Smith’s death was ruled a hit-and-run after his body was found in the middle of a road in 2015, but the case is now being reinvestigated.

The investigation into Smith’s death was reopened in 2021, and it was ruled a homicide in March 2023. Investigators did not reveal the news about reopening Smith's case until after the conclusion of disgraced attorney Alex Murdaugh’s murder trial. There is no known evidence linking any Murdaugh family members to Smith’s death.

Eric Bland, the attorney for the family of Smith, also said that officials hint that grand jury is empaneled.

"I think the fact that they've convened the grand jury is very promising," said criminal defense attorney Ken Belkin, who discussed the case Tuesday on NewsNation's "Banfield." "It means that someone in the prosecutor's office has been presented with evidence that they think there's probable cause to charge someone with a crime."

It's unclear what that crime is because grand jury proceedings are held in secrecy.

"Grand jury investigations needs to occur in secrecy, because they can get compromised. You've got five people that might have diverging interests. They might want to point the blame at each other," Belkin explained.

"According to Chief Keel, they (South Carolina Law Enforcement Division) have some individuals in mind who have some knowledge and responsibility, and they are issuing subpoenas and warrants," Bland recently told The Hampton County Guardian, according to a Greenville News report.

Attorneys predict a public update on Smith's case by Labor Day, according to Bland.

"I really do feel like by Labor Day, we should see some sign of movement and know some things publicly," Bland added.

Officers with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) Region 3 responded to the accident Monday morning in Orangeburg County.

While one person was taken to a hospital, officials say others were treated at the scene for minor injuries. SCDNR did not say how many people were injured.

The accident is under investigation.

The Anderson County Sheriff's Office arrested Heather Capri Thompson and her son Owen Michael Morrison Sunday night for the murder of Paul Michael Owen, of Belton.

Deputies said the investigation began on Father's Day when investigators were responding to an unrelated call regarding vandalism on Henry Thomas Road.

While responding to the area, authorities located Owen's body outside the neighboring home.

Deputies said they had previously responded to the scene in reference to a domestic call involving Owen and Thompson.

Investigators discovered that Owen was beaten to death with an object by Morrison.

Deputies located Thompson and her son less than 24 hours after the incident inside a church on McDuffie Street.

Detectives said both individuals confessed to the homicide and were taken into custody.

Thompson and Morrison remain in custody in the Anderson County Detention Center.

Owen's death remains under investigation by the Anderson County Sheriff's Office and the Anderson County Coroner's Office.

The state GOP executive committee voted unanimously to approve the measure on Saturday, party executive director Hope Walker told The Associated Press. The selection still needs approval from the Republican National Committee to be official, and Walker said that a formal submission will be sent ahead of an October deadline.

The move comes as both major parties make moves to solidify their voting calendars ahead of the 2024 nominating process.

The RNC voted last year to maintain its voting order, with Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada going ahead of other states. By setting South Carolina’s vote on Feb. 24, Walker told AP that candidates would have more time after Nevada votes on Feb. 6 to focus their attention on the state, where support is pivotal for Republicans competing for their party's nomination.

“This is a great opportunity for South Carolina Republicans and for our candidates and the voters in South Carolina to get to interact one on one, not just in large masses," Walker said.

Democrats continue to struggle with President Joe Biden’s plan to overhaul his party’s 2024 presidential primary schedule. On Friday, a Democratic National Committee rules panel gave New Hampshire until Sept. 1 to comply with new rules that leaders there fiercely oppose. But the committee opted not to immediately offer such an extension to another battleground state, Georgia, which hasn’t set its date for next year’s primary.

At issue is Biden’s plan to strip Iowa’s caucus of its traditional post leading off primary voting and replace it with South Carolina, which would vote on Feb. 3, 2024. New Hampshire has long held the nation’s first primary after Iowa’s caucus. But under the new calendar, it would vote next, together with Nevada, on Feb. 6 — a change New Hampshire officials have decried.

Republican candidates must file with the South Carolina GOP by Oct. 31 under the approved measure. The Republican party’s first debate is scheduled for Aug. 23.

The executive committee also set candidate filing fees for the presidential primary at $50,000, a figure Walker said tracks with inflation increases since 2016, when the party charged candidates $40,000. State law requires parties to pay $20,000 per candidate to the South Carolina Election Commission, which runs the state's primaries.

In 2015, then-South Carolina GOP Chairman Matt Moore released a study showing that the 2012 primary had boosted South Carolina's economy by nearly $20 million. Of that, campaigns and super PACs had spent more than $11 million in ads alone, on top of overall expenditures for staffing, supplies, hotel rooms and food.

“South Carolina voters are an important part of this process, and it will also help not just with the process but with the economic boom it’ll bring to our state," Walker said.

During Saturday's meeting, South Carolina GOP members also approved the selection of former President Donald Trump as the speaker at the Aug. 5 Silver Elephant Gala, the party’s signature fundraiser.

Drew McKissick, South Carolina's GOP chairman, was recently reelected to a fourth term in office. He also currently serves as national co-chairman of the RNC.

According to the coroner, the incident happened at Devils Fork State Park at Lake Jocassee near Salem. The coroner said that the child died on the scene around 2:20 p.m. The child was from Asheville, North Carolina.

According to the coroner, the family told them that the child was walking with them towards the parking lot to their car when the child ran off in front of them between two cars and was hit. The coroner said that the initial 911 call came in around 1:49 p.m.

Troopers with the South Carolina Highway Patrol said that a 2011 Jeep Wrangler was traveling northbound on private property. The child was running westbound on private property when he was hit by the Jeep Wrangler.

The driver and the occupants of the Jeep Wrangler were not injured during the incident.

The Oconee County Coroner identified the child as 19-month-old Benny Esquivel.

This incident is being investigated by the South Carolina Highway Patrol and Oconee County Coroner’s Office.

Stay connected with 7NEWS for additional information.

"The Silver Elephant Gala is the premier annual fundraising event for South Carolina Republicans and we're thrilled to welcome President Trump to the Palmetto State and have him come and support our Party," an announcement stated.

Trump carried South Carolina in the two previous presidential elections, defeating President Joe Biden by seven percentage points in the 2020 election.

Despite mounting legal troubles -- including a recent indictment in the classified documents case --, Trump has remained the frontrunner for the Republican nomination for president in 2024.

A May 2023 poll conducted by National Public Affairs found that Trump leads by 38% among likely South Carolina voters, which is 15 points ahead of the next closest challenger, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. South Carolina's own former Gov. Nikki Haley and Sen. Tim Scott polled at 15% and 10%, respectively.

Trump's appearance at the gala will come about a month after he holds an Independence Day rally in Pickens, S.C. Nearly 75 percent of Pickens County voters voted for Trump in the 2020 election, according to the South Carolina Election Commission.

The Silver Elephant Gala, the state's longest-standing GOP event, began in 1967 with future President Ronald Reagan as the inaugural speaker. In the past five decades, the gala has welcomed presidents, senators, governors, and other politicians within the Republican party.

The 56th annual Silver Elephant Gala will be held on August 5.

The animal was later euthanized after DNR officers shot it with a tranquilizer gun, DNR Lt., Ben Byers said.

The incident unfolded Friday morning after Dillon County deputies got a call about a black bear walking around a residential neighborhood in the Newtown community, Chief Deputy Jamie Hamilton said.

Authorities have not said what prompted the resident to shoot the bear. The wounded animal climbed about 25 to 30 feet up a tree after being shot, Byers said.

It fell out of the tree after DNR officers shot it again with a tranquilizer gun. It was then euthanized because of its injuries.

