Expanded scholarship program ‘a huge relief’ for SC’s college-bound high school seniors
Meeting Street Scholarship touts expansion enabling SC students to earn a college degree with little-to-no debt under new state partnership.
South Carolina Daily Gazette
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NextEra has not earned our trust
Last week the CEO of Florida-based NextEra, John Ketchum, appeared before the South Carolina State Regulation of Public Utilities Review Committee to offer comments on the proposed merger of his company and Dominion Energy. If approved, the $67 billion merger would create the largest utility in the nation. I and my…
Democrat running for SC secretary of state wants to change the office’s duties
COLUMBIA — The Democrat seeking to oust South Carolina’s longtime secretary of state wants to change the job description. Jason Belton’s campaign platform includes “restoring election integrity” to bring “accountable leadership at the ballot,” his website reads. But in South Carolina, the secretary of state has…
2 weeks of early voting in SC is underway
Voting is underway in South Carolina in an election that could change control of Congress and is guaranteed to usher in new administrations in state government. Two weeks of early voting began Monday morning. Locations are open from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Oct. 31, with one exception: There is no voting Oct. 25.
At smaller No Kings event, participants stress importance of voting
NEWBERRY — About two dozen people gathered Saturday at a busy intersection in GOP-heavy Newberry County to encourage people to vote early. Even for Newberry, it was a smaller gathering than past No Kings Day rallies, said Amy Harpool, who’s organized all four No Kings rallies in this city of about 11,000 people. But…
SC Democrats rally with Georgia US senator ahead of early voting
COLUMBIA — The Democrats seeking to be South Carolina’s U.S. senator and governor rallied Friday with U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia as part of a days-long push ahead of early voting in an attempt to bring a blue wave to the Palmetto State. Taking the stage behind a sign that read “Keep the Faith!”
SC opens former utility workers’ retreat as 51st state park
Ramsey Grove State Park in Georgetown, one of three state parks to open in the past two years, is open weekdays.
Bipartisan permitting bill in Congress could speed energy projects, but draws green critics
WASHINGTON —Suddenly there’s hope for cutting the reams of red tape that can make getting new energy projects a seemingly endless slog. Top Republican and Democratic senators have unveiled a 417-page bill to overhaul the approval process, a pathway for what’s known as “permitting reform.” A debate is likely when…
On the Jericho Road: ‘I was sick, and you cared for me’
In 2013, my father made a decision no one should ever have to make. He chose healthcare over his family. My dad was born in England but had built his life in America. His daughters were here, his son-in-law, and a new granddaughter. But when his health began to deteriorate, he had to make a
A look at who could be SC’s next agriculture chief
COLUMBIA — The race to be South Carolina’s next agriculture commissioner features a Republican with a background in state government who’s backed by President Donald Trump and a Democrat with federal government experience who touts a willingness to buck the administration. Both nominees hail from rural Clarendon…
President Trump to rally in Clemson next week
It’s official: President Donald Trump is returning to South Carolina next week to rally support for Sen. Darline Graham and other Republicans ahead of the midterms. The rally will be Wednesday in Clemson, the Republican National Committee announced Thursday evening, without specifying the location. On Friday, the…
SC Arts Commission’s interim director steps down, following 2 board members’ resignations
COLUMBIA — The interim director of the state Arts Commission stepped down Thursday, following the resignations of two board members in the weeks after a controversial decision not to fund two LGBTQ+ organizations. Ashley Brown, who has been interim director since August, will stay with the commission, returning to her…
Cornell case highlights the patchwork of state laws governing intoxication, sexual consent
A former Cornell University student’s allegations of gang rape in 2024 have renewed attention on a difficult area of sexual assault law. A person can be awake, responsive and even able to move during a sexual encounter while still being so intoxicated or impaired that they cannot understand what is happening or make…
China takes center stage in SC’s US Senate contest
The Democrat trying to flip South Carolina’s U.S. Senate seat called Wednesday for Sen. Darline Graham to recuse herself from all trade and military votes involving China. Annie Andrews also asked Graham to “cut her family’s business ties” with the country, emphasizing a Washington Post report that the Republican…
Social Security benefits increase will hit 3.6% in 2027
WASHINGTON — The Social Security Administration announced on Wednesday that recipients will receive a 3.6% increase in benefits in 2027. The cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, will begin for 72 million Social Security beneficiaries in January. It will apply for Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, recipients…
SLED arrests 3 SC men US Rep. Nancy Mace accused of sex crimes
The three Charleston-area men face charges including criminal sexual conduct, voyeurism, and assault and battery.
