AESC Pauses Construction
Electric vehicle battery maker AESC says it’s pausing construction of the company’s $1.6 billion-dollar manufacturing facility in Florence County. The company is citing policy and market uncertainty. State and local leaders were informed of the decision Thursday.
AESC said the company still intends to employ more than 1600 people at its facility, where it has already spent a-billion-dollars.
Florence-area state lawmaker Roger Kirby… called it a "gut punch." Governor McMaster said his office is in contact with the state’s federal delegation and White House.
Winthrop University Poll Findings
The latest Winthrop University poll shows an evenly divided South Carolina on matters of tariffs and leadership, but the poll also shows lot of agreement.
When asked to rank the largest problems in the US, most South Carolinians put opioid addiction first .
Second-most problematic, is the belief that the US is not doing enough to take care of its poor. Democrats rated this issue higher than Republicans. Republicans said illegal immigration is the country’s most serious issue of the day.
On the broader issue of tariffs, just more than half of South Carolinians said the Trump administration’s tariffs will ultimately cost the country more than they’ll earn. Just below half said the nation and state are heading in the wrong direction.
SC Hurricane Prep
And State and local government officials gathered in Columbia Thursday, where they prepared for the possibility of hurricanes impacting South Carolina this year. Hurricane season started June 1. Officials reported many “lessons-learned” last year, when Helene barreled into the state.
Governor McMaster told the emergency management leaders, “we can’t stop the hurricanes from coming, but we can be prepared for them.”
Hurricane season runs through November 30th.
Richland Co. & Columbia Place Mall
Richland County Council has voted to acquire more land at Columbia Place Mall. The goal is to create a long-term hub for government services through a large-scale redevelopment.
The redevelopment is expected to include several state agencies such as the Department of Health and Human Services, Public Safety, Family Services, the Department of Social Services, and Voter Registration.
County officials say the site is already seeing construction activity as part of the broader plan. While some parts of the complex are expected to be completed in 2026, others may take longer. The county says its vision for Columbia Place Mall is part of a broader strategy to improve public services.
Civil Complaint Against Charleston
Nearly two dozen people forced to evacuate their townhouses near the Dockside condominiums in Charleston have filed a civil complaint against the city. They’re asking a judge to intervene and allow them to return home. They argue their homes are not part of the condominiums that were found structurally unstable three months ago. Just last month, the city’s building codes board of appeals upheld the evacuation order.
