Lowcountry - Charleston Daily

Lowcountry

Charleston Business Spotlight: A company built out of passion – Meet Anna and John, founders of “Lowcountry Littles”, a new company offering nontoxic and eco friendly baby products with purpose

July 9, 2024

by Charleston Daily 0 Comments

By Mark A. Leon

Some companies are born out of necessity while others a purpose; we are proud to introduce a company with a thoughtful and intentional purpose, Lowcountry Littles.

This July, the team of Anna and John Westerhaus, the founding owners and loving couple behind Lowcountry Littles will be introducing a line of nontoxic and ecofriendly baby products that will promote a lifetime of gut health to little ones and preserve our planet with the official launch of their new company. We are so excited to share their story and help parents throughout the Lowcountry and nation learn about how they can share in this mission.

Anna and John are parents to a beautiful 22-month-old boy and this fall, they will be welcoming a new addition to the team, baby Julia. To Anna and John, Lowcountry Littles is more than a company; it’s a life passion born out love and a desire to protect this generation and generations to come. This company parallels the strong family and community values consistent with the Lowcountry.

This is prevalent in their mission, “To create nontoxic and ecofriendly baby products paired with helpful content that promote a lifetime of gut health of little ones and preserve our planet.”

The Lowcountry Littles Story:

“We founded Lowcountry Littles in July of 2023 to create safe, sustainable, beautiful baby products that protect little ones from toxins and chemicals. As a husband-and-wife team, we combined our passions for nontoxic living, children, and the natural aesthetics of the Lowcountry to create products as beautiful as they are safe. We personally ensure our mealtime creations go through rigorous baby-safe standards in design, manufacturing, and quality control as if every customer’s child is our own. Having had a difficult time ourselves finding mealtime products that were committed to being high quality, nontoxic AND beautiful, we decided to make our own.

Our signature launch, the Palmetto Pouch, is an easy-to-clean nontoxic reusable baby food pouch. We started with this product because it is personal to our story. When our child struggled with baby-led weaning for months, we found that one of the few things he would eat was pureed food, especially from store-bought pouches. Every time we gave him a pouch, though, we had a sinking feeling about the effects that the mass-produced ingredients and heat-sealed plastic foil packaging were having on our son’s gut and brain development. Not to mention that over 3 billion plastic pouches are consumed and thrown away each year.

After struggling to find a high-quality reusable pouch for homemade purees and smoothies for our son, we decided to create our own. Made from 100% food-grade silicone, our pouches are certified to be free from any toxic materials. We personally use our Palmetto Pouches every day to improve our son’s gut health and reduce waste. It is our hope we can help many parents achieve this same goal. As we launch our pouches and create more products, we appreciate your support and look forward to serving your family!

John and Anna Westerhaus”

Where can you find the products:

You can find products for purchase on the official Lowcountry Littles website (E-commerce only)

Exclusive Nontoxic and Eco-friendly Baby Mealtime Products:

Palmetto Pouch: 100% nontoxic silicone reusable baby food pouch that will last years of homemade purees and smoothies for little ones (Launching July 2024)
- 100% Nontoxic silicone funnel to load smoothies and purees into Palmetto Pouches (Launching July 2024). Dishwasher safe and will last years.
- 100% Nontoxic silicone brush with suction cup base for pouches and bottles (coming soon)
- 100% Nontoxic silicone snacker cup (coming soon)
- 100% Nontoxic silicone breastmilk and puree freezer tray (coming soon)

All pouch customers receive the Lowcountry Littles “Stage 1 Solids Masterclass” to help parents transition children to solids.

All pouch customers receive unlimited Puree and Smoothie Recipes and Cooking Videos for Littles 6 months to 5 years old.

Follow Lowcountry Littles on Instagram.
Click HERE for official website

Lowcountry

SC Governor Henry McMaster Announces Line Item Vetoes for FY 2024-2025 State Budget – Positive Takeaways: Cut to state income tax rate and pay increase for teachers

July 9, 2024

by Charleston Daily 0 Comments

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Governor Henry McMaster today announced line item vetoes for the FY 2024-2025 state budget at a Statehouse news conference. The budget includes a historic 292 proposals from the governor’s executive budget – an increase of more than 126 from two years ago – totaling $2.4 billion. These proposals include an income tax cut, teacher and law enforcement pay raises, a college tuition freeze, and key investments in our state’s bridges and workforce development through SC Nexus and South Carolina Workforce Industry Needs Scholarships.

