RIGHT NOW ON WJCL 22 MORNING NEWS . C..RISIS AVERTED. THE 5-G ROLLOUT *NO LONGER HAPPENING TOD. AY THE AGREEMENT ... OFFICIALS REACD HE OVERNIGHT ... TO KEEP PEOPLE AROUND THE GLOBE - *SAFE. SE NATE DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO FIGHT THE FIGHT.... PLUS ... VOTING RIGHTS SHOWDOWN. THE NEXT STEPS ... AFTER LAWMAKERS DEBATE NEW VOTING LAWS ... WITH - *GEORGIA ... THEAT CENTER OF THE FIGHT. PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN ... IS NEARLY *ONE *YEAR *IN. THE COMMANDER-IN- CHIEF ... TAKING A LOOK BACK AT HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS ... AND CHALLENGES ... AND ... WT HA HE PNSLA TO DO NEXT. FREE COVID TESTS AND N5 -9 MASKS - I'M AIXA DIAZ IN WASHINGTON WITH THE O TW GIVEAWAYS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. HERE'S A LIVLOOKE FROM OUR SKYVIEW 22 CAMERA AT THE HARBOUR TOWN LIGHTHOUSE LOOKING AT HILTON HEAD ISLAND THANKS FOR STARTING YOUR DAY WITH WJCL 22. GOOD MORNING - - I'M FRANK SULKOWSKI. AND I'M EMMA HAMILTON. METEROLOGIST JONATHAN MYERS IS JOINING US NOW.. .. NOW, HERE'S YOUR STORM TRACKER RADAR... TODAY SUNNY, WITH HIGHS 64-66. CALM WIND BECOMING SOUTH AROUND 6 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON. TONIGHT PARTLY CLOUDY, WITH A LOW AROUND 44. LIGHT AND VARIABLE WIND. THURSDAY A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF SHOWERS, MAIY NL AFTER 3PM. PARTLY SUNNY, WITH A HIGH NEAR 68. CALM WIND BECOMING SOUTHWEST 5 TO 8 MPH IN THE MORNING. THURSDAY NIGHT SHOWERS, MAINLY AFTER 7PM. LOW AROUND 42. CALM WI ND BECOMING NORTH 5 TO 7 MPH AFTER MIDNIGHT. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION IS 80%. NEW PRECIPITATION AMOUS NT BETWEEN A TENTH AND QUARTER OF AN INCH POSSIBLE. FRIDAY SHOWERS LIKELY BEFORE 1PM, THEN RAIN LIKELY AFTER 1PM. CLOUDY, WITH A HIGH NEAR 48. NORTH WIND 9 TO 11 MPH. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION TAKING A LIVE LOOK AT YOUR COMMUTE THIS MORNG.IN TAKING A LI VE LOOK AT YOUR COMMUTE THIS MORNIN G. ' ‘THIS IS S-R-30 IN PENBROOKE. (ALID-B) RIGHT NOW ... HERE AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY ... THE - *DESPERATE PUSH FOR COVID TESTS. TODAY ... THE WHITE HOU SE IS ROLLING OUT ITS "AT-HOME TESTING" DELIVERY PROGRAM. PLUS ... AS OUR AIXA DIAZ REPORTS FROM WASHINGTON ... THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS PLANNING TO GIVE AWAY HIGH- QUALITY *MASKS, TOO. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS GIVING EACH HOUSEHOLD - *FOUR* AT-HOME RAPID TESTS . .. BUT YOU HAVE TO SIGN UP FIRST. AND SOON - FREE N- 95 MASKS WILL BE AVAILABLATE PHARMACIES AND HEALTH CENTERS. AS HE PREPARES TO MARK O NE YE IARN OFFICE ... PRESIDENT BIDEN IS FOCUSING ON TESTING AND MASKIN G. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS GIVING AWAY FREE COVID TESTS. ALL YOU HAVE TDOO IS GO TO COVIDTESTS-DOT- GOV - CLICK ORDER - AND FILL OUT YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS ON T HE U- S POSTAL SERVICE PAGE. JEN PSAKI/ WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY "EVERY WEBSITE LAUNCH,N I OUR VIEW, COMES WITH RISK. WE CAN'T GUARANTEE THERE WON'T BE A BUG OR TWO, BUT THE BEST TECH TEAMS ACROSS THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE POSTAL SERVICE ARE WORKING HARD TO MAKE THIS A