South-Carolina
SC Rep. James Clyburn votes against spending plan for lack of healthcare tax credits
Impact of the longest government shutdown in US history
USA TODAY’s Washington bureau chief lays out of the impact of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.
The federal government shutdown ended late on Nov. 12 after President Donald Trump signed a temporary spending plan.
All of South Carolina’s Republican delegation in the House of Representatives voted in favor of the spending plan when it came before their chamber.
This week’s About Politics examines South Carolina representative’s response to the government shutdown, one congresswoman’s increased security push, and why one political candidate says he is running against Lindsey Graham.
House members on government shutdown
The U.S. government is back open after 43 days of shutdown. President Trump signed a temporary spending plan into place late at night on Nov. 12, meaning that furloughed employees will be back at work and crucial government programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will be funded.
The temporary spending plan passed the House in a 222 to 209 vote. All six of South Carolina’s Republican House members voted for the bill. The lone Democrat, 6th-District Rep. James Clyburn, voted against the policy.
Clyburn said on X that he opposes the bill because it fails to extend Obamacare tax credits that have kept healthcare costs down for millions of Americans.
“As a result of this bill, Americans will continue to experience painful sticker shock when they see their new healthcare premiums,” Clyburn said. “The end of this shutdown does not mean the end of Democrats’ fight to ensure that health care in this country is accessible and affordable for all.”
South Carolina’s Republican House members commended the end to the shutdown, while pointing a finger at their Democratic peers for holding out on a spending plan.
U.S. Rep. Sheri Biggs, R-District 3, wrote on X that she spent the weeks of the shutdown traveling across her district and connecting with people who were impacted.
“While Democrats were playing political games at risk of American families, we remained focused on doing right for our people and rejecting their radical demands,” Biggs wrote. “Now, it’s time to move forward, and get back to work for South Carolina and continuing in our America First agenda.”
U.S. Rep. Timmons writes op-ed on impacts of shutdown on veterans
U.S. Rep. William Timmons, R-District 4, wrote an op-ed for The Washington Reporter on Nov. 11 about the impacts that the government shutdown was having on veterans and their families. He said that the shutdown caused delays in career counseling, job trainings and adaptive employment support for veterans. The congressman also pointed to weeks of delays for new disability claims and limited communication from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
“These are not just statistics,” Timmons wrote. “They are real people who have served our country and are trying to move forward in civilian life. Every day that services were delayed made reintegration harder for them and their families.”
He said that some Senate Democrats’ decision to switch their votes in support of a spending plan “cannot come soon enough.”
Nancy Mace gets federal security at Lowcountry office
U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace’s office in Charleston now has a full time security detail, according to her staff. The Republican congresswoman who represents South Carolina’s 1st District claims to receive over 1,300 credible threats every year.
U.S. Capitol Police worked with the Charleston Police Department after an incident with the congresswoman’s security detail at the Charleston International Airport in late October, according to her office. The dispute between Mace and the airport started after a mixup involving Mace’s arrival at the airport and the security detail that was supposed to escort her through the facility.
Mace said in a statement that she is grateful for both departments’ work to provide security at the office.
“Unfortunately, it took an airport falsifying police reports and retaliating against a Member of Congress to wake everyone up to the reality of the threats we face daily,” Mace stated.
Alan Wilson supports posting Ten Commandments in classrooms
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson and 17 other state attorneys general signed a friend-of-the-court brief in support of a Louisiana law requiring a display of the Ten Commandments in public schools. The brief was filed after an appeals court deemed the law unconstitutional.
Kentucky, Idaho, Mississippi and Utah were among other state attorneys general who signed onto the brief. The group of attorneys general argued that acknowledgements of how the Ten Commandments influenced America’s heritage are common. The commandments displayed in the U.S. Supreme Court building is a representation of their impact on the legal system, the brief stated.
“Our society is healthier and stronger when we have more religion in public life — not less,” Wilson said. “It is time to end the left’s war on religion.”
Paul Dans speaks with Tucker Carlson on Senate race
Author of Project 2025 and Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Paul Dans spoke to conservative political commentator Tucker Carlson on his bid against Incumbent Sen. Lindsey Graham. Tucker introduced Dans and said he is grateful for Dans running “not as a protest candidate,” but as someone who has been involved in policy making.
“My motives are not personal. I’ve always liked Lindsey Graham, but I think he’s very obviously evil and if he is the face of the Republican Party, normal people can’t support it including me,” Carlson said.
Dans said he is running to make sure that the Make America Great Again (MAGA) and America Firm movements survive beyond Trump’s presidency. The candidate said his primary values as a candidate are god, family and country.
“I cannot sit back and watch someone like Lindsey Graham represent our state,” Dans said.
Greenville businessman Mark Lynch is also running in the Republican Senate primary. There are five Democrats in the primary: Charleston pediatrician Dr. Annie Andrews, Greenville business owner Brandon Brown, Columbia preservationist Catherine Fleming Bruce, Columbia logistics professional Kyle Freeman and Myrtle Beach resident Christopher Giracello.
