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Tag: Pamela Evette

Evette touts workforce development, Trump ties in Myrtle Beach ahead of possible gubernatorial run

by Adam Benson, originally posted by WBTW News 2 June 4, 2025

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — Pamela Evette is among the handful of big-name Republicans whose names are tied to next year’s gubernatorial race, and she spent time in Myrtle Beach on Monday touting her record of success.

The Ohio native has been in office since 2019, when Gov. Henry McMaster selected her as a running mate.

Evette hasn’t formally said whether she’s planning a run for the state’s highest office, but has been linked to the job along with other contenders, including U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace and South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson.

Mace, in particular, has launched attacks against both.

“Gov. McMaster has said that I’m the best lieutenant governor in the country. President Trump said I was doing a great job, so I’ll take their compliments over Nancy Mace’s criticisms any day,” Evette said following a town hall meeting at Veterans Cafe and Grille. “I’m going to continue to do what I do. I’m going to help business, I’m going to work on school choice.”

Evette said she hasn’t yet committed to running for governor, but hinted at the likelihood as she spoke with reporters.

“Now that session is over, this is the time to start to think about what’s going to happen but I do believe this legacy that the governor and I have had does need to continue on. I think it’s been very successful, and it’s worked very well for the people of South Carolina.”

Earlier in the night, Evette said building up technical college systems is the best way to build an employee pipeline for manufacturers.

“We can do better creating a workforce for tomorrow, and we can do that by ‘let’s start reappropriating some of this money going to big colleges, and let’s give it to our technical college system,’” she said. “It is something that I’ve been talking about for the seven years that I’ve been in office.”

Lt. Gov. Evette at Myrtle Beach town hall ahead of possible run for SC governor

by Andrew James, originally posted June 3, 2025 by ABC 15 News

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WPDE) — Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette fielded questions in front of Myrtle Beach residents during a town hall meeting on Tuesday night.

Although Evette has not officially announced her candidacy for South Carolina Governor, discussions within the county and state Republican Party suggest she may be considering a bid to succeed Henry McMaster.

Evette, who has served as lieutenant governor for nearly seven years following a career in accounting, shared her vision for South Carolina’s future.

She emphasized the importance of expanding school vouchers, eliminating the state income tax, and leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance government efficiency.

“We are now competing against those other states, Tennessee, Florida, and Texas. They’ve done it. We can do it. We’re going to implement DOGE here in South Carolina,” Evette said. “We can cut taxes and be more efficient, and we’ve got to take a broad, comprehensive look at taxes in general.”

A majority of the town hall involved Evette’s views on Trump’s policies and whether she would support seeing those practices on the state level. Evette envisioned a push for more government efficiency and suggested lawmakers set sunset dates on all state regulations required to be reformed after a certain threshold of time for every regulation at the state level.

“We’re never going to be able to hire enough people to outpace the growth we have in our state,” Evette said. “If you do things more efficiently, there’s more money at the end of the month.”

Evette also shared her support for the state to send more support to technical colleges to promote building upon the need for stronger cybersecurity and a blue-collar workforce.

“When we do that, we’re going to see educational outcomes soar,” Evette said. “When you have hope, nothing will stop you. And that’s what I see. That’s what I’m excited about. That’s what I like to talk about.”

The town hall event was not part of Evette’s formal schedule as lieutenant governor. She is expected to return to Myrtle Beach later this week for the 10th Annual Carolina Country Music Fest this weekend.

‘You will not get away with it’: S.C. cracks down on revenge porn and AI deepfakes

Buy Meghan Gonyo, originally posted May 29, 2025 by ABC News 4

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WACH) — South Carolina has taken a significant step in addressing the growing issue of explicit images shared online, including those created with artificial intelligence. Governor Henry McMaster signed the Unauthorized Disclosure of Intimate Images Act into law on Thursday, making it a felony to distribute real or AI-generated intimate images without consent.

