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DECISION 2024: Two SC senators announce 2024 re-election campaigns

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DECISION 2024: Two SC senators announce 2024 re-election campaigns


COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – Two South Carolina Senators announced re-election campaigns on Monday before the official filing period for state elections opens on March 16. The two senators, Darrell Jackson and Vernon Stephens, both announced re-election in press releases sent out Monday morning.

Senator Darrell Jackson announced he would seek another term as the Richland County Senator serving South Carolina Senate District 21.

The state senator has been in office since 1992 and won a no-contest election for District 21 on November 3, 2020, taking 97 percent of the vote.

In an announcement to his constituents on Monday, March 4, 2024, Senator Jackson highlighted his work in the Senate. According to his campaign, 23 bills Jackson has sponsored have become statewide laws.

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“One piece of legislation that I am most proud of is the Family Leave Act, which became law in 2022,” said Jackson. “The Family Leave Act provides six weeks of paid family leave for eligible state employees who have just given birth or adopted a child.”

In his announcement, Senator Jackson highlighted his current work on a bipartisan effort to ensure that all children in South Carolina are properly fed during the summer months through a federally funded summer EBT program.

If re-elected, Senator Jackson will become the second-ranking Senator in the South Carolina Senate and its highest-ranking Democrat, following Senator Nikki Setzler’s retirement. As of now, no other candidates have officially announced their intention to run for South Carolina Senate District 21.

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Senator Vernon Stephens announced at a press conference Monday morning his intention to run for a second term as the South Carolina State Senator for Senate District 39, which includes Orangeburg, Berkeley, and Dorchester counties.

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He assumed office on November 9, 2020, after beating Republican Tom Connor in the general election for South Carolina State Senate District 39.

In a statement to his constituents on Monday, March 4, 2024, Senator Stephens pledged to keep working towards improving the quality of life and safeguarding the freedoms of all South Carolinians.

As of now, no other Democrat has officially declared their candidacy. However, Senator Vernon Stephens will have to run against Republican opponent Tom Fernandez.

“After many months of deliberation, seeking input from the people of Senate District 39, and prayer with family, I am excited to announce my candidacy for the South Carolina Senate,” Fernandez said in a conference announcing his senate bid in 2023.The people of District 39 demand a Senator who represents our conservative values.”

Fernandez has run twice for SC House District 100 in 2018 and 2020, losing both times in the Republican primary to incumbent Sylleste Davis.

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South Carolina Elections Commission deputy executive director fired after internal investigation

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South Carolina Elections Commission deputy executive director fired after internal investigation


COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – The deputy executive director for the South Carolina Elections Commission has been fired amid an ongoing SLED investigation.

According to a spokesperson from the elections commission, Paige Salonich was fired after an internal investigation was made into her conduct. She was initially suspended while the investigation was ongoing.

In Salonich’s termination letter, the elections commission said that she was caught by agency security cameras placing “an unauthorized device in the SEC training room a clear violation of state and agency policy,” on Sept. 17.

In the letter, the commission said that placing the unauthorized device “constitutes the unauthorized use and misuse of state property and raises serious concerns regarding trust, confidentiality, and workplace integrity.”

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Salonich also allegedly used profane language and raised her voice at leadership on Sept. 17, saying that she “was being held hostage at you own (explicit language) job,” and that she “would never be a hostage in this (explicit language) place again,” per her termination letter.

Her termination comes after former Executive Director of the South Carolina Elections Commission, Howard Knapp, was also fired on Sept. 17.

SLED is currently investigating Salonich’s placement of the unauthorized device.

The full letter can be found below.

This is a developing story. Stay with WIS for the latest details.

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Firefighter hospitalized after McDonald’s restaurant catches fire in South Carolina

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Firefighter hospitalized after McDonald’s restaurant catches fire in South Carolina


SPARTANBURG, S.C. (WBTV) – A firefighter was hurt after a McDonald’s restaurant caught fire in South Carolina on Tuesday.

The Sept. 23 fire broke out around 12:30 a.m. at the McDonald’s on Cedar Springs Road in Spartanburg, per sister-station WHNS.

The local fire marshal told WHNS that the injured firefighter was taken to the hospital, but was released later Tuesday morning. The nature and extent of the firefighter’s injuries were not immediately clear.

According to online information, that McDonald’s was open until 12 a.m. Despite the fire starting only a half hour after closing time, WHNS reported that nobody was inside the restaurant when flames broke out.

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The fire marshal said the fire started in the restaurant’s HVAC system above the ceiling tiles. Drone video taken by WHNS appeared to show black marks on the McDonald’s roof; however, officials said the roof did not collapse.

Once the fire was put out, two paper signs were taped to the restaurant door. One said “CLOSED” while the other said “WARNING THIS BUILDING IS UNSAFE.” It is unclear how much damage was caused by the flames, or long the McDonald’s could be closed.

The restaurant is about 15 minutes off I-85 Business, on the southern side of Spartanburg.

A McDonald’s in Spartanburg, S.C. caught fire just after midnight on Tuesday, Sept. 23.(WHNS)

Also Read: Historic train depot burns down amid early-morning fire in South Carolina

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South Carolina High School Football Top 25

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South Carolina High School Football Top 25


There wasn’t a lot of shakeup in the fourth. week of the 2025 season. We did see ac top five battle between Northwestern and South Pointe that produced a new No. 2 in Irmo. Two new additions to the Top 25 are A.C. Flora and Stratford.

Previous rank: 1

Defeated Gray Collegiate 42-14; next at Oceanside Collegiate

Previous rank: 3

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Defeated Carolina Forest 51-21; next at Myrtle Beach

Previous rank: 4.

Defeated then-No. 2 Northwestern 27-23; next at No, 24 A.C. Flora

Previous rank: 5

Idle; next at Chapin

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Previous rank: 2

Lost 27-23 to then-No. 4 South Pointe

Previous rank: 6

Defeated Strom Thurmond 37-13; next vs. Gilbert

Previous rank: 7

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Defeated Westside 42-6; next vs, Palmetto

Previous rank: 8

Defeated North Myrtle Beach 53-14; next at Socastee

Previous rank: 10

Defeated Woodmont 48-6; next vs. Chesnee

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Previous rank: 11

Defeated Lexington 36-30; next at T.L. Hanna

Previous rank: 12

Defeated Chapin 45-22; next vs. Fairfield Central

Previous rank: 13

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Defeated Chester 34-14; next vs. Southside Christian

Previous rank: 14

Defeated Cane Bay 34-14; next at St. James

Previous rank: 16

Defeated Crestwood 28-0; next vs. Spring Valley

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Previous rank: 17

Idle; next vs. Gray Collegiate

Previous rank: 19

Defeated Fort Dorchester 65-7; next vs. Crestwood

Previous rank: 20

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Idle; next vs. Riverside

Previous rank: 21

Idle; next at Woodmont

Previous rank: 23

Defeated then-No. 9 Camden 56-13; next idle

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Previous rank: 22

Idle; next at Cane Bay

Previous rank: 24

Idle; next vs. Boiling Springs

Previous rank: 25

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Defeated Wren 40-27; next vs. Greenwood

Previous rank: 9

Lost 56-13 to Ridge View; next at Richland Northeast

Previous rank: unranked

Defeated Laurens 49-0; next vs. No. 3 South Pointe

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Previous rank: unranked

Defeated Socastee 56-12; next vs. Colleton County



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