Byers said an investigation is ongoing and information will be presented to the solicitor's office to determine whether the shooting was lawful.

Count on News13 for updates.

“I was very, very floored that they're coming here," Angie Hickey said. "It's just great."

Nearly 75 percent of Pickens County's voters voted for Trump in the 2020 election, according to the South Carolina Election Commission.

The city of Pickens has been planning its Independence Day Spectacular for eight months. According to Bryan Owens, the city's marketing director, the city received a call from Senator Lindsey Graham's office a few weeks ago asking if Trump could speak at the event.

"The reason they chose Pickens is because it's quaint, historic and beautiful," Owens said. "We want to be able to showcase that to the world. Just like anybody else, we welcome anybody who wants to come to Pickens and see the beauty we have to offer."

The city said it is in communication with Trump's campaign team about the event's logistics.

Pickens Police Chief Randal Beach is coordinating security plans with the Secret Service, Pickens County Sheriff's Office and county's Clerk of Court.

"We've already been in discussions since 8 o'clock this morning about how to begin our component, which involves safety and security of the protectee as well as hopefully thousands of citizens who will come to this great city and see what we have here," Beach said.

Beach said he expects the event to bring one of the biggest crowds Pickens has ever seen.

"It could be 20,000," he said. "It could be 30,000. It's really hard to tell."

Beach said residents should expect road closures ahead of and on the day of the event. He asked for patience and kindness from residents and all who attend.

Rally tickets and details

The rally will be held on Saturday, July 1 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The event is free. To reserve tickets, click here.

Pickens' Independence Day Spectacular

Trump's rally is part of a full day of events meant to celebrate the 4th of July holiday.

Other events planned for the day include a 5k run/walk, live music and a fireworks show after dark. There will also be games as well as food trucks and vendors.

The full schedule for the Pickens Independence Day Spectacular is:

8:00 a.m. - Pickens Historic Hampton House 5K Run/Walk
9:00 a.m. - Gates Will Open for Donald J. Trump Campaign Event on Main Street
11:30 a.m. - Special Guest Speakers Deliver Remarks
1:00 p.m. - 45th President of the United States Donald J. Trump Delivers Remarks
3:00 p.m. - Independence Day Spectacular Kicks Off in front of the Pickens Amphitheater
3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. - Carolina Highway Band
5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. - Boggs Brothers Band
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. - Splitshot
Dusk - Fireworks - From Bruce Field

The Emanuel 9 commemorative events began Wednesday evening with a special bible study.

Thursday, the Susie Jackson and Ethel Lance Senior Citizens’ Virtual Luncheon was held. Jackson and Lance were both integral parts of Mother Emanuel’s Senior Ministry.

The church encouraged everyone to perform a kind act as part of Friday’s Random Acts of Kindness Day, then use #E9LOVE to show off their act of kindness via social media.

Church leaders say sharing love and kindness embodies the spirit of each of the nine members they lost 8 years ago.

Emanuel AME’s Senior Pastor Eric Manning provided details about several commemorative events happening this Saturday and Sunday.

“The Cynthia Hurd Foundation will be doing an activity on June 17^th,” Manning said, “as well as the dedication for the Susie Jackson Memorial Garden. Then, of course, Sunday which is Father’s Day, we have the service of commemoration, but it’s also Father’s Day, so we have a guest preacher who will be coming in.”

Mother Emanuel will have a youth commemorative activity next Tuesday before hosting the Emanuel 9 Humanitarian Awards next Friday.

Manning says each of these events are important as their congregation continues the healing process.

“Regardless of how dark the night is,” he said, “regardless of how long the storm is, regardless of how deep the valley is, regardless of how long the wilderness seems to be, you must always have a hope that says, ‘We will continue to fight the good fight.’”

News 2 will have coverage of this weekend’s commemorative events.

On Sunday, community members and fellow firefighters are invited to attend a memorial at the park to honor the 9 lives lost.

The Charleston Fire Department's current Deputy Chief of Operations, Forrest Cockroft, said that night changed everything.

“That night as many will tell you was probably one of the worst nights of their careers… but out of it has been born such a lot of great things," said Cockroft.

Today, the community is still mourning the lives of the fathers, sons, brothers, and friends that were lost in that fire. This year's anniversary holds a special significance, as it falls on Father's Day. Assistant Chief of Administration David Griffin said that brings new battles.

“We have one of our firefighters, Hunter Benke, who's on the job here, and it's Father's Day, and his dad lost his life on June 18th, 2007. For me to watch that young man be in our department and work so hard and strive to be such a good firefighter that’s an honor for me.”

Sunday's ceremony will be held at the memorial park, built where the Sofa Superstore once stood.

Improvements to the park are being made not only to honor the 9 firefighters, but to inform the public about what happened roughly 16 years ago.

For example, brick pillars are placed around the park to outline the layout of the store. Cockroft said they want to take their time creating the park and make sure they get it right.

“We’re hopeful of getting it done soon, but more importantly we’re focused on getting it done right because they deserve that. However long it takes we will continue to work through and make sure that it gets done the way it needs to get done,” he said.

Firefighters like Griffin and Cockroft say they hope the space will continue to be a place for the public to remember the nine brave firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty

The memorial is set to begin at 7:00 PM.

That's what the convenience store chain is saying about Mark Tinsley and Tabor Vaux, the lawyers for the family of Mallory Beach in a motion filed in Hampton County court Wednesday.

The corporation says it has gotten so bad Parkers wants a judge to toss the pair of attorneys off the case.

"The Beach family stood on the causeway for eight days while their daughter's body was in the water," said Mark Tinsley during Alex Murdaugh's murder trial. "I don't know that there's any amount of money that would somebody would willingly take to go through what they've gone through."

Beach died after she was thrown from a boat allegedly driven by a drunk and angry Paul Murdaugh back in 2019.

Murdaugh was underage and was caught on security camera using his brother's ID at Parkers that day to buy enough alcohol for all six teens on board the boat that night.

While several parties originally named in the suit, including the estate of Maggie Murdaugh, have settled with the Beach family, Parkers and Alex Murdaugh want to go to trial.

Parkers says Tinsley and Vaux should not be allowed to represent the family or be on the case at all.

The motion says in part that "Tinsley should be disqualified based on (1) his improper receipt and review of Parker's privileged documents; (2) his improper disclosure of privileged information and materials; and (3) his improper communications with a represented person in a related lawsuit. Further, Vaux should be disqualified based on his improper receipt and review of Parker's privileged information."

The motion adds that Tinsley and Vaux have "repeatedly ignored their ethical obligations in the interest of gathering whatever ammunition they can fire at Parker's". Adding that they have "tainted the fairness of the proceedings."

Mark Tinsley provided the following response:

"This motion is a part of a calculated play by Parker's to derail the upcoming trial based on half truths and outright misrepresentations. When a person thinks his money entitles him and he is used to acting with impunity, then accountability may seem like injustice. Since the law and the facts are not on their side, Parker's has obviously decided to continue to attack the Beach family and its counsel. We look forward to demonstrating to the court all of the many lies in the motion.

Judge Daniel Hall has already denied Parker's motion for summary judgment, which would have thrown the case out of court.

He has also stopped Alex Murdaugh from using more of his 401k money for his own defense. A decision he has now denied "twice".

The Beach family vs Parkers and Alex Murdaugh is supposed to be heard in a Hampton County court August 14.

Several books were brought up, all LGBTQ+ literature. Some argued books like these are needed, while others said it's sending an inappropriate message to children.

The public comment portion of the meeting was filled with differing opinions.

"When it comes to the books we're hearing from folks in the board meetings, it's clearly gender related, LGBT, in that vein," said Todd Stephens, Spartanburg County librarian.