The governor’s veto message highlights his successful partnership with the General Assembly and commended the strides made by the General Assembly in disclosing the sponsors and recipients of earmarked apportionments. The governor issued 21 vetoes totaling $2.3 million.

“After decades of overriding the gubernatorial vetoes of innocuous sounding appropriation titles inside of which the earmarks were hidden, the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives now disclose the sponsors and recipients of earmarked appropriations, as well as the activity, function, or project for which each earmark is intended,” Governor McMaster wrote in his veto message. “Many of these earmarks are investments in local governments for the purchase of new patrol cars, body armor, firetrucks, upgraded weaponry, and even K9 officers. There are earmarks for infrastructure, buildings, roads, bridges, wastewater and sewer projects, recreational parks, walking trails, and traffic improvements.”

However, the governor repeated his call for the General Assembly to create a public, merit-based competitive grants process for earmark appropriations. Administered by state agencies, funds would be made available only to entities that demonstrate required community support and missions consistent with the policy goals and outcomes intended by the General Assembly. All applications and award criteria would be placed online, allowing for public scrutiny and total transparency.

For a copy of the governor’s veto message, click here.

The governor’s priorities funded in the final budget include the following notable proposals (all statements are attributable to Governor Henry McMaster):

SC NEXUS:

“No endeavor better illustrates our state’s leadership style than the SC Nexus for Advanced Resilient Energy (SC Nexus) consortium. SC Nexus is the culmination of groundwork laid in prior years through collaborative public-private initiatives and was developed by the South Carolina Department of Commerce in collaboration with our research institutions of higher education, technical colleges, state agencies, the Savannah River National Laboratory, economic development non-profits, and private businesses.

“This budget builds on my request by providing $20 million to support SC Nexus and serve as the “state” match as required to be eligible for federal funding”

INCOME TAX CUT:

“Until recently, South Carolina had the highest personal income tax rate in the southeast and the 12th highest in the nation at 7%. No more. A few years ago, I was honored to propose and sign into law the largest income tax cut in state history, followed by income tax cuts in each subsequent state budget. This budget continues to cut the state’s personal income tax rate, lowering the rate from 6.4% to 6.2%.

“This year taxpayers will keep an additional $199 million of their hard-earned money instead of sending it to state government. If future revenues allow, we should continue cutting the personal income tax rate each year until we are well below the 6% rate.”

TEACHER PAY RAISE:

“In the area of K-12 education, we continue to make remarkable progress in raising teacher pay. Six years ago, the minimum starting salary of a teacher in South Carolina was $30,113, and the average teacher salary was below the Southeastern average. Today, the minimum starting salary of a teacher in South Carolina is $42,500, and the average teacher salary now exceeds the Southeastern average.

“This budget increases teacher salaries by $4,500, making the new minimum starting teacher salary $47,000. My goal of a minimum starting salary of $50,000 – by 2026 – is within close sight.”

SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS:

“As you are aware, placing an armed, certified school resource officer in every school, in every county, all day, every day, has been one of my top priorities. At my request, the General Assembly began providing funds to hire more resource officers for our state’s 1,284 public schools. The grant program has been very successful. This year’s budget provides $2 million to continue adding officers in the remaining 175 schools without an assigned officer.”

TUITION FREEZE:

“Access and affordability to higher education for every South Carolinian is essential to ensuring that our state has the trained and skilled workforce to compete for jobs and investment in the future. That means we must invest to make all higher education – our colleges, universities, and technical colleges – accessible and affordable for the sons and daughters of South Carolina.

“This year marks the fifth consecutive year that we froze college tuition for in-state students, while providing additional funding for needs-based financial aid at any in-state public or private college, university, or at our 16 technical colleges.”

SOUTH CAROLINA WORKFORCE INDUSTRY NEEDS SCHOLARSHIPS:

“To address the high demand for skills, training, and knowledge, this budget once again provides $94 million in lottery funds to South Carolina Workforce Industry Needs Scholarships (SC WINS) through the South Carolina Technical College System.

“In the last four years, this very successful program has provided over 108,095 South Carolinians with scholarships to cover the cost of tuition and required fees at any of our technical colleges to earn a post-secondary or industry credential in high-demand careers like manufacturing, nursing, computer science, information technology, transportation, logistics, or construction.”

BRIDGES:

“There is no infrastructure more in need of continued investment than our state’s roads, bridges, highways, and interstates. According to the Department of Transportation, there are nearly 9,000 bridges on primary and secondary roads across our state that need to be repaired, rehabilitated, or rebuilt. Many of these bridges are 60, 70, and even in excess of 80 years old and are crumbling before our eyes each day.

