Breaking News

SC Applies For Lost Wages Assistance Grant

In response to the Coronavirus pandemic, recovery efforts to salvage the economic destruction are being made. The SC Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW), alongside Governor McMaster, plans to apply for the FEMA’s Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) program. The grant will await federal approval.

“Our state should be proud of the economic recovery efforts and the progress we have made to date, but we know that some of our citizens are still struggling in the wake of this pandemic,” explains McMaster. “We’ve chosen to participate in this program in a way that will provide additional unemployment relief from the federal government while maintaining our strong record of fiscal responsibility and protecting the interests of South Carolinians.”

Gov. McMaster authorized DEW to apply toward the federal aid via a letter. The grant itself was originally made by President Donald Trump as a means of compensating those unemployed due to the ongoing pandemic. When a state’s application is accepted, an additional weekly $300 in benefits per person will be added.

“We know there are citizens who are still in great need,” explains DEW Executive Director Dan Ellzey. “DEW has been testing changes in its benefits portal based upon guidance provided by the U.S. Department of Labor. If South Carolina is approved, we will work as quickly as possible with our vendor to get the application into the system.”

News

Rabid Bat Cases Confirmed In Charleston County

Confirmed by the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), a bat near downtown Charleston, SC has tested positive for rabies. As of now, only two humans risk exposure to the disease. The animal was originally discovered near Ashley Avenue and Race Street.

The bat became a confirmed case of rabies on Aug 1 after testing began on July 31. Those with any inclination of exposure are urged to wash any part of their body that may have been in contact with saliva or neural tissue before seeking medical attention. Exposure ranges from bites, scratches to direct contact with any of the infected animal’s body fluids.

“Although bats can carry rabies, not every bat is infected with the virus. Bats are an important part of South Carolina’s ecosystems and deserve a healthy degree of respect just like all wild animals,” explained David Vaughan, Director of DHEC’s Onsite Waterwaste, Rabies Prevention, and Enforcement Division. “People don’t always realize they’ve been bitten since bat teeth are tiny and bites are easy to overlook.”

If you awake to find a bat in a room where people have been asleep or unattended, it’s important to safely trap the animal in a sealed container without touching it. Once a bat is released, it is no longer able to be tested for the disease.

Those with any inclination of exposure are urged to call the DHEC’s Environmental Affairs Charleston office at (843) 953-0150 during business hours of 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. To report an exposure outside of normal office hours, call the DHEC after-hours service number at (888) 847-0902.

News

Trident Medical Center Completes New Medical Procedure

As the first in the Carolinas, Trident Medical Center is home to a new medical procedure. Electrophysiologist Darren Sidney, MD is the physician behind the next generation implant. Created to reduce the risk of stroke in patients with Atrial Fibrillation, Sidney successfully completed the surgery on a 71-year-old male.

Atrial Fibrillation, or AFiB for short, is a common heart disease that alters the heart’s ability to pump blood. Over 2.7 million people suffer from the quivering heartbeat that AFiB ensues. The issue behind an irregular heart pattern is that it can frequent blood clots, which cut off the air supply to the brain and in turn, lead to a stroke.

The implemented device LAAC is roughly the size of a quarter. Sidney operates once in order to implant the device. It remains completely unseen from the outside of the body. Once implanted, the device effectively reduces blood clots, eliminating the fear of a stroke occurring.

This new device is a huge step for those suffering from AFiB. With a success rate of 99% of patents no longer needing blood thinners a year post-surgery, it’s easy to say that this is a big win.

News

McMaster’s SAFE Grants Have Been Temporarily Blocked

On Wednesday last week, an Orangeburg County circuit court judge signed a restraining order, temporarily blocking Gov. Henry McMaster’s SAFE Grants. The stipend was originally in place in order to subsidize private and parochial school tuition for lower-income students. Now, it’s unsure as of when those will return.

McMaster’s SAFE Grant stands for Safe Access to Flexible Education. With $32 Million allocated toward funding the program, qualifying households can receive up to $6,500 on an as-needed basis. Though, the circuit court judge claims the grant program is in violation of the South Carolina Constitution.

“These funds could be better used by ensuring our public schools have as many resources as possible to ensure a safe return to in-person instruction when public health conditions make it possible to do so,” a member of the Palmetto State Teachers Association stated on the topic.

With Coronavirus impacting this coming school year, it’s no secret that educators need all the help they can get in these difficult times. As of now, the grant remains temporarily blocked, just weeks before the academic calendar is set to begin.

