Latest for Parris island & port royal
on Base
-
Parris Island: 100% ID Check
Effective immediately, MCRD Parris Island has implemented a 100% ID check for all personnel entering the installation. The Trusted Traveler program remain in effect.
Read more +
Effective immediately, MCRD Parris Island has implemented a 100% ID check for all personnel entering the installation. The Trusted Traveler program remain in effect.
south carolina
-
S.C. Senate budget sets $130M for local projects
South Carolina senators restored earmarked funding for local governments, but left nonprofits out of their budget plan.
Read more +
The South Carolina budget this year once again included earmarked funds after a one-year pause.
The Senate budget, which passed last month, included $130.4 million in legislator-requested spending within a $15.3 billion plan. The money went to cities and counties for 163 projects, including parks, water and sewer work, and police and fire improvements. The spending plan did not include funding for nonprofits
Budget leaders in both chambers paused earmarked funding last year, citing rising spending and a push for a tax cut.
The Senate’s proposal included three $5 million projects: upgrades to Greenville’s Bon Secours Wellness Arena and nearby areas, planning for Columbia’s proposed riverfront park, and improvements at a career and technical education school in Spartanburg.
Bon Secours also received a $5 million earmark two years ago, sponsored by House Ways and Means Chairman Bruce Bannister, R-Greenville. The local agency that operates the 15,500-seat arena wants to expand and renovate it at an estimated cost of $282 million, including an outdoor amphitheater, a new entrance and lobby, and more parking. Most of that funding would come from local tax dollars, according to the master plan.
For Columbia’s riverfront, Sen. Ronnie Cromer, R-Prosperity, said the $5 million would likely fund planning for development along the Congaree River, including a public park on nearly 100 acres donated to the city. Sen. Darrell Jackson, D-Hopkins, also sponsored the request.
“Columbia’s not a destination city,” Cromer said. “But once we get this riverfront development done, it will be.”
Cromer also proposed smaller projects, including $787,000 to combine emergency services in Newberry County and $500,000 to help Whitmire replace a water main that burst earlier this year.
Sen. Russell Ott, D-St. Matthews, said smaller towns often lack the tax base for costly infrastructure. His requests included $1 million for drainage improvements in Cayce to match a federal grant and $563,000 for sewer upgrades in Calhoun County.
“It does highlight the critical need for infrastructure across our state,” Ott said. “We are just woefully behind in a lot of our areas.”
Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, said he would prefer no earmarks, but if they continue, he supports directing money to cities and counties rather than nonprofits because of public oversight requirements.
Whether the House will include nonprofit earmarked funds remained unclear. House members were expected to add projects to their budget draft this week before lawmakers negotiate a final spending plan that takes effect July 1.
-
Lexington police search for kidnapped 17-year-old
Lexington police said a 17-year-old was taken at gunpoint Sunday night and asked the public for help locating him.
Read more +
Lexington police were searching for a 17-year-old who authorities said was taken at gunpoint Sunday night.
Corvin Gardner of Lexington was forced from his home on Hendrix Street at about 10 p.m. by two unidentified males armed with handguns, the Lexington Police Department said Monday in a news release.
Witnesses saw Gardner and the two suspects walking west from Hendrix Street toward Barr Road, according to police. Investigators said they believed the group got into a vehicle and left the area.
Police did not disclose a motive.
Gardner was described as 5 feet 8 inches tall and 118 pounds, with black hair, brown eyes, and a large tattoo on his right forearm.
An Amber Alert had not been issued because police did not have vehicle information, which is required under the alert guidelines.
Anyone with information about Gardner was asked to contact Lexington police at 803-358-1557 or kheath@lexsc.gov. Tips can also be submitted to CrimeStoppers at 888-CRIME-SC or online. In an emergency, call 911.
-
South Carolina bill would allow red-light cameras
The bill said it could reduce the need for law enforcement agencies to monitor high-risk intersections. Critics of red-light cameras have argued they raise due process and privacy concerns and can increase rear-end collisions.
Read more +
Red-light cameras are illegal in South Carolina, but a bill introduced April 28 would allow local governments to use them to issue civil fines for traffic violations.
