Graduation rates in South Carolina high schools have continued to rise over the last decade. And while many have lauded that achievement, a new report may have residents questioning the quality of education those graduates are receiving from South Carolina schools. When it comes to college readiness, the Palmetto State falls near the back of
On November 6, South Carolina voters will be asked to vote on one of the most important ballot initiatives they may have never heard of: whether or not to appoint or elect South Carolina’s Superintendent of Education. A “good government” reform that has been discussed since the days of Governor Carroll Campbell, Amendment 1 on
The South Carolina General Assembly will soon hear buyout offers for Santee Cooper. Following a two-hour meeting, according to The State, state lawmakers contracted with a consulting firm on October 17 to study the sale of the state-owned utility as well as field prospective candidates for its purchase. The firm, ICF International, will serve as
It’s been over a year since Santee Cooper and SCE&G (SCANA) pulled the plug on its V.C. Summer nuclear project. But an alarming number of South Carolinians are still in the dark on the details of that failed gambit.
Several weeks ago, our work on Santee Cooper was nominated for the Bob Williams Award for Most Influential Research, a prestigious award from the State Policy Network. The winner was announced a few hours ago, and we are thrilled to say, “We won!” The winner was selected by a combination of the voting results and judges’ valuation
Without a significant fix, federal tax cuts would have actually meant state tax increases. Thankfully, House and Senate lawmakers came to an agreement and avoided the immediate tax crisis.
The mood in the room was tense but orderly as SCE&G ratepayers from around Columbia waited their turn to testify before the South Carolina Public Service Commission (PSC), the body legally charged with regulating South Carolina’s monopoly investor-owned utilities. Recurring calls for justice, accountability and energy competition emerged as seniors, business owners and activists testified
Last week, Santee Cooper finally got their day in court. Interim President & CEO James (Jim) Brogdon, Jr. along with General Counsel Mike Baxley, CFO Jeff Armfield and Senior Vice President for Corporate Services Pamela Williams appeared before the General Assembly’s Public Service Authority Evaluation & Recommendation Commission to update the legislature on the state of their agency and to be cross-examined by a panel that included the Governor himself.
We sent two off to college this week. One transferring as a junior into the orange world, the other starting out as a freshman under the garnet flag. Because I attended both universities, I have to admit it gives me great joy to know that at some time this week, one will walk through the doors of Sirrine, the other Gambrell.
Earlier this summer, the South Carolina Legislative Audit Council (LAC), a watchdog created by the General Assembly to review the performance and fiscal integrity of state agencies, issued a report on the state’s use of funds generated by the South Carolina Education Lottery for its core purpose, education. When the report appeared, one Democratic State
