Latest news with #MeredithDenari
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Yahoo
Want to sun your buns? Not in Myrtle Beach. Law tells you to cover up or face ticket
Myrtle Beach has some strict laws when it comes to its beaches. Many of the ordinances are an effort to keep the city's 10 miles of beach front safe and family friendly, officials have said previously. Anyone looking to soak up the sun confronts restrictions against drinking alcohol, sleeping on the beach, and facing a $464 ticket for wearing a thong bathing suit on the beach. Myrtle Beach has ended up in national news for its laws, which to some could be considered too tough or outdated. However, its law policing how people cover their bodies when they choose to visit the beach goes a step further than its other coastal neighbors. 'I think someone saying we are stricter than other towns is very subjective,' Myrtle Beach spokesperson Meredith Denari wrote in an email. 'You have to have a set of ordinances in place to protect the public, wildlife and the beach itself, especially in cities such as Myrtle Beach that get millions of visitors each year.' But it appears Myrtle Beach is inconsistent in what ordinances its law enforcement enforces. Online records by Myrtle Beach Police often show people being cited for carrying glass containers on the beach, damaging sea oats or using lewd or obscene language. But Myrtle Beach's ordinance against beach nudity has been enforced eight times since May 2024. None of those incidents involved someone wearing revealing swimwear, according to incident reports provided to The Sun News from a Freedom of Information Act request. Incidents included nude adults apparently engaging in sexual activity and a woman revealing her upper body after drinking too much rum during her 21st birthday. Denari said that although citations or detainments for the ordinance are uncommon, the ban on thongs is a part of the city's community policing efforts they call 'voluntary compliance.' 'Enforcement doesn't always result in a citation,' Denari wrote. 'Under voluntary compliance, if someone is found wearing a thong on the beach, officers may first ask them to cover up or leave the beach. If they comply, no citation is issued.' Myrtle Beach Police spokesperson Randolph Angotti said that many incidents regarding beachgoers typically come from calls for service from other community members. 'All of our ordinances and laws are applied fairly, without prejudice or bias, and enforcement is based on officer discretion,' Angotti said in an email. 'When responding, officers assess each situation and determine the most appropriate course of action, whether that's offering education, issuing a citation, or making an arrest, depending on the circumstances and severity.' Back in 2020, an aerial acrobat and dancer Sam Panda was detained by Myrtle Beach Police for wearing a thong bikini. A video recording of the incident went viral and received national attention. Panda explained in an hour-long video responding to the national attention that she was detained after being reported by a man who had been recording a video of her and her friend without their consent. A city ordinance was passed in November 2021 after the controversy and remains years after. Myrtle Beach is the only beach city in the area, including Ocean Isle Beach and Sunset Beach in North Carolina, that bans thongs. Myrtle Beach's ordinance states that 'G-strings, T-Backs, 'dental floss' style, and thongs are prohibited in public.' North Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach and Horry County beach ordinances specifically prohibit the exposure of the buttocks. North Myrtle Beach and Horry County have not enforced that ordinance in the last year, according to a Freedom of Information Act request. The city of Sunset Beach, North Carolina, which is just across the state line from North Myrtle Beach, passed a ban on the exposure of the buttocks, inspired by one of Myrtle Beach's ordinances, Police Chief Ken Klamar said. In less than a decade, the ordinance was amended, Klamar added. After complaints from the community about the conversations officers had to have with people in violation of the city's ordinance, the law changed to remove the word 'buttocks' from the ordinance. 'When you have these patrollers out there trying to make a determination, it's awkward; it puts them in a tough situation,' Klamar said. 'It was easier to just say, 'let's just remove that word, leave the other stuff in there.'' Everybody is not the same, Klamar said. Removing the ordinance prevents a beach patroller from any awkwardness when enforcing the code to the 'T.' Sunset Beach codified two public nudity bans and found that the two contradict each other. A motion to modify its codes will be on the city's public safety agenda for July 14, 2025, Klamar said. Daytona Beach, Florida, also has a city ordinance banning people from wearing thongs under its public nudity clause. The Daytona Beach Police Department was not available for comment on the enforcement of its public nudity ordinance. South Carolina and North Carolina state laws have no bans on any swimwear. Instead, both states prohibit indecent exposure, which both prohibit revealing one's private parts in a public place. Neither state's code of laws define the exposure of breasts or buttocks as part of indecent exposure. A North Carolina Supreme Court opinion went as far as to explicitly state that the exposure of the buttocks does not constitute nudity in a 1998 decision. 'To hold that buttocks are private parts would make criminals of all North Carolinians who appear in public wearing 'thong' or 'g-string' bikinis or other such skimpy attire during our torrid summer months,' the court opinion read. 'Our beaches, lakes, and resort areas are often teeming with such scantily clad vacationers.'
