NEWS BRIEFS: Corona — the beer, not the virus — on tap for May 5

Staff reports  |  You remember why you’re planning to celebrate on May 5, right?   It’s Cinco de Mayo, surely etched into your memory as the 158th anniversary of the Battle of Puebla in which Mexican forces turned back French troops on May 5, 1862. More than 250 soldiers died on the day in what later morphed into a holiday celebrating  Mexican heritage.

While Charlestonians would normally be headed out to celebrate with some Mexican food and a few drinks, the pandemic makes things a little tougher.  But businesses across Charleston have gotten a little creative on what you can purchase to celebrate Cinco de Mayo at home.  

• Here are some local places to help you make your Margarita Tuesday fun at home, as highlighted by our sister publication, the Charleston City Paper.

In other recent news:

Most city parks open again.  City officials have reopened most community parks, although no group activities such as picnics or exercise classes, or contact sports are allowed.  City of Charleston director of Parks Jason Kronsberg said in a statement, “City staff will be out in parks acting as ambassadors and ensuring that everyone is following rules of social distancing.  There will be no large groups allowed to gather and socialize. Citizens using the parks will need to continue to move along and not stay in one area.”  County officials have reopened Lauren Hill County Park in Mount Pleasant, Meggett County Park, North Charleston Wannamaker North Trail and Stono River County Park.

Giving Tuesday.  May 5 is being recognized around the globe as a day of unity in response to COVID-19 to give to nonprofits to unleash the power of people and organizations to make transformational changes in their communities.  To find area nonprofits, click here.  If you’d rather support independent, but for-profit, local journalism, click here.

More remote work ahead.  Nearly one-in-three workers in South Carolina are now working from home, according to the Friday issue of Statehouse Report. It’s a dramatic change that will have big consequences:  As the state begins allowing in-person businesses to operate in the coming weeks, public and private employees may continue with work-from-home options, either to maintain social distancing or because it lowers overhead.  Correspondent Lindsey Street explains how the marked wholesale increase in working from home in the state has also affected the state’s use of roads, electricity and buildings.  Read more.

House, Senate to convene.   The legislature is readying to convene for the first time since April 8, and just three work days before the official end of session. The House and Senate have plans to meet in-person beginning noon May 12, just days before the May 14 end of session, according to a statement from the House Speaker’s office.  The House will meet each of the three days leading up to the deadline, according to House Clerk Charles Reid in a Thursday email to House members. 

South Carolina could see new version of famous state flag. A new report is giving guidance to state lawmakers to codify the state flag. The last time South Carolina had an official state flag, it was repealed in 1940. For 80 years, the state’s flag has been up to interpretation by flag manufacturers. “South Carolina’s state flag has been voted one of the most beautiful. It’s beautiful for its simplicity. It’s always been high in the ranking for vexillologists,” said S.C. Department of Archives and History Director Dr. Eric Emerson, who chaired the committee that wrote the report. “This one thing that represents us more than anything else should be codified.” Like the repealed 1910 version, the latest version is based on a pencil sketch by Ellen Heyward Jervey of Charleston. Read the report here. 

Bring your own pen for in-person absentee voting. State election officials said South Carolinians can begin absentee voting Monday, and that they recommend voters bring their own pens to sign in. Election officials told Statehouse Report they expect record absentee voting. South Carolina allows more than a dozen reasons to vote absentee, including having to work on election day and being over the age of 65. Avoiding a virus is not one of the reasons allowed. Read more about absentee voting here, including a list of all allowed reasons for voting absentee.

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