The new legislation aims to tackle the problem of revenge porn and deep fakes, which have become increasingly prevalent. State Representative Brandon Guffey, who lost his 17-year-old son, Gavin, to an online sextortion scheme, was a strong advocate for the law. “If he knew that there was a way to ensure that these images would not stay out there, than maybe he wouldn’t have ended up taking his life,” Guffey said.

The law, which took three years to pass, updates a previous statute from 1996 and imposes stricter penalties. First-time offenders could face up to five years in prison, while repeat offenders may receive up to ten years. “The important thing was to sit there and see my other two sons while the bill was being signed and for them to know their brothers’ loss was not in vain,” Guffey added.

Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette emphasized the state’s commitment to enforcing the law. “Law enforcement, our Solicitors, they are looking for you, if you choose to do bad acts that hurt people in South Carolina, you will not get away with it,” she said.

The legislation is part of a broader effort to protect individuals online, with similar federal measures like the Take It Down Act also being enacted. These laws aim to remove exploitation from the internet, with federal penalties including up to three years for offenders targeting minors.

State leaders, including Attorney General Alan Wilson, are committed to keeping pace with digital threats. A separate measure aimed at accelerating the process of catching child predators was also signed into law recently.

Evette joins McMaster for Ceremonial Bill Signing of SC ‘Revenge Porn’ Bill
By Patrick Phillips and Mary Green Originally Published May 29, 2025 by Live 5 WCSC

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCSC) – South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster held a signing Thursday morning of a bill designed to protect South Carolinians from deepfake and revenge pornography.

House Bill H.3058, the Unauthorized Disclosure of Intimate Images Act, creates a felony offense for individuals who share intimate images with the intent to cause physical, mental, economic, or reputational harm to the person depicted.

That includes AI-generated images made to look like real photos of an identifiable person.

“As technology advances, so too must our laws to keep pace with emerging threats and protect personal privacy,” McMaster said. “This legislation sends a clear message that those who harm others by sharing explicit images without their consent will be held fully accountable.”

The governor noted that while a right to privacy is not found in the United States Constitution, it is mentioned in South Carolina’s Constitution.

“So we have a basis for these kinds of laws,” he said. “It can’t be challenged and that’s good news for the people of South Carolina.”

Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, Attorney General Alan Wilson and Rep. Chris Wooten, R-Lexington, the bill’s primary sponsor, joined McMaster for the signing.

“It’s taken a lot of work and the help of our friends in the Senate to get this passed,” Wooten said. “This is a great day in South Carolina, as we are now not the only state that does not have a revenge porn statute. I am proud to have helped mend this together.”

A first offense carries a maximum fine of $5,000 and up to five years in prison. A second or subsequent offense carries a maximum fine of $10,000 and a prison sentence of one to ten years.

The law also establishes penalties for individuals who share intimate images without the intent to cause physical, mental, economic, or reputational harm to the person depicted. A first offense is a misdemeanor, punishable by a maximum fine of $5,000 and up to one year in prison. A second or subsequent offense is classified as a felony, punishable by a maximum fine of $5,000 and up to five years in prison.

The legislation defines “digitally forged intimate images” to include images that are created by AI or other computer or machine-generated means.

It also clarifies that a person’s consent to create or privately share an image does not imply consent for the wider distribution of the image.

Thursday morning’s signing was ceremonial because McMaster officially signed the bill on May 12 at which point the law immediately went into effect.

But before that signature earlier this month, the Palmetto State stood alone in the country as the only state that had no law on the books targeting revenge porn.

Aiken will be the home of the ‘greatest single investment’ for the SC National Guard

By Carl Dawson, originally published May 27, 2025 by Aiken Standard

AIKEN — Ground was ceremonially broken May 27 on the campus of USC Aiken for the S.C. National Guard Cyber Integration Center and Readiness Center, two facilities costing a total of nearly $45 million.

Maj. Gen. Robin Stillwell, adjutant general of the S.C. National Guard, called it “the greatest single investment in one location in the history of the South Carolina National Guard.”

