Understand SC

Why did The Post and Courier just send two journalists 5,000 miles away to Africa?  For a story about where our worst hurricanes are born. West Africa is a hurricane nursery, the place where Hugo in 1989 was born. And dust blowing off the Sahara often determines whether a hurricane lives or dies.  This bonus  episode of Understand SC is a recording of the Post and Courier's latest Beyond the Headlines event.  Senior projects reporter Tony Bartelme and photojournalist Andrew Whitaker discuss their trip and interviews with leading West African scientists and more. Moderated by Watchdog & Public Service Editor Glenn Smith.Read the story at postandcourier.com/SaharaStory   This story was made possible with generous support from the Pulitzer Center.

In a city like Charleston, where dining is a key element of its identity, how restaurants are doing is important. We know that 2020 was a devastating year for local restaurants. 2021 — year two of the COVID-19 pandemic — brought its own challenges, even when diners returned. Restaurant owners have had to contend with staff shortages, supply chain difficulties, construction delays and price increases that made operating a daily struggle.Despite those challenges, many Charleston restaurant owners say they're optimistic about the year ahead.This week on the podcast, you'll hear from two of them.Maryam Ghaznavi and Raheel Gauba are owners of Ma'am Saab, which will be opening soon in downtown Charleston, and Malika in Mount Pleasant. The husband-and-wife entrepreneurs have grown their business from scratch during the pandemic. After launching Pakistani pop-up Ma'am Saab as a meal delivery service during the pandemic, they landed a stall in the now-closed food court Workshop. Last year, they announced plans to open a Ma'am Saab brick-and-mortar location in downtown Charleston. Not long after, they debuted another restaurant, Malika, in Mount Pleasant Towne Centre. They spoke with food and dining editor Parker Milner about their experiences as restaurant owners during the pandemic, the desire and appreciation for new cuisine in Charleston and hopes for the future of the city's food scene. This episode originally published Jan. 20, 2022.Related coverage:Charleston chefs predict dining trends, suggest industry changes for 2022Staff shortages persist at SC restaurants as COVID surges. Some owners see a path forward.Pakistani restaurant to begin revamping former Jestine's Kitchen; furniture shop to relocateMalika in Mount Pleasant now open offering Pakistani-canteen style comfort foodSign up for The Post and Courier's Food & Dining newsletter here. Check out Malika's website, Instagram and Facebook.Details about Ma'am Saab can be found on its website, Instagram and Facebook. 

Tim Scott has decided to launch a White House bid. He'll make the official announcement on May 22 at his alma mater Charleston Southern University.In this Undertsand SC pop up episode, political editor Schuyler Kropf and senior politics reporter Caitlin Byrd discuss Tim Scotts political journey and what lies ahead as he campaigns for the presidency.Related Content:Tim Scott is running for president. His life story is at the center of his 2024 hopes.SC's Sen. Tim Scott says America ‘not a racist country' in President Biden GOP rebuttalHosted by Caitlin Byrd and Schuyler KropfEdited by Eric Russell

Post and Courier Food Editor Parker Milner and contributing food critic Robert Moss debuted the Post and Courier's newest food and dining podcast live from the 2023 Charleston Wine and Food Festival.This episode features recently named James Beard Finalist and owner of Tuk Tuk Sri Lanken Bites Sam Fore and owner of Mansueta's Filipino Food, Nikko CagalananCharleston's Menu will be a podcast discussing dining, restaurants and all the food that lands on Parker and Robert's plate across South Carolina. Hosted by Parker Milner and Robert MossProduced by Eric Russell

The South Carolina Supreme Court is set to review the constitutionality of the two options the state currently offers as a way to execute inmates on death row. The decision could alter the fate of several inmates, including Richard Moore. Moore is likely to be the first man scheduled to die by firing squad if the Supreme Court allows the state to use the method.He recently discussed life on death row, facing execution and remorse for killing James Joseph Mahoney III. Reporter Jennifer Berry Hawes break down South Carolina's execution options and discuss her interview with Moore. Hosted by Eric Russell and Jennifer Berry HawesProduced by Eric Russell

 Welcome to Understand Murdaugh, a podcast from The Post and Courier, South Carolina's largest newspaper. Our award-winning reporters have spent more than a year digging into the Murdaugh saga to bring you the latest news and in-depth analysis as we cover this story of drugs, deceit and death in South Carolina's rural Lowcountry. Today, hosts Glenn Smith and Avery Wilks discuss the launching of Understand Murdaugh, the complex through lines of the case and what comes next.Follow Understand Murdaugh: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/understand-murdaugh/id1652688043 Hosted by Glenn Smith and Avery WilksProduced by Nathan StevensMusic by Lexin Music

The first newspaper story about the Lizard Man was written by Jan Easterling, a former reporter in The State newspaper's Camden bureau. Easterling was tasked with covering everything that happened in three mostly rural counties east of Columbia. That's how she came to hear talk of a Bigfoot-like creature from Lee County's sheriff, Liston Truesdale. She wrote a short story that landed on the front page, and within days, it gained national attention.More coverage:Return of the Lizard Man: Bishopville's journey to reclaim an SC monsterVideo: South Carolina's Lizard Man story of Christopher DavisPhotos: The Lizard Man Stomp in BishopvilleThis is the second of a four-part bonus series from Understand SC.Understand SC is a weekly podcast from The Post and Courier that draws from the reporting resources and knowledge of our newsroom to help you better understand South Carolina. Are there any stories you'd like to hear on the show? Contact us at understandsc@postandcourier.com.This episode was hosted by Andrew J. Whitaker and Thad Moore. Editing done by Andrew J. Whitaker.

