Chris Farley’s old “Matt Foley” character might have been more inspirational than we thought. A full third of Americans say they wouldn’t actually mind “livin’ in a van down by the river.” 30,000 people were asked, “would you ever consider van life?” They defined it as “a lifestyle that involves living and traveling in a converted van.” 36% of Americans said yes, including 13% who actively do that. 52% said no, and 9% aren’t sure. Almost half under 30 like the idea. The same poll also found 44% of us wouldn’t mind living in a “tiny house” with less than 500 square feet of space ..read more

Have you ever gone on vacation only to come home, get back into your routine and then feel the sniffles come on? It’s more common than you might think and there’s reason we often come back feeling unwell. A family medicine physician says it’s due to all of the exposure you have while jet-setting. Planes, airports, buses and even ride share vehicles are all spaces that put travelers in close contact and most likely there’s multiple sick people you’ll come in contact with. Even things like how you spend your time matters. Things like concerts, sporting events and other activities are common pla ..read more

Do you think you can afford the true cost of the American Dream? Well, it might depend on where you live…according to GoBankingRates.com, it’s defined as a married couple with two children, owning a home for four along with a car and a pet. They analyzed all 50 states with criteria that included annual grocery costs, pet care costs, an annual mortgage with a 20% down payment, healthcare prices, utilities, education and child care. All of that math determined that Hawaii was the most costly and Mississippi was the most affordable. South Carolina fell on the cheaper side as well at number 8 ..read more

This month is Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month and the Myrtle Beach Pelicans are working to become more inclusive. The State Department of Disabilities and Special Needs donated 20 reusable sensory friendly bags to the Pelicans, along with three other minor league baseball teams in the state. The bag includes noise canceling headphones or earbuds, a communication board, and fidgets. It aims to directly assist with the five senses. Those who would like to receive a sensory bag can visit guest services behind home plate to pick it up free of charge. When you’re leaving, drop the bag back o ..read more

Georgetown County is set to host a Q&A event Thursday. During the “Navigating Disaster Assistance” event, attendees will be allowed to ask questions about topics such as flood insurance, grant opportunities as well as other resources. The event aims to help residents be better prepared for disaster situations and how to handle them properly. The meeting will be hosted at the Howard Auditorium from 5-7pm ..read more

The superintendent of Horry County Schools announced he is retiring. Dr. Rick Maxey has led Horry County Schools since 2015. He notified board members last week regarding his plans to retire. It was said he had not intended to announce his plans yet so he could enjoy the rest of his time quitely. However, a breach of confidentiality occurred which outed his retirement to the public. In his retirement letter, Maxey said after 35 years in public education, he is ready for his next chapter. He added this has been an incredible journey and he leaves with a sense of pride and confidence in the fut ..read more

Construction is set to soon begin on a new project in Myrtle Beach. Tuesday, the Myrtle Beach City Council approved $1 million in funding for the construction of an ocean outfall. The money will be used to remove existing beach pipes to construct the ocean outfall for stormwater drainage. It will be located at 24th Avenue North. The deal was an agreement between the city and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control ..read more

A popular dating app has added a new safety feature. Tinder has introduced the new “Share My Date” option. Users will now be able to send a link that includes details about the upcoming date, including the match’s name and photo, meeting location, date and time. There’s also an option to type a note at the bottom. Links can be sent 30 days before the day of the date. They can also be editable so users can update the details whenever they want. “Share My Date” links are viewable for every recipient, including those who don’t have the app. The new function is inspired by Tinder user data, which ..read more

The Transportation Department announced new rules for airlines Tuesday. The rules say travelers deserve cash refunds when inconvenienced by their airline, not vouchers or travel credits. The rule would formalize a requirement that passengers receive refunds if a domestic flight is delayed for over three hours. Refunds would also be issued if an international flight is delayed by over six hours. It also requires cash refunds if a flight is cancelled. The rules require the fees to be returned within seven days for a credit card and 20 days for other forms of payment. In addition, the new rules ..read more

The Tennessee state House passed a bill Tuesday. The legislation would allow some trained teachers and school staff to carry handguns in their classrooms without informing parents. The teachers would first need approval from their school’s principal, the head of the appropriate local law enforcement agency and the directors of the school’s designated school district. Those who would carry firearms would have to go through mental health and criminal background examinations. Teachers would also need to get training in school policing to retain the authorization. The bill passed 68-28 in the sta ..read more