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Folly Beach Short-Term Rental Owners File Proposed Class-Action Lawsuit Over Permit Fees

Folly Beach Short-Term Rental Owners File Proposed Class-Action Lawsuit Over Permit Fees

Short-term rental operators in Folly Beach, South Carolina, have initiated a proposed class-action lawsuit seeking refunds for rental registration permit fees collected by the city. David Chandler and 622 East Cooper LLC filed the lawsuit in Charleston County Court of Common Pleas, aiming to represent individuals and businesses that paid Folly Beach's percentage-based rental registration permit fee since its adoption in 2022. This legal action follows an August 14 ruling in a separate case that invalidated Folly Beach's cap on non-owner-occupied short-term rentals and its associated permit fee, which a judge deemed an unauthorized tax under state law. The city council has since voted to appeal that decision. The plaintiffs contend that Folly Beach charged owners $17.50 for every $1,000 earned in rental income, a 1.75% fee, in addition to regular city business license taxes. They argue that these funds were directed to the city's general fund rather than being used for specific services benefiting rental ow...
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Representative Nancy Mace Introduces 100 Bills in Current Congressional Session

Representative Nancy Mace Introduces 100 Bills in Current Congressional Session

Representative Nancy Mace, a Republican from South Carolina, has announced that she has introduced 100 pieces of legislation during the current congressional session. This legislative output ranks her fifth among all House members and first within South Carolina's House delegation. According to a press release from her office, the bills cover a broad spectrum of issues, reflecting her policy priorities. These areas include affordability, fiscal responsibility, national security, immigration enforcement, veterans' care, women and children's issues, animal welfare, and concerns specific to coastal communities. The release provided examples of her proposed legislation, which encompass measures related to cybersecurity, housing, ethics, and social policy. Representative Mace views this milestone not as a conclusion but as an ongoing commitment to her legislative agenda.
Asheville Citizen-Times Asheville Citizen-Times
How federally dependent is North Carolina? See WalletHub's state rankings

How federally dependent is North Carolina? See WalletHub's state rankings

WalletHub's study ranked all 50 states for federal dependence, including North Carolina.
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American Red Cross Seeks Blood and Platelet Donors at Myrtle Beach Center

American Red Cross Seeks Blood and Platelet Donors at Myrtle Beach Center

The American Red Cross is actively seeking blood and platelet donors at its donation center located in the Carolina Forest area of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The organization emphasizes the continuous need for donations to help save lives. The Myrtle Beach Red Cross Blood and Platelet Donation Center is situated at 3681 Renee Drive, Unit #4. Individuals interested in contributing to this vital cause are encouraged to schedule an appointment. The call for donors was highlighted during a segment on 'Grand Strand Today,' a local news program, underscoring the importance of community participation in maintaining blood supply levels.
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Parents Arrested After Autistic Daughter's Death in South Carolina, 911 Call Released

Parents Arrested After Autistic Daughter's Death in South Carolina, 911 Call Released

John Herb Hayes III, 70, and Geordyn Nichole Hayes, 31, have been arrested in Tennessee on fugitive-from-justice charges following the death of their 5-year-old autistic daughter, Saylor Hayes, in South Carolina. Saylor, who was nonverbal, went missing from a rental home in Pawleys Island on August 30. Her body was discovered in nearby waters on Monday. A 911 call made by John Hayes moments after her disappearance reveals his frantic plea for help, stating his daughter had 'just escaped' and that he needed to check the water. The couple is accused of unlawfully placing a child at risk or willfully abandoning a child under South Carolina law. Arrest warrants allege that the parents misled deputies by directing search efforts towards a Project Lifesaver tracking device they knew Saylor was not wearing, and away from the nearby body of water. The device had reportedly been removed before the family left Virginia. Geordyn Hayes also faces pending charges in Virginia related to child cruelty involving a differe...
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Parents Arrested in South Carolina After Autistic Daughter's Death Near Coastal Getaway

Parents Arrested in South Carolina After Autistic Daughter's Death Near Coastal Getaway

