May 14 (Reuters) &#8211; Republicans in Louisiana and South Carolina on Thursday took steps toward installing new congressional maps aimed at eliminating one Democratic-held seat in each state, as a national redistricting battle expands further across the South.
In Louisiana, the Republican-controlled state Senate passed a new congressional map that eliminates one of the state&#8217;s two Democratic-held, majority-black U.S. House districts, paving the way for Republicans to pick up an additional seat in November&#8217;s midterm elections.
And in South Carolina, Republican Governor Henry McMaster on Thursday reversed positions and called for a special legislative session starting on Friday to consider redrawing the state&#8217;s congressional map, a move that would likely oust longtime Democratic U.S. Representative Jim Clyburn from Congress in November’s midterm elections.
Republican-led Southern states have raced to redraw their congressional maps after the U.S. Supreme Court&#8217;s decision two weeks ago that severely weakened protections for districts with significant minority populations. Tennessee and Alabama have also either split up Democratic districts or taken steps to do so.
The new round of redistricting is part of a broader national fight that is likely to give Republicans a major boost as they seek to preserve a narrow majority in this fall’s election, though Democrats are still seen as favored to win the House given President Donald Trump&#8217;s sagging approval ratings.
The Louisiana map, which was approved 27-10 along party lines, will next head to the state House of Representatives, where Republicans hold a more than two-thirds majority.
Republican Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry previously suspended the congressional primary elections a day after the Supreme Court decision and only two days before early in-person voting was set to begin. Thousands of absentee ballots had already been returned by mail.
Democratic lawmakers, civil rights activists, and voting rights advocates have criticized the proposed map for diluting the electoral power of black residents, who make up about one-third of the state’s population. The new map would likely result in Republicans winning five of the state’s six districts in November.
&#8220;This Senate should seek to support a map that gives everyone a voice,&#8221; Democratic state Senator Katrina Jackson-Andrews said from the Senate floor on Thursday.
Republicans, including the bill&#8217;s sponsor, state Senator Jay Morris, said the map was drawn solely for partisan advantage, rather than along racial lines.
The current map, which includes majority-black districts centered in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, was deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, which found lawmakers relied too heavily on race in crafting the lines.
The new map includes only a single Democratic district that connects the two cities, which could pit the two Democratic incumbent U.S. representatives, Troy Carter and Cleo Fields, against one another.
In South Carolina, McMaster’s announcement came two days after a vote to extend the legislative session and consider a new map failed in the state Senate, when five Republicans broke with their party to deny the required two-thirds majority.
McMaster had previously indicated he would defer to the legislature. But Trump has pressured state Republicans to pursue a new map that would eliminate the state’s lone Democratic district, held by Clyburn, a black Democrat who is a leading figure within his party and has served in Congress since 1993.
Unlike the resolution that failed this week, any new map would only require a simple majority vote in both legislative chambers, which are dominated by Republicans.
The state House of Representatives has already advanced a proposal that would split up Clyburn’s seat while postponing the June 9 primary elections until August to accommodate the new district lines. Republicans hold the state’s other six districts.
(Reporting by Joseph AxEditing by Rod Nickel and Lincoln Feast.)

