South-Carolina

Guest Column: 'Groundhog Day' For Small Businesses In South Carolina – FITSNews

Published

2 years ago

January 4, 2024

Guest Column: 'Groundhog Day' For Small Businesses In South Carolina – FITSNews

by DIANE HARDY

When South Carolina establishment VIPs devised a secret plan for a $1.3 billion incentive package (click here and here for details) to be awarded to Volkswagen/Scout – and then pushed it very quietly through the legislature at lightning speed last March – we at the Mom and Pop Alliance believe they probably assumed citizens wouldn’t take much notice. After all, these establishment VIPs are used to giving large incentive packages of taxpayer money to big businesses without much scrutiny. But this time we are NOTICING and QUESTIONING, because this one is different:

This one is for manufacturing electric vehicles (EVs), a hallmark of Biden’s green agenda.
This one was for a foreign company (VW) that not only has a net worth of 39 billion dollars but also has a history of committing fraud.
This one was made during the new era of ESGs (social credit scores placed on big corporation designed to trickle down to small businesses).
This one follows in the footsteps of the now bankrupt Proterra EV bus package.
And this package was for more than ONE BILLION DOLLARS!

It’s hard for most of us to comprehend what a billion dollars really represents. It is 1,000 million. Spending $1,000 a day, it would take you 2,740 YEARS to spend a billion dollars. A billion one-dollar bills laid end-to-end measures over 96,000 miles and would extend around the earth almost four times. Mind boggling! So surely if we’re talking about this amount of money, our elected officials would want citizen buy-in and would be very prudent and deliberative, right?

Well, in our state government, we paradoxically saw just the opposite.

Despite the conservative talking points you may hear, those of us who have tried to get any significant legislation through the S.C. General Assembly have quickly learned why our state has a reputation for having one of the most liberal Republican legislatures in the nation. Every legislative session, we see good bills blocked in committees, or on occasion, trivial bills passed and then touted as great reforms. It just feels like Groundhog Day year after year. Getting meaningful legislation passed is rare and usually requires a herculean effort. Just look at the nine years and thousands of man-hours from many groups and concerned citizens it took to repeal our state’s outdated Certificate of Need (CON) law as an example.

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These facts make the passage of this $1.3 billion package (part cash, part incentives) through the SC House AND Senate in less than two weeks all-the-more exasperating for those of us in the trenches trying to provide a voice for small businesses in our State House. It is ridiculous that citizens and legislators alike were given no time to read, discuss, debate, or fully understand the deal, and the pressure placed on them for their ‘aye’ votes was immense. Only a handful of senators and state representatives withstood this pressure and voted NO. They deserve our gratitude.

Now that some of the details are coming out as to how this deal came about – including a very extravagant dinner event held at Williams Brice Stadium (complete with non-disclosure agreements) – it’s no great surprise that several representatives and senators who voted in favor of the deal have privately informed the Mom and Pop Alliance that they now regret their votes. Undoubtedly, they were manipulated and pressured. Our organization will redouble its efforts to highlight that what small businesses really want, among other things, is protection from over-regulation, frivolous lawsuits, and ESG mandates, and to be able to keep more of their hard-earned money.

We at the Mom and Pop Alliance of SC (www.momandpopalliance.org) are entering our third legislative session of working to get strong legislation to protect SC businesses from the devastating impacts of ESG social credit scoring. Similarly, pursuit of much-needed tort reform has also been ongoing for multiple sessions now. Meanwhile, Florida has already accomplished both and so much more, including real school choice, as well as laws offering Floridians protections from ESGs, the World Health Organization treaty, and federally backed digital currency. South Carolinians are wondering why we can’t have these protections, and have been surprised to learn that our governor decided NOT to join the 19 states (AL, AK, AR, FL, GA, ID, IA, MS, MO, MT, NE, NH, ND, OK, SD, TN, UT, WV and WY) who have signed on to a multi-state alliance to reject ESGs.

We must all remember that these “deals” (many of which have not worked out as planned in the past) come at a cost – a cost paid by ordinary citizens and small business owners. Since state government doesn’t create money, it is our money that is being awarded to these foreign businesses. We are told by those in favor of corporate hand-outs, “Don’t worry. This deal will create jobs, and if it doesn’t there are claw-backs.” But time and again we have not seen the diligent follow-through needed to enforce these claw-backs, or we have seen a continuous lowering of the bar as was the case with Proterra as it was heading into bankruptcy. We are also told, “Don’t worry. We won’t let VW/Scout ‘do ESG in our state.’” The Mom and Pop Alliance believes this is impossible and would respectfully ask, “Exactly HOW are you going to do that?” We wonder how many of the legislators who voted YES for this “incentive package” knew that the EU passed a law on Dec. 30, 2022, making ESG-reporting mandatory for all European corporations AND their subsidiaries, even if located in the US.

