Wednesday headlines: Sass becomes new chair of Charleston County Council

Veteran Charleston County Council member Herb Sass of Mount Pleasant was elected chair of council at the first Tuesday meeting of the new year, replacing longtime Democratic chairman Teddie Pryor of North Charleston. Sass, a Republican, inherited a council with a narrow GOP majority for the first time in recent years.

In a story in today’s City Paper, Sass pointed to priorities on council, which include continuing to provide core services: “We must be transparent and accountable,” he said. “Our core service of public safety must be properly performed [and] financial planning that does not raise taxes yet can provide services with experience and competence.”

CP OPINION: Plastic is choking our ocean

“When you gaze at the ocean from any of South Carolina’s beaches, you witness an undulating calm that seeps into your body and relaxes. But as a fall report by the Pew Charitable Trusts offers, that calm is deceiving. Under the seas is a chaotic blender of human-induced plastic and waste that’s wreaking havoc on the ocean that feeds millions and provides half of our oxygen.”

In other headlines:

S.C.’s Norman is one of House dissenters in GOP revolt against McCarthy. U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., was the state’s only member of Congress to vote three times Tuesday against Kevin McCarthy to be House leader. Republicans failed three times Tuesdayto garner enough votes to elect McCarthy. The dissent of at least 19 hard-right Republicans shows a divided and disoriented GOP majority.

Exclusive: Alexander to bring new kids’ book on slavery to Charleston. Nationally acclaimed poet Kwame Alexander will bring his just-published children’s book, An American Story, next week to Charleston in a fitting stop about its subject: slavery.

Charleston elected officials point to 2023 priorities. Among the most urgent are wastewater management, dealing with flooding and infrastructure, upgrading mobility, managing tourism, creating affordable housing and preserving natural resources, they said in interviews with the Charleston City Paper.

Damaging winds may hit state today. Strong storms today could bring damaging winds to the Palmetto State.

Questions remain over prominent attorney’s death. The cause of the Monday death of attorney David Aylor may not be known for weeks, according to this report.

North Charleston police seize 400+ guns in 2022. A look at gun seizures in North Charleston.

Pedestrian dead after Charleston car crash. A pedestrian in a wheelchair died after a crash on East Bay St.

Low Tide Brewing plans new facility. The brewery is planning a new facility on Johns island.

Smith named new head of Charleston Wine + Food. Alyssa Maute Smith, who has been acting as head of Charleston Wine + Food, has been named the new executive director.

Mega Millions jackpot soars to nearly $1 billion. After no winner on Tuesday, the jackpot has grown even bigger. Next game: Friday.