Charleston City Paper wins 18 state, national awards

MORNING HEADLINES | The editorial board of the Charleston City Paper won first place in a national contest among independent newspapers for best editorial commentary in the country. Statehouse bureau chief Jack O’Toole picked up a third place for best short form news story on a piece about the health of local fisheries.

In three editorials scrutinizing the leadership of Charleston Mayor William Cogswell (Backroom Billy, 1/30/25; Disinfect secrecy, 3/13/25); and Probe parking payday, 8/14/25), judges for AAN Publishers wrote, “This is the mission of the local alt weekly. Hold those public officials accountable. Cuz no one else is. Hurrah for Charleston City Paper! Keep digging in on Mayor Cogswell.”

Also this month, the South Carolina Press Association announced 16 new advertising awards for the newspaper, including seven first place recognitions. Awards ranged from best ads for gifts, food and alcohol, the quarterly Dish special section and advertising campaign.

Since 2019, the newspaper has won 233 state and national awards.

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Keep the City Paper strong with a fresh donation. We’re embarking on a $25,000 summer campaign in July to support free, independent journalism at the Charleston City Paper. Every donation helps keep alive a voice of free, independent and local journalism. Your help of $25 or $100 is appreciated.

Also in today’s headlines

CP OPINION: McMaster missed opportunity on Graham appointment. No offense to Darline Graham Nordone, but her coming service to the state until a newly elected senator is sworn in on Jan. 3, 2027, is a letdown. She’ll likely vote similarly to how her brother would have wanted or how Republican leaders steer her. South Carolinians, however, deserved more than a placeholder in this critical Washington leadership position.

Nordone sworn in Tuesday as S.C.’s new U.S. senator

Gilliard urges McMaster to require ICE officers to wear body cameras. S.C. Rep. Wendell Gilliard has asked Gov. Henry McMaster to require all U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers conducting enforcement operations in the state to wear and activate body-worn cameras.

North Charleston ranked among one of U.S.’s loudest cities. A recent study from Decibel Shield, a sound level meter app, ranks North Charleston as the 17th loudest city in the United States among cities with more than 100,000 people, even louder than New York City.

S.C. Highway 41 to expand in Mount Pleasant. The controversial plan, also referred to as the “Road to Compromise,” will connect Park West Blvd. to S.C. Highway 41, one of the fastest-growing areas in the region.

New guest limits could be coming to Charleston’s short-term rentals. The proposal would establish occupancy limits based on bedroom size, with the Charleston Fire Marshal determining the maximum occupancy using the city’s adopted International Property Maintenance Code. Regardless of a home’s size, no short-term rental would be allowed to host more than eight guests.

Charleston’s Shrimp City Slim receives the state’s top civilian honor. Charleston blues musician and promoter Gary Erwin, better known as Shrimp City Slim, has received the Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina’s highest civilian honor, recognizing a career that helped shape and expand the state’s blues scene.

College of Charleston helps veterans transition to college life. The College of Charleston has partnered with the Warrior Scholar Project for the first time, offering a free, weeklong business program for active duty and former service members.

Folly Beach defers vote on proposed drone fishing ban. The proposed rule would prohibit the use of drones and other mechanical devices to deliver bait and fishing lines. Leaders said the language is intentionally broad so it could apply to future fishing technology beyond drones.

Goings on around town

Our online events calendar has scores of events around the Lowcountry every day, making it the most detailed calendar of what’s happening in the area. Just click on “Events” above at right under the black toolbar. You’ll be amazed at what you find.