it is a huge audience again this year. >> reporter: yes. a huge audience out here. you mentioned the presidential candidates. hillary clinton just wrapped up her speech just a minute before we got on. right now, bernie sanders is talking to the crowd here. there are supporters from both of those candidates out here. we have seen signs for both of those candidates. everyone is very pumped up about this day here at the state house.

confederate flag was taken down last summer. let's show you some video from the crowd at the zion baptist church where the march started. they were singing songs together. just like dr. martin luther king good and several others who fought for civil rights in the civil rights movement. a lot of these people were very happy to fight the cold. warm hearts has kept them warm on the walk to the statehouse. i want to bring in mr. leiby. you have been through this several times. tell me about your experience so far. >> my experience today has been very positive. mainly because it gives us an opportunity for the younger generation to see some of the work and the services from dr. king. not only dr. king, but by leaders in the state today.

importance of this date today. specifically after the confederate flag coming down last of summer. >> i think it is very important. mainly because it gives -- not only our younger people, but people of all ages, an opportunity to experience what we are experiencing today with the presidential candidates. many of us will not have the opportunity to meet them face-to-face. but today, we have the opportunity to hear them speak. at least at the democratic candidates for president of the united states. >> thank you for your time. and the big issue here today -- everyone is talking about educational equity. making sure all kids in every school have the same tools. they were also mentioning about the right to vote. for everyone to go out and vote this november. no matter who you vote for, make sure you vote. back to you. >> thank you very much. we appreciate that. we will continue to follow that on social media as we will get updates from the rally. folks in lee county spent

king's legacy over breakfast. the same for this year's event was "equality for all, fair play, goodwill and justice". >> along with a number of presenters, there was a performance by the high school choir. the city of columbia's 20th annual mlk celebration is also today. usc president will be the keynote speaker. the celebration will include performances from logan elementary school and keenan high school. the event is being held at martin luther king jr. park in the community center on green streets. it starts at 4:00 p.m. all city of columbia parking garages will be open to the public at no charge for the holiday. you can see eight garages here on the screen. in addition, street parking meters will not be enforced today. the sumter national forest will be free today for those who want to go and visit in honor of mlk day. the fees will be waived at all camp on the ranger district. the u.s. forest service says

people to get outside and explore new adventures. coach must chance -- m -- mus-champ -- has announced that tj brunson will play at south carolina. he said that he decided to commit to carolina. tj brunson originally committed to louisville but backed off the pledge a few days before christmas. tj brunson, a linebacker, played a big role in a playoff win. a lot of sunshine right now. all throughout the midlands. but it doesn't feel like it is warm at all. 45 degrees in saluda. lexington, 43. winnsboro, 39. but a wind chill -- feels like it is freezing right now. winnsboro and camden, 32. feels like 36 in sumter.

columbia, the wind is out of the west at 12 miles per hour. it is 44 degrees. it feels like 38. we will have a lot of sunshine today. warming up to 48 degrees. but it will feel a lot colder than that. tonight, very cold temperatures. 20 degrees. a windchill potential of 15 degrees. tomorrow, a lot of sunshine. wind out of the west, northwest. only a high of 42 degrees. take a look at the seven-day forecast in a few minutes. troopers say one person has died in a car crash. trying to get away from deputies. it happened around 5:00 this morning on harvey berry road in lexington county. troopers say the driver ran off of the left side of the road and hit a tree. we're told the driver was not wearing a seatbelt and died on the scene. the passenger was taken to the hospital. they are expected to be okay. deputies did not explain why they were chasing the car. the highway patrol is investigating. richland county deputies are searching for a person who

it happened at the video express on two notch road around 11:00 last night. when an employee could not open the safe, deputies say the suspect shot the victim and the lower body. we're told the employee was able to get a gun. that is when investigators say the suspect ran off. the victim is expected to be okay. if you have any information that can help, call crime stoppers. the search continues for a missing mother. of two young children. sumter police say there is no update on the disappearance of 27-year-old shardae davis. police say they responded to her home at ritz mobile home park after a neighbor called 911 following a disturbance. a 2-year-old and five -week-old were found by officers alone and unharmed. covert butler is wanted for questioning in connection with her disappearance. anyone with information about butler can be found, should

the deadline to register for the affordable care act is quickly approaching. and if you still have the rich on the rich on the library navigators will be out in the community all this week to help. starting today, they will be at the chapel family life center on cabin creek road in hopkins from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. the deadline for registration is january 31. if you are affected by the october flood, you are invited to share your story at a public hearing in richland county. the community and put and recovery project is a series of six meetings to gather feedback from neighbors. the first meeting is tomorrow at saint andrews park on bail the road from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. public input from the meetings will be used to compile a technical report that is specific to the county and will include strategies for mitigating or lessening the effects of future flooding. to see the full list of meeting times and locations, head to our website at wltx.com.

