MORNING HEADLINES  |   U.S. Rep. James Clyburn, S.C.’s only Democrat in D.C., says he’s discussing his political future with his family and colleagues over the holidays.

“I’ll have to make up my mind whether or not to run — or where to run,” the longtime power broker told The Post and Courier in a recent interview.  

So far, some 10% of Clyburn’s  House colleagues say they’re retiring or not running – 18 Democrats and 24 Republicans.  

“It gets you thinking,” Clyburn admitted.

Meanwhile in a long-running Washington scandal over files related to the late sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein, a recent news report shows one victim known as Jane Doe. No. 5 reportedly was a South Carolina 13-year-old middle-schooler, as identified in federal documents released this month.

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Recent headlines

CP OPINION:  Brack: On chemistry sets, fire trucks, bicycles and family love. “Seeing kids open Christmas gifts makes one recall favorite presents received in years gone by… Thinking back to all sorts of gifts (including ugly sweaters) brings a series of chuckles and fond memories.”

CP 2025 RECAP:  Reliving the top Lowcountry stories of the year.  Here’s a look at the top City Paper stories of the year, month by month. 

CP NEWS: Lowcountry leaders continue push against septic tank systems. The S.C. Supreme Court on Dec. 18 paused the proposed development of a new community in Awendaw that would have brought about 200 septic tank-dependent homes across 182 acres on the town’s vulnerable White Tract.  

CP’s S.C. WEEK IN REVIEW: 10 Statehouse issues to watch in 2026. With the S.C. House and Senate set to reconvene Jan. 13, Republican and Democratic lawmakers say they expect these 10 issues to be prominent in 2026.

Highest paid city of Charleston employee made $257,500 in 2025. Charleston Mayor William Cogswell’s chief of staff, Elizabeth Dieck, was paid more than a quarter of a million dollars in 2025, well above Cogswell’s $229,659 salary.

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