South-Carolina
The State House Gavel: Statehouse forecast calls for flurries…of bills
Welcome to Wednesday. It is still very, very cold.
So cold, in fact, lawmakers have canceled several hearings originally scheduled for Wednesday, mainly in the SC House.
For now, several hearings set for Wednesday and Thursday still seem to be a go.
What’s not canceled (yet)? Former longtime state Sen. Nikki Setzler’s portrait unveiling. The unveiling starts at 4 p.m. and will be livestreamed.
This is The State House Gavel, a new daily reporter notebook by reporters Gavin Jackson, Russ McKinney and Maayan Schechter that will preview and capture what goes on at the South Carolina Statehouse this year while lawmakers are in session.
Notebook highlights:
- SC Senate keeping $1.8 billion accounting error on the legislative tracks.
- Prefiling season is so last month. Lawmakers file a flurry of bills they hope break through before the end of the two-year session.
- SC lawmakers will consider whether to OK the use of debit cards to buy lottery tickets as revenue dips.
- Wednesday’s tiny mic freshman spotlight hails from the Lowcountry and loves “Forrest Gump.”
Quick note: Unofficial election results show Democrat Courtney Waters has won the three-way primary Tuesday night to fill the Lowcountry House District 113 seat, formerly represented by Rep. Marvin Pendarvis. Waters will run unopposed in the March general election for the Democratic-leaning seat. This is one of two vacancies in the House after now-former Rep. Will Wheeler, D-Lee, resigned last week.
SC treasurer in Senate hot seat
Treasurer Curtis Loftis has a problem. And he may eventually have 46 problems otherwise known as the SC Senate.
On Tuesday, the Senate Finance Committee met to hear from outside audit firm, AlixPartners, to learn more about the mystery/ghost/whatever you want to call it $1.8 billion accounting error. Here’s the audit in case you missed it.
Senate Budget Chairman Harvey Peeler, R-Cherokee, asked the outside auditors Tuesday whether, during their review, anyone ever said, ‘I’m sorry,’ or took responsibility for the problem.
“What kind of response did you receive,” Peeler asked the firm.
The auditors said the only person who appeared to show remorse was Katherine Kip, an accountant who moved from the Treasurer’s Office to the Comptroller’s and was the first to discover the initial $3.5 billion error.
Background: The whole saga stems from the embarrassing $3.5 billion accounting correction in 2023 that resulted in the resignation of then-Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom. That disclosure then led to the (public) discovery of a mysterious $1.8 billion fund without a home that state leaders were told was real money. But they decided it was probably better to make sure before sending the money to roads or refund checks. So, lawmakers spent $3 million to hire audit firm AlixPartners to figure out what the money was (or wasn’t) and how we got into this mess. And it’s a good thing they did. It turns out the money is neither real nor able to be spent— at least $1.6 billion of it was simply an accounting maneuver.
Since Eckstrom has exited the stage after intense Senate scrutiny (and a threat of impeachment), Republican Loftis, whose office held the mystery account, seems to be in the Senate’s crosshairs. Loftis has dismissed all claims that he’s at fault but he testified before a Senate committee last year that he invested the $1.8 billion and earned the state interest. Not surprisingly, Senators seem eager to obtain “further clarification” on how he was able to accomplish that feat in light of the revelation that the money doesn’t exist.
And they’ve also started asking serious questions about the state Auditor George Kennedy, who is not an elected official like Eckstrom and Loftis, but whose office has a responsibility to work with the other two to ensure public reporting of state finances is accurate.
What’s ahead: The Senate Finance Committee plans to meet next Tuesday to consider the remedial recommendations suggested by AlixPartners. Meanwhile, a Senate Judiciary panel on Tuesday approved a resolution again to ask the voters on the 2026 ballot whether the Comptroller General (the state’s chief accountant) should be changed from an elected official to a Cabinet-appointed position. It now heads to the full Judiciary Committee.
As we reported last week, the House plans to hold another hearing, likely early February, with Brian Gaines (the interim comptroller, who was appointed by Gov. Henry McMaster when Eckstrom resigned), Kennedy and Loftis. The Senate is expected to do the same.
Bills by the numbers
Prefiles get a lot of attention.
But some other bills quietly made their big debut last week.
All of the prefiled bills have been read across their respective chamber’s desks and assigned to committees. And for a majority of them, that is the most action they will ever see.
We’re talking about 650 bills in the House and 200-plus in the Senate.
On average 3,800 bills get filed during a two-year session, and on average 250 get signed into law. That’s about 7%.
For the sake of easy math, please disregard the hundreds of congratulatory resolutions that get filed and rubber stamped in their respective chamber in this hypothetical equation.
Nevertheless, here’s a dose of what was introduced last week in the Senate that may have been lost in the hubbub.
