MORNING HEADLINES | Five years after voting unanimously to remove the John C. Calhoun memorial from its perch in Marion Square, Charleston City Council has approved a legal settlement that will transfer ownership of the statue to descendants of the 19th century senator and vice president.
The newly created nonprofit Calhoun Monument Preservation Society will take ownership of the statue as a result of the settlement, which ends a years-long lawsuit by the American Heritage Association against the city of Charleston on behalf of descendants of Calhoun.
The settlement reportedly allows the statue, which descendants say is of historical importance, to be displayed somewhere other than in the city limits of Charleston.
An ardent defender of slavery, Calhoun argued that the institution was a “positive good” for the South.
In other headlines
CP NEWS: Mount Pleasant steps ahead with stricter e-bike rules. Mount Pleasant is considering changes to its current e-bike ordinance to ease the public’s concerns after increased incidents of reckless riding and illegal use of mopeds. The town council last week unanimously voted to approve the first reading of the amended ordinance, which would allow officers to penalize not only adults but also children for violating regulations.
CP OPINION, Scardino: S.C. coast is sandcastle on beach with incoming tide. The low-lying coast of South Carolina—all 187 miles of it, the home to 1.4 million people—may be a sandcastle on the beach facing an incoming tide.
S.C. Supreme Court upholds Sullivan’s Island disorderly conduct law. In a 4-1 ruling, the S.C. Supreme Court upheld Sullivan’s Island’s disorderly conduct ordinance, after it was challenged by a resident who received a $1,040 ticket for an incident involving an Uber driver.
2026: Johnson suspends U.S. Senate campaign two months after launch. Greenville businessman Lee Johnson announced Wednesday that he’s suspending his Democratic primary campaign to unseat incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, leaving Lowcountry pediatrician Annie Andrews, Upstate educator Brandon Brown and retired Navy officer Kyle Freeman in the race.
U.S. Senate narrowly approves Trump budget cuts to foreign aid, public broadcasting. The U.S. Senate voted 51-48 early Thursday morning to approve $9 billion in Trump administration-backed cuts to foreign aid and public broadcasting, sending the bill back to the House for a final vote. Two Republicans — Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska — joined Democrats in voting against the bill. One Democrat did not vote due to illness.
S.C. Ports Authority’s rail and barge costs jump to $670 million. S.C. Ports says the cost of its planned rail and barge operation have risen by more than 50% since the project was announced four years ago. According to authority leaders, the state will not be asked to cover the cost overruns.
Volvo moves more production to S.C. Volvo will move production of its popular XC60 sport-utility crossover to its $1.2 billion Ridgeville plant in late 2026, according to company officials.
S.C. seeks waiver to add thousands to state Medicaid program. The state of South Carolina is asking the federal government for a waiver that would allow its Medicaid program to cover working parents making up to 100% of the federal poverty level. Under the plan, newly eligible parents would have to prove they are working at least 80 hours per month to receive the benefit.
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