Charleston ranks as nation’s 13th best place to live, report says

MORNING HEADLINES | Charleston is the 13th best place to live in the country according to a new ranking by U.S. News & World Report magazine.

“There is no place quite like Charleston,” according to the ranking released Tuesday. “The region features a unique blend of historic preservation and new development, displayed in its cobblestone walkways and eerie cemeteries, buzzy nightlife and sophisticated art galleries.

“Its unique brand of Southern style shines in the bespoke boutiques that line downtown’s King Street, while Southern hospitality radiates from the award-winning dining establishments.”

Meanwhile, Greenville in the Upstate ranked higher at 4th best of 150 cities profiled by the magazine. The only two other cities ranked in the Palmetto State: Myrtle Beach (51st) and Columbia (91st).

The magazine, which also said Greenville was the 76th best place to retire, highlighted its refreshed downtown, saying it “serves as the focal point of the region, attracting new business, hosting an emerging culinary scene and housing what some call the crown jewel of Greenville: Falls Park on the Reedy.”

Ranked ahead of Greenville: Naples Florida; Boise, Idaho; and Colorado Springs, Colorado.

In other headlines:

CP NEWS: Ports reopened Tuesday after glitch. South Carolina ports reopened Tuesday after being closed since Sunday night due to a reported software glitch. The fiscal impact of the closure that disrupted state commerce isn’t yet known.

CP NEWS: CARTA Beach Reach shuttles return. A shuttle service from Mount Pleasant to Isle of Palms returns for the summer.

Elvis’s granddaughter sues to block sale of Graceland. Actress Riley Keogh is suing to block the sale of Elvis’s home in Memphis claiming a company is fraudulently planning to auction it.

S.C. bans gender transition care for minors. S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster signed a bill into law Tuesday that keeps health professionals from performing gender-transition surgeries and other gender-affirming care for minors. About two dozen states have similar restrictions or bans.

CONGRESS: Clyburn vows to get more engaged. U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., said he took his eye off the state in 2022 when Democrats lost big. He says that won’t happen in 2024.

SouthState to buy Texas bank group for $2 billion. SouthState Corp, which has 85 South Carolina bank branches, has entered into an agreement to buy Independent Bank Group in Texas for about $2 billion.

Oceanside Collegiate seeking new sponsor. The Mount Pleasant academy reportedly has been approved to have a new sponsor, Limestone Charter Association, that could allow the school to remain open. It is fighting closure.

Former “Southern Charm” star arrested on DUI charge. Former television star Kathryn Dennis has been released on bond following a DUI charge after a Monday night crash.