Wednesday - April 29, 2026
Public Policy Tipoffs Involving South Carolina Newsletter for Thursday April 16, 2026 ( 32 items )  

"We Refuse to Lose One More Life": Disability-Led and Disability-Supporting Organizations Raise Alarm Over Cancellation of Puerto Rico Solar Access Programs
NEW YORK, April 15 [Category: Political] -- The Hispanic Federation, an organization that supports and strengthens Latino institutions through education, health, immigration, civic engagement, economic empowerment and the environment, issued the following news release: * * * "We Refuse to Lose One More Life": Disability-Led and Disability-Supporting Organizations Raise Alarm Over Cancellation of Puerto Rico Solar Access Programs * San Juan, PR - With hurricane season less than two months awa  more

6 Charged in Sumter and Lee County Drug Trafficking Conspiracy
COLUMBIA, South Carolina, April 16 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina posted the following news release on April 15, 2026: * * * 6 Charged in Sumter and Lee County Drug Trafficking Conspiracy A federal grand jury in Columbia returned a multi-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney's Office, charging six individuals for their roles in trafficking cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and marijuana. The following defendants were arraign  more

AAHOA's 2026 Convention & Trade Show Showcases "Liberty, Legacy, Leadership" in Philadelphia
ATLANTA, Georgia, April 16 -- The Asian American Hotel Owners Association issued the following news release: * * * AAHOA's 2026 Convention & Trade Show Showcases "Liberty, Legacy, Leadership" in Philadelphia The 2026 AAHOA Convention & Trade Show brought hotel owners and industry leaders to Philadelphia for a focused and forward-looking program centered on this year's theme: "Liberty, Legacy, Leadership." Held in a city synonymous with the nation's founding, AAHOACON26 emphasized the importa  more

AG Brown, bipartisan coalition win landmark verdict against Live Nation
OLYMPIA, Washington, April 15 -- Washington state Attorney General Nick Brown issued the following news release: * * * AG Brown, bipartisan coalition win landmark verdict against Live Nation * Attorney General Nick Brown and a coalition of 32 other states and the District of Columbia have won a landmark verdict in an antitrust case against Live Nation for illegally monopolizing the live entertainment industry, driving up prices for consumers and harming performers and venues. Washington and  more

Alan and Priscilla Mason establish endowed professorship in Department of Communication
CLEMSON, South Carolina, April 15 -- Clemson University posted the following news: * * * Alan and Priscilla Mason establish endowed professorship in Department of Communication Alan Mason '75 enrolled in Clemson University largely for its proximity to his family's home in Seneca, South Carolina. After years of moving for his father's military career, Clemson met the criteria he was looking for in a university - a short commute home and a high-quality education. From a young age, Mason had a  more

Attorney General Alan Wilson applauds General Assembly for passing the Student Physical Privacy Act
COLUMBIA, South Carolina, April 15 -- South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson issued the following news: * * * Attorney General Alan Wilson applauds General Assembly for passing the Student Physical Privacy Act * (COLUMBIA, S.C.) - South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson made the following statement regarding the passage of H.4756 in the South Carolina General Assembly. "I applaud the House of Representatives and Senate for prioritizing the safety and well-being of women and girls   more

Attorney General Bonta Co-Leads Bipartisan Coalition in Support of Federal Rule to Increase Transparency in Prescription Drug Pricing
SACRAMENTO, California, April 15 -- California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued the following news release: * * * Attorney General Bonta Co-Leads Bipartisan Coalition in Support of Federal Rule to Increase Transparency in Prescription Drug Pricing * Comment letter supports stronger disclosure requirements for PBMs, seeks clarity that proposed rule doesn't preempt state PBM transparency laws OAKLAND -California Attorney General Rob Bonta today co-led a bipartisan coalition of 45 attorneys   more

Attorney General Brenna Bird Urges Payment Processors to Stop Transactions of Illegal Vapes Hurting Iowa Children
DES MOINES, Iowa, April 15 -- Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird issued the following news release: * * * Attorney General Brenna Bird Urges Payment Processors to Stop Transactions of Illegal Vapes Hurting Iowa Children * DES MOINES -Attorney General Brenna Bird announced today she is leading a coalition of 13 attorneys general in a letter to credit card companies urging them to stop sales of illegal vape products facilitated through their payment card networks. Illegal vapes, overwhelmingly  more

