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First detected just days ago, 2023 BU approached within 2,200 miles of our planet’s surface before moving on.

A small asteroid flew very close to Earth on Thursday night, less than a week after astronomers discovered the object.

The asteroid, named 2023 BU, was scheduled to pass over the southern tip of South America at 7:27 p.m. Eastern time. The asteroid is fairly small — less than 30 feet across, about the size of a truck — and was best visible in the skies to the west of southern Chile. For space watchers unable to view 2023 BU firsthand, the Virtual Telescope Project broadcast the event on its website and YouTube channel.

The asteroid did not hit Earth but was one of the closest approaches ever by such an object, hurtling past Earth at just 2,200 miles above its surface, according to a news release from the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. This encounter put the asteroid “well within the orbit of geosynchronous satellites,” the statement noted, but the asteroid was not on track to hit any.

2023 BU was unknown to NASA, or anyone, until last Saturday. Gennadiy Borisov, an amateur astronomer in Crimea, noticed the asteroid from the MARGO Observatory, a setup of telescopes that he has used to discover other interstellar objects.

Astronomers then determined 2023 BU’s orbit around the sun and impending trip past Earth using data from the Minor Planet Center, a project sanctioned by the International Astronomical Union. It publishes positions of newly found space objects, including comets and satellites, from information of several observatories worldwide.

In 2020 Leonardo Amaral, an amateur astronomer in Brazil, discovered another near-Earth asteroid, 2020 QU6, while using an observatory near São Paulo. The object came no closer to Earth than 20 million miles — about 84 times the distance between Earth and the moon — but prompted interest in helping amateur astronomers to find and track objects that could pose a threat to the planet.

“The big professional search programs that NASA is funding are doing, by far and large, the heavy lifting in discovering new objects,” said Davide Farnocchia, a navigation engineer at J.P.L. who works with the Center for Near-Earth Object Studies, or CNEOS. “But that doesn’t mean that we cannot use help from additional people, which includes professional astronomers from other countries but also amateur astronomers. We like to get as many as possible so that we can get the best possible estimate of the trajectory.”

There are plenty of objects to find. Most asteroids in the solar system orbit the sun in the region between Mars and Jupiter, more than 3.2 astronomical units — 3.2 times the distance between the sun and Earth — away from and never approaching our planet. Asteroids are considered near-Earth objects if they approach within 1.3 astronomical units, and there are several hundred million objects smaller than 460 feet wide in that category, Dr. Farnocchia said.

To pose any serious threat to Earth, an object would have to be more than a dozen times as large as 2023 BU. Even if a smaller object like 2023 BU were on track to strike Earth, it would probably disintegrate in the atmosphere, perhaps casting some debris as small meteorites.

In 2005, Congress ordered NASA to identify 90 percent of the near-Earth asteroids that were 460 feet wide or larger, capable of destroying a city. In September, NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test, or DART, mission tried out one possible defense against such objects. The spacecraft, which launched in late 2021, made impact with Dimorphos, a 550-foot-wide asteroid millions of miles from Earth. The mission was deemed a success after the rock’s orbit was shortened by 32 minutes.

Dr. Farnocchia noted that a genuinely hazardous asteroid would be both larger and brighter than 2023 BU and so would be spotted much farther in advance of its arrival. He added that objects much smaller than 2023 BU pass close to Earth with some regularity.

“This case might seem exceptional, but in fact, objects of a similar size come this close to Earth about once a year on average,” he said. “So this is not an exceptional event. It’s not an everyday event, but it’s something that happens regularly.”

COLUMBIA, S.C. – STIWA US, Inc., a company of the STIWA Group, today announced plans to expand and relocate its new North American headquarters in York County. The company’s $30 million investment will create 48 new jobs over the next five years.

Headquartered in Austria, STIWA US, Inc. is an advanced automation company, specializing in high performance automation with a focus on individual customer and product requirements. The company’s expertise in serving the automotive, fittings and medical markets contributed to its growth over the last 50 years.

Relocating its headquarters, to include manufacturing operations, from Fort Mill to Rock Hill at Porter and Long Meadow roads, STIWA US, Inc.’s expansion includes a new facility which will serve as the company’s new North American headquarters. From this location, the company will be able to readily engage with U.S.-based companies on their specific needs, including new mobility and electrical equipment markets.

