Jeffrey Collins/Associated Press

The South Carolina Supreme Court has suggested solutions to avoid a legal dispute over lawmakers' pay. The court heard arguments on Wednesday about a $1,500 monthly raise passed in June. The raise was set to start in July but was challenged by Sen. Wes Climer.

The South Carolina Election Commission is investigating why a $28 million contract for new voting machines ended up costing $4 million more. The inquiry has led to the firing of the agency's head and deputy director and the resignation of a third employee.

South Carolina's top law enforcement official says state agents have so far found no evidence that a fire destroying a judge's home on a South Carolina island was intentionally set.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A former Republican South Carolina House member has agreed to plead guilty to distributing child sexual abuse material. RJ May, who prosecutors say used the screen name “joebidennnn69,” signed court papers to change his plea. He is acting as his own attorney. May, who resigned earlier this year, is accused of exchanging 220 files involving children and graphic sex acts on the social media network Kik. He faces five to 20 years in prison on each of five counts. May has been in jail since June after a judge refused bond. He is scheduled to officially change his plea in federal court on Monday.

South Carolina banker Russell Laffitte has pleaded guilty to helping Alex Murdaugh move millions to hide thefts. Prosecutors say Laffitte received a share of the money. On Thursday, he pleaded guilty to eight counts in state court.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A judge in South Carolina has ruled a death row inmate who thinks most laws are unconstitutional is mentally competent and can be executed. Lawyers for Steven Bixby told the judge he couldn't adequately help them because of his beliefs including that citizens have an absolute right to defend their property to the death. The state Supreme Court had paused Bixby's execution to assess his mental competence. Bixby was convicted of killing two police officers in Abbeville in 2003. Judge R. Scott Sprouse noted Bixby cooperates with his lawyers and understands their role. Bixby’s lawyers can appeal the ruling.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A judge is considering whether delusional beliefs about the legal system are enough to prevent a South Carolina prisoner from being executed. Steven Bixby, who was convicted of killing two police officers in 2003, submitted his own handwritten legal papers after a two-day hearing last month.

A 30-year-old South Carolina trooper has died three days after being struck on the side of an interstate by a box truck. Trooper 1st Class Dennis Ricks was hit while walking back to his cruiser after a traffic stop.

South Carolina's roads agency is celebrating a major $825 million project to widen part of Interstate 95. The agency has transformed over the past decade, thanks to a 12-cent gas tax increase.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A Republican lawmaker in South Carolina has resigned from the House while awaiting trial on charges of distributing child sexual abuse material. RJ May's resignation letter, dated Thursday, reached House leadership on Monday. May was elected in 2020. His replacement could be chosen in a special election before the 2026 session.