The independent candidates are Jack Ellison of Charleston, Cindy Glaser of Fountain Inn and Paul Sedletsky of North Myrtle Beach. Kasie Whitener, a businessowner and writer residing in Blythewood, is also running as a Libertarian.
Bella Carpentier covers the South Carolina legislature, state, and Greenville County politics. Contact her at bcarpentier@gannett.com
Columbia, Mo. — The South Carolina softball team (25-21, 4-13) dropped the second game of its series at Missouri (24-23, 7-10) 5-0 Saturday night (Apr. 18).
Kai Byars led the Gamecocks with a pair of doubles on the night. It was her second multi-hit game of the season and her first game with multiple extra base hits.
The Tigers scored a run in the third inning without the aid of a hit. They would extend the lead and add four more in the fourth.
Carolina’s best opportunity for a run came in third. Byars doubled to lead off the inning and Shae Anderson followed with a bunt single. A double play on a potential sacrifice fly ended the rally.
Emma Friedel (8-4) took the loss, allowing one run on no hits in 3 1-3 innings. She struck out six and walked three.
The rubber game of the series will be tomorrow at 2 p.m. ET.
Audi Crooks on being in the transfer portal
USAT’s Sam Cardona-Norberg catches up with college basketball star Audi Crooks, who is still looking for her next team.
Sports Seriously
Jordan Lee entered the transfer portal after a breakout season at Texas and the junior guard isn’t going too far. She’s staying in the Southeastern Conference.
Lee announced on Instagram Friday that she’s transferring to South Carolina to play for Dawn Staley after spending the first two years of her collegiate career at Texas under Vic Schaefer. Lee captioned her Instagram post, which featured a video montage of her visit to Columbia, South Carolina, “Feeling cocky.”
Lee was one of four players from Texas to enter the transfer portal after the Longhorns’ second consecutive trip to the Final Four ended in a devastating loss to UCLA. She was named to the All-Region team in the Fort Worth 3 bracket in this year’s NCAA Tournament following her Sweet 16 and Elite Eight performance, where she recorded 22 points, six assists, three rebounds and four steals while also providing strong defense.
After being limited to five starts her freshman year, Lee slid into the starting lineup last season and started a career-high 38 games. She also averaged career highs in points (13.2), assists (2.5), rebounds (2.5), steals (1.5), field-goal percentage (42%) and free-throw percentage (75%), while shooting 34% from 3-point range.
Texas’ Aaliyah Crump, Justice Carlton and Aaliyah Moore also entered the transfer portal. On Friday, Crump announced she’s transferring to Duke, citing her connection with head coach Kara Lawson.
“For me, choosing Duke University goes far beyond one sentence. The moment I connected with Kara Lawson and her coaching staff, I knew I was exactly where I belonged,” said Crump, who averaged 7.9 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game her freshman season at Texas.
Crump continued: “Their dedication and vision for the program is truly special, and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to be a part of it. The connection Coach Lawson and I have built is one of a kind, and I fully trust in her plan for the success of this program. I can’t wait to be coached by genuine people who support my growth not only as a basketball player, but as a person as well.”
Three-time All-American Madison Booker and junior starting forward Breya Cunningham are expected to return to Texas.
Contributing: Mitchell Northam
Reach USA TODAY National Women’s Sports Reporter Cydney Henderson at chenderson@gannett.com and follow her on X at @CydHenderson.
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Each offseason, the NFL shakes up the landscape with free agency, as some of the top names at each position move around the league to new teams. The New Orleans Saints have fallen victim to this in 2026 so far, with Demario Davis and Alontae Taylor both moving on, and Cameron Jordan not having re-signed as of yet. Cornerback was a position that could already use a talent influx alongside Kool-Aid McKinstry and Quincy Riley; now, it is even more of an issue.
Adding a new defensive back to fill the STAR role for the defense is certainly going to be a focus this spring, and that has been clear from the Saints’ pre-draft meetings. Recently, they added another name to the growing list; this time, it was South Carolina prospect Jalon Kilgore.
There is a lot to like about Kilgore, especially in that nickel or STAR role long term. He is enormously athletic and absolutely rapid both in straight-line testing and on the field. He got a decent chunk of his collegiate snaps at slot corner, 1,382 to be exact, but also had 541 in the box, 238 at free safety, 53 along the defensive line, and 24 as an outside corner.
His coverage metrics in 2025 were very solid, as on 65 targets, he allowed 34 receptions (52.3%) for 390 yards and 2 touchdowns. He picked up 2 interceptions, 10 pass deflections, 54 total tackles, and 2 fumble recoveries in 694 total snaps this season. Throughout the combine, he ended up performing well in pretty much every drill, which bodes well for his ability to translate to the NFL. If the Saints are looking to add someone with slot experience already, Kilgore may be one of the best options available.
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