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RELATED | SMALL BUSINESSES COLLAPSED DURING FOURTH QUARTER

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Finally, we have been told much of the money is going to infrastructure (which “is a good thing, so the money isn’t being wasted”), but is this the infrastructure citizens want? Time and again citizens and small business owners have said the infrastructure they want is for our roads to be fixed! Are they even sure this is what the local citizens of Blythewood (where the plant is going) want? It’s interesting that the incumbent mayor of Blythewood recently lost his seat, receiving only 30 percent of the vote. Were the citizens demonstrating their dismay over this deal by ousting their mayor? Who knows for sure, but the Alliance has heard that many of the locals and business owners are not happy with the loss of trees and the increase in traffic congestion this project is already creating for them, and they worry that these EVs (that are years away from being rolled out) may not be the success story that our governor and the VIPs who devised this deal envisioned.

Another argument we have heard is that South Carolina incentivized BMW in 1992 and that worked out great for our state. They don’t mention the many economic development failures since then which have left SC taxpayers holding the bag, or the fact that BMW was making a product with a proven history and sales demand, unlike a start-up product like a Scout Motors EV. Neither do they acknowledge that much has changed since then, which was decades before we had to worry about the social credit scoring of ESGs and their impact on both our businesses and our culture. Also, the money/incentives awarded in that deal was a fraction of the $1.3 billion package we just awarded to Volkswagen. South Carolina’s reputation nationally of being a VERY pro-economic development state comes naturally, given the legacy of Nikki Haley and the fact that our current governor was a past co-chair of the Economic Development Task Force at the National Governor’s Association. Perhaps it’s time to have a discussion regarding the effects on taxpayers and free markets when our government continues to pick winners and losers.

We at the Mom and Pop Alliance of SC believe that for way too long, large corporations and special interests have had a very big seat at the table in Columbia, exerting strong influence on our state’s policymakers. Given these realities, it sometimes feels to us like we are walking into a David vs Goliath situation, but we will continue our efforts of giving a voice to small businesses and to push for meaningful ESG protections, tort reform, and promoting a more substantial lowering of our state’s income tax rate. The 2024 session of the S.C. General Assembly begins Tuesday, January 9, 2024. We would love to see this cycle of never-ending Groundhog Days broken once and for all. Perhaps looking to Florida for the roadmap of how to do so would be helpful. It is indisputable that lowering taxes across the board and enacting meaningful tort reform would help bring new businesses and prosperity to the Palmetto State. We also think, given the details surrounding the VW/Scout deal, that a robust debate around the issue of economic development in our state is needed. These past few years have been especially hard on family-owned businesses. We believe it is well past time for some balance in our state and giving them an actual seat at the table would be a great start. Please consider joining us in our mission to provide that much needed voice in Columbia for the Palmetto State’s 430,000+ small businesses by signing up at www.momandpopalliance.org.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR …

Diane Hardy is a former nurse anesthetist turned entrepreneur, who opened a franchise at Verdae in Greenville over seven years ago. She is executive director of the Mom and Pop Alliance of SC, which she founded during Covid upon discovering South Carolina’s almost 400,000 small businesses had little representation in our State House. The Alliance provides education, communication, and advocacy for SC’s family-owned businesses. Her passion for South Carolina’s small business is strong, and as such she donates her time to the organization, accepting no salary or government funding. Her love for our state isn’t new. Before launching the Mom and Pop Alliance she was the founder and host of The Palmetto Panel (2014-2019), an annual statewide conference highlighting issues impacting South Carolina. Diane has a bachelor’s degree in nursing and psychology from Michigan State as well as a master’s degree from MUSC.

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South-Carolina

South Carolina Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 results for July 1, 2026

Published

6 hours ago

July 2, 2026

Press Room

South Carolina Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 results for July 1, 2026

The South Carolina Education Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at July 1, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from July 1 drawing

02-06-26-39-68, Powerball: 06, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL numbers from July 1 drawing

Midday: 1-0-6, FB: 4

Evening: 9-9-6, FB: 5

Check Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL numbers from July 1 drawing

Midday: 2-3-7-6, FB: 4

Evening: 0-9-2-6, FB: 5

Check Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from July 1 drawing

Midday: 04

Evening: 11

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Palmetto Cash 5 numbers from July 1 drawing

02-22-31-37-42

Check Palmetto Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from July 1 drawing

10-20-30-60-64, Powerball: 07

Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

The South Carolina Education Lottery provides multiple ways to claim prizes, depending on the amount won:

For prizes up to $500, you can redeem your winnings directly at any authorized South Carolina Education Lottery retailer. Simply present your signed winning ticket at the retailer for an immediate payout.