- Senate: Two big bills we’ve heard leaders discuss and have been filed before include S. 156, which makes fentanyl-induced homicide a crime, and S. 159, which cracks down on retail theft. The chamber’s Medical Affairs Committee Chairman Danny Verdin filed S. 162, which would require that gender changes to a person’s birth certificate may only be changed from male to female or from female to male. Then there’s S. 169 that would allow debit cards for lottery ticket purchases, a move pushed by the governor and now Senate Education Committee Chairman Greg Hembree. This is seen as both a way to boost Education Lottery revenue that helps fund college scholarships and, possibly, a new K-12 private school voucher program up for debate in the Senate.
We’ll see if any of these are part of the 7% that make it.
The cost of using debit cards for Lottery tickets
Paying for refreshments at Williams-Brice Stadium or Colonial Life Arena? Bring your card because they are both cashless.
But South Carolina’s Education Lottery is card-less.
That might change this year but currently, the state forbids it.
The background: Lawmakers heard this month that the age of most lottery players is rising and the current rules leave behind a number of would-be players who don’t play because they don’t carry cash, especially younger people. Also, lottery revenue is projected to go down at a time when the Education Lottery (launched in 2002) funds most of the state’s college/university scholarships. And don’t forget, the Senate is currently debating a private school voucher bill that plans to use a significant chuck of lottery dollars.
Twenty-three states allow for the use of debit cards.
State Lottery officials told senators Tuesday that use of debit cards could raise an additional $52 million.
Will it pass: The Legislature has had a rather contentious relationship over the years with the the Lottery, gambling and video poker (we’re not going there). But plenty of lawmakers have come around to legalizing forms of sports betting, for instance, so we do anticipate there to be a solid amount of support for allowing debit card use. Gov. McMaster also included the legalization of debit card purchases in his executive budget released this month.
Daily planner (1/22)
SC House
SC Senate
*This schedule will update based on any cancellations*
Freshman spotlight: Tiny mic edition
There are a whopping 32 new lawmakers in the Legislature.
And 13 of them are in the state Senate. The House has 19.
It’s time you to get to know them, so welcome to our freshman spotlight where we introduce a new member of their respective chamber. (We edit for clarity.)
Next up: Democratic SC Sen. Ed Sutton, a 41-year-old real estate developer and Air Force pilot who represents the new Senate District 20, which covers part of Charleston County.
What’s your favorite movie? This is corny, but I used to work at the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company restaurant in Charleston back in college. I’ll go with Forrest Gump.
If you could have one super power, what would it be? Probably the ability to go back in time, and that way you could anticipate some things that are coming.
What has surprised you so far at the Statehouse? The judicial candidates (up for election on Feb. 5) have been a surprise. I’m not an attorney, and, so, if any judicial candidates are watching this, please stop sending me cards.
USC Gamecocks of Clemson Tigers? Gamecocks. But I’m from the Citadel (2006), so I pull for the Citadel and Gamecocks. But when they (The Citadel) play, I’m with the Bulldogs.
What is your 2025 Statehouse political prediction? We’ve got growing pains. No. 1, transportation. Charleston’s growing, the whole state’s growing, (and) housing.
Statehouse clips from around the state
South Carolina made a late entrance into Jayden Broadie‘s recruitment, but the Gamecocks made every moment count.
The three-star EDGE from Rolesville (N.C.) announced his commitment to Shane Beamer and South Carolina on July 4, choosing the Gamecocks after a recruitment that remained fluid until the final weeks.
Broadie originally planned to commit this summer before considering delaying his decision into the season. Everything changed after South Carolina offered following a standout camp performance.
His first trip to Columbia was when the offer was earned, and it immediately left an impression.
“After camp they took me on a tour and talked to me about everything,” Broadie told Rivals. “All the coaches showed me love and made me feel like I belonged there. They made me feel wanted.”
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Defensive ends coach Deion Barnes quickly became a major factor.
Barnes worked with Broadie throughout camp, spent extra one-on-one time with him before drills began and showed the type of investment the North Carolina standout wanted to see.
“He definitely pushed me hard,” Broadie said. “He pointed out what I could improve, but he also told me what I did well. I really liked how Coach Barnes really invested his time in me before camp even started. That showed his character.”
Broadie also connected with Beamer.
“I love Coach Beamer’s energy,” he said. “After they offered, he called me a few times and was fired up about me. I love how he carries himself.”
Those relationships ultimately separated South Carolina from the rest of the field.
“They made me feel like a priority,” Broadie said. “Coach Barnes was very invested in me. He told me I would have an opportunity to compete and play early. He made me feel like I could come in and make a difference on the defense.”
Playing in the SEC also appealed to Broadie.
“It is the best of the best,” he said. “You get to compete against the best competition and really see how good you are. That’s what excites me the most.”
Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw show off new Anson Point at Palmetto Bluff
The famed designers created a new course that perfectly fits its South Carolina Lowcountry environment.
BLUFFTON, S.C. – Anson Point, the latest design to open by the architectural team of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, is a welcomed change of pace in today’s market of high-profile course introductions. Its subtlety and Lowcountry charms offer a sense that the course has been there for decades.