House Bill 5600, introduced by Reps. Weston Newton, Bill Herbkersman, and Jay Jordan, all Republicans, would let town, city, and county governments adopt ordinances allowing traffic-control signal monitoring systems at intersections.
The bill also would require drivers facing a steady yellow light to “slow down immediately” if it is safe to do so.
Under the proposal, fines could not exceed $100 and could not include court costs, assessments, or surcharges. Violations would not add points to a driver’s license or affect a driving record.
If a local government adopted such an ordinance, the enforcing agency would have to mail a citation within one week of the violation. The citation would have to include the registered owner’s name and address, the vehicle registration number, the alleged violation, the intersection location, the date and time, recorded images, a statement that the images are evidence of a violation, and the amount of the civil penalty.
Drivers could contest citations by showing they entered the intersection to yield to an emergency vehicle or as part of a funeral procession. If a vehicle or license plate was stolen, the owner would have to show that a police report was filed before the violation occurred.
Current South Carolina law bars law enforcement agencies from using traffic cameras, including speed cameras and red-light cameras, to issue tickets. Private communities that handle their own traffic enforcement may use traffic cameras.
According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, nine states have laws prohibiting red-light cameras.
-
Honolulu officer indicted in alleged sexual assault
An Oahu grand jury indicted a Honolulu police officer on felony and misdemeanor charges tied to an alleged on-duty sexual assault.
Read more +
A 26-year-old Honolulu police officer was indicted Tuesday on multiple charges in the alleged sexual assault of a woman while he was on duty April 6 and 7.
An Oahu grand jury in state court indicted Christopher John A. Oallesma on counts of official misconduct, obstruction of justice, use of a computer in the commission of a separate crime, four counts of third-degree sexual assault, and four counts of fourth-degree sexual assault.
Oallesma, a Waikiki patrol officer, was scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday in Circuit Court and enter a plea. He was arrested shortly before 4 p.m. Tuesday at Honolulu Police Department headquarters and released about an hour later after posting $150,000 bail.
The indictment said the woman had been “stopped by a law enforcement officer,” but it did not say whether Oallesma initiated the stop or another officer did.
According to the indictment, Oallesma sexually assaulted the woman by placing his hand on her genitals and breast while performing an unlawful search. It also alleged that he placed his mouth on her breast and caused her to place her hand on his penis.
The indictment said he subjected the woman to sexual contact “by compulsion and/or induced duress.” It defined compulsion as lack of consent or an expressed or implied threat that places a person in fear of public humiliation, property damage, or financial loss.
Prosecutors said they intended to seek an extended prison term if Oallesma was convicted of two or more felonies. Third-degree sexual assault, official misconduct, and use of a computer in the commission of a separate crime are Class C felonies. Obstruction of justice is a Class B felony. Fourth-degree sexual assault is a misdemeanor.
The indictment alleged that in Counts 1 and 2, Oallesma acted “pursuant to one continuous scheme and course of conduct” during April 6 and 7.
Oallesma had five years of service with the Honolulu Police Department and was assigned to District 6 Patrol, which covers Waikiki. Police officials said they had restricted his police powers.
A court barred Oallesma from contacting the woman and four named witnesses. He was also prohibited from possessing firearms and ordered to turn over any firearms and ammunition to the main police station.
Acting Honolulu Police Chief Rade Vanic said in a written statement, “The allegations in this case are very serious and run counter to the high standards HPD sets for its officers in serving and protecting our community.
“An internal investigation was initiated promptly and remains ongoing, and any officer who is accused of breaking the law is subject to the same legal process as any member of the public. These allegations do not reflect the many dedicated officers who serve our community honorably each day.”
-
2 injured in Columbia apartment complex shooting
Investigators were interviewing witnesses and reviewing surveillance footage Thursday afternoon. No arrests had been reported.
Read more +
Two people were injured in a shooting Thursday at the Colony Apartments in Columbia, where multiple violent incidents have been reported in recent years, according to the Columbia Police Department.
Officers were called to the complex in the 6400 block of Bailey Street around noon after a report of shots fired. While officers were en route, the call was updated to say people had been struck by gunfire, police said.
Police found two victims, one with a gunshot wound to the leg and the other with an injury to the arm. Their injuries were not believed to be life-threatening, police said.
No other injuries were reported. Police said the shooting was not random and may have involved an exchange of gunfire between the two victims.
Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 888-CRIME-SC or submit an online tip. In an emergency, call 911.
-
Bluffton care home death lawsuit heads to jury trial
The lawsuit alleges negligent care and says the facility failed to take adequate safety measures for a resident with a documented risk of elopement.
Read more +
A Beaufort County jury is expected to begin hearing a wrongful death lawsuit Monday over the 2023 disappearance and death of a 79-year-old resident of The Palmettos of Bluffton.
The suit, filed in 2024 by the family of Jack Tribble, names the assisted living facility and its parent company, National Healthcare Corporation, which operates the Bluffton home and more than 100 other facilities nationwide.
According to court filings, Tribble, who had Lewy body dementia and a history of wandering, left the memory care unit on the evening of Aug. 23, 2023, by following a contracting employee through a keypad-locked door. The lawsuit alleges staff gave contractors the door code, at least two employees saw Tribble outside but did not stop him, and staff did not realize for about three hours that he was missing.
Tribble’s body was found Sept. 6, 2023, in a swampy area less than a half-mile from the facility near the intersection of S.C. 170 and Bluffton Parkway, police said. A coroner’s report found he had died two days earlier. An autopsy cited acute bronchopneumonia caused by environmental exposure, according to court filings.
More Parris Island & Eastern SC News
-
Okatie man charged in Coligny Beach shooting
Judicial records showed the suspect was being held on a $25,000 cash bond on the aggravated breach of peace charge, a misdemeanor under South Carolina law. He remained in jail as of Thursday morning.
Read more +
An Okatie man was arrested Tuesday in connection with gunfire at Coligny Beach on Hilton Head Island earlier this month, according to Beaufort County inmate records.
The 20-year-old was charged with aggravated breach of peace and violating Hilton Head’s ordinance banning gunfire within town limits.
An arrest warrant said he was at Coligny Beach about 10:40 p.m. April 4 when he brandished a gun and fired three shots in the direction of “innocent people” nearby. Multiple beachgoers “fled the area in panic,” the warrant said.
Eight Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the entrance of Coligny Beach Park after multiple callers reported gunfire, according to an incident report. Investigators found no gunshot victims in the area or at local hospitals, according to previous reporting.
The shooting stemmed from a “gathering of kids” that turned into a fight on the beach, Lt. Daniel Allen, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office, said. Allen said Thursday that the investigation remained active and that the 20-year-old appeared to be the only person charged so far.
The warrant, signed by a judge Monday, said investigators identified the suspect through surveillance footage from the Coligny Beach area. The footage showed him wearing the same clothes and having the same physical appearance as the gunman seen in a video of the shooting, according to the warrant.
After gathering information about the suspect, deputies stopped his vehicle and arrested him Tuesday, Allen said. He said investigators also used the county’s automatic license plate readers.
-
Sun City man reports $155,000 crypto scam loss
Sheriff’s office spokesperson Lt. Daniel Allen said the man had contacted law enforcement twice before about the likely scam, but they did not believe it was a scam at the time.
Read more +
A Sun City Hilton Head resident told the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office he lost $155,000 over about a year in a cryptocurrency investment scam, according to an incident report.
The man, who lives in Sun City’s Lake Somerset area, told deputies in early April that the scheme began about a year earlier with an unsolicited WhatsApp message saying he could make money investing in cryptocurrency and stocks.
He said he invested an initial $30,000 and lost it “overnight.” According to the report, the investment company gave him several explanations, then directed him to use a cryptocurrency trading platform.
Because he was “new to cryptocurrency and its processes,” the man told deputies he received messages with his login information and instructions for transferring funds. A deputy wrote that the man “believed he was getting on the inside track to making money,” but the transfers appeared to be going “directly to the scammers.”
The man said he invested another $60,000 into the platform and saw some profit. He was later told to pay $30,000 in “taxes and fees.” When he said he wanted to close the account and withdraw his money, the report said, he was required to pay a $20,000 withdrawal fee to a supposed “digital currency exchange company.”
After that, the company demanded another $5,000 to “close his account,” he told deputies he realized he had been scammed.
-
S.C. House advances roads bill, drops buyback plan
Lawmakers also said optional toll lanes could help fund major expansions such as widening Interstate 526 in Charleston County, where toll revenue could cover at least half of the estimated $10 billion cost.
