COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - A South Carolina State Representative from Kershaw County has come under fire after a post on Facebook explaining why he voted against the state’s Hate Crime Bill.Some in the General Assembly are calling for him to be formally censured for the since-deleted post.South Carolina is one of only three states without a hate crime law on the books.However, that could soon change after the passed the House on Wednesday with bipartisan support.The bill passed 79 to 29, with 12 people not voting and four absences. It now heads to the Senate.One of the 29 lawmakers who voted...…COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - A South Carolina State Representative from Kershaw County has come under fire after a post on Facebook explaining why he voted against the state’s Hate Crime Bill.Some in the General Assembly are calling for him to be formally censured for the since-deleted post.South Carolina is one of only three states without a hate crime law on the books.However, that could soon change after the passed the House on Wednesday with bipartisan support.The bill passed 79 to 29, with 12 people not voting and four absences. It now heads to the Senate.One of the 29 lawmakers who voted...WW…

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Gov. Henry McMaster and State Superintendent Molly Spearman repeatedly claimed Thursday morning that all South Carolina schools should be operating face-to-face because they are not at-risk environments.Neither the governor nor the state superintendent support teachers getting vaccinated before returning to face-to-face learning.“We don’t want to put a single younger healthy person in front of an older person who may die if they don’t get that vaccine,” said McMaster.During Thursday’s news conference, McMaster and Spearman discussed the plan for distributing COVID-19...…COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Gov. Henry McMaster and State Superintendent Molly Spearman repeatedly claimed Thursday morning that all South Carolina schools should be operating face-to-face because they are not at-risk environments.Neither the governor nor the state superintendent support teachers getting vaccinated before returning to face-to-face learning.“We don’t want to put a single younger healthy person in front of an older person who may die if they don’t get that vaccine,” said McMaster.During Thursday’s news conference, McMaster and Spearman discussed the plan for distributing COVID-19...WW…

LEXINGTON, S.C. (WIS) - Bond was denied for a Lexington man accused of shooting a woman in the face behind a Lexington shopping center during an argument about feral cats on Thursday.Sean Malahy, 49, now faces a murder charge.Police say Malahy was still at the scene of the shooting and had a handgun when officers responded to the Town Square shopping center on Thursday evening.Judy Burnett, 72, of Gilbert, had been shot in the face and died a short time later.Malahy was immediately taken into custody.Investigators say Burnett and a person who was with Malahy were arguing about feeding cats...…LEXINGTON, S.C. (WIS) - Bond was denied for a Lexington man accused of shooting a woman in the face behind a Lexington shopping center during an argument about feral cats on Thursday.Sean Malahy, 49, now faces a murder charge.Police say Malahy was still at the scene of the shooting and had a handgun when officers responded to the Town Square shopping center on Thursday evening.Judy Burnett, 72, of Gilbert, had been shot in the face and died a short time later.Malahy was immediately taken into custody.Investigators say Burnett and a person who was with Malahy were arguing about feeding cats...WW…

By COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Deputies have arrested a man police say is responsible for 21 armed robberies in one month. WIS has reported about the string of robberies that deputies said were likely connected, but since our last report the number of crimes has doubled. The robberies happened in both Lexington and Richland counties from mid-October until mid-November. Most recently, Sheriff Leon Lott says the suspect robbed two different stores on Monday, Nov. 16 -- including a BP on Two Notch Road and a Dollar General on Broad River Road. Police from several agencies arrested Deveon Belk on...…By COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Deputies have arrested a man police say is responsible for 21 armed robberies in one month. WIS has reported about the string of robberies that deputies said were likely connected, but since our last report the number of crimes has doubled. The robberies happened in both Lexington and Richland counties from mid-October until mid-November. Most recently, Sheriff Leon Lott says the suspect robbed two different stores on Monday, Nov. 16 -- including a BP on Two Notch Road and a Dollar General on Broad River Road. Police from several agencies arrested Deveon Belk on...WW…

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Sen. Lindsey Graham, who has been vocal in his support for President Donald Trump’s legal challenges of the election, says he has new information to support those claims.The senator received an affidavit from a postal worker in Pennsylvania alleging post office supervisors had a plan to “backdate ballots mailed after the election.”Graham has vowed to look into the allegations in the affidavit, but they have not been substantiated at this time.The senator issued the following statement:"It is imperative that all credible allegations of voting irregularities and...…COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Sen. Lindsey Graham, who has been vocal in his support for President Donald Trump’s legal challenges of the election, says he has new information to support those claims.The senator received an affidavit from a postal worker in Pennsylvania alleging post office supervisors had a plan to “backdate ballots mailed after the election.”Graham has vowed to look into the allegations in the affidavit, but they have not been substantiated at this time.The senator issued the following statement:"It is imperative that all credible allegations of voting irregularities and...WW…

