MORNING HEADLINES | Republican gubernatorial candidate Alan Wilson and Democratic state Rep. Jermaine Johnson will debate tonight for the first time as South Carolinians face their first incumbent-free ballot in nearly two decades.
The debate will be exclusively on Gray Media stations, including WCSC-TV in Charleston, tonight from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the WIS-TV studios in Columbia. According to a Post and Courier story last month, Gray Media required candidates to sign a non-compete agreement on the debate, effectively freezing candidates from appearing on other outlets, such as SCETV. The company has since been criticized for chilling speech.
No outside press will be in attendance. WIS-TV Anchor Judi Gatson will moderate, with questions coming from Gray Media political reporters and anchors from across South Carolina.
The general election is Nov. 3. Early voting in South Carolina runs from Oct. 19 to Oct. 31.
This year’s election will mark the first time South Carolinians will elect a new governor in nearly 10 years, with current Gov. Henry McMaster reaching the term limit following election wins in 2018 and 2022.
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In recent headlines
CP NEWS: Report expected on contested Coming St. site. The College of Charleston is expected this week to release a report with certain conditions that shows ground-penetrating radar (GPR) scans conducted seven months ago at 106 Coming St., the site of the college’s proposed dormitory, a college spokesperson said.
CP OPINION, Hogan: S.C. Arts Commission breaks bad when fostering arts for all. The board of the South Carolina Arts Commission voted 5-3 Oct. 1 to not fund two state arts organizations, Greenville Gay Men’s Chorus and Proud Mary Theatre Company, based in Spartanburg. Meanwhile, the board funded 180 others with $3.7 million in grants.
Gas prices fall by 21 cents in S.C. The average gasoline prices in South Carolina have fallen by 21 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.87 per gallon as of Oct. 5, 2026, according to a survey.
Charleston residents get final chance to weigh in on tourism plan. Charleston residents have one final opportunity Thursday from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Charleston Civic Design Center to give input on the city’s next tourism management plan before a draft is finalized.
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Memorial service set for former Charleston Co. superintendent. The commemoration for Don Kennedy, the former Charleston County School District superintendent, who died at 75 after a battle with pancreatic cancer, will take place at Charity Missionary Baptist Church, located at 1544 East Montague Ave., on Oct. 17 at 11:00 a.m.
Settlement bans data center development across most of ACE Basin. The Southern Environmental Law Center and Colleton County have reached an agreement to resolve a lawsuit that challenged changes to the county zoning code that allowed data centers in rural areas of Colleton County, including within the ACE Basin.
Mount Pleasant council examines Flock camera use. Mount Pleasant police are defending the town’s use of Flock license plate-reading cameras as the town council takes a closer look at how the technology is used and what safeguards should be in place.
CALENDAR: How to find cool things to do 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.
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