Read more +
The South Carolina House unanimously passed a roads bill Wednesday that would allow optional toll lanes on new highway projects, shift some environmental permitting from the federal government to the state, and require potholes reported online to be repaired within a week.
The House version differed from the Senate bill passed last month by removing a program that would have encouraged local governments to take over maintenance of some state roads. It would also eliminate the commission that oversees the Department of Transportation and place the agency under the governor’s control.
The bill now returns to the Senate, which can accept the House changes or send the measure to a conference committee.
The House also removed a proposal to raise biennial fees on electric vehicles to $400. Under a 2017 law, fully electric vehicles pay $120 every two years, and hybrids pay $60. Bannister said the increase proved too divisive.
After the buyback program was removed, Rep. Joe White of Newberry withdrew 160 proposed amendments and supported the bill.
Both chambers included money for a road buyback program in their budget proposals — $12.5 million in the Senate plan and $25 million in the House plan — and some amount could remain in the final budget, Bannister said.
Rep. Robby Robbins said the state needs to reduce the number of roads managed by the transportation department. South Carolina has more than 41,000 centerline miles of state-maintained highways, the nation’s fourth-largest system.
Lawmakers said the bill aims to speed road construction as population growth increases congestion.
-
SC State drops Evette as commencement speaker
Students learned of the decision before any public announcement and circulated a petition urging the university to select someone else, citing Evette’s political record.
Read more +
South Carolina State University said Wednesday that Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette will no longer speak at its May 8 commencement after objections from students and some legislators.
The announcement was also the university’s first public acknowledgment that it had selected Evette to speak. President Alexander Conyers did not name a replacement.
Conyers said the university chose Evette because of her business background. Before taking office in 2019, she founded and led the human resources firm Quality Business Solutions. He invited her on Dec. 3, according to the governor’s office.
Conyers did not address why the university had not announced Evette as the speaker until just over a week before graduation.
Some legislators objected, citing Evette’s calls to end diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives on public college campuses.
About an hour before the university’s announcement, Evette, a Republican candidate for governor, wrote on X, “Conservative voices will never be bullied or silenced anywhere in South Carolina. See you at commencement.”
Earlier Wednesday, Evette told reporters her prepared remarks were not political and had been completed more than a month ago. She said the speech focused on hard work and her own experience as the granddaughter of immigrants.
“I’m going to bring a speech that talks about what hard work does, what they can become,” she said, “how you can be anything you want to be: That’s the message I’ve tried to send every time I spoke (at a commencement) because I think these young people are the promise of tomorrow.”
-
South Carolina data center tax breaks revised to $828K
Six years ago, no companies claimed the exemption, and only a handful have used it since.
Read more +
South Carolina’s sales tax exemptions for data centers totaled $828,000 in the fiscal year that ended last June, according to corrected information from the state Department of Revenue.
The agency said it had mistakenly reported the amount in billions rather than millions, causing the tax break to be cited as $828 million instead of $828,000. The Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office based its calculations on Department of Revenue data, and the SC Daily Gazette had used those figures.
The exemptions apply to the state’s 6% sales tax on computer equipment and servers housed in data centers, as well as the electricity used to power them. The Department of Revenue reports the exemptions as a single total and does not track how much comes from equipment versus electricity.
The impact of the exemption had not previously been published in annual reports by state fiscal analysts because so few companies had used it, according to the Department of Revenue.
Meanwhile, a bill setting standards for where and how data centers are built, and how their power costs are assigned, advanced Tuesday from the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. Sen. Tom Davis, R-Beaufort, introduced the proposal.
With eight days left in the legislative calendar, senators said passage remained unlikely.
The bill would create an office within the state Department of Environmental Services to permit data centers based on water use, noise, and proximity to environmentally sensitive areas. It would classify centers into three tiers by power use: less than 10 megawatts, less than 50 megawatts, and 51 megawatts or more.
The Public Service Commission would have to approve regulated utilities’ arrangements with data centers to ensure the centers pay the costs of producing and transmitting the power the
-
Hilton Head parents charged after child found alone
Two Bluffton parents were charged after deputies said their child was found alone in a Hilton Head beach parking lot Saturday.