Winnings $501 to $100,000, may be redeemed by mailing your signed winning ticket along with a completed claim form and a copy of a government-issued photo ID to the South Carolina Education Lottery Claims Center. For security, keep copies of your documents and use registered mail to ensure the safe arrival of your ticket.

SC Education Lottery

P.O. Box 11039

Columbia, SC 29211-1039

For large winnings above $100,000, claims must be made in person at the South Carolina Education Lottery Headquarters in Columbia. To claim, bring your signed winning ticket, a completed claim form, a government-issued photo ID, and your Social Security card for identity verification. Winners of large prizes may also set up an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) for convenient direct deposit of winnings.

Columbia Claims Center

1303 Assembly Street

Columbia, SC 29201

Claim Deadline: All prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the draw date for draw games.

For more details and to access the claim form, visit the South Carolina Lottery claim page.

When are the South Carolina Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
Pick 4: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
Cash Pop: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
Palmetto Cash 5: 6:59 p.m. ET daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Carolina editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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South-Carolina

South Carolina Lowcountry Community Calendar of Events

Published

16 hours ago

July 1, 2026

Press Room

South Carolina Lowcountry Community Calendar of Events

Staff
| Bluffton Today

South Carolina Lowcountry Calendar of Events

For events, festivals and other community happenings in Beaufort, Jasper and Hampton counties, and around the Lowcountry, check out our Lowcountry Calendar of Events. If you have an open-to-the-public event you would like to announce, submit by email to:

Beaufort County events

Bluffton Independence Day 5K set for July 2 at 7 p.m. at New Riverside Barn Park

Residents and visitors are invited to participate in the third annual Bluffton Independence Day 5K and Kids Fun Run benefiting the Mayor’s Stay Safe Bluffton Scholarship Fund.

Event highlights:• 5K begins at 7 p.m.• Free “Chase the Chief” Kids Fun Run at 6:45 p.m.• First 400 registered participants receive a commemorative race T-shirt• Packet pickup: Wednesday, July 1, from 4-7 p.m. at New Riverside Barn, 30 Red Barn• No race-day registration• Awards ceremony immediately following the race• Free concert featuring Deas-Guyz following awards presentation• Food, beer, and wine available for purchase• *New*: Patriotic drone show at dark, sponsored by the Town of Bluffton and Fetch A Vet

Parking and Shuttle InformationAttendees should park at Pritchardville Elementary School, 9447 Evan Way, and use the free Savannah Trolley shuttle to New Riverside Barn Park.Shuttle service runs continuously from 5:30-11 p.m. The final shuttle departure from the event area will be approximately 10:30 p.m.Parking at New Riverside Barn Park is extremely limited and reserved for event operations, vendors, and ADA-accessible parking.Independence Day pre-party set for July 3 from 5p.m. until 9p.m. at Martin Family Park and DuBois Park

Enjoy a family-friendly evening filled with music, food, and activities before the fireworks display.Activities include:• Carnival-style games with patriotic prizes while supplies last• Bounce houses and rock wall• Food and beverage vendors• DJ Jeff “T-Bone” Taylor• Live music by the Parris Island Dirty Boots Brass Band from 6-7 p.m.• Presentation of the Colors by Bluffton Boy Scout Troop 241• National Anthem performance at 5:55 p.m. by a local student performerThe Town is committed to accessibility and inclusion. Many activities will be located on paved surfaces to accommodate guests of all abilities and/or with special needs.Fireworks DisplayFriday, July 3 | 9 p.m.Oyster Factory Park and Wright Family ParkThe Town’s annual 20-minute fireworks show will launch from a barge in the May River and can be viewed from both parks.Food vendors will be available, with food and beverages available for purchase.Please note barge positioning may change due to weather, water conditions, and other operational factors. Guests may need to adjust viewing locations.Parking and Shuttle for Pre-Party and FireworksAttendees are encouraged to use the free Savannah Trolley shuttle from Town Hall, 20 Bridge St.Parking is available near the shuttle stop, including:• Town Hall parking lots (20 Bridge Street surrounding Town Hall)• M.C. Riley Elementary School bus parking lot on Bridge Street• Newly renovated parking lot on Pritchard Street near the Beaufort County pool and baseball field• M.C. Riley Early Education Center bus loop on Pritchard StreetShuttle service runs continuously from 4-11 p.m.Additional parking options include Town public parking lots and paid church parking at:• First Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 10 Robertson St.• Campbell Chapel AME Church, 25 Boundary St.• Cornerstone Church, 1300 May River Road