One book talked about was "Queer Heroes." It's a book that discusses achievements of the LGBTQ+ community from past to present and highlights 53 different people.

"There are artist, writers, athletes, dancers, choreographers, politicians, scientists, actors, activists, all very courageous people. Many who have influenced our lives in positive ways," said a speaker in favor of the book.

Others brought up concerns about certain words used, or pages, like the one about David Bowie. 

"He was known for his androgynous persona and scandalized the press with his open romantic escapades. Do children ages 0-12 need to know about romantic escapades," asked a speaker against the book.

Another book brought up was "Pride," which tells the history of pride month and the celebration of LGBTQ community.

Some speakers are asking for the book to be moved to the adult section.

"Feelings cannot be substituted for biological facts, which are, if one can feel differently about their gender on any given day. It just adds to the confusion for young, impressionable minds. Boys cannot become girls and girls cannot become boys," said someone speaking out against the literature.

Others believe the library should not censor materials, because they said representation is important.

"This library is a place my queer family can come see themselves represented in books, all the way down to my two-year-old's level. She has two moms, one of whom is a trans woman, and those are simply facts of her life. As anyone will tell you, seeing people like yourself represented in the media is very important," said one speaker.

Stephens, said the correct course of action when someone has a complaint, is to fill out a form. Then the book in question will be reviewed by library staff members to see if the concerns are realistic.

"You're either going to keep it, you're going to move or it's bad information, it's confusing information, dated information. Then, we will remove it," he said.

Stephens said the last book removed was two weeks ago, about autism. He said someone had concerns about misinformation and the library realized the book was out of date.

If someone does submit a form, Stephens said they will not know the outcome of the request. He said the library is working on a policy where people will be notified.

Deputies responded to Highway 357 and Gap Creek Road around 12:30 p.m. in regards to a stolen trailer.

While en route, deputies were informed that the victim of the stolen property shot the suspect's tire and started chasing the suspect into Greenville County.

A traffic sergeant noticed the suspect's vehicle near Jordan Road and a vehicle pursuit began.

Uniform patrol and traffic units engaged in the pursuit around Hampton Road for approximately 10 miles.

Deputies disengaged the pursuit when the suspect went through a construction zone and almost hit one of the workers.

Once the work zone was cleared, officials resumed the pursuit.

As the pursuit continued, the suspect attempted to hit a traffic deputy holding spike strips according to deputies.

The deputy was able to get out of the way but received minor lacerations to his hands due to the vehicle pulling the spike strips.

Later in the pursuit, deputies said the vehicle lost control because of flattened tires and the suspect ran into the field.

The sheriff's office said a K-9 was deployed due to the suspect not complying with verbal commands.

The suspect identified as 36-year-old Scott Brent Davis, of Inman, was apprehended after he was bitten by the dog, deputies said.

Davis was taken to the hospital for his injuries and then later booked into the detention facility.

He was charged with the following:

• Resisting arrest
• Failure to stop (second offense)
• Assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature
• Littering
• Driving under suspension (third and subsequent)
• Habitual traffic offender
• Endangerment of a highway worker within a highway work zone
• Manufacturing methamphetamine (second offense)
• Driving under the influence
• Receiving stolen goods (three counts)

Further investigation revealed that the vehicle in the pursuit along with the tag was reported stolen from Greenville County.

Deputies said due to previous criminal history and Thursday's offenses, a formal bond arraignment will be held Friday at 11 a.m. for Davis at the detention facility.

Around 6 p.m., the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office was conducting a direct patrol in the Howard Street area when they spotted a known suspect leaving a gas station.

Investigators initiated a traffic stop on the suspect identified as 21-year-old Artis Rajae Cook-Carter for a minor violation near North Cleveland Park Drive and Swanee Street.

Deputies said Cook-Carter admitted to officials he had marijuana in his possession.

When one of the deputies attempted to get the suspect out of the vehicle, Cook-Carter put the car in drive and drove off.

The official was drug 15 to 20 yards before he fell to the roadway, deputies said.

The deputy was treated by the fire department and EMS for minor scratches and abrasions.

Cook-Carter was later located on the 200 block of Southern Avenue near Old Howard Gap Road according to deputies.

He was taken into custody without incident and charged with the following:

• Possession with intent to distribute marijuana
• Failure to stop
• Assault and battery (first-degree)
• Operating uninsured
• Window tint violation
• Seatbelt violation
• Failure to signal

Officers also seized bullets and firearm magazines during the arrest.

Mother Emanuel’s Senior Pastor Eric Manning says June 17, 2015 is a day that changed the Charleston community forever, and eight years later, the pain from that tragedy is still palpable.

Manning says June 17, 2015, started like any other day.

“It started of course, peacefully. It started with jubilancy. It started with people being able to embrace their loved ones and sharing intimate thoughts and details with them,” he said.

But he says the end of June 17, 2015, changed Charleston, and the world, forever.

Mother Emanuel’s senior pastor in 2015, South Carolina Senator Rev. Clementa Pinckney, and eight members of this congregation were shot and killed by a white supremacist during bible study.

“This community was turned upside down,” Manning said. “The AME Church was turned upside down, and June 17^th will now be remembered as a day when a traumatic, tragic, hateful act took place here at Mother Emanuel.”

Manning, who was serving as the senior pastor at Bethel AME in Georgetown, remembers the moment his daughter came into this bedroom and told him what happened.

“I said, ‘No, I would’ve gotten a call by now,’” he said. “Just as soon as she walked out of the room, my phone rang, and it was a colleague saying, ‘We think Reverend Pinckney was murdered.’ And I said, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me.’”

Manning was officially appointed senior pastor of Mother Emanuel one year after the shooting.

In the seven years since, he says he often notices a shift in emotions around the time of this tragic anniversary, which is why he says he’s very careful in his approach when leading his congregation.

“When I came to serve Mother Emanuel in 2016,” Manning said, “I had to learn how to be trauma-informed. And the worst thing that I could ever say to anyone is, ‘I understand your pain.’ I don’t understand it. Like I said, for me, June 17, 2015, started differently.”

Although eight years have passed, Manning says it doesn’t make the unfathomable loss Mother Emanuel’s membership suffered any easier.

“They always say that time has a way of healing all wounds,” he said. “And time does give an aid, but at the same time, it may cause you to feel even more of a void because your loved one was taken abruptly away from you.”

He says his congregation continues to carry the legacy of those nine members who lost their lives eight years ago in their hearts.

“Our duty is to make sure that everyone remembers,” Manning said, “and that we honor their legacies as best as we possibly can.”

Mother Emanuel has a number of events to commemorate the Mother Emanuel 9, and you can count on News 2 for coverage of several of those events throughout the weekend.

According to the state board, Harris Smith was an auto-technology teacher at Georgetown High School in May 2021 when the incident took place.

Smith was placed on administrative leave on May 19, 2021, after allegations arose that he allowed students to race ATVs in the school's horseshoe parking lot, according to the board.

"When questioned, Mr. Smith admitted he allowed the students to race and participated himself," the suspension order reads. "He stated the racing was a reward for the students working on his personal ATVs."

Officials said Smith was reprimanded by the district for "lack of judgment and failing to properly supervise students in his class" prior to the incident.

The board voted to suspend Smith's license for a period of one year beginning on June 13, 2023, and ending on June 12, 2024.

The town hall will air at 9 p.m., according to the release. The announcement comes on the heels of Scott wrapping a town hall in Iowa on Wednesday.

"I'm excited to welcome my friend Sean Hannity to South Carolina for an important conversation about the future of our country, my campaign for president and restoring faith in America," Scott said in the release.

