Free Republic

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Friday two protests happened at the State House where demonstrators showed their support for reopening South Carolina’s economy. At noon, a group called Drive to Thrive asked the community to join in on a mobile protest against the ongoing closures of some non-essential businesses in our state. Their goal was to fill the streets of Columbia with at least 50,000 vehicles. Demonstrators were encouraged to stay inside their cars, and show an audible display of solidarity by honking their car horns for a full 60 seconds at 12:30 p.m. They’re also asking participants to support local...

In a 5-4 decision, a divided U.S. Supreme Court ruled that foreigners who are in America illegally can be prosecuted for the crime of identity theft. While the ruling seems like a no brainer, the court was divided because the case involved the Immigration Control and Reform Act, which says any information provided on an I-9 work form can’t be used by law enforcement in any way — and that includes as evidence in a criminal case. “The Immigration Control and Reform Act (IRCA) makes it a federal crime to lie on the I-9 work authorization form, while limiting how...

Plains, Georgia - Former President Jimmy Carter suggested Pete Buttigieg's campaign is searching for answers after a disappointing fourth-place finish in Saturday's South Carolina primary, the first test of candidates' support in a state with predominantly African-American voters. Buttigieg and his husband Chasten paid a visit to Carter and former first lady Rosalynn Carter on Sunday morning, joining them for breakfast here in Georgia, which holds its Democratic primary on March 24. Carter told reporters at Buffalo Cafe in Plains that he is fond of Buttigieg, mentioning their work on a Habitat for Humanity project in South Bend, Indiana, where...

South Carolina is the nation's first open primary in the 2020 presidential election cycle — voters of any party may participate meaning independent and opposing-party voters can play a role.

It is the little things that tell me the long term outlook for the Republican Party and the country is doubtful. My fellow Republicans are stupid, really stupid. I am listening to last night's Trump rally and I am disgusted. When Trump talks about trade and bringing back manufacturing THE REPUBLICANS IN ATTENDANCE REMAIN SILENT. Shame on Republicans. Shame.

More Republican groups hoping to meddle in the state’s Democratic presidential primary on Saturday have decided who will get their vote. The Greenville Tea Party has chosen to support for Vermont U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, as he has risen in the polls and has won the popular vote in the Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada contests. Former Vice President Joe Biden has consistently led in the South Carolina polls, but the lead over Sanders has shrunk in recent weeks. Stephen Brown, the former chairman of the Greenville Tea Party, said a few thousand votes may tip the scales of Saturday’s...

Charleston, South Carolina got a glimpse of its potential future in September when Hurricane Dorian grazed the South Carolina coast, bringing the three-headed monster of heavy rain, storm surge and extreme high tides with it. Tuesday night, seven Democratic candidates for President will take the stage in Charleston and try to make their cases for how they’ll stem the intensification of climate change, which is fueling that future marked by increased risk of powerful storms and chronic flooding across the Southeast. It’s been less than a week since the last Democratic debate in Nevada, where six candidates - former New...

Donald Trump mocked Democrats' Debate night of finger-pointing, shouting and chaos as he returned to the White House Wednesday, scoffing: 'Just give me an opponent.' He took aim at a series of his potential rivals to call them 'crazy,' and say: 'Would be over for most.' The tweet reflected his public confidence that he can beat any of the Democratic field in November, and came after just over two hours of the CBS hosted debated which quickly devolved into angry personal exchanges with a total loss of control by moderators Gayle King and Norah O'Donnell.

COLUMBIA, S.C. Busy in Nevada before Saturday’s caucus vote, former Vice President Joe Biden is sending one of his top surrogates down to South Carolina less than two weeks ahead of the state’s Democratic presidential primary. Former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who in 2004 ran for president as the Democratic nominee, will join Biden’s sister, Valerie Biden Owens, and Biden’s senior campaign advisor Symone Sanders on Biden’s “Soul of the Nation” bus tour through the state.

CHARLESTON, S.C. - His message is uninspiring. His ground game is flawed. After Iowa and New Hampshire, they’re no longer convinced he can beat Donald Trump. Interviews with two dozen South Carolina lawmakers, consultants and voters here suggests there are deep cracks in Joe Biden’s firewall state, where his campaign expects to turn his misfortunes around with a robust victory that highlights his broad-based support - particularly among African Americans. **SNIP** But his advantage has gradually eroded. In a state where African Americans cast 61 percent of the primary vote in 2016, a February Quinnipiac poll showed Biden's support among...

Former Vice President Joe Biden's lead shrank in his firewall state of South Carolina, though he still holds an 8-point edge, according to an East Carolina University (ECU) poll released Friday. Biden gets the support of 28 percent of likely South Carolina primary voters, followed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) with 20 percent and businessman Tom Steyer with 14 percent. No other candidate breaks double digits in the poll ahead of the Feb. 29 primary in the Palmetto State. The poll comes as Biden leans on South Carolina to reverse his fortunes after fourth- and fifth-place showings in Iowa and...

