AGP Executive Report

Pentagon Hiring Controversy: A convicted Jan. 6 rioter, Elias Irizarry, has been appointed to a sensitive Pentagon role overseeing special operations and counterterrorism policy, raising fresh questions about trust and vetting in national security jobs. Upstate Immigration Crackdown: South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced “Ghost Story” indictments tied to a raid at Burnstein Von Seelen Precision Casting in Abbeville, with 48 workers detained by ICE and six people indicted, including two managers, over alleged forged IDs and identity fraud. Statehouse Primaries: With the June 9 GOP primary underway, U.S. Rep. William Timmons faces challengers David Atchley and Robert E. Lee in South Carolina’s 4th District as voters weigh redistricting and local issues. Local Governance & Growth: Summerville residents are debating a proposed open-container district, with supporters pointing to downtown foot traffic and opponents warning about fit and enforcement. Public Safety: North Myrtle Beach is urging hurricane-season preparedness as Atlantic season begins, even with forecasts calling for fewer storms. Education Support: Steinberg Law Firm named three Lowcountry students as scholarship recipients, awarding $2,000 each.

Primary Election Countdown: South Carolina’s June 9 primaries are days away, with early voting already breaking records and Greenville voters flagging the economy, taxes, and the federal budget deficit as top concerns. How to Vote: Polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., photo ID is required, and early voting runs through June 5, with runoffs set for June 23 if no one clears 50%. Gubernatorial Race Shake-Up: State Sen. Josh Kimbrell has suspended his bid for governor, leaving the GOP field reshuffled just as voters head to the polls. Democrats Make Final Push: Three Democratic candidates for governor traded jabs in a late debate, arguing over how to grow the party’s reach statewide. Agriculture Commissioner Spotlight: Republicans choose a new agriculture commissioner next week as farmers warn fertilizer and diesel costs are squeezing margins. Child Hunger Relief: Harvest Hope is launching free summer meals across South Carolina for kids under 18, with grab-and-go distribution sites. Local Government Watch: Greer city officials are considering stricter rules for vape shops after concerns about too-easy zoning. Federal Policy Pressure: A new analysis warns Social Security could face benefit cuts averaging about $500 a month when trust funds run out in 2032.

SC State Funding Fight: House lawmakers are again pushing to block $5 million for a new convocation center at South Carolina State University, arguing the school retaliated against Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette by withdrawing her commencement invitation. Upstate Manufacturing Boom: An Austrian power-line hardware maker, Mosdorfer, will open its first U.S. factory in Oconee County, investing about $44.55M and creating 107 jobs, with operations targeted for 2027. Immigration Crackdown: Law enforcement activity at an Abbeville County precision casting business is tied to expected state grand jury indictments and arrests involving illegal immigration. Rare Earth Investment: USA Rare Earth is moving ahead with a $1.2B magnet and refined metals operation in Blacksburg, targeting 490 jobs and a 2028 start. Health Breakthrough: MUSC researchers say a treatment for severe depression is helping some patients recover in days instead of months. Local Justice: Aiken County says the remains of Krystal Anderson have been identified, with cause of death ruled homicidal violence.

Lake Greenwood Fish Kill: South Carolina environmental officials say they found no link between a 683-acre Greenwood property tied to Project Buckeye and the recent Lake Greenwood fish kill, concluding no further investigation is needed on the currently owned land. Healthcare Expansion: Prisma Health opened a new urgent care in Florence, while Novant Health bought a Hilton Head site for a $25.3 million medical campus expected to create about 50 jobs. Nursing Home Watch: CMS data highlights a mix of performance across South Carolina facilities, including Manna Post Acute (4 stars) and Lakes at Litchfield (5 stars), alongside lower-rated homes such as Golden Age Operations (2 stars). Pentagon Controversy: The Trump administration hired a convicted Jan. 6 rioter for a sensitive Pentagon counterterrorism role, drawing internal alarm over trust and access to classified work. Public Health: A new study warns snake fungal and other infections are spreading in Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina, raising extinction risks for vulnerable species.

