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SC lawmakers consider giving themselves pay raises

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SC lawmakers consider giving themselves pay raises


COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCSC) – South Carolina lawmakers could receive a higher salary next year, totaling $3 million in taxpayer dollars each year.

Under the proposal, all 170 members of the General Assembly would see an increase of $18,000 each year.

When senators approved their version of the next state budget, they also included a bipartisan provision to give all members of the General Assembly a raise to their monthly in-district compensation, which hasn’t been changed in more than three decades.

“We’ve been dealing with things in the budget to help other people deal with inflation, and I think it’s time that we try to take care, make sure that the people who are elected to serve as elected representatives maintain inflation and keep up with our expenses,” Sen. Shane Martin, R – Spartanburg, said.

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Lawmakers’ in-district compensation is a monthly reimbursement that is flexible on what it can be used for, but is meant for legislative work.

This proposal would increase that compensation from $12,000 a year to $30,000.

State lawmakers currently receive total pay of about $30,000 annually between the current in-district compensation, per diem money to pay for food and hotels when they’re in session in Columbia for about half the year, and their annual salary of around $10,000.

Some, like House Democratic Leader Todd Rutherford, who represents Richland County, said that pay is too low to attract candidates for office who represent all South Carolinians.

“It’s the rich, the retired, and the retained: those people that are independently wealthy and can afford to serve and don’t need the salary; those people that are lawyers and can move their time around for their pay; and those people that are retired, so they come down here and do it,” he said. “The average working-class person could never afford to serve in the General Assembly, and unless we do something about the pay, they never will.”

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More than a dozen senators voted against this proposal, with some saying it is not needed.

Others believe there’s merit to the idea but that it should’ve been worked out in a way that was more fully vetted and provided a chance for taxpayers and their constituents to weigh in as well.

Members of the House of Representatives would still need to approve this raise for it to be implemented.



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South-Carolina

South Carolina Elections Commission deputy executive director fired after internal investigation

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South Carolina Elections Commission deputy executive director fired after internal investigation


COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – The deputy executive director for the South Carolina Elections Commission has been fired amid an ongoing SLED investigation.

According to a spokesperson from the elections commission, Paige Salonich was fired after an internal investigation was made into her conduct. She was initially suspended while the investigation was ongoing.

In Salonich’s termination letter, the elections commission said that she was caught by agency security cameras placing “an unauthorized device in the SEC training room a clear violation of state and agency policy,” on Sept. 17.

In the letter, the commission said that placing the unauthorized device “constitutes the unauthorized use and misuse of state property and raises serious concerns regarding trust, confidentiality, and workplace integrity.”

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Salonich also allegedly used profane language and raised her voice at leadership on Sept. 17, saying that she “was being held hostage at you own (explicit language) job,” and that she “would never be a hostage in this (explicit language) place again,” per her termination letter.

Her termination comes after former Executive Director of the South Carolina Elections Commission, Howard Knapp, was also fired on Sept. 17.

SLED is currently investigating Salonich’s placement of the unauthorized device.

The full letter can be found below.

This is a developing story. Stay with WIS for the latest details.

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Firefighter hospitalized after McDonald’s restaurant catches fire in South Carolina

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Firefighter hospitalized after McDonald’s restaurant catches fire in South Carolina


SPARTANBURG, S.C. (WBTV) – A firefighter was hurt after a McDonald’s restaurant caught fire in South Carolina on Tuesday.

The Sept. 23 fire broke out around 12:30 a.m. at the McDonald’s on Cedar Springs Road in Spartanburg, per sister-station WHNS.

The local fire marshal told WHNS that the injured firefighter was taken to the hospital, but was released later Tuesday morning. The nature and extent of the firefighter’s injuries were not immediately clear.

According to online information, that McDonald’s was open until 12 a.m. Despite the fire starting only a half hour after closing time, WHNS reported that nobody was inside the restaurant when flames broke out.

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The fire marshal said the fire started in the restaurant’s HVAC system above the ceiling tiles. Drone video taken by WHNS appeared to show black marks on the McDonald’s roof; however, officials said the roof did not collapse.

Once the fire was put out, two paper signs were taped to the restaurant door. One said “CLOSED” while the other said “WARNING THIS BUILDING IS UNSAFE.” It is unclear how much damage was caused by the flames, or long the McDonald’s could be closed.

The restaurant is about 15 minutes off I-85 Business, on the southern side of Spartanburg.

A McDonald’s in Spartanburg, S.C. caught fire just after midnight on Tuesday, Sept. 23.(WHNS)

Also Read: Historic train depot burns down amid early-morning fire in South Carolina

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South Carolina High School Football Top 25

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South Carolina High School Football Top 25


There wasn’t a lot of shakeup in the fourth. week of the 2025 season. We did see ac top five battle between Northwestern and South Pointe that produced a new No. 2 in Irmo. Two new additions to the Top 25 are A.C. Flora and Stratford.

Previous rank: 1

Defeated Gray Collegiate 42-14; next at Oceanside Collegiate

Previous rank: 3

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Defeated Carolina Forest 51-21; next at Myrtle Beach

Previous rank: 4.

Defeated then-No. 2 Northwestern 27-23; next at No, 24 A.C. Flora

Previous rank: 5

Idle; next at Chapin

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Previous rank: 2

Lost 27-23 to then-No. 4 South Pointe

Previous rank: 6

Defeated Strom Thurmond 37-13; next vs. Gilbert

Previous rank: 7

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Defeated Westside 42-6; next vs, Palmetto

Previous rank: 8

Defeated North Myrtle Beach 53-14; next at Socastee

Previous rank: 10

Defeated Woodmont 48-6; next vs. Chesnee

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Previous rank: 11

Defeated Lexington 36-30; next at T.L. Hanna

Previous rank: 12

Defeated Chapin 45-22; next vs. Fairfield Central

Previous rank: 13

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Defeated Chester 34-14; next vs. Southside Christian

Previous rank: 14

Defeated Cane Bay 34-14; next at St. James

Previous rank: 16

Defeated Crestwood 28-0; next vs. Spring Valley

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Previous rank: 17

Idle; next vs. Gray Collegiate

Previous rank: 19

Defeated Fort Dorchester 65-7; next vs. Crestwood

Previous rank: 20

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Idle; next vs. Riverside

Previous rank: 21

Idle; next at Woodmont

Previous rank: 23

Defeated then-No. 9 Camden 56-13; next idle

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Previous rank: 22

Idle; next at Cane Bay

Previous rank: 24

Idle; next vs. Boiling Springs

Previous rank: 25

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Defeated Wren 40-27; next vs. Greenwood

Previous rank: 9

Lost 56-13 to Ridge View; next at Richland Northeast

Previous rank: unranked

Defeated Laurens 49-0; next vs. No. 3 South Pointe

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Previous rank: unranked

Defeated Socastee 56-12; next vs. Colleton County



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