Latest news with #SouthCarolinians
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
SC duo pleads guilty to cyberstalking that led mentally disabled man to take his own life
CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Two South Carolinians have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit cyberstalking for a scheme that resulted in someone taking their own life, according to the United States Attorney's Office. Trysten Anthony Cullon, 26, pleaded guilty to the charges on June 2, and Jade Ashlynn Stone, 25, pleaded guilty on April 10. The duo allegedly targeted a vulnerable victim and his immediate family members using extortive and threatening text messages, officials said. According to court documents, from 9/5/24-9/8/24, the suspects engaged in a cyberstalking conspiracy that targeted the victim identified as C.T., who reportedly had an intellectual disability and was classified as Educable Mentally Disabled. Due to his disability, C.T. did not live on his own and worked at a fast-food chain in Charlotte. $15,000 reward offered in Catawba County mass shooting investigation Cullon and Stone admitted they used a stolen phone to send C.T.'s family members several intimidating messages demanding money. The conspirators allegedly threatened to send derogatory and embarrassing information to C.T.'s employer unless they were paid, including claims that he was a pervert, harassed girls, and that he paid girls for sexual pictures. Sadly, the emotional stress caused by the threatening messages led C.T. to take his own life. In Cullon and Stone's guilty plea to conspiracy to commit cyberstalking, they face a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Both are in custody, and a sentencing date has not yet been set. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Democratic state Rep. Jermaine Johnson launches exploratory committee for 2026 governor's race
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCBD) — State Rep. Jermaine Johnson, a Richland County Democrat, announced over the weekend that he is exploring a run for South Carolina governor in 2026. Johnson said Saturday that he is launching an exploratory committee to connect with South Carolina voters and assess support for a potential Democratic bid, suggesting the state is at a 'crossroads.' 'We need leadership that listens, leads with integrity, and puts people before politics,' Johnson said in his announcement. I believe in South Carolina, where every child, every family, and every community has the opportunity to thrive—and I'm ready to explore how we make that vision a reality.' Since being elected to the state house in 2020, Johnson has become a prominent voice in the state's Democratic coalition, often drawing on personal experiences to shape his arguments on the House floor. His journey from growing up homeless and losing his brother to gun violence to becoming a College of Charleston basketball star and eventually rising to political power was chronicled in a documentary released last November. 'For years, I've worked to uplift our communities — not just with words, but with action,' he said. 'From expanding economic opportunity and improving education to advocating for criminal justice reform and protecting working families, I've stood side by side with South Carolinians through every challenge. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, in South Carolina remarks, calls on Democrats 'to be a little meaner' Johnson joins a growing field of people reportedly considering campaigns to replace Republican Gov. Henry McMaster, who cannot run again due to term limits. On the Republican side, U.S. Reps. Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, Attorney General Alan Wilson, and state Sens. Sean Bennett and Josh Kimbrell have said they are exploring runs. Johnson is the first Democrat to publicly express interest in the office. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
SC House Democrat says he's exploring run for governor
Rep. Jermaine Johnson, D-Columbia, pictured on the South Carolina Statehouse grounds on Sept. 18, 2024 (File/Jessica Holdman/SC Daily Gazette) COLUMBIA — After five sessions in the state House, Rep. Jermaine Johnson might make a bid for the Governor's Mansion. The Columbia Democrat announced Saturday he's forming a committee to assess support and engage with voters statewide, which is considered a step toward launching an official run. 'From expanding economic opportunity and improving education to advocating for criminal justice reform and protecting working families, I've stood side-by-side with South Carolinians through every challenge,' Johnson said in a press release. 'Now, I'm exploring what it would mean to take that work to the Governor's Office to serve all of the people of South Carolina.' The father of four — who turns 40 on July 4 — did not offer a timeline on his decision. Filing for the June 2026 primaries isn't until mid-March. Johnson is the first Democrat to announce interest in seeking the job as the state's CEO. He recognizes it would be an uphill battle for any Democrat in South Carolina. No Democrat has won the office since Jim Hodges in 1998. The last Democrat to win any statewide office was Jim Rex in 2006, when he became state superintendent of education by fewer than 500 votes. 