By Mark A. Leon
Nantucket’s Meat & Fish Market is coming to Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. This will be the second South Carolina location after Hilton Head, SC.
The new location for Nantucket’s Meat & Fish Market will be 616 Coleman Blvd. This additional to the Mount Pleasant grocery and dining market is filled with anticipation.
The team is currently hiring for various openings. If interested, click link to apply: meatandfish.com/hiring
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By Mirna Alsharif and Bella LoBue
At least 19 people were injured in a stampede at an annual motorcycle rally Sunday morning in Atlantic Beach, South Carolina, according to local officials.
Horry County Fire Rescue crews responded to a “stage area” near South Ocean Boulevard at around 1:05 a.m., where they located the patients with assistance from local law enforcement. The town of Atlantic Beach confirmed that the incident happened at the Black Pearl Cultural Heritage and Bike Festival — held annually in the area over Memorial Day weekend.
Three people were transported to a hospital for treatment; others are believed to have sought care on their own. All injuries are considered non-life-threatening, according to Horry County Fire Rescue.
In a statement, the town of Atlantic Beach said the event was triggered by a person who began running, “causing a brief chain reaction within the crowd that lasted only seconds.”
“SLED [South Carolina Law Enforcement Division] personnel quickly accessed the stage and took control of the situation, addressing the crowd multiple times and clearly communicating that no incident had occurred and that individuals had simply started running,” interim Town Manager Titus Leaks said in the statement. “Their swift response helped calm attendees and restore order.”
Leaks said, “At no time were there any confirmed fights, weapons, or direct threats to public safety,” emphasizing that it was “a brief crowd reaction” that “was quickly identified and managed by law enforcement who were already in position.”
While the town is concerned for anyone who was injured, Leaks said the mishap “does not reflect the overall success of the event.”
“The Black Pearl Cultural Heritage and Bike Festival has been held for over 40 years and continues to attract visitors from across the country because of the positive experience it provides,” he said.
The Black Pearl Cultural Heritage and Bike Festival draws crowds of up to 40,000 people to Atlantic Beach each Memorial Day weekend, according to the town
Source: NBC News
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Last week, contractors working on a construction project at The Citadel discovered human remains while digging a pipeline trench. Per the project’s previously-drafted archeology plan, work on the project was immediately halted and the Charleston Coroner and State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) were contacted.
The coroner’s team removed the remains. Earlier this week, the SHPO visited the site to review conditions. The contractor’s Archaeological Consultant provided the SHPO with a plan to address any future discovery on this project. The SHPO cleared the contractor to restart work on the project.
The Citadel is committed to being a responsible steward of the history of Charleston and South Carolina and has followed best practices and SHPO guidance throughout this and each of our construction projects.
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Columbia, S.C. (May 22, 2026) – The South Carolina Department of Transportation seeks public comment on the addition of the 2027 Pavement Improvement Program to the 2024-2033 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). SCDOT will receive public comment for a 21-day period from May 22 to June 11, 2026.
View an online map at this link: 2027 Pavement Improvement Program.
The 2027 Pavement Improvement Program includes additional 734 miles of proposed paving work, including 48 miles of preventive maintenance projects, along non-interstate road systems. Road systems included in the program are major roads/primary routes, farm-to-market secondary roads, and neighborhood streets. View a list of selected roads in the May 21, 2026 Commission Agenda Package starting on the page labeled p. 73.
These miles will be added to the previously approved 8,505 miles of paving projects advanced since the implementation of Act 40 of 2017. The paving projects will be incorporated into the “New Gas Tax Trust Fund” transparency and accountability reports. More information is available on our website.
In accordance with Act 114 of 2007, these projects were selected for funding using ranking processes that are based on objective and quantifiable factors. The projects also comply with the Ten-Year Plan and support the performance targets established in the Transportation Asset Management Plan (TAMP). In order to ensure that every county is guaranteed paving funds, funds are is allocated to counties based on a county’s relative share of lane miles for each road system.
Submit a Comment
Comments will be accepted through June 11, 2026 and should be submitted to Ginny Jones, Public Involvement Director, SCDOT Public Engagement Office, 955 Park Street, P.O. Box 191, Columbia, SC 29201. Comments may also be submitted online or by email to SCDOTpubliccomment@scdot.org.
Visit scdot.org/projects/public-comment-notices to view all STIP Comment Notices and submit comments online.