Read more +
Two Bluffton parents were arrested Saturday after deputies said they were intoxicated and failed to supervise their son at Fish Haul Beach Park on Hilton Head Island.
A 48-year-old woman and a 55-year-old man were charged with cruelty to children and public disorderly conduct, according to Beaufort County inmate records. Both charges are misdemeanors.
Beaufort County sheriff’s deputies responded to the north-island beach park around 5 p.m. after a report of intoxicated parents allegedly “failing to look after their child,” according to an incident report.
Deputies found the couple near the beach entrance and reported that both smelled of alcohol, had “severely slurred speech,” and had trouble standing. After deputies told them about the complaints, the parents said their elementary-age son had run off toward the parking lot less than 10 minutes earlier, sheriff’s office spokesperson Lt. Daniel Allen said.
According to the report, the parents provided little information about the missing child. When deputies asked for a photo to help search, both said they had lost their phones and wallets. The report also said “neither of them seemed even slightly concerned about the sudden disappearance of their child.”
A sheriff’s sergeant later found the child “walking in the parking lot alone,” according to the report. The parents had been leading deputies to that area to show where they last saw him.
Deputies said the cruelty to children charges were based on the parents’ alleged lack of concern for the child’s whereabouts or safety. The public disorderly conduct charges were added because the couple was allegedly “grossly intoxicated” on a public beach, the report said.
The couple was booked into the Beaufort County Detention Center on Saturday evening. Their son was picked up by his uncle, who lives on Hilton Head.
Both were released Sunday afternoon on personal recognizance bonds, meaning they will not have to pay unless they violate court conditions.
-
Voice contestant Dylan Carter dies at 24 in crash
Dylan Carter, a Season 24 contestant on “The Voice,” died Saturday in a car accident at age 24.
Read more +
Dylan Carter, a contestant on Season 24 of “The Voice,” died at 24 in a car accident on Saturday, according to ABC News 4.
His death was also confirmed by Moncks Corner, South Carolina, Mayor Thomas Hamilton Jr.
“Our family is heartbroken to hear about the passing of Dylan Carter in a car accident,” Hamilton wrote in a Facebook post on Sunday. “As a gifted singer, he frequently entertained our community with his performances at Town events. His kindness and charm earned him immense respect, and his absence will be deeply felt.”
He continued, “To the loved ones and acquaintances of Dylan, we offer our sincerest condolences during this difficult period. The Town of Moncks Corner, its Council, and entire staff extend their deepest sympathies. He was much more to our family than an entertainer he was our friend and we are deeply saddened.”
On “The Voice,” Carter performed Whitney Houston’s “I Look to You,” earning chair turns from all four coaches at the time: Reba McEntire, Niall Horan, John Legend, and Gwen Stefani.
He later said the song was a tribute to his mother, who had died the year before.
McEntire, who coached Carter until his elimination, paid tribute on her Instagram Stories on Monday.
“We will miss Dylan so much,” she wrote, according to Entertainment Weekly. “He was a brilliant, kind and talented young man who brought a huge ray of sunshine to The Voice. Rest in peace, my dear friend.”
-
Rising flood insurance costs strain South Carolina coast
On Hilton Head Island, floodplain administrator Shari Mendrick said many residents on fixed incomes had dropped coverage.
Read more +
Flood insurance costs rose for many South Carolina coastal homeowners as rates increasingly reflected property-level risk, prompting some residents to switch insurers, refinance, or drop coverage.
South Carolina had 193,541 National Flood Insurance Program policies in 2025, down from 198,232 in 2024, while the average annual premium rose to $743 from $695, according to the state Department of Insurance. FEMA data also showed that, in the southern Atlantic region excluding Florida, South Carolina had some of the highest average coastal payments. In 2025, the average annual payment was $4,199 in Pawleys Island, $2,078 in Georgetown, $1,216 in Surfside Beach, $1,142 in Beaufort, and $913 in Hilton Head Island.
FEMA changed its pricing model in 2021 to Risk Rating 2.0, which aimed to better match premiums to risk. The agency said some policyholders paid less under the new system, while others saw increases. Policies in force before 2021 remained on a glide path, with annual increases of up to 18% to 25% until they reached full risk-based rates.
