Like Grandma, a sizable majority of us are generally opposed to abortion. Also, a strong majority of us believe that women should be able to obtain legal abortions in a number of circumstances. Even many anti-abortion advocates believe that women who seek abortions should not be treated as criminals. S.323 does not represent the people of South Carolina.

Allowing nurse practitioners (APRNs) to provide the healthcare they are trained and licensed to give—without being tied to a smaller and smaller pool of primary care physicians—will expand quality access to care in South Carolina. Studies report increased satisfaction and lower costs. Additionally, Congress made full practice for APRNs a requirement of all states receiving any of the recently enacted $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Fund.

The State

Thousands of people protesting President Donald Trump’s leadership marched peacefully Saturday on Main Street and covered the state capitol grounds in Columbia, waving signs and cheering speeches that derided the president and his policies. Lynn Teague, League of Women Voters of South Carolina VP Issues & Action, criticized the practice of gerrymandering by which Republican majorities in the SC House and Senate have severely limited Democractic representation to far less than the 40% or more who make up the state electorate.

PROMISE-PROMoting AI's Safe usage for Elections— includes chapters by LWVSC Board members Joan Zaleski (Nothing but the Truth: Voting in the Time of AI) and Matthew Saltzman (Technology for Redistricting: Assessing and Generating District Maps).

On Nov. 14, Safe AI for Seniors, a free, hybrid event in Columbia, will empower older adults (55+) with knowledge, tools, and engaging discussions about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its impact on daily life.

Over the past three decades, stagnant weekly wages of public school teachers have fallen further and further behind those of college graduates who chose other careers, resulting in an ever increasing teacher pay gap that hit a record high in 2024. Over the last decade, inflation-adjusted weekly wages for teachers declined by $46.39 but increased by $220.46 for other college graduates.

Censorship complaints to public libraries continue with state-wide impact. The freedom to read 23 books has been eliminated or restricted. An October 7 lawsuit asks a federal court to block enforcement of unconstitutional book banning.

The status of pseudo-vouchers (Education Scholarship Accounts) remains uncertain. Public schools remain under attack from various groups, often funded by dark money, whose ultimate goal is a privatized education system.