WASHINGTON D.C. (WIS) - The Supreme Court of a lower court’s decision that allows Medicaid recipients to get health care at Planned Parenthood in South Carolina.This battle has been going on for years, spearheaded by Gov. Henry McMaster, who said he would fight to make sure no taxpayer money would go to fund abortions in the state.“There are a variety of agencies, clinics, and medical entities in South Carolina that receive taxpayer funding to offer important women’s health and family planning services without performing abortions,” “Taxpayer dollars must not directly or indirectly...…WASHINGTON D.C. (WIS) - The Supreme Court of a lower court’s decision that allows Medicaid recipients to get health care at Planned Parenthood in South Carolina.This battle has been going on for years, spearheaded by Gov. Henry McMaster, who said he would fight to make sure no taxpayer money would go to fund abortions in the state.“There are a variety of agencies, clinics, and medical entities in South Carolina that receive taxpayer funding to offer important women’s health and family planning services without performing abortions,” “Taxpayer dollars must not directly or indirectly...WW…

WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Gov. Henry McMaster issued recommendations on how he believes the state should spend remaining COVID-19 relief funding during an update Thursday afternoon.He also took the opportunity to push more schools to reopen in person, saying he would have issued an executive order making them open if it were legal.During Thursday’s news conference, state health officials also discussed their planning for the eventual distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine.The governor first discussed funding.He is recommending the General Assembly allocate $50 million to schools who are open...…WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Gov. Henry McMaster issued recommendations on how he believes the state should spend remaining COVID-19 relief funding during an update Thursday afternoon.He also took the opportunity to push more schools to reopen in person, saying he would have issued an executive order making them open if it were legal.During Thursday’s news conference, state health officials also discussed their planning for the eventual distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine.The governor first discussed funding.He is recommending the General Assembly allocate $50 million to schools who are open...WW…

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Sen. Tim Scott is bringing the national conversation on policing and justice to South Carolina.Scott, the only Black Republican senator, was joined by U.S. Attorney General William Barr in meeting with community leaders in the state, as well as law enforcement on Wednesday.Both meetings with church leaders and law enforcement were closed to the press. In between meetings, Barr and Scott took some questions.The attorney general was in South Carolina to show support for Scott’s police reform bill -- also known as the JUSTICE Act. According to Scott, the legislation...…COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Sen. Tim Scott is bringing the national conversation on policing and justice to South Carolina.Scott, the only Black Republican senator, was joined by U.S. Attorney General William Barr in meeting with community leaders in the state, as well as law enforcement on Wednesday.Both meetings with church leaders and law enforcement were closed to the press. In between meetings, Barr and Scott took some questions.The attorney general was in South Carolina to show support for Scott’s police reform bill -- also known as the JUSTICE Act. According to Scott, the legislation...WW…

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Gov. Henry McMaster issued a press release Friday morning announcing an executive order allowing bowling alleys to reopen immediately.His order also extends the current state of emergency, while also lifting restrictions on how many people can be inside retail stores and allowing events with more than 50 people to go on as planned at any state properties.This order comes just days after McMaster and Dr. Linda Bell, of the Department of Health and Environmental Control, confirmed COVID-19 cases are rising in South Carolina.Wednesday, Bell said she is “more concerned...…COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Gov. Henry McMaster issued a press release Friday morning announcing an executive order allowing bowling alleys to reopen immediately.His order also extends the current state of emergency, while also lifting restrictions on how many people can be inside retail stores and allowing events with more than 50 people to go on as planned at any state properties.This order comes just days after McMaster and Dr. Linda Bell, of the Department of Health and Environmental Control, confirmed COVID-19 cases are rising in South Carolina.Wednesday, Bell said she is “more concerned...WW…

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Deputies want the public’s help to identify two men they say assaulted a bystander during Saturday’s protest in Columbia.The assault, which was caught on camera, happened about a block from the Columbia Police Department headquarters. It left the man severely injured.Video shows people yelling, “He’s calling the cops, somebody get him!”WIS has learned the man was not calling police, but was looking to see if the area was safe for the employees of his nearby business.The Richland County Sheriff’s Department says two of the men shown in the picture at the top of this...…COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Deputies want the public’s help to identify two men they say assaulted a bystander during Saturday’s protest in Columbia.The assault, which was caught on camera, happened about a block from the Columbia Police Department headquarters. It left the man severely injured.Video shows people yelling, “He’s calling the cops, somebody get him!”WIS has learned the man was not calling police, but was looking to see if the area was safe for the employees of his nearby business.The Richland County Sheriff’s Department says two of the men shown in the picture at the top of this...WW…