The South Carolina Supreme Court has ruled a state law preventing anyone from moving a Confederate monument or changing the historical name of a street or building without the Legislature's permission is legal. But in the same ruling Wednesday, the justices struck down a requirement that two-thirds of the General Assembly must approve a move or name change. The ruling keeps intact South Carolina's Heritage Act. The 2000 law has prevented colleges and local governments from removing Confederate monuments or the names of segregationists from buildings. Lawmakers have refused to even take up any requests to remove monuments over the past few years even as other Southern cities act.

Health care workers and educators in South Carolina are doubling down on calls for lawmakers to roll back a provision that bans masks in schools. Pediatricians, school nurses and teachers on Tuesday described the toll the coronavirus pandemic is taking on students and in children's hospitals. They want lawmakers to repeal a state rule that prevents school districts from using state money to enforce a rule requiring masks. More than 88,000 students and staff have been quarantined this school year so far. Schools have recorded nearly 21,000 COVID-19 cases this fall, almost 7,000 more than they counted all of last year.

The Tropical Atlantic has had no shortage of tropical storms in recent days, but they have been weak so far. That may change with a tropical wave, called "Invest 98L" in a few days.

The Coronavirus pandemic has changed many aspects of daily life, including how people work, attend school and socialize. The virus, which has claimed almost 12,000 lives in South Carolina, is also having an impact on how many people mourn their dead. Within the African-American community, instead of observing days of culture-rich traditions, many families have settled for a scaled-back graveside service to celebrate the life of a loved-one.

The estates of two South Carolina women who drowned while locked in the back of a sheriff's department van during Hurricane Florence have filed a lawsuit alleging negligence by a company that created policies and procedures for the law enforcement agency. That's according to lawsuits filed last week in Horry County by representatives of 43-year-old Nicolette Green and 45-year-old Wendy Newton against Moseley Architects. The company consults with law enforcement agencies and develops policies and procedures. The women died in September 2018. Representatives for Moseley didn't immediately return an email message Monday.

A new analysis by Freddie Mac has found that only 7.4% of appraisals in majority-white census tracts came in below contract price, compared with 12.5% for Black areas and 15.4% for Latino ones.

For years Texas tried to lure businesses to locate there from other states. Chicago is using a new Texas abortion ban and other social issues to try to recruit businesses from the Lone Star state.

President Biden has ordered more than 17 million health care workers to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Some health care employers fear losing large numbers of workers who don't want the shots.

Many K-12 school districts are tapping federal funds to pay for regular surveillance testing of students. It's an effective pandemic tactic, when used alongside mask-wearing and other precautions.

Leaders of the Pennsylvania and Wisconsin reviews had visited the widely discredited Arizona election review and now are helming similar GOP-led investigations in their home states.

U.S. firms are confident about prospects in China despite a global coronavirus pandemic and stagnant bilateral relations, according to a new survey by the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai.

Isko Moreno, the celebrity mayor of Manila City, has launched a bid to succeed Rodrigo Duterte. At 46 years old, the former actor would represent generational change for the nation of 109 million.

A third shot of the vaccine can be given at least six months after the two-dose regimen, according to the authorization. A booster rollout could begin this week.

The independent film director was best known for Watermelon Man and Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song.

The filing represents the first time Britney Spears has called for an end to the arrangement in court documents, though she has called for its termination in hearings.