of the weather and the problems that it's been causing for people across the area like this morning's storms knocking out pow oer. rachelle spence is standing by live in spartanburg county with the latest there. rachelle. >>reporter: yeah, gordon, diane, we have seen so much damage, all across spartanburg county, if you take a look at the building behind me, you see the caution tape, this roof was ripped off all three businesses and unfortunately, that's not all. over in boiling springs, a power line came down, blocking the road. one [ bleep ] says the weather was -- woman says the weather was so bad she couldn't see the pole after it fell so she ran into it, smashing her windshield. >> i feel that the good lord is watching over me. really and truly. i've already prayed how lucky i was that i'm still alive. >>reporter: now, she is doing okay, she gave me a great big hug and says she's so happy

back to her family, the same thing that these business owners said. he had to deal with the -- they had to deal with the roof being ripped off and a gas leak. there's this wire hanging down on main street, this is still a live wire. hours later, they're still waiting for duke energy crews to get out here, but that woman you saw with the smashed in windshield r these business owners sa all say it could have -- say it all could have been worse. live in spartanburg, rachelle spence, 7 news. >> rachelle, have you gotten a pulse on where the damage is the worst in the area? >>reporter: definitely in downtown spartanburg, we've got this damage on a building here, and just up the street, about two minutes, we had a tree come down on a home and we'll show you video of that coming up at 5:30. absolutely devastating, the home is smashed in.

pretty bad as well as boiling springs, diane. >> still pretty windy out. it is still windy here this afternoon, but check this out, the ferris wheel at the woodman park in full swing. the gondolas were being rocked, one had to be removed. it is a good thing it wasn't carrying any passengers. it one just windy in pensacola, florida last night. severe storms spawned tornadoes that left several people injured and brought down poles and flipped over cars. three people were killed in louisiana and mississippi. jerry, who sent is us this photo of the windy downpour in uma this morning, use the report it feature on the 7 news app to send it our way. it might end up here on the air. the rain is not the only problem for drivers today, that i have got potholes to contend with. the roads are falling apart and

-- craters that the cars have to dodge in and day out. addie hampton is standing by live in greenville county, a lot of drivers were standed this morning from blowing their tires. >>reporter: well, exactly, gordon. it's more than a flat tire, many drivers telling us they have hit this pothole before, it's causing problems and they want to see some fix on the roads. dark mornings plus rain, combined with krupabling roads, it's an equation with a disastrous outcome. >> i hit the pothole a half mile back. >>reporter: ryan camp joined a unhappy club of drivers with shredded tires thanks to a deep pothole on i-85. >> this is the second tire i've had blown out on the pothole in the last couple of weeks. >>reporter: this time it was too big to miss. >> hitting that same hole, it gets big sxer then they patch at

it is, and with the trucks, we have to stay over in that right-hand lane, so i mean, it's something that's ininevitable. >>reporter: this time, it took him out. >> just kind of shook up. when a steer tire blows on a big truck, it's not like your average tire wloeing on your car -- blowing on your car. >>reporter: we counted six affected drivers in a short amount of time. >> something has got to be done about the roads. this is unacceptable. >>reporter: it shined light on the issue, a d.o.t. crew was called in to patch it up. 90 minutes south of the state house in columbia. >> addressing our transportation needs here in south carolina. >>reporter: tom davis continued to filibuster into day four, blocking any action on any road funding plans. meaning ryan camp, richard kendrick and the rest of the

here again, for the senate settles on a solution. i spoke to the d.o.t. the this afternoon, they tell me that they did just patch the roads, they were trying to work to fix the pothole by the end of the work day today. when the rain gets in the cracks in the roads, mixed with the trucks going over it, that's where it caused the biggest problems, they didn't, however, have any comment about this particular filibuster or the stall in the senate. >> addie, we drive that section of road every single day, i know exactly where you're talking about at that pothole. you mentioned the weather, and i'm glad you did. how much of this did the d.o.t. blame on the really bad weather we've had in the past six months and how much is that funding issue that's been going on for years? >>reporter: well, you know, they're not saying too much, they say they deal with the funding that they get. which was pretty much the piece si version of when we asked them for a statement today. as for the weather, they say it was a weather issue today.

