Charleston festivals in full bloom
Thousands milled through Charleston over Memorial Day weekend as Spoleto Festival USA and its city-backed companion, Piccolo Spoleto, opened and thrilled audiences across the Holy City. In addition to several stories linked in this issue, you can keep up with the latest with full coverage in the Charleston City Paper.com, which will publish more than 50 stories in coming days about arts events.
Brack: Are we headed back to "most terrible days?"
"Something that Emory Campbell, the sage of Hilton Head Island, said in 2018 has been rumbling around my head as South Carolina marches backward toward more discrimination against Black voters, transgender students and women who want to make decisions about their bodies."
Medal of Honor Museum now open
Nine Medal of Honor recipients gathered at the entrance of the new National Medal of Honor Museum, designed to pay homage to the nation's most highly decorated war heroes at Patriots Point.
FESTIVALS: Piccolo Spoleto continues
Piccolo Spoleto continues its weeks-long festival with shows and concerts throughout the Charleston area. The festival ends June 9.
Spoleto's 'Romeo & Juliet' puts a new twist on a classic love story
Gulla helders sing 'the old songs' at Spoleto
Spoleto returns to Charleston with $42M economic boost
Newly appointed chamber music director prepares for new role
REVIEW: Taking a page from Virgil in an absorbing new work
Dark Noon retells American history through South African lens
"Righteous Gemstones' star to perform at Theatre 99 this weekend
GUN VIOLENCE: Lowcountry native, 'General Hospital' actor shot, killed in L.A.
Lowcountry native Johnny Wactor, who was known for his role in “General Hospital,” was shot and killed early Saturday during an apparent attempted robbery in downtown Los Angeles, according to multiple outlets.
Lumberton man charged in multi-location Myrtle Beach shooting
One dead in Horry Co. shooting
Sumter Co. woman found dead in home with gunshot wound
Driver killed, passenger injured in Sumter shooting
Summverille native, actor killed in LA shooting
Officer shot dead in Florence Co. home
How Columbia uses city cameras, gunshot sensors to solve cases
'General Hospital' actor, Lowcountry native shot and killed in L.A.
Body found in Williamsburg Co. connected to weekend shooting in Lake City
Why June primaries are pivotal to South Carolina
In South Carolina, the pivotal election for many offices will be the June primaries, for which early voting begins Tuesday. All 170 seats in the legislature will be up, along with many county and local races.
Nine incumbents face challengers in Spartanburg Co.
Early voting for Florence Co. begins
Ten seats that could most likely flip this November
State House 109 candidate Bright withdraws from race
2024: Tuned-out voters could decide 2024
Politically disengaged Americans are increasingly Trump-curious, but President Biden has a shot at winning some of them back. Reaching them in a changed media environment will be his challenge.
Seven states where Trump could expand the map in November
Democrats in full-blown 'freakout' over Biden
Kennedy could impact the election
Voter outreach groups targeted by GOP-led states struggle to do work
Biden campaign enlists Jan. 6 officers to campaign in key states
Housing costs are a sleeper issue in this year's election
Trump makes sweeping promises to donors on fundraising tour
TRIAL: Trump lawyers criticize gag order request
The request came after Donald Trump falsely suggested on social media that F.B.I. agents were authorized to shoot him when they searched Mar-a-Lago.
Prosecutors, defense lawyers make final pitch to jury
Trump faces final act of historic criminal trial
Trump leans into outlaw image as trial ends
WORLD: Netanyahu calls deaths in Rafah an 'accident'
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s comments came as international condemnation mounted over the airstrike, which Gaza officials said killed 45 people.
Israeli strike kills 45 in Palestinian encampment
Spain, Norway formally recognize a Palestinian state
Palestinians live in tents, search for food as Israel continues to strike
Global outrage mounts after Israeli strike on Rafah camp
Eyewitnesses describe deadly Rafah air strike
Chiquola Mill to be restored with $2.5M grant
The Town of Honea Path received a $2,650,770 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for remediation and cleanup efforts at the Historic Chiquola Mill site, which closed in 2003.
Old Europe opens second location in the Upstate
Old Europe Coffee and Desserts opened its second location on Bridgeway Satation in Simpsonville.
Upscale retailer to open first Southeast branch in Charleston Place Hotel
Upscale women’s clothing store La Ligne will open its first retail location in the Southeast in The Charleston Place this fall.
New building underway for Mount Pleasant auto dealer
Galeana CDR+J Dealership is constructing a new 45,000-square-foot showroom and service building on Park Avenue Boulevard, with an expected opening date of October 2024.
$50K grant to provide kayaks, paddle boards to those dealing with disabilities
A $50,000 grant from The Hartford insurance and financial services company helped fund Adaptive Expeditions, a Charleston-based group that helps those with special needs find customized equipment and hosts events that can accommodate them.
Foreign manufacturer's boost Charleston port's nurdle export boom
Outbound shipments of resins are booming again now that pandemic-related supply-chain delays have eased. The Port of Charleston saw a 43% increase in exports of the commodity in 2023 compared to the prior year.
S.C. buyers have more wiggle-room thanks to dip in mortgage rates
Homebuyers now have more than 22,000 options to choose from and the advantage of slightly lower borrowing costs heading into summer.
Publix rebuild to leave Daniel Island without a grocery store for some time
The only full-service grocery store on Daniel Island is a step closer to being demolished and replaced, leaving residents without a supermarket for an extended period.