Supreme Court redistricting ruling throws Louisiana primary into chaos

Republicans Move To Wipe Out Democrat Seats In Louisiana, South Carolina

Congress

Louisiana

Politics

Redistricting

South Carolina

Alex Murdaugh will get a new trial after the South Carolina Supreme Court <a href="https://www.sccourts.org/media/opinions/HTMLFiles/SC/28329.pdf">overturned</a> his murder convictions on Wednesday, saying that a court clerk &#8220;placed her fingers on the scales of justice.&#8221; 
Murdaugh’s trial, which drew national attention thanks to a popular Netflix documentary, was tainted by Colleton County Clerk Rebecca Hill, who attempted to influence the outcome of the trial, &#8220;thereby denying Murdaugh his right to a fair trial by an impartial jury,&#8221; justices ruled. The decision was unanimous. 
&#8220;Our justice system provides — indeed demands — that every person is entitled to a fair trial, which includes an impartial jury untainted by external forces bent on influencing the jury toward a biased verdict,&#8221; the justices wrote. &#8220;Although we are aware of the time, money, and effort expended for this lengthy trial, we have no choice but to reverse the denial of Murdaugh&#8217;s motion for a new trial due to Hill&#8217;s improper external influences on the jury and remand for a new trial.&#8221;
Jurors stated that Hill told the jury “not to be fooled” by evidence provided by Murdaugh’s attorneys and “to watch him closely.” 
One juror said she “felt influenced to find Murdaugh guilty by Hill&#8217;s remarks before she entered the jury room, and once deliberations began, she felt additional pressure from the other jurors to reach a guilty verdict,&#8221; according to an affidavit. 
Other jurors testified to hearing Hill’s comments but claimed her statements did not affect their decision. The South Carolina Supreme Court&#8217;s opinion states that Hill denied making “most of the comments the jurors related” and also denied attempting to influence the jury. 
The trial began in late January 2023 and quickly gained attention thanks to the documentary series &#8220;Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal,&#8221; which premiered on February 22, 2023. A guilty verdict was delivered on March 2, 2023.
In July of 2023, Hill published a book along with two co-authors titled “Behind the Doors of Justice: The Murdaugh Murders.” Rhonda McElveen, a court clerk who assisted Hill with the trial, told the South Carolina Supreme Court that Hill “repeatedly told her she wanted to write a book so she could buy a lake house, and a guilty verdict would be the best way to sell books.” McElveen also revealed that Hill gave a juror a ride home. 
McElveen said she did not hear Hill make inappropriate comments to the jurors, but that Hill would make comments to her, staff, and the press that were &#8220;strikingly similar to those Juror Z reported.” 
Hill has denied “wanting a guilty verdict because it would sell more books” and claimed that the “outcome of the trial did not matter to her.” 
Ultimately, the South Carolina Supreme Court wrote, “We are accordingly constrained to reverse the post-trial court&#8217;s denial of Murdaugh&#8217;s motion and remand for a new trial consistent with this opinion” due to Hill’s “shocking jury interference.&#8221; 
The so-called “Southern Scandal” involved one of South Carolina’s most powerful families. Murdaugh was charged with brutally killing his wife and son. He was later found guilty of committing financial crimes in 2023 and faced scrutiny after a fatal boat accident in 2019 involving his other son. Murdaugh broke with tradition by testifying in his own defense, adding to the intrigue as all the layers of the shocking story came to light inside the small-town South Carolina courtroom.
During the first trial, journalists and cameras were permitted in the courtroom, allowing the public to follow the trial in real time.

Alex Murdaugh

Court Overturns Conviction In Shocking Twist To Murder Case That Gripped The Nation

