The city at the cultural crossroads of the South Carolina coast
As Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday in May, Americans are urged to pause at 3 p.m. for a moment of silence and reflect on those who died serving in the U.S. military. The holiday’s origins lie in Civil War observances, with national adoption in 1868-71 and ongoing debates about its meaning.
Developing races across multiple states enter critical runoff phases. Maine’s Second District sees Paul LePage mounting a high-profile bid, while South Carolina’s First District and California’s 48th District anticipate decisive runoffs. Democrats and Republicans intensify campaigns as district maps shape fall contests and national control.
Brands have mobilised around Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s Madison Square Garden wedding, turning the moment into marketing opportunities. The White House has responded with a parody about Trump, while other outlets highlight the celebrity event’s cultural footprint.
A sweeping heat dome has kept tens of millions under heat alerts from the Midwest to the East Coast. Overnight temperatures are failing to cool, heightening health risks and straining power grids. El Niño is intensifying the heat, and cooling centers, water, and hydration remain critical.
Two sitting Supreme Court justices have testified before Congress, urging a budget increase to expand personal protection and enhance security amid rising threats to judges nationwide. The hearing followed a landmark term and highlighted concerns about ethics oversight and court transparency.
The Oversight Project has released roughly three hours of audio and 117 pages of heavily redacted transcripts of Joe Biden’s 2016–17 interviews with his ghostwriter for Promise Me, Dad. The recordings, obtained during Special Counsel Robert Hur’s documents probe, show Biden discussing retained notes and at times struggling with dates and details; Republicans say the tapes prove decline, Biden calls the release political.
Rabbi Jeffrey Myers has retired from Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh after guiding the community through the 2018 shooter attack, its aftermath, a trial and the pandemic. He plans to return to New Jersey with his family, continue personal healing and pursue new writing and reading goals.
Recent reports show job seekers are navigating a looser dress code in post-pandemic workplaces. Candidates increasingly research company culture to tailor outfits for online or in-person interviews, with experts urging awareness of brand tone and role seniority.
The Independent reports that the Trump administration has advanced a plan to privatize airport security, beginning with Charleston, Des Moines, and Tampa. The policy envisions private contractors managing screening and technology under TSA oversight, with broader privatization possible. Union authorities warn the shift threatens security and jobs, while some airports push ahead citing funding pressures and previous shutdowns.
South Carolina has held a special Republican primary to replace the late Sen. Lindsey Graham and has produced a runoff. Darline Graham and Rep. Ralph Norman have advanced; Rep. Russell Fry finished a close third. The Aug. 25 runoff will almost certainly decide the GOP nominee who will face Democrat Annie Andrews in November.
A Texas teenager has been convicted of murder for the April 2025 stabbing of a 17-year-old at a Dallas-area track meet. The judge has denied a retrial motion, and the defense vows to appeal. A new phase will consider whether a retrial is warranted as courtroom rules and jury instructions are scrutinized amid national attention.