SUCCES" S. THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS ALSO PREPARING TO GIVE AWAY HIGH-QUALITY MASKS. A WHITE HOUSE OFFICIAL SAYS 400 MILLION N-95 MASKS - FROM THE STRATEGIC NATIONAL STOCKPILE - WL IL BE AVAILABLE FOR FREE - AT PHARMACIES AND COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS NATIONWIDE - STARTING NEXT MONTH. DR. VIK VEMURTHY/ U.S. SURGEON GENERAL "NOBODY IS TAKING THEIR FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR UNTIL WE ARE DONE WITH TS HI PANDEMIC, UNTIL WE HAVE A CLEAR PATHWAY FORWARD." THOSE FREE COVID TESTS WILL TAKE 7 TO 12 DAYS TO SP HI AFTER YOU PLACE THE ORDER. IN WASHINGTON, I'M AIXA DIAZ. OVERNIGHT ... GOOD MORNING AMERICA SPOKE TO THE CO-FOUNDERS OF T HE LARGEST TESTING SITE IN CALIFORNIA ... IN PALO ALTO ... *ALSO HOME TO THE SECOND LARGEST *SCHOOL DISTRICT. IT SAYS ... IT'S SENDING TESTS VIA *PRIVATE *JET ... TWICE A DAY ... FOR RAPID RESULTS. "THAT WAS OUR GOAL FROM DAY ONE, WE REALLY FOCUS ON SCHOOLS TO SAY, WE'RE GOING TO GET AMERICA BACK TO NORMAL LIFE WE GOT TO GET KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL AND WE NEED TO DO IT SAFELY," RIGHT HERE ON WJCL STARTING AT SEVEN ... M-A G- TAKES A CLOSER LOOK AT TODAY'S RAPID TEST ROLLOUT. HERE'S A LOOATK THE LATEST CASE NUMBERS HERE IN - *OUR AREA. YOU CAN SEE ... NEARLY 13- THOUSAND GEORGIANS TESTED POSITIVE YESTERDAY. THE STATE REPORTED ITS HIGHEST NUMBERS EVER ... BACK ON JANUARY SEVENTH ... WITH MORE TH 2AN7-THOUSAND CASES. IN SOUTH CAROLINA ... MORE THAN 11- THOUSAND PEOPLE TESTED POSITIVE SUNDAY. THOSE ARE THE LATEST NUMBERS WE HAVE FROM THE STATE. YOU CAN SEE IT REPORTED ITS HIGHEST CASE COUNT - *EVER FRIDAY ... WITH NEARLY 17- THOUSAND CASES. RIGHT NOW ... HEAL TH FIOFCIALS IN SOUTH CAROLINA SAY THEY'RE ADDRESSING ISSUES WITH DELAYS IN GETTING TEST RE SULTS TO PATIES.NT THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL Y SA ... THE *MAJORITY OF COVID TESTS ARE PROCESSED AT LARGE .."N. ON- DHEC LABS." RIGHT NOW ... THEY Y SA THEIR *OWN LAB IS OPERATING - *AT *CAPACITY ... PROCESSING 25- HUNDRED TESTS EACH DAY IT SAYS ITS LAB PARTNERS HAVE FALLEN BEHIND F OR SEVERAL REASONS ... THE SHEER VOLUME OF TESTS ... AND COVID-RELATED STAFFING SHORTAG. ES A FIVE 5-G CRISIS AVERTED. A-T-AND-T AND VERIZON ARE DELAYING THE ROLLOUTF O THEIR 5-G SERVICE AFTER AIRLINES ASK THE PRESIDENT TO INTERVENE. OPPONENTS TTOHE ROLLOUT INCLUDED AIRLINE MANUFACTURERS, COMPANIES AND PI. TSLO THEY SAY THAT THE FREQUENCIES USED BY THIS NEW GENETIRAON OF CELL SERVICE IS TOO CLOSE TO THE FREQUENCIES USED BY THEIR PLANE'S INSTRUMENT S. THEY WORRIED THAT THE SERVICES WOULD INTERFERE WITH EACHOTHER AND LEAD TO CATASTROPHIC CONSEQUENCES. "OUTCUE: ...AND SOE AV H PILOTS. .. NO WORD YET ON WHEN THE COMPANIES WILL CONTINUE THEIR 5- G ROLLO UT RIGHT NOW ... VOTING RIGHTS SHOWDOWN. LAWMAKERS ARE GETTI NG READY FOR A VOTE ... ANY DAY NOW ... AFTER *HOURS OF INTENSE DEBATE ON THE SENATE FLOOR. SENATE DEMOCRATS ARE WE ARE GOING TO FIGHT THE FIGHT. THIS ... JUST AS PRESIDENT BIDEN BEGINS HIS SECOND YEAR IN OFFIC..E . WITH HIS POLL NUMBERS AT A NEW LOW. ABC'S FAITH ABUBEY HAS ... WHAT'S NEXT. THIS MORNING, PRESIDENT BIDEN MARKS ONE YEAR IN OFFICE - WITH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS IN A STANDOFF OVER VOTING RIGH. TS A BILL