South Carolina’s growth is not the question. How we respond is.
Kristen Austin Gunter with Sustain SC encourages participation in the nonprofit's annual symposium to discuss issues including data center growth and how conservation can be an economic development tool.
Charleston County school board member can stay in office after state probe, SC governor decides
A panel of attorneys found Darlene Dunmeyer-Roberson sent private emails to the press but didn't have enough evidence on other claims.
Upstate car parts manufacturers investing $82M to supply Scout Motors
Seven SC auto parts makers pledge to hire 200 workers, invest $82M as they expand production to meet the needs of Scout Motors.
Take it from a Floridian: You don’t want NextEra in South Carolina
South Carolinians already know what it costs when a utility bets your money on something that never gets built. You paid for it. You are still paying for it. That spectacle should shape how South Carolina considers NextEra Energy’s $67 billion offer to buy Dominion Energy — a deal that would create the largest…
Upstate hospital building new training center to help address SC’s nursing shortage
Construction is underway on the AnMed Education and Innovation Center, helping expand Tri-County Technical College’s nursing program.
Students to compete in civics bee championship in nation’s capital, carried on C-SPAN
Riley Metcalfe of Greenville will represent South Carolina in the National Civics Bee this week. It's the first year all 50 states are participating.
Data center backlash set to sway midterm elections
The backlash against data centers has grown from an issue at local planning commission and city council meetings to become a flashpoint in state and federal races across the country.
More SC schools get top scores than ever, but education leaders say there’s still work to do
Although 90% of students attend a school considered average or better, education leaders want to improve the remaining 10%.
Humor: Grits, bugs and all the dirt on SC for newcomers
Dear Newcomer, Thank you for making South Carolina the fastest-growing state in the nation. And welcome to the land of kudzu, diabetes and data centers. No doubt y’all have a lot of questions. Here are some basics about South Carolina you need to know. South Carolina has four seasons: summer, almost summer, still…
In-home program helps 2,800 new SC moms and babies. Advocates want it to continue.
SC advocates are promoting childhood Home Visiting programs, especially in a state that consistently ranks near the bottom for both infant and maternal mortality.
Social Security, data centers and healthcare: Senate candidates exchange jabs while talking policy
COLUMBIA — The candidates for U.S. Senate traded political digs as they answered policy questions Sunday in their likely only debate ahead of what’s predicted to be a close finish. The debate featured an all-female stage, a first for a U.S. Senate seat in South Carolina, on the three-month anniversary of the shocking…
US Senate majority leader campaigns with Darline Graham in SC, saying GOP can’t ‘take any chances’
CHARLESTON — Following a fundraiser for her campaign, U.S. Sen. Darline Graham projected confidence while acknowledging a “close race” to keep the South Carolina seat her late brother held for almost 24 years. Appearing beside her for reinforcements were South Carolina’s now-senior senator, Tim Scott, who chairs the…
A secret agreement effectively ended Jasper Ocean Terminal plans
A decades-long and politically charged plan to bring South Carolina and Georgia together to build a container ship terminal in Jasper County appears to be dead in the water. Port leaders in both states agreed to “stand down” all work related to the Jasper Ocean Terminal planned for the South Carolina side of the…
SC legislator arrested on charge of pulling gun at polling place
Rep. Michael Rivers, a Democrat from St. Helena Island who lost his reelection bid, called the accusation "politics at its worst."
