Lucy Valeski
@ValeskiLucy
@thestate politics reporter | [email protected] | mizzou journalism & political science alum
Columbia, MO ➡️ Columbia, SC Today was my first day with @thestate in Columbia. I'll be covering politics and the state government in South Carolina. I'm excited to get to work! Reach out to me at [email protected].
An Upstate resident has measles, the South Carolina Department of Public Health confirmed Wednesday. It is the first case of the disease in the state since September 2024, the agency said. This is a developing story, click here for more updates: bit.ly/4nM7qGn
SC may have to pay for SNAP benefits (to the tune of over $100 million every year) under budget reconciliation. It could be avoided if the state reduces its error rate. More people will also be kicked off SNAP, leaving the private sector to fill in the gaps. Read more⬇️
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act requires most states to pay for food benefits. It leaves South Carolina with a choice: cut the error rate, find millions of dollars in the state budget to pay for food benefits or cut back the program. Read the full story here:…
This morning I kicked off @thestate's new limited series, Communities in Transition. It will be a look at the towns, neighborhoods & areas in the Midlands that are growing or changing. My piece today is on Red Bank, which has exploded in Lexington County. thestate.com/news/local/art…
Mace gets in on Coldplay meme trend but leaves some confused. Here’s why thestate.com/news/politics-…
FWIW, SC has 31 Republican sheriffs
I'm honored to have the support of 22 Republican sheriffs. As Governor, I’ll continue to back the blue, defend our conservative values, and fight every day to protect South Carolina families. President Trump is Making America Safe Again, and he needs strong Governors to help.
Reps. Ro Khanna, Jim Clyburn and Jonathan Jackson are speaking at an NAACP, Columbia branch meeting this afternoon. Khanna has spent the weekend swinging through SC.
Read more about Gov. Beshear's trip to South Carolina in @BGPolitics kentucky.com/news/politics-…
Cuts to federal solar tax incentives are coming in the next few years. That could mean the sector will slow down in SC. But in the short term, a new solar farm will be built in the Columbia-area, likely doubling the county's utility-scale solar. thestate.com/news/politics-…
Gov. Andy Beshear in Columbia today. He gave a room of SC and Columbia-area Democrats his strategy for winning elections, particularly in red states.
I guess we know what that special announcement is tonight: thestate.com/news/politics-…
Let's stand up and Keep South Carolina Great! #KeepSCGreat
I've had some new followers in recent weeks. Sign up for our free weekly @BuzzAtTheState newsletter. You'll get Palmetto State political content and 2028 content from the South Carolina perspective. It shows up in your email inbox on Friday mornings. thestate.com/newsletters?ne…
Latest potential 2028 presidential candidate visiting South Carolina update: Per a staffer for Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, he will have stops in Greenville and Columbia on July 16, and Charleston and Georgetown County on July 17.
SC reported its first case of measles of the year. Here are some symptoms of the virus thestate.com/e-edition/live…
Gov. Gavin Newsom is touring SC this week and finished his first day in Kershaw county. He dug in on civil rights issues and disaster aid, blasting Trump in the process. He told reporters he was focused on building the Democratic Party ahead of the midterms.
State Sen. Stephen Goldfinch, R-Georgetown, visited The State newsroom a day after kicking off his bid for SC Attorney General. Here's a snippet of his interview with us. thestate.com/news/politics-…
South Carolina's congressional delegation helped pass the Big Beautiful Bill. Lawmakers say the legislation is fiscally responsible and good for working class families. There is some nuance over whether that is accurate. thestate.com/news/politics-…
Does wood biomass have potential to expand in South Carolina? Industry reps hope so, but it is unclear if utilities have the appetite for biomass. Read more ⬇️ thestate.com/news/politics-…
The Senate removed the AI moratorium from the bill early this morning (99-1)
My first politics story with The State: Federal lawmakers may ban states legislatures from passing AI laws. That means SC has several laws that may be unenforceable. That includes a new law aimed at cracking down on nonconsensual deepfake pornography. thestate.com/news/politics-…
ICYMI in a flurry of other Supreme Court decisions on Friday South Carolina's online age verification requirements can stay in place. The Supreme Court decision may also empower lawmakers to look at other ways to restrict explicit material from minors: thestate.com/news/politics-…
My first politics story with The State: Federal lawmakers may ban states legislatures from passing AI laws. That means SC has several laws that may be unenforceable. That includes a new law aimed at cracking down on nonconsensual deepfake pornography. thestate.com/news/politics-…