True Crime

South Carolina Republicans hit a major roadblock Tuesday in their effort to redraw the state’s congressional map ahead of the 2026 midterm, when Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey joined a handful of Republicans to block a Trump-backed plan that could have eliminated longtime Democratic Rep. James Clyburn’s seat.
The state Senate voted 29-17 for a resolution that would have extended the legislative session to take up congressional redistricting, falling two votes short of the two-thirds threshold needed for passage. Five Republicans sided with Democrats to kill the measure, effectively halting, at least for now, a plan that conservatives hoped would break up South Carolina’s lone majority-black district and potentially flip another House seat for Republicans.
The failed vote comes as Republican-led states across the South move aggressively to redraw congressional maps after a recent Supreme Court ruling sharply limited the use of race in redistricting challenges, opening the door for states to dismantle majority-minority districts previously protected under the Voting Rights Act.
President Donald Trump had personally urged South Carolina lawmakers to move forward. In a Monday post on Truth Social, Trump said he was “watching closely” and called on state Republicans to “be bold and courageous,” citing Tennessee’s recent decision to split up its only deep blue district.
This legislative clash arrives on the heels of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-flexes-political-muscle-against-republicans-who-bucked-him-on-redistricting?author=Drew+Berkemeyer&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=13&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+Flexes+Political+Muscle+Against+Republicans+Who+Bucked+Him+On+Redistricting">state senate primaries in Indiana</a>, where five of the seven Republican state senators who resisted a Trump-aligned redistricting effort were ousted in their primaries by challengers carrying the president&#8217;s endorsement — a stark omen for the South Carolina holdouts.
But Massey, a Republican from Edgefield and the South Carolina Senate’s top GOP leader, delivered a lengthy floor speech opposing the effort and warning that redrawing the map could backfire politically. “I believe that our state is stronger with vibrant parties,” Massey said. “Republicans are stronger when the Democrat Party is vibrant and viable.” 
Massey also framed his opposition as a rejection of pressure from Washington, indirectly brushing off Trump’s demands while invoking South Carolina’s rebellious political heritage. “I have too much Southern blood in me to surrender,” Massey said on the Senate floor. “Indeed, as some of you will recognize, it is my heritage to stand erect, proud and unafraid, to think and act for myself.”
South Carolina’s current congressional map already heavily favors Republicans, who hold six of the state’s seven U.S. House seats. Clyburn’s 6th District remains the only Democrat-held seat and the only majority-black district in the state. The proposed redraw would have dispersed portions of the district’s Democratic base into neighboring Republican districts, likely making Clyburn’s reelection path far more difficult.
Massey added that redistricting as a gamble was too risky, warning that moving Democratic voters into adjacent districts could accidentally strengthen Democrats elsewhere and potentially reduce the GOP’s current 6-1 advantage. “The numbers are not reliable,” Massey said on the Senate floor. “What I do know is that we are 6-1 today. If we start tinkering with this, my concern is that we could make this a whole lot worse.” 
Other Republican lawmakers <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/12/south-carolina-republicans-defy-trump-redistricting">echoed that argument</a>, noting that South Carolina’s rapid population growth since 2020 means current district modeling may be outdated, and that attempting to redraw the map just days before the state’s primary calendar begins leaves little room for error.
The setback is notable because Republicans nationally have used mid-decade redistricting to shore up their narrow House majority. States like <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/red-state-charges-ahead-with-plan-to-erase-final-dem-seat">Tennessee</a>, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/red-state-wins-massive-supreme-court-victory-on-redistricting">Texas</a>, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/florida-passes-new-maps-that-could-threaten-multiple-democratic-seats">Florida</a>, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/this-is-a-different-era-republican-senator-says-gop-done-playing-defense?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=‘This+Is+A+Different+Era’%3A+Republican+Senator+Says+GOP+Done+Playing+Defense">Missouri</a>, and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/republicans-ramp-up-redistricting-push-after-supreme-court-ruling">Louisiana</a> have already moved to redraw maps in ways that could deliver additional Republican seats before November.
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster has not ruled out calling a special session to revisit redistricting, leaving open the possibility that the fight over Clyburn’s district is not over yet.

Trump/South Carolina

More Republicans May Be Headed For The Indiana Treatment After Redistricting Pushback

Donald Trump

Indiana

Republicans

Former Rep. Mark Sanford (R-SC) ended his brief return to the campaign trail on Wednesday, suspending his congressional comeback bid just weeks after launching it.
Instead, Sanford said he will start a nonprofit group focused on the national debt and government spending, which has been a top issue for the former lawmaker.
“After a lot of thought, I’ve concluded that the most effective way I can contribute right now is not by seeking office, but by helping build a broader movement focused on the country’s financial future,” Sanford said in a <a href="https://x.com/MarkSanford/status/2049849181515223086?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> on Thursday.
Sanford represented South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District from 2013 until 2019, and previously served in the seat from 1995 to 2001. He also served as governor of South Carolina, gaining national attention in 2009 after he falsely claimed to be hiking the Appalachian Trail while he was in Argentina having an affair.
“I want to make a difference here, and as I began to get back into the world of politics it really began to hit me how all of Washington&#8217;s major changes have come as a result of outside pressure. Technical changes come from within Washington, but to do more of that on the debt issue is to rearrange chairs on the Titanic. It will take public pressure to bring lasting change,” he added.
“I’m grateful to everyone who offered their support,” Sanford continued. “While this isn’t the race I initially set out to run, I believe this effort has the potential to make a broader and more lasting impact.”
Sanford previously mounted a primary challenge against President Donald Trump in 2020.
He was seeking a return to South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, which is ranked “Solid Republican” by the <a href="https://www.cookpolitical.com/ratings/house-race-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cook Political Report</a>. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) currently holds the seat, but she is running in a competitive primary for governor.
Sanford&#8217;s campaign launch earlier this month garnered some scrutiny, in part because it came on the same day as then-Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) resigned from Congress amid sexual misconduct allegations.
“Launching today of all days?” CBS News political correspondent Caitlin Huey-Burns wrote on X.
Others had a more positive outlook for Sanford&#8217;s return, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/a-well-known-republican-is-making-a-comeback-and-his-past-is-part-of-the-story?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Cameron+Arcand&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=A+Well-Known+Republican+Is+Making+A+Comeback+And+His+Past+Is+Part+Of+The+Story" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Wire</a> reported.