For those who remember the summer of 1988, the Lizard Man is more than just a campfire story.Instead, it's a connection to a moment in time and the memories and people they associate with it. Take, for instance, former Lee County Sheriff Liston Truesdale, who is largely credited with making the Lizard Man a legend. His niece, Abbie Denny, cherishes the Lizard Man, because it preserves her uncle's legacy. Harry Elmore also joined this episode. Elmore's uncle is often tied to the sightings in 1988, and when he took over his family's restaurant, Harry and Harry Too, he embraced the story.More coverage:Return of the Lizard Man: Bishopville's journey to reclaim an SC monsterVideo: South Carolina's Lizard Man story of Christopher DavisPhotos: The Lizard Man Stomp in BishopvilleThis is the fourth episode of a four-part bonus series from Understand SC.Understand SC is a weekly podcast from The Post and Courier that draws from the reporting resources and knowledge of our newsroom to help you better understand South Carolina. Are there any stories you'd like to hear on the show? Contact us at understandsc@postandcourier.com.This episode was hosted by Andrew J. Whitaker and Thad Moore. Editing done by Andrew J. Whitaker.

The Lizard Man mania faded away after only a few months during the summer of 1988, but the story lives on today. Many Bishopville residents and cryptid fans, including a group called the Friends of the Lizard Man, want to do more to preserve the story of the Lizard Man. In recent years, the town has increasingly embraced the legend with events including a Lizard Man beauty pageant, scavenger hunts and the Lizard Man Stomp, which was held in June.More coverage:Return of the Lizard Man: Bishopville's journey to reclaim an SC monsterVideo: South Carolina's Lizard Man story of Christopher DavisPhotos: The Lizard Man Stomp in BishopvilleThis is the third of a four-part bonus series from Understand SC.Understand SC is a weekly podcast from The Post and Courier that draws from the reporting resources and knowledge of our newsroom to help you better understand South Carolina. Are there any stories you'd like to hear on the show? Contact us at understandsc@postandcourier.com.This episode was hosted by Andrew J. Whitaker and Thad Moore. Editing done by Andrew J. Whitaker.

The Lizard Man story is 34 years old this month. Bishopville's embrace of the legend is still in its early days. In this episode Post and Courier photographer Andrew Whitaker and projects reporter Thad Moore spoke with many people from the town and Lizard Man enthusiasts. One person they talked with, Robert Howell, grew up  in nearby Timmonsville. Howell is known for his early illustrations and Lizard Man comics in the summer on 1988. Howell tells the story of Christopher Davis, a 17-year-old who became famous after an encounter with the creature. Davis had stopped to change a tire along Browntown Road after leaving a night shift at a local fast food restaurant. Then he saw a 7-foot creature with scaly skin and glowing red eyes.More coverage:Return of the Lizard Man: Bishopville's journey to reclaim an SC monsterVideo: South Carolina's Lizard Man story of Christopher DavisPhotos: The Lizard Man Stomp in BishopvilleThis is the first episode of a four-part bonus series from Understand SC.Understand SC is a weekly podcast from The Post and Courier that draws from the reporting resources and knowledge of our newsroom to help you better understand South Carolina. Are there any stories you'd like to hear on the show? Contact us at understandsc@postandcourier.com.This episode was hosted by Andrew J. Whitaker and Thad Moore. Editing done by Andrew J. Whitaker.

On Tuesday, South Carolinians went to the polls to vote in the 2022 primary election.This week, we're talking about a few of the most closely-watched races with help from our politics team at The Post and Courier.In this primary, there was a kind of tale of two Trump endorsements: There were two Congressional races in South Carolina where a stamp of approval from Donald Trump was in play. In each of those districts, the Republican incumbent had fallen out of favor with the former president. Their challengers had earned Trump's support. Things played out very differently in each of those races.Politics reporters Nick Reynolds and Caitlin Byrd break down what happened in the GOP primary races in the state's 1st and 7th congressional districts, and Columbia bureau chief Seanna Adcox explains the results of the Democratic primary for this year's race for governor in South Carolina.For more information about the Republican primary in SC-01, check out this episode of Understand SC.More primary coverage:Rice loses SC congressional seat to Fry in GOP primary after voting to impeach TrumpTurnout shows even Tom Rice's neighbors chose Russell Fry over him in GOP primary blowoutNancy Mace survives fierce SC Republican primary against Trump-backed Katie ArringtonRepublican Nancy Mace beat Katie Arrington where it counted: Charleston and BeaufortDemocrat Joe Cunningham's runaway victory as governor nominee boosted by two letters: TVUnderstand SC is a weekly podcast from The Post and Courier that draws from the reporting resources and knowledge of our newsroom to help you better understand South Carolina. Are there any stories you'd like to hear on the show? Contact us at understandsc@postandcourier.com.This episode was hosted and edited by Emily Williams.

For the last two weeks Charleston has been hosting the annual Spoleto USA performing arts festival. The centerpiece of this year's festival is the world premiere of an opera called “Omar.” "Omar" is Omar ibn Said, a West African scholar who was enslaved, first in Charleston and then in Fayetteville, N.C. Omar was Muslim, he read and wrote Arabic and he wrote his own autobiography. That text is what inspired the opera that is being performed for the very first time here in Charleston. Mena Mark Hanna, the general director of Spoleto Festival USA, explains the significance of this debut.Reporter Adam Parker, who has followed the creation of this opera for years, also shares some behind-the-scenes insight on the production.Find more stories about Omar ibn Said and the opera "Omar," plus photo stories and videos at postandcourier.com/omar.More coverage:Making ‘Omar,' Spoleto Festival's opera about an enslaved Muslim scholar in the CarolinasA quest for the true identity of Omar ibn Said, a Muslim man enslaved in the CarolinasUnderstand SC: How The Post and Courier searched for Omar ibn Said's true identityPhoto essay: Visual parallels in the 2 stories of OmarSpoleto Review: 'Omar' moves forward a crucial American story, and opera, tooUnderstand SC is a weekly podcast from The Post and Courier that draws from the reporting resources and knowledge of our newsroom to help you better understand South Carolina. This episode was hosted and edited by Emily Williams. The music featured in this episode is "In Search of Solitude" by Scott Buckley and"Bleu" by Komiku.