“That’s a big deal, but really the biggest deal about all of this is the investment that we are making with our collaborators and our partners here today,” Stillwell said, listing local, state and federal authorities, members of the Department of Defense and other federal entities, USCA and other academic institutions.

“This project promises to be a platform for human and technological advancement focused on education, workforce development and prototyping. It also promises to be a platform into the future, nested in national security priorities,” he said.

“We are very excited across the river that this extension of the energy across the CSRA is happening,” said Maj. Gen. Ryan Janovic, commanding officer of Fort Eisenhower in Augusta and of the U.S. Army Cyber Center of Excellence located there. He said $1.4 billion in construction is underway at Fort Eisenhower.

“Never do we think about the building as something unto itself. It’s always about the team within it. The building and its network and team and the innovative spirit that happens within the walls of these types of facilities are the magic,” Janovic said.

He called the cross-border collaboration “something unique and something that is significantly contributing to our national security.”

The CSRA is rapidly emerging as a hub for cybersecurity and STEM development, with Aiken and USC Aiken playing an integral role in this transformation through “leveraging the power of proximity” with its centralized location bridging cyber assets in Georgia, to the midlands, the upstate and the coast of South Carolina, said Dr. Daniel Heimmermann, chancellor of USC Aiken.

“As we know, the menace of cyberattacks is undeterred by state boundaries or geographical features like rivers, or the gates of a university or college,” he said. “As is true of the mission of this university, the South Carolina National Guard facilities that we celebrate today are truly regional and national assets that will be a service to us all.”

He said the projects are the culmination of more than a decade of work and collaboration between the S.C. National Guard, USC Aiken, political leaders and others, and that more than $145 million was being invested in regional cybersecurity assets.

“The goals that have inspired the key partnerships between USC Aiken and the S.C. National Guard and the Savannah River National Laboratory and others very much align with the national priorities in areas such as advanced manufacturing, cyber protection of our critical infrastructure, AI, energy resilience and grid protection,” Heimmermann said.

“USCA’s partnership with the guard’s Cyber Integration Center will synergize the opportunity for accelerated economic growth, educational opportunities and workforce development,” he said.

“The governor and I … are very excited to see what is happening here. Thank you to all our partners in the statehouse for seeing how critical this all is,” said S.C. Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette.

“The governor and I have been very forward focused on looking at what is going to be the workforce of tomorrow, and how do we continue to inspire young minds to know that these are the careers that we need?” she said.

Evette called the project “another example of how here in South Carolina we communicate, we collaborate, and we cooperate together to get great things done.”

S.C. Sen. Tom Young, R-Aiken, said teamwork by the legislative delegation and the leadership of Aiken County government leadership secured the funding for the project in June 2022.

“Our delegation is so proud that we could be part of this game-changing investment that will bring cyber security opportunities and workforce development to generations of South Carolinians and people in this region for years to come,” Young said.

“This cyber issue couldn’t be more important. We recognize now that sadly we are in a war that we did not choose,” said U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C. “We have to face it.”

“With this in mind, for peace through strength, this command is going to be so important,” Wilson said.

“We live in an idyllic community, but Aiken is not immune,” said S.C. Rep. Bill Taylor, R-Aiken, listing the Savannah River Site, the Savannah River National Lab, the SRS Plutonium Pit Production Facility, Meta and AGY as likely targets of cyberattack.

“Thankfully, the South Carolina National Guard Cyber Integration Center will help protect our nation, our state, the critical infrastructure and all of the businesses that I just talked about,” Taylor said “The partnership and the collaboration with USC Aiken, SRS and the business community will pay dividends for decades to come.”

Play Ball! MLB hosts its youth baseball clinic in North Augusta, also pulling in Lt. Gov. Evette

By Elizabeth Husted, originally posted by The Post and Courier North Augusta on May 26, 2025

NORTH AUGUSTA — The breezy sunshine of a Wednesday morning at SRP Park had a couple dozen kids out playing ball with the lieutenant governor, a couple of the GreenJackets athletes and pro staff with Major League Baseball.

