SUMMARY: Governor Henry McMaster shared his budget recommendations as the South Carolina legislative session begins. Key focuses include education, disaster relief, and infrastructure repair. McMaster proposes $50 million for the Department of Transportation to address Hurricane Helene damage. He also recommends studying underground power lines to prevent power outages from storm damage. For education, he advocates for a $50,000 starting salary for teachers and better resources for students. McMaster emphasized maintaining South Carolina’s competitive edge in attracting jobs and investments. His budget is a recommendation, with lawmakers making the final decisions.

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SUMMARY: Governor Brian Kemp is proposing an additional $50 million for school safety grants, increasing the total to $159 million, equating to $68,760 per school. He also introduced $872,000 to enhance the student-to-school-psychologist ratio. Lt. Gov. Burt Jones supports the initiative, emphasizing the priority of passing “Alyssa’s Law,” which mandates silent panic alarms in schools, following a tragic shooting at Apalachee High School. The proposal includes $120.8 million for fiscal year 2025 and $402.2 million for fiscal year 2026, aiming to fully fund education. Additionally, $10.3 million would be allocated for transportation, amid growing school district needs.

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SUMMARY: In Hamilton County, Tennessee, a family’s snow day was interrupted when a man allegedly shot at them while they were sledding in Harrison, near Chattanooga. The mother of four saw snow fly near her child after hearing gunshots from a nearby home. The family confronted the shooter, Benjamin Cook, who claimed they were on his property, but the family was not. Deputies later arrested Cook, finding rifles at his home. He was charged with six counts of aggravated assault, with more charges possible. Investigations confirmed the family wasn’t on Cook’s property at the time.

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