On Monday, May 23, three Republicans vying to represent South Carolina's 1st Congressional District took the stage at Burke High School.Within moments of the start of the debate, the primary field was narrowed from three candidates to two: In response to the first question, candidate Lynz Piper-Loomis took off her microphone and endorsed Republican Katie Arrington over current U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace.This week, senior politics reporter Caitlin Byrd breaks down that dramatic debate and explains why this race in South Carolina's 1st Congressional District is the most closely-watched Republican Congressional primary in the state.To understand this primary contest between Mace and Arrington, it's important to understand the congressional races in SC-01 in 2018, when Arrington won the Republican primary but lost in the general election, and 2020, when Mace won the seat back from Democrat Joe Cunningham.More coverage:Fact-checking the GOP primary debate for SC's 1st Congressional District1 candidate abruptly quits, leaving US Rep. Nancy Mace and Katie Arrington to fight it outSC Republican Katie Arrington reportedly urged fellow candidate to drop out of GOP raceShowdown in SC-01: Can the Trump factor help Katie Arrington overcome Nancy Mace?Why Katie Arrington really lost her SC congressional race to Democrat Joe CunninghamUnderstand SC is a weekly podcast from The Post and Courier that draws from the reporting resources and knowledge of our newsroom to help you better understand South Carolina. Are there any stories you'd like to hear on the show? Contact us at understandsc@postandcourier.com.This episode was hosted and edited by Emily Williams and featured reporter Caitlin Byrd.

South Carolina lawmakers wrapped up the regular 2022 session last week in Columbia.This week, we're recapping what state lawmakers did and didn't do during this regular legislative session, from the bills that died to ones that have made it to or are en route to the governor's desk to be signed into law, plus what lawmakers still have to do when they return for their special session next month.Assistant Columbia bureau chief Seanna Adcox explains how some bills, like one that allows anyone in the state to cast a ballot early passed this session while others, like a bill that would legalize marijuana for people with chronic pain, weren't successful this time around. More coverage:A look at what the SC Legislature did and didn't do in 2022SC session ends with compromises on police training, early voting bills, but no budget yetSC House kills medical marijuana on a taxing technicalitySC could soon join states that keep transgender girls off female teamsUnderstand SC is a weekly podcast from The Post and Courier that draws from the reporting resources and knowledge of our newsroom to help you better understand South Carolina. Are there any stories you'd like to hear on the show? Contact us at understandsc@postandcourier.com.This episode was hosted and edited by Emily Williams and featured assistant Columbia bureau chief Seanna Adcox.

On May 2, the D.C. news outlet Politico published a draft opinion of a Supreme Court decision that would overturn Roe v. Wade.An actual decision has not been issued. What was leaked was a draft, written by Justice Samuel Alito, but, in the days since it was published, people have sprung into action. Some South Carolina Republicans are pushing to pass more aggressive abortion legislation. Abortion providers in the state are preparing for a six-week ban on abortions that's currently blocked in the courts to potentially go into effect as soon as this summer.This week, we're talking about what would happen in South Carolina if Roe v. Wade is overturned.More coverage: SC legislators could consider banning abortion in a special session after justices ruleSC Republicans poised to impose stricter abortion bans if Roe v. Wade is overturnedMike Pence to condemn abortion in SC as Supreme Court suggests Roe v. Wade overturnUnderstand SC: Lawmakers poised to pass bill banning most abortions in SCUnderstand SC is a weekly podcast from The Post and Courier that draws from the reporting resources and knowledge of our newsroom to help you better understand South Carolina. Are there any stories you'd like to hear on the show? Contact us at understandsc@postandcourier.com.This episode was hosted and edited by Emily Williams and featured reporter Nick Reynolds.

On April 25, children's baseball games were being held at Pepperhill Park, a city-run recreation center in a residential area of North Charleston. It was a normal night. Nine and 10-year-olds were playing on the field as parents, siblings and coaches watched. Then, just before 8:45 p.m., dozens of shots rang out.An about one-minute video captured by a parent showed the moments of confusion and panic that followed as children ran or crawled to find safety. No one was injured in the gunfire, and no arrests have been announced. City officials quickly said the violence was not something that would be tolerated and pledged to take action to quell gun violence, which has been on the rise in North Charleston and across the country.The city's response and some of the proposed ideas for addressing the issue have reignited debate over the right balance between public safety and civil rights in South Carolina's third-largest city. It also prompted frustration from community members around what they saw as a lack of action in response to other instances of gun violence in North Charleston, especially in predominantly Black neighborhoods.Rickey Dennis, who reports on the city of North Charleston, crime and public safety reporter Jocelyn Grzeszczak and watchdog and public service reporter Stephen Hobbs share their reporting.More coverage:Another SC community grapples with gun violence after shooting disrupts children's baseball gamesSome see double standard in shootings as Mayor Keith Summey meets with Pepperhill victimsNorth Charleston baseball teams impacted by Pepperhill shooting get a night to rememberUnderstand SC: Long-awaited audit shows racial disparities in policingUnderstand SC is a weekly podcast from The Post and Courier that draws from the reporting resources and knowledge of our newsroom to help you better understand South Carolina. Are there any stories you'd like to hear on the show? Contact us at understandsc@postandcourier.com.This episode was hosted and edited by Emily Williams and featured reporters Rickey Dennis, Jocelyn Grzeszczak and Stephen Hobbs.

The restaurant review has long been part of The Post and Courier's food section, but the coronavirus pandemic led us — along with newspapers nationwide — to temporarily suspend that section of the paper.Recently, in March, The Post and Courier brought back its restaurant reviews. Moving forward, readers can expect to find a review inside the Food & Dining section twice a month. This week, we peek behind the curtain with help from The Post and Courier's new contributing critic, Robert Moss. He shared how he approaches a review, what stood out to him the most from the first two restaurants he reviewed and why he thinks this isn't the time for assigning star ratings to new restaurants.Moss is the Contributing Barbecue Editor for Southern Living and the author of five books on food and beverage history. His most recent, "The Lost Southern Chefs," was published in February by University of Georgia Press. Moss has contributed to several South Carolina publications including the Charleston City Paper, where he wrote restaurant reviews for years. More coverage:Review: Brasserie la Banque shines brightest with bold twists on classic brasserie fareReview: Laurel reflects the shift in our new generation of neighborhood bistrosThis episode was hosted by Parker Milner and edited and produced by Emily Williams.Understand SC is a weekly podcast from The Post and Courier that draws from the reporting resources and knowledge of our newsroom to help you better understand South Carolina. Are there any stories you'd like to hear on the show? Contact us at understandsc@postandcourier.com.