Flood insurance is required for homes in Special Flood Hazard Areas with federally backed mortgages. Standard homeowners insurance does not include flood coverage, and FEMA said nearly one-third of claims over the last decade came from outside high-risk zones.
First Street, which includes climate change in its modeling, estimated that more than 200,000 properties in Horry, Georgetown, Charleston, and Beaufort counties face flood risk over the next 30 years, while nearly 150,000 face major, severe, or extreme risk. During Hurricane Florence in 2018, nearly 26,000 properties in those counties were flooded; Hurricane Matthew damaged more than 27,500 in 2016.
-
Wastewater spill releases 100,000 gallons in Bluffton
The wastewater did not reach local waterways, the authority said. Signs were posted in the area to notify the public.
Read more +
An estimated 100,000 gallons of wastewater spilled Saturday from a failed force main near Burnt Church Road and Ann Smith Drive in Bluffton, according to the Beaufort-Jasper Water and Sewer Authority.
The overflow began at 11 a.m. and stopped about 2:30 p.m., when authority crews contained it. Crews remained at the site into Saturday evening to clean up and repair the 16-inch collection main, which was expected to return to service.
The Beaufort-Jasper Water and Sewer Authority notified the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services and said it was working with the agency to assess and address any effects of the overflow.
Wastewater is used water that can include human waste, food scraps, oils, soaps, and chemicals, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. In homes, it includes water from sinks, showers, bathtubs, toilets, washing machines, and dishwashers. Businesses and industries also contribute used water that must be treated.
The authority said it delivers an average of 10 million gallons of wastewater a day to eight regional facilities for treatment and disposal.
-
Union County plane crash kills 4 family members
Witnesses reported seeing heavy black smoke as emergency crews responded. The airport remained temporarily closed while investigators worked the scene.
Read more +
Authorities identified the four people killed in a plane crash Friday evening in Union County as members of the same family.
Officials said the victims were James Moffatt, 60, who was piloting the aircraft, Leasa Moffatt, 61, Andrew Moffatt, 30, and William Moffatt, 28.
The National Transportation Safety Board said the crash happened around 6 p.m. at Union County Airport. The aircraft, a Mooney M20J, had stopped to refuel before continuing its trip.
Officials said the family was traveling from the Raleigh-Durham area of North Carolina to Huntsville, Alabama.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are leading the investigation. The agencies said they will examine the pilot, the aircraft, and environmental conditions at the time of the crash. A preliminary report is expected within 30 days.
Authorities said more information will be released as it becomes available.
-
Port Royal cites law after $1.3M tax revenue loss
Port Royal officials said they are working with state lawmakers on a possible change to the law, though they have been told any fix may not apply retroactively.
Read more +
Port Royal officials said a South Carolina property tax exemption for the Preserve at Port Royal, a 400-unit apartment complex, is expected to eliminate about $1.3 million in local tax revenue this year.
Town Manager Van Willis said the town learned of the change through social media, then later confirmed it while reviewing lower-than-expected revenue. The issue was discussed publicly at a Town Council workshop on April 1, 2026.
The Preserve paid more than $1.34 million in property taxes last year, according to the town. Willis said it is expected to pay no property taxes this year. He said the roughly $6,000 listed on the bill reflects stormwater fees.
According to Willis, the exemption came through a section of state law that allows companies to set aside part of their corporate structure for low- to moderate-income housing. In the Preserve’s case, he said, that portion is 0.1%.
“They have set aside 0.1% of their ownership structure, which has now enabled them to exempt $1.345 million in property taxes,” Willis said.
The property is owned by Sundance Bay, a Utah-based private equity firm with about $4 billion in assets, according to town officials. The complex sold for $92 million.
Willis said the loss amounts to about $349,000 for Port Royal, or roughly 6% of its $11 million budget. More than $700,000 for the Beaufort County School District is also affected.
The exemption was finalized in May 2025, Willis said, after Beaufort County had supplied figures Port Royal used to build its budget. The town adopted that budget in June 2025 expecting the revenue to remain in place.
Emails between the county’s chief financial officer and auditor show the exemption appeared on a list from the South Carolina Department of Revenue on May 30, 2025, during local budget planning. Willis said the town did not receive direct notice.
