Latest news with #TimMcGinnis
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New SC House DEI bill will head to floor debate next week
COLUMBIA S.C. (WSPA) – More than 70 House Republicans are amending and promoting a bill they say would support merit-based hiring and end diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. 'The person who is the most qualified for the job, most qualified for the admission, regardless of what their background is the person who deserves the slot or the position,' said Representative Tim McGinnis (R – District 56). McGinnis stated that all he wants to do is be fair, and that he still supports diversity, equity and inclusion. On Wednesday, the House Education and Public Works Committee amended the bill to ban DEI programs in local governments, state agencies, school districts, and public colleges. With this new version of the bill, it will no longer impact private businesses that are contracted by the state. 'I think it also could have, taken us into some possible legal jeopardy with the bill down the road. So we knew that we needed to go in and amend this and make things different. ' Democratic Representative Kambrell Garvin (D – Richland) is one of four democrats who voted against this bill. 'There's a stifle of state organizations now wanting to encourage diversity, when now you have the general assembly saying it is our priority that we don't talk about it, that we pretend it doesn't exist, that it's not real.' Josh Malkin, Advocacy Director for the South Carolina American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), said he believes McGinnis has the right intent, but that once bills like these leaves the Statehouse the intent rarely matters. 'I think it's really problematic that white folks, white legislators are advancing legislation that seems to suggest that systematic racism, systematic discrimination, has ceased to exist,' Malkin said. McGinnis said it's important for everyone to understand this will not prevent an Office of Civil Rights and an Office of Wellness and Belonging. The bill was passed by the committee 13 to 4, and is now awaiting debate on the House floor. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SC anti-DEI bill advances without requirement on private contractors
Rep. Terry Alexander, D-Florence, speaks to Rep. Tim McGinnis, R-Myrtle Beach, during a House committee meeting before the committee voted to advance a bill banning diversity, equity and inclusion from state agencies and universities on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (Screenshot of SCETV legislative livestream) COLUMBIA — A pared-down version of a bill prohibiting state agencies, local governments and universities from using diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives advanced to the House floor Wednesday. As amended, the bill says government agencies can't have an office named with the words that form the DEI acronym and can't require diversity training or statements. It's similar to legislation the House passed last year that applied only to colleges, which never got a vote in the Senate. Legislators rewrote the new bill after hearing hours of testimony from people opposed to it. The amended version, which advanced Wednesday on a party-line vote of 13-4, removed the ban on contracting with private companies that have DEI programs. It also clarified wording to be sure it would not affect organizations such as the NAACP or events that celebrate a specific group of people, such as an LGBTQ Pride festival or Black History Month. SC anti-DEI bill could impact everything from school cafeterias to university bookstores 'We listened to you,' Rep. Tim McGinnis, who spearheaded the amendment, told dozens of people watching Wednesday. Opponents of the bill who testified two weeks ago raised concerns over wide-ranging consequences. Universities might have to cut ties with textbook suppliers. School districts might have to find new companies to provide school lunches, and state agencies might not be able to work with major vehicle manufacturers, people told the committee. That goes too far, McGinnis, R-Myrtle Beach, told reporters after the meeting. 'I just don't think we need to go in and tell private businesses that this is how you have to operate,' McGinnis said. The version of the bill passed Wednesday would still ban state agencies, local governments, school districts and public universities from giving any sort of deferential treatment to a person based on their race, gender, sexual orientation or other characteristic. For example, a university would not be able to accept a person based on their race or gender. Likewise, a company considering two candidates would not be allowed to select one because of their race or gender. The bill also prohibits any parts of state or local government from requiring employees or prospective students to sign a diversity statement or take diversity training courses. Universities and agencies would still be allowed to offer that type of training to employees and students. If a person declined, they could not be punished for that, McGinnis said. 