News

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.

With the possibility of a lot of federal money leaving our state due to grant and contract cancellations coming out of Washington, we are going to talk today with one of our resident statewide fellow journalists to find out what she sees is happening as a result of this uncertainty. Mike Switzer interviews Jessica Holdman, a reporter with the South Carolina Daily Gazette in Columbia, S.C.

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for March 01, 2025: we’re recapping major bills and action in the state Senate and House from this week including the school voucher bill; an interview with House Education Committee Chairwoman Shannon Erickson; what the House did to the Senate’s plan and where it goes next; and more!