an already crumbling system. >> addie hampton live. stay safe out there by the side of the road. scientists hired by the auto industry say they've figured out what caused the takata air bags to inflate with too much force. the independent testing coal lags says design issues, moisture, high heat and ammonium nitrate are factors. blamed for ten deaths in 139 injuries. tonight, an upstate fire chief is on administrative leave, and an investigation is underway into his actions on the scene of a fire. brianna smith talked with the board and the fire chief, it's a story you'll only see on 7 news. >>reporter: diane, the incident in question happened the morning after the super bowl sunday in a fire at lockhart and the chief is of the kelly kelton fire district is under investigation, but the district's policies are as well. the sign outside the kelly kelton fire department, is

it's not the only thing missing from this volunteer department. that serves some of union county. >> currently, there's no alcohol use policy on the books for the district. >> currently, there's not. >> that was how much? >>reporter: last night, the new board members handled regular business and they went into executive session. to discuss what happened on this night earlier this month. on the monday after the super bowl, departments from across union county arrived to fight this fire in lockhart. this video was given to 7 news by one of the volunteer firefighters there. engine 601 with fire chief farr behind the wheel arrives to the scene. it's what he was doing hours earlier that has the board talking. >> were you drinking that sniet. >> no because the sheriff admitted to the deputies that you had drinks. >> the call was at 2:30 that night. >>reporter: other firefighters on scene called the sheriff's office, saying that the chief was acting intoxicated.

took him in for a breathalyzer test and it was inconclusive. there might have been another reason that his behavior may have suggested he was impaired. >> di have a stroke about three years ago, i'm on light duty, i can't fight fire, but i do not walk good. i wasn't supposed to live but i did and beat all odds but i do stumble and i can fall easy. >>reporter: since there's no policy on alcohol on record, the board is now investigating how they'll handle situations like this in the future. and what the future holds for their chief. >> we're continuing to investigate the incident, we're going to continue to investigate it at the next board meeting, looking to put new policies in place. >>reporter: so, last night when i talked to the board, they td me that they were under investigation, very aware of the situation, that him going into the sheriff's office, ten minutes after we posted this web story, the fire board actually called me and said that he is under investigation for an incident with his commanding supervisor, there on the scene. and and that's what he's actually on suspension for, or on administrative leave for.

been able to get a lot of details so that begs the question, how long does this type of investigation generally take? >> right, so there's not a normal time period, but they've decided they're going to be having him under investigation, until march 7th when their next board meeting is, they'll talk to the other fire chiefs on scene and other firefighters to get what really happened there. so we'll find out at their board meeting on march 7th. >> thanks. as the republican candidates prep for super tuesday, political analysts say donald trump should be thanking south carolina voters, we'll tell you why, next. >> a new statewide effort to better protect your personal information online. we'll tell you how at 5:30. >> isn't too far from the pothole addie was telling us

county. the world a president has to grapple with. sometimes you can't even imagine. that's the job. and she's the one who's proven she can get it done. ...securing a massive reduction in nuclear weapons... ...standing up against the abuse of women... ...protecting social security... ...expanding benefits for the national guard... ...and winning health care for 8 million children... the presidency is the toughest job in the world and she's the one who'll make a real difference for you. i'm hillary clinton and i approved this message. 7 news is live at 5 with the latest on campaign 2016 .. 7 news is live at five with the latest on cam page pain 2016. donald trump riding high after

to his victories in new hampshire and here in south carolina. >> the challengers say the race is heating up, each believing they're the ones that can stop him. >> mark has the latest from the campaign trail. >> so we had a very exciting evening last night. >>reporter: coming off a dominating win in nevada, donald trump on wednesday started speculating about his pick for vice president. >> i do want somebody that's political because i want to get lots of great legislation that we all want passed that's just sitting there, including proper healthcare and other things. >>reporter: trump received his first endorsement from a member of congress, who said in a statement he wants to shake up the washington status quo. marco rubio who came in second place, brushed off trump's victory. >> i think it's important to take a deep breath here, the republican nomination is decided by delegates, we're nowhere near the number. >>reporter: trump has won 81 delegates so far with rubio and

but super tuesday, is the big prize, with 595 delegates at stake. ted cruz is hoping to carry his home state of texas on tuesday, after his disappointed third place finish in nevada. today he locked down support from texas governor greg abbott. >> i'm asking my fellow texans to join me in supporting a true fighter for liberty. >> it's an incredible honor to be here with the governor of texas to be standing together saying we've fwot six days. six day s to lead in texas, to lead the country. so let's get to work. >> the next gop debate is set for thursday night, in houston. mark albert for cbs news, the white house. ted cruz is leading in his home state of texas, in the latest polls but trump is rung a very close second -- running a very close second and could end up winning as many delegates as cruz. >> trump should be thanking south carolina for continued success in nevada.

