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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SC Senate Approves $550m Bond Bill for Ports Could Pave Way for Long Planned Jasper Ocean Terminal
February 26, 2021South Carolina’s ports are one of its’ major economic engines with over a $63 Billion impact on the state’s economy each year. In an effort to maintain the Port of Charleston’s competitiveness with other east coast ports, the State Senate this week approved a resolution... -
Fetal Heartbeat Bill Is Now Law - Legal Challenges Already Underway
February 19, 2021South Carolina has a new, restrictive abortion law. The House of Representatives this week gave final passage to the Fetal Heartbeat Bill which bans most abortions, and Gov. McMaster signed it into law. While the new law is now in effect, it’s already being challenged in... -
SC House Set to Debate Fetal Heartbeat Abortion Bill
February 12, 2021When state lawmakers return to Columbia next week the House of Representatives is expected to debate the Fetal Heartbeat Abortion bill. The measure, which has already been approved by the Senate, would forbid doctors from performing abortions once a fetal heartbeat is... -
Vaccination Politics - Governor and Senate Spar Over State Vaccination Plans
February 05, 2021The slow pace of COVID vaccinations across the state, and the need to vaccinate teachers in an effort to get more students in classrooms reached a boiling point at the Statehouse this week. In the Senate there was harsh criticism of DHEC, the state’s public health agency for... -
After 30 Years of Trying S.C. Senate Passes Abortion Bill
January 29, 2021It took 16 attempts over 30 years, but this week the State Senate passed a bill that bans most abortions in the state. Using its new commanding Republican majority the Senate approved the so-called "fetal heartbeat" bill which prohibits doctors from performing an abortion... -
Fetal Heartbeat Bill Headed to S.C. Senate Floor for Debate
January 22, 2021Once again this legislative session, conservative members of the SC General Assembly are attempting to restrict abortion in the state. A bill that would ban almost all abortions is being fast tracked in the State Senate. In past years abortion bills have been derailed in the...