To assist those who do not have internet access, a printed copy of this press release and any supporting information is available for public review and comment at any of the South Carolina Department of Transportation District Offices and the South Carolina Council of Government Offices. Please note, any information provided, including names and addresses, is subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.
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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Micaiah Green, 31, of Columbia, has been sentenced to more than 16 years in federal prison for drug trafficking.
Evidence presented in court established that agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration identified Green as a significant supplier of narcotics in the Columbia area. Investigators learned through multiple sources that Green used various hotel rooms to store and distribute controlled substances. Between April and June 2024, Green distributed more than 2,000 grams of methamphetamine, 200 grams of fentanyl, and 900 grams of marijuana in the Columbia area.
Green has an extensive criminal history that includes prior convictions for burglary, first-degree assault and battery, attempted armed robbery, possession of a firearm by a convicted violent felon, trafficking methamphetamine, distribution of cocaine base, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine base. Green was on state bond at the time of the offense conduct in this case.
United States District Judge Sherri Lydon sentenced Green to 200 months in prison, to be followed by five years of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariyana Gore prosecuted the case.
Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office – South Carolina
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$8.2 million investment will create 12 new jobs
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Bittermilk Bottling Co. (Bittermilk), a manufacturer of nonalcoholic beverage products, today announced it is expanding its operations in Charleston County. The company’s $8.2 million investment will create 12 new jobs.
Founded in 2013, Bittermilk produces various brands of nonalcoholic cocktail mixers and complex syrups. The family-owned and -operated business uses all-natural ingredients to manufacture the products at its current facility in North Charleston.
Bittermilk is relocating to a new 12,000-square-foot facility, located at 5340 Savannah Highway in Ravenel, allowing the company to significantly increase production capacity and continue to meet growing demand.
Operations are expected to be online in summer 2026. Individuals interested in joining the Bittermilk team should contact the company (drink@bittermilk.com).
QUOTES
“We’re proud to continue growing Bittermilk in Charleston County, where our business began and where we’ve built strong roots over the past two decades. Being born and raised in Charleston, and growing up in the food and beverage industry here, has given us a deep appreciation for this community. It’s an honor to keep building our future here while continuing to make high-quality, American-made products.” -Bittermilk Owners and Co-Founders Joe and MariElena Raya
“Bittermilk’s expansion in Charleston County is another example of the success South Carolina businesses are finding across our state. The addition of 12 new jobs is a win for the Lowcountry, and we congratulate Bittermilk on their continued success.” -Gov. Henry McMaster
“Congratulations to Bittermilk on expanding its manufacturing operations in the Lowcountry. With an investment of $8.2 million in Charleston County, the company is strengthening South Carolina’s economic development landscape.” -Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey III
“Bittermilk is a South Carolina success story, and their expansion is great news for the state. Forward-looking small agribusinesses are essential to the future of the industry, and we celebrate their growth.” -Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers
“Bittermilk’s expansion underscores how Charleston County is both an ideal location to establish operations and plan next step opportunities that support long-term growth. This investment in Ravenel brings significant potential for future facility development, while creating high‑quality workforce opportunities and new amenities for the community.” -Charleston County Council Chairman Joe Boykin
FIVE FAST FACTS
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CHARLESTON, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Charleston returned a nine-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, charging 14 individuals with trafficking narcotics, including cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine. This indictment is part of a years-long drug trafficking investigation, spanning South Carolina and extending into Georgia and Mexico. To date, 26 people have been charged for their roles in the conspiracy, and eight of those defendants have pleaded guilty.
The following charges were unsealed this morning, according to court documents:
The indictment alleges that, beginning in 2017, the FBI and local law enforcement partners investigated street gangs operating in North Charleston including Gangster Disciples and the Fruit Town Piru, a sect of the Bloods. The investigation uncovered a layered drug-trafficking network that extended beyond South Carolina and included supply connections in Atlanta and Mexico. At the street level, gang members and others distributed cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine throughout Charleston County. Investigators then worked up the supply chain and identified the wholesale suppliers responsible for obtaining and distributing the largest quantities of drugs. Those suppliers were ultimately arrested and indicted.
During the investigation, law enforcement seized approximately 61 kilograms of cocaine, 1 kilogram of methamphetamine, 24 pounds of marijuana, 600 grams of fentanyl, 500 grams of heroin and thousands of narcotics pills, as well as 12 firearms.
