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Cronyism returning to SC's top court?

By RICK BRUNDRETT Since 1973, when significant constitutional changes in the state court system took effect, 16 of the 23 S.C. Supreme Court justices over the period were ex-lawmakers, The Nerve found in a review of judicial and legislative records. Starting toward the end of last year, however, there have...

Rick Brundrett

Written by
November 14, 2025

  • Cronyism returning to SC's top court?

    By RICK BRUNDRETT Since 1973, when significant constitutional changes in the state court system took effect, 16 of the 23 S.C. Supreme Court justices over the period were ex-lawmakers, The Nerve found in a review of judicial and legislative records. Starting toward the end of last year, however, there have...
    Rick Brundrett

    Written by
    November 14, 2025

  • Bumpy rides: Thousands of pothole claims filed against SCDOT

    By RICK BRUNDRETT Editor’s note: This story is part of a two-article package published today. The other story can be found here. Since 2020, more than 11,500 pothole damage or injury claims have been filed against the S.C. Department of Transportation, though less than half were approved and resulted in...
    Rick Brundrett

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    October 31, 2025

  • How a pothole changed an Anderson man's life

    By RICK BRUNDRETT Editor’s note: This story is part of a two-article package published today. The other story can be found here. Chris Ellis says when he was racing dirt bikes as a kid, his biggest fears were hitting “a deer, grass in the road, or another vehicle.” “Never in...
    Rick Brundrett

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    October 31, 2025

  • Transportation deserts: Rural SC towns, cities lack private ride options

    By RICK BRUNDRETT Editor’s note: This story is part of a two-article package published today on rural transportation issues in South Carolina. The other story can be found here. The video component for both stories can be found here. If you want a ride from a “transportation network company,” such...
    Rick Brundrett

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    September 30, 2025

  • No-car rates higher among rural SC households

    By RICK BRUNDRETT Editor’s note: This story is part of a two-article package published today on rural transportation issues in South Carolina. The other story can be found here. The video component for both stories can be found here. In South Carolina in 2021, at least 10% of rural households...
    Rick Brundrett

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    September 30, 2025

  • Public cost of investigating disputed $1.8B grows to over $11M

    Editor’s note: This story is part of a two-article package today. The other story can be found here. By RICK BRUNDRETT More than $11 million in state funds have been spent on investigations of and other matters related to the disputed $1.8 billion, The Nerve’s latest review has found. The...
    Rick Brundrett

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    August 22, 2025

  • State treasurer, attorney general spar over outside legal fees

    Editor’s note: This story is part of a two-article package published today. The other story can be found here. By RICK BRUNDRETT S.C. Treasurer Curtis Loftis says he personally spent about $100,000 to defend himself in connection with the state Senate’s recent vote to remove him from office after the...
    Rick Brundrett

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    August 22, 2025

  • Lawfare is not the solution to Charleston's flooding issues

    Editor’s note: This article is an opinion piece written by Michael Burris, CEO of the South Carolina Policy Council – the parent organization of The Nerve. It’s high time for Charleston’s City Council to drop its beleaguered climate lawsuit and continue to focus on the real solutions to our flooding...
    Michael Burris

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    August 20, 2025

  • State's top court focusing on free-market dispute over eye exams

    By RICK BRUNDRETT Editor’s Note: This story is part of a two-article package published today. The other story can be found here. Although eye exam businesses and rural transportation companies are clearly different from each other, an eye-exam case before the S.C. Supreme Court might ultimately affect the regulation of...
    Rick Brundrett

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    July 11, 2025

  • SC rural transportation company seeks regulatory relief

    By RICK BRUNDRETT Editor’s Note: This story is part of a two-article package published today. The other story can be found here. The video component for both stories can be found here. David Crawford will tell you he’s been an Edisto Island musician for 43 years, noting that’s how he...
    Rick Brundrett

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    July 11, 2025