Republican Presidential Candidate Mark Sanford Campaigns At The South Carolina Statehouse

Former GOP Congressman Ends His Comeback Bid, Shifts Focus To Advocacy

Mark Sanford

Nancy Mace

Former Rep. Mark Sanford (R-SC), who previously had a controversial tenure as governor of South Carolina and challenged President Donald Trump for the 2020 presidential nomination, announced his comeback congressional bid on Tuesday.
Sanford continues to face political pushback over his June 2009 decision to leave the state for roughly a week to see his mistress in Argentina, which he lied about and instead said that he was hiking the Appalachian Trail. He did successfully return to Congress from 2013 to 2019, but lost the 2018 primary to Republican Katie Arrington.
“I’m running for Congress because I believe our country is at a tipping point,” he said, saying if the national debt is “left unaddressed, that debt will crush our economy.”
“If you believe as I do, I’m asking you join us in this fight,” he added.
He most recently made major headlines with unverified accusations that he had a relationship with journalist Olivia Nuzzi while she was covering his 2020 presidential bid, as she later left Vanity Fair as a result of that and possible improper ties with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The seat is currently held by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), who is running for governor of South Carolina in a crowded Republican primary. The congressional district is rated “Solid Republican” by the <a href="https://www.cookpolitical.com/ratings/house-race-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cook Political Report</a>.
Although it was known that he would enter the race since late last month, his announcement triggered some negative reactions on X.
“Appalachian Trail is a thing because of you,” conservative commentator <a href="https://x.com/DLoesch/status/2044258447898665377?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dana Loesch</a> wrote.
“Launching today of all days?” CBS News Political Correspondent <a href="https://x.com/CHueyBurns/status/2044250334025941094?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Caitlin Huey-Burns</a> tweeted, presumably a nod to Rep. Eric Swalwell’s (D-CA) resignation on Tuesday over multiple sexual misconduct allegations, including two individuals accusing the Democrat of sexual assault. Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) also resigned on Tuesday following an affair scandal involving a female staffer who later ended up committing suicide.
However, some individuals on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/reel/949018910832865/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Facebook</a> were more complimentary.
“People look at the bad mistakes made not what the Governor has done for the state. This man can cut a budget in half. He will always always have my vote and I will always always have Marks back. Vote for the future people not the past,” one user wrote.
“If I still lived SC I would certainly vote for you. I lived in SC when you were Governor and thought you did an absolutely wonderful job,” another individual posted.
His decision to challenge Trump in 2020, although he suspended his campaign before any primaries, centered around the national debt.
“I’m suspending my race for the Presidency because impeachment has made my goal of making the debt, deficit, and spending issue a part of this presidential debate impossible right now,” Sanford stated at the time, according to <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/mark-sanford-ends-longshot-republican-presidential-campaign-n1080791#:~:text=Mark%20Sanford%20ends%20long%2Dshot%20Republican%20presidential%20campaign" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBC News</a>.
The primary is on June 9.

Republican Mark Sanford Announces Run Against Trump, Gets Grilled About Past Scandal