For more information, click here.

The Governor requested that flags be lowered in memory of Specialist Jayson Reed Haven of the South Carolina National Guard in honor of his "distinguished service and supreme sacrifice."

The Department of Defense (DoD) confirmed that Spc. Haven, a 20-year-old from Aiken, was killed on May 25 while supporting Operation Spartan Shield, according to NBC affiliate WYFF. He died at Camp Buehring in Kuwait as a result of a non-combat vehicle rollover accident.

"As the sun rises this morning, it shines on flags at half-staff in remembrance of National Guardsman Jayson Haven," Gov. McMaster said on Twitter. "Please take a moment to pray for Mr. Haven's family, friends, and fellow Guardsmen during this difficult time."

Spc. Haven was assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 118th Infantry Regiment, 218th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, Charleston, South Carolina, according to the DoD.

Flags will be flown at half-staff from sunrise until sunset on June 15 in accordance with the Governor’s proclamation.

Panthers rookies, including No. 1 pick Bryce Young, will report to camp on July 22 while veterans report on July 25.

There will be 12 total practices open to the public as part of the training camp at Wofford College.

The first practice will be held Wednesday, July 26 at 10:15 a.m.

This year, training camp will include two days of joint practices with the New York Jets, and new quarterback Aaron Rodgers, on August 9 and 10.

Practices, which remain free and open to the public, will require tickets to attend.

Fans will be limited to six free tickets per Ticketmaster account. They will be made available on Thursday, June 29 at 10 a.m. on Ticketmaster's website.

Full Carolina Panthers Training Camp schedule:

• Practice- Wednesday, July 26 10:15 am
• Practice - Thursday, July 27 10:15 am
• Training Camp: Back Together Saturday (Gibbs Stadium) Saturday, July 29 11:00 am
• No Practice - Sunday, July 31
• Practice - Monday, July 31 10:15 am
• Practice - Tuesday, August 1 10:15 am
• Fan Fest, Charlotte, NC - Wednesday, August 2 7:00 pm
• No Practice - Thursday, August 3
• Practice - Friday, August 4 10:15 am
• Practice - Saturday, August 5 10:15 am
• Practice - Sunday, August 6 10:15 am
• No Practice - Monday, August 7
• Practice - Tuesday, August 8 10:15 am
• Jets Joint Practice - Wednesday, August 9 10:15 am
• Jets Joint Practice - Thursday, August 10 9:00 am

As of 2023, nearly every state has a billionaire resident, according to Forbes, which released its list of the wealthiest people in the U.S. for the first time since 2019 on Thursday.

Only three states are without a billionaire, as of June 2023: Alaska, Delaware and West Virginia. This wasn’t always the case for the latter, the outlet explains, pointing to Gov. Jim Justice, who lost his status as the result of heavy debts two years ago.

Lacking a billionaire isn’t a problem for other states, especially California, Florida, New York and Texas. According to Forbes, there are 179 billionaires in California, 130 in New York, 92 in Florida and 73 in Texas. 

Texas earns an extra jewel in its crown, considering the richest person in the U.S. and the world -- Elon Musk -- now calls the Lone Star State home. 

Including Musk, the five richest people in the report are Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, Oracle’s Larry Ellison, Berkshire Hathaway’s Warren Buffett and Google’s Larry Page.

The youngest person on the list is Illinois’ 36-year-old Lukas Walton, who has gained his wealth as part of the family that owns Walmart. Alternatively, the oldest billionaire is 93-year-old Annette Lerner of Maryland, the widow of Washington Nationals owner Ted Lerner. Forbes notes her source of wealth is real estate. 

Lerner is one of nine women to make Forbes’ list. The wealthiest among them is Virginia’s Jacqueline Mars, granddaughter of Frank C. Mars, the founder of the Mars candy company.

Mars and more than half of the people on the list made their money in one of four industries, according to Forbes: food and beverage, technology, finance and investments, or fashion and retail. 

Other notable names on the list include New Orleans Saints owner Gayle Benson, Nike’s Phil Knight and family (Oregon), and Chick-fil-A chairman Dan Cathy and his children, Bubba Cathy and Trudy Cathy White (Georgia).

Some notable names failed to make the list. Among those is Bill Gates, whose net worth of $116 billion wasn’t enough to edge out fellowing Washington state resident, Bezos. Also missing from the list is Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg. As of Thursday, Forbes lists his net worth as $98 billion, Page -- the richest Californian -- and his $105 billion net worth. 

You can view Forbes’ full list here.

Some states saw a shuffle in their top ranks. Late last year, Forbes released its list of the 400 richest people in the U.S. At the time, Florida’s wealthiest person was Thomas Peterffy, who made his $20.3 billion from Interactive Brokers. Ken Griffin, worth roughly $32.7 billion thanks to hedge funds, has since replaced Peterffy.

For some News 2 viewers, it's the lack of proper turn signal use on Lowcountry roadways.

Several viewers reached out to the Count on 2 newsroom with their concerns about drivers not using a turn signal to indicate they are changing lanes or making a turn.

“I’m behind the wheel, and I’m saying to myself, ‘Okay, what is this person doing?’, and I’m trying to read their mind because they’re slowing down unexpectedly," said Nancy Leon, a Mount Pleasant resident. "Because they’re not using a signal, it’s adding to the problem."

News 2 brought these concerns to South Carolina Highway Patrol (SCHP) to learn more about the risks.

Officials there remind drivers they are required by law to use a turn signal when changing lanes or making a turn. Failing to do so can cause you to be pulled over or ticketed -- or worse -- cause a collision.

Trooper Nicholas Pye of SCHP Troop 6 gave this example.

“If I had a baseball and I was walking towards you, and just out of nowhere I threw that baseball at you, I can promise you you’re probably not going to catch it," he said. "Versus, if I walked up and I said...'I'm going to throw this baseball at you,' then you're prepared, and you're probably going to catch it," he said.

Trooper Pye said it's also important to keep your signal off when you are not turning.

"I think everyone can relate to this -- you’re in a parking lot trying to pull out onto a four-lane highway, there’s a vehicle that’s coming in the far-right-hand lane, and they have their blinker on. And you assume they’re turning, and they pass you," he said.

Trooper Pye said similar to a seatbelt, using a turn signal can't necessarily stop all crashes from happening. However, using your blinker properly can help reduce the number of accidents (and amount of frustration) on your commute.

If there's something else driving you crazy on the road, we'd love to hear about it and get some answers for you. Click here or email Megan Fee at mfee@wcbd.com.

Both Republican-led legislative chambers overwhelmingly approved a bill on Wednesday that would require the payment of a full cash bond to post bail for people charged with a subsequent violent or firearm-involved offense while out on pretrial release for a first offense. A conviction on the subsequent charge — even if they are found not guilty of the initial crime — would allow another penalty carrying up to five years imprisonment that could run concurrently or consecutively.

The full cash bond on the second violent charge could still be paid through a bail bondsman but any bonds for additional charges would have to be posted by the defendant themself.

Supporters said the measure provides tools to help close the “revolving door” of a small number of people who continually commit much of the state's violent crime. Opponents said the bond restrictions favor wealthy defendants who have the money to pay full cash and would disproportionately pack poor defendants into jails. They argued the additional five-year penalty undermines the presumption of innocence.

House Minority Leader Todd Rutherford, a criminal defense attorney in Columbia, noted the deplorable conditions at local jails in population centers that have recently prompted wrongful death lawsuits. One case alleges that a 27-year-old man was found dead last year with fresh rat bites and no running water in a South Carolina jail cell where he’d been detained for two weeks for reckless driving.