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Yahoo
Southern vacation hot spot fires back at poor safety rating following shooting: 'Fake news'
Myrtle Beach—a popular, coastal South Carolina city for snowbirds and locals alike—is firing back against a study ranking it the No. 2 most unsafe beach in the United States. Seven of the top 10 most dangerous beaches listed in the study from Everly Life, an insurance company, are in Florida, including New Smyrna Beach at No. 1, followed by Miami Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miramar Beach, Panama City Beach and Ponce Inlet. The only other non-South Carolina beach included on the list is Oak Island, North Carolina, which is ranked at No. 3. Researchers examined four main risk factors when determining the relative danger of popular U.S. beaches, including crime rates, shark attacks, drownings and wind conditions. It is unclear why no West Coast or Northeast beaches were listed; Everly Life did not immediately respond to inquiries from Fox News Digital. Mass Shooting In Myrtle Beach Tourist Hotspot Leaves 1 Dead, 11 Wounded Myrtle Beach crime concerns have been heightened since April 26, when a shooting in the entertainment district left the shooter dead and 11 injured. Myrtle Beach officials described the shooting as an isolated incident. Read On The Fox News App But locals and city officials disagree that Myrtle Beach is unsafe. Fsu Shooting: At Least 6 Injured, 1 Person In Custody As Police Investigate 'Active Crime Scene' Meredith Denari, director of communications and creative services for the City of Myrtle Beach, described the Everly Life study as "misleading, flawed and clearly skewed," noting that it was not peer-reviewed in a statement to Fox News Digital. "Like many reports produced by life insurance companies, its primary purpose appears to be generating clicks rather than serving the public interest," Denari said. "This is evident in the use of outdated, inconsistent and irrelevant data, including shark attack records dating back to 1882 and wind and crime statistics from 2009–2015 and 2023, respectively. None of these sources accurately reflect the year 2025. Also, the City of Myrtle Beach was not incorporated until 1938. Even then, it was pretty difficult to reach. I would call this study 'fake news.'" She added that "Myrtle Beach is a wonderful place to live and visit for thousands of families," and the "Myrtle Beach Police Department continues to report downward trends in crime, and downtown revitalization efforts are well underway." Denari described the Saturday shooting as "a tragic, isolated incident." University Of Virginia On Edge After 'Active Attacker' With Knife Captured Near Campus "Myrtle Beach police officers, already nearby, immediately returned fire, likely saving numerous lives when they fatally shot the perpetrator," she said. "While details are limited at this time due to an open investigation by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, violence has no place in Myrtle Beach," Denari said. "Saturday's incident is not reflective of the experiences of millions of people who visit the area every year and enjoy the beautiful coastline, our restaurants, family-friendly entertainment and businesses." Melissa K., a seven-year Myrtle Beach resident originally from Connecticut, told Fox News Digital she does not feel unsafe in the southern beach town, where she moved for milder weather and her job. "And I'm happy I did," she said. Locals, she noted, don't spend much time in the downtown area where the shooting happened. Ocean Boulevard can attract unsavory behavior from visitors who stay out late at bars and engage in rowdy behavior, she said. Melissa also noted that Myrtle Beach is less expensive than other beach towns in the Carolinas. "It has attracted, unfortunately, some of the wrong people, from what I've gathered in my seven years being here," Melissa said. "As locals, we really don't go on the boulevard or that district, especially at night, and especially alone. But at the end of the day, things could happen anywhere at any time in any place. The world's gotten a little bit crazy." The shooting, Melissa said, was "shocking" for the community, but dangerous incidents of that scale are not normal for Myrtle Beach. "I do love living here. It's a great place to visit, golf, eat, have a good family vacation," she said. "Unfortunately … you just have to be aware of your surroundings at all times, and that just goes for anywhere. It's still a beautiful place to visit and hang out at the beach. I feel safe."Original article source: Southern vacation hot spot fires back at poor safety rating following shooting: 'Fake news'