The relocation is expected to be complete by September 2024. Individuals interested in joining the STIWA US, Inc. team should visit the company’s careers page.

The Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved job development credits related to this project. The council also awarded a $250,000 Set-Aside grant to York County to assist with site preparation and building construction.

QUOTES

“STIWA US, Inc. has been in the greater Charlotte area since 2016. We are excited that with our future new North American headquarters in Rock Hill we will be able to lift our abilities and services to a new level. The site and the city of Rock Hill also offer us enough opportunities to continue on our planned path to grow and to be able to supply our North American customers with excellent products in automation and parts manufacturing.” -STIWA US, Inc. Chief Executive Officer Andreas Prokesch

“With the expansion of STIWA US, Inc., South Carolina’s manufacturing industry continues to lead our state’s thriving economy. We are proud to be home to this growing company’s new North American headquarters and look forward to their continued success in York County and beyond.” -Gov. Henry McMaster

“More and more, international companies are discovering that South Carolina provides the pro-business climate where they can find ongoing success. Congratulations to STIWA US, Inc. for their continued growth in South Carolina, and our state proudly welcomes the international manufacturer’s new North American headquarters to York County.” -Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey III

“The city of Rock Hill is excited to see additional investment in the city of Rock Hill’s Interstate-77 Commerce Corridor. Manufacturing jobs are the backbone of sustainable growth and opportunities in our community. This commitment by STIWA US, Inc. serves as a testament to others looking to locate in Rock Hill of our business-friendly environment and the city's continuous investments in infrastructure necessary for businesses to succeed in today's world.” -Rock Hill Mayor John Gettys

“Today's announcement by STIWA US, Inc. is exciting, as they will not only provide quality new jobs for our area, but also add to our expanding manufacturing footprint here. We are proud they chose to establish and now grow their specialized operations here in York County. We look forward to watching them grow and succeed.” -York County Council Chairwoman Christi Cox

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COLUMBIA, S.C. – Element Designs, one of the leading North American manufacturers of custom aluminum frame glass cabinet doors, today announced plans to relocate its headquarters and manufacturing operations to York County. The company’s $5 million investment will bring approximately 100 new jobs to Fort Mill over the next five years.

Founded in 2003 and currently headquartered in Charlotte, Element Designs’ product offerings have expanded to include custom glass and acrylic surfacing solutions and components. All products are made and fabricated in the United States, with manufacturing processes that use water-based coatings and recycled materials to create products for customers across North America.

Located at 7107 Logistics Lane, Suite 101 in Fort Mill, Element Designs’ new 112,840-square-foot facility will serve as the company’s joint headquarters and manufacturing operations, allowing the company to efficiently serve its international customers, including many well-known manufacturers in the kitchen, bath and office furniture industries.

Operations are expected to be online in the second quarter of 2023. Individuals interested in joining the Element Designs team can submit resumes to the company.

The Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved job development credits related to this project.

QUOTES

“We are very excited to move our headquarters to Fort Mill, S.C. We already feel very welcomed and can’t wait to call it our new home. It will be a transformational move for our company. This new location and state of the art facility will not only provide us with the necessary room to grow, but it will also be a testament to what we as a company want to be recognized for: an innovative industry leader that produces beautiful products in a sustainable way. Its proximity to our current location was also very important as we want our incredible team to move with us and enjoy the benefits of this new space to call home. -Element Designs President and Chief Executive Officer Mike Uebersax

“We eagerly welcome Element Designs to South Carolina. Our state is proud to be home to companies producing some of the most unique, high-quality goods in the world, and we’re proud to add Element Designs to that roster. We’re grateful for the skilled jobs this company will bring to our state and the Fort Mill community.” -Gov. Henry McMaster

“On behalf of the South Carolina business community, we congratulate and welcome the entire Element Designs team to York County. Manufacturers of all sizes and industries have found long-term success in communities throughout South Carolina, and we’re eager to support Element Designs to continue that commitment.”-Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey III

"We celebrate today's announcement by Element Designs. We are pleased to see that they have found an ideal location in York County to continue to grow their manufacturing operations as well as establish their headquarters. Congratulations to this industry leader. We welcome your growing team to our community."-York County Council Chairwoman Christi Cox

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The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is investigating the transfer of money from York County to companies owned by Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper, according to a statement from SLED officials.