The Democratic representative also raised concerns that law enforcement officials could abuse the statute by trumping up charges for people awaiting trial who haven’t been found guilty.

“We are mandating that a charge, not a conviction, is enough,” he said. “And that should scare you.”

Republican Rep. Jeff Johnson, a member of the committee that negotiated the bill, argued it applies punishments for people who violate their bond conditions.

Democratic Sen. Gerald Malloy, another committee member who supported the bill, emphasized that judges have discretion to apply as many as five years on top of whatever sentence they gave the defendant for the conviction on the second violent charge.

“What we know is that repeat offenders are problematic. We see them going over and over again in the community," Malloy told reporters. "Obviously, we have to get to the point where the Legislature says, ‘Guys, please stop it. Let’s put a pause on this.'”

The bill also places regulatory authority of electronic monitoring devices under the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. A list of certified bonding and electronic monitoring companies would be kept by the state agency.

It's unclear how frequently people charged with violent crimes commit additional offenses while awaiting trial in South Carolina. Elected officials have pointed to instances like an April traffic stop where a state trooper was shot in the face by a man with a stolen gun who had posted bond for criminal charges in neighboring Georgia.

The trooper stood behind South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster at a news conference last week where he ramped up his calls for the General Assembly to send him a bill. The governor specifically asked legislators to take up bond when he called them back for this special session.

Top Republican lawmakers named tightening the state's bond system a priority this year and finished negotiating the proposal on what they hope is the last day of the special session.

McMaster said in a statement Wednesday that the General Assembly “passed a good bond reform bill” but added it seems “disingenuous” to celebrate a measure that does not include increased penalties for illegal gun possession. The governor has routinely endorsed that provision, but it did not make the final cut and is instead tied to a different permitless carry proposal that got stuck in the Senate.

Republican leaders in both the House and the Senate said they will eventually tackle that matter next year.

Easley's Assistant City Manager Tommy Holcombe confirmed that Police Chief Stan Whitten has been placed on paid leave during an ongoing investigation being conducted by the Pickens County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies said Whitten was involved in a heated argument and altercation over the weekend near a boat ramp at Lake Keowee.

According to an incident report, the chief of police, who was off-duty at the time, confessed to consuming alcohol prior to the argument.

Deputies believe the incident stemmed from both families trying to leave the boat ramp.

During the investigation, Whitten told deputies he was hit by another man. Deputies did report seeing abrasions on his face. However, according to the incident report, the other man denied the accusation.

An off-duty park ranger told deputies he didn't see the altercation, however he heard it.

Whitten is accused of yelling racial slurs at the others involved in the argument.

The incident comes just over two years after Whitten was formally sworn in as Easley’s chief on April 12, 2021.

Prior to becoming chief, the department said Whitten served as a military police officer and investigator with the U.S. Army.

He became a firefighter with the Easley Fire Department and then served as a Greenville County deputy until 2021.

City officials said Whitten will remain on paid administrative leave as the investigation continues. They told 7NEWS they expect to have the issue resolved by next week.

The rally is part of a full day of events meant to celebrate the 4th of July holiday. Other events planned for the day include a 5k run/walk, live music and a fireworks show after dark. The day will also have food, games and other things to do around the city.

Trump is a popular figure in South Carolina politics. He carried the state in 2016 and 2020, and despite a rash of legal woes - including a recent indictment for violations of the Espionage Act - remains a frontrunner in the 2024 Republican Primary battle.

According to fivethirtyeight.com, Trump leads political rival Ron Desantis by more than 20% in most national polls among likely voters.

The full schedule for the Pickens Independence Day Spectacular is:

8 a.m. - Pickens Historic Hampton House 5K Run/Walk
9 a.m. - Gates Will Open for Donald J. Trump Campaign Event on Main Street - More Details Will Be Provided
11a.m. - Special Guest Speakers Deliver Remarks
1 p.m. - 45th President of the United States Donald J. Trump Delivers Remarks
3 p.m. - Independence Day Spectacular Kicks Off in front of the Pickens Amphitheater
3 p.m. - 4:30 pm - Carolina Highway Band
5 p.m. - 6:30 pm - Boggs Brothers Band
7 p.m. - 9:00 pm - Splitshot
Dusk - Fireworks - From Bruce Field

Search crews found Staff Sgt. Jaime Contreras nearly 11 hours after he was supposed to have completed the three-hour course Monday at Fort Jackson near Columbia.

Contreras was only about 50 meters (164 feet) off the course “but that is very unforgiving terrain,” said Maj. John Farrell, the director of Emergency Services at the Army's largest training base.

Brig. Gen. Jason Kelly, Fort Jackson's commander, released few details about what may have happened to Contreras, saying the investigation has just started.

"We do not know the cause of his deviation, if any, on the course or his cause of death," Kelly said at a Wednesday news conference.

Contreras was a member of the 82nd Airborne Division and lived in Las Vegas, Kelly said.

"We are providing support to both his family and his teammates and we will continue to do so," Kelly said.

Land navigation training involves using maps, compasses and other tools to find certain locations in a 2.3-square mile (607 hectare) grid.

Contreras had taking a training course with a buddy Friday. On Monday, more than 90 drill sergeant trainees were sent on individual missions, Army officials said.

The course is supposed to last from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. When Contreras didn't return by 2 p.m., Fort Jackson started a massive search, calling in local and state law-enforcement officers to help, Farrell said.

Eventually, searches were able to get a cellphone ping from Contreras, and aircraft and ground crews found his body about 11:30 p.m. Monday, Farrell said.

Without knowing exactly which points Contreras was trying to reach, it is hard to say exactly how far off course he was, Farrell said.

"He was not very far outside the boundaries of the course," Farrell said.

The order allows the South Carolina Freedom Caucus to fundraise and distribute election materials just like the House Republican, Democratic, Black and Women's Caucuses already do. The fledgling conservative faction had argued that a state ethics law limiting those abilities only to caucuses organized by political party, race, ethnicity or gender violated its freedom of speech.

“By prohibiting special interest caucuses from engaging in election-related speech, making expenditures for that speech, and soliciting contributions for that speech, South Carolina's law operated as ‘a ban on speech,’” Judge Cameron McGowan Currie wrote.

Ultraconservative elected officials in at least 11 statehouses have organized under the State Freedom Caucus Network banner in an attempt to gain influence by leveraging divisive social issues.

Those efforts are expected to get a boost in South Carolina after the decision. The South Carolina Freedom Caucus had said the statute favored the ruling parties and arbitrarily disempowered others. Special interest caucuses had previously only been able to solicit money for the cost of mail and conference attendance.

With the Tuesday ruling, state Rep. RJ May, the vice chairman of the South Carolina Freedom Caucus, said “the establishment's armor is cracking.”

“The career politicians in Columbia have created a system of the powerful, for the powerful, and by the powerful that benefits themselves and their cronies,” May said in a statement.

The judge also struck a prohibition on lobbyist contributions to legislative special interest caucuses. Gone is another requirement that the Clerk's Office maintain records for at least four years with identifying information about donors and the amounts donated.

Republican State Rep. Micah Caskey, named in the lawsuit as a member of the committee that enforces those rules, said the judge “blast(ed) a hole in our state ethics laws.”

Because any two legislators can form their own special interest caucus, Caskey fears the ruling will open the door for state lawmakers to raise undisclosed funds in coordination with their campaigns.

“The dark money is going to come pouring into our state because these guys and the judge think it's a good idea for any legislator to sidestep our campaign finance laws by creating a ‘special interest caucus,’" Caskey told The Associated Press in a text.

The lawsuit had backing from America First Legal, a legal group founded by Stephen Miller and other previous White House advisers to former President Donald Trump.

