Coverage of timely local, regional, and breaking news in Beaufort County and the South Carolina Lowcountry. Includes community updates, government decisions, public safety alerts, traffic and weather impacts, and key issues shaping life in Beaufort, Port Royal, Lady’s Island, St. Helena Island, and surrounding Sea Islands. Designed for residents and visitors seeking authoritative, hyperlocal journalism from Beaufort’s newspaper of record.
In the early hours of May 13, 1862, an enslaved man delivered himself, his fellow crew members and their families past a Confederate barricade to freedom. Exactly 164 years later, on the state-designated day commemorating the escape, state lawmakers celebrated Robert Smalls and the legacy they hope more people learn about through a monument to the Civil War hero on Statehouse grounds.
The legal battle over Pine Island and the future of development on St. Helena Island is once again headed to federal court, with developers now directly accusing Beaufort County of enforcing what they describe as a racially discriminatory zoning ordinance.
Pine Island lawsuit claims CPO is unconstitutional Read More »
The Beaufort City Council approved third and final reading of the city’s revised noise ordinance during its Tuesday, May 12, meeting, concluding months of debate over how Beaufort should balance downtown entertainment activity with quality-of-life concerns from nearby residents.
Beaufort approves revised noise ordinance after months of debate Read More »
The Beaufort City Council voted Tuesday night, May 12, to redirect more than $1.2 million in proposed Tax Increment Financing expenditures toward redevelopment of Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, underscoring the growing urgency city leaders and residents placed on restoring one of Beaufort’s most recognizable public spaces.
Waterfront Park emerges as Beaufort’s top budget priority Read More »
Members of Beaufort’s Waterfront Advisory Committee are moving toward a recommendation to rebuild Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park’s failed relieving platform largely in its current form after engineers said public feedback overwhelmingly favored restoring the existing promenade design while elevating it to better address flooding and long-term resilience concerns.
Waterfront committee backs rebuilding existing promenade design at Waterfront Park Read More »
The Beaufort City Council voted Tuesday, May 12, to remove a proposed annual vehicle road use fee from the city’s FY2027 budget following an extended debate over legality, fairness, transparency and broader city spending priorities.
Beaufort City Council removes proposed vehicle fee from FY2027 budget Read More »
The Beaufort City Council advanced first reading of the city’s proposed FY2027 budget during its Tuesday, May 12, meeting following a lengthy discussion that stretched to roughly four hours and featured extensive debate over taxes, infrastructure priorities, public safety funding and future redevelopment costs tied to Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park.
Beaufort council advances FY2027 budget after four-hour meeting Read More »
Port Royal Town Council kicked off its fiscal year 2027 budget discussions May 6 with a workshop focused largely on public safety spending and growing concerns over how regional public transportation will be funded moving forward.
Port Royal begins FY2027 budget talks amid transit debate, financial strain Read More »
City of Beaufort/Town of Port Royal firefighters were attacked by a man with a machete Monday morning, May 11, as they responded to a fire alarm at a local hotel.
Firefighters responding to Beaufort hotel fire attacked by man wielding machete Read More »
Former South Carolina prosecutor and attorney general candidate David Pascoe will be holding a meet-and-greet at Old Bull Tavern on Wednesday in downtown Beaufort.
David Pascoe to campaign in Beaufort ahead of June 9 Republican primary Read More »
