GOOD NEWS: 34th North Charleston Arts Fes starts April 29

Staff reports  |  The North Charleston Arts Fest, started 34 years ago as a half-day community celebration, kicks off nine days of free and ticketed activities on April 29 with a bevy of activities.

“The variety of festival offerings and the inclusiveness of the event have become a point of pride for the City of North Charleston,” Mayor Keith Summey said.  “It is a time of year when we are joined by thousands from throughout the Southeast to become exposed, engaged and inspired by the arts.”

Although there are some April 28 pre-Fest events, the fun begins 5:30 p.m. April 29 with the May Senior Music Festival at the Felix Davis Community Center at 3800 Park Circle.  The next day is the start of Arts Fest Premiere Weekend, which includes free performances, a comic book show, dance workshop, gospel concert and play.  For a look at more than 100 events, download a 16-page Fest booklet here.  Also in good news:

Compromise ahead?  Looks like the state’s first responders might get some help with expensive co-payments and deductibles if they need mental health counseling brought on by post-traumatic stress syndrome brought on by the job.  Following a Rotary Club speech last week by Charleston County Deputy Sheriff Michael S. Ackerman, our sister publication, Statehouse Report, started looking into the issue and broke news Friday that a bill offered by state Sen. Paul Thurmond, R-Charleston, to provide help to first responders appeared to be stuck in a legislative quagmire but that state senators have added an extra $1 million to a State Law Enforcement Division fund to help.   Read more here.