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The National Hurricane Center is monitoring two tropical waves for potential development, but neither are a significant or direct threat to Florida over the next five days. One tropical wave, referred to as Invest 99 by meteorologists, has rapidly organized over the past 24 hours. This system, as of Tuesday morning, was located about midway between the west coast of Africa and the Lesser Antilles. Environmental conditions are expected to be conducive for development as Invest 99 approaches the Lesser Antilles in the next couple of days, and the National Hurricane Center has noted that if...

Vice President Mike Pence said South Carolina schools should reopen full-time this fall and that parents should feel safe with sending their children despite increasing COVID-19 infection, case and death rates in the state. His remarks came following his participation in a round table discussion with Gov. Henry McMaster and other state leaders about school reopening "We think we can safely reopen schools, the risk to children is very low," Pence said. "My pledge to every parent is we're going to continue to work our hearts out to make sure that the guidance is there, the resources is there,...

Quick Facts: --DHEC reports 93,604 cases in all 46 counties Map -Total negative tests: 795,871 -1,774 deaths have been reported. Nearly all of the patients were elderly with underlying health conditions. Mortality demographic data -All non-essential businesses are closed as of April 1. -All South Carolina K-12 schools are closed through the school year. -How South Carolinians Can Protect Themselves Evidence is increasing about the high rates of infection in people who do not have symptoms and don’t know they are infectious. This places everyone at risk of getting the virus or unknowingly...

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for July 21, 2020, we bring you COVID-19 warnings from medical professionals in the Upstate, recent comments from Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) on his police reform bill and the state of play on it in Congress, Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC) remembrance of the late civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis, and more. The South Carolina Lede is here to keep you up to date on important news as the Palmetto State faces the COVID-19 virus. There is so much news out there right now it’s overwhelming. This podcast is for you to get information that matters to you, your family...

Widespread temperatures in the mid to upper 90s and high humidity will boost heat indices to dangerous levels for some across the Palmetto State this week. The National Weather Service issued a patchwork of Heat Advisories Monday for portions of the Upstate, Pee Dee, and for the entire coastline. The advisories are issued when the heat index is forecast to reach a certain threshold; in this case, 102 to 106 degrees for the Upstate and as high as 110 degrees for the coastal areas. The mid-summer heat is likely to last for much of the remainder of this week and additional heat advisories may be...

Education Superintendent Spearman, District Superintendents, and Democrats Criticize as Premature and Unsafe While there appears to be overwhelming support to re-open South Carolina’s public schools this fall, the question of how to open them safely has become a contentious and highly political issue. Republican Gov. Henry McMaster this week said despite the growing pandemic in the state, schools must open, and that parents must be given the option of sending their children to school five days a week. State Superintendent of Education Mollie Spearman, the three state teachers groups, the...

At a July 15 press conference, Gov. Henry McMaster urged all South Carolina public schools to restart in-person classes the day after Labor Day and give parents the option of face-to-face instruction. Credit SCETV On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for July 16, 2020, host Gavin Jackson looks at Gov. Henry McMaster's push to have schools open five days a week this fall, despite pushback from Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman. Also in this episode: Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) backs Dr. Anthony Fauci while calling attention to medical staffing shortages in the Palmetto State; a...

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for July 14, 2020, we bring you recent comments by Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman on the reopening of schools this fall, excerpts of Sen. Tim Scott's (R-SC) conversation with FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn about the future of a COVID-19 vaccine and current treatments, news from the pediatric front of the pandemic, and more. The South Carolina Lede is here to keep you up to date on important news as the Palmetto State faces the COVID-19 virus. There is so much news out there right now it’s overwhelming. This podcast is for you to get...

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for July 9, 2020, we bring you comments from US Attorney General William Barr and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) about police reform, the latest on the shooting at the Lavish Lounge nightclub in Greenville, and a new report listing South Carolina as the third worst place in the world when it comes to new COVID-19 cases per million residents over the past week. The South Carolina Lede is here to keep you up to date on important news as the Palmetto State faces the COVID-19 virus. There is so much news out there right now it’s overwhelming. This podcast is for...

On this episode of the South Carolina Lede for July 7, 2020, we bring you discussion about a new book on the Mother Emanuel AME Church shooting, the latest on a Upstate shooting this weekend which killed two people and injured eight others, the challenges facing South Carolina hospitals, and more. The South Carolina Lede is here to keep you up to date on important news as the Palmetto State faces the COVID-19 virus. There is so much news out there right now it’s overwhelming. This podcast is for you to get information that matters to you, your family and your fellow South Carolinians. No hype...