Some 3,000 miles north of Charleston, melting ice in Greenland is having a profound effect on Charleston's coastline. This week, we're revisiting an episode that took us behind the scenes of a special report that showed us how Greenland and Charleston are connected. We'll hear from reporter Tony Bartelme and photographer Lauren Petracca about their trip to Greenland. You'll learn what they saw out on Greenland's ice sheet, what they learned from speaking with locals and how they got to fly in a plane over icebergs with NASA.Read The Greenland Connection. This episode originally aired Sept. 23, 2021. The Greenland Connection recently gained some new accolades. It's a finalist for the Covering Climate Now Climate Journalism Awards, a finalist for the 2022 News Leader Association Awards and a finalist for an award from the Knight Science Journalism program at MIT.More from this project:Photo essay: Connecting Charleston and GreenlandPhotos: Daily life in GreenlandVideo: The Greenland ConnectionThe Greenland Connection was part of the Pulitzer Center's nationwide Connected Coastlines project and also received support from The Fund for Investigative Journalism.

This week on the podcast, Dr. Michael Sweat, director of the Medical University of South Carolina's Center for Global Health, is back to answer our questions about the COVID-19 pandemic in South Carolina.The last time Sweat joined us on the podcast, the omicron variant of the coronavirus was just emerging. What followed was a major wave of coronavirus cases when omicron became the dominant variant in South Carolina and across the U.S. A lot has changed since then. Transmission of the virus is low now. But, while things have improved, the pandemic isn't over, and there are still big questions, like whether there will be another surge in cases, and, if there is, how we'll know when it's coming.So, this week, Sweat offered some insight on the state of the pandemic right now in South Carolina, including the recent closing of all the state health agency's mass COVID-19 testing sites and the state's below average vaccination rate.This episode was hosted and produced by Emily Williams.Understand SC is a weekly podcast from The Post and Courier that draws from the reporting resources and knowledge of our newsroom to help you better understand South Carolina. Are there any stories you'd like to hear on the show? Contact us at understandsc@postandcourier.com.More coverage:Experts weigh SC's new COVID-19 surveillance systems as DHEC closes public testing sitesDHEC updates COVID-19 guidance, reduces testing sites and mask wearingSC's doctor discipline board silent as COVID-19 misinformation debate rages

It's no secret that the Charleston area is a popular place to live. About 33 people are moving to the region a day.Maybe you're one of those people. Maybe you moved here in the last few years — or, you're thinking about moving here soon.This week, we're sharing some advice from our newsroom for people who are new to the Charleston area, with help from digital editor Matt Clough, who just launched Holy City How-To, a six-part newsletter course that's a kind of primer on the Charleston region.We also got some help from other members of our newsroom, who shared a few favorites or bits of advice, whether that's the best place to see live music acts in town or why you shouldn't wade into floodwaters downtown. Sign up for Holy City How-To.What are some of your favorites in the Charleston area? Let us know by emailing us at understandsc@postandcourier.com.

The University of South Carolina's women's basketball team started this season ranked No. 1. So, it wasn't a surprise when the team beat Creighton on Sunday, securing their place in the Final Four.But, as the team would say, they still have work to do. They came into this season with a goal of winning a national championship. To get there, they'll have to win two more games this weekend in Minneapolis. This week, we're talking about this team and what's made them No. 1 in the country. David Clonginger, who covers Gamecock sports for The Post and Courier, breaks it all down for us. More coverage:Gamecocks' Aliyah Boston named Naismith National Player of the Year; Staley voted top coachGamecocks finding NCAA Tournament wins from up and down their lineupSouth Carolina crushes Creighton, advances to second straight Final FourNo. 1 Gamecocks' march to hopeful 2nd national championship beginsDawn Staley's Gamecocks achieve another 1st as they eye 2nd national titleUSC makes Dawn Staley one of the nation's highest-paid women's basketball coaches

If you live in or around Charleston, you know how expensive it's become to live here. It's not hard to understand why there's a need for more affordable housing in the city. So, it caught a lot of people's attention when the Charleston Housing Authority announced that year what will be the biggest public housing initiative in its history. The authority will be renovating or replacing all of its about 1,400 public housing units.  With this overhaul, no low-income housing will be lost, more affordable apartments will be added to the city, the housing authority has said.  This project will happen over the span of multiple years, so there are still a lot of questions ahead about which units will be renovated and which will be replaced and exactly how many affordable apartments can be added as part of those projects. Art Milligan, CEO of the Charleston Housing Authority explains this major overhaul and what it means for residents and the city. More coverage: All public housing in Charleston to be replaced or renovated in sweeping initiativeCharleston OKs zoning change for first public housing rebuild in citywide planMore than 400 affordable apartments are coming to the Charleston peninsulaThis episode was hosted and produced by Emily Williams.Understand SC is a weekly podcast from The Post and Courier that draws from the reporting resources and knowledge of our newsroom to help you better understand South Carolina. Are there any stories you'd like to hear on the show? Contact us at understandsc@postandcourier.com.

In 2020, one of the world's largest car battery makers filed for bankruptcy and gave up its former plant in Greer, S.C.While there's little left of the old plant, there's an invisible legacy it left behind.To make its batteries, the company used lead, an element that can wreak havoc on the human body.Inside the plant, employees were exposed to levels of lead well above the federal limit, records showed. Lead seeped into the soil and around the plant and, at times, clouds of lead dust would flow into the air, toward nearby neighborhoods.Reporter Stephen Hobbs shares what he learned about this plant's toxic legacy through dozens of interviewers with former workers and people who lived near the plant and a review of more than 10,000 pages of records. Tammy Winkler, a former employee at the plant, recalls her experience. Read the fully story: A car battery maker gave up the site of a old SC plant, leaving behind a toxic legacyThis episode was hosted and edited by Emily Williams and features Post and Courier reporter Stephen Hobbs. Understand SC is a weekly podcast from The Post and Courier that draws from the reporting resources and knowledge of our newsroom to help you better understand South Carolina. Are there any stories you'd like to hear on the show? Contact us at understandsc@postandcourier.com.

