South-Carolina
S.C. House backs tax breaks for 98% of small businesses
COLUMBIA, S.C – A bill passed by the House could provide relief to small business owners. House lawmakers said the bill will ease the tax burden on 98 percent of South Carolina’s small businesses.
The House passed a bill that would change how the state taxes business property. Every year businesses must report and pay tax on their furniture and equipment if used for business purposes. The bill lets small businesses exclude the first $10,000 of equipment from the tax.
Lawmakers backing the measure said businesses already pay tax when they buy these items and most depreciate after being purchased. The bill impacts 98 percent of South Carolina small businesses according to lawmakers.
To qualify you must pay income taxes in South Carolina, be independently owned and operated and have fewer than 100 employees or make less than $10 million in annual sales. The bill passed the House unanimously.
Thomas Rhodes of Rhodes Companies said he pays hundreds of dollars every year on a depreciating asset in his printer and said the bill can help small businesses like his and others starting out.
“It’s really going to help the small mom and pop businesses that have equipment but not a lot of equipment yet their having to file this ridiculous business personal property tax every year to their local county,” Rhodes said.
Business personal property tax goes to the county a business is located in to help fund public services like schools and infrastructure. A report by the South Carolina Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office said the bill could reduce local property taxes by $9 million.
Counties like Richland said they may raise millage rates to make up for the lost revenue. These are estimates and could change if eventually becoming law.
The bill now heads to the Senate.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. 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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