BASF celebrates cotton farmers' yield achievements with 21st annual FiberMax One Ton Club
FLORHAM PARK, New Jersey, April 15 [Category: Industrial Materials] -- BASF Corp. issued the following news release: * * * BASF celebrates cotton farmers' yield achievements with 21st annual FiberMax One Ton Club * RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, April 15, 2026 - Qualifying cotton farmers and their families gathered in Lubbock, Texas, on April 9 to celebrate FiberMax (r) cotton yield achievements as part of BASF's FiberMax One Ton Club(tm), a long-standing tradition now in its 21st year. The clu  more

Bozeman ranked as nation's best college town for third consecutive year
BOZEMAN, Montana, April 15 -- Montana State University issued the following news: * * * Bozeman ranked as nation's best college town for third consecutive year * The city of Bozeman was ranked America's No. 1 college town for the third consecutive year.  The top five college towns listed in order according to RentCafe.com are: Bozeman; Pullman, Washington; Clemson, South Carolina; Laramie, Wyoming; and Gainesville, Florida. Western cities dominate the rankings' top 10, with Provo, Utah and  more

Carlstar Group to Pay $300,000 in EEOC Disability Discrimination Lawsuit
WASHINGTON, April 15 -- The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued the following news release: * * * The Carlstar Group to Pay $300,000 in EEOC Disability Discrimination Lawsuit * Tire manufacturer settles federal suit charging employees in two states were fired for using prescription medications ST. LOUIS - The Carlstar Group, LLC, a Franklin, Tennessee-based manufacturer of specialty tires and wheels, will pay $300,000 and furnish other relief to settle a disability discriminatio  more

CCIA Raises Privacy, Free Speech Concerns with South Carolina Chatbot Bills
WASHINGTON, April 15 [Category: Computer Technology] -- The Computer and Communications Industry Association issued the following news release: * * * CCIA Raises Privacy, Free Speech Concerns with South Carolina Chatbot Bills * Washington - The Computer & Communications Industry Association today raised concerns with SB 896 and SB 1037. The legislation is under consideration by the South Carolina Senate Labor, Commerce, and Industry Ad Hoc Subcommittee and would establish new requirements fo  more

Chinese National Servicemember Indicted for Conspiring and Attempting to Obstruct an Investigation
COLUMBIA, South Carolina, April 16 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina posted the following news release on April 14, 2026: * * * Chinese National Servicemember Indicted for Conspiring and Attempting to Obstruct an Investigation CHARLESTON, S.C. -- A federal grand jury in Charleston returned a two-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney's Office, charging Yuan Li, 35, a Chinese national residing in the United States, for conspiracy to obstruct justic  more

Converse University: Global Advocate Jody Cole '84 to Speak at Converse Founder's Day Celebration
SPARTANBURG, South Carolina, April 16 -- Converse University issued the following news: * * * Global Advocate Jody Cole '84 to Speak at Converse Founder's Day Celebration Entrepreneur, philanthropist, global advocate, and 1984 graduate Jody Cole will be the 2026 Founder's Day keynote speaker at Converse University on Friday, April 24. This annual celebration bridges both past and present as the campus community celebrates graduating seniors and Converse alumni, who are visiting for Reunion We  more

Ga. A.G. Carr Pushes for Federal Rule to Increase Transparency in Prescription Drug Pricing
ATLANTA, Georgia, April 16 -- Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr issued the following news release on April 15, 2026: * * * Carr Pushes for Federal Rule to Increase Transparency in Prescription Drug Pricing Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr has joined a bipartisan coalition in submitting a comment letter in support of a proposed rule from the U.S. Department of Labor that requires greater transparency from pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). Specifically, those PBMs that service employer-fun  more