Daniel Allen Shannon was sentenced to life in federal prison earlier this month for the killing, but the only way he will end up in federal custody is if he is released from his life-without-parole sentence in state court from a 2001 murder.

Shannon ran his drug ring from prison using contraband cellphones. The director of South Carolina's prisons has spent more than nine years trying to convince the federal government to allow states to jam cellphone signals inside prison walls.

“This is yet another example of prisoners using contraband cellphones from behind state prison fences to continue committing crimes,” South Carolina Department of Corrections Director Bryan Stirling said.

Stirling has plenty of examples. There was a 2018 gang riot — orchestrated through illegal cellphones — that ended with seven prisoners killed. A state prison guard was ambushed and seriously injured in a hit planned and ordered from inside the prison.

And there has been an extortion ring where inmates trick people outside into sending nude photos of themselves, then the solicitors claim to be underage and demand money to not go to police. Stirling has appeared with the parents of a man who died by suicide after being targeted by that scam.

Shannon, 43, pleaded guilty in federal court earlier this year to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine. A judge linked the 2019 killing of Cletis “Eddie” Baker in Kershaw County to the drug ring and accepted the proposed life sentence, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Shannon ordered Baker killed because he thought Baker stole from one of his drug couriers. Baker was shot in a drug house, which was then burned to the ground. His body was dumped several miles away, prosecutors said.

Shannon ran a large drug ring in Lancaster and Kershaw counties with nearly a dozen co-defendants listed in his case. At his guilty plea, a judge also ordered Shannon to forfeit more than $127,000 in cash.

“We will not sit by as inmates use these phones to perpetrate violence, drug trafficking, sex crimes, and fraud," U.S. Attorney for South Carolina Adair Boroughs said.

Shannon has been in prison since 2003.

In 2001, he and a friend followed a Lexington County restaurant manager home after closing, kidnapped the man and forced him back to the restaurant to steal money. The victim was taped to a chair, shot five times in the head and left for the morning crew to find, authorities said.

During his 20 years behind bars, Shannon has tried to escape three times. Over the past eight years, he has faced discipline for breaking prison rules 23 times, including nine times for having a cellphone, according to prison records.

In 2012, Shannon sued the prison system and employees, saying he was unfairly placed in maximum security because he ran a credit card fraud ring, threatened prison employees in letters to his family and friends, was a gang member and had the home addresses and phone numbers of prison workers in his cell. He said got the numbers through public records.

The suit was eventually dismissed because Shannon stopped responding, but not before he filed dozens of pages, saying his free speech rights were violated because he was punished for what he termed complaints, not threats, toward prison workers and a refusal to take his word that he had renounced his gang affiliation.

“The hardships I am suffering is atypical, and significant in relation to the ordinary incidents of prison life," Shannon wrote in one court filing. “I am being treated like a mass murderer.”

“We are excited to hire full-time and part-time associates who are seeking a career with a purpose,” Lauren Furr, Director of Learning and Development & Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, said. 

The North Carolina-based grocery store, Harris Teeter, will host an event to hire hundreds of employees on Thursday.

Full-time and part-time positions across all departments are available.

The event will take place from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at all Harris Teeter locations.

Applicants should go to the customer service desk and ask to speak to an interviewer about a position with Harris Teeter.

The team will interview every candidate and discuss job opportunities in that location.

”We are eager to welcome new associates to the Harris Teeter family who will help us live our purpose to enrich lives," Furr said.

It is currently serving as a backup to the call center in the Upstate operated by Mental Health America of Greenville County.

Dennis Puebla is the Director of Special Operations at the Charleston Dorchester Mental Health Center. He said the new call center has answered more than 60 phone calls so far.

"We are currently operational from Monday at 7 am to Saturday at 7 am. We are staffed through all three shifts, including overnight," Puebla said.

State lawmakers allocated about $1.3 million from last year's state budget to establish this second call center. The state also received a federal grant to help with training.

Puebla said as time goes on they hope to add more staff so all calls from South Carolinians to the suicide prevention lifeline will be answered by someone in South Carolina.

"It's going to be instrumental just to be able to take care of our state and residents," Puebla said.

According to Puebla, they hope to expand services with more trained staff. "The ultimate goal is for this second center to be available 24/7 and shoulder the load with the other call center." For employment opportunities click or tap here.

If any of the two centers in South Carolina can't get to a call, it's routed to a national backup in another state so those calls do not go unanswered.

If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. You can also call SCDMH’s Mobile Crisis Team at 833-364-2274.

According to detectives in Anderson's Criminal Investigation Division, Arthur Antoine sexually molested his 15-year-old relative while she was living with him and his wife. Detectives said the abuse went on for two years.

Antoine's wife, Laura Antoine, was also arrested and charged due to her having knowledge of the reported abuse.

Arthur is charged with criminal sexual conduct with a minor second degree and buggery. Laura is charged with unlawful neglect of a child.

The standoff started about 9 a.m. when a utility worker came to the man's property to do work and he forced her to leave at gunpoint, Richland County Sheriff's Department Deputy Chief Maria Yturria said.

The worker called 911 and two deputies were sent to the home in northeast Richland County near the Columbia Mall, Yturria said.

“He came out shooting at our deputies,” Yturria said.

The man barricaded himself in the home, coming out several times with the gun in his hand. He refused to talk to deputies who tried to negotiate over the phone or a loudspeaker, deputies said.

About an hour after the standoff started, the man came out and fired at deputies. Five to six deputies shot back and the man was wounded and died at the hospital, Yturria said.

No deputies were injured.

The name of the man killed was not immediately released. Yturria said deputies have had to deal with him on calls that were “aggressive in nature” before. She did not provide details.

Unlike most law enforcement agencies in South Carolina who call on the state police, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department investigates its own officer shooting and other use of force cases.

According to the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office (BCSO), deputies responded to 11 Southwood Park Drive in Hilton Head Gardens around 8:45 p.m. for a report of a gunshot victim.

At the scene, deputies learned that a 32-year-old woman had been shot and taken to Hilton Head Regional Medical Center by private vehicle.

According to BCSO, the woman sustained a single gunshot wound to her head. Officials believe she was trying to break up a fight when she was shot.

She was later taken to Memorial Health in Savannah where she remains in stable condition.

BCSO said another woman was injured in the incident but didn't require hospitalization.

No arrests have been made in the case.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Inv. Weich at 843-255-3313 or if wishing to remain anonymous, Crime Stoppers of the Lowcountry at 843-554-1111.

Demeatrius Chandler Jr., 23, of Myrtle Beach, was killed in the crash, according to the Horry County Coroner's Office.

Chandler Jr. was traveling west on Dick Pond Road when his vehicle ran off the road to the left and hit the bridge before crashing into the water, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

HCFR was dispatched at 11:39 a.m.

Around 8:45 p.m., the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) was called to Greens Shell Park for several reports of gunfire.

At the scene, witnesses told deputies a graduation party, with roughly 30 people attending, was coming to an end when the shooting happened.

The teen sustained a single gunshot wound to his leg. He was taken to Hilton Head Hospital by private vehicle before deputies arrived. He's since been released.

No arrests have been made at this time.

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact Inv. Weich at 843-255-3313 or if wishing to remain anonymous, Crime Stoppers of the Lowcountry at 843-554-1111.

According to the Bluffton Township Fire District, around 4:30 a.m., multiple agencies responded to May River Road and Linden Park Drive after a cell phone notification alerted dispatchers of a possible severe car crash.

On the scene, agencies discovered that two individuals died after being ejected from an SUV. A third passenger was entrapped in the vehicle and had to be removed by firefighters.