bin in new hampshire, now -- big win in new hampshire, now, people were looking to whether he would maintain the momentum in south carolina and despite the endorsements of three of the four may skror gop figures in south carolina -- major gop figures in south carolina, he's on a two game winning streak, it seeped that south carolina gave him the momentum to sustain -- that was sustained after his win in new hampshire and he'll take it beyond. >> that is doctor jonathan -- in fr limestone college, who says unless john kasich or ben carson dropped out of the race, it might be hard the for anyone to unseat trump. lindsey graham blasted the president's plan to close the prison at guantanamo bay, it would transfer most detainees to other countries and bring the rest to an undetermined location in the u.s.. >> this is a political exercise to check a block for a president

so here's what i want to do. i want to take this propose sxl have a hearing about it -- proposal and have a hearing about it because it's giberish and i want anybody who has a better idea to come forward. >> graham sits on the senate's -- the details of the president's plans. a big development coming to spartanburg county, the officials say they're almost ready to start hiring for the new manufacturing facility, built in moore. here's video from the ground breaking in january. information sessions for anybody interested in applying are next friday at the tiger river campus, at spartanburg community college. a new study says putting a new convention center in downtown greenville is not cost effective. city hired a consulting firm to add up the number, the lack of a large hotel and the skarsty of land -- scarcity of land, it would mean at best a price tag

instead, the firm advises city leaders look at getting larger land for a larger hotel to accommodate the convention activity. a rainy and very windy day across the area, of course, we had some severe weather to contend with. but the weather is trying to quiet down. the wind is up in asheville, still, and it looks like the windy conditions are going to stick around for us overnight. it would be less of a factor as far as the wind gusts go. so expect a good breeze in the morning. showers will be coming to an end, still tracking a few rain showers out there. and it's going to be colder than last night, too, we'll wake up to lows in the 30s and when you factor in the breeze, it will feel colder than the actual temperature, the weather is going to be quiet for us all the way into and through the weekend. afternoon highs will be in the 50s and 60s. the main system that we've been tracking, big area of low pressure, in the upper levels of the atmosphere, strong system overall. really helping the winds to increase during the day today. severe weather threat is now to

are in effect from virginia back into north carolina, and even the low country of south carolina. so we're looking at shower, but fo threat of severe weather here. into spartanburg county and into union county, spots of mainly light rain, patches of moderate showers, rain that is approaching downtown greenville in the next 10-15 minutes. not much to worry about except for the wet roadways, i-85 into anderson county, and a few more showers here in northeast georgia as well. all of that will come toen a end and in fact our skies will try to clear by tomorrow morning. really after midnight for the upstate. so we'll have a beautiful day tomorrow. but in the mountains, those strong northwest winds will create some snow showers in the higher elevations up towards the tennessee line. some of those may be on going into tomorrow afternoon. the upstate will look for cool temperatures, and overall, very sunny skies. into friday morning, we're going to get off to a freezing start with 20s in the mountains, 30s across the upstate. sunny and less wind getting into

we do have a winter weather advisory that is in effect until 7:00 friday morning for these counties shaded in purple in north carolina. really focussing in the higher elevations where 1-3 inches of snow is a possibility. keep in mind if you're travelg go to be black ice possibly some snow covered roads, too, on the way up towards tennessee. right now, 49 in asheville. we cooled down to 54 in spartanburg. the high today was 70. a quick cooldown on the way, 53 in anderson, the winds are still up, sustained out of the southwest at 20-25 miles per hour in some spots. and oveng we have wind -- we have wind warnings. the next 72 hour, quiet weather for thuday, friday, and saturday. highs are going to be in the mid 50s tomorrow, starts out in the mid to upper 30s, we're below freezing friday morning and less wind around. and the weekend is looking nice, westerly winds on sunday will mean a fas er warmup into the 60s for the high. quiet

shower on monday with another system rolling in, warming up more, too, getting highs back up to near 70 by tuesday. high mountain snow tomorrow, but quiet weather for the end of the week and weekend with highs in the 40s and 50s thanks, christy. home work guidelines, do you think two hours of home work a night for seniors is too much or too little? we'll tell you what the national pta recommends, next on 7 news live at five. >> take a look at the closing numbers from wall street today.

