MORNING HEADLINES  |  Twenty-five years ago today, crews raised the history-making Civil War submarine H.L. Hunley from waters off the coast of Charleston.

During the Civil War, Confederates built the roughly 40-foot-long Hunley to help break the Union’s blockade of Southern ports. It sank twice before its first and only successful mission when it sank the U.S.S. Housatonic in February 1864, making it the first submarine to successfully sink an enemy ship in combat. 

Moments after the successful attack, however, the Hunley and its eight-man crew vanished. It remained missing for more than 100 years. 

But in 1995, the historic vessel was found during an expedition funded by New York Times best-selling author Clive Cussler. According to the Friends of the Hunley, a nonprofit organization charged with caring for, documenting and excavating the submarine, Cussler’s crew were using a magnetometer when they located a metal object about four miles off the coast of Sullivan’s Island.

Raising the vessel required years of strategic planning. An international team of experts developed a state-of-the-art plan that officials said required precision timing, flawless engineering, highly trained divers and perfect weather conditions. 

After crews raised the submarine in 2000, the ship went to a conservation tank in North Charleston. Today, the space remains an active lab to preserve the vessel and museum to display it and artifacts found inside. 

Remains of the Hunley’s crew were also found inside the vessel. They were carefully removed and given a burial at Magnolia Cemetery following a memorial service at White Point Garden on April 17, 2004.

In Friday’s issue of the Charleston City Paper

CP OPINION: Time for instant runoff voting is here. “Candidates are scurrying around again filing to run for local offices, a sure sign that another election season is about to poke us in the face with rhetoric, organizing, television ads, direct mail, red, white and blue.”

CP NEWS: Charleston student continues pushing against school book bans. It’s not difficult to imagine Kate Selvitelli will one day be president of the United States. Just spend a few minutes with her. She is a rising senior at Academic Magnet High School in North Charleston. Juggling her classes, sports and work is only a part of the picture — the rest is her award-winning education activism.

CP NEWS: 8 tips for unique, inspiring dorm rooms. Stepping into your new college dorm room on move-in day can be a mixed bag. It’s a blank slate, a cookie-cutter space that can fall anywhere between a blank canvas or an oppressive box. But when it comes to dorm room decoration, it’s all a personal touch.

CP NEWS: Historic Johns Island church gets national registry nod. Goosebumps rose on Shana Robinson’s arms as she recalled her childhood memories of Sunday morning services at Hebron Presbyterian Church, which was built by formerly enslaved people on Johns Island.

CP NEWS: Filing opens for municipal seats across Charleston County. ‘Tis the season again for local elections as filing is open now or soon for municipal candidates who want to serve as mayor or on the local council in 14 Charleston County communities. The general election is Nov. 4.

CP NEWS: Two from Charleston get major state cultural awards. Two Charleston thought leaders have been recognized with state Governor’s Awards in the Humanities, arguably South Carolina’s prestigious award for academic and cultural achievements in the humanities.

CP FOOD: Chefs’ advice: Stop tossing perfectly good food! Restaurants have such a small profit margin, they can’t afford to be cavalier with leftovers. And, these days, food prices demand that we not waste food either. Fortunately, many chefs have figured out the best ways to reduce food waste.

CP MUSIC: The Wood Brothers rolls into The Refinery with bold new ‘experimental’ album. If you’re a fan of the New York trio The Wood Brothers, you’ll know the band’s sound has long been a rustic mix of acoustic folk, country twang and bluesy roots rock.

CP ARTS: Review: ‘Zelda in the Backyard’ looks under hood of Alabama upbringing. Slipping into the sleek, chilled space at Cannon Street Arts Center to get lost in Zelda in the Backyard is a perfect cure for summertime blues. With its mix of light comedy and deeper themes, it may well make you laugh and make you think, but you likely will not sweat it.

In other headlines

Developer of Charleston luxury apartments wants to build a private dock on Ashley River. A developer has applied for a permit to build a private dock on the Ashley River. Charleston officials and preservation groups are concerned it could affect wetlands and the city’s billion-dollar sea wall.

Charleston County schools emphasize student safety as immigration fears rise. As students across Charleston County prepare to head back to school Tuesday, many families are dealing with a new back-to-school stressor: mixed immigration status.

Summerville postal contractor accused in $1M fraud, lawsuits. A Summerville U.S. Postal Service contractor is accused of scamming employees and investors out of over $1 million for a multi-year-long scheme involving delivery route contracting for USPS and Amazon.

Mount Pleasant police consider fining parents amid e-bike enforcement. The Mount Pleasant Police Department may enforce harsher punishments amid growing safety concerns with e-bikes.

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