South Carolina

We All Should Be Rooting for the Infrastructure Implementation Task Force

COMMENTARY | Identifying the people and places left behind in the current economy is critical.

Full FDA Approval of Pfizer Vaccine Prompts Swift Mandates for State, Local Government Workers

Following approval for the vaccine, some leaders across the country immediately tell public employees and college students to get vaccinated now.

Lifetime Registry for Sex Offenders is Unconstitutional, a State Supreme Court Rules

Calling South Carolina’s law “the most stringent in the country,” the unanimous ruling requires the General Assembly to amend the policy within 12 months.

South Carolina Brings Back the Firing Squad for Executions

Amid a lethal injection drug shortage, the state has put no inmates to death in a decade. Those on death row must now choose between the electric chair and firing squad if drugs are unavailable.

In Alabama, South Carolina and Louisiana, CVS Vaccine Appointments Go Unfilled

“We know we have work to do to engage with the community to get the word out about the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine,” says one public health expert.

Magistrate Judges Took Bribes, Stole Money and Mishandled Cases. South Carolina Officials Now Want Reform.

South Carolina lawmakers are eyeing reforms to strengthen oversight of magistrate judges after ProPublica and The Post and Courier found some had been appointed and reappointed despite ethical and professional lapses.

States Go After Small Businesses on Amazon—and Sometimes Amazon—for Millions in Back Sales Taxes

The Supreme Court in 2018 gave states the power to make new rules for collecting sales taxes online. But back taxes on products sold by small businesses on Amazon’s marketplace are still a major point of dispute.

Supreme Court Rules that Absentee Ballots in One State Must Be Signed by a Witness

Democrats warned that requiring absentee ballots to be signed by a witness would pose a voting barrier during the pandemic. Republicans said it will prevent fraud.

State Parks See Overcrowding as Temperatures Climb

State parks across the country have limited capacity to encourage social distancing, leading to closures over the weekend as temperatures warmed and people flocked outdoors.

Cities Take Lead on Coronavirus Response At Times, Leading to Friction With States

Debates over state and local authority could come into play going forward as government leaders decide on how to dial back restrictions and restart the economy.

State Park Debuts Virtual Reality Hike

Table Rock State Park in South Carolina now provides a 5-minute virtual hike, offered for free at the park's visitor center to anyone who can't—or doesn't want to—walk the real thing.

South Carolina Lawmaker Wants to Mandate Media Literacy Classes

The proposal would aim to create a media literacy curriculum for public schools by the 2021-2022 school year.

South Carolina Becomes First Non-Medicaid Expansion State to Enact Work Requirements

The state says it will boost people out of poverty. Critics say thousands will lose coverage.

As Meth Use Surges, One Region Tries to Combat ‘The Pull’

Meth 2.0 is stronger and cheaper than the old home-cooked variety.

After 30 Years, the Last State Finally Automated Its Child Support System

South Carolina struggled for decades to switch from manual process run by counties to a largely automated system run by the state.

Phone Companies Make Pact with State Attorneys General to Combat Robocalls

As part of the agreement, 12 phone carriers pledged to implement call-blocking technology and to monitor their networks for illegal robocalls.

Alabama House Passes Bill to Criminalize Most Abortions

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | State considers no money for jails in Michigan counties that don’t cooperate with ICE … Residents in L.A. take on a greater role in police misconduct cases … Food insecurity impacts every county in the U.S.

How a School District Did Away with Snow Days

In Anderson, South Carolina, school officials traded inclement weather closures for remote learning.

Cracking Down on Fake Service Dogs

Twenty-eight states have passed laws penalizing people for misrepresenting their pets as service dogs, with two more considering legislation this spring.

Opioid Money Has Helped, But States Want More

States are eyeing lawsuits against drug manufacturers or assessments against the companies as possible ways to provide more money.