Staff reports | South Carolina senators on Wednesday rejected a House-backed proposed bill that would further ban abortion. House members did not return for a meeting to attempt to compromise on the bill.
The House wanted a near total abortion, while the Senate wanted to tweak a current law that essentially is a six-week ban whenever a fetal heartbeat is detected. That law has been put on hold as the state Supreme Court considers a legal challenge on whether it is a state constitutional invasion of privacy.
Meanwhile Tuesday, voters in California, Michigan and Vermont chose to add abortion protections to their state constitutions.
In other recent news:
2022 election review. GOP Gov. Henry McMaster trounced Democratic challenger Joe Cunningham as voters reelected Republicans to statewide offices across South Carolina. In the S.C. House, the GOP will keep lopsided control of the chamber. Other elections of note:
-
- Overall election results
- Weaver wins state superintendent race.
- Weathers, other GOP leaders win statewide races.
- Scott captures U.S. Senate seat again
- SC-6: Clyburn to head back to D.C. for 16th term
- SC-1: Mace nabs Lowcountry seat
- SC-7: Fry wins coastal seat to join congressional delegation
- No sign of GOP “red wave” in Congress
Flu season in S.C. sees worst start in decades. South Carolina is currently facing one of its nastiest flu seasons in nearly a decade. THe state has already seen a recorded 16,500 cases. Meanwhile, Covid-19 cases also continue to rise.
Murdaugh case looms over Laffitte’s fraud trial. Ex-bank CEO Russell Laffitte is currently on trial for fraud in Charleston. However, his connection to former lawyer Alex Murdaugh, who’s currently charged with the murder of his wife and son, has been a topic during the fraud trial. While no direct connection has been made between fraud and murder, Murdaugh’s prominence in Laffitte’s legal troubles hasn’t been understated.
State investigators worried about rise of murder cases. South Carolina is seeing an all-time high of murder cases across the state. South Carolina Law Enforcement said murder rates have increased 52.2% over the past ten years.
Santee Cooper borrows $621 million for new projects. Santee Cooper board members approved $621 million in funding for new projects in the area and to refinance existing debt.
We Can Do Better, South Carolina!