Education Oversight: The South Carolina State Board of Education unanimously approved the South Carolina Department of Education taking full management of the Marlboro County School District, citing years of financial instability and audit problems, with SCDE support already helping the district produce its first balanced budget in years. Zoo & Community Relief: Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is bringing back “Toucan Tuesdays” with Harvest Hope Food Bank starting June 9, offering buy-one/get-one zoo admission and ICEEs with donations of two nonperishable items, aiming for 5,000 pounds of food. Energy Costs: AAA reports gas prices fell about 20 cents this week, with South Carolina averaging $3.87 a gallon, though the outlook remains uncertain. AI Policy: President Trump signed a new AI executive order, keeping a voluntary federal review for powerful AI models but shortening the review period to 30 days. Upstate Jobs & Industry: USA Rare Earth will invest $1.2 billion in Cherokee County to build a rare-earth magnet and metals operation in Blacksburg, creating about 490 jobs and targeting production by April 2028. Politics Ahead of Primary: Three of six GOP governor candidates debated on immigration enforcement and election security as early voting continues, with Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and others skipping the SCETV event. Public Safety: A SLED investigation is underway after a shooting during a search warrant at Fort Mill apartments.

South Carolina Politics: The SC governor’s race is in flux after President Trump’s endorsement of Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, with a GOP debate that drew only three of six candidates and fresh questions about who will show up next. Attorney General Race: State Sen. Stephen Goldfinch Jr. is pitching his bid for South Carolina attorney general, arguing he can help cut a backlog of violent crime cases. Local Schools: Fort Mill School District is scrambling after state education data errors cut projected funding by more than $1 million, creating a new deficit. Business & Health: Agape Care Group in Spartanburg was named a Top Workplace for Nursing by Nurse.com. Education & Tech: USC Salkehatchie is offering free in-person AI summer classes for residents in Walterboro and Allendale. Consumer & Courts: IKEA customers filed a lawsuit seeking refunds tied to Trump tariff charges ruled unlawful by the Supreme Court. National Policy: A new push on predatory settlement factoring points to Maryland reforms that cut abusive transactions by more than 99 percent.

South Carolina Politics: With just a week left before the GOP governor’s primary, President Donald Trump endorsed Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, and a Trafalgar Group tracking poll puts her on top among Republican June primary voters (26.3%) ahead of Rom Reddy (17.2%), Alan Wilson (16.9%), and Ralph Norman (16.1%), while Nancy Mace sits at 14.8%. Campaign Trail: Norman also announced Adam Morgan as his running mate, doubling down on a hard-right Freedom Caucus brand as the six-way race tightens. Local Economy: The SBA announced low-interest disaster loans for South Carolina small businesses and private nonprofits hit by drought starting Feb. 17, covering Dillon, Florence, Georgetown, Horry, Marion, and Williamsburg counties. Courts & Accountability: South Carolina Supreme Court approved actions in the state’s asbestos docket, allowing a judge’s handling of claims involving a U.K. firm accused of refusing to answer in court. Business & Industry: CordenPharma agreed to buy AmbioPharm, including a North Augusta site, expanding peptide manufacturing capacity. Community: The American Heart Association’s Upstate Heart Ball raised more than $360,000 to support cardiovascular research, advocacy, and care access.

SC Politics & Elections: South Carolina’s June 9 primary is packed with statewide races, including contested GOP bids for attorney general and Democratic contests for secretary of state, plus primaries for treasurer, comptroller general, superintendent of education, and commissioner of agriculture. Lowcountry Local Governance: Charleston County Council advanced a first reading to expand the Hamlin Beach Historic District, adding 37 properties tied to the Gullah Geechee community, with more approvals still needed. Democrats’ House District 94 Fight: Three Democrats are challenging Rep. Gil Gatch in SC House District 94, aiming to flip the seat in the June 9 primary. Health & Oversight: A new report highlights growing concerns about GLP-1 telehealth use after cases of severe side effects and dosing problems, raising questions about safety and oversight. Voting Rights Backdrop: Rep. James Clyburn warned that recent Supreme Court moves could amount to a broader rollback of the Voting Rights Act, comparing the direction to Plessy-era outcomes. Capitol Hill Fallout: Supporters of Jan. 6 rioters are pushing for payouts tied to Trump’s nearly $1.8B “anti-weaponization” fund despite legal and procedural hurdles. Local Development Watch: North Augusta’s annexation “donut hole” standard is set for a major test this July with the large Kellogg tract project.

