Latest news with #SouthCarolinian
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Everyday Hero: A lifetime of service
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD)—The Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina's highest civilian honor, was recently presented to Rear Adm. James H Flatley III aboard the USS Yorktown—the perfect place to honor a man who dedicated his life to protecting others and preserving history. 'It's a man whose given service over himself his whole life and is an example to us all,' said Chauncey Clark with the USS Yorktown Foundation. Similar words are often spoken about Admiral. Flatley, who was surrounded by family and friends for the special ceremony The Order of the Palmetto is presented to the South Carolinian who has demonstrated extraordinary lifetime achievements, service, and contributions of national and statewide significance. Admiral Flatley, who is 91 years old and lives in Mount Pleasant, graduated from the Naval Academy. He was a US Naval aviator from 1956 until his retirement in 1987. He flew combat missions in Vietnam. But what made this ceremony special for Admiral Flatley was that it was aboard the same aircraft carrier in which his father landed the first Hellcat fighter plane. 'That meant a lot because it goes so far back to my dad helping put this ship together and get it to sea. You know he was a World War 2 hero. All the more reason to follow in his footsteps, which I tried to do,' Flatley explained. Admiral Flatley is no stranger to making history. In 1963, he became the first person to complete 21 C-130 Hercules landings on an aircraft carrier. In later years, after retirement, Admiral Flatley also ran Patriots Point for seven years. He has spent a lifetime dedicated to service. 'I think you can't find a lifetime that's more expansive than his was from his Navy career to his community career,' said Clark. He is the kind of person who thanks others who were there to thank him, and now he will always be remembered for his outstanding service and career. 'That's why we honor him here today. It's something we're losing in the American society today. People that give everything for their country and for their family' said Clark. Congratulations, Admiral Flatley! Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Craig Melvin Announces Major Career Switch-Up 5 Months After 'Today' Promotion
announced a major career switch-up just five months after replacing as a co-anchor on Today. On May 15, Southern Living magazine took to Instagram with exciting news in a joint post with Melvin, 45. 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 "Catch Craig Melvin as the co-anchor of the @todayshow, and you may hear a fellow host call him 'Mr. Southern Living,'" the update began. "It's an apt moniker for the Columbia, South Carolina-born journalist, who was raised in a household where the magazine came 'third or fourth to the Holy Bible,' he says." The announcement continued: "In a full-circle moment, Craig's new column will debut on newsstands tomorrow in our June/July issue! Join us at the link in our profile to read our conversation with our newest columnist and learn the one Southern tradition he'll never give up." In the comments, Melvin's Instagram followers reacted to the exciting news. One fan declared of his new Southern Living column, "We are so proud of him!!! He makes South Carolina proud!!!!" Another echoed, "We love you Craig so proud of our SC man 😍." Someone else agreed, writing, "As a fellow South Carolinian, I'm so proud of Craig." These days, Melvin is one busy man. In addition to his Today duties, the journalist must balance time with his wife, Lindsay Czarniak, and their two kids, Delano and Sybil. How does it do it all? Next:
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Three Republicans resisted Trump — and now his big bill
A trio of troublemakers who didn't support President Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential primary could end up sinking his 'big, beautiful bill.' Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., endorsed his fellow South Carolinian Nikki Haley last year, while Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky. and Chip Roy, R-Texas, backed Ron DeSantis. Now, the three are standing in the way of an expansive bill meant to deliver tax cuts, secure the US-Mexico border, and reverse some Biden-era energy policies. 'I'm a no,' Massie said immediately following Republicans' Tuesday conference meeting — during which Trump made an appearance. Roy and Norman, meanwhile, have individually railed against the GOP bill for not including enough cuts and or immediate work requirements for Medicaid, although the latter seemed to have a change of heart after Trump spoke: 'That's one of the greatest speeches I've heard,' Norman said.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
SC congresswoman sues 1 of the men she accused of sex crimes, claiming he defamed her in response
U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace spoke at the Greenville County GOP convention at the Greenville Convention Center on Monday April 14, 2025. (Photo by Mark Susko/Special to the SC Daily Gazette) A lawsuit filed Monday by U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace claims one of the men she targeted in a shocking speech in Congress defamed her on social media in the weeks afterward. The 1st District congresswoman accuses Eric Bowman of 'repeatedly and maliciously' damaging her reputation following her hour-long speech in February, for which she's being sued for defamation by one of the other men she named. Bowman has said more lawsuits are likely, but he meant against her. All four men, who include Mace's ex-fiancé, have vehemently denied her accusations from the U.S. House floor that they committed 'some of the most heinous crimes against women imaginable.' Bowman, a Sullivans Island software developer, called the lawsuit filed in Charleston County court 'headline theater.' Mace claims Bowman 'acted with reckless disregard to the truth and with actual malice towards Rep. Mace through his utter disregard of and callousness to her rights as a South Carolinian in purposely making such knowingly false declarations,' the lawsuit reads. The lawsuit cites Bowman's posts on X, formerly Twitter, between Feb. 27 — 17 days after her speech — and March 17. In that nearly hour-long speech broadcast live on C-SPAN, Mace accused the men of an array of sexual crimes, including raping and videotaping women without their knowledge. Mace said she was among the victims. All four men immediately denied her claims. At the time, the state Law Enforcement Division confirmed it was investigating Mace's ex-fiancé. A spokeswoman said Monday the agency had nothing new to report as the investigation continues. No charges have been filed. Bowman and Mace have blasted each other in social media posts since the speech. The posts that Mace cites in her lawsuit include Bowman's allegations that Mace illegally used her position on the House Veterans' Affair Committee to steer VA contracts to friends and political allies. 