Why this candidate for SC attorney general doesn’t want donations
COLUMBIA — The Democrat seeking to be South Carolina’s next attorney general is operating a campaign with zero cash flow, and that’s on purpose. “When you owe no one, you can fight for everyone, and that’s the whole point,” attorney Richard Hricik told the SC Daily Gazette this week. That includes owing himself…
‘This money is your child’s future’: Children auto enrolled into Trump Accounts
WASHINGTON — Every child in the United States with a valid Social Security number is now enrolled in a tax-advantaged investment account, titled a “Trump Account,” President Donald Trump announced Wednesday. Parents must claim the accounts by downloading a Trump Account mobile app. Children born from 2025 through 2028…
Father of slain 22-year-old pledges to ‘do anything’ to strengthen criminal recordkeeping
"Logan's Law" would create a national database accessible to the general public of people convicted of crimes considered violent. It has yet to get a hearing on Capitol Hill.
Celebrating Congaree: 50 years in the life of a forest
Some trees in Congaree National Park were already centuries old when the United States was founded, so five decades might seem like only a brief moment in the life of the forest. As the park marks its 50th anniversary, that span tells a larger story, one that is not just about forests and floodplains but
New Orleans biotech company expands to Charleston with $660K investment
Obatala Sciences is leasing a lab inside MUSC's new Blue Sky Labs, a rentable space for students, researchers and entrepreneurs.
SC law guaranteed teachers 2 days of planning time. Some schools still aren’t complying.
Roughly one in five teachers reported not receiving their legally required planning days, the state's largest association of educators found.
Former SC legislator pleads guilty to money laundering, wire fraud
Ex-Rep. Marvin Pendarvis admitted to swindling legal clients out of roughly half a million dollars in legal settlements.
Former SC governor’s childhood home, Pawleys Island beachfront up for preservation
The final resting place of former Gov. Robert McNair and beach front property in Pawleys Island are among SC lands slated for protection.
‘Not presidential,’ SC Senate candidate says about Trump’s post others called cruel and offensive
COLUMBIA — After President Donald Trump referred to Annie Andrews using a derogatory term for transgender people, the Democrat running to flip a U.S. Senate seat in South Carolina dismissed his social media post as “definitely not presidential.” Trump, who likes to assign nicknames to people, used a slur that rhymes…
Top Democratic US Senate PAC commits to 9 states, eyes more Republican targets
A leading Democratic campaign committee is projecting confidence in U.S. Senate toss-up races four weeks before Election Day, though it has yet to commit resources to the reddest states that have recently entered the Senate map. Senate Majority PAC, which is run by allies of Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of…
SC governor candidates agree on abortion, differ on gambling and Medicaid
COLUMBIA — In the only scheduled gubernatorial debate before the election, Democrat Jermaine Johnson and Republican Alan Wilson sparred Tuesday night over questions about data centers, Medicaid expansion, and a state hate crime. Perhaps more surprising is where they agreed. In a state where legislators debate abortion…
SC expanding student loan forgiveness for teachers in effort to keep them in the classroom
South Carolina is spending $10 million to help more teachers pay off or erase their student loans.
SC’s next CEO can build on this critical, life-saving part of McMaster’s legacy
If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call, text, or chat 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Help is free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In January, South Carolina will swear-in its first new governor in 10 years. If you’ve heard our current
State regulators to allow part of NextEra’s political past to be examined in Dominion merger case
The Virginia State Corporation Commission will allow documents detailing an internal investigation into NextEra Energy’s failed attempt to acquire Jacksonville, Florida’s public utility to be included in deliberations of the company’s $67 billion proposed merger with Dominion Energy. “I find the requested information…
SC colleges can apply to offer new Pell Grants aimed at in-demand trades. So far, none have.
So far, SC colleges and trade schools have yet to seek approval for training programs under a recently expanded Pell Grant program.
Kratom, 7-OH laws diverge amid the spread of potent synthetic products
For years, the psychoactive compound kratom has been sold across much of the United States as an herbal supplement, available in powders, capsules and extracts with few of the restrictions applied to controlled substances. But the market is changing. Products containing a potentially dangerous kratom derivative known…
Federal judge dismisses NAACP lawsuit over voter assistance limits in SC absentee ballot law
A federal judge tossed out a lawsuit this week from SC civil rights groups over state absentee voting assistance rules.