A Well-Known Republican Is Making A Comeback And His Past Is Part Of The Story

House of Representatives

President Donald Trump reiterated his support on Friday afternoon for Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) in his race to win re-election, as one of Graham&#8217;s main primary opponents, Paul Dans, appears to have exited the race.
<a href="https://www.fitsnews.com/2026/04/10/exclusive-paul-dans-withdraws-from-u-s-senate-race/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FITSNews</a> wrote on Friday that Dans was dropping out of the race, and Trump appeared to confirm the report. The Daily Wire reached out to the Dans campaign, but did not immediately hear back.
“Paul Dans has just dropped out of the South Carolina Senatorial Race against the Great Lindsey Graham,” <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116382196783520781" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Trump</a> wrote.
“It all started to fall apart for Paul when a very Low IQ individual named Tucker Carlson ENDORSED him — THE KISS OF DEATH! Lindsey has a BIG lead, and is on his way to a spectacular VICTORY because he just, GETS THINGS DONE!” the president added.
In another post moments prior, Trump slammed Graham’s other primary opponent, Mark Lynch, in a Truth Social post, as the Republican senator has fended off critics who have said that he has been too hawkish on military action in the Middle East, particularly in Iran.
“Senator Lindsey Graham is doing a fantastic job. He is running against a LUNATIC named Mark Lynch, who supports perhaps the Worst Congressman in the History of our Country, Thomas Massie, of the Great Commonwealth of Kentucky,” Trump said.
“I don’t have to go into great detail, but needless to say, Mark Lynch would be a DISASTER for the Republican Party, and Lindsey Graham just, GETS THE JOB DONE. VOTE FOR LINDSEY ALL THE WAY,” the <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116382183704204825" target="_blank" rel="noopener">president</a> added.
Lynch has not held back in his criticism of Graham on matters of foreign policy.
“Lindsey Graham represents a grave National Security threat to Americans, American soldiers, and to every man, woman, and child in the Middle East &#8212; whether Iranian or Israeli,” Lynch <a href="https://x.com/MarkLynchSC/status/2042678395482395085?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted</a> Friday. “On June 9, we Dump Lindsey!”
Trump&#8217;s posts backing Graham were not a surprise, given the president and the senator have been close allies for some time.
However, the posts underscore how the president is firing back against those who have been critical of Operation Epic Fury in Iran, including with a post made on Thursday saying that a handful of podcasters slamming the war are “Low IQ.”
Graham chairs the Senate Budget Committee, which means he will play a critical role in securing congressional funding for the president’s military goals. Last week, the senator praised the Trump administration’s budget request for fiscal year 2027.
“President Trump’s budget is truly historic when it comes to defense spending. It is the most robust increase in defense spending in many years, and it is more than justified by the threats we face throughout the world,” Graham said in a <a href="https://www.lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2026/4/chairman-graham-statement-on-president-trump-s-fy27-budget-request" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>. “When it comes to our national security, President Trump and his team are second to none.”
The Daily Wire reached out to the Lynch campaign for comment.

President Trump Returns To The  White House After Spending Holidays In Florida

Major Shakeup In Lindsey Graham Primary Race After Trump Blasts War Critics

2026 election

Elections

Lindsey Graham

Senate

U.S. Senate

Hundreds of measles cases have been confirmed in South Carolina, surpassing the number of infections from an outbreak in West Texas this past summer.
<p class="paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph_elevate" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmkwxk87q00043b6s5tm6zaeg@published" data-editable="text" data-component-name="paragraph" data-article-gutter="true">As of Tuesday, 789 cases were reported in South Carolina. So far, 18 people, including children, have been hospitalized for complications from the disease. No deaths have been reported.
<p class="paragraph-elevate inline-placeholder vossi-paragraph_elevate" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cmkwxk87q00043b6s5tm6zaeg@published" data-editable="text" data-component-name="paragraph" data-article-gutter="true">At the height of the Texas outbreak, 762 cases were reported. That outbreak, which was tied to two deaths of school-aged children, was declared <a href="https://www.dshs.texas.gov/news-alerts/texas-announces-end-west-texas-measles-outbreak?utm_source=chatgpt.com">over</a> back in August.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/27/health/largest-us-measles-outbreak-south-carolina">supporting</a> South Carolina&#8217;s response to the outbreak by providing $1.4 million in requested aid. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is also working closely and regularly with state health officials.
The vast majority of those infected in South Carolina — an estimated 88% — are unvaccinated against measles. In Texas, too, the vast majority of those infected were unvaccinated or had no documented measles vaccination: more than 94%.
The surge in cases in numerous states has sparked outcry from some advocacy groups, who are blaming HHS and its leader, Secretary Robert F. Kennedy.
Protect Our Care, for example, projected “MEASLES HQ&#8221; on the D.C. HHS building on Tuesday, <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5698149-protect-our-care-protests-kennedy/">according</a> to The Hill. Another message said, &#8220;RFK JR: MAKING AMERICA SICK AGAIN.&#8221;
Notably, however, the CDC still recommends children receive the measles vaccine as part of the routine childhood immunization schedule. The immunization comes in the form of the MMR shot, which protects against measles, mumps, and rubella.
“Under Secretary Kennedy, CDC surged resources, and multiple states declared measles outbreaks over in 2025,&#8221; HHS Press Secretary Emily Hilliard <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5698149-protect-our-care-protests-kennedy/">said</a> in a statement. &#8220;Vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent measles, and the Secretary has been clear and consistent on this point. All vaccines on the CDC schedule, including MMR, remain covered by insurance, so families do not need to pay out of pocket to get vaccinated.&#8221;
&#8220;Additionally, the U.S. continues to fare better than Canada, Mexico, and Europe in overall measles burden,&#8221; she added. &#8220;This is an international problem.&#8221;
The decline in overall vaccination rates predates the Trump administration, and that&#8217;s due to the botched job of public health officials during the COVID pandemic, Hilliard argued.
“Declines in measles vaccination rates and erosion of public trust began well before this Administration,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Public confidence in health institutions was significantly undermined during the COVID era, particularly in states that imposed prolonged mandates and delivered inconsistent messaging. Those effects continue to be felt today.”
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/rfk-jr-orders-major-overhaul-of-childhood-vaccine-schedule-heres-what-to-know?author=Amanda+Prestigiacomo&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=RFK+Jr.+Orders+Major+Overhaul+Of+Childhood+Vaccine+Schedule">RFK Jr. Orders Major Overhaul Of Childhood Vaccine Schedule</a>

