Latest news with #Loftis
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
Pierce County sheriff scoffs at WSP's apology for disrupting Pride flag ceremony
Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swank called out the Washington State Patrol on social media Thursday after the statewide law enforcement agency apologized for interrupting the raising of the Pride flag at the state capitol. Swank didn't call out the State Patrol for disrupting the Wednesday ceremony. He said the agency should be 'embarrassed' for apologizing in a post that explained why troopers marched through the ceremony and reiterated its mission to protect, defend and respect the rights of all. 'You should be embarrassed by this post,' Swank wrote on his X account. 'Any WSP who wants to work for a real law enforcement organization should come work at the Pierce County Sheriff's Office.' The post from the State Patrol read: 'The Washington State Patrol offers our heartfelt apologies for disrupting the raising of the Pride Flag on Capitol Campus today. The team leading our cadets to their graduation ceremony did not adequately communicate about the alternate route planned around the crowd.' The post went on: 'It was never our intention to disrupt an important community event. Our motto is 'Service with Humility,' and our mission is to protect, defend and respect the rights of all. We apologize for our misstep on what should be a great day for us all as we celebrate Pride.' Swank did not immediately return a phone call and text message Thursday asking if he would explain why the State Patrol should be embarrassed by the post. Chris Loftis, a spokesperson for the State Patrol, declined to comment on Swank's comment. The event was sponsored by the state's LGBTQ commission and was attended by Democratic Gov. Bob Ferguson and Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Dave Upthegrove, the Olympian reported. Citing statistics showing a significant number of LGBTQ youth have considered suicide in the past year, Upthegrove — also a Democrat — told the newspaper that giving visibility to the LGBTQ community by raising the Pride flag shows people they can live full, meaningful lives. At some point during the ceremony, two lines of troopers marched through the event instead of taking an alternate route around the crowd. Videos of the incident on social media caused some to speculate that the troopers had deliberately disrupted the event to intimidate the crowd. In a written statement, Loftis said there was no intent to offend or distract from the event. He said it was a simple mistake, not any sort of statement. 'We had a miscommunication in our planning, and it led to us inadvertently disrupting another public event being held by citizens we are sworn to serve, protect, and respect,' Loftis wrote. 'We quickly and rightfully apologized to the impacted parties,' he added. 'That was the right things to do as public servants, as a law enforcement agency, and as friends and neighbors.' Swank has a track record of being provocative on social media. He once posted on X that a transgender legislator from Montana, Democratic Rep. Zooey Zephyr, was a man with mental health issues who should be called by her given male name. He's also posted that men and women who pretend to be the opposite sex are 'appropriating gender.' Swank retired from the Seattle Police Department in 2023 as a captain after 33 years on the force. But his conduct on social media — denigrating trans people and defending the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol — led former Seattle Police Department Chief Sue Rahr to declare earlier this year that he would have been fired if he had stayed.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
NC advocates continue push for bill to crack down on youth vaping
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Dozens of advocates joined together at the North Carolina General Assembly Tuesday fighting for a chance to have a bill crack down on youth vaping heard by North Carolina lawmakers. House Bill 430, known as Solly's Law, and its corresponding Senate Bill 318 would require a tobacco retail sales permit for businesses to align with federal law, which sets the minimum age to purchase at 21. SPECIAL REPORT | North Carolina mother fighting against teen vaping with new bill The bill is named after Solomon 'Solly' Wynn. The New Hanover County teen died in 2023 at just 15. His stepmother Charlene Zorn says his doctors told her was due to complications from vaping. 'We have to do something now before someone else's child dies,' said Zorn. She was one of the advocates who came to the GA pushing for the bills to pass but it's been at a standstill in both the house and senate rules committees since March. Representative Donnie Loftis of Gaston County is one of the sponsors of the house bill. 'North Carolina is one of the last seven states to raise the age and to bring all unregulated vape shops into compliance with state law,' said Rep. Loftis. The North Carolina Alliance for Health says though most vapes are acquired from retailers, the next most common way teens are able to access them is from a friend under the age of 21. They also say e-cigarette sales have increased by 250% since 2020. Macey Morris, a student at Eastern Alamance High School, is just one North Carolina teen who spoke about what she's seeing at her school. 'Trying to use the restrooms throughout the day during class change and even during class time can be nearly impossible. The bathrooms are filled with students vaping and take up the majority of the space which can make it uncomfortable to try and use the restroom throughout the day,' said Morris. Rep. Loftis says they are waiting for the bills to go to their appropriate committees and they're hoping Tuesday's call for action will help. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Thousands of South Carolinians could recieve a check from the State Treasurer's Office this month. Here's why