“While the $200 million that was appropriated by the General Assembly was less than the $500 million my executive budget proposed for emergency bridge replacement and repairs, it is nevertheless, a good start.”

CONSERVATION:

“For the second year in a row, the General Assembly has agreed and has appropriated $30 million to the Office of Resilience and $28 million to the Conservation Land Bank and the Department of Natural Resources. These funds will enhance these agencies’ existing efforts for preserving culturally or environmentally significant properties, disaster recovery, and flooding mitigation efforts.”

LAW ENFORCEMENT PAY RAISE:

“To keep South Carolinians safe, we must maintain a robust law enforcement presence – and properly “fund the police.” Our state law enforcement and criminal justice agencies have begun to stem the tide of personnel loss with recruitment and retention pay raises provided in previous years’ state budgets.

“This state budget continues that investment in our state law enforcement professionals by providing an additional $6.1 million for recruitment and retention pay raises. It is my hope that we will continue this annual investment in every state budget going forward.”

Source link

Lowcountry

Johns Hopkins Receives a $1B Gift from Bloomberg Philanthropies Making Medical School School Free for Most Incoming Students

July 8, 2024

by Charleston Daily 0 Comments

JOHNS HOPKINS RECEIVES TRANSFORMATIVE BLOOMBERG PHILANTHROPIES INVESTMENT IN FINANCIAL AID FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS OF DOCTORS, NURSES, AND RESEARCH PIONEERS

Thanks to new $1 billion financial aid gift, most medical students will now attend Johns Hopkins tuition-free, and many will receive additional support to cover living expenses. Financial aid for nursing, public health, and other graduate programs will ensure access for top talent from middle-class and low-income backgrounds.

Johns Hopkins University celebrated today’s announcement by Bloomberg Philanthropies of a new gift of $1 billion to make Hopkins free for most medical students and expand financial aid for future nurses and public health pioneers, infusing these critical professions with top talent from all socioeconomic and geographic backgrounds and communities. For most students seeking an MD at Hopkins, the gift will cover the full cost of attendance, including tuition and living expenses such as rent.

The new gift to Hopkins furthers Bloomberg’s commitment to addressing complex American health challenges by removing the economic barriers that stand between America’s most promising students from low-income and middle-class families and their dreams of saving lives and making an impact on their communities. This dramatic expansion of financial aid support for graduate and medical students also builds on the transformative impact of Bloomberg’s 2018 gift for undergraduate aid at Johns Hopkins University.

“BY REDUCING THE FINANCIAL BARRIERS TO THESE ESSENTIAL FIELDS, WE CAN FREE MORE STUDENTS TO PURSUE CAREERS THEY’RE PASSIONATE ABOUT—AND ENABLE THEM TO SERVE MORE OF THE FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES WHO NEED THEM THE MOST.”

Michael R. Bloomberg – Founder, Bloomberg Philanthropies

Beginning in fall 2024, Hopkins will offer free tuition for students pursuing an MD who come from families earning under $300,000, a figure that represents 95% of all Americans. Additionally, Hopkins will cover living expenses on top of tuition and fees for medical students from families that earn up to $175,000, a threshold inclusive of the vast majority of families in the U.S. Nearly two-thirds of current and entering medical students at Johns Hopkins will immediately qualify for either free tuition or free tuition plus living expenses. Eligible new and returning medical students will receive updated financial aid packages this summer that reflect the gift’s impact.

This new scholarship formula will ensure the most talented aspiring doctors representing the broadest and deepest range of socioeconomic and geographic backgrounds have the opportunity to graduate debt-free from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and students from the vast majority of American families will pay nothing at all.

“As the U.S. struggles to recover from a disturbing decline in life expectancy, our country faces a serious shortage of doctors, nurses, and public health professionals—and yet, the high cost of medical, nursing, and graduate school too often bars students from enrolling,” said Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies and Bloomberg L.P. “By reducing the financial barriers to these essential fields, we can free more students to pursue careers they’re passionate about—and enable them to serve more of the families and communities who need them the most.”

The donation from Bloomberg Philanthropies will also expand financial aid for the school’s other graduate programs, including nursing and public health

For nearly 150 years, graduates of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine have pioneered lifesaving treatments and revolutionary clinical care, improving and extending countless lives around the world. Addressing the complex challenges driving recent declines in American life expectancy—including chronic diseases and entrenched health inequities—requires institutions like Hopkins to bring new perspectives to the field and to seek out untapped talent and brilliant ideas in every corner of the country. But the high cost of a medical education today discourages some of the brightest students from low-income and middle-class families from even applying to medical school.