After being rescued, the passenger was transported to Memorial Health in Savannah with life-threatening injuries.

Crews worked to clear the scene until 8:30 a.m. when the road was reopened to traffic.

None of the individuals have been identified at this time.

The South Carolina Highway Patrol and Beaufort County Coroner's Office are investigating.

Around 11 p.m., officers with the Beaufort Police Department (BPD) responded to the shooting at 2001 Boundary Street. Upon arrival, they found the young man deceased.

According to BPD, the suspect and victim, who knew each other, started fighting. The suspect threatened to shoot the victim several times.

The victim got in his vehicle, left the hotel and struck a pedestrian. The suspect then started shooting at the victim's car, firing several rounds before the vehicle got stuck on a curb.

The victim got out of the vehicle and ran, BPD said, and the suspect followed, continuing to shoot at him. The victim succumbed to his injuries while the suspect ran away from the scene.

Meanwhile, the pedestrian who was struck suffered minor injuries and refused help from EMS.

Officials said a person of interest, Justeen Rakeem Parker, of Port Royal, has been identified as a person of interest.

Anyone with additional information on the incident or Parker's whereabouts is asked to contact Sgt. Fritz at 843.322.7913. If you would like to stay anonymous, contact BPD's TIP LINE at 843.322.7938 and reference case #23B24199.

He made the announcement Monday in Spartanburg.

The list of supporters, shared with The Associated Press ahead of an official announcement on Monday, includes state Sen. Shane Massey, the current Republican leader of South Carolina’s Senate, who called Scott “the authentic conservative leader we need in the White House right now.”

Daniel Rickenmann, elected in 2021 as the first Republican-aligned mayor of South Carolina’s capital city of Columbia in decades, lauded Scott’s career, which he said had been spent “focusing on people back home and supporting local government to solve real problems.”

Scott also lists the official endorsement of former U.S. Rep. Henry Brown, whose 1st District congressional seat Scott won twice before he was appointed to the U.S. Senate in 2011 by then-Gov. Nikki Haley — now among Scott’s rivals for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

The list also includes 28 other current state lawmakers, including Rep. Bruce Bannister, chairman of the powerful state House Ways and Means Committee, as well as former lawmakers including longtime House Speaker Bobby Harrell, 16 mayors of cities and towns across the state and dozens of county-level officials.

Scott said he was “honored to receive the endorsements of former colleagues and friends.” He previously was endorsed by several Senate colleagues, including John Thune and Mike Rounds, both of South Dakota. Thune spoke at Scott’s launch event last month in North Charleston.

Scott announced his bid for the presidency on May 22.

While speaking in Spartanburg Saturday, Scott discussed his bipartisan initiative to create opportunity zones in low-income areas.

"As the creator of opportunity zones, we’ve seen over $200 billion coming all across the country into opportunity zones creating jobs, creating opportunities but also creating community," Scott said.

Scott called for the southern border to be closed. He also advocated for all children to receive quality education.

Scott described his life as he grew up with a single mother. He said that memory drives him to want to reduce inflation and bring prices down.

"I'm the best choice because I've had the good fortune of living on both sides of that proverbial track," he said. "I've had the good fortune of seeing the American dream become my reality. I want to make sure my American dream pales in comparison to the next generation’s."

Horry County Police Department was investigating after shots were fired at local and state law enforcement officers while responding to a suspicious person complaint Saturday night.

According to Union County Sheriff's Office, deputies were notified about the shooting and the fleeing suspects soon after the shooting.

Deputies were told the car was discovered by a license plate reader and was headed toward Union. The sheriff's office was advised that the car was traveling on Jonesville-Lockhart Highway and headed towards Jonesville.

Deputies located the car and conducted a traffic stop and ordered all six suspects out.

A search warrant was executed and deputies found marijuana and items inside of the vehicle that were pictured in surveillance video during the shooting.

All six suspects were charged with simple possession of marijuana. Three juveniles were taken to Department of Juveline Justice.

Deputies arrested Wilshawn Owens, Tyair Cunningham and Chance Benson.

This investigation is ongoing and is being held for the Horry County Sheriff's Office.

South Carolinians can now expect to pay $3.15 per gallon at the pump on average, based on a survey from GasBuddy of 3,028 gas stations across the state.

Gas prices in South Carolina are 3.8 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand 141.6 cents per gallon lower than a year ago.

The survey found that the cheapest gas in the state is priced at $2.81 per gallon while the most expensive is $3.59 per gallon, a difference of $0.78 per gallon.

The national average rose by 5.6 cents, averaging $3.57 per gallon today. The national average is 5.7 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and 144.6 cents per gallon lower than a year ago.

"Exacerbating these routine jumps was government data that showed the third straight week with U.S. gasoline demand over the critical 9 million barrel per day mark, putting upward pressure on average prices in other areas as well," said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. "With the Fed meeting this week to potentially alter interest rates again, we could see some turbulence in oil markets, potentially impacting states where gas prices were quiet this week, while the states that saw a big jump last week could see some moderate relief in the week ahead."

The national average diesel price dropped by 1.6 cents over the past week and now stands at $3.87 per gallon.

"The good news has continued for average diesel prices, which again fell last week to their lowest since early 2022, helping to relieve some pressure on hard-hit consumers of diesel," De Haan said.

The backing comes as Scott and other presidential contenders aim to carry on with their campaigns as much of the political world parses the indictment of GOP front-runner Donald Trump on dozens of federal charges.

The list of supporters, shared with The Associated Press ahead of an official announcement on Monday, includes state Sen. Shane Massey, the current Republican leader of South Carolina's Senate, who called Scott “the authentic conservative leader we need in the White House right now.”

Daniel Rickenmann, elected in 2021 as the first Republican-aligned mayor of South Carolina's capital city of Columbia in decades, lauded Scott's career, which he said had been spent “focusing on people back home and supporting local government to solve real problems."

Scott also lists the official endorsement of former U.S. Rep. Henry Brown, whose 1st District congressional seat Scott won twice before he was appointed to the U.S. Senate in 2011 by then-Gov. Nikki Haley — now among Scott's rivals for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

The list also includes 28 other current state lawmakers, including Rep. Bruce Bannister, chairman of the powerful state House Ways and Means Committee, as well as former lawmakers including longtime House Speaker Bobby Harrell, 16 mayors of cities and towns across the state and dozens of county-level officials.

Scott said he was “honored to receive the endorsements of former colleagues and friends." He previously was endorsed by several Senate colleagues, including John Thune and Mike Rounds, both of South Dakota. Thune spoke at Scott's launch event last month in North Charleston.

The South Carolina endorsements of Scott come as Republicans aim to navigate the campaign amid Trump's unprecedented indictment on dozens of federal charges related to his handling of classified documents. Slated to appear in federal court in Miami on Tuesday, Trump spent the weekend blasting the case against him as “ridiculous” and “baseless” during appearances at GOP conventions in Georgia and North Carolina.

Scott, who campaigns later this week in Iowa, is among the 2024 Republican hopefuls who have joined Trump in criticizing the case against him. Along with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Scott has decried the “weaponization” of the Department of Justice in making its allegations against the former president. Haley called for an end to “vendetta politics,” and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy has pledged to pardon Trump if he's elected.

Ramaswamy said the federal case was part of “an affront to every citizen” and called it “hypocritical for the DOJ to selectively prosecute Trump but not” President Joe Biden over his own classified documents case.

Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said the federal indictment marked “a sad day for our country” and “reaffirms the need for Donald Trump to respect the office and end his campaign.”

The shooting, which injured one officer, happened near Chester Street and 14th Avenue North, about less than half a mile from CCMF.

