Charleston Daily Seeking all the beauty that is Charleston, South Carolina

By Kristina Thacker

A report released Thursday, May 14, 2026, by the South Carolina Office of the Inspector General (SCOIG) details the 13 month long investigation. It found the State Treasurer’s Office (STO) approved a $31 million loan to the State Election Commission for new voting machines.

Part of the loan agreement? A near 214% compounding late fee that the report says caused a cycle of debt.

The report also found the voting machine purchase violated state procurement laws. Separate reporting errors shifted $65 million away from the state’s general fund.

The report did not find evidence of criminal misconduct or fraud.

Treasurer Loftis denied fault in a statement and instead blamed the issues on the state’s former elections chief.

“The STO’s master lease program did not cause or contribute to the missteps of the State Election Commission related to the acquisition and management of its voting machines,” said Loftis. “The Election Commission and its former staff are under investigation based on numerous allegations of wrongdoing and criminal activity.”

Loftis is seeking reelection for state treasurer in November. While he disagrees with some of the report’s findings, Loftis maintains the SCOIG’s report is evidence of his innocence when it comes to criminal allegations.

“Today’s Inspector General report confirms an important truth: there was no finding of fraud, theft, personal enrichment, criminal misconduct or malfeasance by me or my office,” Loftis said.

Source: South Carolina Public Radio

Stay connected and subscribe to Charleston Daily.

A new law discriminates against trans students in K-12 schools, colleges, and universities

COLUMBIA – South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster has signed into law House Bill 4756, which will require transgender students in South Carolina public schools and universities to use restrooms and changing facilities that do not match their gender.

ACLU of South Carolina Executive Director Jace Woodrum, who is the first transgender director of a state ACLU affiliate, gave the following statement:

“We all care about safety and privacy for students; this law isn’t about that. This law is about making life harder for a small group of students who already face higher risks of bullying, harassment, and violence.

“Transgender people have always been a part of our communities. For decades, educators have ensured the safety and privacy of all students without banishing transgender young people. Just ten years ago, the state’s Republican leaders considered laws like this to be unnecessary and harmful. Today, transgender people are an obsession for politicians who’d rather target vulnerable kids than solve the real problems we face.

“Our lawmakers have a responsibility to protect all students, including transgender youth. If our legislators were really worried about privacy and safety, they’d invest in stalls, privacy screens, and single-user facilities. Instead, they want to treat transgender youth like outcasts and force them to use portable toilets outside.

“These callous acts by our state lawmakers do not reflect the values and priorities of South Carolinians who believe that all students, including transgender students, should have a fair chance to succeed. To transgender South Carolinians who are feeling despair, know this: we are still here, and we will never stop fighting alongside you.”

Gov. McMaster signed the bill into law on Friday, May 15. In the course of advancing the bill, the South Carolina Senate amended H. 4756 so that schools can install a temporary outdoor facility for transgender students — in other words, a porta-potty. The bill signed by the governor includes that amendment.

The new law affects both children and adults. It threatens to cut 25% of state operations funding to any school district, college, or university found to be in violation. The law also enables people to file lawsuits against schools if they believe a person has entered the “wrong” facility.

Source: ACLU South Carolina

Stay connected and subscribe to Charleston Daily.

COLUMBIA— The South Carolina Department of Public Safety seeks to maintain the standards of the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). In order to meet and exceed these standards, SCDPS is asking the public for input about the agency. 

From now until July 17, 2026, SCDPS encourages the public to submit feedback about the agency and any of its law enforcement divisions, which includes the South Carolina Highway Patrol, the South Carolina State Transport Police, and the South Carolina Bureau of Protective Services. 

Public comments can be submitted at the CALEA Public Portal here.

Comments may include feedback of all kinds, including concerns or praise, and should be submitted at the CALEA portal link. Please note that any public feedback found on SCDPS social media platforms or sent to any SCDPS inbox will NOT be submitted to the CALEA portal.

The purpose of the public comment period is to allow SCDPS to receive feedback regarding compliance with CALEA standards and continuously strengthen the agency’s relations with the communities we serve. The overall intent of the process is to gather public feedback and information to support continuous improvement and foster our pursuit of professional excellence.

Read more about CALEA accreditation and find the public comment portal link on our website here – CALEA Accreditation | SCDPS.

IMPORTANT: CALEA is not an investigatory body; subsequently, the public portal should not be used to submit information for investigative purposes. Additionally, there will be no response other than an acknowledgment of submissions. However, the information will be considered in context to its relevancy to compliance with the standards and tenets of CALEA Accreditation. Standard titles may be viewed on the CALEA website.

The South Carolina Department of Public Safety includes the Highway Patrol, State Transport Police, Bureau of Protective Services, and the Office of Highway Safety and Justice Programs. Our mission is to ensure public safety by protecting and serving the people of South Carolina and its visitors.