Several defendants previously indicted in this case have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing including Bernard Garland Gregory, Sharon T. Carter, Mary Nelly Ayala, Quentin Rambert, Jabari Cortez Lee, Marchevis Jefferson, Meri Elizabeth Sottile, and Amanda Danielle Forth.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, United States Secret Service, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, City of Charleston Police Department, Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office, North Charleston Police Department, Summerville Police Department, Mount Pleasant Police Department, Charleston Aviation Authority and Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Lietzow is prosecuting the case.
All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office
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LINCOLNVILLE HOMETOWN FESTIVAL — May 29–30, 2026
A Weekend of Celebration, Remembrance, and Community Pride in One of South Carolina’s Oldest African American Towns
Lincolnville, SC — The Lincolnville Preservation & Historical Society announces a powerful weekend of celebration, remembrance, and community pride as the town prepares to host the 2026 Lincolnville Hometown Festival, May 29–30, 2026. This two-day event honors the legacy of one of South Carolina’s oldest African American towns and invites families, descendants, neighbors, and visitors from across the nation to come home to Lincolnville.
SATURDAY, MAY 30 — THE HOMETOWN FESTIVAL
At 10:00 AM, the International African American Museum (IAAM) will partner with the Lincolnville Preservation & Historical Society to host IAAM History Lincolnville, a landmark event dedicated to collecting and digitally archiving Lincolnville family records, photographs, and oral histories dating back to 1832. This historic preservation effort will take place at Ebenezer AME Church, 124 E. Pinckney Street.
From 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM, the celebration continues at the Bishop Richard H. Cain Community Garden, 112 Dunmeyer Hill Road. The festival will feature:
A TOWN ROOTED IN HISTORY
Founded in 1867 by Bishop Richard H. Cain, then pastor of Emmanuel AME Church in Charleston, Lincolnville stands as a testament to African American resilience, self-determination, and community building. Incorporated in 1889, the town remains a living monument to Reconstruction-era achievement.
“As the nation approaches its 250th Anniversary, it is imperative that African American history is taught, celebrated, and preserved now and for generations to come,” says Dr. Pernessa C. Seele, Founder and President of the Lincolnville Preservation & Historical Society. “Everyone is welcome to join us—from far and near—to celebrate our Hometown Festival.”
Lincolnville was added to the National Park Service Reconstruction Era National Historic Network in 2022 and is recognized as a descendant community of the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor.
A HOMECOMING OF THE HEART
Among the many descendants returning home is Carol Hill Byrd of Atlanta, whose family roots in Lincolnville stretch back to the 1880s. “I am excited to be coming home,” she shares. “My great-grandmother, Charlotte Riley—born enslaved in Charleston—moved to Lincolnville and became the town’s second postmaster general. My grandfather, David Riley Hill, became the first principal of Burke High School in Charleston; my grandmother, Mattie Seabrook Hill, was the first teacher at Lincolnville’s William Graded School; and my father, David S. Hill, served as a Charleston City Councilman and has a street named in his honor. I am honored to be a living descendant of Lincolnville, SC.”
This festival is a homecoming, a restoration, and a declaration that Lincolnville’s story will not be forgotten. We invite every family, every descendant, every friend of Lincolnville, and every lover of history to stand with us, celebrate with us, and help carry this legacy forward. Come be part of history. Come be part of home. For more information, visit www.lincolnvillesc.org
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By Matt Swayne
Insider Brief
PRESS RELEASE — The University of South Carolina (USC) has established two multi-year university Senior External Advisor roles designed to strengthen advanced research, education, and program development in quantum information science.
The agreements bring two nationally recognized leaders in science and technology to South Carolina: Dr. Nasser F. Barghouty, former Chief Scientist for NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation Program (SCaN) at NASA headquarters, and Jalal Mapar, former Senior Advisor for Emerging Technologies at the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate.
Over a two-year engagement, the Senior External Advisors will contribute to applied research in quantum information science and technology (QIST) related initiatives, collaborate with faculty and students, and support the development of strategic programs that advance University of South Carolina’s growing quantum ecosystem. Their work will span strategy and technical development, research advising, and academic collaboration, strengthening institutional capacity across multiple disciplines.
Dr. Barghouty previously led NASA’s quantum communications and networking strategy and had spent two decades advancing research and flight programs in cosmic rays astrophysics, space radiation and space weather at both NASA Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, and NASA headquarters in Washington, DC.