The investigation was opened in November after a request by the S.C. Attorney General, York County sheriff, and York County’s top prosecutor, officials said.

Late Thursday, SLED sent an emailed statement to The Herald confirming the investigation.

That statement says:

“SLED opened an investigation on November 7, 2022 into the transfer of public funds from York County to GTRE and/or it’s affiliates to include David Tepper, Appaloosa Management, Tepper Sports Holding and DT Sports Holding.

SLED was requested to investigate by York County Sheriff Kevin Tolson, York County Solicitor Kevin Brackett and Attorney General Alan Wilson.

This joint investigation with the York County Sheriff’s Office is ongoing, as such, no additional information is available at this time.”

The SLED statement comes a day after lawyers for Tepper companies and York County stated in court documents that the two sides had reached a settlement in the bankruptcy and related lawsuits.

GTRE, or GT Real Estate, is the company created by Tepper to oversee what would have been the NFL team’s headquarters and practice facility in Rock Hill, S.C. The project failed and resulted in GT Real Estate filing for bankruptcy. There also have been other related lawsuits.

In civil court documents from the GT Real Estate bankruptcy and lawsuits filed by York County, Tepper company lawyers have denied any wrongdoing.

Late Thursday, GT Real Estate issued a written statement to The Herald about the investigation.

The statement raised questions about the timing of the investigation announcement, a day after the settlement was confirmed that would, if approved, end the dispute between GTRE and York County.

GT said in the statement that the proposed settlement would pay York County the $21 million it originally asked for in the bankruptcy, plus interest.

The full GT Real Estate statement says:

“It would be unfortunate if the recently announced settlement between GTRE and York County were somehow undermined by politically motivated leaks. The timing of these leaks is all the more curious in light of this settlement.

This is a straightforward commercial matter that is being fully resolved. The underlying disputes arise under contracts that were jointly negotiated by the parties and are publicly available. The funds paid by the County were handled consistent with the terms of those contracts.

The settlement fully compensates York County and settles all its claims related to GTRE’s bankruptcy case. To this end, $21.165 million has been escrowed for months to reimburse the County with interest.”

No charges have been filed against anyone or any group and there has been no allegation of wrongdoing, sheriff and solicitor’s office officials said.

While there have been pending civil lawsuits for months during the bankruptcy of GT Real Estate, the SLED statement points to the first law enforcement inquiry associated with the project.

In a joint statement released Thursday night by York County Sheriff Kevin Tolson and 16th Circuit Solicitor Kevin Brackett, both said there should be no inference of any wrongdoing.

Here is the entire statement from Tolson and Brackett:

“An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the transfer to, and subsequent use of public money by the Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper and GTRE, the company created to oversee the construction of the Panthers training facility, was initiated by the York County Sheriff to determine whether any laws were violated during that process. The Attorney General, Solicitor Kevin Brackett’s Office and the State Law Enforcement Division have partnered with us to provide additional resources and assistance and we will work together to ensure that all relevant information is gathered so that a fair and just outcome can be reached.

An investigation is simply an inquiry and should not create any inference that wrongdoing has been committed by any party.

This office will have no further comment on the matter at this time.”

A deal had been struck with South Carolina, York County, and Rock Hill officials to move the team’s headquarters and practice fields to South Carolina.

Construction started on the site but GT halted construction in March. GT declared bankruptcy in June.

Appaloosa Management, Tepper Sports Holding and DT Sports Holding are all Tepper companies, according to Tepper company documents in the ongoing bankruptcy case and ongoing lawsuits related to the bankruptcy case.

In the bankruptcy case and related civil lawsuits, York County alleged it gave GT Real Estate more than $21 million in Pennies for Progress road tax money for the project. The county claimed the money could only be used for road improvements.

York County filed suit demanding the $21 million back, plus interest and money for projected tax revenues that were lost when the project collapsed.