Morgan Island, a remote spot out in South Carolina's ACE Basin, has some unusual inhabitants: 3,500 rhesus monkeys. That's where one of the latest installments of The Post and Courier's Uncovered series about corruption and questionable conduct begins. Reporters Tony Bartelme and Shamira McCray explain how the South Carolina Department of Resources came to rely on millions of dollars in rent from a private company it regulates.It's a story about monkeys, blood and money. Read the investigation: SC agency rakes in millions from pharma company it regulatesCheck out the rest of our Uncovered series.This episode was hosted and edited by Emily Williams and features Post and Courier reporters Shamira McCray and Tony Bartelme. Understand SC is a weekly podcast from The Post and Courier that draws from the reporting resources and knowledge of our newsroom to help you better understand South Carolina. Are there any stories you'd like to hear on the show? Contact us at understandsc@postandcourier.com.Want to support the show? The best way you can support this podcast is by becoming a subscriber. Learn more at postandcourier.com/subscribe.

As Russia's unprovoked attack on Ukraine continues, people around the world have shown solidarity for the Ukrainian people.That's been true in South Carolina, too. In the last week, Ukrainians and their supporters gathered in Falls Park in Greenville and held a prayer service was at a Ukrainian church in Spartanburg. A small group held a vigil outside the S.C. Statehouse in Columbia, and the SkyWheel in Myrtle Beach was lit blue and yellow, the colors of the Ukrainian flag. On Wednesday, Charleston-area residents rallied for peace outside City Hall, also illuminated with blue and yellow lights. This week, Post and Courier Greenville editor Ryan Gilchrest and reporter Nathaniel Cary share what's being done in the Upstate, and Marina Butenko, who moved from Ukraine to Greenville in 2016, shares her experience of watching the conflict from afar and what she's doing to help. This episode was hosted by Emily Williams and featured Ryan Gilchrest, managing  editor for The Post and Courier Greenville, Nathaniel Cary, reporter for The Post and Courier Greenville and Marina Butenko of Greenville.Find Butenko's website of resources at ukrainiansinsc.com. The music featured at the end of the episode is a recording by Gavin McIntyre of cellist Natalia Khoma and pianist Volodymyr Vynnytsky, Ukrainian natives and professors at College of Charleston, playing Brahms Cello Sonata No.1 in E minor inside their Mount Pleasant, S.C., home on March 2, 2022. The video can be viewed here and is featured in a story by Post and Courier arts critic Maura Hogan. Other music is "Bleu" from freepd.com. More coverage: Heartsick but resolute, Upstate Ukrainians rally support for embattled homelandSC rallies back Ukrainians: ‘Hopefully they'll see this and know they're not alone'Charleston-based musicians find inspiration in their native UkraineSC lawmakers seek state-level sanctions on RussiaAt protest, Charleston-area residents express outrage over Russian invasion of Ukraine

Chris Smith started working at J&J Cafeteria in Conway at a young age, washing dishes. He eventually started working at the restaurant full-time.  It was a good job, until Bobby Edwards took over as manager.  That's when the abuse began. Edwards stopped paying Chris and forced him to work 100 hours or more per week. He physically harmed Chris, verbally abused him and isolated him from others. That went on for six years.This was a case of human trafficking, or, more specifically labor trafficking. Projects reporter Jennifer Berry Hawes explains what Chris endured and how he got out, and Kathryn Moorehead, director of the South Carolina Human Trafficking Task Force, discusses ongoing efforts to raise awareness around these kinds of crimes. If you believe you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking, or may have information about a trafficking situation, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888 or text the hotline at 233733. Or, visit humantraffickinghotline.org.Learn more about the South Carolina Human Trafficking Task Force. The  Post and Courier is hosting a free panel event, Don't Look Away: What is labor trafficking and why is it hard to recognize? Find more information here about how to attend. More coverage:One SC man's journey to freedom after years in modern-day slaveryChristopher Smith describes his ordeal to a judgeThis episode was hosted and edited by Emily Williams and featured Jennifer Berry Hawes, projects reporter for The Post and Courier. Understand SC is a weekly podcast from The Post and Courier that draws from the reporting resources and knowledge of our newsroom to help you better understand South Carolina. 

This month, Spoleto Festival USA, a major performing arts event that's held annually here in Charleston, announced its 2022 programming lineup.That's always exciting, but it especially is this year, after two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. For the first time since 2019, the festival will host international performers. And, after being postponed twice, Spoleto audiences are going to see the world premiere of a highly-anticipated opera.Called "Omar," and it's based on the autobiography of Omar ibn Said, a Muslim scholar who was made to board a ship bound for Charleston where he was enslaved and sold. We told Omar's story on this podcast June 2021, and we thought that now, with the show on the calendar for Spoleto 2022, would be a great time to revisit it. When we first shared this episode last year, photographer Gavin McIntrye and reporter Jennifer Berry Hawes had just published a big project on Omar's life. They did research here in Charleston, traveled to North Carolina where Omar lived out his later years and made a reporting trip to Senegal to try to find the place that Omar called home. In this episode, they shared what that reporting process was like and what their trip revealed about Omar Ibn Said's life. You find more details on "Omar" from Spoleto Festival USA here. Read more:A quest for the true identity of Omar ibn Said, a Muslim man enslaved in the CarolinasSpoleto Festival USA announces innovative 2022 program of 124 performances and eventsThe stage is set for a new chapter of Charleston's Spoleto Festival with 3 operas in 2022