John Herb Hayes III, 70, and Geordyn Nichole Hayes, 31, were arrested in Tennessee following the discovery of their 5-year-old autistic daughter, Saylor Hayes, deceased in waters near Pawleys Island, South Carolina. The couple faces charges of putting their daughter in danger or abandoning her under South Carolina law. Saylor, who was severely nonverbal and autistic with a strong attraction to water and a history of wandering, was found near Hagley Landing after an extensive search involving numerous agencies and local residents. Arrest warrants allege that Saylor, despite having been equipped with a monitoring device since 2024, had the device removed before the family left Virginia. She was then reportedly left unsupervised within approximately 15 meters (49 feet) of a body of water. The warrants further claim that the Hayeses directed search efforts towards tracking technology they knew she wasn't wearing and away from the nearby body of water. Both parents have prior felony cases involving allegations ...
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North Carolina's Film Grant Cap Hinders 'Outer Banks' Prequel Filming in Wilmington

North Carolina's Film Grant Cap Hinders 'Outer Banks' Prequel Filming in Wilmington

North Carolina's Film Grant Cap Hinders 'Outer Banks' Prequel Filming in Wilmington
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Lexington County Industrial Park Expands with New Midway Flex Center

Lexington County Industrial Park Expands with New Midway Flex Center

Lexington County Industrial Park Expands with New Midway Flex Center
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Columbia, SC Issues First Alert Weather Day for Dangerous Heat and Storm Threat

Columbia, SC Issues First Alert Weather Day for Dangerous Heat and Storm Threat

Columbia, South Carolina, has declared a First Alert Weather Day for Saturday due to anticipated dangerous heat and the potential for strong to severe storms. High temperatures are forecast to reach the mid to upper 90s, with heat index values expected to be near 105-106 degrees Fahrenheit. This weather advisory comes as several significant events are scheduled to take place in the region. In addition to the heat, there is a possibility of strong to severe storms developing late in the day, primarily during the early evening hours. The Storm Prediction Center has placed the Midlands under a 'Marginal 1/5 Risk' and 'Slight 2/5 Risk' for these storms, with damaging wind gusts identified as the main concern. Residents are advised to stay cool and hydrated throughout the day, especially if attending outdoor events like games at Williams-Brice Stadium.
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Nonverbal 5-Year-Old Found Deceased in South Carolina Waterway After Wandering from Vacation Rental

Nonverbal 5-Year-Old Found Deceased in South Carolina Waterway After Wandering from Vacation Rental

Saylor Hayes, a nonverbal 5-year-old girl from Virginia, was found deceased in a South Carolina waterway on Monday morning after she wandered off from her family's vacation rental home in Hagley Estates, Pawleys Island, on Sunday. The Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office announced that her body was discovered around 9:45 a.m. by agents with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, near where she was last seen. Saylor was wearing a light blue bathing suit and a pink and white lanyard with a tracking device around her ankle. An intensive search involving hundreds of people and multiple agencies, including drones, K-9 units, divers, and Project Lifesaver equipment, was conducted to locate her. Project Lifesaver is a search-and-rescue program designed for individuals with cognitive conditions prone to wandering.
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Project Lifesaver Device for Deceased Virginia Girl Found in Washington County, Virginia

Project Lifesaver Device for Deceased Virginia Girl Found in Washington County, Virginia

The Project Lifesaver device belonging to Saylor Hayes, a 5-year-old Southwest Virginia girl found deceased in South Carolina, was located in Washington County, Virginia, according to Sheriff Blake Andis. Saylor, from the Bristol area of Washington County, had been enrolled in the Project Lifesaver program since June 2024. The program uses small transmitters that emit individualized radio frequencies to help law enforcement locate individuals at risk of wandering due to cognitive conditions or special needs. Authorities in South Carolina, after being unable to detect Saylor’s frequency, contacted Washington County authorities, who then tracked the signal to the transmitter found inside a vehicle at Saylor's residence in Washington County. This indicates the device was not with her when she went missing in South Carolina.
1Weather 1Weather
Dangerous Heat Peaks Saturday in South Carolina Before Storm Relief

Dangerous Heat Peaks Saturday in South Carolina Before Storm Relief

South Carolina is experiencing a prolonged heat wave, with temperatures climbing into the upper 90s and heat index values reaching 105–110°F (40–43°C). Saturday is expected to be the hottest day, with a Heat Advisory likely for the Midlands. A cold front approaching from the north will bring relief in the form of strong to severe thunderstorms later in the day. The Storm Prediction Center has placed parts of the Midlands under a Slight Risk (2 of 5) for severe weather, with damaging wind gusts as the primary concern. The front will also bring cooler temperatures by Sunday and into Labor Day.