South-Carolina
Biden is still weighing whether to stay in the race, Hawaii governor says
Hawaii’s Democratic Gov. Josh Green says President Biden has yet to make a final decision about whether he will continue his bid for a second term.
“If the president doesn’t think he can beat Donald Trump, he will hand it off to Kamala [Harris],” Green said during an interview on Saturday with NPR.
“The president has to make this decision with his life-long colleagues from the Senate and his wife. Jill Biden is a superstar. They’ll make the right decision,” Green added.
Green, a close Biden ally, said he still fully backs the president should he choose to continue his campaign. He said he thinks it’s likely that Biden will stay in the race.
He spoke after a closed-door session with the president, which took place on Wednesday in the wake of Biden’s disastrous debate performance.
Green was among 25 Democratic governors who met with Biden. Eleven were present in the room, while others, including Green, joined via video link.
The meeting came amid growing questions, in the media, from voters and voiced by some Democratic lawmakers about the future of Biden’s candidacy.
Green acknowledged feeling alarmed after watching the debate, but said he was reassured by Biden during their meeting.
Noting that he is also a family physician, Green said, “I asked him the question, among our governor colleagues, ‘Mr. President, are you OK? What happened on Thursday, the debate, was terrible and you weren’t yourself.’ ”
Green said Biden responded by saying he had been “exhausted” and “under the weather” during his exchange with Trump.
In the June 27 debate, Biden struggled to speak clearly, appeared to lose his train of thought, and seemed unable to counter Trump’s arguments, which fact-checkers later concluded were laced with false claims.
Biden: “It’s just my brain”
Biden, 81, and his opponent, former President Trump, 78, are “elderly,” Green said: “Biden and Trump are going to have moments when they’re not totally clear. It’s who they put around themselves, how they respond when they need to.”
Green confirmed that during the meeting with governors, when asked about his health, Biden said that he was in good shape but then quipped, “It’s just my brain.”
Biden’s campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon said in a statement: “He was clearly making a joke and then said, ‘All kidding aside.’ ”
Green also read the remark as Biden’s effort at humor.
“It is difficult for a person to actually put together humor like that if they’re not cognitively sound,” Gov. Green said. “He was absolutely making a joke and I know America may not be in a joking mood right now.”
Green said he hoped the media would also focus on Trump’s mental acuity and character.
“If we’re going to judge one gentleman … we should judge the other,” he said.
Biden is “in it to win it”
In public appearances and interviews in the days after the debate, Biden has acknowledged performing poorly on the stage, while saying he will remain in the race.
“I’m not leaving,” Biden said on Wednesday in a fundraising email sent to supporters.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP / AP
/
AP
Three other Democratic governors spoke about their meeting with Biden on Wednesday during a press conference outside the White House.
All three Democrats signaled support for Biden.
“President Joe Biden is in it to win it,” said New York Gov. Kathy Hochul. “All of us said we pledged our support to him because the stakes could not be higher.”
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz acknowledged Biden turned in “a bad performance” in the debate, but added “it doesn’t impact what I believe: He’s delivered.”
Walz said he believed Biden was “fit for office.”
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore called the conversation with Biden “candid” and “honest.”
“We were honest about the feedback we were getting. We were honest about the concerns we were hearing from people,” he said.
Copyright 2024 NPR
South-Carolina
Teacher salaries could increase under proposed South Carolina budget plan
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WACH) — Teacher salaries across South Carolina could rise under a new state education funding plan approved this week, as lawmakers are urged to spend more money on pay raises and rethink how teacher recruitment programs are working.
The S.C. Education Oversight Committee voted to approve its Education Improvement Act (EIA) budget recommendations for fiscal years 2026–27, which direct how money from the state’s one-cent education sales tax should be used.
The plan now goes to the General Assembly for consideration during budget talks.
A major focus of the proposal is increasing teacher pay. The committee recommended a $650,454 raise for teachers at special schools, with remaining new funds directed to the statewide EIA line that helps fund teacher salaries.