Mace pushes to protect South Carolina ratepayers from Big Tech’s energy grab

CHARLESTON, S.C. (May 18, 2026) – Today, Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R-SC) called for a one-year moratorium on new data center construction in South Carolina, putting Big Tech on notice: South Carolina families will not foot the bill for their massive energy demands.

“South Carolina is not Big Tech’s personal power grid,” said Congresswoman Mace. “These companies are planting massive data centers across our state, driving up energy demand, and leaving families and small businesses to pick up the tab. South Carolinians are already stretched thin. The last thing they need is a higher electricity bill subsidizing Big Tech’s bottom line.”

Reports say South Carolina has become a destination for data centers over the years and more are expected to come. Every new facility brings with it surging energy demand, costly grid upgrades, and growing pressure on utility companies to recover those expenses from ratepayers. South Carolina families cannot afford to keep picking up the tab.

A one-year moratorium gives lawmakers the time needed to put real protections in place. Any framework moving forward must require data centers to fully cover the cost of the energy they consume and any grid upgrades their operations demand. South Carolina families and small businesses should not pay a dime of it.

“A one-year moratorium gives South Carolina the chance to get this right,” added Mace. “When it is over, the rules are simple: data centers pay their own way or they do not come here. We don’t want to see eminent domain like what’s happening in Georgia, either.”

Congresswoman Mace’s push to protect South Carolina ratepayers is part of her broader cost-of-living agenda for the First District and the state.

Source: Office of Congresswoman Nancy Mace

Stay connected and subscribe to Charleston Daily.

Lukas Garcia, a Clemson chemistry and artificial intelligence student and founder of Crystal-XG, was named one of 10 national winners, earning $25,000 for his startup venture.

Student entrepreneur Lukas Garcia has been named one of 10 national winners in the America250 America’s Startup competition, a national collegiate contest designed to spotlight early-stage ventures with potential to shape the country’s future.

Garcia, a chemistry major, began his journey in undergraduate research at the Molecular Structure Center, Clemson’s crystallographic lab. He earned $25,000 in non-dilutive grant funding after pitching Crystal-XG, his startup focused on using machine learning to predict reaction conditions for crystal synthesis. 

“Winning at the America250 competition was an incredible validation of the work we’ve done at Crystal-XG,” Garcia said. “The funding will allow us to file a utility patent to protect our intellectual property and accelerate the development of technology.”

The America250 program gives winners national recognition and visibility among investors, entrepreneurs and innovation leaders.  

“I was delighted to direct Lukas to this competition and felt he had a great chance to do us all proud,” said John Hannon, founding director of Clemson’s Entrepreneurship Hub, the Brook T. Smith Launchpad. “He made a great impression on some of the best and most famous minds in Silicon Valley. If they continue to take advantage of all the opportunities we provide them, the sky’s the limit for Lukas and his stellar team.”

The live pitch experience was held May 1-3 in San Mateo, California, at Draper University. America’s Startup is part of America250’s America Innovates initiative and designed the competition to connect winning founders with mentorship, educational programming and possible accelerator or incubator support.  

Garcia has built momentum for Crystal-XG through a series of Clemson and regional competitions. He represented Clemson University in the ACC InVenture Prize competition earlier this year. He also helped lead Crystal-XG to the top prize in the 2025 College of Science Catalyst Competition and first place in the 2025 Brook T. Smith Launchpad Liftoff competition.  

Crystal-XG also recently placed fourth at e-Fest 2026, a national undergraduate entrepreneurship competition, winning an additional $15,000.

“We hope to use our recent momentum to continue scaling our technology and expand our network across the industry and beyond,” Garcia said.

The Brook T. Smith Launchpad is the entrepreneurship hub of Clemson University and is located in a 9,000-square-foot commercial space in downtown Clemson. The hub provides educational, networking and support opportunities to students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members. 

Innovation is part of Garcia’s Clemson story in more ways than one. His father, Carlos Garcia, is a professor in Clemson’s Department of Chemistry. Lukas’ father helped spark his interest in interdisciplinary work, an influence that helped shape his path at the intersection of chemistry, artificial intelligence and entrepreneurship.  

Garcia’s national recognition reflects Clemson’s commitment to creating opportunities for students to turn research, creativity and bold ideas into real-world impact.

Source: Clemson University

Stay connected and subscribe to Charleston Daily.

By Autumn Klein, Community Engagement Strategist 

Mount Pleasant, SC (May 14, 2026) – The Town of Mount Pleasant celebrated the groundbreaking of the Mugsy Kerr Tennis Complex Expansion project, a major investment for a valued recreational space that will continue to serve as a quality amenity for residents. 

