Pamela Evette names potential running mates ahead of runoff. Plus, MUSC Health passes $10B budget.
Pamela Evette released a list of nine potential running mates ahead of her June 23 gubernatorial runoff, but some of those named said they were surprised to be included. MUSC Health approved a $10. 1 billion. . .
Pamela Evette released a list of nine potential running mates ahead of her June 23 gubernatorial runoff, but some of those named said they were surprised to be included. MUSC Health approved a $10. 1 billion budget for the next fiscal year, driven largely by pharmaceutical costs and population growth across South Carolina. New Mexico officials are investigating why federal prosecutors in South Carolina and other states did not press charges against Jeffrey Epstein. We're going to catch you up on these and other top stories from The Post and Courier for Friday, June 19. SC governor candidate Pamela Evette debuts list of 9 running mates. Some are surprised to be on it. GOP gubernatorial candidate Pamela Evette released alist of nine potential running matesahead of the June 23 runoff, fulfilling a self-imposed deadline after her final debate with opponent Alan Wilson. Several people on the list said they were surprised to be included and only learned of their selection approximately one day before the announcement was made public. Evette's campaign manager stressed the list was aspirational and that Evette intended to discuss the position with those named after the primary. MUSC Health passes $10B budget, reflecting growth in drugs and populationMUSC Health and its affiliated university and physicians group approved a$10. 1 billion budget, with the health system accounting for approximately $8 billion of that total. The budget reflects significant growth in pharmacy costs, with total pharmacy services expected to account for $1. 7 billion of operating revenue, partly due to the 340B drug pricing program that has expanded to 3,000 hospitals nationwide. The overall enterprise is expecting a margin of $583 million, or 5. 8 percent of operating revenue, representing more than 400 percent growth since fiscal year 2013 when the health system had three hospitals. New Mexico Epstein investigation targets records from South Carolina, 2 other statesNew Mexico's "Truth Commission" on late millionaire sex offender Jeffrey Epstein hassubpoenaed federal prosecutors in South Carolina, Florida, Michigan and the U. S. Virgin Islands to determine why they did not press charges against the late financier and sex offender. The Justice Department's release of the "Epstein Files" has revealed several alleged connections Epstein had to South Carolina, including claims that he sexually abused a woman when she was a teenager living on Hilton Head Island. The commission has issued approximately 23 subpoenas to date ahead of a planned interim report in July. A section of Savannah Highway is a step closer to seeing some traffic relief, but it comes at a costCharleston city and county officials have approved spending nearly $3. 5 million to purchase two parcels from the Avondale Holding Company and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston to proceed with atraffic improvement project on Savannah Highway. The city plans to demolish the mural-covered building currently home to businesses including Seventeen South Antiques and Drake Fitness to realign intersections and reduce traffic backups. Avondale residents have expressed concerns that the project could increase cut-through traffic in the neighborhood and harm the area's character, though county projections suggest the changes could reduce traffic delays by 70 to 93 percent at the affected intersections. Viral bagel shop to open soon in CharlestonPopUp Bagels, a viral bagel brand that has grown to nearly 50 locations across the U. S. , is set to open its first South Carolina location at 83 Mary St. in Charleston, with a targeted opening date of July 3. The bagels are boiled, heavily seasoned and served whole rather than sliced, allowing customers to rip off bites and dip them in specialty spreads, a process highlighted by the company's tagline "Grip, Rip and Dip. " Franchise owner Braxton DeCamp has committed to opening four additional PopUp Bagels locations in South Carolina in the coming years. This news briefing was created with the assistance of AI to summarize stories. The briefing was edited by a Post and Courier journalist before it was published.