Staff reports | A Tuesday afternoon opinion published by S.C. Supreme Court unanimously rejected interpretations by state Attorney General Alan Wilson that a state budget proviso would prohibit state colleges from enacting mask mandates.
The two-sentence item folded into the state budget says vaccinations cannot be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to be on campus without a mask, but makes no mention of universal mask requirements.
“Despite the fact that the proviso is, as stated by the Attorney General, ‘inartfully worded’ and ‘very poorly written,’ the proviso clearly does not not prohibit a universal mask mandate,” the justices wrote.
Soon after the ruling, colleges such as the College of Charleston and the University of South Carolina, moved forward with a mask mandate. More: Associated Press, The State, The Post and Courier, Charleston City Paper.
In other recent news headlines:
Pressure increases to repeal state’s mask mandate. Lawmakers are facing increasing pressure this week to repeal a ban on the wearing of masks in public schools. School districts and counties have defied the ban as cases of COVID-19 have soared. Colleges now can require masks following a state Supreme Court decision.
Wilson sues Columbia over mask mandate. S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson sued the state’s capital city Thursday over a school mask mandate that officials allege violates state law. The city earlier enacted an emergency ordinance to require masks for students 14 and younger to promote public health. Meanwhile, the pandemic has come back with vengeance. State health officials reported 2,116 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus Thursday alongside 43 new deaths. Of the 18,525 tests reported, 14.6 percent were positive. The state passed more than 700,000 cases this week. More than 75 percent of hospitalizations and reported deaths in South Carolina are those who are not vaccinated, according to reports.
Greenville Co. Republican leader dies from COVID-19. Pressley Stutts, a tea party Republican who recently helped turn over the party leadership in Greenville County, died from complications of COVID-19 Thursday. Stutts had previously said people should take the disease seriously, but stood against mask mandates and pressuring others to get the vaccine.
Myrtle Beach seeks 2024 GOP candidates. An October conference by the SC GOP is said to be the first to feature an array of rising GOP stars who may want to run for president.
Sellers to have new children’s book. Bakari Sellers, the former state House Representative who has become a fixture on cable TV news announced today he’ll release a new children’s book next year, entitled, Who Are Your People? The book, illustrated by Reggie Brown, was created as a tribute to communities who come together and develop young people and remembers those who came before, and set the pathway for the current generation. The book will be released in January.
S.C. disabilities director fired again after judge rules against previous vote. The board of South Carolina’s disabilities agency fired its director for a second time, a day after a judge ruled she was illegally fired earlier this year.
Ports Authority sets container volume record. The S.C. Ports Authority reported another record-setting month with the highest July container volumes in history.
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