“They love coming here and what better way to learn?” Aiken’s Danielle Hand said, admitting she pulled her 6-year-old son and 8-year-old daughter out of school for it, something she wouldn’t normally do. “But today, this is hands-on learning, so I thought, let’s take advantage of this.”

Major League’s Play Ball event wasn’t meant to be on a school day, not originally. But then, a near hurricane wasn’t supposed to hit the day before, either. The kids’ baseball clinic that was held May 21 had first been set for the day after Helene.

So, there was Hand’s daughter, out there on left field, going through some drills and making friends already, Hand observed – a lot of socializing, but she is interested in trying softball, she said. And her son, two days after his sixth birthday. “He loves all the sports and if he can run – even better.”

The Play Ball initiative started 10 years ago, with a first event in the Bronx. It was just six months after Rob Manfred assumed office as commissioner of Major League Baseball.

“It really kind of emanated from his new administration at the time, having a focus on growing the game at the youth level, at the grassroots level,” Bennett Shields said.

Shields is senior manager of baseball and softball for MLB and was on the field at SRP Park this week.

MLB has brought its youth baseball clinics to minor and major league parks, to community rec centers and high school gyms, “from Alaska to Japan to North Augusta, South Carolina,” he said.

Play Ball, at its core, he said, is meant “to introduce young children to the game of baseball and softball, to diamond sports; to provide a non-competitive, accessible opportunity for them to come try the sport; re-invigorate their love for the game if they’re already playing; and give them an opportunity to work with professional athletes at times and our staff of professional coaches.”

Or to kick it with the lieutenant governor, South Carolina’s Pamela Evette saying she was “all in” when she heard about this new partnership between MLB’s Play Ball and states’ seconds in command.

“Getting our kids outside, getting those cell phones and computers and Gameboys out of their hands and [giving them] a bat and a ball and getting them running and playing… that is really the secret to having really healthy, well-adjusted children,” she said.

Evette played second base for softball growing up.

“It was a few years back,” she laughed – then recalled riding her bike to the rec enter for both the softball and the rec ball and then going on to play in middle school.”

“It was fun; it was great relationships,” she said. “It was learning how to work with a team and work as a team. Great life lessons are learned right here, in organized sports.”

Lisa Reeves, of North Augusta, brought her grandson, now 5, to SRP Park for the morning’s fun.

“He was very excited; I told him this morning,” she said, eying him from the stands, a Red Sox cap on his head as he readied himself for a swing at the T-Ball.

S.C. lieutenant governor visits SRP Park for youth sports clinic

Originally posted on May 21, 2025 by WRDW/WAGT

NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) – South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette was at SRP Park Wednesday.

Evette joined Major League Baseball and the Augusta Greenjackets for a diamond sports clinic for youth.

It’s a part of the Play Ball initiative, which encourages youth to get involved with baseball or softball-related activities.

Play Ball also gets children involved with the game as an outlet for physical activity, fun with friends and learning how to play the sport.

“As a mom myself, I think its so important, and I hear it study after study getting our kids out of the house, getting electronics out of their hands, getting them playing sports again interacting with their peers, it’s the healthiest thing we can do for our children,” said Pamela Evette, South Carolina Lieutenant Governor.

This is also a partnership with other lieutenant governors across the country.

She says they are planning to schedule another clinic for kids at SRP Park.

“When I heard about MLB wanting to partner with lieutenant governors to bring this play ball clinic to their state, I was all in because getting our kids outside, getting those cell phones, computers and Game Boys out of their hands, and put a bat and a ball and getting them running and playing. That is the secret to having healthy, well-adjusted children,” said Evette.

Comprehensive cancer treatment now an option with Augusta Oncology opening in North Augusta

By Elizabeth Hustad. Originally posted on 5/19/2025 in The Post & Courier North Augusta Star

NORTH AUGUSTA — May 12 marked the official opening of Augusta Oncology Multispecialty Clinic in North Augusta, the $30 million project capturing every facet of cancer treatment in one facility, a first for the Central Savannah River Area.