When it comes to ostomy care, the lowest bid shouldn’t decide what a patient gets
“Ostomy” may not be a word you recognize, but chances are you know someone living with one. I came into the ostomy community through my father, Liney Guidry. Because of the unique challenges he faced and overcame with his ostomy, I saw firsthand the paralyzing physical and emotional impact of living with an ostomy. It
SC State’s decision to ax 9 degrees follows report on unpopular programs statewide
While South Carolina State University is the least compliant with the state's "program productivity" standards, it’s far from the only public university offering degrees with little-to-no participation.
SC Arts Commission refuses grant funding to 2 LGBTQ+ organizations
South Carolina’s Arts Commission denied grant funding to a pair of LGBTQ+ arts groups in the Upstate.
A $350M upgrade of USC stadium is only the latest big spend by SC athletic programs
High-dollar upgrades to athletic facilities remain essential to fans, team personnel, players and prospects, even in an era where sponsorship contracts and court-mandated revenue sharing for players has reshaped the sport.
Remember the ‘us’ in the prayer to ‘give us this day our daily bread’
During last year’s interruption in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, commonly known as food stamps, I was given the names of more than 100 people who would go without food if we didn’t act. We mobilized funds, packed grocery bags, baked casseroles, and started making deliveries. One evening, I drove…
The signs offer quick cash for homes. But states want more oversight.
Advocates say the business of buying homes for cash can confuse vulnerable homeowners and rob them of home equity. And now, many states are cracking down.
SC’s growth story is becoming the South’s growth story
As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, the country’s economic center of gravity continues to move south. My new report, Accelerating South, captures the scale of that shift: the American South is now a roughly $6 trillion regional economy, outpacing both the Northeast and the Pacific while attracting…
Wood milling company pledges to revamp Upstate textile plant, bring more than 200 jobs
A company that makes wood paneling, crown moulding, and other pine construction products plans to invest $216M in a SC manufacturing plant.
‘Dumbfounds us all’: Congress struggles with policies rippling from AI development
The challenges and dire threats surrounding the unchecked growth of artificial intelligence appear unlikely to move Congress or President Donald Trump to act as the U.S. Senate enters its last week before the midterms. The rapid emergence of the technology has sparked a host of policy debates, with some warning of an…
Former SC Supreme Court justice returns to private law practice
Former state Supreme Court Justice John Few has re-entered private practice after 26 years on the bench, opening his own law firm.
Accountability strengthens public school choice in South Carolina
For 30 years, the South Carolina Charter Schools Act has stood as one of our state’s most consequential public education reforms. Public charter schools are public, tuition-free schools that give families additional options and educators room to create distinctive programs within a framework of public accountability…
USC, Westinghouse sign agreement for nuclear workforce training center
USC inked a deal with nuclear giant Westinghouse related to the school’s plans for a nuclear workforce training center.
Major bill to set standards for college athletes’ pay passes US Senate
WASHINGTON — A bipartisan measure to overhaul the college sports landscape got a step closer to becoming law Monday after passing the U.S. Senate. The bill — which sailed through on a 77-22 vote — would set a national framework for college athletes’ compensation, provide certain antitrust protections to the NCAA…
Canada is SC’s 3rd-largest export market. ‘It’s too early’ to gauge impact of tariffs.
More than a month after the latest tariffs on Canadian-made products were enacted, the trade war’s impact on South Carolina’s economy is still difficult to assess, even as further restrictions on Canadian imports take effect Tuesday. “It’s hard to speculate on specifically what impacts tariffs will have at this…
Facing removal, SC school board member refutes accusations in first-of-its-kind hearing
Darlene Dunmeyer-Roberson denied the charges of sharing confidential information and getting her campaign manager a job raised in a state inspection.
‘It could be the edger’: USC’s Dawn Staley launches leadership program for students
USC women’s basketball head coach Dawn Staley is lending her time and name to a new leadership program at the college.
