South-Carolina
Drought conditions spread across South Carolina
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCSC) – Recent hot and dry conditions have resulted in the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources upgrading all 46 of the states counties to some level of drought.
Charleston, Berkeley and Beaufort Counties are currently classified as incipient, while Dorchester and Colleton Counties are classified as moderate.
Hardest hit are 15 counties in the Pee Dee Region, including Williamsburg and Georgetown Counties, which have been upgraded from no drought to severe drought. State Climatologist Hope Mizzell said such an increase is unprecedented.
“The weather hasn’t exactly followed the rules over the last month,” Mizzell said. “We experienced a wet winter, a relatively wet spring and then June hit. The rain stopped and thermostat soared.”
Water levels in the Black River and the Little Pee Dee River are reaching critically low levels and conditions will continue to worsen without above normal rainfall in the coming weeks. Since early June, many parts of the state have received less than 2.5 inches of rain.
Joe Ghent, who represents the Pee Dee on the South Carolina Drought Response Committee, said most early planted corn in the region has been lost due to drought. The U.S. Farm Agency in South Carolina said many counties are looking at a 50 percent yield reduction in the corn crop.
If drought conditions continue, the 2024 cotton, soybean and peanut crops will also be affected.
High temperatures and low rainfall have also resulted in an increase in wildfire activity. Between June 1 and July 7, the South Carolina Forestry Commission responded to more than 200 wildfires, 77 percent higher than the state’s 10-year average.
The high number of fires is the result of the rapid evaporation of moisture in plants and soil due to elevated temperatures.
To prevent forest fires, the South Carolina Forestry Commission recommends that South Carolinians postpone outdoor burning whenever possible.
Copyright 2024 WCSC. All rights reserved.
South-Carolina
Trump jumps into 2 GOP governor primaries, backing Evette in South Carolina and Feenstra in Iowa – WTOP News
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — President Donald Trump endorsed two Republican gubernatorial candidates Friday, wading into contests in South Carolina and…
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — President Donald Trump endorsed two Republican gubernatorial candidates Friday, wading into contests in South Carolina and Iowa that have pitted allies against each other in a fierce competition for their party leader’s blessing.
In a pair of social media posts, Trump gave his backing to South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and Iowa Rep. Randy Feenstra, as primary elections in both states approach.
Iowa’s primary is Tuesday, and South Carolina’s is on June 9.
For two terms, Evette has served alongside Gov. Henry McMaster, one of Trump’s earliest backers during his first presidential campaign. Earlier this year, the long-serving governor endorsed his No. 2, telegraphing to some that Trump’s backing could be next.
On Friday, Trump expressed both appreciation for Evette and the state she represents, noting that she stumped for him in 2024. He also said “A BIG added plus” for her campaign is that Henry McMaster Jr. — the sitting governor’s son — may be Evette’s running mate.
In the deep red state of South Carolina, the competition for the president’s support has been the most intense part of the primary race.
In a separate post, Trump described Feenstra as “MAGA all the way” and said he would “fight tirelessly” for the state on issues including the economy, border security and support of law enforcement.
Both Evette and Feenstra have been vocal about wanting Trump’s endorsement, in the hopes that it would carry weight in states that helped propel Trump’s return to office in 2024. Feenstra said earlier this year that he asked for Trump’s support, and much of Evette’s campaign media has featured photos of her next to Trump.
Along with Feenstra, four other Republicans — state Rep. Eddie Andrews, businessman and former conservative political director Zach Lahn, former state Rep. Brad Sherman and former director of the state Department of Administrative Services Adam Steen — are in the primary to replace outgoing Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, who opted out of a third bid.
Evette is competing for the South Carolina nomination against Rep. Nancy Mace, Rep. Ralph Norman and state Attorney General Alan Wilson.
Both states are having their first competitive Republican gubernatorial primaries in years, with Reynolds and McMaster in office for roughly a decade each.
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Hannah Fingerhut contributed reporting from Des Moines, Iowa.
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Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://x.com/MegKinnardAP
Copyright
© 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WACH) — A loud boom was heard and felt across the Midlands around 5:30 p.m. on Thursday.
Viewers reported hearing and feeling the boom from as far as North Augusta to Darlington County.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, a M 0.0 sonic boom occurred 3.7 miles northeast of the St. Andrews area.
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