MORE NEWS: Former governor to teach at USC law school

Staff rep

Staff reports  |  Former S.C. Gov. David Beasley will join the faculty at the University of South Carolina’s Rice School of Law as a distinguished professor of practice and public service, the university announced this week.

Beasley, governor from 1995 to 1999, served as executive director of the world’s largest humanitarian organization, the U.N. World Food Program, from 2017 to 2023.  The organization, which feeds millions of starving people in 80 countries, received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020.  Beasley accepted it on behalf of the organization.

Beasley, who is from Darlington County, received a bachelor’s degree from USC in 1979. Four years later while serving in the state legislature, he earned a law degree from the school.

“Little did I know the challenges and adventures I was being prepared for in law school,” he said in a statement. “But the way the University of South Carolina law school taught me to think and act with integrity was very important to it all. To now have a chance to give back to a new generation of future leaders is one of the great opportunities of my life.”

“The rule of law is the cornerstone of human freedom and progress,” Beasley said.  “I’m thrilled to be engaged in making better lawyers, better law and freer societies wherever our students go.”

Also in recent headlines:

Combative Haley says she’ll stay in presidential battle. Former S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley, combative in a Wednesday rally in North Charleston following her 11-point Tuesday loss in the Republican primary in New Hampshire, said she would continue to fight for the GOP presidential nomination. Former President Donald Trump was ahead by as much as 30 points in South Carolina earlier this month, according to Decision Desk HQ/ The Hill GOP primary polling averages. He also has nearly all of the state’s male Republican leadership behind him.  Still, Haley insisted she would stay in the race through the state’s Feb. 24 primary and beyond.  “The political elites in this state and in this country have said that we just need to let Donald Trump have this,” Haley said. “We’ve only had two states that voted. We’ve got 48 more.”

McMaster blasts labor unions in annual address. S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster held his annual State of the State address Wednesday, warning that recent economic growth will be undone if labor organizers make inroads in cornerstone industries across the region.  NOTE: South Carolina has the lowest unionization rate in the nation.

LEGISLATION: Bill to remove permit, training mandate for guns up for debate. A fight is back on at the State House over whether South Carolina will loosen up gun restrictions with a proposed bill to enact “permitless carry” or “constitutional carry,” allowing adults to openly carry loaded weapons without needing any training or a permit.  Other legislation of note this week:

• • S.C. Democrats revive push for hate crime legislation. 
  • Installment lenders make case to S.C. senators weighing reform
  • S.C. lawmakers fighting back against predatory lending practices
  • S.C. Senate OKs bill to attract South Carolinians to second careers as teachers.
• State prohibits advertisement of Delta-9 as active food ingredient
• Parents, advocates decry bill banning youth gender-affirming care.