Local and State by Brian Hicks
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Cruise ship reports pose dual realities
So the Historic Charleston Foundation has this new study that says the economic benefit of cruise ships on the city is overrated. That's probably true, seeing as how the report notes that cruise passengers account for only 1 percent of Charleston's tourists, and some of them never even ge...
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HICKS COLUMN: Refreshing, politically incorrect voice of Fritz Hollings still needed in S.C.
His accent is unmistakable, his tongue as sharp as ever, his towering presence undiminished by age. Fritz Hollings still has it.
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HICKS COLUMN: Let people decide on town, city
So far, Billy Swails isn't getting very far with his quest for a more powerful Mount Pleasant mayor. As Prentiss Findlay reports, most Town Council types think things are working just fine as they are. That's true, it's always a great day in Mount Pleasant -- even if they could use a Costco.
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HICKS COLUMN: A problem much worse than a slap
As it turns out, getting smacked by the sheriff was the least of Timothy Shawn McManus' problems on Monday. Earlier this week, Charleston County Sheriff Al Cannon admitted he slapped a handcuffed McManus at the end of a 120 mph chase through Mount Pleasant and the Francis Marion National Forest.
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HICKS COLUMN: Red tape can't hold back tides
The problem with Folly Beach County Park isn't a lack of sand, it's an abundance of red tape. The beach isn't due for renourishment for another year, the storm that caused the problem didn't technically hit Folly, and the state and feds keep pointing fingers at each other.
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HICKS COLUMN: Haley still can't make voter ID case
You've got to watch out for those dead people voting. Particularly when they aren't really dead. It sure was convenient how Gov. Nikki Haley and her crew found 957 "potential" cases of voter fraud just days after the feds struck down the state's new voter ID law.
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HICKS COLUMN: Please let Crabpot show go on
The Crabpot Players have become something of a tradition out on Isle of Palms. The group sets up at the rec center a couple of times a year and puts on a show that sells out nearly every performance. Island kids play a lot of the parts, riding to rehearsal on their bikes or skateboards.
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HICKS COLUMN: School board pick is telling
Well, this is just what we need -- more politicians tinkering with our schools. Last week, Charleston County's legislative delegation picked West Ashley parent Brian Thomas to fill the vacancy left when Mary Ann Taylor decided last year to go on walkabout.
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HICKS COLUMN: Obama comes out a winner
And now, a message from President Barack Obama: Thank you, South Carolina. By giving former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich the win Saturday, the state has introduced additional chaos into the Republican presidential primary. Which most people thought was impossible.
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HICKS COLUMN: Gingrich had the best night
Well, you can't say these guys don't know their audience. The four remaining candidates in "Survivor: GOP Primary" threw so much red meat into the crowd Thursday during the debate at the North Charleston Coliseum, it's a wonder the "Dogs Against Romney" protesters outside didn't break dow...
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HICKS COLUMN: Thank cops for a new city
Not so long ago, North Charleston was a pretty rough place.
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HICKS COLUMN: GOP ads nothing but talk
There are probably a few people out there who just love all these campaign ads on TV right now. But for those of us who don't own TV stations, this whole first-in-the-South primary thing is getting a bit annoying.
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HICKS COLUMN: Legislating morality not worth cost
They always say you can't legislate morality -- well, turns out it's pretty expensive to try to impose it on people. South Carolina is $600,000 poorer today because of the Berkeley County jail's former practice of limiting inmate reading material to the Bible.
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HICKS COLUMN: Assembly priorities puzzling
Good thing the General Assembly is back in session — we’ve got a lot of problems in South Carolina. So of course when the Legislature convened on Tuesday, lawmakers jumped on unemployment and education. Right? Uh, no.
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HICKS COLUMN: Riley's city already a great one
It's too bad there weren't more state and federal politicians on hand to hear Mayor Joe Riley's inaugural address on Monday. They might have learned a thing or two.
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Brian Hicks
Brian Hicks, a native of Tennessee, joined The Post and Courier in 1997. He has covered Southern politics for more than 20 years, and his journalism has won more than two dozen awards, including the S.C. Press Association's Journalist of the Year in 1998. His column began appearing on the newspaper's website in 2007 and the print edition in 2008. Hicks' column has won a Green Eyeshade Award from the Society of Professional Journalists as well as Best Column and Best Humor Column honors from the S.C. Press Association. He is also author or co-author of four books, including the local history yarn "Raising the Hunley." His fifth book, "Toward the Setting Sun," was released in 2011. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/BriHicks_PandC.Latest South Carolina Headlines
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