“Extraordinary talent exists in every community across America, a fact borne out by the transformative impact of Mike Bloomberg’s historic gift for financial aid to Hopkins undergraduates six years ago that dramatically expanded the breadth of experience and accomplishment of our student body,” said Ron Daniels, president of Johns Hopkins University. “Removing financial barriers to individual opportunity fuels excellence, innovation, and discoveries that redound to the benefit of society.”

“REMOVING FINANCIAL BARRIERS TO INDIVIDUAL OPPORTUNITY FUELS EXCELLENCE, INNOVATION, AND DISCOVERIES THAT REDOUND TO THE BENEFIT OF SOCIETY.”

Ron Daniels – President, Johns Hopkins University

This new gift from Bloomberg Philanthropies builds on the School of Medicine’s student debt–reduction initiative launched in 2020 with generous gifts from Joanne and Bill Conway and from Kim and Jim Davis, as well as numerous alumni and other donors. Through those prior scholarships, Hopkins was able to begin expanding access and reducing medical student debt. (In the 2023–24 academic year, the average total student loan debt for School of Medicine graduates had declined to approximately $105,000.)

In addition to investing in future generations of doctors, this $1 billion endowment from Bloomberg Philanthropies will support leaders in other critical health-related fields through increased graduate financial aid in the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and School of Nursing, and it will expand aid for graduate degrees offered by the Johns Hopkins schools of Education, Engineering, Business, Arts and Sciences, and Advanced International Studies; the Peabody Institute; and the newly announced School of Government and Policy. The gift also will support the development of a new program to draw impact-focused interdisciplinary leaders into the worlds of research, industry, and government through innovations in PhD education and training.

This new philanthropic contribution is Bloomberg’s latest effort to remove economic barriers to opportunity for top American students. Bloomberg’s record 2018 contribution of $1.8 billion to undergraduate financial aid had a transformative impact on the Hopkins student body. By dramatically expanding scholarship support, Hopkins was able to simultaneously attract the world’s most academically qualified undergraduates and transform the makeup of their undergraduate programs. The number of undergraduate students entering Hopkins from low-income backgrounds and/or who are the first in their families to attend college (FLI) has grown by 43% since the Bloomberg gift went into effect. Today, FLI students make up nearly a third of the Hopkins undergraduate population, surpassing most other Ivy League and Ivy League–adjacent institutions.

In 2021, Johns Hopkins University and Bloomberg Philanthropies also announced the launch of the Vivien Thomas Scholars Initiative, devoted to addressing historical underrepresentation in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields, particularly in leadership roles across universities, government, and industry. The $150 million endowment creates additional pathways for students from historically Black colleges and universities and minority-serving institutions to pursue and receive PhDs in STEM fields at Johns Hopkins.

Bloomberg is a 1964 graduate of Johns Hopkins, the founder of Bloomberg L.P. and Bloomberg Philanthropies, and the 108th mayor of New York City. He also served as the chairman of the Johns Hopkins University board of trustees from 1996 to 2002.

Source link

Lowcountry

New rates approved for Duke Energy Carolinas customers in South Carolina

July 8, 2024

by Charleston Daily 0 Comments

Public Service Commission of South Carolina approves nearly all components of a settlement agreement
Outcome supports company’s efforts to increase system reliability, diversity and enhance the customer experience while keeping rates below national average

GREENVILLE, S.C., July 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The Public Service Commission of South Carolina (PSCSC) has approved new customer rates based on a settlement agreement with almost all parties in the Duke Energy Carolinas rate review request filed with the commission in January of this year.

The changes in customer rates – which remain below the national average – come after a lengthy and very public process evaluating a request to recover investments made to increase system diversity and reliability, enhance the customer experience and meet future energy demands for nearly 660,000 customers primarily in the Upstate region of South Carolina.

The agreement with almost all parties, including certain consumer, environmental and industrial groups in South Carolina, was submitted in May. The agreement was reached with the South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff, the South Carolina Energy Users Committee, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, Coastal Conservation League, Vote Solar, and the South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce. While not signatories to the agreement, both Walmart and CMC Recycling did not object to approval of the agreement.

Rate impacts

Beginning Aug. 1, 2024, a typical residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours will see an increase of about 8.7% or $12.06 per month. Beginning Aug. 1, 2026, residential rates will increase another 4.3% resulting in an additional $6.42 per month for a typical residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours.

Beginning Aug. 1, 2024, commercial and industrial customers will see an average increase of around 4.6% and 4.4%, respectively (actual rates vary by customer class and size).