have fallen a little over 4cents per gallon. yesterday, prices averaged $1.67. experts say the continuing plunge in the price of crude oil has allowed gas prices across the country to continue to drop. head over to our website and you can find the cheapest gas in your area. that is wltx.com. you can help give back to those in your community by just checking your closet. the 15th year of the south carolina division -- announced the alpha sorority are hosting the cinderella project thanks to donations from folks like you across the midlands, they provide anything a girl might need for prom. without the hefty price tag. you can drop off items at our studio here on garners ferry road in columbia and at other locations in orangeburg. you can find that information posted on wltx.com. the countdown is on to

that will air right here on wltx. to get you excited, we're giving you a chance to be a winner. starting tomorrow, we will be placing 19 wltx signed footballs at several different public landmarks across 11 counties. then everyday at noon, we will post of those secret locations through pictures on our instagram, twitter and facebook accounts. be sure to follow us. if you find a golden football, bring that to the wltx studio to win $50 then register for the grand prize of $519. keep in mind, you can only win one time. please don't try to find all 19 footballs. and please don't go on private property. it will not be there either. the grand prize winner will be announced live on, friends at five, tuesday, january 26. still ahead today on news19 at noon, even though the

because it is cold outside.

as i said before the commercial break, don't let the sunshine fool you. don't look out the window and think you will throw on a light jacket and be fined. >> it is beautiful outside. absolutely beautiful. but looks can be deceiving. take a step outside -- and you think it is wonderful. it is wonderful. will we had was a cold front that was first in the upstate. over the last several hours, it has made its way down. now crossing over through the palmetto state. now offshore. behind that, a lot of dry air and clear air. we're enjoying the sunshine. but it doesn't feel like it is warm. it certainly doesn't feel like that now. forty-one in newberry. saint matthews, 44. camden, 39 degrees. that is not what it feels like. right now the wind is up to 15 miles per hour out of the west and northwest making the windchill -- actually feel like 36 in winnsboro. and 32 and camden. columbia feels like 38.

the sunshine is very deceiving. we will retires today ranging from the lower to middle -- even upper 40s. a lot of sunshine today. but it is going to be windy. as we celebrate and honor dr. martin luther king jr., 48 degrees. a lot of sunshine. the wind will continue out of the northwest at 15 miles per hour. it will feel a lot colder. tonight, very dangerous temperatures. the cold front has started to move off, a higher -- an area of high pressure with cold dry air from canada is making its way down. filtering into the palmetto state. tonight it will be brutally cold. 20 degrees. windchill potential of 15. the air temperature to the northern midlands, in the teens, 20s -- to the central and southern midlands. the windchill factor will feel even more brutal than that. use precautions. make sure that you are protecting yourself and your family. later tonight, let your water faucet drip. so the pipes don't freeze. keep your thermostat at least at

definitely bring in your pet. check on the elderly and neighbors that might need assistance. they may not have adequate heat. not only tonight, but for the next few nights. for tomorrow, a high of 42. a lot more chilly. a lot of sunshine. wednesday morning, 22 degrees with a windchill of 18. thursday, for the high with continued sunshine. and a cold front that will come through and warm us up a little with a chance of afternoon showers thursday. a better chance for showers. it will be windy on friday and saturday. this weekend, a lot of sunshine. lows in the 30s. highs into the middle to upper 50s. stay with us here at news19. we will be back right after the break. . today is martin luther king day. to honor him, we have a dish

fired from chick-fil-a is introducing a new item to the menu. the chain announced it is discontinuing coleslaw and will instead offer a tale solid -- kale salad. >> they say they are the first to offer this. if you are looking for something a little more party, we have you covered. howard will show us the recipe from the all in one southern dinner. >> with today being martin luther king day, i thought i would share a recipe inspired from the deep south where dr. king was born. plus, it is so easy you can throw it together for dinner tonight as a way to celebrate his many accomplishments. we begin by crumbling some cornbread and mixing it with melted butter. when it is mixed, we set a

pressed the rest of it into a baking dish forming a crust. and we bake that. while that is in the oven, we chunk up some southard -- some nerd -- southern fried chicken tenders. toss that with vegetables thought out along with a jar of chicken gravy. when everything is mixed, we pour this over the crest and top that with more of the cornbread crumbs before baking it more. everything southern from the crispy fried chicken, to the buttery cornbread topping. when this comes out of the oven, dig into a dish that is not only easy. i hope you will go online and get the recipe for our, all in one southern dinner. so the next time you want a whip in no time.

kitchen where today isolate dr. martin luther king jr. for all he has done.

share a st. louis father is making national headlines for his formal style of parenting. a 6-year-old boy asks his dad for $20 advance on has allowances so he could get a new toy. here is how dad responded. he sent his son a denial letter with the tagline, "because i apparently look like i'm made of money". >> that goes on to explain how insufficient funds and the history of not doing your chores may come back to bite you. he then signed the letter as dad, ceo of dad's savings and loan, st. louis, missouri. dad added, appeals can be made by calling mom.

friends at five, we are on your side tonight with a recall on some cashews sold at trader joe's. the company says they are recalling cashew pieces because they may be contaminated with salmonella. we have the details on how you can get your money back and what the company is saying about the contamination. that is when you join us today for, friends at five. i can just see that kid crying and saying, that he gave me a denial letter. >> his son must be pretty smart to read that letter. at six years old, you are still working on sight words. >> yes. smart kid. cool temperatures today.

news19 >> dylan: so, uh... were you and adam in a -- in a good place? >> chelsea: we are in a good place. we're in a great place, actually. >> dylan: except the fact that he's missing. >> chelsea: yeah, except for that. >> dylan: and that's why i have to ask the questions i don't want to ask. did you guys have an argument? was he upset? >> chelsea: we were both upset. about billy, not at each other. billy almost dying showed us

every second with each other.