S.C. House Speaker Pro Tem Tommy Pope, R-Rock Hill, shot down a medical marijuana bill by S.C. Sen. Tom Davis, R-Beaufort, by ruling a 6% fee on medical marijuana sales creates a new tax. That power only is allowed under the state constitution by a bill that originates in the House, according to this story. The bill originated in the state Senate, where Davis has been fighting to pass the compassionate care bill for seven years.
In other South Carolina news:
Crowd rallies for pro-choice in downtown Charleston. In light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s leaked draft opinion on overturning the landmark Roe v. Wade abortion case, at least 200 advocates, including Planned Parenthood and Charleston Black Lives Matters representatives, rallied in downtown Charleston Wednesday night.
Former bank CEO indicted in Murdaugh case. Former Palmetto State Bank CEO Russell Laffitte was accused of 21 charges by the State Grand Jury Wednesday related to disgraced attorney Alex Murdaugh. Lafitte was indicted for conspiring to steal roughly hundreds of thousands of dollars in settlement proceeds owed to the family of a deaf man who was left severely disabled after a 2009 car accident. The indictments come four months after the bank ousted him as CEO for his involvement with Murdaugh.
Airbnb to filter partygoers in Charleston for Memorial Day. Airbnb said it planned to prevent parties in Airbnb renter’s homes on Memorial Weekend in Charleston by restricting one- to two-day rentals being made by users with bad reviews.
Charleston nonprofit working to unearth sunken vessel. A group of young professionals is partnering with nonprofit group Wounded Nature Working Veterans to retrieve a sunken vessel in the Charleston harbor. The vessel, the group says, causes damage to the area near the James Island Connector and makes it dangerous for boaters sailing in and out. The two groups are looking to raise $15,000 to help retrieve the boat.
Lowcountry wedding industry back in full swing. The Wedding Report predicts nearly 2.5 million U.S. weddings in 2022, the highest number since 1984. Local businesses like Taylor Jordan Photography and Patrick Properties Hospitality Group have seen an increase in business after two years of the pandemic. Officials say weddings in North Charleston make a positive impact to the city, as the national average cost of a wedding is $32,000.
Carolina Squat vehicle modification is one step closer to being banned. The S.C. House unanimously voted on Wednesday to ban vehicle modifications like the “Carolina Squat,” a modification in which the front end of a truck or SUV being placed higher than the back end, from roadways. If the bill becomes law, vehicles will be prohibited from raising four or more inches above the height of the rear fender.
To get dozens of South Carolina news stories every business day, contact the folks at SC Clips.
Help keep the City Paper free.
No paywalls.
No subscription cost.
Free delivery at 800 locations.
Help support independent journalism by donating today.
