Palmetto State News

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced that the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas has temporarily blocked the Biden administration’s plan to forgive certain college student loans. The court issued a preliminary injunction on Monday afternoon in a lawsuit filed by South Carolina, Alaska, and Texas.

Grand Strand man arrested on charges related to child sexual abuse material

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the arrest of Durrelle Tyshaun Taylor, 39, of Little River, S.C., on 10 charges connected to the sexual exploitation of minors. Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators with the Mount Pleasant Police Department made the arrest. Investigators with the Attorney General's Office, also a member of the state's ICAC Task Force, assisted with the investigation.

Greenville man arrested on charges related to child sexual abuse material

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the arrest of Joshua Matthew Thomas, 18, of Greenville, S.C., on three charges connected to the sexual exploitation of minors. Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators with the Greenville County Sheriff's Office made the arrest. Investigators with the Attorney General's Office, also a member of the state's ICAC Task Force, assisted with the investigation.

Schneider Electric expands operations with $23.8M investment creating 280 jobs

Schneider Electric, a prominent figure in energy management and automation, announced today its plans to expand operations in Oconee and Richland counties, South Carolina. The company's combined investment of $23.8 million is expected to create 280 new jobs throughout 2024.

Lawmakers push for vote on transferring illicit Russian assets act

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and Joe Manchin (I-West Virginia), along with U.S. Representatives Brendan Boyle (D-Pennsylvania), Bill Keating (D-Massachusetts), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pennsylvania), have called on Congressional leaders to bring the Transferring Illicit Assets to Ukraine Act to the Senate and House floors.

South Carolina's public pensions receive $3.4 million in contributions for 2022

In 2022, South Carolina had received $3.4 million in contributions to its public pension funds, according to data obtained from the U.S. Census Bureau's Annual Survey of Public Pensions.

Charleston County man arrested on charges related to child sexual abuse material

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the arrest of Adam Taylor Cossette, 31, on five charges connected to the attempted sexual exploitation of a minor. Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators with the Charleston County Sheriff's Office made the arrest.

Mount Pleasant nurse arrested for drug theft and exploitation

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the arrest of Heather Leigh Smith, a 44-year-old nurse from Mount Pleasant, on charges related to drug theft and exploitation of vulnerable adults. The arrest was made by the office’s Vulnerable Adults and Medicaid Provider Fraud unit (VAMPF) in collaboration with the Bureau of Drug Control at the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC).

ElringKlinger Group invests $40M in first South Carolina operation

ElringKlinger Group, an automotive supplier headquartered in Germany, has announced its decision to establish its first South Carolina operation in Pickens County. The $40.3 million investment is expected to create 115 new jobs.

Barnwell woman arrested for exploiting assisted living resident

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the arrest of Phyllis J. Daniels, a 36-year-old resident of Barnwell, S.C., on charges related to the exploitation of a vulnerable adult and financial transaction card fraud. The arrest was carried out by the Vulnerable Adults and Medicaid Provider Fraud unit (VAMPF) in conjunction with the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI).

Gov. Henry McMaster's schedule includes economic mission trip to Germany

By Palmetto State News | Jun 23, 2024

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Gov. Henry McMaster, Lt. Gov. Pamela S. Evette, and First Lady Peggy McMaster have released their schedules for the week of June 23, 2024.

Senators introduce bill for congressional oversight on arms sales changes

By Palmetto State News | Jun 21, 2024

U.S. Senators Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) have introduced the Maintaining Our Ironclad Commitment to Israel’s Security Act. The legislation aims to ensure congressional oversight of proposed changes to arms sales to Israel.

Senator Tim Scott supports new bill on nuclear energy

By Palmetto State News | Jun 21, 2024

WASHINGTON — This week, U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) voted in favor of the Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy (ADVANCE) Act, which passed as part of the Fire Grants and Safety Act by a vote of 88-2 and will now head to the president’s desk to be signed into law.

Bipartisan congressional resolution condemns Maduro regime ahead of Venezuelan elections

By Palmetto State News | Jun 21, 2024

U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and Marco Rubio (R-Florida), along with U.S. Representatives Carlos Gimenez (R-Florida-28), Maria Salazar (R-Florida-27), and Jared Moskowitz (D-Florida-23), introduced a bipartisan, bicameral resolution this week condemning the regime of Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela.

Analysis: South Carolina among 24 states affiliated with 'hyper-partisan' voter data group

South Carolina is among 24 states that are members of a national voter data group accused of partisanship in its work to expand voter rolls and lacking in transparency, an analysis by the Palmetto State News found.

Georgia man charged with distributing child sexual abuse material

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the arrest of Trey Cameron Leonard, 22, of Sugar Hill, GA, on two charges connected to the sexual exploitation of a minor. Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators with the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office made the arrest.

Graham introduces bill designating Russia a state sponsor

U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) introduced a bill to designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism under U.S. law.

Senators demand answers on release of terror watchlist suspects into U.S

U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) joined Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and eight of their Senate Republican colleagues in a letter to the Biden administration demanding answers for Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) failure to share information about the apprehension and subsequent release of suspects on the terror watchlist into the U.S.

Average VA purchase loan amount in South Carolina increases from 2022 to 2023