This op-ed by Palmetto Promise Research Fellow Jennifer Buckley was originally published in the Post and Courier. It also has been published in FitsNews. South Carolina’s dormant nuclear energy ambitions could be stirring back to life. Santee Cooper announced Jan. 22 that it is seeking proposals to acquire and complete, or propose alternatives for, the
Columbia, S.C. (February 4, 2025) — A supermajority of South Carolina’s general election voters overwhelmingly support the modernization of the state’s energy grid and a move away from the currently siloed monopoly-driven power systems. In a poll of 600 registered general election voters, 80 percent of those surveyed favored moving away from the current monopolistic
If you’ve read or watched the news in South Carolina in the last few years, you likely have noticed a strange and disconcerting phenomenon: scores of restaurants, bars, and music venues have announced their closures. From the iconic Smiley’s Acoustic Cafe in Greenville to Henry’s of Cayce, long-established businesses in the state have been shutting
This op-ed by Francesca Flores was originally published in The Greenville News. Imagine being a parent, watching your child thrive in a school that meets their unique needs — only to have that opportunity suddenly taken away. That is what happened to low-income families in the Palmetto State. Now that South Carolina’s legislative session has
In the 125th General Assembly (2023-24), South Carolina legislators passed a bill separating the behemoth Department of Health & Environmental Control (DHEC) into separate agencies (Act 60, 2023). Following that much-needed reform, legislators’ efforts turned toward finding comprehensive measures that would streamline health functions across state government. The state had 6 separate agencies that all dealt
This article by Adam Whittenberg was published in The Lion about Palmetto Promise President & CEO Wendy Damron’s recent award. When the South Carolina Supreme Court abruptly ended South Carolina’s school choice program just weeks into the school year, Wendy Damron didn’t take things lying down. Damron, who heads the Palmetto Promise Institute think tank,
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE New Donors Push Palmetto Promise ESTF Families Rescue Fund to $2.2 million COLUMBIA — To kick off National School Choice Week, Palmetto Promise Institute President Wendy Damron announced today that new support from three (3) additional donors has pushed the Palmetto Promise ESTF Families Rescue fund to $2.2 million. The Rescue Fund goal,
COLUMBIA, South Car. (Jan. 24, 2025) – Families in South Carolina are eager to explore their school choice options, and dozens of schools in the Columbia and Lexington area are gathering to meet that need at a school fair timed to coincide with School Choice Week. No matter what type of school they’re looking for,
With the launch of a brand new 2025-26 legislative session, all bills that did not pass in 2023-24 were officially pronounced dead. Unfortunately, energy generation expansion and reform were among the key areas that saw no movement in the last General Assembly. But a conversation between Senate and House had begun. That’s progress. So, what
We are pleased to announce that Palmetto Promise Institute President & CEO Wendy Damron was awarded the Heritage Foundation’s 2025 Doer Award at the Awakening by Heritage Conference this past weekend. Heritage defines “Doers” as individuals who are making a difference in their personal lives or fields of work, advancing Heritage’s mission and values. The