This project will expand the existing Mugsy Kerr Tennis Complex with the addition of four new hard courts, two clay courts and more restroom facilities. This expansion will also include improvements to ADA accessibility to better serve all members of the community. The facility is named after Mugsy Kerr, a former Mount Pleasant councilmember who shared an immense amount of passion and support for the town’s recreation department and tennis programs. Kerr’s dedication to recreation and the impact she made on the town will continue to be honored for years to come through this facility. 

At Wednesday’s groundbreaking ceremony, Recreation Director TJ Rostin was joined by councilmembers Howard Chapman, Alex Crosby, Jake Rambo, Kathryn Whitaker and Mike Tinkey as well as other project leaders and construction partners. Mugsy Kerr was in attendance alongside her family members as well as April Gift, with the United States Tennis Association. 

“We are proud to have the support of the USTA and the Lowcountry Tennis Association. This project would not be possible without the support of our community members, staff members, local partners, contractors, and all of those involved,” said Chair of the Health, Recreation and Events Committee Councilman Jake Rambo. “It is important that we continue investing in our recreation facilities and providing high-quality amenities that residents of all ages can enjoy for years to come. This expansion reflects our commitment to supporting the Town’s Recreation Department and enhancing opportunities for health, wellness, and community connection through recreation. Thank you to everyone for your support, we are very excited to get this project started.”

This project is anticipated to reach substantial completion by January 2027.

You can stay up to date with the Mugsy Kerr Tennis Complex Expansion on the project page linked here. 

Source: Town of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

Stay connected and subscribe to Charleston Daily.

By JEFFREY COLLINS and DAVID A. LIEB – Associated Press

A debate over congressional redistricting is shifting to South Carolina

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — An effort to reshape South Carolina’s congressional districts will get its first full airing Monday in the state House, as lawmakers launch a lengthy and potentially testy discussion on whether to accede to President Donald Trump’s desires for a U.S. House map that could yield a clean sweep for Republicans.

Tense debates already have played out in Tennessee, Alabama and Louisiana as Republicans push aggressively to leverage a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that weakened Voting Rights Act protections for minority districts. The ruling has opened the way for Republicans to redraw districts with large Black populations that have elected Democrats.

In South Carolina, that means targeting a seat long held by U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, the only Democrat among the state’s seven representatives in the House.

Clyburn has said he has no intention of retiring, even if his district gets changed. He told reporters last week in Washington that he has addresses in Columbia, Charleston and Santee, adding: “I live in three districts. I’ll decide which one to run in.”

“It ain’t about Jim Clyburn’s district,” he said. “This isn’t about voting. This is about turning the clock back to Jim Crow 2.0.”

Early voting is scheduled to begin May 26 for South Carolina’s statewide primaries on June 9. In addition to redrawing congressional districts, legislation pending in the state House would move the U.S. House primaries to August. If it clears the House, the legislation then must go to the Senate.

Republican Gov. Henry McMaster, who called lawmakers into a special session on redistricting, said it is important for South Carolina to send as many Republicans to Washington as possible to try to prevent Democrats from taking control of the House and attempting to impeach Trump.

But some Republicans have expressed concern that an attempt to draw 7-0 House map for the party could spread Republican voters too thin, making some existing Republican-held districts susceptible to Democratic victories.

Republicans are ahead in the national redistricting battle thus far. Since Trump urged Texas Republicans to redistrict last year, Republicans think they could gain as many as 15 seats from new House maps in Texas, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Florida, Tennessee and Alabama. Democrats, meanwhile, think they could gain six seats from new maps in California and Utah. But litigation is ongoing in some states, and voters will have the final say on who wins.

___

Source: Associated Press – Lieb reported from Jefferson City, Missouri. Associated Press writer Lisa Mascaro contributed from Washington.

Stay connected and subscribe to Charleston Daily.

By Matt Swayne

Insider Brief

• Clemson University is expanding South Carolina’s quantum computing capabilities through a $650,000 initiative supporting the Scalable High-Performance and Quantum Computing Systems Lab, with a focus on improving how quantum software performs on real hardware. 
• The funding includes $250,000 for student-led quantum and machine learning research, $150,000 for multi-year Quantathon events, and $250,000 to establish a long-term statewide student quantum club network. 
• The initiative builds on South Carolina’s earlier $15 million investment in quantum information science and aims to strengthen both the state’s technical research capacity and future quantum workforce pipeline.

PRESS RELEASE — Clemson University is advancing South Carolina’s quantum research capacity through a $650,000 initiative supporting the Scalable High-Performance and Quantum Computing Systems Lab (ScaLab), an effort focused on improving how quantum programs are optimized and executed on real hardware.

Led by Dr. Rong Ge, ScaLab focuses on improving how quantum software runs on real machines. Quantum computers operate very differently from traditional systems, and writing programs that perform efficiently on physical devices remains a central challenge in the field. The lab develops tools that help adapt software to the unique constraints of quantum hardware, improving reliability and performance in real-world settings.

