Thursday's Republican presidential debate

Candidates, staff members, reporters, thousands of people in all, will be arriving in Myrtle Beach soon for Thursday's Republican presidential debate.
It'll mean traffic changes and tight security, but police say they've been planning for months and they'll be ready.
A presidential debate isn't much like a Harley rally, but there are a couple of things they do have in common: Lots of police and many hours of planning. Captain David Knipes with the Myrtle Beach Police Department said, "Logistics, security, traffic direction, making sure we have all areas covered. They've met and re-met and gone over every scenario and situation, to make sure we've got our bases covered."
The State Law Enforcement Division will be the lead agency for the debate, but every Myrtle Beach police officer will be on duty, too, undercover and in uniform, with assistance from other local departments.
There are many security concerns for police, including the possibility that some debate-goers could become unruly. Knipes told us, "We've looked into every possible thing that could happen. Whether it's demonstrations, whether it's any sort of violent acts and making sure that we've got that area covered, that we have a plan."
One of the biggest worries is making sure traffic flows smoothly around the event, so gawkers will not be welcome near the Convention Center. "If people do not have to be up there for an emergency situation or legitimate reason, try to avoid that area because it is going to be congested because of the traffic patterns that we're going to have to implement," said Knipes.
Starting at 8:00 a.m. Thursday morning, traffic lanes on Oak Street will be reduced to two lanes, one going north and one going south. Westbound traffic at Oak Street & 21st Avenue North will also be closed from Oak Street to Farlow Street.
Those attending the debate are asked to use either the main parking lot entrance on Oak Street or the Farlow Street entrance off of 21st Avenue North.
Among the possibilities that police have to plan for are mass arrests and where to put people if many of them have to be taken into custody.