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Columns

  • Column: Why can’t the governor pick his advisers?

    As it turns out, the now-suspended V.C. Summer project isn’t the only nuclear concern in South Carolina.
    The Governor’s Nuclear Advisory Council (NAC) met Oct. 11 to discuss the troubles facing a poorly managed plutonium fuel construction operation at the Savannah River Site. In the aftermath of the V.C. Summer project, this nuclear operation and the council tasked with overseeing it have mostly existed in the background, overlooked by many.
    Exactly who sits on this council, and what do they do?

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  • Column: Another president who hated news media – no, not Nixon

    President Trump has made it clear that he doesn’t like the media by making threats and insulting both media outlets and individual journalists, ruminating about reforming libel law, and complaining about coverage of himself and his administration.

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  • Column: Blackmon ignores No. 1 issue – ethics

    “Blackmon seeks $6,750 in back pay,” your Oct. 11 front page announced.
    After reading the article, and recollecting information from your previous articles about this election, I’ve come to my own conclusion.
    Linda Blackmon did not hold office for the preceding nine months because of Jackie Harris’ objection to the means by which the votes were cast. The disparity in the numbers of absentee votes for each candidate, and the way they were obtained, leaves me with some doubt about their authenticity.

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  • Column: GOP must do tax overhaul, repeal/replace, or ‘we’re dead’

    Editor’s note: Sen. Graham has raised his profile in the past few months, co-authoring a major health-care proposal and most recently championing cooperation between the White House and GOP leaders in Congress to enact key parts of President Trump’s agenda. Here are excerpts from his Sunday appearance on CBS News’ “Face the Nation.”

    John Dickerson: Senator, let’s start with Iran. Are there enough votes in Congress to get this amendment to the Iran deal?

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  • Column: Santee Cooper board seems to be sleepwalking at state expense

    Chairman Russell Ott appeared frustrated sitting across from outgoing Santee Cooper CEO Lonnie Carter during last week’s House Utility Ratepayer Protection Committee hearing.
    “So you don’t know why the board’s not here?” asked Ott.
    “I didn’t know they were invited. I don’t think they knew they were invited,” replied Carter.
    “I don’t think that’s correct,” said Ott.

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  • Column: Trip down sartorial memory lane at Taxahaw Baptist homecoming

    Let me tell you about Taxahaw Baptist Church’s Homecoming Fashion Day two Sundays ago. What an event for the ages!
    It was a trip back in time, when we were young with our families, the good old days. Back when we had no fellowship halls, only long tables outside under big trees.
    Everyone shared lots of memories, as we all dressed in clothes that were worn a long time ago.
    Our preacher, Stephen Sullivan, was dressed in a wine-color check shirt, overalls and brogans. His wife, Jennifer, wore a long print dress, pink flowers and pink bonnet.

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  • Column: Sentencing in nonviolent drug cases needs change

    I joined a bipartisan group of senators Oct. 4 to introduce the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2017, which would recalibrate prison sentences for nonviolent drug offenders, target violent and career criminals and save taxpayer dollars.
    The legislation permits more judicial discretion at sentencing for offenders with minimal criminal histories and helps inmates successfully reenter society, while tightening penalties for violent criminals and preserving key prosecutorial tools for law enforcement.

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  • Column: The simple lesson from Las Vegas: Evil exists

    Once again we have witnessed the graphic reality of evil. One man, for reasons yet unknown, decided to take the lives of as many as possible in an attack on a crowd enjoying a Las Vegas concert.
    He carefully chose the position to give him an unobstructed view of his target. He secretly, seemingly unnoticed, stockpiled a cache of weapons. At the most opportune moment, he opened fire on that large, unsuspecting crowd. As of this writing, 59 individuals are dead, including the gunman, and more than 500 injured, from this act of terror.

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  • Column: A troubling visit to my hometown

    Recently, I visited my hometown of Lancaster and was perplexed by the number of stories I heard concerning violent crime there and the number of people who have gone to jail or prison over the past decade.
    To me, the demographics of Lancaster haven’t changed very much since I lived there in the 1960’s, but crime seems to be worse. Talking to many of my friends, it now seems that violence is tearing apart our city.

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  • Column: Roads, pensions, coyotes, mopeds, women’s toilets

    Is it better to accomplish lots of little things or a couple of major things? Legislators took the latter approach this year, concentrating on twin titanic issues – overhauling the state’s pension system and passing a plan to better fund and govern the state’s road system.
    What follows is a synopsis of  those two home runs along with a few singles and strike outs that occurred.

    Long and winding road

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