AROUND TOWN

Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens is looking to hire up to 150 new employees. The zoo will hold a job fair Friday, Jan. 31 from 10 am – 3 pm. It’s open interview style, appointments not needed. They are looking to fill positions in the attractions, guest relations, grounds and housekeeping, and public safety departments. Candidates are encouraged to bring a resume with them. Interviews will take place at Riverbanks’ Ndoki Lodge. A complete list of job openings can be found at https://www.riverbanks.org/join-our-team/job-opportunities .

Dunkin’ customer appreciation

Dunkin’ is giving away a year of free coffee to the first 50 people at its customer appreciation celebration. The Dunkin’ at 5225 Sunset Drive will thank customers Jan. 24 and 25 with giveaways, samples and photo ops. Dunkin’ will also serve free samples of its 100% plant-based Beyond Sausage Sand-which from 8-10 am. The first 50 people in line at 5 am, Jan. 24 will receive free coffee for a year.

Bus route to rural Lexington County

The COMET bus is coming to Batesburg-Leesville. COMET is launching a pilot rural route which would connect the West Columbia SuperStop at Williams Drive at Charleston Highway and Batesburg-Leesville via Lexington. The service will operate 3 trips to West Columbia and 2 trips to Batesburg-Leesville every Thursday. The fare for the new service is $2 one way and $4 for a day pass. Connections to other COMET routes for travel into Columbia via Route 91 are available at the West Columbia SuperStop. If the pilot is successful, the route may increase to 5 days a week, said COMET Executive Director and CEO John Andoh.

Free filing for military families

The Internal Revenue Service offers active duty military families free federal tax preparation. Free File is for individuals or families whose adjusted gross income was $69,000 or less last year. Active duty military and their spouses can file free with FileYourTaxes.com, FreeTaxReturns.com , H&R Block, On-Line Taxes Inc., Tax ACT, TaxHawk Inc., TaxSlayer (English and Spanish) and TurboTax. Did you know the Chronicle offers free digital subscriptions to deployed active duty military members? Email our subscription manager Katie Ritchie at katie.lexchron@gmail.com .

SCDOT chairman named

The South Carolina Department of Transportation announced its 2 new commissioners last week. Tony K. Cox of North Myrtle Beach was named Chairman of the South Carolina Department of Transportation Commission at the Commission’s Jan. meeting in Columbia. J. Barnwell Fishburne was named vice chair. Cox represents the 7th Congressional District in Marion and surrounding counties. Fishburne represents the 6th Congressional District in parts of Lexington County and the Lowcountry.

Privacy breaks

Employers may soon be required to provide a space for new mothers to breast pump. A Senate subcommittee Ok’d a bill that would push employers to give mothers a time and space to use a breast pump during the work day, The State Newspaper reported. The bill now goes to the full Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee. It would require employers to make a “reasonable effort” to provide a space for mothers to pump and an unpaid break for them to do it. If approved, the bill will head to the full Senate for a vote.