This week, lawyers for York County and lawyers GT Real Estate announced in statements and court documents that a proposed settlement had been reached that would end all civil lawsuits between York County and the Tepper companies. That settlement has not yet been filed in court, nor has it been approved by a judge.

York County had previously filed two civil lawsuits against Tepper companies.

In the first lawsuit filed in June in South Carolina federal court, York County alleged DT Sports Holding, Tepper Sports Holding and Appaloosa Management were engaged in a conspiracy to misappropriate the $21 million. That suit, which called the failed practice site a “vanity project,” named Appaloosa Management LP, DT Sports Holding, Tepper Sports Holding Inc, and the City of Rock Hill as defendants. Tepper is one of the founders of Appaloosa Management.

In that civil lawsuit, York County alleged Tepper’s companies directed misappropriation of $21 million.

Then in September, York County filed a suit against GT Real Estate. In that lawsuit, York County claimed GT “squandered” the $21 million and converted it for “others’ improper use and unjust enrichment.”

Tepper company lawyers filed countersuits against York County in those civil cases and denied York County’s allegations of unjust enrichment and misuse of money.

This story was originally published December 1, 2022, 7:55 PM.

HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. – Amid the recent reports of revival and spiritual awakening spreading among Christian colleges across the nation, David Horton became hopeful that God would move in a similar way at Fruitland Baptist Bible College.

After all, Horton says he’s been praying for revival to come to the campus in western North Carolina since he became the school’s president 14 years ago in 2009. That’s in addition to praying for national revival since 1975.

The Lord answered Horton’s prayer last Thursday, Feb. 16, as Fruitland joined the ranks of Christian schools that are reportedly experiencing a move of God following a multiday revival at Asbury University in Wilmore, Ky., that began Feb. 8 and has spread to other campuses across the nation.

“Just seeing and hearing what God was doing at Asbury, I began to get hopeful as I heard of revivals breaking out on other campuses,” Horton said. “I didn’t really know that last week would be the week for us at Fruitland, but it happened.”

On Feb. 16, a regularly scheduled student-led chapel service at Fruitland lasted for more than three hours that Horton said was marked by Scripture reading, prayer, singing, testimonies and deep repentance and confession of sin. Many students bowed on their knees or face down before the Lord throughout Fruitland’s chapel, praying individually and in groups.

“Jesus was highly exalted in our midst as He displayed His glory,” Horton said.

Students remained in the chapel for prayer throughout Thursday afternoon and into the evening. Late Thursday night, a group of students felt led to walk around the campus seven times while prayer walking.

Students continued to meet in the chapel past midnight on Thursday and gathered again in the chapel early Friday morning for continued prayer. In a social media post on Friday, the school posted: “‘Revival Has Come To Fruitland!’ Students have continued to be with the Spirit in chapel throughout the day. God is moving on the mountain!”

Later Friday evening – a day when most Frutiland students leave campus to return home or to their places of ministry – a group went to downtown Asheville and Hendersonville to share the gospel.

“God has moved us through a process of repentance and brokenness to a place of mission and service,” Horton said. “I believe true revival results in greater ministry outside the church. So many of our students have said that if what is happening here in chapel stops at this place, we’ve failed God and we’ve not really had revival. It has to move to ministry and mission.”

Throughout the weekend, students who remained on campus continued to gather to pray in Fruitland’s prayer chapel.

Luke Dickson, a second-year Fruitland student from York, S.C., said he and other students began praying for God to move on campus following chapel on Tuesday, Feb. 14. They began praying about being in “one accord,” based on Acts 2.

“Since last week and sitting in chapel today (Feb. 21), there has been a new spirit around campus,” Dickson said. “There has been a true revival of lives across campus. We’re just praying that God would continue to do that.”

Horton said he has sensed for some time that God was moving among Fruitland’s student body and the school has been on the cusp of revival for some time.

“I have said to some people that the wood is on the altar, and we’re just waiting on God to send the fire,” Horton said. “Last Thursday morning God sent the fire.”

Horton said he expects God to continue to move at Fruitland and beyond.

“It’s under God’s control, but we’re going to keep wood on the altar and keep fanning the flames and see what God does,” Horton said.