'South Carolina is at a crossroads,' Johnson said. 'We need leadership that listens, leads with integrity, and puts people before politics.' No Republican has officially announced a bid for governor, but six have said they're considering it: Lt. Gov. Pam Evette, Attorney General Alan Wilson; U.S. House Reps. Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman; and state Sens. Josh Kimbrell and Sean Bennett. The race is wide open since Gov. Henry McMaster can't seek another term. He's already the longest-serving elected governor in state history, since he ascended to the job in January 2017 — when Nikki Haley became President Donald Trump's first United Nations ambassador — giving him two years in office before his first inauguration. Regardless of whether Johnson decides to make a gubernatorial run, he said he 'wholeheartedly plans' to still run for re-election to the state House seat representing parts of Richland and Kershaw counties. South Carolina law allows candidates to seek more than one office at the same time. They just can't hold multiple offices simultaneously. If they win more than one in an election, they have to make a choice. Johnson first won a seat in the Statehouse in 2020, when he ousted 22-year veteran Rep. Jimmy Bales in the Democratic primary. Two years later, the elections gave Republicans a supermajority in the chamber. The 2024 elections gave the GOP a supermajority in the Senate too. That doesn't stop Johnson from making sure his colleagues know where he stands. And even if Republicans have no intention of supporting his argument, they listen. 'For years, I've worked to uplift our communities — not just with words, but with action,' Johnson said in the release. During the chamber's May 7 debate on the roughly $14.5 billion state budget, he put up 37 amendments to protest a decision by the chambers' chief budget writers not to fund any local projects, known as earmarks, this year. All failed, but he ensured his colleagues knew more about some of the projects they were dismissing. Three weeks later, as the House voted on the final budget deal, Rep. Joe White brought up Johnson's fight while scolding his GOP colleagues. The Newberry County Republican noted he voted for Johnson's first amendment. 'He put up some good amendments, and what did we do?' said White, a member of the uber-conservative Freedom Caucus. 'We ran roughshod over every one of them.' His comments also show that Johnson's well-liked across the political spectrum. 'I love Jermaine,' White said. Johnson, born in Los Angeles, has a compelling life story, which became the subject of a documentary titled 'I Got Myself a Yard,' released last fall. Homeless in his teens, Johnson earned a basketball scholarship to the College of Charleston. His 1,276 points still rank 21st in program history and led to a spot in a developmental league for NBA prospects before stints playing professionally in Canada, Portugal, Mexico and Brazil. After his basketball career, he returned to South Carolina, starting New Economic Beginnings Foundation, a nonprofit aimed to aid troubled children and military veterans. In 2018, he founded Dream Team Consulting firm, and he's an adjunct professor at Midlands Technical College. Ahead of his own run for the Statehouse, Johnson was the state campaign chair for Andrew Yang's 2020 bid for president, which ended ahead of the South Carolina primary. 'I believe in a South Carolina where every child, every family, and every community has the opportunity to thrive — and I'm ready to explore how we make that vision a reality,' he said.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Production at Volvo Ridgeville facility expected to resume after temporary pause
RIDGEVILLE, S.C. (WCBD) – Production at Volvo's Ridgeville facility is expected to start back this weekend after a temporary pause, officials said Friday. Local production was temporarily paused at the end of last week due to a supply chain issue, according to a Volvo Cars spokesperson. The car manufacturer has been working to resolve the issue and said production is expected to resume this Saturday. U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn took to X addressing the production pause saying, 'Trump's reckless tariffs are continuing to wreak havoc on South Carolina's economy.' 'Jobs have already been lost, and more are at grave risk. Trump said slowing port traffic was a 'good thing.' South Carolinians know how wrong he is,' he added. The pause comes shortly after Volvo announced plans to lay off 5% of its employees at the Ridgeville site in response to 'changing market conditions and evolving trade policies,' including tariffs. The layoffs are part of a cost and cash action plan introduced by the company, which includes 3,000 global layoffs. Workers at the Ridgeville plant produce Volvo's fully electric EX90 which is 7 seat premium SUV. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