Governor McMaster Ceremonially Signs Income Tax Bill Into Law
COLUMBIA, South Carolina, April 15 -- Gov. Henry McMaster, R-South Carolina, posted the following news: * * * Governor McMaster Ceremonially Signs Income Tax Bill Into Law * COLUMBIA, S.C. - Governor Henry McMaster was joined today by members of the South Carolina General Assembly and other state leaders for a ceremonial bill signing of H. 4216, the Income Tax bill. The new legislation simplifies South Carolina's individual income tax structure and establishes a framework to continue reducin  more

Greystar Real Estate Partners Urges FTC to Adopt Uniform Rule on Transparent Rental Pricing
WASHINGTON, April 16 -- Greystar Real Estate Partners LLC, Charleston, South Carolina, submitted a public comment letter to the Federal Trade Commission regarding the Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for the Trade Regulation Rule on unfair or deceptive rental housing fee practices. Greystar, the nation's largest rental housing manager, urged the FTC to establish a uniform, industrywide rule that mandates the disclosure of the total monthly leasing price (TMLP)-which includes base rent plus  more

In President's Lecture, Pulitzer Prize-winning CMU Historian Explains How She Uncovered Voices From the Past
PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania, April 15 -- Carnegie Mellon University posted the following news: * * * In President's Lecture, Pulitzer Prize-winning CMU Historian Explains How She Uncovered Voices From the Past * For Carnegie Mellon University's Edda L. Fields-Black, history provides a perspective that can offer solutions and insights into the human condition. Fields-Black, who earned a 2025 Pulitzer Prize in history, joined Carnegie Mellon President Farnam Jahanian for his President's Lecture   more

KPMG Employees Partner to Support Ole Miss Accounting School
OXFORD, Mississippi, April 15 -- The University of Mississippi issued the following news: * * * KPMG Employees Partner to Support Ole Miss Accounting School * OXFORD, Miss. - University of Mississippi alumni who are partners and employees of Big Four accounting firm KPMG have made a collective gift of $125,000 to support construction of the new Patterson School of Accountancy building. The graduates' contribution will be matched by KPMG, doubling the impact to $250,000. In recognition of th  more

More Than 130 Organizations Express Concern Over Changes to CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Charter
SAN DIEGO, California, April 15 [Category: Health Care] -- The American Public Health Association posted the following news release: * * * More Than 130 Organizations Express Concern Over Changes to CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Charter * Contact: mediarelations@apha.org, Lisa Robinson, lrobinson@aap.org or Alex Hulvalchick, ahulvalchick@aap.org On April 9, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a revised Advisory Committee on Immunization Prac  more

MUSC Recognized Across Disciplines in 2026 U.S. News Best Graduate Schools Rankings
CHARLESTON, South Carolina, April 16 -- The Medical University of South Carolina issued the following news release: * * * MUSC recognized across disciplines in 2026 U.S. News Best Graduate Schools rankings Four programs rank in the top 25 nationally, led by Occupational Therapy's No. 8 ranking * The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) earned national recognition in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate Schools rankings, with four programs placing in the top 25 and several   more

N.H. A.G. Formella, Coalition Push for New Rule to Increase Transparency in Prescription Drug Pricing
CONCORD, New Hampshire, April 16 -- New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella issued the following news release on April 15, 2026: * * * Attorney General Formella, Coalition Push for New Rule to Increase Transparency in Prescription Drug Pricing Attorney General John M. Formella, along with a bipartisan coalition of 44 of his fellow attorneys general, submitted a letter today supporting a proposed U.S. Department of Labor (Department) rule that would require greater transparency from pharm  more

National Museum of American History Announces New Acquisitions
WASHINGTON, April 16 -- The Smithsonian Institution National Museum of American History issued the following news release: * * * National Museum of American History Announces New Acquisitions Objects Include Olympic Uniforms, Emergency Services Gear, Props From "Survivor" and a John Sayles Movie, Original "Superman IV" Painting and More * The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History recently acquired several significant artifacts that reflect key moments in American sports, enterta  more

NWTF West Virginia and Partners Implement Nearly $500,000 in Conservation Delivery This Year
EDGEFIELD, South Carolina, April 16 -- The National Wild Turkey Federation issued the following news release: * * * NWTF West Virginia and Partners Implement Nearly $500,000 in Conservation Delivery This Year The West Virginia State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation and the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources are collaborating on a variety of conservation projects across the Mountain State in 2026. The West Virginia NWTF State Board budgeted $132,035 for conservation effo  more