One Death Reported As Texas Measles Outbreak Spreads

Health And Human Services Responds As Hundreds Of Measles Cases Confirmed In South Carolina

Disease

Health

Measles

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

U.S.

At least 14 states have declared a state of emergency as they brace for snow, record cold, and potentially crippling ice from a winter storm that will stretch from New Mexico to Maine.
Around 172 million people are in the storm&#8217;s path this weekend, with the ice being the biggest threat. Up to an inch of ice is possible in some spots in the Southeast, which is enough to down trees and power lines, potentially knocking out power for days. Some cities, such as New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C., could see up to a foot or more of snow, while Minneapolis and Chicago face extreme cold. A polar vortex is expected to bring in frigid Arctic air to around 35 states following the major storm.
States that have declared a state of emergency ahead of the storm include Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is also preparing to respond to the storm, setting up staging areas in multiple locations, ABC News <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/live-updates/winter-storm-live-updates-tracking-dangerous-ice-snow/?id=129469173">reported</a>. In Louisiana, FEMA is preparing 250,000 meals, 400,000 liters of water, and 30 generators at Camp Minden near Shreveport.
Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders <a href="https://x.com/arkansasguard/status/2014734071088206232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2014734071088206232%7Ctwgr%5E8379399732f31524804ffc98aa29501a8f40a1f5%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fiframe.nbcnews.com%2FvDYMbArB%3F_showcaption%3Dfalseapp%3D1">ordered</a> 168 National Guard troops to active duty on Friday to support state police &#8220;until weather conditions improve.&#8221;
&#8220;Winter weather is headed our way as early as this evening. Stock up on essentials now, stay inside, and follow local and state guidance,&#8221; Sanders said on Friday morning.
In the South, where ice remains the biggest risk, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency <a href="https://x.com/TennesseeEMA/status/2014660446154821724">urged</a> residents to finalize their plans &#8220;and get home or to a safe place&#8221; by Friday night. In Texas, officials have warned residents to prepare for a &#8220;long-duration freeze&#8221; that will likely affect the state Saturday night through Monday night. Public buses and light rail trains will be completely shut down on Saturday afternoon in Austin, where the city&#8217;s mayor urged residents to stay indoors.
&#8220;Travel will become difficult, especially on bridges, overpasses, and untreated roadways,&#8221; <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/weather/winter-weather/live-blog/winter-storm-snow-ice-weather-cold-live-updates-rcna255524/rcrd97174?canonicalCard=true">said</a> National Weather Service meteorologist Jason Runyon.
The storm will <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/weather/winter-weather/live-blog/winter-storm-snow-ice-weather-cold-live-updates-rcna255524/rcrd97153?canonicalCard=true">move</a> across Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas on Friday night before ice and snow are expected to reach the Carolinas and Virginia by Saturday and into Sunday. The National Weather Service warned that heavy snow can also &#8220;bring multi-day Power Outages, block emergency routes, and cause Communication Loss from downed lines.&#8221; Cold temperatures are expected to persist throughout the first half of next week, potentially prolonging power outages and travel difficulties in many states that are ill-equipped to clear roads.