The net increase reflects the company’s proposal to mitigate the requested rate increase by accelerating over two years the return of excess deferred income tax benefits resulting from the Federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (“Tax Act”). This reduction would expire after two years.

Provisions of the settlement agreement approved by the PSCSC include recovery of new investments in highly efficient natural gas, nuclear, solar and hydroelectric units, as well as recovery of the company’s significant investments in the grid and its new corporate headquarters. The order also allows the company to establish rates based upon a return on equity of 9.94% and an equity component of the capital structure of 51.21%, as agreed to in the settlement. The final order revised recovery of certain environmental compliance costs, the only provision of the settlement agreement not fully approved by the PSCSC.

Providing support for customers

The PSCSC also approved – at shareholder expense – $2 million to perform a study and convene a collaborative of stakeholders to evaluate a broad spectrum of regulatory programs and protections for low-income customers, ranging from affordability programs, potential new tariffs, and other initiatives focused on enhancing assistance for low-income customers; and to help low-income customers complete health and safety repairs, which will allow for an increase in customer participation in programs that enable energy savings, such as the South Carolina Local Weatherization Assistance Program.

Duke Energy has numerous current and proposed energy efficiency programs available to customers who would like to exercise more control over their usage to lower their bills, which could help minimize the impact of the requested increase. Customers struggling to pay their energy bills might also qualify for assistance from various government and nonprofit programs for utility bills and other household expenses. Duke Energy also offers programs and resources to help customers manage their usage to lessen the impact of rate changes, as well as flexible payment arrangements to help customers experiencing uncertainty. Additional customer support is available through the Share the Light Fund, a Duke Energy program that provides energy assistance.

To learn more about these programs, visit duke-energy.com/summersavings.

Duke Energy Carolinas

Duke Energy Carolinas, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 20,700 megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 2.9 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across a 24,000-square-mile service area in North Carolina and South Carolina.

Duke Energy

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America’s largest energy holding companies. The company’s electric utilities serve 8.4 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 54,800 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas unit serves 1.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky.

Duke Energy is executing an ambitious clean energy transition, keeping reliability, affordability and accessibility at the forefront as the company works toward net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas business by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions from electricity generation by 2050. The company is investing in major electric grid upgrades and cleaner generation, including expanded energy storage, renewables, natural gas and advanced nuclear.

More information is available at duke-energy.com and the Duke Energy News Center. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook, and visit illumination for stories about the people and innovations powering our energy transition.

24-Hour media line: 800.559.3853

SOURCE Duke Energy

Lowcountry - Photography

Charleston Business Spotlight: Tami Photography – When emotion and photography come together in symbiotic beauty

July 7, 2024

by Charleston Daily 0 Comments

The Lowcountry is a haven for those visual historians who are capturing the moments that will define our generation and beyond. We are blessed to have so much talent in our community. Today, we would like to spotlight a lady boss who brings passion, insight, warmth, and beauty to her form of visual art. Tami is a gifted photographer, short-form videographer and content strategist.

Let’s take a moment to tell you what makes Tami’s talent so important toward preserving the beauty of the Lowcountry. Tami Wharton is a photographer and artist that sees beyond the physical form and gets to the heart of the emotional core of her subjects. When you look closely, you can see the authentic love displayed by her clients.

For that, we admire her and are proud to showcase her talents and skills to you.

Official Website

Sample Portfolio

Available Photoshoots

Contact Information

Follow on Instagram

About Tami:

I am Tamera Wharton, Boss-Lady and photographer of Tami Photography.

I am happy that you stopped by to get to know me better. Soooo… here are some Photog Phun Phacts ( Photographer Fun Facts).

26
Christian
Leo Baby
Caribbean Girl
Charleston Southern University Alum ( Business Major)
Creative Being

Lowcountry

10 Unique Things You Can Do in Charleston, South Carolina in 2024

July 5, 2024

by Charleston Daily 0 Comments

Mark A. Leon

Here are some unique activities to do in Charleston, SC and surrounding areas. These activities range from horseback riding on the beach to full moon kayak trips; ghosts to dolphins and so much in between. Start your planning!

1. Paddleboard under a full moon through the tranquil marshes near Bohicket Marina. This nighttime adventure offers a magical way to explore Charleston’s waterways. Check out Charleston SUP Safaris for Full Moon Tours or Charleston Outdoor Adventures for Full Moon Kayak Tours.

2. Take an eco-tour to witness local bottlenose dolphins strand feeding – a unique hunting behavior only observed in this part of the world. Try Flipper Finders or Charleston Outdoor Adventures.

