NEWS BRIEFS: On masks, election chief, more 

Staff reports  |  Some recent news that you need to know:

Federal appeals court keeps S.C. mask mandate ban on hold. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has denied state Attorney General Alan Wilson’s request that South Carolina’s law prohibiting school mask mandates be allowed to take effect while a lawsuit over the COVID-19 pandemic measure goes forward. More: Associated Press, The State, The Post and Courier.

S.C. schools to get additional COVID-19 relief funds from feds. South Carolina school districts will have access to $56 million in federal funding to serve vulnerable student populations in the coming weeks. More: The Post and Courier, Greenwood Index-Journal, WCBD TV.

Head of S.C. election agency resigns ahead of schedule. South Carolina Election Commission executive director Marci Andino had planned to step away from her role Dec. 31, but left office on Friday to take over as director of the Elections Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Center, part of the nonprofit Center for Internet Security, according to the election agency. Voter Services director Howard Knabb is taking over the helm in an interim role until a permanent replacement is found. More: AP News.

Murdaugh’s former law firm sues over funds.  A lawsuit filed Wednesday claims Alex Murdaugh funneled stolen money from clients and the Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth and Detrick law firm into a fake bank account for years. Murdaugh’s attorney did not offer comment at this time but said his client has “pledged his full cooperation to get these issues resolved.” More: The State/The Hilton Head Island Packet, Hampton County Guardian/The Greenville News, The Post and Courier.

Summey’s company mined Awendaw sand, funds in question.  Elliott Summey, former chair of Charleston County Council, has yet to hand over invoices, receipts and truck counts two years after a multi-million-dollar sand-mining project in Awendaw, according to a story in Sunday’s issue of The Post and Courier. The town had hoped the deal would help to create and pay for a lake that would become the centerpiece of a new park. Through an attorney, Summey said he believed his company lived up to its agreement. Summey, who now runs the Charleston International Airport, is son of North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey. 

New film explores Orangeburg Confederate flag dispute. Orangeburg native Emily Harrold’s film Meltdown in Dixie is coming to SCETV 6 p.m. Sunday. The film documents the battle over a Confederate flag flying outside of an ice cream shop in Orangeburg. The owner of the shop tried to have the flag removed, which was owned by the Sons of Confederate Veterans Rivers Bridge Camp #842. More: The Orangeburg Times & Democrat.

Charleston falls to No. 2 in travel magazine small-city ranking. Plagued by rising sea levels and a high cost of living, Charleston was replaced by Aspen, Colorado, in Conde Nast Traveler’s latest Reader’s Choice Awards, released Tuesday. More: Charleston City Paper, The State.

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