Palmetto State News

Governor Henry McMaster has authorized the deployment of South Carolina National Guard soldiers to Florida in response to Hurricane Milton. This decision follows a request from Florida for emergency assistance.

84 Lumber invests $13.4 million for new plant creating jobs in South Carolina

84 Lumber has announced the establishment of its second component plant in South Carolina, selecting Clarendon County for this expansion. The $13.4 million investment is expected to create 78 new jobs in the region.

Wilson leads lawsuit against CMS over new nursing home staffing rule

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson has joined forces with 20 state attorneys general and various organizations representing not-for-profit aging services providers to challenge a new federal staffing mandate for nursing homes. The lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court's Northern District of Iowa, aims to overturn the mandate imposed by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS).

Columbia man arrested for alleged sexual exploitation attempts involving minors

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the arrest of Jerry Wayne Williams, a 67-year-old resident of Columbia, South Carolina. Williams faces seven charges related to the attempted sexual exploitation of a minor. The arrest was carried out by Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators from the Mount Pleasant Police Department. Investigators from the U.S. Marshals Service, also part of the state's ICAC task force, assisted in the investigation.

Attorneys general reach $52M settlement with Marriott over Starwood data breach

Attorney General Alan Wilson announced a settlement involving Marriott International, Inc. following an investigation into a significant data breach of the Starwood guest reservation database. A coalition of 50 attorneys general and the Federal Trade Commission coordinated closely on this case, leading to parallel settlements. Marriott will pay $52 million to states and enhance its data security practices. South Carolina is set to receive $767,458 from this settlement.

Airline Trade Group: Policymakers should ‘ensure unnecessary regulation doesn’t eliminate’ credit card reward programs for South Carolinians

By Palmetto State News | Oct 8, 2024

Marli Collier, managing director of Airlines 4 America (A4A), said policymakers should protect credit card travel reward programs from “unnecessary regulations,” as the U.S. Senate now considers two bills that could impact such programs for South Carolina residents.

South Carolina AG sues TikTok over alleged consumer protection law violations

By Palmetto State News | Oct 8, 2024

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson has initiated legal action against TikTok, alleging violations of state consumer protection laws. This move is part of a larger effort by a bipartisan group of 14 attorneys general who have filed similar actions against the social media platform.

Birla Carbon invests $1 billion in South Carolina plant creating new jobs

By Palmetto State News | Oct 8, 2024

Birla Carbon, a global leader in carbon solutions, has announced plans to open its first operation in South Carolina. The company will invest $1 billion in Orangeburg County, creating 124 new jobs. Birla Carbon is known for manufacturing high-quality carbon additives and operates 17 facilities across 14 countries.

Governor McMaster to update public on hurricane recovery efforts

Governor Henry McMaster is scheduled to hold a media briefing alongside state emergency management officials. The purpose of the briefing is to update the public on South Carolina's recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene. The event will take place today, Monday, October 7, at 2:30 PM.

Team South Carolina County Days scheduled to aid hurricane victims

Governor Henry McMaster and Lieutenant Governor Pamela S. Evette have announced a series of Team South Carolina County Days aimed at assisting residents affected by Hurricane Helene. The events will take place in Clemson on October 9, Spartanburg on October 10, and Greenville on October 11. These gatherings provide an opportunity for locals to access disaster relief resources.

Gov. McMaster updates on Hurricane Helene response; meets President Biden

Gov. Henry McMaster, along with Lt. Gov. Pamela S. Evette and First Lady Peggy McMaster, has released their schedule for the week of October 7, 2024. On Monday, October 7 at 2:30 PM, Governor McMaster held a media briefing with state emergency management officials to update the public on South Carolina's response to Hurricane Helene at the South Carolina Emergency Operations Center in West Columbia.

Senate Republicans condemn Iran-backed Hamas; reaffirm support for Israel

One year after the terrorist attacks on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of dozens of Americans, U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), and the entire Senate Republican Conference have condemned Iran-backed Hamas for its actions. They have expressed support for Israel's right to self-defense and called for the release of American hostages still held by Hamas.

Senators reaffirm support for Israel on one-year anniversary of October 7 attacks

On the one-year anniversary of the October 7 attack on Israel, U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham, Joni Ernst, and 47 other Senate Republicans have issued a statement condemning Hamas for its actions and reaffirming support for Israel. The senators denounce violent antisemitic protests and emphasize Israel's right to self-defense.

Team South Carolina Days announced for Hurricane Helene recovery efforts

In response to the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, Governor Henry McMaster, and Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette have announced a series of Team South Carolina Days. These events aim to provide residents with access to essential federal, state, and nonprofit resources as the state begins its recovery process.

Analysis: South Carolina one of 25 states banning boys from playing girls’ high school sports

By Palmetto State News | Oct 6, 2024

As President Biden revealed new rules regarding Title IX protections in April of 2024, which redefined “sex” to include “gender-identity,” an analysis by Palmetto State News shows that South Carolina is one of 25 states that ban boys from playing in girls’ high school sports.

Lawmakers press DOJ for action on illegal voter registration

U.S. Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, alongside Senator Bill Hagerty from Tennessee and Congressman Andy Biggs of Arizona, has publicly criticized U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland over the Department of Justice's handling of illegal aliens registering to vote in American elections. They expressed concern about reports of non-citizens participating in federal elections and noted a lack of response from the DOJ to their inquiry sent on July 12, 2024.

FEMA commits resources following devastation in South Carolina

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has committed to visiting Aiken County and the Savannah River area in South Carolina. This decision follows a conversation between Graham and a FEMA representative, where he urged immediate contact with local officials due to significant devastation in the region.

Governor McMaster to visit Edgefield for hurricane recovery briefing

Governor Henry McMaster is scheduled to visit the Edgefield County Emergency Management Agency today. He will receive a briefing from local emergency management officials on their recovery efforts after Hurricane Helene. This will be followed by a media availability session.

Graham meets with Edgefield officials on hurricane recovery