South Carolina Politics: President Trump endorsed Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette for governor, a move that spotlights her campaign’s aggressive voter-restriction agenda and her attacks on rivals in a crowded GOP primary. Democratic Push: Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear told “Meet the Press” he hasn’t ruled out a 2028 run, while arguing Democrats need to win now and backing a broader constitutional fix against partisan redistricting. Voting Rights: A Supreme Court ruling narrowing the Voting Rights Act is fueling new redistricting fights across the South, with South Carolina among states watching how maps could change for 2026. Federal Power & Money: The Supreme Court’s redistricting decisions are also boosting odds of new congressional maps, while a separate controversy swirls around Trump’s “anti-weaponization” fund and Capitol rioters seeking payouts. Local Upstate News: Crews responded to fires in the Upstate, including a restaurant fire in Greer and a warehouse fire near I-26 in Spartanburg. Health & Safety: A Virginia bus crash that killed five refocused attention on CDL rules after investigators said the driver couldn’t speak English. Weather: Forecasts point to a break from rain Sunday, with showers returning by Sunday evening and more storms possible Monday.

Gubernatorial Race: President Trump endorsed Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette for South Carolina governor, and the endorsement has reignited questions about whether she’ll name Gov. Henry McMaster’s son as her running mate, with Evette staying noncommittal while early voting continues and polling shows the GOP field still wide open. Redistricting Fallout: U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn says Democrats need to energize voters instead of trying to “convert” them, as South Carolina’s redistricting fight and record early turnout keep shaping the political mood. Rural Health & Telehealth: MUSC and Manatt Health released a telehealth playbook aimed at helping South Carolina’s rural hospitals expand virtual care as funding pressures mount. Public Safety: Federal investigators and the NTSB are probing a deadly Stafford County, Virginia bus crash that killed five and left dozens hurt, while South Carolina coverage also flags local crime and arrests tied to online extortion. Weather & Community: A meteor boom rattled Massachusetts, and South Carolina readers also got updates on local store remodels and community news like Greenville Zoo’s endangered leopard cubs.

South Carolina Politics: President Trump endorsed Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette for South Carolina governor, a major boost ahead of the June 9 GOP primary and a blow to Rep. Nancy Mace; Trump also floated Henry McMaster Jr. as a potential running mate, while Evette thanked him and framed the endorsement as proof her “America First” push is gaining momentum. Local Transportation: James Island voted unanimously to reject SCDOT’s Folly Road safety plan after residents objected to raised medians, arguing they could worsen traffic flow and push drivers into neighborhoods despite crash-history concerns. State Policy: Gov. Henry McMaster approved a new law limiting addictive social media features for minors, including stricter privacy rules and bans on targeted ads to children under 16, with the changes set to take effect Jan. 1, 2027. Food & Health: A new survey finds growing public concern about agricultural disease threats, with most respondents backing stronger protections and regulations to reduce spread from animals to humans.

Education & Youth: Epping High School announced its Class of 2026 Latin honors, while Columbia’s Southeast Middle School student A’Mya Goodwin earned South Carolina Young Entrepreneur of the Year for her handmade lip gloss business. State Courts: The S.C. Supreme Court issued a remittitur making Alex Murdaugh’s conviction reversal official and sending the case back to Colleton County for a new trial process. Health Care: Prisma Health says it cut admissions, readmissions, and ER visits by combining AI-powered population health tools with embedded care teams across South Carolina and East Tennessee. Higher Ed & Politics: Clemson released records showing two internal finalists were considered before trustees chose Kevin Guskiewicz as president, reigniting debate over DEI on campus. Business & Banking: Beacon Community Bank agreed to merge with Myrtle Beach’s Coastal Carolina National Bank in a stock swap valued around $60.6 million. Democracy & Voting Rights: Coverage highlights how the U.S. Supreme Court’s Voting Rights Act setback is driving redistricting fights across Southern states, including South Carolina. Weather: Flash flooding is possible Saturday with showers and thunderstorms likely.

