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NORTH CHARLESTON — The day after Memorial Day, voters in city Districts 3 and 5 will choose City Council members to fill two seats that were left vacant after a sweeping federal investigation.

Fifteen candidates are vying for the two positions — seven candidates for District 3 and eight for District 5. One candidate, Carlos Jones, withdrew ahead of the election.

District 3 is located between Rivers Avenue and Interstate 26 and south of University Boulevard.

District 5 covers the neighborhoods between Ashley River and Dorchester Road in the southern portion of the city.

The special election is May 27. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voters can visit scVOTES.gov to check their polling place ahead of the election.

Voters can cast a ballot early at the Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Elections headquarters at 4340 Corporate Road in North Charleston through May 23 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

As of noon on May 21, 310 people voted early in the election, which is about 2 percent of the registered voters in the two districts, said Isaac Cramer, the executive director of the election board.

North Charleston elections use plurality voting, meaning the candidate with the most votes wins and a simple majority is not required.

The election is expected to cost the city between $30,000 to $40,000, Cramer previously told The Post and Courier.

The special election came after former councilmembers Sandino Moses and Jerome Heyward resigned from public office after federal corruption charges were filed against them and six other individuals.

Heyward, who represented District 5, faced charges ranging from bribery and wire fraud to money laundering. Moses, who represented District 3, was charged for allegedly failing to alert authorities of the attempted bribe to influence his City Council vote. The two entered guilty pleas on Feb. 28.

District 1 Councilman Mike Brown was charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit bribery regarding programs receiving federal funds. He is among four defendants who pleaded not guilty March 11.

Gov. Henry McMaster suspended Brown from office, but because he has not resigned, District 1 constituents will not vote for a new councilmember in this election. His seat will remain unrepresented until he is acquitted or convicted.

The 15 candidates on the ballot are:

District 3

District 5

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - The devastating and deadly impacts from Hurricane Helene last year proved hurricanes are statewide events in South Carolina, not just on the coast.

With the next hurricane season just days away, Gov. Henry McMaster headed to North Charleston on Thursday to share the latest on preparations and what South Carolinians need to do now to be ready.

State leaders said they have been preparing since last winter for this hurricane season.

Now they say it’s time for all South Carolinians to get ready.

“Don’t wait for the warning,” Rob Perry, deputy secretary for engineering with the South Carolina Department of Transportation, said. “Don’t wait for the press conferences. Do it now — that way you’re prepared.”

The director of the state’s Emergency Management Division, Kim Stenson, said South Carolinians should take three important steps: prepare their homes; know their evacuation zone, if they live in one; and remember their route to evacuate.

“We always hope to never be faced with an evacuation, but in the event an evacuation is ordered, our goal is to ensure there’s a safe movement of traffic and distribution near evacuation routes,” Lt. Col. Travis Manley, the South Carolina Highway Patrol’s deputy commander of operations, said.

SCEMD also reminds the many South Carolinians who live in low-lying areas to take that into consideration during their planning by preparing for potential flooding.

While South Carolina leaders emphasize annually that the impacts of hurricanes can and will be felt across the state, that reality was unscored last year with Helene, the deadliest storm in state history.

Stenson said Helene’s impacts in the Upstate and on the western part of the state as a whole, further away from the coast, did not change South Carolina’s hurricane preparations this year or its response plans.

“You can easily have hurricane-force winds all the way up to our northern border with North Carolina,” Stenson said. “So it really hasn’t changed anything. It’s just opened up a few eyes because we’ve not had that here in South Carolina for a number of years.”

Stenson and McMaster said they believe the state’s plans held up well then and feel confident in them headed into this season, if South Carolinians take them just as seriously.

“If a hurricane slams right into us, then it will qualify as a disaster, more than likely,” McMaster said. “But a disaster does not have to have a loss of life, with preparation and understanding of what’s happening.”

The state’s preparations will continue into next month, including the annual lane reversal drill on June 4.

South Carolina Highway Patrol said traffic will not be impacted, but they ask drivers to be aware of law enforcement who will be along the roads, preparing to keep people safe in emergencies.

SCEMD encourages South Carolinians to pick up one of its 2025 hurricane guides, which are available around the state and accessible online.

The guide is full of vital information like what to do if power goes out, how to file an insurance claim, what to do with pets, and maps out all the state’s evacuation zones.

Copyright 2025 WCSC. All rights reserved.

(NewsNation) — A deal has been signed by Qatar Airways to purchase betweeen 160 and 200 Boeing jets, according to the White House.

“This historic agreement will support 154,000 U.S. jobs annually, totaling over 1 million jobs in the United States during the course of production and delivery of this deal,” the White House said.

The jets will be produced and delivered over a seven-year period, from 2029 to 2036.

Boeing has not yet confirmed or commented on details of the agreement.

The deal, which includes Boeing 777 and 787 Dreamliner jets, could give one South Carolina city a major job spike at its Boeing manufacturing plant.

