MORNING HEADLINES  | The U.S. Senate on Monday voted 68-29 to confirm Scott Bessent, the South Carolina-born billionaire investor on Wall Street, as the nation’s new Treasury secretary. 

The first openly gay person in the position, he is expected to be a leading voice in the Trump administration on economic policy, including possible expansion of 2017 federal tax cuts. The 62-year-old Bessent, born in Conway, also will have to contend with Trump’s plans to enact possible tariffs on goods coming in from Mexico, Canada and China.

Bessent, a past supporter of Democrats who once worked for billionaire George Soros, has become an enthusiastic supporter of Trump, advising the president on economic policies during  the 2024 campaign.  

Locally, Bessent may best be known as owner of the pink mansion on East Bay Street, put on the market last year.  In December, it had a contract on it in December after being listed for $22.3 million.

Trump touted Bessent in November as a “strong advocate of the America First Agenda,” and said that Bessent would “usher in a new Golden Age for the United States, as we fortify our position as the world’s leading economy, center of innovation and entrepreneurialism, destination for capital, while always, and without question, maintaining the U.S. dollar as the reserve currency of the world.”

The treasury secretary is responsible for serving as the president’s fiscal policy adviser and managing the public debt. He is also a member of the president’s National Economic Council.

In other recent headlines:

Decade-old plan for Charleston connectivity to be put in motion. Officials with the city of Charleston are hoping to start the first phase of the Lowcountry Lowline project. The 2015 initiative focuses on eastside neighborhoods in the connectivity plan. Mount Pleasant Street will be the starting location of the multi-use pathway with parks and amenities including the already existing skate park in the area.

Charleston school board discusses superintendent review, funding plans. The board spent two hours in executive session, discussing student placement and transfers, teacher appeals and a draft for the review of Superintendent Anita Huggins. The district will begin drafting the evaluation on the fringe of her official first anniversary in the role.

First day of tax filing opens in S.C. The South Carolina Department of Revenue is now accepting 2024 individual income tax returns.

Mace to travel across S.C. as she mulls over governor run. U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace will travel across South Carolina in the coming weeks as she explores whether to run for governor in 2026.

New Johns Island project protects nearly 100 acres of farmland. Grayson Oaks is 94 acres of farmland, wildlife habitat and scenic views that is now protected forever from development thanks to the Land Trust for working with the previous owner to purchase the property and place a conservation easement on it.

Vinyl enthusiasts can listen and share each month in North Charleston. Over a couple of hours, an eclectic mix of music reverberates from the community room at the Keith Summey North Charleston Library as music enthusiasts take turns spinning records on the turntable.

Tiffany & Co., Valentino and other luxury brands coming to Charleston

The nearly 190-year-old jeweler Tiffany &Co. is one of 11 luxury retailers traveling the U.S. as part of the Bal Harbour Shops Access Pop-up Tour, which hits Mount Pleasant’s Ferry Wharf on Feb. 7.

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