This SC pediatrician ran for Congress in 2022. Now she wants to oust Sen. Graham
Annie Andrews, a pediatrician who unsuccessfully challenged a Republican congresswoman in the 2022 election, is making another run at public office. Andrews on Thursday jumped into the race for U.S senate as she seeks the Democratic nomination in South Carolina to take on Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham in the general election. In 2022, Andrews ran for Congress in the Lowcountry district that includes Charleston County and lost to U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, a potential 2026 Republican candidate for governor, by nearly 14 points. But Andrews has remained politically active. 'I'm focused on fighting for the same things I was fighting for in 2022 because I know that South Carolinians deserve better,' Andrews said. 'I know that we deserve access to quality, affordable health care, that every child in South Carolina deserves a quality public education, that when families are juggling multiple jobs just to make ends meet there's got to be more that we can do for them.' Andrews is the founder and CEO of the Their Future PAC, which is 'The first & only PAC dedicated to putting Kids First.' She also posts videos on social media that mock and criticize Republicans. The videos allow her to show off her personality and connect with voters. 'What you see on my social media is me telling folks what I believe in, giving people a sense that someone is fighting for them, to bring some levity to this urgent moment we find ourselves in as a country, but it's also a way to meet people where they are,' Andrews said in an interview with The State. Whoever wins the Democratic nomination will face a steep uphill battle against Graham, who is the overwhelming favorite to win the Republican nomination in a reliably red state. 'The more effective you are in helping enact President Trump's agenda, the more Democrats want to take you down,' Graham Campaign Manager Mark Knoop said in a statement. 'While Dr. Andrews pushes a radical liberal agenda that is out of touch with South Carolina, Senator Graham has always stood firm for conservative values - cutting taxes, securing the border, protecting the right to life, defending the 2nd Amendment, and confirming conservative judges to protect our freedoms.' Andrews is building a campaign team that is familiar with running against Graham. Her campaign team includes veterans from Jaime Harrison's 2020 campaign, which raised $130 million in its bid to oust Graham. Joshua Karp, who served as Harrison's communications strategist, and Zack Carroll, who served as Harrison's campaign manager, both are serving as advisors on Andrews' campaign. Scott Harriford, who served as Joe Biden's campaign in South Carolina will serve as general consultant and Renee Harvey will serve as a General and Finance Consultant. 'I'm confident that, again, we will have the resources that we need to to compete and to win this election,' Andrews said. Whoever runs against Graham, who already has President Donald Trump's endorsement, in the general election will potentially be in one of the more high-profile statewide races in the 2026 elections. Graham's race in 2020 led to more than $200 million in spending and at the time set the record for the most expensive U.S. Senate race in history. Most of the money raised in the race came from out of state as polling indicated Graham, who is a high-profile senator across the country, would be in trouble. Graham won by 10 points over Harrison. 'That was at the height of the COVID pandemic, and that really impacted their ability to have any sort of a ground game. And you can't win an election in South Carolina if you can't knock on doors,' Andrews said. In this election, Trump won't be on the ballot and the party that controls the White House generally sees losses during midterm elections. Without a pandemic limiting how people campaign, a charismatic candidate could help energize base Democratic voters and help down ballot candidates to help flip state House seats, all of which are up for election in 2026. 'I absolutely believe that by running the campaign that I know that I will run it will energize Democrats across the state, which will certainly have benefits down ballot,' Andrews said. Andrews works part time as a pediatrician in Children's National Hospital in Washington, D.C., but lives in Charleston. So far Democrats Kyle Freeman, of Columbia, and Catherine Bruce Fleming, have filed with the FEC, but to raise money for a campaign. Upstate businessman and engineer Lee Johnson also has announced a campaign for the U.S. Senate. Johnson also has built a campaign apparatus, which includes operative Jacob Gamble working as communications director.