'These programs aren't inherently bad, but they don't need to be mandatory,' McGinnis said. The bill would have no effect on Black History Month programs, teacher recruitment initiatives for Black men, school curriculum teaching about the Holocaust, programs for veterans with disabilities or local Pride events, McGinnis said, in response to specific concerns from legislators. Clemson University among 45 colleges named in federal DEI-related investigation Most state universities have already gotten rid of diversity statements and DEI division names in preparation for a law change. The bill only prohibits offices that use the words 'diversity, equity and inclusion,' McGinnis said. For instance, Clemson University changed the name of its equity and inclusion office to the Division of Community Engagement, Belonging and Access. Under that name, the office would not violate the bill, legislators said. Neither would a student-run NAACP chapter or LGBTQ club. The ban on requiring students to sign a diversity statement as part of their application would not preclude students from laying out their identity or thoughts on diversity in a different part of their application, such as an essay portion, said committee Chairwoman Shannon Erickson. 'This isn't prohibiting a student from sharing that they believe any of the beliefs they have,' the Beaufort Republican said. If the agency that accredits the state's universities or grants that bring in federal funding require some sort of diversity, equity and inclusion office or statement, universities would be allowed to comply with those requirements, legislators said. For instance, universities would be able to continue accepting needs-based Pell Grants without violating the bill, Erickson said. The idea of removing diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives rankled the panel's Democrats, all of whom are Black. The four Democrats, all of whom voted against the bill, argued it's good for public institutions to promote diversity, equity and inclusion. 'Are we telling the people of this state that we have no dealings with making sure that every person has the same rights as others?' said Rep. Terry Alexander, D-Florence. Some questioned whether such practices are really happening in South Carolina, or if the bill is simply in response to executive orders signed by President Donald Trump banning DEI initiatives at a federal level. 'Are we doing this because it is a problem in this state, or are we doing this because there is a political narrative from a certain party coming from D.C., trickling down to South Carolina, at almost election time?' said Rep. Hamilton Grant, D-Columbia. The goal is to prevent people from hiring someone based solely on their race, not to prevent agencies and universities from remaining diverse and inclusive, supporters of the bill said. 'If you make a GPA of 5.0 and I make one of 3.2 and we go out for the same job, I don't care what color you are,' said Rep. Doug Gilliam, a Buffalo Republican and the bill's main sponsor. 'I want the person that is going to do the best job and who is most capable of doing the job for me.' The new proposal representatives approved Wednesday closely aligns with a clause initially included in the House's spending plan. When representatives passed the budget last week, however, that clause was not included. Democrats successfully got the clause thrown out late into the debate for not actually dealing with dollars and cents. So, legislators brought it back as a separate law.
Yahoo
02-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
LIVE UPDATES: 400-plus firefighters working on Carolina Forest blaze; 50 evacuated from 7 neighborhoods
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — Check here for the live updates on the wildfires going on in Carolina Forest and other areas of the Grand Strand and Pee Dee. Dozens of fire agencies from across the Carolinas have joined Horry County crews as they work against the sweeping Carolina Forest wildfire, including: Williamsburg County Fire Department North Myrtle Beach Fire Rescue Myrtle Beach Fire Department Conway Fire Department Dillon County Fire Department Lugoff Fire Department Marion City Fire Department Johnsonville Fire Department Howe Springs Fire Rescue Sandridge Volunteer Fire Department Calabash Fire Department Tabor City Fire Department Olanta Fire Department Hannah-Salem Friendfield Fire District Sardis-Timmonsville Fire Department Goose Creek Fire Department Florence City Fire Department Surfside Beach Fire Department Wilmington Fire Department Columbus County Fire Department More than 50 people have checked into a Red Cross shelter at the Carolina Forest Recreation Center as state Forestry Commission officials estimate the wildfire to be at least 1,200 acres. Seven Carolina Forest neighborhoods have seen evacuations, most recently in Spring Lake and Waterford. Horry County officials said there's still no timeline for re-entry. Aerial assets from multiple state agencies are arriving in Horry County to help put out hotspots around the Carolina Forest area, lawmakers said. 