Trump's welcome of Scott into 2024 race shows his calculus: The more GOP rivals, the better for him

NEW YORK (AP) — When Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina launched his campaign for the White House last week, the notoriously prickly former President Donald Trump welcomed his new competitor with open arms. There were no accusations of disloyalty or nasty nicknames from...

South Carolina group to ask Supreme Court to rename landmark school desegregation case

SUMMERTON, S.C. (AP) — Civil rights leaders in South Carolina plan to petition the U.S. Supreme Court to rename the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision that outlawed segregation of public schools across the country. Over the next three months, a group representing past...

Diverse Republican presidential primary field sees an opening in 2024 with voters of color

CHICAGO (AP) — During Donald Trump's first visit as president to Chicago, a frequent target in his attacks on urban violence, he disparaged the nation's third largest city as a haven for criminals and a national embarrassment. At a recent town hall, Republican presidential...

South Carolina firefighter dies after partial collapse at burning apartment building

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A 25-year-old firefighter from South Carolina has died after part of a burning apartment building collapsed while firefighters were inside. Authorities said James Muller of the Irmo Fire District died Friday while he was providing aid during the response to a...

Baby eels remain one of America's most valuable fish after strong year in Maine

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Fishermen in the U.S.'s only commercial-scale fishing industry for valuable baby eels once again had a productive season searching for the tiny fish. Baby eels, called elvers, are often worth more than $2,000 per pound because of how valuable they are to...

Judge halts South Carolina’s new stricter abortion law until state Supreme Court review

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A judge put South Carolina’s new law banning most abortions around six weeks of pregnancy on hold Friday until the state Supreme Court can review the measure, giving providers a temporary reprieve in a region that has enacted strict limits on the procedure. ...

North Dakota Gov. Burgum expected to announce GOP campaign for president, Republican allies say

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum is expected to announce his candidacy for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, two GOP operatives told The Associated Press on Friday, putting him in an already crowded field dominated by ex-President Donald Trump. The Republicans, who had...

Louisiana lawmakers pressed to resurrect bill banning gender-affirming care for minors

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — A longtime Republican lawmaker, in rural Louisiana, is facing national backlash following his tie-breaking vote to kill a bill that would ban gender-affirming medical care for transgender youths in the state. State Sen. Fred Mills told The Associated Press...

School bus and tanker truck collide in South Carolina; 18 sent to hospital

GILBERT, S.C. (AP) — A school bus collided with a tanker truck Thursday in South Carolina, sending at least 18 people, mostly children, to the hospital, authorities said. The bus was carrying 36 passengers when it collided with the tanker at about 4 p.m. at an intersection near...

Judge halts South Carolina’s new law banning abortions around 6 weeks of pregnancy so state Supreme Court can review