A seat is opening up on the United States Supreme Court. President Joe Biden has said that, for the first time, a Black woman will serve on the country's highest court. The question, of course, is who it will be. South Carolina judge Michelle Childs is one potential pick. Childs has the support of Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina — the House majority whip, an ally of Biden and the person who told Biden in the first place that he should commit to appointing a Black woman to the Supreme Court. Today, we're talking about the political dynamics surrounding this Supreme Court pick and Childs' prospects as a potential nominee. This episode was hosted and edited by Emily Williams and featured Nick Reynolds, political reporter for The Post and Courier. More coverage:Michelle Childs, SC's possible face on Supreme Court, seen as most electable possibilityLindsey Graham praises SC judge Michelle Childs in Supreme Court discussionClyburn, Graham: Supreme Court shouldn't be covered in IvyClyburn ups his pitch for SC federal judge J. Michelle Childs to join Supreme Court

In Charleston and in communities across the country where Confederate and related monuments have been removed, there's still a big question left to be answered: What should be done with them now?For the last several years, Los Angeles-based curator Hamza Walker has been working on an exhibit that will gather some of those monuments in the same place, displayed and in dialogue with works of contemporary art.Tentatively called “Monuments,” the exhibit will debut in fall 2023 at the Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles.They're approaching local municipalities, asking to borrow these monuments for the exhibition, and, in the process, stirring up some difficult, but necessary, discussions about these monuments, their legacies and what these communities are going to do with them now that they've been removed from their public pedestals.Charleston is one of those communities.The city has been asked to loan out its statue of John C. Calhoun for the exhibit.Calhoun was a fierce defender of slavery, and the city's decision to remove the 12-foot-tall bronze statue to him in Marion Square, came after weeks of protests over the death of George Floyd.Now, a year and a half after its removal, the statue may out of view, but the question of what to do with it still looms. This episode was hosted and edited by Emily Williams. Guests featured on today's episode are Emma Whalen, city of Charleston reporter for The Post and Courier; Michael Allen, a retiree of the National Park Service and a member of Charleston's Commission on History and Hamza Walker, director of LAXART.More coverage:Across the US, cities face ‘what's next' for Confederate monumentsCharleston history commission recommends lending Calhoun statue to LA art exhibitSC heritage group backs lawsuit against proposal to loan Calhoun statue to LA art showLawsuit aiming to keep Calhoun statue in South Carolina moved to new courtCalhoun statue not protected by SC monument law deemed constitutional by state AG

Oysters are pretty incredible.  They can be incredibly delicious, and they're one of the things people come to Charleston to eat, but they also have some natural superpowers  — superpowers that are particularly relevant for a place like Charleston that's constantly contending with sea level rise and flooding.Today, we're going to be talking about oysters' superpowers, with help from the co-founder of a Lowcountry oyster farm. This episode was hosted by Emily Williams and features Post and Courier reporter Jocelyn Grzeszczak and Josh Eboch, co-founder of Barrier Island Oyster Co. Need to recycle some oyster shells? Check out this map: SCDNR Oyster Shell Recycling LocationsMore coverage: Planting more oysters may help Lowcountry combat rising watersOyster farm a different kind of tourist attraction in the LowcountrySC officials urge recycling of oyster shells as shellfish season gets underwayAs Charleston seawall plan inches forward, many ask: Are there greener options?Understand SC: Revisiting plans to build a sea wall around Charleston

In a city like Charleston, where dining is a key element of its identity, how restaurants are doing is important. We know that 2020 was a devastating year for local restaurants. 2021 — year two of the COVID-19 pandemic — brought its own challenges, even when diners returned. Restaurant owners have had to contend with staff shortages, supply chain difficulties, construction delays and price increases that made operating a daily struggle.Despite those challenges, many Charleston restaurant owners say they're optimistic about the year ahead.This week on the podcast, you'll hear from two of them.Maryam Ghaznavi and Raheel Gauba are owners of Ma'am Saab, which will be opening soon in downtown Charleston, and Malika in Mount Pleasant. The husband-and-wife entrepreneurs have grown their business from scratch during the pandemic. After launching Pakistani pop-up Ma'am Saab as a meal delivery service during the pandemic, they landed a stall in the now-closed food court Workshop. Last year, they announced plans to open a Ma'am Saab brick-and-mortar location in downtown Charleston. Not long after, they debuted another restaurant, Malika, in Mount Pleasant Towne Centre. They spoke with food and dining editor Parker Milner about their experiences as restaurant owners during the pandemic, the desire and appreciation for new cuisine in Charleston and hopes for the future of the city's food scene. Related coverage:Charleston chefs predict dining trends, suggest industry changes for 2022Staff shortages persist at SC restaurants as COVID surges. Some owners see a path forward.Pakistani restaurant to begin revamping former Jestine's Kitchen; furniture shop to relocateMalika in Mount Pleasant now open offering Pakistani-canteen style comfort foodSign up for The Post and Courier's Food & Dining newsletter here. Check out Malika's website, Instagram and Facebook.Details about Ma'am Saab can be found on its website, Instagram and Facebook. 

This past Tuesday, Jan. 11, legislators returned to the Statehouse in Columbia. So, what's on the agenda for 2022? This week, we're breaking down what lawmakers need to do this session, from drawing new lines for voting districts to discussing the legalization of medical marijuana and deciding what to do with the state's $6 billion in additional revenue. Money is a big theme for the year, with the windfall largely fueled by federal aid and a stronger-than-expected economic recovery. Assistant Columbia bureau chief Seanna Adcox explains what to expect from the Statehouse this session. More coverage:Preview: SC's 2022 Statehouse session surprisingly gives lawmakers lots of money to work withLatest SC House proposal for congressional lines panned as ‘obvious' gerrymanderingGov. McMaster's spending proposal includes tax cuts, $1.26B for roadwork, $300M for SC portsPalmetto Politics Note: On Jan. 13, after this episode was published, the Supreme Court announced that it had blocked the Biden administration from enforcing a vaccine mandate for larger employers but allowed a vaccine mandate for health care workers at facilities that receive federal money. 

