By Andy Brack, editor and publisher | Social media and personality-driven television shows that comment constantly on news blur the traditional firewall between news and opinion. As a result, some newspapers are abrogating a traditional role of endorsing candidates during election season.
This, we think, is wrong. And kind of lazy.
Staff reports | Redux Contemporary Art Center’s18th Annual Art Auction will be held in-person and virtually from Nov. 9 to Nov. 21. The auction is the organization’s primary fundraising method each year.
By Andy Brack, editor and publisher | The first referendum on Donald Trump’s presidency was in the 2018 midterm elections, which found him losing control of the U.S. House of Representatives. The second will be Nov. 3 when voters decide whether to continue with lackluster leadership marked by rants, raves, scandals and corruption.
By Andy Brack, editor and publisher | Health care is a sleeper issue that just might bite the Republican Party in the butt in 2020, just like it did at the midterm elections of 2018.
Imagine if the GOP had come up with some kind of inviting national proposal to provide affordable health care that was an alternative to Obamacare, instead of standing in the way and saying no, just like it has done for years.
By Andy Brack, editor and publisher | Hats off and hearty congratulations to Former Gov. David Beasley and the United Nations’ World Food Program that he leads. Just days ago, it won the Nobel Peace Prize for its work to feed the world’s hungry. Part of the prize’s international glory is a tribute to Beasley’s leadership. It’s something in which the whole state should take pride.
Beasley, who admitted to reporters that he was speechless after hearing the news, wrote on Twitter earlier today: “I struggle to put into words what the @WFP family is feeling right now. We are so touched by your overwhelming support. But it breaks my heart that millions of people are starving today. Let this #NobelPeacePrize2020 awaken the world to the suffering and struggle of so many.”
Three years ago after Beasley took the job that has taken him all over the world, we offered the following profile of what he’s been doing. It’s fitting to republish it today.
By Andy Brack, editor and publisher | So the now-conservative U.S. Supreme Court, whose justices rail about judicial activism, now has butted into South Carolina politics with, you guessed it, activism.
At issue: How to cast ballots safely in November in the Palmetto State. The S.C. General Assembly recently voted to make it a little easier for state voters to cast ballots early in this coronavirus pandemic year by allowing anyone to vote absentee, thus dropping a list of reasons voters usually have to turn to if they want to vote early.
IN THIS EDITION
TODAY’S FOCUS: Beasley leads Nobel Prize-winning food program
COMMENTARY, Brack: Activist high court keeps S.C. election barrier in place
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Titan Termite & Pest Control
NEWS BRIEFS: How to vote early in the 2020 general election
FEEDBACK: Send us your thoughts
MYSTERY PHOTO: Off the top of your head, where is this?
CALENDAR: Wine-ing down and Safe Sounds
By Andy Brack, editor and publisher | Bring up past American wars and it’s pretty certain you’ll soon get into a disagreement about something. Example: Which was more important — the Revolutionary War or the Civil War?
Some people focus mostly on the Revolutionary War, saying without the success of patriots in South Carolina and other colonies that we may not have been able to test our unique experiment with democracy.
Others intently study the complexities of the Civil War, its strategies, its inventions, its terrible tool and its enduring impact being felt in society today in everything from polarized bickering about the Confederate flag to racially-motivated killings and violence.
Part of the newly-released 350 Facts About Charleston highlights the influential roles of people and events in the Holy City during these two deadly conflicts. Here’s a preview:
By Andy Brack, editor and publisher | Donald Trump is not a Boy Scout. In fact, he represents just about everything scouts are not supposed to be.
While the reputation of the scouting movement has been tarnished by scandal in recent years — far less scandal than that in Trump’s Washington — scouts are taught to aspire to be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent. These values are the tenets of the Boy Scout Law. More than 40 years after being a scout, these teachings remain ingrained.
Staff reports | The South Carolina Ports Authority saw some positive cargo trends in August, pointing to a slow but emerging recovery during the ongoing global pandemic.
SC Ports handled 208,837 twenty-foot equivalent container units (TEUs) at the Wando Welch and North Charleston container terminals in August, down about 10 percent year-over-year, according to a press release. When compared to recent months however, volumes are trending positively, with TEUs up 18 percent since July and up 33 percent since June. Furthermore, the ports moved 116,248 pier containers, down 12 percent year-over-year, but up 17 percent from July and up 31 percent from June.
We Can Do Better, South Carolina! (2019) by editor and publisher Andy Brack offers incisive commentaries on the American South, politics, the common good and interesting South Carolina leaders. Available exclusively for Kindle for $7.99. A paperback version will be ready soon. Learn more.
Charleston Currents is brought to you free of charge thanks to the generosity of our underwriters:
Charleston City Paper, an alt-weekly seen by more than 100,000 people, offers the latest on news, views, arts, dining and music. Sign up for newsletters that will keep you up-to-date all week.
Statehouse Report is a renowned statewide policy and politics forecast published every Friday that informs South Carolina’s opinion leaders with key insights and news.
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Use our feed
Send us your comments
Recent Comments