South Carolina Politics: Democrats are celebrating after a Trump-backed redistricting push failed in the state Senate, while early voting for the June 9 primary is already setting records, with more than 56,000 votes cast on May 26 and about 34,000 on May 27. Attorney General Race: Republicans are choosing South Carolina’s next attorney general in a June 9 primary for the first open seat in 16 years, with State Sen. Stephen Goldfinch, First Circuit Solicitor David Pascoe, and Eighth Circuit Solicitor David Stumbo facing a heated campaign. Healthcare Workforce: About 4,000 trained nurse aides can’t start work because of a statewide certification testing backlog, leaving one testing vendor to handle demand and worsening staffing shortages. Money & Policy: The U.S. Treasury says it’s preparing designs for a new $250 note featuring Donald Trump, a move tied to a South Carolina lawmaker’s proposal that faces legal and congressional hurdles. Local Economy/Health Costs: Medicaid dental billing rose in West Columbia in 2024, and South Carolina’s early voting surge underscores how election fights are driving turnout. Crime & Courts: Jurors in the Rick Chow murder trial heard surveillance video and pathologist testimony as prosecutors argue the teen was unlawfully chased and shot.

Currency Fight: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the U.S. is “prepared” to print a new $250 bill featuring President Donald Trump—if Congress changes the 1866 law that bans living people on U.S. currency. The move is tied to a bill from South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson, and officials say the Bureau of Engraving and Printing is doing “due diligence” while lawmakers decide. Education Policy: Gov. Henry McMaster signed a law banning “grade floors,” meaning teachers can’t inflate grades above what students earn, and schools that ignore the rule could lose 10% of state funding. Hurricane & Home Insurance: With NOAA predicting a below-average 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, some homeowners could see pressure ease on high insurance rates—especially if another year stays quiet. Local Government & Environment: Floyd County, Georgia approved legal action over PFAS “forever chemicals,” seeking claims against polluters tied to contaminated wells and public land. Harbor Planning: The U.S. Army Corps will hold public meetings on a Charleston Harbor Environmental Impact Statement, with comments due June 29. South Carolina Politics: A lawsuit over South Carolina sending voter data to the federal government is over after an agreement was approved and the case was dismissed. Business/Jobs: Clemson named Kevin Guskiewicz as its next president as Michigan State’s president exits for the role.

Redistricting Fallout: South Carolina’s GOP push to redraw congressional lines collapsed in the state Senate, with Republicans abandoning the effort after record early voting began; the bill was effectively killed May 26, and officials say primaries will proceed as scheduled. State Politics: A new Republican primary is set for House District 112 (Mount Pleasant to Awendaw), with incumbent Joe Bustos facing challengers Woody Sprouse and Brian Zuckerberg. Local Roads: James Island pulled out of Folly Road safety improvements after DOT demanded raised medians the town opposes, arguing the project needs a new plan it can approve. Sports & Recruiting: Dawn Staley is already building her 2027 roster after South Carolina’s strong 2026 class, with multiple top-25 2027 commits. National Security: U.S. forces carried out defensive strikes on an Iran military facility after shooting down Iranian attack drones near the Strait of Hormuz, as Trump presses for a nuclear deal. Business Watch: Volvo Cars won U.S. approval to keep selling connected vehicles, aiming to sustain growth tied to its South Carolina plant. Weather: Scattered showers and storms are expected Thursday across South Carolina’s Upstate, with gusty winds and localized flooding possible.

Redistricting Fight in SC: South Carolina’s GOP-backed congressional map push is effectively dead for this cycle after the state Senate voted 20-24 to stop the bill, with early voting already underway and a record start to ballots casting angering conservatives. Voting Access & Early Turnout: Reports say tens of thousands had already voted by Tuesday noon, with thousands more returning mail ballots—making “too late” the key argument for senators who broke ranks. Clyburn’s District Survives (for now): The plan would have reshaped Rep. Jim Clyburn’s 6th District, but senators sided with Democrats to keep the current lines in place. Internet Safety Push: Virginia AG Jay Jones joined a coalition opposing the federal KIDS Act, arguing it would weaken protections for children online. Deep-Sea Mining Watch: The U.S. is preparing lease auctions for seabed mining blocks in federal waters, a major step toward commercial-scale extraction. Weather: Showers and thunderstorms return across South Carolina Wednesday into Thursday, with a chance of storms and fog.