'Bowman knew these statements were objectively false when they were made and acted with a reckless disregard for the truth in repeatedly making such statements without support or any attempt to verify the veracity of such statements,' the lawsuit reads. In addition, it continued, 'Bowman has also spent months smearing Rep. Mace's name and reputation through wide range of vile, contemptible, and repugnant character attacks.' Responding to the lawsuit, Bowman said his social media activity represents the truth. 'My posts — based on documents, public records, witness testimony, and materials from her own staff— present evidence of hacking, blackmail, misuse of private images, misappropriated tax dollars, and retaliation against rival VA contractors,' he wrote to the SC Daily Gazette in a text. 'Those posts remain publicly available on my X feed (@_ericbowman) for anyone who wants to review them. I acted in good faith and without malice, and I will present this evidence under oath,' he said. Defamation cases are harder for public figures to prove. Their claims must meet the 'actual malice' standard — that whoever they're suing knew the information was wrong or didn't care and recklessly spread it. 'I'm confident the First Amendment — and the documented facts — will prevail. Nancy Mace can't be trusted,' Bowman's text concluded. While posts included in the lawsuit stop March 17 — three days after a defamation was filed against her in U.S. District Court in Charleston — Bowman's posts about her continued. In an April 9 post that tagged Mace, he wrote, 'What if this isn't just politics or drama? What if we're witnessing a real mental breakdown — public, painful, and unchecked?' Mace announced her lawsuit against him on X: 'Let this be a warning to all. I didn't come to play,' she wrote. The suit against Bowman comes a month after he was arrested on unrelated charges of stalking and harassment. He said those April 8 charges came from his estranged wife, who he claimed he has not spoken to since November 2023. He denied the allegations and continued to criticize her on X after he got out of jail, calling the accusations 'weaponized law enforcement.' Bowman turned himself in at the jail and was released later the same day. Mace has yet to respond legally to the lawsuit filed in March by Brian Musgrave of Fort Mill. The case could test the limits of the 'speech or debate' clause of the U.S. Constitution, which shields members of Congress from lawsuits for what is said in either chamber. Musgrave contends her posts after the speech aren't protected. Rep. Mace sued by 1 of the men she accused of being a sexual predator Musgrave's suit came two weeks after his lawyers, Eric Bland and Ronnie Richter, warned Mace in a letter to either reveal evidence of the allegations, apologize or prepare to be sued. Mace has never responded directly to the lawsuit, even to reporters. Instead, she's repeatedly referred questions back to her House speech. 'She has been uncharacteristically quiet (about the lawsuit) for a woman who isn't afraid to get in front of the microphone,' Bland told the SC Daily Gazette on Monday. The lawsuits loom as Mace mulls a run for governor. Mace hasn't officially announced but it's widely expected that she's going to be part of a crowded field vying for the GOP nomination. Gov. Henry McMaster, who's already the state's oldest and longest-serving elected governor, can't seek another term. Others expected to run include Attorney General Alan Wilson and Lt. Gov. Pam Evette. Mace has taken jabs at both on social media. U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, as well as state Sens. Josh Kimbrell and Sean Bennett are also considering bids.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
South Carolina cellphone bill passes on last day of legislative session
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSPA) – Today is the last day of the legislative session in South Carolina. Governor Henry McMaster has signed several bills into law, and more are sitting on his desk, waiting for approval; but Lawmakers have been working since January, and won't return again until next year. At that time, they'll have one more chance to push any bills through to the governor's desk. This legislative session lawmakers passed the Hands-Free Act, which cracks down on using cellphones while driving. The law also states if police can pull people over if they have a reason to suspect the driver is on their phone. Despite its passage, the bill had strong opposition from some Democrats, who said police could use the cellphones as an excuse to pull someone over. 'I think we all want to see safer roads. We all want to see drivers that are less distracted. My greatest concern is that the bill will allow for discrimination, ' said Representative Kambrell Garvin (D – Richland), who voted against the bill. Fallen South Carolina officers inducted into law enforcement Hall of Fame Representative Bill Taylor (R – Aiken) has tried to pass this bill many times, saying that the state's seatbelt rule is equivalent. 'Discrimination, that hasn't been proven, and no one's ever said that. It's the same with this. If they see you with a phone in your hand, you're breaking the law. ' Another bill that pushed through this week deals with the state's energy supply. It creates a partnership between Dominion Energy and Santee Cooper to build a natural gas plant in the midlands. Senator Shane Massey (R – Edgefield) said if this bill were not passed, it would hurt every South Carolinian. 'Your constituents are going to be paying more for energy. They're going to be paying more for energy because of the cost of generation.' On the education front, Lawmakers pushed forward a bill that would give K-12 students public money to attend private schools. The original law was ruled unconstitutional because of how the public's funds were used. Lawmakers hope that adding a third-party person to oversee the funds will help. 'The education scholarship trust fund has been a long and rocky path sometimes. We've been working on it now for five years,' said bill's main supporter and advocator Senator Greg Hembree (R – Horry). But still not everyone's in agreement. 'I think there's a strong chance that this ends up in court again. That it potentially gets struck down again. Ultimately this should be left for voters to decide if they want this,' said Patrick Kelly with the Palmetto State Teachers Association. There are still hundreds of bills left to be debated, but remember this was just the first year of a two-year legislative session. Lawmakers will pick back up where they left off in January of next year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
