South Carolina Daily Gazette

The South Carolina Daily Gazette is a nonprofit, unbiased news platform that focuses on state government and its officials. It highlights how their choices affect residents throughout the Palmetto State.

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Volvo suspends production at SC plant citing parts shortages

1 week ago | scdailygazette.com | David Wren

by David Wren, SC Daily Gazette May 30, 2025 Volvo Cars has halted production at its Lowcountry plant because of a parts shortage, highlighting the growing supply chain issues automakers nationwide are experiencing in the wake of President Donald Trump’s on-again, off-again tariffs.
Dorchester County purchase could bring SC state forest count to 7

1 week ago | scdailygazette.com | Jessica Holdman

by Jessica Holdman, SC Daily Gazette May 29, 2025 The number of state forests in South Carolina could jump from five to seven. A land conservation group bought a 1,644-acre forest tract in the Lowcountry with plans to transfer it to the state Forestry Commission for management. Thursday’s announcement from Dorchester County follows a 2,700-acre purchase in Jasper County two weeks ago by the Nature Conservancy that was expected to become the first new state forest in 20 years.
SC governor celebrates new law aimed at reducing insurance costs for restaurants, businesses

1 week ago | scdailygazette.com | Jessica Holdman

COLUMBIA — South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster celebrated a law Wednesday that aims to put the brakes on rising insurance costs faced by businesses, especially bars and restaurants, in the Palmetto State. The new law, which the governor actually signed last week, gives establishments that sell alcohol options, as well as requirements, for reducing their minimum insurance coverage.
SC legislators pass $14.7B spending plan despite concerns over legislators' pay raise • SC Daily Gazette

1 week ago | scdailygazette.com | Skylar Laird

COLUMBIA — South Carolina legislators sent their final budget plan to Gov. Henry McMaster on Wednesday despite complaints from some legislators about their $18,000 raises. This year’s $14.7 billion spending plan, which the Senate approved 37-5 and the House 88-25, includes a clause that would raise the amount legislators receive for in-district expenses from $1,000 to $2,500 per month.
Columbia City Council defers conversion therapy vote again

1 week ago | scdailygazette.com | Skylar Laird

COLUMBIA — The Columbia City Council again deferred a vote to repeal an ordinance banning so-called conversion therapy Tuesday despite the looming threat of losing millions in state dollars. The 2021 ordinance, which threatens a $500 fine for licensed therapists who attempt to change the sexual orientation or gender identity of an LGBTQ+ minor, has never been used, according to the mayor’s office.
New law requires seatbelts for children riding in golf carts on SC roads

1 week ago | scdailygazette.com | Jessica Holdman

A new state law lets South Carolina cities set their own rules for where and when golf carts can be driven but requires a new rule for passengers: Children under 12 must buckle up. As initially proposed, the bill authorized any county to pass an ordinance allowing golf carts with headlights and rear lights to be driven at night. The purpose was to expand on permission that a 2016 law gave only to certain barrier islands.
Upcoming comic books tell story of SC Civil War hero Robert Smalls, with hopes for movie adaptation

1 week ago | scdailygazette.com | Skylar Laird

When Rob Edwards started telling people he was writing a comic book about South Carolina Civil War hero Robert Smalls, he’d have to accompany it with an explanation of Smalls’ life. Now, when he mentions his graphic novel, many people already know Smalls’ story, he said. “It’s really fantastic to see,” said Edwards, a writer and producer who lives in Los Angeles. “And no one is more deserving than Capt.
Santee Cooper, cooperatives squabble over data center power bill and whose customers should pay

2 weeks ago | scdailygazette.com | Jessica Holdman

South Carolina’s state-owned utility company and the electric cooperatives it serves are feuding over the power bill for a long-time Google data center in the Lowcountry. At stake in the business dispute is between $16 million and $24 million annually, according to lawyers for the two utility groups. The cooperatives say that’s a savings that could be divided out among all of their roughly to reduce their power bills.
How SC's budget funds education • SC Daily Gazette

2 weeks ago | scdailygazette.com | Skylar Laird

COLUMBIA — South Carolina’s traditional K-12 public schools will receive a bigger share of new money in the coming school year under a compromise approved this week. An adjustment in calculations ultimately shifted nearly $10 million of a $112 million sum from charter schools to traditional public schools, according to data provided by the state Department of Education.
From foster care to fine arts, SC has hundreds of citizen boards and lots of openings to fill

2 weeks ago | scdailygazette.com | Jessica Holdman

COLUMBIA — Before then-Gov. David Beasley asked her to join South Carolina’s Juvenile Parole Board some three decades ago, Terrye Seckinger was unaware there was a group of citizens deciding which incarcerated youth should be allowed to rejoin the community and which should remain in state custody for crimes they committed as children. Since then, she has served on a total of five citizen governing boards covering criminal justice and education in the state.