News13's Claire Purnell spoke with a few concertgoers about the shooting and how it impacted themselves, as well as the festival.

"My daughter wanted to leave the festival earlier because she had to go to the bathroom and it took a little bit longer than we anticipated," said Rosemarie Mroczkowski. "I'm like, five more minutes before and we would've been walking right through when it happened because we literally were walking up as the officers were converging."

Law enforcement still had the street taped off and was present in the area of the shooting 12 hours later.

Phoenix Mullen, a local who was attending CCMF, said Saturday night was no different than any other night in the city.

"We left. We didn't even know that it happened and it doesn't surprise me," Mullen said. "I saw cops rolling by, that's just another night in Myrtle Beach."

One employee at a restaurant on the boardwalk said that incidents like these do not surprise them anymore.

The shooting did affect CCMF, as Saturday's headliner Kenny Chesney cut his performance short.

"There were six more songs he was supposed to play and didn't because, well, I hear there was a cop shootout on 14th Avenue," said Eric Smith, a CCMF goer. "Which I guess is, I'm not from the area, but I guess it's just up the road."

Laura Trull, from Charlotte, North Carolina, echoed that sentiment.

"I never would've guessed him walking off stage would be the last but comes to find out, there was a shooting," she said. "Got a call from somebody there very well and she told me to be safe, to get out of. There is only a couple blocks down from here that's probably why he ended early."

However, people in line for the final day of CCMF on Sunday said the incident was not going to stop them from one more day of country music.

"It's very safe in there," said Hayden Urso, of Columbia, South Carolina. "It's just one of those things that happens and you just kind of have to move on from it."

The announcement was made during a drone show at the festival with dates for the next year. 

The festival next year will be from June 6th to June 9th.

Wallen was supposed to be the headliner for this year’s festival but was unable to due to being placed on vocal rest for six weeks.

--

GREER, S.C. (WSPA) - The Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport announced Monday morning that its runway was closed due to damages caused by lightning strikes.

Around 6 a.m., officials said the runway would be closed for approximately two hours.

Repairs were coordinated and crews worked to repair the damage.

Officials said passengers should check with their airline for updated flight information.

To find out which flights have been delayed, click here.

Sheriff Michael Crenshaw said that he asked SLED to conduct an independent investigation into Capt. Jeff Underwood after he entered a secured area involving pills from the Sheriff's Office pill take-back program.

According to Sheriff Crenshaw, the pills are secured separately from any evidence that is gathered. SLED is investigating the possibility of pills being taken for personal use, which is illegal.

Capt. Underwood has been with the Sheriff's Office for 21 years and is assigned to the Uniform Patrol Bureau. Underwood has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

Myrtle Beach police said they responded to a "shooting incident" in the 1300 block of Withers Alley.

HCPD said officers responded at about 11 p.m. to a report of a person with a gun in the area of 14th Avenue North and Chester Street in Myrtle Beach.

As a result of weekend event staffing, four officers -- two from MBPD and two from SLED, responded in one vehicle, Horry County police said.

Horry County police said as officers approached the original incident area, a group of suspects began shooting at the officers vehicle. Shortly after, the suspects fled.

One officer, who was not specified from which department, suffered a minor, non-life threatening injury after being shot, according to Horry County police.

No officers fired their weapons during the incident.

Due to the involvement of both SLED and Myrtle Beach police, Horry County police will lead the investigation.

Count on News13 for updates.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the pilot declared an emergency and reported engine failure before the airplane crashed at 10:20 a.m. in a field 11 miles north of the airport.

The airplane was destroyed by post-accident fire and the pilot suffered fatal injuries.

Officials with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the plane took off from Lowcountry Regional Airport in Walterboro and was headed to Jim Hamilton - LB Owens Airport in Columbia.

An investigator is expected to arrive at the site of the crash Saturday night to begin the on-scene portion of the investigation, according to the NTSB.

"The investigator will document the accident site, airplane, and gather witness statements and any surveillance video that may have captured any part of the accident flight.  The investigator will also collect any flight track or radar data," officials said.

The FAA and NTSB are investigating the crash.

Rep. Mace is also a member of the House Oversight Committee. She said the announcement of Trump's indictment came the same day that the committee would hold FBI Director Christopher Wray in contempt of Congress over the refusal to comply with a subpoena issued by the committee.

Rep. Mace said on Thursday those documents were released to the committee.

"It's no surprise that he got indicted on the same day that the House Oversight Committee got access to documents showing a bribery scheme with the President of the United States," she said. "It's sort of stunning from that perspective when you think about the weaponization of the federal government or the weaponization of the Executive branch to try and take out the current president's number one political opponent for 2024."

The grand jury indicted the former president on charges of mishandling classified documents at his Mar-A-Lago estate.

Trump now faces seven federal counts as the result of a months-long investigation by Special Counsel Jack Smith.

Rep. Mace pointed out that similar investigations have also been launched into how President Biden handled classified documents.

"I want to be really clear here - I've had my ups and downs with Donald Trump we have not always seen eye to eye," she said. "I just want everyone to be treated by the same legal standards -- it feels like Hilary Clinton and Joe Biden are treated in a different standard than Donald Trump and I think most people are going to agree with that."

Special Counsel Jack Smith spoke during a news conference on Friday about the indictment.

"We have one set of laws in this country, and they apply to everyone," he said.

The former president has been summoned to appear at the federal courthouse in Miami on Tuesday.

Currently, there is no trafficking statute for fentanyl in state law like there is for other drugs like cocaine or heroin.

Officials say the drug is 50 times more powerful than heroin and 100 times more powerful than morphine and has been fueling a spike in fatal overdoses across the country in recent years.

The latest data from the state health department shows there were nearly 1,500 South Carolinians who died of a fentanyl overdose in 2021. Back in 2016, fentanyl was responsible for 160 fatal overdoes in the state

This week, the House of Representatives gave final approval to the legislation in a 103-1 vote. It would make trafficking fentanyl a felony. House Speaker Murrell Smith (R-Sumter) told reporters cracking down on fentanyl trafficking was part of their agenda this year. "It's a huge win," he said.

Representative Seth Rose (D-Richland) said on the House floor he agreed the state needed a trafficking statute for fentanyl but he was concerned about the unintended consequences with this piece of legislation.

"If somebody is struggling with substance abuse issues and they have 10 pills they believe to be Percocets, they're (law enforcement) not going to withdraw the fentanyl from the pill," Rose said. "They're going to weigh the whole thing and all of sudden you're going to ensnare people who are not drug traffickers."

Lawmakers also included a measure in the bill that would enhance illegal gun possession penalties for anyone who is trafficking drugs.

James Summers, 52, is charged with breach of trust after allegedly stealing $328,000 worth of lumber from an unnamed business in the Ladson area.

Summer was also an employee of the business and he was accused of stealing wood for a profit each month between September 2022 and May 2023.

CCSO said Summers was placed into custody after being located in the Orangeburg area.

At approximately 1:30 p.m., the Pickens Sheriff's Office responded to Imperial Die Casting located at 2249 Liberty Road in reference to an alleged threat received via telephone.

Deputies evacuated the building while investigating the origins of the phone call.

No explosive devices were located at the scene and employees were able to return
to work shortly before 5 p.m.

The investigation led detectives to a restaurant located in Clemson where authorities found a person of interest.

He was later identified as 25-year-old Carlos Lamont Willingham.

Officials said Willingham admitted to calling the plant but the call was intended to be made as a prank.

Deputies charged Willingham with threatening to use a destructive device.

He was taken into custody and booked into the Pickens County Detention Center.

The incident remains under investigation by the Pickens County Sheriff's Office.