Fox News
02-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Fox News
Southern vacation hot spot fires back at poor safety rating following shooting: 'Fake news'
Myrtle Beach—a popular, coastal South Carolina city for snowbirds and locals alike—is firing back against a study ranking it the No. 2 most unsafe beach in the United States. Seven of the top 10 most dangerous beaches listed in the study from Everly Life, an insurance company, are in Florida, including New Smyrna Beach at No. 1, followed by Miami Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miramar Beach, Panama City Beach and Ponce Inlet. The only other non-South Carolina beach included on the list is Oak Island, North Carolina, which is ranked at No. 3. Researchers examined four main risk factors when determining the relative danger of popular U.S. beaches, including crime rates, shark attacks, drownings and wind conditions. It is unclear why no West Coast or Northeast beaches were listed; Everly Life did not immediately respond to inquiries from Fox News Digital. Myrtle Beach crime concerns have been heightened since April 26, when a shooting in the entertainment district left the shooter dead and 11 injured. Myrtle Beach officials described the shooting as an isolated incident. But locals and city officials disagree that Myrtle Beach is unsafe. Meredith Denari, director of communications and creative services for the City of Myrtle Beach, described the Everly Life study as "misleading, flawed and clearly skewed," noting that it was not peer-reviewed in a statement to Fox News Digital. "I would call this study 'fake news.'" "Like many reports produced by life insurance companies, its primary purpose appears to be generating clicks rather than serving the public interest," Denari said. "This is evident in the use of outdated, inconsistent and irrelevant data, including shark attack records dating back to 1882 and wind and crime statistics from 2009–2015 and 2023, respectively. None of these sources accurately reflect the year 2025. Also, the City of Myrtle Beach was not incorporated until 1938. Even then, it was pretty difficult to reach. I would call this study 'fake news.'" She added that "Myrtle Beach is a wonderful place to live and visit for thousands of families," and the "Myrtle Beach Police Department continues to report downward trends in crime, and downtown revitalization efforts are well underway." Denari described the Saturday shooting as "a tragic, isolated incident." "Myrtle Beach police officers, already nearby, immediately returned fire, likely saving numerous lives when they fatally shot the perpetrator," she said. "While details are limited at this time due to an open investigation by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, violence has no place in Myrtle Beach," Denari said. "Saturday's incident is not reflective of the experiences of millions of people who visit the area every year and enjoy the beautiful coastline, our restaurants, family-friendly entertainment and businesses." Melissa K., a seven-year Myrtle Beach resident originally from Connecticut, told Fox News Digital she does not feel unsafe in the southern beach town, where she moved for milder weather and her job. "And I'm happy I did," she said. Locals, she noted, don't spend much time in the downtown area where the shooting happened. Ocean Boulevard can attract unsavory behavior from visitors who stay out late at bars and engage in rowdy behavior, she said. Melissa also noted that Myrtle Beach is less expensive than other beach towns in the Carolinas. "At the end of the day, things could happen anywhere at any time in any place. The world's gotten a little bit crazy." "It has attracted, unfortunately, some of the wrong people, from what I've gathered in my seven years being here," Melissa said. "As locals, we really don't go on the boulevard or that district, especially at night, and especially alone. But at the end of the day, things could happen anywhere at any time in any place. The world's gotten a little bit crazy." The shooting, Melissa said, was "shocking" for the community, but dangerous incidents of that scale are not normal for Myrtle Beach. "I do love living here. It's a great place to visit, golf, eat, have a good family vacation," she said. "Unfortunately … you just have to be aware of your surroundings at all times, and that just goes for anywhere. It's still a beautiful place to visit and hang out at the beach. I feel safe."
