The State reports that all 4.2 million South Carolina license plates on cars across the state will be phased out and replaced beginning in 2018. State officials say the orange sunset-themed plates will be done away with in favor of a new design that’s not yet determined. Source: The State
Berkeley County Superintendent Rodney Thompson was indicted by a state grand jury yesterday on an ethics violation, becoming the second school district official to be officially charged over allegations that school district resources were used to support a 2012 school bond referendum. Source: P&C, Live 5
Two S.C. men were charged with insurance fraud and interfering with a train yesterday over a 2013 incident where they allegedly parked a car on train tracks in Allendale County to cause a train wreck and filed insurance claims for their supposed injuries. Source: The State
A House bill proposal that would pump $400 million into the state’s roadways is being criticized by local legislators as “anti-Charleston.” Source: P&C
State Supreme Court Chief Justice Jean Toal named Kingstree-based Circuit Judge Clifton Newman to oversee the case of the state versus Michael Slager,, the former North Charleston officer charged with murder in the shooting death of Walter Scott. Source: P&C, The State, NYT
On the third day back into active session following the Walter Scott shooting, a Senate panel unanimously approved a bill that would mandate body cameras for law enforcement officers statewide. Source: Greenville News
A new Winthrop University poll of likely S.C. Republican presidential primary voters shows Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush in the early lead among GOP comers. Source: Winthrop Poll, Greenville News
Congressman Trey Gowdy told a conservative radio host that his panel tasked with investigating the 2012 Benghazi attacks, and by extension, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and by further extension, Clinton’s use of personal email while in office, says his committee lacks the authority to subpoena the newly-announced 2016 Democratic candidate’s private email server. Source: Politico
A transportation plan proposed by Congressman Mark Sanford shifts $10 billion in federal money allocated to public transit instead into national highway projects, a shift that would take about $6 million out of CARTA’s annual budget. CARTA board member and County Councilwoman Colleen Condon: “If we lost $6 million, I’m not sure CARTA would exist.” Source: P&C
The State Supreme Court announced on Wednesday that it will hear a lawsuit over a split in the Episcopal Church involving more than $500 million in church real estate. Source: P&C
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