3. Visit the Old Charleston City Jail on a haunted tour to learn about the ghosts that allegedly still haunt the historic building. The team at Bulldog Tours will not let you down.

4. Go horseback riding on the beach at Seabrook Island, the only place that allows this activity in Charleston. Seabrook Island Equestrian has you covered.

5. Attend an oyster roast during oyster season (November to February) to experience a beloved local tradition.

6. Explore the Waring Historical Library (175 Ashley Ave, Charleston, SC 29403) to see rare medical instruments, books, and artifacts dedicated to the history of health sciences.

7. Make your own custom hat at one of Charleston’s hat shops. Our recommendation is Southern Ruetz Hat Bar and Maker Mall (Indoor artisan mall).

8. Take a haunted pub crawl that combines spooky tales with visits to local bars. Ghost City Tours will certainly whet your appetite.

9. Visit Middleton Place (4300 Ashley River Rd, Charleston, SC 29414), a 300-year-old former rice plantation with exquisitely preserved gardens and educational tours about the slave trade.

10. Spend a day on Sullivan’s Island, where you can explore the area’s connection to Edgar Allan Poe.

These activities offer unique ways to experience Charleston’s history, culture, and natural beauty.

Here are some additional great reads on this topic:

Lowcountry

5 Of The Most Catastrophic Natural Disasters in the History of Charleston, SC and the Lowcountry

July 5, 2024

by Charleston Daily 0 Comments

By Mark A. Leon

Charleston, South Carolina has experienced several significant disasters throughout its history. Here are 5 of the most catastrophic disasters in the history.

1. The Sea Islands Hurricane of 1893: This Category 3 hurricane caused massive destruction in Charleston and the surrounding areas. It resulted in at least 2,000 deaths in South Carolina, making it one of the deadliest natural disasters in the state’s history.

2. The Charleston Earthquake of 1886: On August 31, 1886, a 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck Charleston, causing widespread damage. While the exact number of casualties is not provided, it was a significant event that resulted in numerous deaths and injuries.

Aftermath of the Charleston Earthquake of 1886

3. The Great Hurricane of 1752: This powerful hurricane made landfall just south of Charleston, producing severe storm surge flooding and causing at least 95 deaths. It is considered one of the worst storms to ever hit Charleston.

4. Hurricane Hugo in 1989: While the exact casualty count for Charleston is not provided, Hugo caused significant damage to the city. The storm’s center passed near Charleston with hurricane-force winds, including a 109 mph gust recorded at Shaw Air Force Base.

5. The Charleston tornado of 1938: On September 29, 1938, a trio of tornadoes hit Charleston, demolishing the City Market. 27 fatalities and 80 injuries were attributed, mainly from collapsing buildings.

These events highlight the vulnerability of Charleston and the surrounding Lowcountry to various natural disasters, including hurricanes, earthquakes, and tornadoes, which have caused significant loss of life and property damage throughout the city’s history.

Additional Resource Articles

Lowcountry

Schneider Electric Forecasts 50% Surge in U.S. Industry Electrification by 2030, Announces $23.8 Million Investment and 280 New Jobs in South Carolina Operations Amid Electrification Trend

July 5, 2024

by Charleston Daily 0 Comments

The company’s Sustainability Research Institute projects uptick in Industry electrification and reduction in fossil fuel demand
Its investments to modernize and electrify its South Carolina operations advance its own sustainability and decarbonization targets
Planned 280 new South Carolina jobs add to the 1,200 workers it currently employs in the state

WASHINGTON, D.C./PRNewswire/ — Schneider Electric — the global leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation — released a new report that projects that electrification of U.S. industry will grow from 30 percent to 45 percent by 2030, a 50 percent increase. The report, compiled by the company’s Sustainability Research Institute, also recognizes the potential for a corresponding 25 percent reduction in fossil fuel demand over the same period.

The report provides detailed analysis by sector, projecting that 16 of 21 sectors will reach 60% electrification by 2030. Further, it projects that U.S. industry as a whole will reach 64% electrification by 2040 with a corresponding 50 percent reduction in fossil fuel use.

In tandem with these trends, Schneider Electric will upgrade, modernize, and maintain its Seneca and Columbia manufacturing plants; it will also electrify Seneca’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system to enhance its efficiency and reduce costs advancing its own sustainability and decarbonization targets.

