BESHEAR IN SC
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear will wrap a two-day trek through South Carolina, Thursday. Beshear has joined a growing list of possible 2028 Democratic presidential contenders visiting South Carolina.
ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY LICENSE SUSPENDED
South Carolina Department of Public Health issued an emergency license suspension of J C Laraes Southwinds Assisted Living Community, a Community Residential Care Facility in Ridgeway. According to DPH inspectors, no staff were present in a building with five residents, and residents were locked inside without supervision. There was a second building with an additional three residents, though the facility is only licensed for five residents and one building. Officials also said at least one of the residents appeared to need more than the level of care the facility was able to provide.
CALHOUN STATUTE SETTLEMENT
Charleston has reached a settlement with a group that sued over the removal of the John C. Calhoun statue from a downtown park in 2020. The American Heritage Association announced the settlement Wednesday morning. The statue of Calhoun, a former Vice President and staunch slavery supporter, was taken down following protests over the murder of George Floyd.
AG. DEPARTMENT ISSUES WARNING TO ALPHA GENESIS
The Department of Agriculture has issued a warning against the company the runs a primate research facility in Yemassee. The federal agency has been investigating Alpha Genesis… following the deaths of 22 endangered, long-tailed macaque monkeys last year. The monkeys had reportedly been exposed to carbon monoxide from a malfunctioning heater.
The USDA says the company must provide proper protection for primates at its outdoor facilities… adding further violations could lead to criminal prosecution. Alpha Genesis has not responded to requests for comments. This is the same research facility where 43 monkeys escaped last year.
SC LEADING IN 2025 FORECLOSURE RATES
Halfway through 2025, foreclosure rates in the U.S. are on the rise - and South Carolina is leading the way. The rates of South Carolinians who are having trouble maintaining their mortgages ticked up over the first six months of this year. Data released by ATTOM Data Solutions show that South Carolina had the fifth-highest rate of foreclosure filings in the country through June and the highest rate of filings in the second quarter.
31 INDICTED IN TAX FRAUD
Grand juries in six counties have indicted 31 people after the state Department of Revenue uncovered a pattern of fraud involving tax credits available only to certain farmers. According to the indictments, the defendants claimed refundable tax credits to which they were not entitled on tax returns for tax years 2021 through 2024. The illegally claimed credits resulted in tax refunds totaling more than $1 Million dollars.
