Former Mount Pleasant police chief Carl Ritchie will now serve as Charleston County’s top cop after winning a close race Tuesday night against Democratic incumbent Kristin Graziano.
“I’m going to get to work right away,” Ritchie told supporters at a watch party in Mount Pleasant.
“I’m going to meet with folks I need to in Charleston County government and start talking about how we can start righting the ship.”
Ritchie touts more than 30 years of local law enforcement experience and was elected to Mount Pleasant town council after retiring as the community’s police chief in 2021.
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His win is a sharp departure from the county’s current sheriff and puts the office once again under Republican leadership as it was for decades until Graziano was elected in 2020.
“In a world that’s often clouded by hate and division, I ask that you, let’s choose a path of unity,” Sheriff Graziano told reporters Wednesday as she conceded the election.
“Let’s rise about this negativity. Embrace some kindness for once.”
Graziano was the first woman and openly gay sheriff to be elected. She immediately fulfilled a campaign promise to end a voluntary agreement with federal authorities that relied on local deputies to help ICE deport immigrants. Graziano argued then, the agreement was costly and created distrust in minority communities.
This election year, immigration became a top issue for Republican candidates nationwide, including South Carolina Congresswoman Nancy Mace. In recent months, Mace took aim at Graziano, accusing the sheriff of letting immigrants “run wild.” Mace easily won her re-election bid last night.
“It’s unfortunate that they want to take a national issue and make it a local problem,” Graziano said. “Charleston’s better than that.”
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But accusations involving immigration aren’t the only issue Graziano faced. More than a dozen inmates have died in detention during her time as sheriff, prompting a federal investigation into potential abuse. Also, reports of inadequate staffing have plagued her tenure.
As for what she’ll do next, Graziano told reporters she’s focused now on her final months in office. Ritchie will take the reins as sheriff in January 2025.
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) — Omar Croskey scored 20 points as South Carolina State beat Alabama A&M 82-70 on Friday night.
Croskey went 7 of 12 from the field (6 for 9 from 3-point range) for the Bulldogs (3-3). Davion Everett scored 12 points while finishing 5 of 6 from the floor and added five rebounds.
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The Bulldogs (3-3) were led in scoring by Anthony Bryant and Chad Moodie with 16 points apiece. Lorenzo Downey had 14 points.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Sophia Boman and Sophia Romine scored in the second half to lift the Gophers to a 2-1 victory over South Carolina in the second round of the NCAA women’s soccer tournament on Friday in Chapel Hill, N.C.
The Gophers (14-4-3) advanced to the third round of the NCAA tournament for only the third time in program history and the first time since 2010. On Sunday, the Gophers will play the winner of North Carolina/Santa Clara, who played later Friday.
South Carolina, in the NCAA tournament for the 12th consecutive season, took a 1-0 lead on Katie Shea’s goal in the eighth minute.
Boman’s eighth goal of the season, coming on a penalty kick in the 56th minute, tied the match. Fellow graduate student Romine gave the Gophers the lead 13 minutes later, scoring on a shot from nearly 30 yards out on her fifth goal of 2024.
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In the Gophers’ 2-0 victory over South Dakota State in the first round on Nov. 15, Boman scored both goals in the second half, one on a penalty kick.
Gophers sophomore goalkeeper Sarah Martin made one save as the Gophers had an 8-2 advantage in shots on goal.
South Carolina defeated East Carolina 6-0 in the first round.
No, NASCAR fans, your eyes do not deceive you. Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his famous No. 8 car are back.
Earnhardt will participate in the South Carolina 400 this weekend, marking the first time in 17 years that he will drive a car featuring the Budweiser paint scheme. He has finished ninth (2022) and eighth (2023) in the past two runnings of the South Carolina 400, so he is hoping that the old-school look will lead to a throwback performance.
“It is an incredible opportunity for me to be able to reunite with Budweiser, and the No. 8,” Earnhardt said. “Budweiser and I had some great memories with that iconic scheme and number. We’ve always supported each other over the years. It’s going to be really special for me to be able to represent that brand on the racetrack again.”
Here is everything you need to know about the South Carolina 400, including information on how to watch Earnhardt’s return in the No. 8 car.
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How to watch Dale Earnhardt Jr. in South Carolina 400: TV channel, live stream
The South Carolina 400 will not air on a national TV channel. You can stream the event on FloRacing, which gives subscribers access to live streams, event replays and FloSports Originals.
South Carolina 400 schedule
Dates: Friday, Nov. 22 | Saturday, Nov. 23
The South Carolina 400 is a two-day event that will be held at Florence Motor Speedway in Timmonsville, S.C. You can see the full schedule below.
Friday, Nov. 22
Time (ET)
Event
8:30 a.m.
Pit Gates Open
9 a.m.
Tire Area Opens
11:15 a.m.
Drivers Meeting
11:45 a.m.
Practice Round One
2 p.m.
Practice Round Two
3:30 p.m.
Pre-Qualifying Tech: Limited/Super Truck
4:30 p.m.
Qualifying
6 p.m.
Pre-Race Ceremonies/Features
Saturday, Nov. 23
Time (ET)
Event
7:30 a.m.
Trailer Parking
8 a.m.
Pit Gates Open
8:30 a.m.
Late Model Tire Area Opens
11:15 a.m.
Drivers Meeting
11:45 a.m.
Practice Round One
1:40 p.m.
Practice Round Two
3:15 p.m.
Pre-Qualifying Tech: Late Model Stocks
3:30 p.m.
Grandstands Open
4:15 p.m.
Qualifying
6 p.m.
Pre-Race Ceremonies/Racing Begins
South Carolina 400 entry list
Car No.
Driver
1
Jamie York
2
Brandon Pierce
2
Ryan Wilson
4
Kade Brown
4
Jake Crum
5
Dexter Canipe III
5
Jake Vuncannon
5
Bryant Barnhill
7
Tristan McKee
8
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
13
Cody Kelley
14
Jared Fryar
14
Vicente Salas
15
Ryan Millington
15
Jonathan Shafer
16
Casey Kelley
17
Josh Berry
18
Alex Meggs
18
Truett Miranda
18
Anthony Adams
18
Max Reaves
18
David Roberts
19
Adam Congrove
22
Carson Loftin
27
Matt Gould
28
Ryan Glenski
28
Landon Rapp
28
Landon S. Huffman
29
Brent Crews
32
Zack Miracle
32
Caden Kvapil
44
Conner Jones
45
Mason Diaz
47
Ryley Music
51
Matt Cox
51
Donovan Strauss
55
Mark Wertz
55
Lanie Buice
57
Landon Huffman
61
Justin Hicks
70
Stuart Ricks
71
Aaron Donnelly
77
Treyten Lapcevich
77
Darren Krantz Jr.
88
Doug Barnes Jr.
88
Duncan Grant
92
Bradley Means
95
Jacob Heafner
95
Sam Yarbrough
97
Michael Bumgarner
99
Austin Somero
00
Chase Burrow
00
Jamie Weatherford
03
Brenden Queen
04
Ronnie Bassett Jr.
09
Riley Gentry
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