The plan also boosts the Teaching Fellows scholarship program, which members said is one of the few recruitment efforts producing results.
The committee approved a $640,000 increase to add 20 new four-year scholarships and another $1.76 million to raise the scholarship amount by $4,000, bringing the total award for juniors and seniors to $10,000.
At the same time, the committee cut $5 million in recurring funding from the National Board program, citing a drop in participation.
EIA-funded programs collectively asked for about $210 million in new funding, but available money is limited. The state has about $98.9 million in new recurring EIA funds and $84.1 million in nonrecurring funds to work with.
The committee recommended spending most recurring funds on classroom support, including $77.5 million for instructional support and $10 million for instructional materials.
Other recurring funding includes $1.4 million for the Teacher Career Ladder, $250,000 for Project Read and $150,000 for the S.C. Council on Economics. Nonrecurring funds include $5 million for school safety.
Members also approved changes to rules tied to the Teacher Loan Program and asked that districts in the state’s 4K waitlist pilot not be required to complete a student survey.
During the meetings, committee members raised concerns about the low number of teachers produced by most EIA-funded recruitment programs.
Teaching Fellows was highlighted as an exception, producing 177 teachers last fiscal year.
Members also questioned continued funding for SC Youth Challenge and incentives tied to the Rural Teacher Recruitment program.
South-Carolina
South Carolina Lottery Pick 3, Pick 4 results for Dec. 18, 2025
Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots: What to know in case you win
Here’s what to know in case you win the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.
Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
The South Carolina Education Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 18, 2025, results for each game:
Winning Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL numbers from Dec. 18 drawing
Midday: 3-8-2, FB: 0
Evening: 1-0-6, FB: 8
Check Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL numbers from Dec. 18 drawing
Midday: 9-6-5-7, FB: 0
Evening: 7-9-1-5, FB: 8
Check Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from Dec. 18 drawing
Midday: 13
Evening: 09
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Palmetto Cash 5 numbers from Dec. 18 drawing
13-19-23-32-35
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:
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.
South-Carolina
Shane Beamer offers latest on LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina football
South Carolina football coach Shane Beamer is embracing the new world of revenue sharing in college athletics, which means waiting for his star quarterback to work out a deal with the program before “officially” returning.
On Dec. 13, multiple reports said LaNorris Sellers is “finalizing a deal” to return to the Gamecocks in 2026 instead of forgoing eligibility to enter the 2026 NFL Draft.
“We’ve had great conversations,” Beamer said Dec. 17 on 107.5 the game. “I think there are some details that need to be worked out and things like that. Let’s face it. Nowadays, these guys have agents and whatnot. So, there are a lot of different aspects of every player on our team that’s different than before.”
The 6-foot-3, 240-pound Sellers has been linked to transfer portal rumors, especially after his breakout year in 2024 when the Gamecocks went 9-3. He was offered lucrative deals from other programs but returned for 2025.
“All indications I’ve had from LaNorris are, he wants to be here, and he knows that the job is not finished,” Beamer said. “There’s a lot of excitement about 2026. He and a lot of our other players that are returning feel that same way.”
Beamer made some significant changes after finishing at 4-8 with his worst record yet in the last five years. He fired three offensive coaches, including coordinator and quarterbacks coach Mike Shula and most recently hired Kendal Briles from TCU to fill his spot.
Briles was confident Sellers would return when asked Dec. 12.
Sellers was sacked 42 times this season, the second-most in the country. He finished with 2,437 passing yards and 13 touchdowns to go with just five rushing touchdowns and 270 rushing yards, a decrease in all four categories from 2024.
“My conversations with LaNorris have been fantastic,” Beamer said. “This isn’t just since the end of the season. This is regularly throughout the season, before the season ended and since the season has ended just in regards to how we get better and how he gets better as a quarterback. He will be the first to tell you, he needs to play better, and we have to coach him better. We have to be better around him, and we all have to be accountable, and he understands that.”
Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at LKesin@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X@Lulukesin and Bluesky@bylulukesin.bsky.social
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