Altogether, the company will invest $23.8 million into its South Carolina manufacturing operations. The company also said it expects to create 280 new production jobs in the state, including 130 jobs in its Seneca facility and 150 jobs in its Columbia facility adding to the more than 1,200 workers Schneider Electric currently employs in South Carolina. Hiring at both facilities will take place over the course of 2024.

This expanded workforce will manufacture custom power distribution products that are integral to electrification and energy efficiency, bolstering support for critical infrastructure, industries—particularly healthcare and wastewater treatment—and the escalating demand for data center solutions across the U.S.

Speaking at the SelectUSA Investment Summit, Schneider Electric President of North America Operations Aamir Paul said: “This new research demonstrates why electrification is the most promising and practical means of decarbonizing industry quickly. We anticipate significant acceleration across all sectors, even hard-to-abate industry, to reach decarbonization targets and maintain economic competitiveness. As we move more towards this electrified and digitized world, we’re spearheading this transformation through our own investments in a robust domestic supply chain, including in the state of South Carolina to bolster our manufacturing efforts for customers.”

Commenting on the announcement, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster said: “Schneider Electric’s further investment in South Carolina is a testament to our strong business climate and skilled manufacturing workforce, and we look forward to the economic opportunities this expansion will create for residents in Oconee and Richland Counties.”

In March, Schneider Electric announced plans to invest $140 million into its U.S. manufacturing operations and create about 750 new manufacturing jobs across the country in 2024. The company’s South Carolina investments, which are accounted for in the 2024 financial and jobs totals, follow its recent manufacturing expansion announcements in Tennessee and Texas. Since 2020, Schneider Electric has invested more than $440 million across its American manufacturing network, which includes more than 22 facilities across 14 states.

Schneider Electric has had a presence in the U.S for 135 years. The company employs more than 19,000 workers in the country and its products and solutions can be found in four of 10 U.S. homes, 40 percent of the world’s hospitals, and in water and wastewater installations in 150 countries.

In 2023, TIME magazine named Schneider Electric to its 100 Most Influential Companies list recognizing it for work done to help clients reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. The company is also ranked among the Top 10 of the 2023 Best Workplaces in Manufacturing & Production by the Great Place to Work U.S. organization and Fortune magazine.

More information about Schneider Electric’s heritage and presence in America can be found here.

About Schneider Electric

Schneider’s purpose is to create Impact by empowering all to make the most of our energy and resources, bridging progress and sustainability. At Schneider, we call this Life Is On.

Our mission is to be the trusted partner in Sustainability and Efficiency.

We are a global industrial technology leader bringing world-leading expertise in electrification, automation and digitization to smart industries, resilient infrastructure, future-proof data centers, intelligent buildings, and intuitive homes. Anchored by our deep domain expertise, we provide integrated end-to-end lifecycle AI enabled Industrial IoT solutions with connected products, automation, software and services, delivering digital twins to enable profitable growth for our customers.

We are a people company with an ecosystem of 150,000 colleagues and more than a million partners operating in over 100 countries to ensure proximity to our customers and stakeholders. We embrace diversity and inclusion in everything we do, guided by our meaningful purpose of a sustainable future for all.

www.se.com

Lowcountry

Spirit AeroSystems Announces Acquisition by Boeing in $8.3 Billion Transaction

July 5, 2024

by Charleston Daily 0 Comments

Enters into Term Sheet for Airbus to Assume Ownership of Certain Airbus Program Assets

WICHITA, Kan./PRNewswire/ — Spirit AeroSystems [NYSE: SPR] (“Spirit”) today announced it has entered into a definitive merger agreement under which The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] (“Boeing”) will acquire Spirit for $37.25 per share in Boeing common stock (subject to the collar described below). At $37.25 per share, this represents an equity value of approximately $4.7 billion and an enterprise value of approximately $8.3 billion including Spirit’s last reported net debt. The price of $37.25 per share represents a 30% premium to Spirit’s closing stock price of $28.60 on February 29, 2024, the day before Spirit and Boeing issued press releases confirming they were in discussions regarding a potential transaction.

“After carefully evaluating Boeing’s offer to combine, we are confident this transaction is in the best interest of Spirit and its shareholders, and will benefit Spirit’s other stakeholders,” said Patrick M. Shanahan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Spirit. “Bringing Spirit and Boeing together will enable greater integration of both companies’ manufacturing and engineering capabilities, including safety and quality systems.”

Spirit also announced today that it entered into a binding term sheet with Airbus SE [EUR: AIR.PA] (“Airbus”). Under the term sheet, the parties will continue to negotiate in good faith to enter into definitive agreements for Airbus to acquire certain Spirit assets that serve Airbus programs, concurrently with the closing of Spirit’s acquisition by Boeing.

