Capital city of South Carolina; a mid-sized Southern hub
Since mid-May 2026, Republican-led Southern legislatures have been moving to redraw U.S. House maps after a Supreme Court ruling weakened parts of the Voting Rights Act. Federal judges in Alabama have blocked a new map, South Carolina lawmakers have stalled a Trump-backed redistricting push, and Tennessee and Louisiana have enacted plans that would dilute Black-majority districts.
Dozens of federal and local officers have raided Burnstein von Seelen Precision Castings in Abbeville, arresting a plant manager and HR director as part of a state-backed investigation into identity theft and illegal hiring. ICE is detaining 48 workers while authorities review immigration statuses and pursue indictments for those involved in creating and selling fake IDs.
The United States marks 250 years since independence amid tensions with allies, domestic political divisions, and concerns over civil rights and freedom of expression. Public sentiment ranges from cynicism to cautious optimism as the nation reflects on its future.
Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Mexican national living in the U.S. for decades, has been fatally shot by an ICE agent during a vehicle stop in Houston. Protests have surged as lawmakers and civil rights groups demand an independent investigation and preservation of evidence. DHS maintains the agent acted in self-defense after Salgado Araujo purportedly rammed an ICE vehicle.
Nordone, Lindsey Graham’s sister, has been appointed by South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster to complete the late senator’s term, making history as the state’s first woman in the Senate. A special primary will determine the nominee for the November election.