Thursday headlines: S.C.'s Scott tests presidential waters in Iowa

U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, a South Carolina Republican from the Lowcountry, was in Iowa Wednesday delivering a faith-based message of “a new American sunrise” that deviates from his possible rivals who have focused more on railing against cultural divides. Politico described the speech as Scott dipping his toes in the 2024 presidential waters.

According to The Washington Post, “he described the country as beset by misery and hopelessness, with citizens consuming the ’empty calories of anger’ and politicians hooking voters on ‘the drug of victimhood and the narcotic of despair.’ He blamed Democrats and liberals, whom he accused of peddling a ‘blueprint to ruin America,’ while calling out President Biden for ‘living in the past’ and accusing him of exploiting the nation’s history of racial oppression for political ends.”

In other headlines:

Charleston law firm to close following Aylor’s death. The law firm bearing the name of David Aylor is set to close following his sudden death earlier this year. Investigators are still figuring out the cause of death.

Former associate takes stand in defense. Former lawyer Alex Murdaugh’s former law partner Mark Ball testified Wednesday about Murdaugh’s distress in the hours following the death of his wife and son. Meanwhile, a source close to CNN said Murdaugh might take the stand.

Nurses exhausted under weight of the pandemic. Nurses across the country are feeling worn out, according to a study from the American Nurses Foundation, and Lowcountry nurses concur. Meanwhile, recent state data show that 44 people died from Covid in the week ending Feb. 18 and another 4,100 people have the virus.

Charleston school board fails to replace literacy curriculum. Board members failed to pass a motion at their Feb. 21 committee that would replace the EL Education program that has caused scrutiny among hard right politicians and parents for the organization’s commitment to equity and anti-racism.

N. Charleston exploring to pulls schools out of Charleston school district. City and state leaders are looking into the possibility of removing North Charleston schools from the Charleston County School District, criticizing the district’s efforts to improve low-performing schools. A new bill would remove North Charleston schools from CCSD and form a new district.

North Charleston leaders poised to increase mayor’s salary. City leaders are on track to increase the salary of the mayor to $218,310 a year, a 12.6% increase over incumbent Keith Summey’s current pay of $193,880.

S.C. House OKs permitless carry of handguns. The S.C. House voted Wednesday to allow lawful firearm owners to carry handguns openly or concealed without a state permit. The bill will be passed onto the Senate, who rejected a similar proposal two years ago.