Russ McKinney
Russ McKinney
Reporter, Producer
Russ McKinney has 30 years of experience in radio news and public affairs. He is a former broadcast news reporter in Spartanburg, Columbia and Atlanta. He served as Press Secretary to former S.C. Governor Dick Riley for two terms, and for 20 years was the chief public affairs officer for the University of South Carolina.
Stories
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The State House Gavel: Treasurer goes to GOP faithful as fight over $1.8B error heats up
April 15, 2025Maayan Schechter went to the Upstate for the Greenville GOP Convention, offering a preview of the 2026 Republican race for governor. What we're watching in Week 14 of the legislative session as the deadline for lawmakers to go home nears. -
The State House Gavel: SC economists eye tariff impacts, earmark ban reaction
April 11, 2025South Carolina economists project strong revenue but warn of potential tariff impacts on state projections. More details on the Legislature's plan to delay income tax overhaul to next year amid an uncertain economy and what Democrats are saying about ending earmarks. -
The State House Gavel: Senate Finance approves budget that won't include earmarks
April 10, 2025In a rare joint move, the House and Senate budget chairmen said that the 2025-26 fiscal year budget will not include earmarks. And speaking of the budget that passed the Senate Finance Committee, the latest on the income tax plan. -
The State House Gavel: 5 bills lawmakers face with 1 month left
April 08, 2025From liquor liability to private school tuition vouchers, South Carolina lawmakers have several large items staring them down before they go home for the year next month. A breakdown of some top issues left. Gov. Henry McMaster defended his pick to lead the new environmental... -
The State House Gavel: Gov's public health pick fails to advance, GOP pushback pauses tax plan
April 04, 2025A calendar reminder: There are five more official weeks of session, accounting for 15 days, plus one more day for the Senate's Monday, April 21 hearing over the state treasurer. But the calendar is actually more narrow than that, given House furlough plans and Senate plans... -
The State House Gavel: Treasurer's future, House OKs anti-DEI bill and Senate passes energy
April 03, 2025It's the final legislative day of Week 12, which means the General Assembly has exactly one more month to go (which translates roughly to 15 or so official days, minus days off) until the final day of the session, sine die, on May 8.