More than driver’s licenses: the lifesaving impact of your local DMV
There are 65 Department of Motor Vehicles locations across the state of South Carolina, and every day, thousands of South Carolinians walk through our doors to renew their license, register a vehicle, or access one of the many other services we offer. Most people think of the DMV as a place that handles paperwork. What
2 SC public colleges gave opposite tuition decisions to the same dad, costing him $27,500
When it comes to college students who choose to move and make SC their home, the decision of whether to grant a lower rate lies with universities.
10 years after Townville, what did South Carolina learn?
TOWNVILLE — Things like this can’t happen here. A school shooting can’t happen here. Not in this quiet, tight-knit rural community of rolling fields and roadside vegetable stands. Not in this village (population 3,913) whose history reaches back two centuries to a post office that opened in 1836 and a Presbyterian…
USC’s Palmetto College will seek more money to continue enrolling high schoolers for dual credit
Without more funding, USC's Palmetto College may have to stop accepting high school students who want an early start on a college degree.
Mountain strong: North Carolina marks the 2-year anniversary of Hurricane Helene
Before there was Helene, there was Katrina. The destructive Category 5 hurricane that devastated New Orleans in 2005 convinced Alex Webber to move from Louisiana to the mountains of western North Carolina. Webber thought she’d found a climate-safe area in the picturesque town of Marshall until 2024, when Hurricane…
Energy Department unveils project to squeeze more juice through existing power lines
A project to wring more capacity out of existing power lines will help suppliers like PPL Electric Utilities improve reliability and affordability for customers, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Thursday. As the energy industry scrambles to meet surging electricity demand, largely from AI data centers, the U.S…
SC inmate guilty in stabbing death of 3 during prison riot, jury decides
Larry White performed a rap for the judge just before receiving three life sentences for joining a mob that killed three.
US Senate Republicans spotlight trans athletes issue as midterms approach
After the hearing, Darline Graham of South Carolina was among GOP senators, athletes and advocates who participated in a news conference blasting the inclusion of trans athletes on women’s sports teams.
SC governor recognized for preserving records, making them easy to access
COLUMBIA — During his tenure as South Carolina’s attorney general, Gov. Henry McMaster fought in court to retrieve a trove of Civil War gubernatorial papers removed from the capital in 1865 and found in a closet roughly 135 years later by a descendant of a Confederate general. Arguing the 444 documents belonged to the…
SC service members need more affordable housing, military leaders say
Military leaders praised the state's education efforts while worrying about having enough housing for service members.
Facing a lawsuit, SC Ports ratifies former CEO’s severance deal a year later
The South Carolina State Ports Authority retroactively voted on the nearly $1 million payout to its former CEO but denied it did anything to violate state laws.
‘Let the little children come to me’: SC moms lack childcare options
I spent an afternoon calling more than 50 childcare centers in one Sumter ZIP code. I called every single one. A mother we were trying to help had an infant and a school-age child, whose father had been deployed. She needed care for both children on a schedule that didn’t align with 9 a.m. to
SC gets approval for 2-week red snapper season as lawsuit continues
A lawsuit from businesses and conservation groups paused a previously approved two-month season to catch the prized fish.
Electric cable manufacturer plans $400M expansion in SC
A company that makes high-voltage electrical cable is expanding its manufacturing plant in South Carolina.
2 years into K-12 voucher program, SC leaders don’t know how students are performing
Just one in 10 of the students initially enrolled in the program's first year submitted viable testing results, an oversight agency found.
SC Election Commission violated open meetings law, ACLU alleges
The SC chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union is suing the state Election Commission, accusing its members of illegally conducting public business behind closed doors.
As SC diesel prices rise, so do economic impact fears
The rising cost of diesel fuel is threatening the livelihood of South Carolina’s truckers and forcing operational changes at the Port of Charleston.
Bipartisan push to set rules for college athletes’ pay continues to advance in US Senate
The U.S. Senate on Thursday took another step forward on a sweeping bipartisan bill to overhaul the college sports world.
SC regulators file to take over Charleston insurance companies, alleging high-risk debts
SC regulators are seeking an emergency takeover of a retirement-focused insurance firm the agency argues is at risk of defaulting on customer payouts.
SC drivers can take UTVs to the roads later this year. Until then, DMV says to keep them home.