hillary clinton: i do not believe we live in a single-issue country. the economy is rigged in favor of the top. americans haven't had a raise in 15 years. but i want to go further. whether it's poison in the water... hardworking immigrant families living in fear... racism holding people back... wall street and big financial interests along with drug companies, insurance companies, big oil companies... the indifference, the negligence. that's what i want to take on. i'm running for president to root out all of these barriers... because i think america can only live up to its potential when we make sure that every american has a chance to live up to his or her potential.

and i approve this message. back. can you hear me? can you talk back? >> that's me reading out loud, how about that, world with read aloud today, so i went to eb

talk to great kids and read aloud to second graders this morning. this event happens every year, february 24th, really bright kids, world read allow day calls the importance of sharing stories. >> i love to see that video because you got into it. >> that'biit know that book, and it's a good book. so hey, little ant, thumbs up. >> sweet. >> four stars. >> thanks for the heads up. reading with your child is sometimes part of a home work assignment for kids, 10-20 minutes of home work per night in the first gad with an additional 10 percents per grade level after that. how much home work does your child bring home? head to wspa.com or the facebook page to weigh in and we'll share the results in 10 minutes. >> my kids have strong feelings about that poll. super dad to the rescue, check this out danny arnold's daughter was worried show she would be the only one dressed up.

dug the up his old superman contest and told his 3-year-old daughter that batman and superman are best friends so they can walk to school together. very nice. severe weather and high winds have left a lot of damage to clean up around our area, so we're going to take a look at

>> and do you think when you are president you'll be paid as much as if you were a man-male... this is one of the jobs where they have to pay you the same. but there are so many examples where that doesn't happen. i'm going to do everything i can to make sure every woman in every job gets paid the same... ...as the men who are doing that job. i'm hillary clinton

therna u hia". now, from the news station, this is 7 news live at five. >> tell you what, for 30 seconds, it was like a nightmare. >> it was just something you'd never want to imagine going through. never. >> tornadoes terrorized the southeast, the severe weather slammed into the gulf states last night. killing at least three people and levelling homes in the path.

so tonight, we're bringing you team coverage of the weather and its impact on our area. >> rachelle spence will be showing you the problems created by the storms. but we'll start with chief meteorologist christy henderson. >> are we in the clear? >> the threat of severe weather is over for us, it was a good thing that system moved through here during the cooler part of the day, but the winds have been up all day. a lot of calls of wind damage, thanks to the strong winds, and a high wind warning will be effect until 7:00 tonight. for all of the upstate, northeast georgia, and can parts of north carolina. and the wind advisory will take over after that point, and will last until midnight, current wind gusts over 30 miles per hour, in greenwood and laurens and greenville, over towards spartanburg as well. we expect a very breezy overnight as far as rain is concerned, awe few showers are still on the radar tonight. those showers are moving to the northeast. here's what you can expect as we go through the course of the evening, 46 by 9:00. decreasing clouds after midnight.

the day tomorrow with a breeze and temperatures in the 30s. not as windy tomorrow, but we're still going to look for breezy weather. >> the car is blowing all over the road, harrowing out there. >> bus driver, 18-wheeler drivers, rv drivers, they had a tough time, and then just the regular cars, you know, the lower profile vehicles that we talk about, had a hard time. >> hang on to the steering wheel. >> nice to hear it will be breezy tomorrow morning but not as windy. >> thank you. you know, oconee county, folks woke up to a tornado warning this morning. >> the high winds this morning frayed nerves but didn't do a whole lot of damage. spartanburg county saw plenty and rachelle spence continues the team coverage live from there tonight. >> diane, gordon, we have seen a lots of damage, all across spartanburg county, if you take a look behind me, you can see this building, you can see the yellow caution tape, the roof ripped off all three businesses here. and it's not like this roof was old or in need of repair, i