Thumbs up
State leaders. Woo-hoo! What else can we say about the Volvo deal that will change people’s lives. Congratulations to Gov. Nikki Haley, Commerce Secretary Bobby Hitt, Santee Cooper President and CEO Lonnie Carter and the host of leaders who lured the company to locate in South Carolina.
Weapons bill. It’s good news that a bill that sought to get rid of training requirements for people to have concealed weapons permits apparently won’t fly this year. Giving guns to people who don’t know how to use them properly is sheer lunacy. More.
Greenville. Hats off to the Upstate city for ranking second in a Gallup survey of the nation’s cities with the most pride. We’re proud of you too. More.
New voting machines. It’s about time that the state got new machines. Let’s hope the new ones can be more accountable than the ones we now have. More.
Academic Magnet. Congratulations to the North Charleston high school, named the seventh best in the nation. More.
In the middle
Body cameras. It’s probably a good thing that the state passed a law to require police to have body cameras, but remember that technology can’t solve all problems — and body cameras can be turned off. Focus more on deepening community trust.
Thumbs down
Bright’s double whammy. Abortion opponent State Sen. Lee Bright, R-Spartanburg, is filibustering a bill on a 20-week abortion ban — because he doesn’t like the bill’s exceptions. But more importantly, he’s abusing his public position in a larger context because he doesn’t like what’s up next either — a bill to fix South Carolina’s terrible roads — which is ultimately is delaying Senate action.
Hardwick. Horry County politician Nelson Hardwick resigned this week from the S.C. House in wake of a possible sexual harassment probe, but then tried to rescind the resignation. Too late. More.
Georgetown Steel. The rusty old mill has been a backbone of Georgetown for years. We’re saddened to hear of its closure. We’re even more irritated at the reason — unfair foreign competition.
We Can Do Better, South Carolina!