South-Carolina
Proposed bill offers a solution to South Carolina’s affordable housing crisis
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) – A South Carolina lawmaker has prefilled a bill that will help to elevate the affordable housing crisis.
If passed this bill would allow South Carolina churches to build tax-free affordable homes.
Officials believe this bill will satisfy the mission of churches to give back to their communities while also combatting the affordable housing crisis.
Rep. Wendell Jones of District 25 along with other elected officials prefilled the bill known as H. 4544., which will allow churches to build affordable housing without being taxed.
Jones says there is an affordable housing shortage in every county of South Carolina as well as an uptick in rent, and the cost of single-family homes.
Seeing that churches are already tax-exempt, this bill would allow these institutes to provide land for projects, which brings down the cost of building affordable housing and makes it easier to create these projects.
If this bill is passed churches would have to create a for-profit and maintain at least 10% ownership of the new development.
This would provide taxable income that will go back to the state.
As a pastor, Jones is excited about the potential of this bill and shares the feedback he has received from the public.
“They are absolutely excited about it. Honestly, I’m very grateful because, with any public policy, you kind of brace yourself for pushback. I haven’t I haven’t seen a lot of that”, Jones said. “Many people feel it’s a creative way of doing it. It’s a win for all aspects of community. It also gives our churches a wonderful opportunity. To have a new group of people to offer their services to.”
Jones says even though we send one individual to represent us It is a team effort.
“Citizens in South Carolina get to advocate to you get to call the chairpersons of those committees”, Jones said. “You get to call your local officials and say I really support this bill and I need your support this bill. Our goal is to be representatives who represent the desires of the people.”
Jones says it’s a long process before this bill makes it to the Senate, but a bill this impactful should be thoroughly reviewed before citizens have to comply.
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An 87-year-old businessman in Columbia, South Carolina says he has no plans to retire.
Leonard Fabrizio works as a retailer at Brittons of Columbia, a locally-owned men’s clothing store.
“I’m not the type of person who can sit around by myself,” said Fabrizio. “I just enjoy the interaction and that’s the big thing, is the interaction with people. It’s always been the drive in this business for me, said Fabrizio.
Fabrizio’s retail career began as a college student when he worked at J.C. Penney. He has watched Columbia grow and has owned a store and managed several others.
His advice is to “Be patient. It takes time to build a business. It doesn’t happen overnight, but it’s rewarding. It’s fun. But you have to have compassion for the business.”
Fabrizio recently celebrated another birthday alongside those who have supported his career.
(WPDE) — June 9 marked International Batten Disease Awareness Day, shining a light on a rare, inherited neurodegenerative disorder.
It primarily affects children and causes harmful waste material to build up inside the cells of the brain and nervous system.
One South Carolina family used the day to raise awareness as their 2-year-old son, Sam Stockton, lives with CLN2 Batten disease.
Sam was diagnosed at 16 weeks old, and his family says they travel every other week for enzyme-replacement therapy while also searching for clinical research opportunities.
Through Hope for Sam, the family is working to spread information about Batten disease and support other families facing rare diseases.
“Just the more you know about rare diseases, I never knew that over 300 million people worldwide live with rare diseases. And that means there’s less access to care because people aren’t researching it and not as many people have it. So the more information that’s out there, we feel is the better,” Jordan Stockton said.
There are 13 known types of Batten disease, and there is no cure. Researchers estimate the disease affects about two to four out of every 100,000 births in the United States.
The Stockton family says they have found support through the Batten Disease Support, Research and Advocacy Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to helping families navigate the disease while providing resources.
More information and donation details are available at this link.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WACH) — Contestants in the 2026 Miss South Carolina and Miss South Carolina’s Teen competitions will showcase their talents on Thursday at the Township Auditorium.
Miss South Carolina’s Teen’s Got Talent is set to begin at 5 p.m., followed by Miss South Carolina’s Got Talent at 7 p.m.
READ MORE | Miss South Carolina kicks off with preliminary rounds
The talent competitions are part of the weeklong Miss South Carolina Scholarship Organization competition, which brings delegates from across the state to Columbia to compete for scholarships and the opportunity to represent South Carolina on the national stage.
READ MORE | Miss South Carolina’s Teen preliminary round begins
Contestants competed in fitness, evening wear, and onstage question preliminaries on Wednesday, while Miss South Carolina’s Teen contestants completed their preliminary competition on Tuesday.
Preliminary winners include:
Preliminary Fitness Award winners:
- Jenna Huggins, Miss Clemson
- Lindsay Jones, Miss Charleston
- Reagan McMahon, Miss Chapin
Preliminary Evening Gown Award winners:
- Mary Kimball Osborn, Miss Palmetto
- Chelby Drafts, Miss Golden Corner
- Reagan McMahon, Miss Chapin
Teen Preliminary Fitness Award winners:
- Alissa Claire Rhodes, Miss Fox Creek High School’s Teen
- Kamryn Mathis, Miss Greer High School’s Teen
- Logan Wells, Miss Palmetto’s Teen
Teen Preliminary Evening Gown Award winners:
- Logan Wells, Miss Palmetto’s Teen
- Cleo Floyd-Johnstone, Miss Ballentine’s Teen
- Kursten Long, Miss Newberry’s Teen
The Miss South Carolina’s Teen finals are set for Friday night, while the Miss South Carolina finals will take place Saturday.
Watch the 2026 Miss South Carolina Competition LIVE at 8:00 PM on Saturday, June 20. Tune in on WACH FOX 57 in Columbia, ABC 4 in Charleston, ABC 15 in Myrtle Beach/Florence, and My40 in the Upstate.
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