SC News

May 30, 2023 — The latest on the six-week abortion ban signed by Gov. Henry McMaster and blocked in circuit court following a filing by abortion rights groups; Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) responds to an arrest warrant issued by Russia for his support of Ukraine; South Carolina's congressional map heads to the Supreme Court; and more.

A South Carolina gas station owner has been charged with murder in the death of a 14-year-old boy whom he allegedly chased from the store and shot in the back. Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott says station owner Rick Chow incorrectly suspected that Cyrus Carmack-Belton had shoplifted water from the Shell station. After a verbal confrontation, Carmack-Belton fled and was pursued by Chow's son. Rick Chow joined the chase, armed with a pistol. Lott says Chow fired, striking Carmack-Belton in the back.

Monday, May 29

Russia's Interior Ministry has issued an arrest warrant for U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham following his comments related to the fighting in Ukraine. Graham met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday. Zelenskyy's office later released an edited video of the encounter in which Graham notes that "the Russians are dying" and describes the U.S. military assistance to the country as "the best money we've ever spent." Graham appeared to have made the remarks in different parts of the conversation. But the short video by Ukraine's presidential office put them next to each other.

May 27, 2023 — A recap of Sen. Tim Scott's swing through the early voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire as his 2024 presidential campaign begins.

From opera to chamber music and Scottish ballet, this year’s Spoleto Festival USA includes more than 120 performances over 17 days.

Friday, May 26

Festival General Director Mena Mark Hanna shares about the staggering breadth and uniqueness of the 17-day performing arts festival, touching on a few of the experiences and themes audiences can expect from its 47th season.

A judge has put a temporary halt to South Carolina's new law banning most abortions around six weeks of pregnancy until the state Supreme Court can review the measure. The ruling Friday by Judge Clifton Newman came just about 24 hours after Gov. Henry McMaster signed the bill. The decision means South Carolina reverts back to a ban around 20 weeks. The new law is similar to a ban on abortion once cardiac activity can be detected that lawmakers passed in 2021.

Authorities say a school bus crash in South Carolina has sent at least 18 people including several students to the hospital. The South Carolina Highway Patrol says the bus and a tanker truck collided Thursday afternoon near Gilbert, southwest of the capital of Columbia. The Highway Patrol says 36 passengers were aboard and a hospital says at least 17 children and an adult were transported there for treatment. The students were from Gilbert Middle School and Gilbert High School. There is no immediate information on their conditions or what caused the crash.