The Supreme Court will allow a lawsuit to move forward against Flint, Mich., officials over their role in the city's public health crisis following its decision to switch water sources in 2014. The court said on Tuesday it would not hear an appeal from city officials after lower courts denied their efforts to have the case dismissed. After the city's decision to change water sources from Lake Huron to the Flint River, which had been widely considered to be contaminated, Flint residents reported widespread cases of hair loss, skin rashes, Legionnaire's disease and lead poisoning. Twelve people died from Legionnaire's...

Preparing an epic cheesecake with flavors to spare, Brenda Watts of Gaffney, S.C. took home top honors (snip) For the ingenuity behind her submission — Crumble Carrot Cake Caramel Cheesecake — Brenda will take home the top prize, a KitchenAid® Metallic Series 5-Qt. Stand Mixer in Satin Copper, with an estimated retail value of $629.95. (snip) Attesting to the growing popularity of authentic animal fats, this year’s #LardLovers contest attracted a record number of entries. In November, Coast issued a call for any unique, unpublished recipe that uses lard. All submissions were posted on the Coast Packing website, accompanied by...

Joe Biden is counting on his firewall of support in South Carolina to help him win the 2020 presidential nomination. But Democrats are warning that if the former vice president doesn't perform well in Iowa and New Hampshire, his lead in South Carolina could be in jeopardy. [cut] "Savvy black voters will reassess their options," said Basil Smikle, a Democratic strategist who served as a campaign aide to 2016 presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. "Every candidate will have to remake their case to, and reaffirm their policy prescriptions for, the African American community — Biden included." Another strategist was more direct:...

Elizabeth Warren may be surging in the polls, but you wouldn’t know it by the size of the crowd that heard her speak on Friday. The senator from Massachusetts spoke at a sparsely attended environmental forum in Orangeburg, South Carolina, on Friday. The auditorium where the event was held appeared as if it could hold hundreds of spectators, but there were no more than a few dozen who could be seen watching the event. **SNIP** Most of the Democratic candidates in the race skipped the event. When asked if it was wrong for the Democratic Party not to stage an...

President Donald Trump will join South Carolina’s U.S. Sen. Tim Scott and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris when he receives the Bipartisan Justice Award on Friday ahead of his remarks at Benedict College, an historic black college in Columbia. A White House official said Friday that Trump will receive the Bipartisan Justice Award, “the highest honor given yearly to a public servant who demonstrated the ability to work across the aisle to achieve meaningful progress reforming” the federal criminal justice system. The award - presented to Trump by the 20/20 Bipartisan Justice Center, the organization in charge of this week’s...

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (WYFF) – A pastor who pleaded guilty to child sex charges will spend the next decade in prison. The victim says she became pregnant twice by 32-year-old Phillip Buckson and had abortions to terminate the pregnancies. According to the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office, Buckson, pleaded guilty to this week to two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor 11 to 14 years old in Spartanburg County. He was sentenced to 20 years, suspended to 10 years and 5 years of probation, must register as a sex offender, and can have no contact with the victim....

South Carolina hospitals are using a loophole in state law to scoop millions of dollars a year from the pockets of the poorest of patients. It mostly takes place outside the courts and the public eye. A law originally written to help state and local governments collect debts is being used to seize tax refunds from people with past-due medical bills. The S.C. Department of Revenue does the legwork, and the cash flows straight into the coffers of some of the region’s largest health care companies. The payoff is huge. Together, health organizations took at least $92.9 million in more...

Joe Biden increases his lead in the Palmetto State, as a growing number of South Carolina Democratic primary voters want a candidate who can defeat President Trump. The former vice president is ahead by 29 points, according to a Fox News Poll. That’s up from a 21-point lead in July. Biden captures 41 percent support among Democratic primary voters (+6 points since July), Elizabeth Warren trails with 12 percent (+7), and Bernie Sanders gets 10 percent (-4).

COLUMBIA — He died with no family claiming him, but Petty Officer 3rd Class James Miske was surrounded by hundreds of people Friday at Fort Jackson National Cemetery where he would be buried. Miske, 75, was a Vietnam War veteran who served in the Navy from 1965 to 1967. He received a National Defense Service Medal and a Vietnam Service Medal with Bronze Star, according to Caughman-Harman Funeral Home in Lexington, which handled the arrangements. Along with John Steubinger, George Shaw, Danny Ballentyn, Joseph Williams and now Miske — this is the fifth funeral of an unclaimed veteran that Pastor...