The big news today was obviously the announcement of fresh indictments in connection with the ‘Murdaugh Murders’ crime and corruption saga. The latest indictments against disgraced former attorney Alex Murdaugh were accompanied by an initial round of indictments against fellow lawyer Cory Fleming – the first co-conspirator to be criminally charged in connection with the case.
Our executive editor Liz Farrell and news director Mandy Matney led our team coverage of this breaking news. To read their report, click here …
As we follow the latest Murdaugh developments, welcome to a Wednesday edition of FITSFeed, a recently launched format which focuses on news briefs, reader feedback and other stuff I probably would have posted to Twitter had that platform not decided to piss me off.
Got something for the feed? Please email me.
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THE FEED …
5:16 p.m. EDT – S.C. SENATE MASK MANDATE UPDATE
Earlier this month, I penned a story on “Republican” leaders in the South Carolina Senate hypocritically enforcing a Covid-19 mask mandate – at the same time Democrats in Washington, D.C. were dropping their mandate.
As I reported at the time, senators were enforcing the mandate on staffers and pages – but refusing to wear masks themselves. More of the “Masks For Thee, Not For We” hypocrisy, right?
Anyway, I am pleased to report all of this mandate foolishness is finally over … with Senate leaders dropping any and all mask mandates this week (including mandates for pages and staffers).
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4:24 p.m. EDT – GAS PRICE REPRIEVE?
(Via: Getty)
South Carolina gas prices almost hit their September 15, 2008 record of $4.121 per gallon earlier last month – peaking at nearly $4.10 per gallon of regular unleaded. Over the last few days, though, prices have actually receded – and are currently holding at $4.042 per gallon.
Is the worst of the price spike behind us? Or will Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continue to place upward pressure on prices?
“It bears reminding that the cost of oil accounts for about 50 percent of what drivers pay at the pump,” AAA spokesman Andrew Gross said in a statement. “This war is roiling an already tight global oil market and making it hard to determine if we are near a peak for pump prices, or if they keep grinding higher. It all depends on the direction of oil prices.”
Bottom line? High prices are here for the foreseeable future … which is bad news for U.S. president Joe Biden.
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3:55 p.m. EDT – RICHLAND COUNTY DISPATCH UPDATE
(Via: Facebook)
In yesterday’s feed, I addressed reports of a “heavy police presence” at 316 Silver Fox Lane – a home in Richland County owned by Michael T. Sauer, a well-known local veterinarian and owner of the Paws and Claws animal clinic in Lexington, S.C.
Richland County sheriff’s department deputies declined to discuss the situation, saying they could not provide “any details on the exact location or patient information for the call we received.”
“We can’t provide a comment in this instance and can only confirm RCSD responded to a home on Silver Fox Lane for a non-criminal matter,” a sheriff’s spokesperson told our director of special projects Dylan Nolan.
According to a Facebook post from Paws and Claws, Sauer is reportedly “recuperating at home after dehydration from food poisoning.”
“We are hoping he will be in later this week,” the post added.
Hopefully this is one of those “all’s well that ends well” situations …
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3:14 p.m. EDT – JONATHON HILL WILL NOT SEEK REELECTION
(Via: Jonathon Hill)
One of the most consistently pro-liberty lawmakers in the South Carolina General Assembly will not seek a fifth term in office in 2022.
State representative Jonathon Hill of Townville, S.C. confirmed to me this afternoon he is not filing for reelection – part of a mass exodus from the ostensibly “Republican-controlled” chamber.
“After eight years in office, Amanda and I need a break,” Hill told me. “I’m not leaving politics, and will continue doing what I’ve been doing outside of office.”
Hill sparred frequently with fiscally liberal, big government GOP leaders in the S.C. House. In fact, three years ago he was booted from the S.C. House Republican Caucus after getting into a spat with majority leader Gary Simrill.
While I am sure it will win me no popularity points with lawmakers, I have to say I am sad to see Hill go …
He was one of the few GOP lawmakers who lived up to the “lower taxes, less government” mantra which is supposed to serve as the guiding principle of the party.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR …
(Via: FITSNews)
Will Folks is the founding editor of the news outlet you are currently reading. Prior to founding FITSNews, he served as press secretary to the governor of South Carolina. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and seven children. Oh, he also has LOTS of hats … but has given them up for Lent this year.
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BANNER VIA: GETTY IMAGES