By Skylar Laird | Reporter
Happy Saturday! Stay cool out there.
“The more success the U.S. has, it will bring soccer to the front of our sports mecca here instead of football, baseball and basketball.” - Patrick Burnette, co-owner of Soda City Football Club, on the World Cup’s influence
Christian Pulisic #10 and Weston McKennie #8 of the United States celebrate their side’s first goal, an own goal by Damian Bobadilla #16 of Paraguay (not pictured), during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between USA and Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium on June 12, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
By Pete Iacobelli
Even I got into the World Cup this year, and that’s saying something. Soccer has been inescapable since the tournament began. The excitement over watching the World Cup could translate into more interest in youth soccer, club owners said, which could bring a new pastime to the forefront to a state primarily obsessed with football, basketball and baseball.
MORE IN EDUCATION NEWS
University of Georgia provost named Clemson’s new president | By Jessica Holdman
Money to revitalize downtown Myrtle Beach is again one of the House's largest earmarks in a state budget that legislators are still negotiating. In this photo, people walk along the beach the morning of May 29, 2021, in Myrtle Beach. (File photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
By Skylar Laird
Legislators are expected to return next week to continue negotiating the differences in the House and Senate spending plans. One of the major sticking points is more than $300 million for legislative pet projects included in the House plan. I took a closer look at what’s getting some of that money, including a historic bridge, a soccer stadium and a center for Medal of Honor recipients to pass along lessons.
MORE IN STATE POLITICS…
SCDOT gets $23.5M federal grant to help replace aging bridges | By Skylar Laird
SC GOP sues to close primaries to registered Republicans | By Skylar Laird
Nuclear reactor assemblies pictured Sept. 12, 2024, in storage at V.C. Summer nuclear site near Jenkinsville in rural Fairfield County, South Carolina. (Photo courtesy of S.C. Nuclear Advisory Council)
By Jessica Holdman
Santee Cooper has a deal to sell the failed V.C. Summer site to a New York investment firm, but the agreement won’t be finalized for nearly another two years. Brookfield Asset Management has until March 2028 to say whether it will follow through on plans to buy the nuclear plant or not.
MORE IN BUSINESS NEWS…
SC agency considers entering the carbon business to improve state forests | By Jessica Holdman
SC back-to-school tax savings holiday set for Aug. 7-9 | By Jessica Holdman
SC now requires American-made steel for roads, bridges and other public projects | By Jessica Holdman
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Cities, towns nationwide revive teen curfews amid summer crowds | From Stateline (with a sidebar on South Carolina’s rules)
Theodore Roosevelt library opening recalls past, calls for civic engagement | From the North Dakota Monitor
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What’s a professional graduate degree? Loan confusion reigns amid legal battle. | By Shauneen Miranda
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