COLUMBIA — Owners of utility task vehicles can start driving the small, enclosed vehicles on public roads this year under a new law. The vehicles, which are popular among farmers, hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts, have existed for years in a legal gray area, without clear requirements or bans on where they can…
Fed raises interest rates for first time in 3 years, battling persistent inflation
The Federal Reserve raised interest rates Wednesday for the first time in three years as inflation continues to dog the economy.
Penguins, cats and tortoises: SCETV to release series teaching about zoo animals
The videos are meant to get children interested in conservation, biology and animal care, the state agency said.
SC Supreme Court denies death row inmate’s appeal of incompetence
Steven Bixby, 59, received a pause in receiving a death warrant to hear claims of delusions and bizarre beliefs.
SC lawmakers almost doubled their own pay. What can we expect from them?
State lawmakers failed to produce a state budget on time, but they were far more decisive when it came to almost doubling their own compensation. Many South Carolinians may question whether elected officials deserve a significant pay increase while many South Carolina families struggle with rising housing costs, gas…
SC rural hospitals, doctors’ offices receive share of $200M in federal funding amid Medicaid cuts
SC Gov. Henry McMaster announced federal grant awards made to rural healthcare providers under the new Rural Health Transformation Program.
SC Supreme Court to decide if governor overstepped sending National Guard to DC
Watchdog nonprofits argued Gov. Henry McMaster's deployment went beyond his powers in state law, but his attorneys disagreed.
Divorce becomes next battleground as states debate family values
Cerina Fairfax, a Virginia dentist and mother of two, spent nearly two years living in the same house as her husband while she was trying to divorce him. Virginia state law required couples with children, like the Fairfaxes, to wait a year before being allowed to file for divorce. Cerina’s husband, former Virginia Lt…
US Senate could soon take up bill to set standards for college athlete compensation
WASHINGTON — With the U.S. Senate set to hold a procedural vote in the coming days on a sweeping bill to overhaul college sports, dueling press conferences Monday underscored the fierce debate over how to tackle the biggest issues plaguing that landscape. Supporters of a bipartisan measure to set national standards…
SC inmate who asked to be executed sues for access to mental health medication
James Robertson's attorneys said he may not want to drop his appeals if he can get the right medicine, which the prison stopped offering.
Schools, libraries sound alarm over potential changes to federal internet program
A multi-billion-dollar federal program that helps schools and libraries afford broadband internet is under review by the Trump administration, leaving education officials and advocates worried about potentially significant cuts. The E-Rate program provides about $3 billion annually for internet access and…
SC legislators passed changes to income, property taxes. Senators say they aren’t done.
A committee of senators met for the first time this week to talk about potential sweeping changes to the state's tax code.
SC approves state funding for Flock cameras despite growing privacy concerns
Some SC law enforcement are doubling down on the use of Flock cameras, even as scrutiny of the surveillance devices has mounted nationwide.
On the 25th anniversary of 9/11, States Newsroom editor remembers the heroes of Flight 93
On a rural stretch of land in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, an open meadow filled with bright wildflowers, a memorial grove of trees and a giant boulder marks the spot where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed on Sept. 11, 2001. States Newsroom’s Pennsylvania Capital-Star Editor-in-Chief Tim Lambert recently revisited…
How 9/11 changed the way America surveils its citizens
Twenty-five years after 9/11, the surveillance infrastructure built and expanded in its aftermath has become part of a far larger digital ecosystem — producing tools that can collect and analyze information on a scale unimaginable in 2001. The terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, did more than reshape the nation’s…
Students no longer remember 9/11. SC teachers aim to make sure they never forget.
Teaching about the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, remains vital in understanding what happened after, educators said.
Trump plan to send $5K to every adult projected to cost $1.2T and ‘explode’ the deficit
WASHINGTON — A proposal by President Donald Trump to give $5,000 to each American adult if Republicans retain control of the U.S. House and Senate in November would “explode” the national deficit and worsen inflation, according to an analysis issued Thursday by the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal…
Black children in SC are more likely to be detained than their white peers, report finds
The American Civil Liberties Union report also encouraged the state to stop locking up teens for breaking laws that apply only to minors.