“I am confident that USC will create a pivotal and competitive role for itself in the strategically critical and burgeoning QIST domains, at both the national and international levels – I am grateful and fortunate to be part of that effort. This confidence is predicated on the academic strength of the college and the university, as well as on the foresight of the state to invest early and deliberately in QIST and in its own quantum ecosystem.” — Dr. Nasser Barghouty
Mr. Mapar shaped federal research investments in quantum technologies, infrastructure resilience, and advanced modeling, and represented DHS in national science and technology policy coordination efforts.
“Quantum technologies will influence everything from economic competitiveness to national security and States that invest early in quantum research and talent development will shape the future of this field. I’m excited to work with the University of South Carolina to help connect research, workforce development, and real-world national challenges.” — Jalal Mapar
Together, the advisor roles signal University of South Carolina’s commitment to pairing institutional growth with experienced leadership drawn from federal science and technology agencies.
In practical terms, the advisors bring deep operational expertise into university research environments, accelerating knowledge transfer and helping ensure that emerging quantum initiatives are informed by real-world system performance, national security and economic considerations, and long-term infrastructure needs.
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. These advisor roles represent a strategic investment in people and leadership, complementing the applied research projects now underway across the state.
Through sustained collaboration, mentorship, and applied engagement, the Senior External Advisors establish a foundation for continued innovation, knowledge sharing, and institutional growth that will benefit students, researchers, and USC’s quantum ecosystem.
More information about ongoing quantum initiatives in South Carolina can be found at scquantum.org.
Source: The Quantum Insider
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By Lucy Valeski and Joseph Bustos
South Carolina is the target of a boycott proposed by the NAACP Tuesday, which asks Black athletes and fans to withhold talent and money from public universities in states pursuing middecade redistricting. The “Out of Bounds” campaign asks Black athletes to boycott programs in states that have “moved to limit, weaken or erase Black voting representation” after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Louisiana’s congressional map. The opinion also weakened a section of the Voting Rights Act protecting residents from racial discrimination in redistricting.
Following the high court’s decision, South Carolina quickly began the process of redrawing its congressional map to oust U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn. Clyburn represents the state’s congressional district with the highest Black voting age population. South Carolina state Rep. John King, D-York, echoed the boycott demand Tuesday before the state House approved the new congressional map. He called on Black athletes to not commit to predominantly white schools, including the University of South Carolina and Clemson University. “Boycott them,” King said on the House floor. “Do not run down their courts, do not score touchdowns in their stadiums and do not fill their arenas and make their coaches rich and their athletic departments flourish with cash, while the legislators who control the state draw maps specifically designed to cancel out the voices and the vote for people who look like you.” He said instead athletes should go to HBCUs, such as South Carolina State University, Claflin University, Benedict University and Allen University, among others in the state.
“You cannot gerrymander away Black political power on Monday, then expect Black athletes to sell out your stadiums on Saturday. You cannot erase our votes and cash out checks at the same time,” King said. The South Carolina House passed a new congressional map early Wednesday morning, just after midnight. The proposal, which aims to create seven districts favoring Republican candidates, will be debated in the Senate beginning Wednesday afternoon. The NAACP also asks fans and alumni to withhold financial support from the targeted universities and athletic programs. The boycott targets several southern states, including South Carolina, and public universities with athletic programs generating more than $100 million in revenue annually, according to a news release. The NAACP wants to call out efforts to dilute Black voters’ voices while states benefit from the contributions of Black athletes, according to a news release. “The NAACP will not watch the same institutions that depend on Black athletic prowess to fill their stadiums and their bank accounts remain silent while their states strip Black communities of their voice,” NAACP president and CEO Derrick Johnson said in a news release. To participate, Black athletes shouldn’t commit to targeted programs and “seriously consider HBCUs,” in addition to asking coaches where they stand on voting rights, according to the news release. Current college athletes should speak about redistricting and voting rights, the NAACP requested. And fans, donors and alumni should support HBCUs through merchandise and ticket sales, rather than the targeted universities, according to the news release.
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson opposed the NAACP’s boycott Tuesday. Wilson, a Republican gubernatorial candidate, testified in support of South Carolina’s redistricting effort. “Student athletes should not be used by the NAACP for political gain because they disagree with a Supreme Court ruling,” Wilson wrote on social media. Calls to spokespersons for the University of South Carolina and Clemson athletics were not immediately returned Wednesday morning.
Source: The State
Photo Credit: Lake Murray Country
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