South-Carolina

Guest Column: Ousting The 'Sister Senators' – FITSNews

Published

1 year ago

July 22, 2024

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Guest Column: Ousting The 'Sister Senators' – FITSNews

“This election proves that South Carolina is pro-life …”

by HOLLY GATLING

National Right to Life President Carol Tobias is fond of saying that the abortion industry has the money, but the pro-life movement has the people, and we will take the people over the money any time. That proved true in the South Carolina Republican primary elections June 11 and the runoff June 25, when pro-life voters turned out to defeat three extremist Republican pro-abortion women senators and replace them with pro-life candidates who have pledged to support South Carolina Citizens for Life’s life-saving legislation.

“These races show that South Carolina voters in the Republican primary care deeply about the protection of unborn children,” said Lisa Van Riper, president of South Carolina Citizens for Life (SCCL), the state’s oldest and largest single-issue right-to-life organization. “People need to be very careful when attempting to disregard this issue.”

***

The South Carolina Citizens for Life Action PAC contributed to the defeat of two of the three “Sister Senators” in the June 11 primary – and forced the third Sister Senator, Katrina Shealy, into a runoff on June 25 when she was soundly defeated by our PAC-endorsed candidate Carlisle Kennedy.

The “Sister Senators” is the name the secular news media gave to five pro-abortion women Senators, including three Republicans, who voted to defeat the Human Life Protection Act, and tried, but failed to defeat the Fetal Heartbeat and Protection from Abortion Act. So far, the Fetal Heartbeat Act has caused abortions occurring in South Carolina to decline by 80 percent, according to data maintained by the S. C. Department of Public Health (SCDPH).

On June 11, Sister Senator Sandy Senn lost to SCCL Action PAC endorsed candidate Matt Leber by 36 votes, the narrowest of the three victories. Mr. Leber, a pro-life member of the South Carolina House of Representatives, now moves up to the Senate.

***

Likewise, Sister Senator Penry Gustafson lost to SCCL Action PAC endorsed pro-life candidate Allen Blackmon by a resounding rejection vote of 82.07 percent to 17.93 percent, according to the South Carolina Election Commission.

Some news media reports claimed more than $350,000 funded the campaigns to re-elect the pro-abortion Sister Senators. South Carolina Citizens for Life and the SCCL Action PAC focused on pro-life identified voting lists, cost-effective and truthful social media, get-out-the vote advertisements, and the simple message: Vote Pro-Life. Vote for Carlisle Kennedy. Vote for Matt Leber. Vote for Allen Blackmon.

Once again, this election proves that South Carolina is pro-life, and voters will hold elected officials and candidates accountable to the unborn members of our human family who cannot yet vote.

***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR …

Holly Gatling is a 1972 graduate of the University of South Carolina College of Journalism, and a 2018 graduate of Divine Mercy University where she earned her Masters of Science in Psychology. She is the executive director of South Carolina Citizens for Life (SCCL).

***

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South-Carolina

South Carolina Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 results for Dec. 19, 2025

Published

9 hours ago

December 20, 2025

Press Room

South Carolina Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 results for Dec. 19, 2025

The South Carolina Education Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 19, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from Dec. 19 drawing

01-11-27-39-59, Mega Ball: 18

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL numbers from Dec. 19 drawing

Midday: 8-0-3, FB: 2

Evening: 1-0-0, FB: 6

Check Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL numbers from Dec. 19 drawing

Midday: 1-7-3-9, FB: 2

Evening: 7-1-9-3, FB: 6

Check Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from Dec. 19 drawing

Midday: 01

Evening: 14

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Palmetto Cash 5 numbers from Dec. 19 drawing

07-18-20-25-41

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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South-Carolina

Teacher salaries could increase under proposed South Carolina budget plan

Published

21 hours ago

December 19, 2025

Press Room

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.

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South-Carolina

South Carolina Lottery Pick 3, Pick 4 results for Dec. 18, 2025

Published

1 day ago

December 19, 2025

Press Room

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:

SC Education Lottery

P.O. Box 11039

Columbia, SC 29211-1039

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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