Staff reports | A proposed map of new South Carolina Senate lines based on 2020 U.S. Census data moves one district from Richland County to faster-growing Charleston County.
A proposal for redrawn House districts is expected next week. Also next week, senators will have a public hearing Nov. 12 on their redistricting effort, followed by a meeting of the full Senate in special session in December to consider reapportioned districts as required every 10 years by the U.S. Constitution.
According to the Associated Press, “14 the 16 districts represented by Democrats in 2021 either lost population or failed to gain people as fast as the state average. That meant many inland districts between Columbia and the coast had to cover larger areas, eventually eating up that one district near Columbia.”
The State newspaper reported South Carolina experienced more than 10 percent growth since 2010. The influx of almost 500,000 people pushed the state’s population to more than 5 million with areas along the coast, parts of the Upstate and the area around Charlotte getting big growth. The changes led to the proposal to transfer Senate District 20, currently held by Democratic Sen. Dick Harpootlian, to the Charleston area.
In other recent news:
Pandemic update: 4.9 percent positivity. S.C. health officials reported 727 total cases of COVID-19 Nov. 4, with 420 confirmed. A total of 34 new deaths, 28 confirmed, were also reported. With 16,839 tests reported, 4.9 percent were confirmed positive. Meanwhile, Gov. Henry McMaster issued an executive order Thursday that would keep state cabinet agencies from enforcing federal vaccine mandates. More. AP News.
McMaster wants to use COVID education funds to pay for 2-year degrees. Also this week, the governor said he wants to spend the last $17 million of his COVID-19 education relief money to fully pay for anyone to go to a technical college for two years to train to enter high demand jobs. More: Associated Press.
Labor secretary talks about shipping slowdowns in Charleston. U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh said Wednesday that slowdowns and bottlenecks at the nation’s shipping terminals are the result of an ongoing pandemic, coupled with problems like stagnant wages for some workers along the supply chain. He made the remarks while visiting South Carolina’s Port of Charleston, the nation’s ninth-busiest port, and after a roundtable discussion with truck drivers at a union hall in Charleston. More: The Post and Courier, WCIV.
Palmetto State Armory selling accessory with setting aimed at Biden. West Columbia-based Palmetto State Armory is marketing a gun accessory for AR-15s with three firing settings: “F@CK!” “JOE!” and “BIDEN!” The swear word is the safety mode, the president’s first name will fire, and his last name will go full-automatic. More: The State.
S.C. man pleads guilty to assaulting police during Jan. 6 riot. Nicholas Languerand of Little River has pleaded guilty to attacking police officers before storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 as part of a mob that sought to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. He is the second South Carolinian to be convicted in connection with the assault on the Capitol building. He faces sentencing in January. More: The Post and Courier.
Grand jury indicts Murdaugh, Smith in Labor Day weekend shooting. A grand jury has indicted Alex Murdaugh and Curtis Edward Smith in connection with Murdaugh’s shooting over Labor Day weekend. More: The Post and Courier.
- Want more headlines every business day that are like this? Visit our friends at SC Clips.
We Can Do Better, South Carolina!