Shanahan continued, “We are proud of the part we have played in Airbus’ programs and believe bringing these programs under Airbus ownership will enable greater integration and alignment.”

Transaction Terms

Under the terms of the definitive merger agreement with Boeing, Spirit shareholders will receive for each of their shares of Spirit common stock a number of shares of Boeing common stock equal to an exchange ratio calculated as $37.25 divided by the volume weighted average share price (VWAP) of Boeing common stock over the 15-trading-day period ending on the second trading day prior to the closing (the “Closing Price”), subject to a floor of $149.00 per share of Boeing common stock and a ceiling of $206.94 per share of Boeing common stock. Spirit shareholders will receive 0.25 shares of Boeing common stock for each of their shares of Spirit common stock if the Closing Price is at or below $149.00, and 0.18 shares of Boeing common stock for each of their shares of Spirit common stock if the Closing Price is at or above $206.94.

The definitive merger agreement with Boeing and the term sheet with Airbus were unanimously approved by the Spirit Board of Directors. The closing under the definitive merger agreement with Boeing is subject to the completion of the divestiture of the Airbus businesses by Spirit and is subject to other closing conditions, including approval of the definitive merger agreement by Spirit shareholders and receipt of regulatory approvals. The closing of the Airbus transaction, if a definitive agreement for the Airbus transaction is entered into with Airbus, will be subject to the substantially concurrent closing of the Boeing acquisition of Spirit and will be subject to other closing conditions, including the receipt of regulatory approvals. The closings of these transactions are expected to occur in mid-2025.

In addition, Spirit plans to pursue the divestiture of certain operations. These include Spirit’s business and operations in (1) Subang, Malaysia, (2) Prestwick, Scotland that support Airbus programs, and (3) Belfast, Northern Ireland other than those that support Airbus programs.

Advisors

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC is serving as lead financial advisor to Spirit. Moelis & Company LLC is also serving as a financial advisor to Spirit. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP is serving as legal counsel to Spirit.

On the web: www.spiritaero.com
On Twitter: @SpiritAero

About Spirit AeroSystems Inc.

Spirit AeroSystems is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of aerostructures for commercial airplanes, defense platforms, and business/regional jets. With expertise in aluminum and advanced composite manufacturing solutions, the company’s core products include fuselages, integrated wings and wing components, pylons, and nacelles. We are leveraging decades of design and manufacturing expertise to be the most innovative and reliable supplier of military aerostructures, and specialty high-temperature materials, enabling warfighters to execute complex, critical missions. Spirit also serves the aftermarket for commercial and business/regional jets. Headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, Spirit has facilities in the U.S., U.K., France, Malaysia and Morocco. More information is available at www.spiritaero.com.

Lowcountry

10 Common Misconceptions about People from Charleston, South Carolina

July 4, 2024

by Charleston Daily 0 Comments

Every culture; every region; every lifestyle has common behaviors and ways of life. Often times, perceptions are made based on entertainment, media, and even word of mouth. We uncovered some common misconceptions people have about Charlestonians:

1. Everyone in Charleston has a strong Southern accent. In reality, many residents are transplants from other areas, and accents vary widely.

2. Charlestonians only eat fried foods. While Southern cuisine is popular, the city has a diverse food scene with many culinary options.

3. They only listen to country music. Charleston actually has a vibrant music scene including jazz, indie, and other genres.

4. All Charleston women are like Scarlett O’Hara. This Hollywood stereotype doesn’t reflect the diversity of women in the city.

5. Life in Charleston is exactly like the TV show “Southern Charm”. The reality show doesn’t accurately depict everyday life for most residents.

6. Everything moves slowly in Charleston. While the city has a relaxed vibe, not everything is slow-paced.

7. All Charlestonians live in historic homes downtown. In reality, many live in modern homes and suburbs outside the historic district.

8. Everyone in Charleston is extremely wealthy. The city has diverse socioeconomic levels, not just “old money”.

9. Charlestonians are uneducated or “slow”. In fact, Charleston has several highly-ranked educational institutions.

10. All residents are obsessed with sports and drive pickup trucks. While some fit this stereotype, Charleston offers diverse interests and lifestyles.

What to learn more? Here are a few great additional articles:

10 Misconceptions About Charleston – Walks of Charleston
Debunking Common Myths about Charleston – The Cassina Group
19 Stereotypes About South Carolina That Need To Be Put To Rest – Only in Your State
Charleston Tour to Correct Myths About City – WLTX

Stay connected and subscribe to Charleston Daily.