Town officials also questioned whether the property meets affordable housing requirements. Willis said a firefighter earning about $48,000 was quoted about $1,450 for a one-bedroom apartment and was told no affordable units were available.
-
1 dead, 2 hurt in Spartanburg nightclub shooting
No arrests had been reported. The shooting remained under investigation by the sheriff’s office.
Read more +
One person was killed and two others were injured in an early Sunday shooting at a nightclub in Spartanburg, South Carolina, according to the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies responded about 2 a.m. to reports of a shooting at PreGame Lounge, 106 South Blackstock Road, near Exit 21 on Interstate 26, the sheriff’s office said in a news release.
At the bar, deputies found that “a large-scale shooting had occurred,” the sheriff’s office said.
Three people were injured, and one died. The Spartanburg County Coroner’s Office had not publicly identified the person who died.
A second victim was taken to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center and was listed in critical condition Sunday morning, the sheriff’s office said.
A third victim suffered what the sheriff’s office described as “minor injuries” and was expected to recover.
Authorities did not say whether the victims were the intended targets. Information about the shooter, or shooters, was not available, and officials did not say whether others were involved or fired weapons.
The sheriff’s office said it considered the shooting an isolated incident and that “There is no known ongoing threat to the community.”
-
Parris Island protest targets immigration policy
The protest followed changing public statements from federal officials and base representatives about security measures at the installation.
Read more +
Protesters gathered Friday along the road to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island ahead of a graduation ceremony, citing concern about possible immigration-related screening at the base.
The group held signs and used megaphones as family members and friends of graduating recruits arrived. The protest was organized by the Lowcountry Immigration Coalition.
An earlier message on the Parris Island website said federal law enforcement personnel would “be present at installation access points to conduct enhanced screening and lawful immigration status inquiries.” A base spokesperson previously told The Island Packet that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement would be present at events to help ensure security for Marines and visitors.
The website language later changed. It said federal officials would be present because of “increased force protection measures” and to “expedite enhanced base access procedures,” without specifically mentioning immigration enforcement.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said their agents would not be present at the base for recruit family and graduation events. Base representatives said the Marine Corps would “never discuss specific agency participation.”
A base press release said support from federal law enforcement partners was “essential” to maintain “thorough and efficient screening while minimizing delays.”
-
Port Royal questions $1.3M apartment tax exemption
State law allows a limited liability company that provides low- to moderate-income housing to qualify for a property tax exemption.
Read more +
Port Royal officials said a 2025 property tax exemption for The Preserve at Port Royal cut expected town revenue by $349,867, about 6% of its budget, and raised questions about a state law tied to affordable housing.
County tax records showed the 400-unit apartment complex paid about $1.2 million annually from 2022 through 2024, but owed no property taxes in 2025. The town said the total tax break was about $1.3 million, including losses to Beaufort County Public Schools, Beaufort County, and green space conservation funding.
Officials said they were not notified before passing the town budget June 11. Town Manager Van Willis said he learned of the reduced tax bill after seeing a March 9 post on Nextdoor from local business owner Kevin O’Brien asking how the property had gone from paying $1.3 million in taxes to $6,000.
The town said Beaufort County Public Schools lost $726,126, Beaufort County lost $259,000, and green space conservation funding lost $13,000.
According to Port Royal, state law allows a limited liability company that provides low- to moderate-income housing to qualify for a property tax exemption. Sundance Bay LLC, a Salt Lake City-based real estate private equity firm that bought the property for $92 million in 2021, created HOM Preserve at Port Royal LLC, which the town described as a nonprofit affordable housing entity. It received the exemption in 2025.
Port Royal officials said a Freedom of Information Act request to the South Carolina Department of Revenue showed parts of the application were redacted, including the number of units designated for low- and moderate-income residents.
On its website, The Preserve said households earning between $38,000 and $88,000 might qualify for affordable housing. Willis said a town firefighter earning $48,000 called to ask about an affordable unit and was quoted $1,450 a month for a one-bedroom. The town said that rent would equal nearly 38% of his annual income.
-
Puss Caterpillars Pose Sting Risk in South Carolina
The caterpillars, sometimes called “toxic toupees,” have spines hidden beneath their hair that release venom.
