Prosecution may rest case in Murdaugh trial this week
As the fourth week of the double murder trial of disbarred lawyer Alex Murdaugh begins today in Colleton County, media outlets are reporting that the prosecution may rest its case this week as tensions appear to be rising between lawyers.
Over the last three weeks, the 12 jurors and five alternates have heard wide-ranging, sometimes disjointed, testimony about the deaths of Murdaugh's wife and younger son at a family estate in June 2021. They've learned about evidence from cell phones, guns and more. They've heard about alleged financial improprieties and perceived betrayals.
Defense lawyers are expected to try to continue to poke holes in the prosecution's theory that the deaths were a result of a strategy to deflect attention from Murdaugh's alleged theft of millions of dollars.
Brack: Put yourself in a seat at the Murdaugh trial
"The Murdaugh trial could go on for three more weeks. In a lot of ways, trials like this feature a lot of wasted time as lawyers get witnesses to testify, repeat and sometimes three-peat small details. It’s sometimes hard to figure out the relevance of what’s being said as prosecutors continue to build their case. For one-day visitors, it can be tedious. “It’s not Matlock,” one television anchor reflected, noting that long trials are slow-going and don’t fit into an hour-long show."
MURDAUGH: Wife worried about money, truthfulness
At the end of the third week of the double-murder trial of disbarred lawyer Alex Murdaugh in South Carolina, a housekeeper testified that his murdered wife was worried about money and his truthfulness days before she died.
Judge denies defense motion for mistrial
Trial opens hidden window to legal spending, more
Week 4 of Murdaugh trial to begin today
Trial highlights trust issues that keeps alleged schemes hidden
Colleagues, caregivers details Murdaugh's dark side in week 3
Housekeeper says she never saw some clothes after deaths
Takeaways from murder trial after 15 days of testimony
SPY BALLOONS: Here's the latest on what we know
the U.S. and Canada have been busy intercepting unidentified flying objects -- over Alaska on Friday, over the Yukon Territory Saturday and over Michigan on Sunday.
Biden says shoot down of Alaska object was success
Chinese aims blinding laser at Philippine vessel
Mystery over UFOs could become political storm
Object shot down over Lake Huron in Michigan
U.S. jet shoots down object flying over Canada
Theories about about objects, but no answers
SUPER BOWL: Chiefs edge Eagles 38-35
A late game drive set up a winning kick to allow the Kansas City Chiefs to edge the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday in the Super Bowl.
Palmetto State connections to the Super Bowl
This year's Super Bowl commercials
Controversial penalty call plays big role in outcome
Chiefs surge in 2nd half to edge past Eagles
Full Super Bowl coverage
An array of stories about the game from how QB Patrick Mahomes brightens the NFL's future to how close the Eagles came to winning to Rihanna's halftime performance.
State GOP to take over reorganization of Greenville Co. GOP
The state party is worried about alienation of mainline Republican voters, according to this story.
Eckstrom's $3.5 billion gaffe to lead to reckoning
A $3.5 billion accounting mistake over 10 years by state Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom may lead to a legislative reckoning as calls for his resignation mount. His office is in charge of authorizing state expenditures.
Week in review: S.C. Senate passes new abortion ban
The South Carolina Senate passed a new abortion ban Thursday, claiming that several clarifications of the bill’s language and repeals of conflicting laws will satisfy a majority on the S.C. Supreme Court, now an all-male bench.
Critical race theory on table in legislature in past week
GOP passes abortion bill, teaching restrictions in S.C. General Assembly
Bills restrict gender-affirming care in S.C., elsewhere
A look at four states, including S.C., that have bills to restrict gender-affirming care for people over 18.
WORLD: Russians abandoning Russia during wartime
Hundreds of thousands reportedly have left Russia since it invaded Ukraine.
Quake death toll surpasses 36,000
2024: Trump's attacks grow on DeSantis, who looks for ways to fight back
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, the leading Republican alternative to former President Donald Trump in the 2024 race to be the party's nominee, is deflecting as Trump increases attacks.
Haley's challenge is whether voters will back her over Trump
Rucker tourism ad to air in some markets during Super Bowl
Haley faces "high wire act" against Trump in presidential bid
Senate seats that could flip in 2024
Lake carries election denier banner across Iowa
Republicans looking at a 2024 run
How Fifth Third Bank plans to grow in S.C.
The bank plans four more locations by the end of the year... and to have 25 by the end of 2025.
Amazon, S.C. head to court over $12.5 million in sales taxes
The sales tax dispute has been going on for seven years.
Ports agency asks for expedited review on labor ruling
The State Ports Authority wants an appellate court to review a labor decision that has halted almost all container operations at a new North Charleston terminal.
$4.2 billion of investments pledged for Spartanburg Co. in 2022
A look back at the investments that have been announced for the Upstate county.
12 Black leaders to know
The Post and Courier profiles 12 Black leaders to know in a special Black History Month publication.
