News

Welcome to a soggy Wednesday. You're reading The State House Gavel, a daily reporter notebook by reporters Gavin Jackson, Russ McKinney and Maayan Schechter that previews and captures what goes on at the South Carolina Statehouse this year while lawmakers are in session.

South Carolina is at risk of experiencing severe weather on Wednesday. The most significant risk is mainly focused across the state's eastern half, where there could be a few tornadoes and damaging wind gusts of at least 60 mph.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — When a South Carolina man who killed his ex-girlfriend's parents with a baseball bat steps into the death row chamber Friday night, it won't be lethal injection or electrocution that ends his life.

Happy Tuesday, and (we hope) a *warm* welcome to the month of March. It's Week 8 of the South Carolina legislative calendar. The S.C. House and Senate gavel in at noon. First, we hope all our readers in the Grand Strand and surrounding Pee Dee areas are safe after this weekend's wildfires. Gov. Henry McMaster issued a state of emergency, which also bans any outdoor burning and could result in fines and/or jail time.

Crews battled wildfires in North and South Carolina on Sunday amid dry conditions and gusty winds as residents were forced to evacuate in some areas.

On Sunday, 175 wildfires raged across many areas of South Carolina. This weekend, very strong gusts of wind affected much of the Southeast and Middle Atlantic. This was after the passage of a cold front, which brought strong, very dry northerly winds. Low humidity levels and strong winds can propagate fires quickly. The high-pressure system is moving toward the east, but on Monday, fire weather conditions are still expected across much of South Carolina.