Air Strikes
President Donald Trump announced the U.S. military carried out attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities.
NPR reports, the strikes were intended to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.. and that the Iran's government is weighing how to respond
Sunday, Senator Lindsay Graham was on NBC’s ‘Meet the Press with Kristen Welker,’ where he said the president was within his Article II authority.
As for reactions from other South Carolina lawmakers:
Rep. Jim Clyburn was critical of the attacks, saying in a statement: “President Trump’s unilateral decision to attack Iran without Congressional approval is unconstitutional and unwise. This move, a rash sequel to his withdrawal from the nuclear deal, puts our nation, our troops, and innocents at grave risk.
Senator Tim Scott responded to the attacks in a post, calling it "decisive American leadership."
Rep. Nancy Mace said in a post on X:“Just texted @POTUSto congratulate him. Greatest president in American history!
Sextortion Scheme
A 36-year-old Kershaw County man convicted earlier this year in a sextortion scheme that led to the suicide death of a 22-year-old has been sentenced to more than 20 years in federal prison.
Joel Anderson, the interim director of the South Carolina Department of Corrections, said in a statement the victim's death is another tragic example of the dangers that illegal contraband cell phones in prisons pose.
The US Attorney's Office urged people to protect themselves online, noting that people can pretend to be anything or anyone online.
USC Freezes Tuition
For the 7th year in a row, tuition at the University of South Carolina will remain the same for in-state students.
Nonresident student tuition will increase by 3 percent.
Friday, USC trustees approved a 2025-26 fiscal year budget. The budget does include increases to housing and meal plans for the fall semester, citing inflationary costs.
The university says the $233-dollar average increase for housing and the $96-dollar increase in meal plans represents the smallest increase for these fees in five years.
As for tuition, on the Columbia campus, per semester, undergraduate tuition will remain $6,344 for resident students while tuition for non-resident students in Columbia will total $18,694 per semester.
Lockheed Martin Announces Layoffs
Lockheed Martin announced today [Friday] that the company plans to lay off about 10 percent of its Greenville workforce. The site employs more than 1,800 people.
The defense and aerospace manufacturer builds F-16s at its Upstate facility.
Lockheed Martin says the decision was made to lay off employees after the U-S Air Force ended a major contract, announced back in 2020, for F-16 work in Greenville AND to meet customers' needs for affordability in a cost-competitive environment.
HEAT
The next few days are forecast to be hot ones, with temperatures surging to the 90s and triple digits. According to the national weather service... a heat advisory remains in effect from 10am Monday to 10am Tuesday.
Heat index values up to 108 are expected. For the Extreme Heat Watch, dangerously hot conditions with heat index values up to 110 are possible.
Recommendations to stay safe in the summer sun:
- Drink plenty of water
- Avoid heavy meals at lunch time
- Maintain a well balanced diet
- Wear appropriate clothing
- Use sunscreen
- Follow recommended work/rest cycles
- Keep areas well ventilated
- Schedule outdoor activities during the cooler part of the day
- Use the buddy system
- Monitor those at risk
