Tony Bartelme

Many South Carolina towns are in crisis mode, struggling to pass budgets and keep their police departments going. Who’s to blame? Take our Townfall survey.

Many South Carolina towns are struggling to survive or do basic things like police work and budgets. Here are eight ways to address this crisis now.

Sumter sheriff deputy flew department’s plane to NC beach and on sightseeing trips with family on the taxpayer’s dime, raising ethics questions.

SCDNR spent $1.8 million on 8 Contender sport fishing boats, including one that can top 65 mph. The agency says it uses them for searches and rescues.

SC towns are struggling amid an exodus of experienced public sector managers, creating a competence gap that makes corruption and waste more likely.

Lancaster, Cottageville and many other SC towns would have much more in their budgets if they did their audits. They didn’t, and now the state is holding their money in limbo.

A private company owned by CHS Airport CEO Elliot Summey will pay $403,000 to settle Awendaw’s lawsuit alleging wrongdoing at a park project.

Riverkeeper and SELC say 3 Sumter industries are releasing PFAS “forever chemicals” into the Sumter-Pocotaligo River, and that they may sue the city.

SCDNR spent $1.8 million on 8 Contender sport fishing boats, including one that can top 65 mph. The agency says it uses them for searches and rescues.

Aiken is famous for its polo and horse culture, but a power company may want a site there for a new gas plant amid the global frenzy for data centers.