The North Charleston plant is where all 787 Dreamliners are assembled, said Scott Stocker, who is the vice president and general manager . It currently employs more than 8,000 workers.

Mayor Reggie Burgess said while he’s not sure exactly how many jobs the Qatari deal could bring, his city will “fill them all.”

“We’re talking about thousands and thousands of jobs,” he added.

Local business owners told NewsNation the deal would be a game-changer.

“Most of our business, our contractors, they are truck drivers, they’re just working-class people. And if it can bring more of those in here, then it would definitely, definitely improve everything for us,” said Li Farmer, a restaurant manager in North Charleston.

Korean Air recently agreed to purchase up to 50 Boeing planes, some of which will be assembled in North Charleston.

It’s a big boost for Boeing after a tough year, production problems and worker strikes.

Though the company has seen some layoffs in recent months, Boeing announced a plan in December to invest $1 billion in North Charleston’s plant, with a goal of adding 500 jobs in the next five years.

With summer right around the corner, so are the Holy City’s famously sweltering days. To beat the heat, we suggest a trip to Charleston County’s water parks.

The three splashy attractions — plus the pool at West County Aquatic Center in Hollywood — will open for weekend fun starting Saturday, May 17, with daily operations beginning Friday, May 30. With activities for all ages, you’re sure to cool off in no time.

Pro tip: Be sure to check their website before you plan your trip — schedules are subject to change.

Goggle at these water parks:

Whirlin’ Waters Adventure Waterpark Location: Wannamaker County Park, North Charleston Highlights: The 65-ft Washout slides, the 27,000-sqft Big Kahuna wave pool, The Rollin’ River lazy riverSchedule: Opens weekends only starting Friday, May 17 (10 a.m.–6 p.m), runs daily from Friday May 30– Sunday, Aug. 10 (weekdays: 10 a.m.–5 p.m., weekends: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.), then returns to weekends only through Labor Day, Sept. 1.Admission: $24.99 general admission

Splash Island WaterparkLocation: Palmetto Islands County ParkHighlights: 200-ft body flume, 16-ft otter slide, raindrop waterfallsSchedule: Opens weekends only starting May 17 (Saturday: 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sunday: 1–6 p.m.), daily hours from Friday, May 30–Sunday, Aug. 3 (Weekdays: 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Saturday: 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sunday: 1–6 p.m.), closes for the season after Sunday, Aug. 3Admission: $9.99 general admission; $2 per person Palmetto Islands County Park gate admission also required

Splash Zone Waterpark Location: James Island County Park, 871 Riverland Dr.Highlights: 200-ft tube slide + open slide, rainforest-themed play structureSchedule: Opens weekends only starting May 17 (Saturday: 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sunday: 1–6 p.m.), daily hours from Friday, May 30–Sunday, Aug. 3 (Weekdays: 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Saturday: 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sunday: 1–6 p.m.), closes for the season after Sunday, Aug. 3Admission: $15.99 general admission

Pro tips: Admission for kids + seniors costs a few dollars less than general admission at each park. Go after 3 p.m. on weekdays to snag cheaper general admission. If you’re planning to visit the water parks a lot this summer, you might want to splurge for a Splash Pass 2025.

You better believe we’ll be floating down the Rollin’ River soon — see you there, Charleston.

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - The North Charleston city councilmen who pleaded guilty to corruption charges are still costing the taxpayers money even after giving up their positions.

A special election to replace Jerome Heyward and Sandino Moses is just about to get underway with early voting starting on May 12.

Heyward and Moses vacated their seats after they pleaded guilty to charges that stemmed from a federal corruption investigation.

A third city council member, Mike Brown, has been suspended in connection with that same FBI corruption investigation. Brown has pleaded not guilty and will remain suspended pending the outcome of his case.

READ MORE: ‘Profound betrayal’: 8 charged in North Charleston corruption investigation

There are 15 candidates vying for the two seats in the special election, which will take place on May 27. There are seven candidates running for the Moses’ District 3 seat and eight candidates running for Heyward’s District 5 seat.

But elections don’t just happen. They require organization, facilities and manpower. All of that costs money. The Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Elections is hosting the election, but the city of North Charleston is paying for it.

“We do have two seats up and there are eight polling locations. Most of our costs are personnel related, hiring a poll worker, training them and so forth,” Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Elections Executive Director Isaac Cramer said.

Cramer says the special election is expected to cost between $20,000 and $30,000.

In most cases, state law requires special elections if a vacancy is made with more than 180 days before the next election. Cramer says special elections are common and they’re doing about one per month.

There is a bill in the state legislature that would streamline special elections. Senate Bill S.38 would change the election calendar to limit the number of special elections that could be held.

“It basically establishes four election dates a year,” Cramer said. “So, instead of having an election any Tuesday in the calendar year in South Carolina, you would have four dates that we have to go by and that will help make things more simple, help us attract and retain poll workers and also to get polling locations.”

Those dates would be in January, April, June and August. The state Senate passed the bill but it awaits action in the House.

Copyright 2025 WCSC. All rights reserved.