Coastal schools play it safe by closing during Monday storm

MORNING NEWSBREAK | Tropical storm warnings are in effect this morning from Edisto Island north along the South Carolina coast as a tropical disturbance is predicted to bring heavy rains and a coastal flood threat.

As of this morning, it looks like the biggest hit will be along Georgetown and Horry counties, but the storm — called a “Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight” — is expected to impact the whole coast.

The storm’s threat led coastal school districts to shut down today. Charleston County schools broadcasted a late Sunday message that said, “Due to the forecast for inclement weather this week related to Tropical Storm Warning in effect for Charleston from Potential Tropical Cyclone 8 and the potential of sustained winds greater than 30 mph, schools are transitioning to an eLearning day for students tomorrow.”

Other districts that closed schools included Georgetown, Horry and Williamsburg counties. Coastal Carolina University and Horry-Georgetown Technical College also were reported to be closed.

In other news headlines today:

CP NEWS: 10 Statehouse races to watch in 2024. Palmetto State Democrats and Republicans don’t agree on much, but they’re of one mind this: Ruby-red South Carolina, where the GOP holds every statewide office and enjoys supermajorities in both chambers of the state legislature, isn’t destined to turn blue in 2024. But there are at least 10 races to watch …

CP NEWS: City Paper’s annual Burger Throwdown opens. Enjoy voting for best burger categories throughout the Charleston area.

CP ARTS: CofC unveils renovated arts building. The College of Charleston unveiled in August the anticipated new Albert Simons Center for the Arts following the building’s multimillion dollar, three-year-long renovation. Those who studied at the College and took classes in the old Simons Center will be blown away upon seeing the building’s transformation: from dingy, dated and dark, to bright, clean and spacious, with updates to technology, sustainability and accessibility features.

CP OPINION, Brack: S.C. GOP pretty quiet on Trump after debate. “Perhaps the echo of silence was because they were just stunned how poorly the debate went for Trump. There was no onslaught of press releases, tweets or social media snippets spewing support for Trump. We didn’t hear from S.C. .Gov. Henry McMaster — the guy who has often bragged how he was the first state official to back Trump more than eight years ago. “

TRUMP: Former president safe after another attempt on his life. The FBI says it is investigating a Sunday incident at a Florida golf course as a second assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, who has posted that he “hated” pop star Taylor Swift. Meanwhile, S.C. officials are reacting in this story on the second apparent assassination attempt. And U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham has emerged as a Trump surrogate on his own terms, according to this Post and Courier story.

North Charleston hotel will now house veterans. A North Charleston hotel off Ashley Phosphate Road recently sold for $11.6 million. Its new mission: a home for veterans.

AT&T strike in S.C. comes to end; work to resume. After 30 days, AT&T Southeast has brought its strike to an end by reaching a “strong tentative agreement” with union workers. Meanwhile, dockworkers across the nation – including those in Charleston – are reportedly nearing a strike.

Hearings to begin in North Charleston into Titan submersible implosion. The U.S. Coast Guard is trying to find out why the Titan imploded last summer to prevent future tragedies.