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCBD) — More than 3,800 checks will be mailed out to people in South Carolina in the coming weeks as the State Treasurer's Office works to return hundreds of thousands of dollars in unclaimed property. The office has launched a new initiative called 'Palmetto Payback,' which matches qualified unclaimed property to its owner and automatically generates checks without needing to file a claim. The first wave of payments, totaling more than $600,000, is expected to hit mailboxes in the coming days, according to the treasurer's office. 'We want to make it easier for South Carolinians to get their forgotten funds back, putting money directly into their hands,' said Treasurer Curtis Loftis. 'This is about efficiency, accuracy, and ultimately, about serving the people of our state.' The Treasurer's Office, which acts as custodian of the funds until the rightful owners come forward, estimates that one in seven people in South Carolina have unclaimed property, averaging about $500. The office currently has over $950 million available to claim. The Treasurer's Office, which acts as custodian of the funds until the rightful owners come forward, currently has over $950 million available to claim. Student loan default collections resume: What you need to know Businesses transfer millions of dollars to the unclaimed property program each year when the owner of the funds cannot be located. The funds can come from dormant bank accounts, stock certificates, uncashed checks, unclaimed insurance proceeds, and forgotten utility deposits, for example. 'While we are excited to automatically return funds to thousands of South Carolinians, not all unclaimed property can be validated through this special initiative,' Loftis said. All South Carolinians — including those who receive automatic checks — are encouraged to check the treasurer's website to see if missing money might be waiting for them. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SLED, Inspector General investigating state Treasurer's Office
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSPA) — State Treasurer Curtis Loftis' office is under investigation by the state Inspector General's Office and South Carolina Law Enforcement a statement from the Treasurer Loftis, he said that he met with Inspector General Brian Lamkin and SLED Director Mark Keel after a Senate Finance Subcommittee hearing on March 27. Both Lamkin and Keel told Loftis they planned to investigate the State Treasurer's Office after a $1.8 billion accounting mistake was made, the statement said. 'I welcome this review and the opportunity to evaluate our actions independently,' a statement from Loftis reads. 'Claims that the Treasurer's Office participated in a deliberate effort to mislead the legislature are entirely without merit.' The problems started as the state changed computer systems in the 2010s. When the process was finished, workers couldn't figure out why the books were more than $1 billion out of whack. A fund was created to cover the accounting error and over the years more was added on paper to keep the state's books balanced. 'Despite claims by Senator Grooms, our office has fully cooperated with all state agency partners and independent audit firms since this matter surfaced, stemming from the former Comptroller General's $3.5 billion restatement in the 2022 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report,' Loftis said. Loftis first took office in 2010, and is currently serving his fourth term as the 'state's banker.' Despite past plans to retire after his fourth term, Loftis announced plans to run for reelection in 2026. 'Once the investigation concludes, I am confident the findings will reflect my office's integrity and diligence throughout this matter,' Loftis said. One of his arguments to stay in office was it wasn't fair to overturn the results of an election. Earlier this week, the Republican-dominated House has decided not to take up a resolution passed by the Senate to kick Loftis out of office because of his role in a phantom $1.8 billion account and the failure to report it to lawmakers for years. House Speaker Murrell Smith said there just isn't enough time to take it up before the session ends May 8. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SC treasurer avoids being ousted this year over $1.8B accounting error
South Carolina Treasurer Curtis Loftis spoke to reporters ahead of the Greenville County GOP convention in Greenville on Monday April 14, 2025. The Republican appears to have survived attempts to remove him from office for his role in a $1.8 billion state accounting error.(File photo by Mark Susko/Special to the SC Daily Gazette) COLUMBIA — South Carolina's treasurer will keep his job, at least for now. That's despite the state Senate voting last week to remove state Treasurer Curtis Loftis from office for his role in a $1.8 billion accounting blunder. The error involved almost no actual money but went unreported for nearly a decade. House Democrat calls for SC treasurer's impeachment over $1.8B accounting debacle But as the clock runs out on the 2025 legislative session, House GOP leaders said their chamber won't take the matter up this year. 'We're going to concentrate on passing legislation now, and then we'll make a decision after session concludes on the path forward with the treasurer,' House Speaker Murrell Smith told South Carolina Public Radio in an interview that aired Wednesday. In the House on Wednesday, Republicans shut down a last-ditch effort by a House Democrat to initiate impeachment proceedings on the state's banker. Rep. Heather Bauer, D-Columbia, rose from her seat to ask her colleagues to take up the bill she introduced in January and start the process. The request required unanimous approval by the chamber. But Rep. Bill Taylor, R-Aiken, quickly objected, halting the attempt without further explanation. Just four days remain in the 2025 legislative calendar. By state law, the regular session must end at 5 p.m. May 8. In the Public Radio interview, Smith said the House has not totally ruled out taking action, but work remains on what that process might look like. 'This is the busiest time of the legislative session and so we're going to have to get through our legislative business,' the Sumter Republican said. Meanwhile, Loftis has said he plans to run in 2026 for a fifth term in office. 'I am ready to turn my focus back to doing the people's work — to stabilize our state's financial system and put this unfortunate chapter of fighting baseless claims by a few politically-motivated senators behind us,' the Republican treasurer wrote in a late Tuesday statement. SC Senate votes to remove state treasurer over $1.8B accounting error Loftis stands accused of 'willful neglect' of his duties after he and other financial officials failed to alert the General Assembly of the accounting issues in the state's books. The Senate voted 33 to 8 for his removal. The error in question stemmed from the changeover from the state's legacy accounting system to a new one. During that process, a series of electronic ledger entries made it appear the state had $1.8 billion sitting untouched in a fund with no record of where it was supposed to go. A forensic accounting firm hired by the state ultimately found the entries were made in error, and all but $200 million of the money was never real. Their work cost taxpayers $3 million. Loftis has continuously said he did nothing wrong, as no money went missing, and has instead laid the blame for the problem outside his office.