ADA ParkingDesignated ADA parking is available at Town Hall.A complimentary golf cart shuttle for guests with mobility needs will be provided by the Town of Bluffton and Hidden Treasures.Road ClosuresFor public safety, roads near event venues will be closed to vehicle traffic.Thursday evening:• Lawrence Street• Green StreetFriday beginning at 3 p.m.:• Calhoun Street from Green Street to Water Street• Bridge Street from Boundary Street to Wharf StreetLocal access will be limited after 8 p.m.Bluffton police officers will assist homeowners with access, except between 8-11 p.m.Dock Closures and Boater AdvisoryFor public safety, both the Calhoun Street Regional Dock and Oyster Factory Dock will close to pedestrians from 5-11 p.m. Friday, July 3.Boaters may access the May River throughout the day, but temporary restrictions will be implemented prior to and during the fireworks display.As launch time approaches, law enforcement will establish a safety zone around the fireworks barge. During this time, vessels may experience temporary restrictions entering or leaving certain areas.The public boat ramp remains open, but boaters should anticipate delays immediately before and during the fireworks display.Weather PolicyEvents will be held rain or shine unless canceled for safety reasons.Due to event logistics and staffing, canceled events will not be rescheduled.Reminder: Fireworks Are Illegal in BlufftonPersonal fireworks are prohibited within Bluffton town limits.Bluffton police officers will confiscate illegal fireworks and respond to complaints.Bluffton Municipal Code Sec. 14-99:It is unlawful to fire, sell, store, or possess fireworks within the Town of Bluffton.

Town of Bluffton Independence Day Celebration July 3

Town of Bluffton 5th Annual Independence Day Celebration on Friday, July 3. The celebration will begin at 5 p.m. with a pre-party at Martin Family and DuBois Parks. The fireworks show will start shortly after 9 p.m. and will be visible from Oyster Factory and Wright Family Parks.

• Carnival-style games with patriotic prizes (while supplies last)

• Bounce houses and a rock wall

• Food and beverage concessions available for purchase

• 104.9 The Surf Jeff T-Bone Taylor

• Live music by the Parris Island “Dirty Boots” Brass Band from 6–7 p.m.

• Rick Hubbard’s Bubble Stuff Show

• National Anthem sung by a local Bluffton student

Fireworks Display: 9 p.m. | Oyster Factory & Wright Family Parks

The fireworks show will launch from a barge in the May River and can be viewed from both parks.

Note: Barge positioning may change due to various factors; attendees may need to adjust their seating to ensure the best view.

Great American Kids Show set for Aug. 21 in Bluffton

The Town of Bluffton will be presenting Rick Hubbard’s Great American Kids Show Aug. 21 at New Riverside Barn Park. Preshow starts at 6:30 p.m. with the performance from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. This is a free family event and there will be food trucks on site for purchases. Free kazoos will also be distributed while supplies last.

List of food pantries from around the Lowcountry

Jasper County Events

Families Against Gun Violence hosting event July 18 in Ridgeland

Families Against Gun Violence will be hosting a dinner at Wagonbranch Community Center in Ridgeland July 11 which will feature several speakers. The speakers will include law enforcement officials and others. For more information, contact LaHoma Scott at (843)368-6629.

Library Card Design Contest open until June 30

Get your creative energy ready because the Library Card Contest is now open! This exciting contest invites anyone who lives, works, studies, or volunteers in Allendale, Hampton, and Jasper counties to showcase their artistic talent by designing a brand-new library card! Show off your creativity and leave your mark on the community! For complete details: https://ahjlibrary.org/library-card-design-contest/

Back-back giveaway July 18 in Ridgeland

A back-back giveaway will be held July 18 at KTM Destiny Center in Ridgeland. There will be backpack giveaways for back to school. The event will take place from noon until 3 p.m. and hosted by the Clementa Pinckney Foundation. The giveaways are for school-aged children and there will also be food and music at the event.

Hampton County events

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South-Carolina

South Carolina Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 results for June 30, 2026

Published

1 day ago

July 1, 2026

Press Room

The South Carolina Education Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at June 30, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from June 30 drawing

26-41-50-53-62, Mega Ball: 12

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL numbers from June 30 drawing

Midday: 6-6-5, FB: 3

Evening: 1-1-7, FB: 2

Check Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL numbers from June 30 drawing

Midday: 5-1-7-3, FB: 3

Evening: 5-6-8-6, FB: 2

Check Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from June 30 drawing

Midday: 15

Evening: 09

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Palmetto Cash 5 numbers from June 30 drawing

17-19-22-36-37

Check Palmetto Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

The South Carolina Education Lottery provides multiple ways to claim prizes, depending on the amount won:

SC Education Lottery

P.O. Box 11039

Columbia, SC 29211-1039

Columbia Claims Center

1303 Assembly Street

Columbia, SC 29201

Claim Deadline: All prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the draw date for draw games.

For more details and to access the claim form, visit the South Carolina Lottery claim page.

When are the South Carolina Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
Pick 4: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
Cash Pop: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
Palmetto Cash 5: 6:59 p.m. ET daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Carolina editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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