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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After Delays, SC Requests Federal Relief for Small Towns
August 30, 2021Small towns in South Carolina waiting on $435 million in pandemic relief aid are now one step closer to getting ahold of those funds. The state Department of Administration requested South Carolina's share of coronavirus recovery money from the federal government Friday as... -
Growing Calls for Repeal Of The State Prohibition On Masks Mandates In SC Schools
August 19, 2021The political posturing over the question of mandating the wearing of masks in the state’s public schools has been simmering for some time. But this week the issue became front and center at the Statehouse, in school districts and college campuses, and even at the state’s... -
Rising Gas Tax Allows SC DOT to Dramatically Increase Road Improvements
July 01, 2021The tax paid on a gallon of gasoline in the state increases by two cents this July 1 putting it at just under 27 cents-per- gallon. It marks the fifth year of a six year, phased-in 12 cents a gallon increase in the gas tax to generate more money for highway and bridge... -
SC General Assembly Formally Adjourns 2021 Session
May 14, 2021This was the final week of the state legislature’s regular session. While the last days of the session didn’t conclude with a grand finale of last-minute accomplishments like in many past sessions, for conservative members of the General Assembly this was a year of signal... -
Two Key Bills Approved in SC General Assembly with One Week Remaining in Session
May 07, 2021Two controversial bills important to the Republican majority made it through the state legislature this week with a week to spare in this year’s session. Bills that could see the resumption of the death penalty, and handguns allowed to be carried in public won final approval... -
High Profile Bills Remain Alive as S.C. Legislative Session Nears End
April 30, 2021With just two weeks left in this year’s regular session of the state legislature, the fates of a number of high-profile, controversial bills that backers hope to see enacted into law this year remain unclear. Bills that would create a hate crimes law and legalize the use of...