ON THE SENATE FLOOR WOULD MAKE ELECTION DAY A FEDERAL HOLIDAY - AND GUARANTEE ALL VOTERS CAN REQUEST A MAIL-IN BALLOT. IT WOULD ALSO FORCE STAT ES THAT REQUIRE VOTERS SHOW AN I- D.. TO *BROADEN*HE T TYPE OF I-D THAT'S ACCEPTABLE -- A MEASURE REPUBLICANS OPPOSE. G-O-P CONGRESSMAN STE SCALISE SAYS THE BILL WOULD ALSO MAKE IT HARDER FOR STATES TO PURGE *DECEASED PEOPLE* FROM VOTER ROLLS. SOT -- REP. STEVE SCALISE // (R) LOUISIA AN "EVERY YEAR, AS WE KNOW PEOPLE DIE, PEOPLE MOVE FROM PLACE TO PLACE, AND Y ET THEY MAKE IT VERY HARD TO CLEAN UP THOSE ROLLS. DEMOCRATS ACCUSE REPUBLICS ANOF STIFLING DEMOCRACY - 19 STATES - MANY CONTROLD LE BY REPUBLICANS - RECENTLY IMPOSED NEW LAWS - *RESTRICTING* ACCESS TO VOTING.. SOT -- SEN. MAZIE HIRONO // (D) HAWAII "WE CANNOT SIT BACK AND LET ONE POLITICAL PARTY CONTINUE TO UNRAVEL. THE THREADS OF OUR DEMOCRACY." TO PASS THE BILL, DEMOCRATS NEED 60 VOTES - OR THE SUPPORT OF 10 REPUBLICANS - WHICH THEY DON'T HAVE. AND NOW - O TWKEY DEMOCRATS - KYRSTEN SINEMA AND JOE MANCHIN, ARE REFUSING TO CHANGE THE SENATE RULES TO LET DEMOCRATS PASS THE BILL WITH A SIMPLE MAJORITY. SOT -- SEN. JOE MANCHIN // (D) WEST VIRGIA NI "THERE'S NO CHECK AND BALANCES, YOU CAN JUST SWEEP RIGHT THROUGH, SAME THING CAN HAPPEN WITH REPUBLICS.AN" ALL OF THIS COMES AS PRESIDENT BIDEN HOLDS A NEWS CONFERENCE THIS AFTERNOON.. TO DISCS US WHAT LIES AHEAD FOR HIS SECOND YEAR IN OFFICE.. WITH A PANDEMIC STILL RAGING - INFLATION AT 40- YEAR HIGHS.. AND HIS APPROVAL RATING SINKING. SOT -- JEN PSAKI // WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY "THE WORK IS NOT DONE, THE JOB IS NOT DONE, AND WE E AR CERTAINLY NOT CONVEYING IT IS, SO OUR OBJECTIVE AND I THINK WHAT YOU'LL HEAR T HE PRESIDENT TALK ABOUT TOMORROW IS HOW TO BUILDN O THE FOUNDATION WE LAID IN THE FIRST YEAR." FAITH ABUBEY, ABC NEWS, NEW YORK TOMORROW MARKS ONE YEAR IN OFFICE ... FOR PRESIDT EN JOE BIDEN ... AND VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS. COMING UP ON GOOD MORNI NG AMERICA ... A LOOK BACK AT THEIR FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE ... AND ... WHAT WE CAN EXPECT FOR THE SECOND. THAT'S STARTING AT SEVEN ... RIGHT HERE ON WJCL 22. THIS MORNING ... A NEW PRESIDENT IS MAKING HIS - *RETURN TO THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA. FORMER PROVOST ... MICHAEL AMIRIDIS (AM-ERR-REE- DEES) ... HAS BEENAM NED THE 30TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY. HE SPENT MORE THAN TWO DECADEATS U-S-C .. BEFO RE HEADING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS CHICAGO. HE RELEASED A STATEME NT SAYING IN PART ... "THROUGH ACADEMICS ... RESEARCH ... AND ITS VIBRANT CULTURE ... THE UNIVERSI STYYSTEM IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH CAROLINA ... AND TO THE STATE'S FUTURE. I FEEL PRIVILEGED ... TO BE ABLE TO LD EATHIS GREAT INSTITUTION." IN BEAUFORT ... A NEW PLAZA ... *FILLED WITH STORES WILL SOON START CONSTRUCTION. BEAUFORT STATION ... AT THE CORNER OF ROBERT SMALLS PARKWAY ... AND PARRIS ISLAND GATEW .AY.. WILL BE MORE THAN 200- THOUSAND SQUARE FEET. WE'RE TOLD THE PLAZA WILL INCLUDE ... HOBBY LOBBY ... ROSS ... ULTA ... AND OLD NAVY. 'THE MORGAN COMPANIES' DEVELOPER SAYS ... SITE WORK ... IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN SOMETIMEHI TSI QUARTE