Creative conference celebrates Charleston's art community
Charleston graphic designer Alexander Griffin, owner of Gumbo Design Co., brings a “brand” new one-day conference to Charleston’s creative community Sunday at Holy City Brewing.
IRS decides most special state payments aren't taxable
The agency offered a guidance after it asked taxpayers in 21 states to wait before filing returns.
USC logs record number of freshman applicants
The number of applications for undergraduate admissions has increased more than four-fold in the last 20 years.
S.C. still doesn't have a poet laureate
The position has been vacant for a couple of years.
Big S.C. school districts block AI chatbot
School districts in Charleston, Berkeley and Greenville counties have blocked ChatGPT from school devices, concerned over academic integrity.
College Board slams Florida over "slander" of AP Black history course
Here's a look at the reaction of the College Board over what Florida did related to an AP Black history course.
College Board slams DeSantis administration
#1 USC overwhelms #3 LSU
The Lady Gamecocks keep getting better and better ... and now have 31 straight wins.
Lady Gamecocks remain undefeated by pounding LSU
Gamecocks keep undefeated record
Conservation groups keep eyes on Georgetown County
Future land purchases might be in this part of the state to protect wetland habitats and undeveloped land.
MUSC to take over Orangeburg hospitals, clinics
The Medical University will add The Regional Medical Center in Orangeburg and its affiliates as the 15th hospital in MUSC's system.
In "food deserts," some still find ways to eat healthy
A look at how some people are able to eat healthy despite the lack of convenient food sources.
Museum preserves "linthead" culture
This Columbia museum preserves part of the textile heritage of the state.
Charleston theaters seeing post-lockdown boom
"In the past few months, I’ve encountered a striking, repeated occurrence at many of my theater outings. After a measured return from a fluctuating pandemic, many houses have been packed."
Scoppe: Time to repeal S.C. law punishing teachers over pay
"Raise your hand if you think the main reason S.C. teachers lose their licenses is for having sex with students, or threatening co-workers or committing other crimes that make them unfit to remain in our classrooms."
Tecklenburg: We need to get Union Pier negotiation right
"The S.C. Ports Authority has unveiled its long-awaited draft plan for the redevelopment of Union Pier, and my unvarnished, first-blush reaction — which I’ve shared with port officials — is that it’s too tall and too dense, with too many hotel rooms, too much block-sized development and too little affordable housing."
Curb unwelcome Ashley River development
"The latest threat to the integrity of the Ashley River historic corridor is a new residential development planned in the city of North Charleston that would put dozens of homes on the river side of S.C. Highway 61."
Hicks: Folly could have avoided referendum
"The results were certified Thursday, and now the ordinance is law: Only 800 short-term rentals can operate on the island. Existing licenses — of which there are more than 1,100 — are grandfathered in. As those lapse, the number will decrease."
Malyerck: S.C.-first primary's success depends on N.H.
"There’s just one problem with the Democratic National Committee’s vote to shake up the presidential primary calendar by letting South Carolina leapfrog over New Hampshire to hold the first election: No one asked the folks in New Hampshire if they minded."
Charleston Co. deserves a better North Bridge
"After construction is finished on the Ashley River bike-pedestrian bridge — work is expected to begin later this year and wrap up a few years later — the Charleston region’s most problematic and dangerous route for cyclists and walkers will be found about five miles upriver."
Steves: Don't miss out on Europe's second cities
"Europe’s second cities tend to enjoy a creative edge, a strong civic spirit, a Rust Belt toughness, fun-loving eateries with cutting-edge menus, entertaining street art ... and far fewer tourists, which also means lower prices, a more authentic welcome and arguably a more honest cultural experience."
Rao: Five best Super Bowl ads
"Our apologies to the ad agencies that endeavored to craft the perfect Super Bowl commercial because the strongest celebrity endorsement of Sunday night might have been Rihanna briefly pausing her halftime show performance to fix her makeup using products from her Fenty Beauty line."
Rubin: Reform of police is happening without Congress
"In reality, the chances of reaching a deal with House Republicans on the issue are slim to none. But that does not mean reform is going nowhere. In fact, much is already being done to make police more accountable."
Lat, Shemtob: Trump's high court picks may not be what you think
"While conservative, none of his three appointments are nearly as conservative — nor as consistently conservative — as Justices Thomas and Alito. The Trump appointees are also not as unified as they might initially appear."
Warren: The S.C.-born artist who tells truth to White Americans
"His work focuses on all three forms of reparations, but with an emphasis on the “reparation of truth.” His family’s secret shame about his ancestors’ Klan membership is a metaphor for how white people more generally approach the shameful parts of American history."
Stevens: Haley has great future -- behind her
"No political figure better illustrates the tragic collapse of the modern Republican Party than Nikki Haley. There was a time not very long ago when she was everything the party thought it needed to win."