The project supports core research, talent development, and statewide capacity building. Of the total investment:

• $250,000 supports graduate and undergraduate research within ScaLab, enabling hands-on work in quantum computing and machine learning tied directly to active research outputs.
• $150,000 funds multi-year Quantathon events over a three-year period, creating structured, applied learning environments where students engage real computational challenges aligned with emerging quantum and hybrid systems research.
• $250,000 establishes a Statewide Student Quantum Club with sustained funding over a projected seven- to eight-year runway, creating a durable network that connects students, faculty, and institutions while strengthening long-term participation in quantum research and workforce pathways.

The initiative builds on South Carolina’s earlier statewide investment in quantum information science and technology. In 2023, state leaders committed $15 million to coordinate quantum readiness across institutions and industries. ScaLab reflects a continued shift toward sustained, project-based research that strengthens technical depth while building the human infrastructure necessary for long-term quantum capability in the state.

“As quantum hardware matures, performance increasingly depends on how well software is adapted to the physical system,” said Dr. Rong Ge, director of ScaLab. “By integrating physics-informed machine learning into the compilation process, we are improving how quantum programs run in practice while training students to contribute meaningfully to this rapidly evolving field.”

Through research collaboration and statewide engagement, ScaLab positions Clemson as a contributor to the evolving software and systems layer of quantum computing while strengthening South Carolina’s quantum ecosystem.

More information about ongoing quantum initiatives in South Carolina can be found at scquantum.org.

Source: Quantum Insider

What does this mean for you:

• Creates the world’s largest regulated electric utility business by market capitalization and one of the world’s largest energy infrastructure companies with an unmatched operating platform benefiting customers
• Combined company’s customers will benefit over time from its enhanced scale in operations, procurement, construction and financing, enabling it to more cost-effectively meet increased electric demand for approximately 10 million customer accounts
• Driving affordability through proposed $2.25 billion in bill credits spread over two years post-close for Dominion Energy’s customers in Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina and enhanced operating and capital efficiency over the long term
• Companies to maintain dual headquarters in Florida and Virginia and operational headquarters in South Carolina, while providing robust employee protections and enhanced charitable giving
• NextEra Energy expected to improve its existing credit rating thresholds, while Dominion Energy and Dominion Energy Virginia expected to benefit from improved ratings and related reductions in financing costs, further helping keep customer bills more affordable
• All-stock transaction is expected to be tax-free to shareholders and immediately accretive at closing to adjusted earnings per share
• Combined company operations will be more than 80% regulated with a focus on four of the fastest-growing states in the country, supporting expected 11% annual growth in regulatory capital employed
• The combined company will benefit from the industry’s most diversified growth platform, driving 9%+ adjusted earnings per share growth expectations through 2032

Source: Dominion Energy

Stay connected and subscribe to Charleston Daily.

The Charleston Police Department arrested a suspect following a shooting that occurred on King Street near Burns Lane on May 17, 2026, at around 2:30 a.m.

Officers responded to the area and located three victims with gunshot wounds. One victim later died, while two uninvolved bystanders were struck by gunfire and are expected to survive. Detectives determined the suspect opened fire following a brief argument outside Gilroy’s Pizza Pub before fleeing the scene.

Multiple tourniquets and bandages were applied by several of the responding officers. CPD was also assisted by the Mount Pleasant Police Department, North Charleston Police Department, Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, and College of Charleston Public Safety. 

Following the investigation, police identified and arrested the shooter. Andre Ramon Nesbit (35, of Charleston) is charged with murder, 2 counts of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature and possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime. 

Mayor William Cogswell said, “I am grateful to Chief Walker and the Charleston Police Department for their swift and professional response. A suspect is in custody, and that is the result of a department that is well-trained, well-led, and deeply committed to the safety of this city.

To anyone who thinks they can bring this kind of violence to our streets: you will be found, you will be arrested, and you will face the full weight of the law. We have zero tolerance for those who come here to harm our residents and visitors, and Chief Walker and this department have made that abundantly clear.”

 “Gunfire is never and will never be an acceptable way to settle a disagreement,” said Chief Chito Walker. “At this point in the investigation, we know this was not random, and it was not caused by the victims. This violence happened because of the suspect’s choices. One person is dead, two others were shot, and families are now carrying pain that no arrest can undo.

I remain thankful for the officers, detectives, crime scene investigators, and our law enforcement partners who worked through the night and into the day to identify and arrest the suspect. Their work was focused, urgent, and relentless.

This arrest is an important first step, but it is not the end. We will continue working with prosecutors and supporting the victims and their families as this case moves forward.”

Source: Charleston Police Department

Stay connected and subscribe to Charleston Daily.