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SC lawmakers to take a closer look at modernizing, improving state roads

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SC lawmakers to take a closer look at modernizing, improving state roads


COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – One of the issues South Carolina lawmakers say they hear about all the time from constituents is the shape of the state’s roads.

They have some ideas on how to improve them but want to first hear directly from South Carolinians on what challenges they face during their daily commutes.

It will be part of the work of a new committee at the State House, which will take a closer look at the South Carolina Department of Transportation.

House Speaker Murrell Smith, who established the new South Carolina Department of Transportation Modernization Ad Hoc Committee, said its formation is not meant to criticize SCDOT but to improve and modernize it.

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“This job is not to fix potholes. This is not to widen roads. Those are all being done right now. But it’s to build a foundation for long-term growth, safety and opportunity,” Smith, (R–Sumter), said.

It comes as South Carolina’s growth shows no signs of stopping.

But its infrastructure has not always kept up.

“When our road system was built, it was probably built with 2.5 million to 3 million people in mind,” Smith said, compared to the approximately 5.5 million people estimated to now call South Carolina home. “We have 71,000 miles of state roads, being one of the largest road systems per capita in this whole country, and so we have a lot of challenges.”

Areas where the Speaker wants the committee to focus include congestion, permitting reform and SCDOT’s organizational structure.

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He also wants them to figure out whether South Carolina needs to revisit its decades-old toll statute and look at how it raises money to fix infrastructure, including potential new resident fees and raising the registration fee that electric vehicle owners pay.

“I do not think that we need to raise the gas tax. We just came off the gas tax increase over the last few years. If you look at where South Carolina is in comparison to other states, we’re right in the middle,” Smith said.

Not mentioned was determining whether the state should turn over control of more roads to local governments.

Gov. Henry McMaster believes that question is worth taking a closer look.

“I think that’s a good idea,” McMaster told reporters. “The specifics would have to be determined, but as you know, we have in South Carolina seems like all our roads are state-owned roads. There are some very large states that don’t have as many miles of state highway miles.”

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Over the months ahead, this committee will be traveling around the state and holding public hearings.

Its goal is to have legislation and recommendations ready by the time the full General Assembly reconvenes in Columbia next January.

In response to the committee’s formation, the South Carolina Department of Transportation said it has made significant progress since the passage of the landmark 2017 roads bill, which implemented an increase to the state’s gas tax, which funds infrastructure improvements.

Nearly $7 billion in road and bridge construction is underway now, according to SCDOT.

“We recognize that there is more work to do and we look forward to working with the Study Committee to build upon that progress. South Carolina has grown and changed tremendously and we are committed to delivering a transportation system that will serve our state for generations to come,” the agency said in a statement.

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How to Watch Oklahoma’s Top 15 Clash With Ole Miss

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How to Watch Oklahoma’s Top 15 Clash With Ole Miss


Oklahoma is once again at the center of an exciting weekend in the Southeastern Conference. 

Brent Venables’ Sooners shook off the loss to Texas with a poised showing against South Carolina. 

OU leaned on its running game and a dominant defensive showing to power past the Gamecocks 26-7 in the program’s first-ever trip to Williams-Brice Stadium, which set up a top 15 matchup and another first. 

Ole Miss makes its inaugural trip to Gaylord-Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on Saturday (11 a.m., ABC). Lane Kiffin’s squad notched a 26-14 win over the Sooners last year in Oxford, extending the Rebels’ all-time lead in the series to 2-0. 

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Mississippi first defeated Oklahoma 27-25 in the 1999 Independence Bowl in Bob Stoops’ first year in Norman. 

Both teams look significantly different than the teams that contested last year’s matchup. 

Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart moved on to the NFL, where he now starts for the New York Giants, while the OU starting quarterback, Jackson Arnold, is struggling at Auburn.

John Mateer replaced Arnold in Norman, and he also enjoyed a bounce-back performance over the weekend. 

He wasn’t asked to push the ball too far downfield in his second start since undergoing hand surgery, but Mateer did plenty. 

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Mateer completed 18-of-26 passes for 150 yards and a touchdown against South Carolina, and he added 14 rushing yards on eight carries. Crucially, he avoided turning the ball over, which has been a small blip on even his best performances in an OU uniform so far. 

True freshman running back Tory Blaylock got the biggest workload on the ground, carrying the ball 19 times for 101 yards and a touchdown, and sophomore Xavier Robinson paired with Blaylock to rush 11 times for 58 yards and a touchdown. 

The new Rebel leader is Ferris State transfer Trinidad Chambliss

He took hold of the starting quarterback spot for Ole Miss after Austin Simmons sustained an injury earlier this year, and Chambliss hasn’t looked back. 

Chambliss has completed 62.7 percent of his passes this year for 1,549 yards and eight touchdowns while throwing only one interception. He’s also totaled 323 rushing yards and five scores on the ground on 70 carries.

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He completed 19-of-36 passes for 263 yards and one touchdown in Saturday’s 43-35 loss to Georgia, which represented the first setback of the year for Ole Miss. 

Texas A&M and Alabama remain the only two teams that have yet to lose in SEC play this year, and OU and Mississippi are two of six teams with one loss in conference play so far. Saturday’s battle between the Sooners and the Rebels represents another key matchup in the race to see which two teams will battle for the SEC Championship in Atlanta this winter. 



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New documentary spotlighting Alzheimer’s, dementia care in SC to screen in the Midlands

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New documentary spotlighting Alzheimer’s, dementia care in SC to screen in the Midlands


COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – A new documentary screening soon in the Midlands puts a new spotlight on Alzheimer’s and dementia care in South Carolina

Two free screenings of “My Mama Joe: Hope & Help” will be held on Nov. 6 and 7, with the first being at Claflin University in Orangeburg. The second screening will be held at the Nickelodeon Theater in Columbia.

The film is described as a powerful story of love, caregiving and finding strength through the challenges of dementia.

Both screenings are free and open to the public, but registration is required.

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Click here for more information.

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Watch Oklahoma LB Kendal Daniels Talk OU’s Win at South Carolina

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Watch Oklahoma LB Kendal Daniels Talk OU’s Win at South Carolina


RYAN CHAPMAN

Ryan is co-publisher at Sooners On SI and covers a number of sports in and around Norman and Oklahoma City.

Working both as a journalist and a sports talk radio host, Ryan has covered the Oklahoma Sooners, the Oklahoma City Thunder, the United States Men’s National Soccer Team, the Oklahoma City Energy and more.

Since 2019, Ryan has simultaneously pursued a career as both a writer and a sports talk radio host, working for the Flagship for Oklahoma sports, 107.7 The Franchise, as well as AllSooners.com.

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Ryan serves as a contributor to The Franchise’s website, TheFranchiseOK.com, which was recognized as having the “Best Website” in 2022 by the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters.

Ryan holds an associate’s degree in Journalism from Oklahoma City Community College in Oklahoma City, OK. 



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