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Yahoo
SC has one of the most dangerous spring break destinations in US, new study says. Here's why
With miles of Atlantic coastline, family-friendly attractions and popular golf spots, it's no wonder Myrtle Beach consistently draws spring break visitors. But according to a new study, the city is also one of the United States' most dangerous destinations. Illinois-based personal injury law firm 844SeeMike recently identified risk categories to rank the most dangerous spring break spots with overall safety risk scores. The study used Centers for Disease Control and National Highway Transport Safety Administration data to analyze alcohol-related deaths, drowning deaths, DUI-related fatal crashes, fatal crashes with cyclists, fatal crashes with pedestrians, hit-and-runs and homicides per 100,000 people. Myrtle Beach came in at number five on the list, with an overall safety risk of 18.4 out of 100. The city had higher risk scores — between 23 and 27 points — for cyclist danger, alcohol-related fatalities, DUI incidents and hit-and-runs. Other metrics posed moderate or low risks in Myrtle Beach, according to the study. The city scored 12 points for drowning and homicide risks,and just two points for pedestrian danger. However, because the city statistics rely on year-round populations, the study doesn't necessarily reflect the risks for cities where the number of people fluctuates significantly with tourism. 'While safety is always important, labeling Myrtle Beach the '#5 most dangerous spring break destination' is misleading and lacks context,' city of Myrtle Beach public information officer Meredith Denari said in an email. Although Myrtle Beach's stable population is less than 40,000 people, according to the Myrtle Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Grand Strand area receives nearly 20 million visitors every year, making it difficult to accurately evaluate the study's risk score metrics. 'The study fails to account for Myrtle Beach's massive seasonal population surge, where the city's population jumps from around 39,000 permanent residents to hundreds of thousands of visitors during any given time,' Denari said. 'This fact makes most studies using our seasonal population not only misleading, but inaccurate. Without adjusting for this influx, statistics like DUI rates and accident numbers are heavily skewed.' One other city in the Palmetto State, Charleston, also made the list. Florida topped the list with three cities, but Tennessee also made multiple appearances. 1. Daytona Beach, Florida Overall safety risk: 23.3 2. Panama City Beach, Florida Overall safety risk: 20.8 3. Naples, Florida Overall safety risk: 18.9 4. South Padre Island, Texas Overall safety risk: 18.6 5. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Overall safety risk: 18.4 6. Tucson, Arizona Overall safety risk: 17.5 7. New Orleans, Louisiana Overall safety risk: 17.2 8. Pigeon Forge, Tennessee Overall safety risk: 16.5 9. Charleston, South Carolina Overall safety risk: 15.7 10. Nashville, Tennessee Overall safety risk: 14.5
AFP
07-03-2025
- Climate
- AFP
South Carolina wildfires falsely linked to 'smart city' plans
"Did you see what is going on in Myrtle Beach? So many 'natural disasters'… Are these all setting the stage for the 'Smart City' reset?" asks a March 4 X post from the account Gubba Homestead, who AFP has previously fact checked. Image A screenshot of an X post taken on March 6, 2025 Similar claims circulated across Facebook, and Instagram -- with one post going as far as claiming: wildfires' are being set off INTENTIONALLY by DEWs (Directed Energy Weapons) so they can easily burn down the area." fact-checked numerous claims linking wildfires to experimental energy weapons, a target of long-circulating conspiracy theories. rt city" projects -- an urban planning concept that uses a wide range of technology to improve public services while cutting greenhouse gas emissions -- have often triggered conspiratorial claims alongside coverage of wildfires. AFP debunked similar claims during the deadly fires in Los Angeles, as well as after the massive fires that struck Hawaii and Canada in 2023. In early March, Horry County -- which includes the resort area of Myrtle Beach -- experienced several fires including the Carolina Forest wildfire (archived here), but "there are no wildfires inside the city," Meredith Denari, the city's communications director, told AFP on March 4. More than 2,000 acres (809 hectares) have burned in an area about 10 miles (16 kms) from the city, with the city's fire department providing aid (archived here). The fire has been contained to almost half its original size, according to county s were investigating (archived here) what started the fire -- with officials telling local media that neither lightning, nor controlled burns in the area were to blame. Horry County's fire rescue team and the South Carolina Forestry Commission both said blazes were worsened by severe weather, including storms. t respond to social media claims and conspiracies, especially those that have nothing to do with our role in fighting this or any other wildfire(s)," Doug Wood, director of communications of South Carolina Forestry Commission, added on March 4. But there is no evidence of the fire being set to advance technological efforts. Horry County has a history of bad fire seasons. In 1976, the county experienced the largest forest fire ever recorded (archived here) in South Carolina, with about 30,000 acres (12,141 hectares) 'Smart city' projects They stem from various "smart city" initiatives launched since at least 2023, some of which are presented in city press releases (archived here and here). But the plan focuses on technology-forward efforts such as cloud-based digital government services including emergency alerts and payment processing (archived here). "Yes, the city is working towards building a Living Lab to give tech companies a place to prototype and test emerging technologies within Myrtle Beach. We aim for that lab to be built within our Arts & Innovation District," Denari "It is just a building, it is nothing that would blanket or change the landscape of a city," Denari said. More of AFP's reporting on misinformation surrounding wildfires can be found here.