Winter Storm

Over A Dozen States Declare Emergencies As Americans Brace For Massive Winter Storm

Over A Dozen States Declare Emergencies As Americans Brace For Massive Winter Storm, Frigid Temps

Arkansas

New York

North Carolina

Tennessee

Texas

Virginia

Winter storm

Nearly 250 years ago, hundreds of Patriot soldiers were killed or wounded fighting in the pine woods of Camden, South Carolina, in one of the worst defeats for the colonists during the Revolutionary War. Today, one organization is working to identify the remains of those who fell fighting for liberty and share their stories with the country. 
Using DNA sequencing, the <a href="https://www.historiccamden.org">Historic Camden Foundation</a> is working to identify the remains of 12 of the Patriot soldiers killed during the August 16, 1780, battle. The remains of the 12 were recently discovered during archeological excavations at the battlefield. In 2023, they <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/12-patriot-soldiers-given-proper-funeral-243-years-after-revolutionary-battle-of-camden-boys-only-in-age">were given</a> a proper funeral and military honors, but not before DNA samples were saved from teeth and a bone at the back of the skull. 
So far, the Historic Camden Foundation has secured funds for DNA sequencing of two of the fallen Patriots. Stacey Ferguson, the deputy director of the organization, told The Daily Wire that they plan to continue their work until they have sequenced all of the DNA and narrowed down the details of the soldiers. 
“This is an ongoing project. We had the funds available to run those first two soldiers, but we have every intention of continuing on the work with the other soldiers,” she said. “We may or may not get to a point where we can actually put an exact name on the remains, but it’s very possible. We&#8217;ve really narrowed it way down.”
Figuring out who the soldiers were is “the oldest John Doe case in the country that we know of based on what&#8217;s in public record,” Ferguson said. 
One of the soldiers they have determined is a teenage male between the ages of 14 and 18 from Maryland. He was buried alongside other soldiers in a mass grave at Camden and is believed to have been from Anne Arundel County, Maryland.
The other soldier is an adult male over the age of 20 from the Jamestown, Virginia area. Researchers believe he was related to the original Jamestown settlers and even shares some DNA with Pocahontas. He was likely an artilleryman based on where he fell in the battle. 
The two heroes could have over 20,000 living relatives, according to Ferguson. Matching them to an exact name is a more difficult task because muster rolls from that time often were not the most accurate. 
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The battle of Camden was a disaster for the Americans, as the Patriot forces under Major General Horatio Gates clashed with British and Loyalist forces under General Charles Lord Cornwallis. An undisciplined American army had 1,900 casualties to the British’s 324. 
However, the battle did pave the way for the more competent Rhode Islander Nathanael Greene, who would go on to earn the moniker “the savior of the South.” Greene orchestrated the great patriot victory at Cowpens soon after the disaster at Camden, which followed on the heels of a great patriot victory at King’s Mountain.
Ferguson said she hopes their work to remember the fallen of Camden will help Americans identify more with their past. 
“It feels like ancient history to most Americans,” she said. “These soldiers that fought and died for their freedom, but being able to say, ‘you are related to this soldier, who fought and died at the battle of Camden,’ really makes that story personal for a lot of people.”