'Air assets from State Agencies (South Carolina Forestry Commission and the Department of Natural Resources) will soon be deployed in an effort to tamp down remaining hot spots in the Carolina Forest area affected by the wildfires,' state Sen. Luke Rankin, R-Conway, posted to his Facebook page Sunday morning. State Rep. Tim McGinnis, R-Myrtle Beach, said on his Facebook page that forestry officials told him Blackhawk helicopters are among the aircraft coming in. Here's a map from the South Carolina Forest Commission showing the active wildfires across the state. Fire resources from the Pee Dee are assisting with the Carolina Forest wildfire. Howe Springs Fire Rescue said Florence County has four engines, three tankers, three brush trucks and 28 personnel working the fire. Evacuations in the Carolina Forest area expanded quickly early Sunday morning as a wildfire grew to 1,200 acres. Around 6 a.m., Horry County officials said evacuations were underway at the intersections of Spring Lake Drive, including Pennyroyal Court, Alyssum Court and Bluebonnet Court as well as Harvest Drive from Moonbeam Court to Tidelands Court in the Spring Lake community. Around 4:45 a.m., Horry County officials announced that public safety personnel were evacuating Covington Drive from Summerhill Drive to the community center in the Covington Lakes neighborhood, with nearby structures threatened. Evacuees are told to go to the Carolina Forest Recreation Center. Others are asked to avoid the area and leave roadways open for first responders. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Multiple wildfires in the Carolinas force evacuations, burn ban issued in South Carolina
Brush fires erupted in both North Carolina and South Carolina on Saturday, forcing officials to order evacuations. A fire in Polk County, North Carolina, was burning at least 400 acres and was at zero containment as of late Saturday night, the North Carolina Fire Service told CBS News. He said structures could be at risk and officials would examine potential damage on Sunday morning. Polk County urged residents along U.S. Highway 176 between the towns of Tryon and Saluda to evacuate, warning on Facebook that the fire was spreading rapidly as multiple fire departments worked on containment. Tryon and Saluda are about 40 miles south of Asheville. Woman Accused Of Looting From Home In Palisades Fire Area While Wearing 'Palisades Strong' Shirt The county said displaced residents may shelter at the Polk County Meeting Place in Columbus. In South Carolina, Horry County Fire Rescue ordered the evacuation of residents from several neighborhoods in the Carolina Forest, located around 10 miles west of Myrtle Beach, as crews work to contain a wildfire. Read On The Fox News App "Crews are continuing to work a large wildfire near Carolina Forest," the fire rescue said on Facebook. "Horry County is monitoring the weather forecast and preparing to adjust course in our life safety and property protection plan should conditions evolve." Two planes and a Blackhawk helicopter would drop water on the fire Sunday morning, South Carolina GOP state Rep. Tim McGinnis said on Facebook, citing an update he received from State Forester Scott Phillips. Tractors were also on the way to help dig lines around the fire to help contain it. South Carolina Gov. Henrey McMaster, a Republican, announced a statewide burning ban is now in effect due to dangerous wildfire conditions. He said anyone who starts a fire in the state will go to jail, as fire crews work to contain several fires across the state. Sen. Schiff Urges Trump Admin To Exclude Firefighters From Federal Hiring Freeze A red flag warning from the National Weather Service expired late Saturday night for western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina. Red Flag warnings mean critical fire weather conditions are either happening or are about to article source: Multiple wildfires in the Carolinas force evacuations, burn ban issued in South Carolina
Fox News
02-03-2025
- Climate
- Fox News
Multiple wildfires in the Carolinas force evacuations, burn ban issued in South Carolina
Brush fires erupted in both North Carolina and South Carolina on Saturday, forcing officials to order evacuations. A fire in Polk County, North Carolina, was burning at least 400 acres and was at zero containment as of late Saturday night, the North Carolina Fire Service told CBS News. He said structures could be at risk and officials would examine potential damage on Sunday morning. Polk County urged residents along U.S. Highway 176 between the towns of Tryon and Saluda to evacuate, warning on Facebook that the fire was spreading rapidly as multiple fire departments worked on containment. Tryon and Saluda are about 40 miles south of Asheville. The county said displaced residents may shelter at the Polk County Meeting Place in Columbus. In South Carolina, Horry County Fire Rescue ordered the evacuation of residents from several neighborhoods in the Carolina Forest, located around 10 miles west of Myrtle Beach, as crews work to contain a wildfire. "Crews are continuing to work a large wildfire near Carolina Forest," the fire rescue said on Facebook. "Horry County is monitoring the weather forecast and preparing to adjust course in our life safety and property protection plan should conditions evolve." Two planes and a Blackhawk helicopter would drop water on the fire Sunday morning, South Carolina GOP state Rep. Tim McGinnis said on Facebook, citing an update he received from State Forester Scott Phillips. Tractors were also on the way to help dig lines around the fire to help contain it. South Carolina Gov. Henrey McMaster, a Republican, announced a statewide burning ban is now in effect due to dangerous wildfire conditions. He said anyone who starts a fire in the state will go to jail, as fire crews work to contain several fires across the state. A red flag warning from the National Weather Service expired late Saturday night for western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina. Red Flag warnings mean critical fire weather conditions are either happening or are about to happen.
