Senate OKs Dems’ $3.5T budget in latest win for Biden
By Alan Fram
Democrats pushed a $3.5 trillion budget resolution through the Senate early Wednesday on a party-line 50-49 vote.
Politics
Statehouse leaders argue against Columbia’s school mask mandate
COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) – The heads of both chambers of the South Carolina Statehouse have taken issue with the city of Columbia’s school mask mandate and have asked the State Attorney General to take action. A joint letter from Senate President Peeler and House Speaker Lucas to the Attorney General, arguing against the city of Columbia’s recently passed school mask…
US automakers pledge 50% electric vehicle sales by 2030
President Joe Biden smiles after driving a Jeep Wrangler 4xe Rubicon on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021, during an event on clean cars and trucks. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) WASHINGTON (AP) — Declaring the U.S. must “move fast” to win the world’s carmaking future, President Joe Biden on Thursday announced a commitment from…
Senior FTC official criticizes Facebook’s shutdown of political ads probe
WASHINGTON (AP) – A senior Federal Trade Commission official is criticizing Facebook’s move to shut down the personal accounts of two academic researchers and terminate their probe into misinformation spread through political ads on the social network. In a letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, the FTC official says the company wrongly used a 2019 data-privacy settlement with the agency…
State education department hires former Lexington-Richland 5 superintendent
Dr. Christina Melton resigned suddenly in June after being named Superintendent of the Year
COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) – The South Carolina Department of Education announced Thursday it has hired former Lexington-Richland 5 Superintendent Dr. Christina Melton. Melton resigned suddenly in June after having been named the Superintendent of the Year. The former superintendent will join the state agency as the Director of Assessment. “Dr. Melton is a dynamic leader whose passion for students’ academic…
Columbia Mayor issues ‘State of Emergency’ for schools in city limits
Mayor Benjamin announced Wednesday that the State of Emergency mask mandate will cover 40 schools
Columbia, SC (WOLO)— The Mayor of Columbia has declared a state of emergency — and he’s primarily focused on masks in schools. This as case numbers of COVID and the more contagious delta variant continues to rise and vaccinations remain low. Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin says it’s time to make masking up mandatory….again. The mayor says this is one fight…
SC Senators begin discussions on spending billions in COVID-19 relief
This was the first time the Senate American Rescue plan subcommitee met
Columbia, SC (WOLO) — a small group of South Carolina senators are in discussions on how to spend two and half billion dollars of federal COVID-19 relief. The Senate American Rescue Plan subcommittee met for the first time Tuesday. The Senators mostly heard about the rules and limitations on how money can be spent. For example, the money can be…
UofSC will once again require masks inside campus buildings
COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) – The University of South Carolina announced Friday it would immediately begin requiring face coverings inside campus buildings. The University cited low vaccine uptake statewide and high disease transmission rates in Richland County as reason for the renewed requirement. The order is effectively immediately. DHEC officials reiterated their support for the CDC’s updated recommendation that everyone wear…
Congress passes emergency bill to fund Capitol security, Afghan visas
WASHINGTON (AP) – Congress has overwhelmingly passed emergency legislation that will bolster security at the Capitol, repay outstanding debts from the violent Jan. 6 insurrection and increase the number of visas for allies who worked alongside Americans in the Afghanistan war. The $2.1 billion bill now goes to President Joe Biden for his signature. The Senate approved the legislation early…
McMaster sued after turning down federal unemployment aid
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – Four jobless South Carolinians have sued Gov. Henry McMaster over his decision to exit the federal unemployment programs providing extra money to jobless residents earlier this summer. The residents said in lawsuit filed in state court Wednesday that they are still struggling to make ends meet and have been unable to find work despite extensive job…
