South-Carolina
SC lawmaker wants to ensure paid parental leave covers stillbirths
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – A South Carolina lawmaker is asking the state’s attorney general to weigh in after grieving families claimed their requests for paid leave from work were denied following stillbirths.
Three years ago, the governor signed a bill into law that provides up to six weeks of paid family leave to state employees who welcome a new child via birth, adoption, or fostering.
The next year, it was expanded to also cover South Carolina’s public school teachers, through a bipartisan bill filed by Rep. Neal Collins, R – Pickens.
But recently, Collins found out at least three school districts in the state, which he declined to identify, had denied paid leave requests to employees who experienced stillbirths.
“It’s just a weird interpretation of the law to me,” he said. “The qualifying event is a birth, and to say a stillbirth is not a birth under this scenario, it goes against the intent of what I was trying to do.”
One of the groups that alerted Collins was the Palmetto State Teachers Association, which said these are limited instances but nonetheless concerning.
“Completely out of line with the spirit of the law,” said Patrick Kelly, PSTA’s director of government affairs. “The law was designed to support the experience of a new parent, both physically, mentally, emotionally. Second, it’s just inhumane.”
Kelly, who also teaches high school in Richland County, said decisions like these can hurt staff morale beyond the one employee.
“I don’t want to work in a district that doesn’t value their employees enough to come alongside them in what is one of the most tragic and heartbreaking things that a new mother can experience. Just put people first,” he said.
Collins said at least two of the districts have since changed their policies to say stillbirths are covered and granted the time off they initially declined.
“But even in that scenario, the mother came back before she otherwise would have,” he added.
Collins has asked for an opinion from South Carolina’s attorney general on whether parents who experience stillbirths are eligible for paid time off under the existing law.
He also plans to file legislation that would clarify it in state code, so no other grieving parents go through this confusion.
“I’m never too optimistic of what we’re going to do in Columbia, but I’m hopeful on this one,” Collins said.
Once that bill is filed, lawmakers can take it up for consideration when they return to the State House next January to begin a new legislative session.
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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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