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Republican Governor Henry McMaster moved to end race-based government contracting in South Carolina and called for lawmakers to take action to codify his executive actions. 
McMaster signed an <a href="https://governor.sc.gov/sites/governor/files/Documents/Executive-Orders/2025-12-03%20FILED%20Executive%20Order%202025-40%20-%20Prohibiting%20Race-Based%20Discrimination%20in%20Government%20Contracting.pdf">executive order</a> on Wednesday calling for state agencies to stop awarding contracts based on race. Under current state law, each state agency is required to propose a budget that awards 10% of spending to minority-owned businesses. 
“Today, I have ordered state agencies to halt all future spending, procurement or contract decisions that are based on race. The state laws requiring these quotas and racial set-asides are unconstitutional and discriminatory. Business with state government should be awarded based on merit and value to the taxpayer,” McMaster <a href="https://x.com/henrymcmaster/status/1996273026841682158">wrote</a> on X. “Senate President Alexander and House Speaker Smith have agreed to lead the effort to repeal these laws when the General Assembly returns next month.”
South Carolina’s Department of Transportation is also required to hand out a minimum of 5% of its awards for certain contracts to minority-owned businesses. 
In his executive order, McMaster said that the state laws mandating race-based contracting “call for unlawful racial discrimination” and that they are policies that “rest on the false assumption that the solution to perceived historical wrongs is to racially discriminate against individuals in the present.” 
McMaster also said that the policies may violate President Donald Trump’s executive actions taking aim at diversity, equity, and inclusion policies. 
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South Carolina Senate President Thomas Alexander and House Speaker Murrell Smith, both Republicans, said they would move in January to codify the governor’s actions. 
“We are a nation and a state dedicated to the principle that ‘all men are created equal, endowed by their Creator,’ as reflected in the Constitution’s requirement of equal protection of the laws,” Alexander said. “When existing laws no longer align with that constitutional command, it is our duty to correct them. I am confident my colleagues in the Senate share my belief that state government must reflect equality under the law in all its endeavors and ensure our statutes fully comply with the Constitution.”
South Carolina Congressman Ralph Norman <a href="https://x.com/RalphNorman/status/1996286119034454330">praised</a> McMaster’s action and called for the state legislature to pass a “full DEI ban.”
Amid Trump’s war on DEI at the federal level, some lawmakers have turned to the state level to challenge programs that favor minority businesses. In October, Texas <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/unless-youre-white-you-qualify-texas-suspends-business-program-that-excludes-white-males">suspended</a> a statewide program that prioritized non-white male businesses in state contracting. 
This was done through the Historically Underutilized Businesses, which received about 11% of state spending total. The total awards given to the businesses are over $4 billion, including $1.45 billion for women-owned businesses and $1.6 billion for Hispanic-owned businesses.

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Authorities are searching for a gunman who opened fire at a crowded South Carolina bar early Sunday morning, killing four people and wounding 20 others.
Hundreds of people gathered at Willie’s Bar and Grill on St. Helena Island for a high school reunion party Saturday night into Sunday morning when gunfire erupted, forcing the crowd to run to nearby businesses to find cover. Beaufort County Sheriff&#8217;s deputies arrived on the scene around 1:00 a.m. and found that numerous people had been shot, according to ABC&#8217;s Charleston affiliate, <a href="https://abcnews4.com/news/local/20-injured-4-killed-in-early-morning-shooting-at-beaufort-county-bar-wciv-abc-news-4-charleston-sc-south-carolina-beaufort-county-sheriffs-office">WCIV</a>.
Four people were declared dead, while the other victims were transported to the hospital. Four of the 20 people who were wounded in the shooting were in critical condition. It appears that the shooting took place outside the bar, where there was a party for alumni of Battery Creek High School.
St. Helena Island is 50 miles north of Savannah, Georgia.
The mass shooting remains under investigation. The Beaufort County Sheriff&#8217;s Office <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BeaufortCountySheriffsOfficeSC/">said</a> it is &#8220;investigating persons of interest,&#8221; but has not released any information about them as of Monday morning. The sheriff&#8217;s office is also waiting to notify the families of victims before it releases any information on their identities.
&#8220;This is a tragic and difficult incident for everyone. We ask for your patience as we continue to investigate this incident. Our thoughts are with all of the victims and their loved ones,&#8221; the sheriff&#8217;s office said.
The sheriff&#8217;s office also said that the public can <a href="https://tipsbft.com/sitemenu.aspx?ID=1017&amp;">submit anonymous tips</a> if anyone has information regarding the shooting.
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Republican Congresswoman Nancy Mace, whose district includes St. Helena Island, <a href="https://x.com/RepNancyMace/status/1977370951953068193">said</a> that she was &#8220;completely heartbroken.&#8221;
&#8220;Our prayers are with the victims, their families, and everyone impacted by this horrific act of violence,&#8221; Mace added. &#8220;If you have any information, please contact the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office at 843-255-3418, as soon as humanly possible.&#8221;
The deadly shooting in South Carolina came just weeks after three people were killed and five were wounded in a &#8220;highly premeditated&#8221; <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/3-dead-8-injured-person-shot-boat-north-carolina-waterfront-bar-rcna234168">shooting</a> at a North Carolina waterfront bar. The gunman in the North Carolina bar attack fired upon victims from his boat before speeding off. Authorities arrested a 40-year-old Marine veteran and charged him with three counts of first-degree murder and five counts of attempted first-degree murder, among other crimes.

Shooting At South Carolina Bar Leaves At Least 4 Dead, 20 Injured

Gunman Kills 4, Wounds 20 At South Carolina Bar

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