Pairing Clemson data and tools for responsible AI use
CLEMSON, South Carolina, April 15 -- Clemson University posted the following news: * * * Pairing Clemson data and tools for responsible AI use * Artificial intelligence tools can help Clemson faculty and staff work more efficiently, but it is important to ensure they are used responsibly and safely. When getting started, the first question is not simply which tool to use, but whether the data is appropriate for that tool in the first place. Responsible AI use requires careful attention to en  more

PepsiCo to Pay $270,000 in EEOC Disability Discrimination Suit
WASHINGTON, April 15 -- The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued the following news release: * * * PepsiCo to Pay $270,000 in EEOC Disability Discrimination Suit * Company will also work with consultant to help accommodate employees with visual disabilities GREENSBORO, N.C. - PepsiCo Beverage Sales, LLC, a Delaware company operating a facility in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, agreed to pay $270,000 and work with an accessibility consultant to settle a disability discrimination l  more

PGA TOUR LIVE on the ESPN App returns with extensive coverage of the RBC Heritage
BRISTOL, Connecticut, April 15 [Category: BizMedia] -- ESPN, a sports media company, posted the following news release: * * * PGA TOUR LIVE on the ESPN App returns with extensive coverage of the RBC Heritage * * The ESPN App takes fans inside the action across all four rounds at Harbour Town Golf Links, beginning April 16 at 7 a.m. ET * Five of the world's top 10 players showcased as part of early round Featured Groups coverage * PGA TOUR LIVE Betcast presented by DraftKings returns with o  more

Public servants: Clemson's pre-law program is an under-the-radar but accomplished offering
CLEMSON, South Carolina, April 15 -- Clemson University posted the following news: * * * Public servants: Clemson's pre-law program is an under-the-radar but accomplished offering * Clemson University Honors College Clemson University is renowned for its groundbreaking research, cutting-edge engineering programs, agricultural outreach initiatives, rich military history and winning athletic programs. Less known, but no less notable, it also has a robust pre-law program. Pre-law, housed in  more

Reason Foundation Issues Commentary: South Carolina's House Bill 3876 Would Hurt Small Short-Term Rental Providers
LOS ANGELES, California, April 15 -- The Reason Foundation issued the following commentary on April 14, 2026, by Eliza Terziev, housing and land use policy analyst: * * * South Carolina's House Bill 3876 would hurt small short-term rental providers House Bill 3876 would establish arbitrary limits on short-term rental providers, undermining property rights and distorting the market. * South Carolina localities have a history of hostility toward short-term rentals (STRs), and the latest state  more

Rep. Biggs Testifies Before House Armed Services Committee
WASHINGTON, April 16 -- The House Armed Services Committee released the following testimony by Rep. Sheri Biggs, R-South Carolina, from an April 15, 2026, hearing on the National Defense Authorization Act: * * * Thank you Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the opportunity to appear before the Committee today on a matter that may not make headlines, but that I believe carries serious consequences for our national security. I want to talk about something called short-wave infrared quantum dot materials  more

Rep. Clyburn Issues Floor Remarks Honoring Rev. Jackson
WASHINGTON, April 16 -- Rep. James E. Clyburn, D-South Carolina, issued the following floor remarks on April 14, 2026, honoring Rev. Jesse Louis Jackson Sr.: * * * I rise today to honor and pay homage to the late Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr. On Tuesday, February 14, 2026, I joined the nation in mourning the passing of one of the most quintessential civil rights leaders - Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson Sr. Our relationship began as students at rival high schools in South Carolina, he at St  more

U.S. Army Space & Missile Defense Command Commanding General Gainey Testifies Before House Armed Services Subcommittee
WASHINGTON, April 16 -- The House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces released the following testimony by Lt. Gen. Sean Gainey, commanding general of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, from an April 15, 2026, hearing entitled "FY27 Missile Defense & Missile Defeat Programs and Activities": * * * Chairman DesJarlais, Ranking Member Moulton, and distinguished members of the subcommittee, it is an honor to appear before you today on behalf of the nearly 12,500 men and wo  more