It's been one year since supporters of former President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The events of that day led to an impeachment, sparked debate about what it meant for the future of democracy in the United States and launched investigations by the FBI and Congress.  This week, we're taking a closer look at South Carolina's role in the lead-up to Jan. 6, on the day and in the fallout that came after.  Eleven S.C. residents have been charged with storming the Capitol on Jan. 6, including two accused of assaulting the police officers who guarded it.Reporter Avery Wilks has been covering their cases, and you'll hear from him today. We also spoke with political reporter Nick Reynolds about the response from state politicians to that day and the political fallout that we've seen for a few of them.  More coverage: SC's role in Jan. 6 Capitol riot comes into clearer focus 1 year laterSC couple pleads guilty to storming Capitol together on Jan. 6First South Carolinian sentenced for Jan. 6 Capitol storming gets no prison timeConspiracy theories, Trump led SC residents to storm the Capitol. Friends turned them in.

This year on Understand SC, we've covered a little bit of everything: flooding in Charleston, the coronavirus pandemic, South Carolina politics and even the design of the state's flag.Emily Williams and Gavin McIntyre revisit moments from some of the year's conversations. All past episodes of Understand SC, a weekly news podcast by The Post and Courier, can be found at understand-sc.simplecast.com.Clips featured are from the following episodes:#63: The South Carolina flag design that everyone hated#75: How SC-based artist Beeple rocked the art world#86: 'I Am Omar': How the Post and Courier searched for Omar ibn Said's true identity#99: The Olympic journey of Charleston native Raven Saunders#102: How Greenland contributes to Charleston's flooding problem#106: What happens when local newspapers stop printing#111: MUSC expert on the omicron variant, future of the pandemicUnderstand SC is a weekly podcast from The Post and Courier that draws from the reporting resources and knowledge of our newsroom to help you better understand South Carolina. This episode was hosted and edited by Emily Williams. Are there any stories you'd like to hear on the show. Contact us at understandsc@postandcourier.com.

There are about 105,000 other South Carolinians who fall into a health insurance coverage gap created by factors that were set into motion about a decade ago. In 2012, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act for the first time. But, there was a caveat. The court said it was up to states to decide if they would expand Medicaid, the state and federal program that provides health coverage to people with low incomes. Most states signed on. South Carolina did not. Ten years in, South Carolina remains one of only 12 states that has not expanded its Medicaid program under the ACA. Republican leaders in Columbia have long contended that South Carolina can't afford it. Today, health editor Lauren Sausser will break down that almost 10-year-old decision and why it was one of the most significant health care policy choices state leaders have made this century. We also spoke with Christian Soura, a former Medicaid director for South Carolina who's now  the executive vice president at the S.C. Hospital Association, about the cost that comes with not expanding Medicaid coverage in the state. READ MORE: 10 years after Affordable Care Act decision, 105,000 in SC still in insurance coverage gapAre there any stories you'd like to hear on the show. Contact us at understandsc@postandcourier.com .

The largest university in the state of South Carolina is searching for its next leader.Back in May, the University of South Carolina opened a search after its last president, Bob Caslen, stepped down amid controversy. (To get caught up, listen to this Understand SC episode from June.)About a week ago, it looked like the university's presidential search process could have been coming to a close. The search committee had narrowed the field to a preferred candidate who was expected to visit the school this week.But, shortly after The Post and Courier reported who that candidate was, he withdrew.Today, we're going to be talking with Andy Shain, who heads up The Post and Courier's Columbia bureau, about this search process, what has happened so far and what could happen next, now that the university's first choice candidate has taken himself out of the running. More coverage:Caslen calls coming to USC ‘biggest regret of my life' as emails show split over departureUSC's top presidential pick backs out, staying at PurduePastides: USC's top pick did not bolt from president search ‘because of difficulties here'

There's a new variant dominating pandemic-related headlines right now. You've probably heard of it — and you probably have some questions. We're getting into some of those today. The omicron variant was discovered in South Africa and reported to the World Health Organization Nov. 24. Two days later, the WHO deemed it a variant of concern. The U.S. recorded its first case of the variant Wednesday, Dec. 1. Today, Michael Sweat, director of the Medical University of South Carolina's Center for Global Health, helps us break down what is and isn't known about the omicron variant right now. We also discussed the state of the pandemic overall, the progress that's been made in treating the virus and the importance of vaccinations and boosters. For more on the pandemic in South Carolina visit our COVID-19 Dashboard. More coverage: SC experts discuss possibility of new omicron variant emerging in the stateDHEC says SC no longer in downward trend of COVID-19 cases; touts vaccine as a way outUS reports 1st case of omicron variant in returning travelerWHO warns that new virus variant poses ‘very high' riskDHEC says protection methods remain the same regardless of omicron or other COVID variants

After repeatedly finding themselves being the only Black people on their visits to Charleston's breweries, brewer April Dove and David White Jr. of "The Dropping Pin" teamed up to create a beer that they hoped could brew some change for the region's craft beer community.  Dove and White's goal, long-term, is to see more diversity in Charleston's taprooms.  Their beer, called Tha CommUNITY has been a success, and they have more ideas — and beers — in the works.  On today's podcast, you'll hear them share their experiences in breweries, how they came to brew their own beer and what they think needs to happen to brew more unity into Charleston's beer community. For more, check out food editor Parker Milner's new story which takes a look at the lack of diversity present now in the region's craft beer scene. Of the 35 breweries in the tri-county region, none are Black-owned. His story also gets into some of the history of the region's beer culture and features some of the people who are envisioning a different, more welcoming future for Charleston's beer community. READ:  Black people helped start Charleston's beer industry. None own today's 35 local breweries. I also highly recommend you read Jamaal Lemon's series for Good Beer Hunting which gets into some of the history behind the lack of diversity in Charleston's current beer culture through the story of a German beer festival that was held in Charleston and its continued influence on the region's beer scene.  You can read that here. Tha CommUNITY did sell out, but you will be able to find it again soon. They said they'll be brewing it again in December and it should be available in early 2022.  You can follow April on Instagram @travelinghoptista. Follow David's blog @thedroppingpin. And you can follow their beer on Instagram, @thacommunity.brew.  If you have comments, questions or ideas for this podcast, email us at understandsc@postandcourier.com or message us on Twitter @UnderstandSC. 