News

South Carolina Announces More Restrictions as COVID-19 Cases Rise

The SC case count for Coronavirus skyrockets to over 62,245 as of mid-July. In response to the large number of residents contracting the virus, the state announces more restrictions. Gov. Henry McMaster says, “We know that young adults who are rapidly contracting the virus and spreading it into our communities frequently congregate in late-night atmospheres which simply are not conducive to stopping its continued transmission.”

This late-night curfew on the sale of alcohol is to be implemented immediately. Restaurants and bars will no longer be allowed to converge past 11 p.m. This order omits alcohol sold at convenience or grocery stores. It’s merely a precaution meant to stop young people from spreading the disease at drinking establishments. As the disease weaves through the younger generation, it’s difficult to enforce social distancing. Because many adolescents do not show symptoms of the virus, this makes transmission much more likely.

As well as the late-night curfew, McMaster rolled out limited visitation to nursing homes on July 2nd. This came as a safety precaution toward an at-risk age group, and in order to protect front line healthcare workers, McMaster tells in a tweet. These restrictions are to be enforced until further notice.

News

Columbia Metropolitan Airport to Receive Millions From Government

In an effort to improve the safety and efficiency of the Columbia Metropolitan Airport, Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao announced some improvements are in the works. With the help of a federal grant of $2,744,932, the Columbia hub will see more than just a fresh coat of paint.

This year Trump delegated $10 billion in grants for improving aviation and airports across the U.S. As coronavirus has changed the way many are traveling, airports and the travel industry have taken a hard hit. This money simultaneously acts as a relief effort for those of the industry struggling.

The funding comes directly from “the U.S. Treasury Grand Fund to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the impacts of the COVID-19 public health emergency,” the Federal Aviation Administration explains in their frequently asked questions. Titled the “CARES Act”, the abbreviation stands for Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security.

Columbia will implement this money through improvements made around the terminal building. Beginning with in-line bagging systems, new escalators, and baggage carousels, the changes will help streamline the traveling experience.

Eat & Drink

South Carolina Cities Mandate Masks

To mask or not to mask, is no longer the question. This month, several SC cities are pushing to mandate that all citizens need to wear face protection in public.

The Charleston City Council approved a face mask ordinance which began being enforced on July 1st. The ruling mandates that all citizens must wear face mask protection when entering any retail or restaurant establishment. This movement caters in an attempt to keep businesses open.

Greenville Online shared a sign posted at the door of a CVS Pharmacy on Main Street. “Face masks are required by law. When you wear a face mask, even ones made from cloth or common household items and materials, you promote your own safety and that of our colleagues and other customers,” the sign read. The response to these changes has been both negative and positive.

With 30,263 confirmed COVID-19 cases statewide, SC has officially become a hotspot this summer. Some say these cases came as a response to establishments re-opening too quickly.

“The state cannot mandate everyone to wear a mask,” says Governor Henry McMaster on the issue. “It is ineffective, impractical, and unenforceable to have a statewide mandatory mask requirement.” McMaster did plead for citizens to start wearing masks. As of now, there are no further plans to lift restrictions on establishments that facilitate large crowds.

With cases still rising, we haven’t heard the last of the mask debate. But, it is difficult to say whether or not we will see any permanent legislative changes regarding the wearing of a mask.

News

Calhoun Statue in Charleston to be Relocated

Many civil rights groups spoke out on the fifth anniversary of the Mother Emmanuel shooting. They demanded the removal of the John C. Calhoun statue from Marion Square. Calhoun was a supporter of slavery and a former vice president of the United States.

The 115-ft statue is protected by The Heritage Act, a law sheltering state monuments. Because the memorial is owned by The City of Charleston and falls under The Heritage Act, it takes a two-thirds vote of the state legislature to authorize its removal.

On June 17th, Mayor John Tecklenburg called for the relocation of the statue to a local museum. “Well folks, this is not a war memorial,” he said. “By [removing the statue] I believe we bring peace.”

President and CEO of the International African American Museum, Michael B. Moore, agrees the statue should come down. “We’re saying that the confederacy and all that it stood for, of dehumanizing people of African descent, of enslaving them, we’re saying that that’s okay and the reality is that that’s not okay,” said Moore.

Protests at the base of the statue called for its removal while some vandalized it. At the Mayor’s live press conference he announced officially that the Calhoun monument is to be relocated to a Charleston museum.