Augusta Oncology sees around 3,000 patients a day across its five area treatment centers, and health officials are estimating that North Augusta alone will serve close to 400 patients a day.

“It has been quite a venture to get here,” AO Multispecialty Chief Operating Officer Robert Hendricks said.

Though only a year between Augusta Oncology announcing its expansion into North Augusta and the start of treatments here in mid-February, the front-end work took place in Columbia, at the General Assembly, where Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette this week said the state’s lawmakers had been “really listening to the medical world saying ‘we need more outlets for treating our patients.’”

South Carolina’s repeal of the Certificate of Need — the bureaucratic red tape that had until mid-2023 bound medical providers to stringent requirements before building new hospitals or larger-scale clinics. Even expansions in medical equipment and telemedicine were subject to licensing.

“Certificate of Need was stifling so many clinics like this that could open up and do great things for every sector of our state,” Evette said.

“Our goal has always been to remove barriers to care and make the cancer journey easier for our patients and their families,” Traci Duffie, CEO of AO Multispecialty, said.

Comprehensive care

The facility, located at 150 Bluff Ave., is intended to maximize not only treatment capacity but treatment quality, John Kowal said.

Kowal, president of Siemens Healthineers for the Americas, said the clinic’s layered convenience — a 30,000-square-foot medical oncology suite above a 15,000 square-feet of radiation center — is paramount in making sure no one has to travel “miles and miles, hours and hours” to get full treatment.

Part of that treatment might come from one of two linear accelerators, ensconced in a pair of concrete vaults and picked out as top-of-the line technology, a qualifier affirmed by a radiation therapist of 26 years.

“This is state of the art. You won’t get this anywhere in this area, and especially not this combination,” Linda Jainniney said, gesturing to one of the “Linacs.”

Augusta Oncology is able to re-plan patient treatments in real time, while the patient is on the treatment table, she said. No delay, no need to “re-simulate,” she said, if the tumor shrinks more rapidly than expected or if the patient loses weight unexpectedly.

“The whole goal here is to have the highest quality imaging to make sure that you very clearly can see the target where it is today and to be able to carve around it, make sure that we end up ablating that tumor and minimizing the impact, in a non-invasive environment,” Siemens’ Kowal summarized.

Radiation treatments might go on every day for six weeks. That can translate into a patient having to make some hard decisions during an already stressful time — the tugs between personal needs and health needs, Jainniney said.

But in North Augusta, “They can get the care that they need while they’re right here with their family and not have to make that choice,” she said. “Traveling is a huge thing, especially when prognoses can be very different, so you have to weigh — you know, do I want to spend that time away from my family? They don’t have to make that choice.”

Nancy Kitchens attested to the level of care she received from Augusta Oncology after being diagnosed with breast cancer during the buildout of the North Augusta facility.

Now in radiation, the treatment offered by those Linacs has been pain-free, she said, a little awed still — she admitted that she hadn’t quite believed the doctors when they said it would be.

“This place has your back in the biggest way; they want to save your life,” she said.

From an underutilized building to one of life-saving work, North Augusta Mayor Briton Williams said the massive transformation of the former Medac building, half-vacant for years and seeing only the 50 or so employees each day, into Augusta Oncology and its revolving doors of patients and doctors was needed density for economic activity and a needed link between the city’s downtown and its once-again developing Riverside Village.

Not on the list for why Augusta Oncology came here, Williams laughed, but still, “that’s a serendipity for us.”

One-on-one with Lieutenant Governor Evette

Published May 19, 2025 by Fox Carolina

South Carolina Lieutenant Governor Evette sits down with Fox Carolina’s Justin Dougherty to discuss important issues happening in our state and a possible run for governor.