In South Carolina, there's a small town unofficially known as the hometown of living war heroes. The town is Batesburg-Leesville, and the war heroes are Sgt. Maj. Thomas Patrick Payne and Cpl. Kyle Carpenter, both recipients of the nation's highest military award for valor, the Medal of Honor. The likelihood of two living Medal of Honor recipients having called the rural South Carolina town home is small: There are only 66 living recipients of the medal today, according to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. This week, military and politics reporter Thomas Novelly shares what he learned about their stories, Batesburg-Leesville and the pride that town takes in having been part of their lives. Read the story: 2 Medal of Honor recipients hail from same small SC town. Here are their stories.Sign up for the Military Digest newsletter here.More coverage: 20 Medal of Honor recipients arrive in Charleston to show community what service meansMedal of Honor center to be built in SC gets first funds from stateTrump lauds Medal of Honor recipient, who grew up in SC, for hostage rescueVeteran wounded by grenade gets Medal of Honor

This week, we're revisiting a topic that we discussed about a year ago on this podcast: the plan to potentially build a sea wall around Charleston's peninsula. The idea is to protect the flood-prone area from storm surge if the city were to be directly hit by a hurricane. It would also be the city's most substantial defense yet against sea rise.This project would be a massive undertaking — financially and logistically — and already, years of planning have gone into it. In the last year, there have been some significant updates to the plans, and reporter Chloe Johnson, who covers the coastal environment and climate change for The Post and Courier, is back today to recap those plans for us and explain all the important changes. For one, the estimated price of building the wall dropped significantly — by several hundred million dollars. We'll explain why, go over some of the questions that have been answered and new questions that have been raised.More coverage:Charleston presents first plan to pay its share of the $1.1B storm surge wallSC Ports Authority says it can't support current plan for Charleston flood wallYour questions answered on the updated $1.1B sea wall proposal for CharlestonCharleston sea wall gets cheaper in new Army Corps plan, but questions remainUnderstand SC: The plan to build a sea wall around Charleston, explainedThe best way to support this podcast is through a subscription to The Post and Courier. Visit postandcourier.com/subscribe. 

Nearly five months later, no one has been arrested for the fatal shootings of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh, a mother and son and members of a prominent and powerful South Carolina legal family.But, in that time, attorney Alex Murdaugh, Maggie's husband and Paul's father, has had a dramatic fall from grace, one that's still unfolding and raising new questions.In early September, Alex Murdaugh admitted to a 20-year opioid addiction, checked himself into rehab and, after being accused by his partners of stealing money, left his law office — a law office his great-grandfather had founded in 1910. Over Labor Day weekend, he was reportedly shot in the head. Then, he was arrested after confessing to trying to orchestrate his own murder in order to leave a $10 million life insurance payout for his youngest son.And he was sued by the sons of his late housekeeper, who say Alex Murdaugh swindled them out of a $4.3 million.This week, attorneys confirmed that federal authorities are investigating his alleged financial crimes.Investigative reporter Avery Wilks and editor Glenn Smith break down everything that's recently come to light about the disgraced attorney. Read more recent coverage:Hospital records detail Alex Murdaugh's wounds from alleged staged shootingSLED releases 911 calls from Alex Murdaugh's shootingAlex Murdaugh denied bond after arrest in alleged settlement scamFeds are investigating Alex Murdaugh's alleged financial crimes, attorneys sayChronicling the history of the Murdaughs in SC from 1910 to now

Across South Carolina, 10 local newspapers stopped printing last year — a record loss, at least in recent memory. What does a community lose when it loses its newspaper?This week, reporters Jennifer Berry Hawes and Stephen Hobbs explain what they found in trying to answer that question.They took a close look at two communities — one that still has a locally-owned paper in print and one that recently lost its newspaper — and talked to residents about the difference having, or missing, local coverage of their community can make.You'll also hear from the editors of two local South Carolina papers. Graham Williams, editor of the Union County News explained what it takes to publish a weekly paper with a two-person team. And Jonathan Vickery explains how and why he took over ownership of the his hometown paper, the People-Sentinel in Barnwell, and shares his love for "refrigerator journalism."More coverage:When newspapers close, bonds among locals weaken and misdeeds can thriveUNCOVERED: Shining a light on South Carolina corruption and misconduct

The start to this school year in South Carolina was a pretty chaotic one. The delta variant of COVID-19 was quickly spreading, infecting students, teachers and staff and sending people into quarantine.Meanwhile, schools couldn't enforce mask mandates. The result: Seven weeks into the year, at least 15 districts, 233 schools, and 156,169 students had reverted back to virtual learning.This week on Understand SC, we talk with Hillary Flynn, editor of The Post and Courier's Education Lab, a recently-launched watchdog enterprise unit within the paper that's focused on in-depth reporting and large-scale projects that examine systemic issues within our state's education system. She gave us some details on what we can expect from the Education Lab, and shared what went into recent report which followed the stories of three people who experienced the first seven weeks of school from different perspectives: a high school student nervous about going back to school in-person and reconnecting with friends, a teacher excited to be teaching in the classroom again but cautious about COVID-19 and a parent who hoped for a return to normalcy and sent her kids to school without masks. Listen now, then check out the latest from the Education Lab.

Fun fact: This week is the 81st annual National Newspaper Week. As our way of celebrating, we're bringing you a conversation about our newspaper. Recently, The Post and Courier named a new executive editor. Autumn Phillips, who became the paper's managing editor in early 2018, stepped into the role in late August. This week, we spoke with Phillips about some of the big things happening for the paper, like fundraising to support investigative journalism, expanding to markets across the state and collaborating with community newspapers on stories exposing corruption.She also shared what got her into journalism in the first place and what drew her to local newspapers, in particular. Listen now, and then check out the projects we discussed:Uncovered: Shining a light on South Carolina corruption and misconductEducation Lab