Wednesday headlines: US death toll from pandemic approaches 600,000

The United States would have surpassed 600,000 deaths due to the coronavirus already if not for the removal of hundreds of deaths from California tallies. In South Carolina, 8,623 people have died from the virus as of Tuesday. However, infections are dropping in places where people are vaccinated, but rising where they are not. Also, cases of a dangerous COVID variant are spreading rapidly, health officials say. More: The New York Times, CNN, The Washington Post

In other headlines:

Sutherland’s death changed to homicide in certificate, according to coroner. Charleston County Coroner Bobbi Jo O’Neal amended Jamal Sutherland’s death certificate to indicate his death was a homicide, attorneys for the Sutherland’s family said Tuesday. More: Associated Press, WCSC TV, The Post and Courier

Cunningham announces plan to curb gun violence in governor race. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Joe Cunningham released his plan to curb gun violence in the Palmetto State as Charleston gears up to mark the sixth anniversary of the Emanuel AME Church shooting. More: The Post and Courier

State legislators begin talks on nearly $11B budget. South Carolina legislators are hammering out differences between the House and Senate versions of the state’s nearly $11 billion budget ahead of the new fiscal year. More: SC Public Radio

SLED working to ‘bring justice’ in Murdaugh deaths after releasing new details. State police have released a brief timeline of events as part of their investigation into the shooting deaths of a mother and son from one of South Carolina’s prominent legal families. More: The State, Associated Press