WATCH NOW

DRC Ventures Partners with ELYSIAN to Celebrate 10 Years of Women Inspiring Women at Star-Studded Celebration

Originally published by EIN Presswire on May 13, 2025

SPARTANBURG, SC, UNITED STATES, May 13, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ — DRC Ventures, in collaboration with ELYSIAN, co-hosted a powerful celebration this past weekend to honor ELYSIAN’s 10th anniversary. Held at the private estate of ELYSIAN Founder, Publisher, and Filmmaker Karen Floyd, the exclusive retreat welcomed more than 200 influential women from around the globe for a day of connection, inspiration, and impact.

At the heart of the celebration was Dr. Christina Rahm, Founder and CEO of DRC Ventures, who played a pivotal role in the event’s success. Through her leadership and vision, she helped shape several cornerstone initiatives, including one of the day’s most compelling highlights — a deeply moving conversation with Atifete Jahjaga, the first female President of Kosovo.

The event brought together an extraordinary group of thought leaders, philanthropists, entrepreneurs, and changemakers aligned with ELYSIAN and DRC Ventures’ shared mission: to empower women and drive meaningful global progress. Distinguished attendees included:

President of Kosovo Jahjaga
Anita Zucker, Philanthropist and former CEO, The InterTech Group
Edna Morris, Chairman of the Board, Tractor Supply Company
Dr. Alveda King, Chair, AFPI Center for the American Dream
Itai Madamombe, Founder and CEO, OCEANIX
Prominent political leaders from across South Carolina and beyond

As a key strategic partner in ELYSIAN’s evolution, Dr. Rahm has been instrumental in launching the Aspiring Women initiative, a bold new program dedicated to mentoring and supporting women under 35 on their path to leadership.

“It is an honor to lead the Aspiring Women of ELYSIAN. We have so much to accomplish for the world and for one another,” said Dr. Rahm. “I stand alongside powerful women like Karen Floyd to pursue peace, purpose, and progress. The next 10 years hold extraordinary promise, and together, we will shape a future defined by unity, innovation, and unstoppable strength.”

The centerpiece of the day was Dr. Rahm’s intimate and thought-provoking interview with President Jahjaga, who shared powerful insights on women’s leadership, post-conflict resilience, and the global importance of investing in women.

“Investing in women is investing in the future of individuals, families, communities, and entire nations,” said President Jahjaga. “When women rise together, they don’t just break barriers, they build a better future.”

The retreat also featured a series of expert-led panels on topics including business, global politics, STEM, and creative industries. Dr. Rahm shared her insights across multiple sessions, further amplifying the day’s mission of empowerment and innovation.

A key moment of the celebration included the recognition of over 70 exceptional women with awards across diverse fields, a testament to ELYSIAN and DRC Ventures’ commitment to elevating female excellence.

Guests left inspired, including Martha Wiedemann, Associate Director of the iconic Badrutt’s Palace Hotel in St. Moritz, Switzerland:

“I felt I was in the presence of greatness,” said Wiedemann. “This event energized me to reflect on how I, too, can contribute to this remarkable journey.”

South Carolina Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette also praised the collaboration:

“As a woman in leadership, it is truly inspiring to witness the impact of this partnership and the powerful network it is building for women who are transforming every sector,” said Evette.

The day concluded with a celebratory toast, marking not just a decade of ELYSIAN’s impact, but the enduring partnership between DRC Ventures and ELYSIAN, a union committed to nurturing leadership, fostering community, and driving global change.

“This gathering reflects the powerful synergy between DRC Ventures and ELYSIAN,” said Karen Floyd. “Dr. Rahm’s visionary leadership has expanded our global reach and deepened our mission. Together, we are amplifying the voices of women who are mentoring, leading, and creating a legacy of transformation.”

DRC Ventures’ collaboration with ELYSIAN underscores its broader commitment to empowering women through philanthropy and innovation. Through ELYSIAN Impact and related initiatives, the organizations have helped distribute more than $16 million in support of causes advancing women, children, animals, environmental sustainability, and service.

To learn more about DRC Ventures, visit www.drc-ventures.com
For more about ELYSIAN, visit https://readelysian.com