Those sensations run contrary to most recent course openings in the Southeast. The past 10 years have seen a huge boom in high-profile private golf in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. In Florida we have seen Panther National, Apogee, High Grove, Soleta, the soon-to-open Miakka and a host of other developments. Georgia has welcomed Ohoopee Match Club and Fall Line. South Carolina has had The Tree Farm, Old Barnwell, Broomsedge, 21 Club and more come online. These offerings are all welcome additions to the golf scene, and they all feel big, bold and new.
Where those courses zig, Anson Point zags. The private course is located near the southern tip of Palmetto Bluff, a 20,000-acre waterfront development with three golf courses, a marina, two village centers, a Montage hotel and a wide selection of nature activities. The course plays inland through mostly pines and oaks before offering marshland views from multiple holes on the back nine.
Opened early this year, Anson Point wasn’t ready in time to qualify for the various 2026 course rankings within this magazine, but it’s easy to anticipate the layout landing coveted spots on the lists as enough raters play it. Palmetto Bluff’s two other courses are the Jack Nicklaus-designed May River, which opened in 2004, and the non-traditional, nine-hole Crossroads by Tad King and Rob Collins, which opened in 2024 and offers a reversible layout.
Unlike many courses within such large developments, including May River, Anson Point is void of surrounding homes. This adds greatly to the tranquility of the experience. Hats off to South Street Partners and Henderson Park, owners of Palmetto Bluff, for taking such an approach on their newest course.
“The scale and conservation ethos of Palmetto Bluff provided South Street with a unique opportunity to site Anson Point on 500 dedicated acres within which Coore and Crenshaw could design a ‘core golf course’ without any single-family homes fronting the course,” said Chris Randolph, managing partner at South Street Partners. “While direct golf frontage real estate has historically driven premium pricing that developers seek when justifying the cost of golf course and clubhouse construction, South Street believes proximity to a world-class golf experience alone should drive even higher premiums across the entirety of the community.”
This approach, which has been the model at several new courses but not all, works well for both golf and homeowners. Residents receive easy access and increased home values with the close affiliation to the course, yet they are not bothered by mowers early in the morning or golfers in their backyards. Most important, the homes don’t impact the golf.
In an era of frequently wide-open golf, Anson differs from many other new developments in that most internal holes — those away from Savannah River’s marsh with its long views toward Georgia — are framed by trees so that the longest view across the course is about 500 yards. This provides an intimate feel that showcases the subtle features incorporated by Coore and Crenshaw.
Coore spent ample time at Anson Point discovering a routing that takes golfers through the woods and out to the marsh on multiple occasions. Coore and Crenshaw associate Ryan Farrow was the on-site lead and handled much of the shaping. The green-to-tee walks are short, the fairways and greens hug the ground, the bunkering is sparse, and areas between the fairways and the woods vary based on what was there at the outset of the project. The design embraces all the features that were available, starting at No. 1.
“There was a really special little quarry area with exposed sand and mossy edges, and we sited No. 1 green right there and used that feature as our guiding light for how to best showcase the land,” Coore said. “That and the beautiful trees and marsh edges.”
There is a mixture of holes, long and short with doglegs left and right. A pair of three-hole stretches on each nine showcase the best of Anson Point.
The par-5 seventh starts wide and gently narrows all the way to the green – players have choices off the tee, on the second shot and all around the green. The long par-4 eighth looks straight in planning, but on the ground players should favor moving the ball left to right. The tiny par-3 ninth plays across a low sandy area to a green set on a diagonal from front-left to back-right.
On the back nine, the par-4 15th is drivable for many players, with a small bunker that looks greenside but is well short and must be avoided. The par-5 16th moves from right to left and is reachable for long hitters, but the hole location dictates how to attack. The long par-3 17th plays toward the marsh, starting in a narrow shoot before the hole opens up to a green with a strong flash at the back edge, all with views of Savannah some 10 miles across the water.
These are all the types of holes that would play differently day to day, and a member would learn the subtle nuances and strategies in time. If it were a resort course, Anson Point might feel a bit underwhelming, as it lacks elevation change, multiple water features and expansive bunkering. But as a member’s course, it is a shining example of the long-term relationship one would seek out.
“We worked hard to uncover and incorporate little details throughout, and I believe it is a golf course that will reveal itself over time,” Coore said. “I imagine members will like and appreciate it even more after years of play.”
At a time when golf development in the Southeast is booming, it is nice to see that a low-profile layout is still welcome in Lowcountry. Gwk
– Jay Blasi is a golf course architect based in California who writes occasional stories for Golfweek and hosts groups of Golfweek’s Best course raters around the world.
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 July 3, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from July 3 drawing
05-09-29-47-57, Mega Ball: 16
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL numbers from July 3 drawing
Midday: 6-8-5, FB: 0
Evening: 3-5-7, FB: 4
Check Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL numbers from July 3 drawing
Midday: 7-0-6-6, FB: 0
Evening: 5-8-1-1, FB: 4
Check Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from July 3 drawing
Midday: 12
Evening: 08
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Palmetto Cash 5 numbers from July 3 drawing
09-13-14-25-42
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.
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