Read more +
Puss moth caterpillars, while appearing soft and fluffy, can cause painful stings, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. These caterpillars are often found in South Carolina, particularly in residential areas, parks, and wooded regions. They feed on oak, elm, hackberry, maple, and sycamore leaves and are active in late summer and fall.
The caterpillars, sometimes called “toxic toupees,” have spines hidden beneath their hair that release venom. Eric Day, manager of Virginia Tech’s Insect ID Lab, reported experiencing a burning sensation and blister after being stung.
Pain from stings can vary, but those with severe reactions may require medical attention, as noted by Molly Keck of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. To treat stings, the National Capital Poison Center recommends using tape to remove hairs, washing the area, applying an ice pack, and using hydrocortisone cream or a baking soda paste.
-
South Carolina Weighs $32M Deal to Protect Captain Sam’s Spit
Captain Sam’s Spit is a 170-acre ecologically rich and publicly accessible barrier island long targeted for luxury development.
Read more +
A proposed $32 million settlement could secure the future of Captain Sam’s Spit in South Carolina, preserving it from development after years of legal battles. The State Fiscal Accountability Authority approved the settlement, which involves contributions from the town of Kiawah Island and The Nature Conservancy, totaling approximately $37 million. However, the deal requires legislative approval of budget funds.
State Senator Harvey Peeler, a key finance figure, opposes the deal, citing unspecified concerns. While the House budget includes the settlement, the Senate has yet to finalize its version.
Captain Sam’s Spit, a 170-acre barrier island section, is valued for its ecological and recreational significance. Conservationists highlight its rich habitat for birds, sea turtles, and dolphins, and its public beach access, in contrast to the more exclusive parts of Kiawah Island.
Developers have pursued plans for luxury homes on the spit since the 1990s. Environmental groups challenge these plans, pointing to the area’s vulnerability to erosion and storms. A “takings” lawsuit by developers could cost taxpayers up to $200 million if resolved unfavorably.
The settlement would prevent development, with portions of the land managed by the Department of Natural Resources and pledged as a public park. While Peeler doubts the settlement cost, taxpayers could face greater liabilities if litigation continues.
-
Jasper County, ICE Target Criminal Enterprises
The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office reported “numerous” arrests but emphasized the operation was not an immigration sweep. Final arrest numbers and additional details are forthcoming.
Read more +
Jasper County police collaborated with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) over the weekend in a targeted operation against a criminal network linked to cockfighting, gambling, drugs, and firearms.
ICE became involved during the investigation once some suspects were identified as being in the country illegally, according to the sheriff’s office. Sheriff Chris Malphrus stated, “This operation was about criminal activity, not who someone is or where they come from.”
A sheriff’s alert early on Saturday reported deputies were executing search warrants, downplaying ICE’s involvement. However, social media footage featuring apparent ICE agents making arrests in Jasper County emerged, eliciting anger and fear from some residents.
The American Civil Liberties Union noted that Jasper County signed a 287(g) agreement with ICE in early March. This contract allows state and local law enforcement to perform immigration-related arrests. This initiative aligns with similar programs implemented by other South Carolina law enforcement agencies.
The sheriff’s office mentioned that multiple federal agencies collaborated because the criminal activities extended beyond county lines, although it did not specify which agencies were involved.
Jasper County Detention Center records showed five inmates with ICE holds booked since Sunday, facing charges like driving under the influence and possession of a firearm by an unlawful alien. As of Tuesday morning, no cockfighting or animal cruelty charges were listed.
South Carolina considers cockfighting a misdemeanor, despite its prevalence in rural areas.
-
FedEx to Close Savannah Facility, Affecting 107 Jobs
According to FedEx, the closure is part of ‘Network 2.0,’ a strategy aimed at streamlining and simplifying operations.
Read more +
FedEx will close its facility at 51 Nicholson Dr. in Savannah on June 1, affecting 107 employees. The company issued a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) on March 31 to provide advance notice of the closure.
For those typically using this location for package drop-off, services will be available at 135 Coleman Parkway Blvd. in Pooler. FedEx operates eight other facilities in the Savannah area.
Employees were notified of this decision several months prior and received a written notice. FedEx Media Relations Representative David Westrick stated, ‘We’re committed to supporting impacted employees through job placement assistance, relocation aid, or severance. Many will be offered other roles within the company.’