Converse Mills Loft celebrates the past
The mill, built in 1896, once employed 1,300 workers and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It's now a residential living community called Converse Mill Lofts that includes 173 loft apartments.
Florence After 5 set to have downtown business booming
The Florence After 5 block party is set to start its summer series May 31 at The Dispensary at 5:30 p.m. The Town Hall event coordinator said the block party crowd heads out to restaurants and clubs downtown after the party ends at 8:30 p.m.
Popular Georgetown brewery expanding
Winyah Bay Brewing Company recently moved into a new home near the corner of Front and King streets in the old Kudzu Bakery building with a tap room and a much larger brewing system.
Summer travel season kicks off at Charleston International
This Memorial Day weekend has been one of the busiest for air travel in the past 20 years. The TSA says they screened nearly 3 million people across the country on Friday alone, the highest single-day number in history
Barrier islands experience holiday traffic congestion
Study shows reduced budget support in Tri-County despite wage growth
A study from Trident United Way analyzed several thousand households across South Carolina from 2021-2022 and saw increases in costs of living, despite an increase in wages and earnings.
Winthrop celebrates integration, grapples with missteps
The Rock Hill university celebrated its integration at its 50th year marker and again this year, when the student population is 31 percent Black and 14 percent other ethnicities.
CofC left out of NCAA tournament; Clemson, USC, Coastal Carolina make the cut
The College of Charleston was left out of the Field of 64 despite winning the CAA regular season championship, finishing 41-14 overall. Clemson, USC and Coastal Carolina, though, made the cut.
Schedule, opponents for Clemson's NCAA games
CofC 'owed an apology' for tournament snub, baseball coach says
CofC baseball coach responds to being snubbed in tournament
CofC baseball coach responds to being snubbed in tournament
Charleston police investigate claims against special education teacher
Charleston Police are investigating claims made against a special education teacher at Drayton Hall Elementary School who allegedly assaulted a student May 13. The teacher was placed on administrative leave pending an investigation.
Charleston Co. offering final chance for input on climate action plan
Charleston County is finalizing a new plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emission 60% by 2035, with net-zero total emissions by 2050.
SCDNR closes shellfish harvesting season
The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources announced the closure of the 2023-2024 shellfish harvesting season until fall when the water temperatures cool down to ensure that shellfish are once again safe for harvesting and consumption.
Climate change added a month's worth of hot days in the past year
Since last May, the average person experienced 26 more days of abnormal warmth than they would have without global warming, a new analysis found.
New public art display graces Vista district in Columbia
The sculpture was created by a Pittsburgh-based artist and represents the Vista’s growth over time.
North Charleston police department training center simulates split-second decision-making
In partnership with Trident Technical College, the North Charleston Police Department’s new Reality-Based Training Center helps officers train to deal with real-world scenarios, such as high-stress, active-shooter situations using virtual reality.
New lawsuit connected to Parker's, Murdaugh case
A South Carolina law firm is now being sued by an investigative firm that says it was hired to “dig up” information on Alex Murdaugh and his family.
Investigation of Paul Murdaugh causes lawsuit connected to Beach case
S.C. police chief sues city after suspension
Bennettsville Police Chief Kevin Miller filed a lawsuit against the city administrator and city leaders, accusing the administrator of targeting him to force the chief out of his job.
Residents share poor conditions at Summerville affordable housing complex
No air conditioning, black mold, leaking water into ceilings and floors and no hot water are just a few problems residents at one apartment complex in Summerville say they are dealing with.
New state-of-the-art soccer facility coming to Charleston
The South Carolina Surf Soccer Club in partnership with a local family has broken ground on a new recreational facility catered to the youth soccer community in Awendaw.
Routledge: Americans must balance personal identity with a shared national identity
"While our group-oriented nature often gets a bad rap because it can sometimes fuel prejudice, discrimination and violence, mainly when other groups are perceived as a threat, it also helps build and maintain thriving organizations, communities and nations."
Senn is the best choice in S.C. Senate 41 GOP primary
"Charleston Sen. Sandy Senn has campaign posters up featuring freshman Rep. Matt Leber’s police mug shot and warning women to look out, seeing as his former wife accused him of domestic violence and there have been other allegations of illegal hot-headedness."
Obeidallah: Libertarians gave Trump the reception he deserves
"And while Trump did attract some cheers when he nakedly pandered to the crowd, such when he promised to appoint a Libertarian to his cabinet if he wins, the headlines across the nation told the story of Trump getting repeatedly heckled unlike anything we’ve seen before in this campaign."
Gates: Why I'm donating $1B towards women's rights
"A philanthropist is focusing on gender issues around the world, including abortion access in the United States."
Bird: Can Roy Cohn save Trump one last time?
"The wily lawyer taught Mr. Trump how to manipulate people and the law, and it’s all on display in a Lower Manhattan courtroom."
Coaston: Ted Cruz has strong opinions about college sports
"Senator Ted Cruz, the Texas Republican, has been trying to help create a solution for college sports."
Buehler and Siegel: 1974 film shows glimpse inside Ellis Island
"In the early 1970s, two high school filmmakers ventured out in a rowboat to make a 16 mm film about an abandoned space nearby: Ellis Island."
Shori: South Africa is becoming something new, and it's not good
"The country is in the midst of another complex transformation."
Krugman: The stench of climate change denial
"What overflowing septic tanks tell us about the future."
Coy: American's aren't stupid about climate change
"People may not fully understand the economy, but their feelings about it contain some wisdom."