7/6 NEWSBREAK: Gilliard kicks off Senate campaign with bus tour

S.C. Rep Wendell Gilliard, D-Charleston, kicked off his campaign for the S.C. Senate District 42 seat with his Economic Justice Tour to visit local community leaders in downtown Charleston and North Charleston.

Other candidates in the race are S.C. Rep. Deon Tedder, D-Charleston, and Rep. J.A. Moore, D-Berkeley. The special primary election will be Sept. 5. The general election will be Nov. 7.

Gilliard started the tour Wednesday at Burke High School, followed by a trip to Pepperhill Park and the Liberty Hill neighborhood in North Charleston. The state representative met with several community leaders and the Hispanic community of District 42 to learn about the different issues in District 42 neighborhoods and come up with solutions including flooding, education, jobs and affordable housing.

“When I take that seat, I will still have a humble heart. I will still remember the least of them. Because that’s, to me, what being a progressive is all about,” Gilliard said.

In other City Paper headlines:

CP: Chemical plant’s phosphorus leak sparks heated concern. A North Charleston civil rights activist wants the Lanxess chemical company to close its facility near Rosemont amid concerns over the plant’s was heightened again following a June 21 release of 10 pounds of phosphorus from a clogged pipe attached to a storage tank, the third mishap the German-owned plant reported in the past four years to S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.

CP: Charleston’s Easy Honey hones its musical creativity. Charleston alternative act Easy Honey new EP “Oooo” drops July 7, leaning into Oasis-style Brit rock swagger and Beatles-esque soft-psych with that same laid back self-confidence.

CP: Learning to serve the queen bee. Some commercial and hobby beekeepers focus on keeping a hive’s queen healthy and happy, with some taking the queen on vacation to help introduce a new queen to a colony.

In other news from around the state:

Biden to visit Midlands, talk manufacturing today. President Joe Biden is heading to West Columbia today to make the case that economic measures he pushed through Congress are keeping deep red states — and others that voted for Donald Trump in 2020 — humming. In a partisan move, Third District Congressman Jeff Duncan invited Biden to his northwestern S.C. district to talk about a number of Republican talking points.

S.C. tax free weekend kicks off Aug. 4. The S.C. Department of Revenue announced July 5 that its 24th annual back-to-school tax-free weekend is scheduled for Aug. 4-6, providing shoppers at least 6% off some purchases.

IOP law enforcement urging residents to follow rules of the road. The Isle of Palms Police Department worked on two vehicle-related accidents over the weekend and urged residents to pay attention to the road to avoid any incidents. Meanwhile, Charleston area authorities have experienced four golf cart-related incidents in four days.

Shuttered Charleston restaurant to see new life. The former spot of Andolini’s in West Ashley has plans to convert to Villa Cantina Cocktail and Lounge sometime in the future. No date has been set. Meanwhile, downtown French restaurant Goulette Rotisserie and Grill permanently closed and Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream is opening a scoop shop in Mount Pleasant.

Charleston hotel undergoing $25M renovation. The 120-room lodging The Limited is undergoing a $25 million renovation and will take on the new name Live Oak as it becomes South Carolina’s first hotel in Marriott’s “Tribute Portfolio.” Renovations are expected to begin next March.

Metal bar art show embraces the darkness in Charleston. Charleston’s new metal bar Sugey’s hosted an alternative art show June 29, showcasing art ranging from provocative to gory, leaning into the show’s granted opportunity to really push the boundaries.

New Citadel research finds new way to see buried bombs. A professor in The Citadel’s electrical and computer engineering department is working with Army researchers on a new way to help soldiers see upcoming bombs to avoid tragedy.