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Tag: SC Youth

SC Lt. Gov. attends event giving results of campaign to fight childhood hunger
By Tyler Scott, originally published Jun. 22, 2025 by FOX Carolina

GREENVILLE, S.C. (FOX Carolina) – South Carolina Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette joined with AFL, a global leader in fiber optic technology, in Greenville to announce the results from its employee-driven charitable campaign to combat childhood hunger in the Upstate.

AFL is an international manufacturer providing end-to-end solutions to the energy, service provider, enterprise, hyperscale and industrial markets.

The company presented a ceremonial check in a total amount of $1,422,000 to United Way of the Piedmont at an event at the Greenville Drive Stadium at Fluor Field.

SC Republicans cheer as gender-transition care ban for minors upheld by Supreme Court

By Julia Johnson, originally published June 18, 2025 by Spectrum News

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Republican officials in South Carolina are celebrating the Supreme Court’s decision on Wednesday to uphold a Tennessee law barring transgender treatments for minors.

“This ruling is a major victory for South Carolina and the entire country. Protecting our children from irreversible gender-transition procedures should not be controversial — it’s common sense,” Gov. Henry McMaster, R-S.C., wrote on X.

Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, R-S.C. echoed this sentiment, writing, “Amen! Protecting our kids and America’s future generations is a non-negotiable.”

The court ruled in favor of Tennessee by a margin of 6-3 in the decision.

Attorney General Alan Wilson shared his satisfaction with the ruling, saying in a statement, “Today’s decision affirms what we’ve long argued that there is no constitutional right to subject children to life-altering, experimental medical interventions.”

The Senate Republican Caucus was similarly pleased, sharing a celebratory press release.

“We knew this issue would ultimately be decided by the Supreme Court, and today’s decision is exactly what we hoped and prayed for,” said Senator Danny Verdin, R-Laurens.  “The facade of so-called ‘gender-affirming care’ is collapsing as Americans begin to see this ideology for what it really is: dangerous.”

Verdin is the Chairman of the Senate Medical Affairs Committee and authored the Senate version of the “Help not Harm” bill prohibiting transgender treatment for minors, which was signed into law by McMaster in May of 2024.

The law was in legal limbo as parties awaited the outcome of Tennessee’s case before the Supreme Court.

McMaster previously led nine other Republican governors in an October amicus brief supporting Tennessee in the United States v. Skrmetti—the case concerning its restrictions on gender-related treatments for transgender minors.

In the court’s opinion authored by Chief Justice John Roberts, he explained, “This case carries with it the weight of fierce scientific and policy debates about the safety, efficacy, and propriety of medical treatments in an evolving field. The voices in these debates raise sincere concerns; the implications for all are profound.”

But, he maintained, the job of the court was solely to determine whether the Equal Protection Clause was violated.

Meanwhile, advocates with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) voiced their disappointment with the Supreme Court’s decision.

“Today the Supreme Court told Tennessee transgender youth and their families that they cannot access healthcare that is vitally important for a successful life,” said Lucas Cameron-Vaughn, Senior Staff Attorney at the ACLU of Tennessee. “This ruling creates a class of people who politicians believe deserve healthcare, and a class of people who do not. We will continue to stand with transgender people in Tennessee and are committed to realizing a world where all people belong, are valued, and can access the necessary healthcare they need.”

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.

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.

Evette praises YMCA’s impact during visit

By Brandon Roberts, Originally posted by The Summerville Journal Scene on April 27, 2025

Lt. Gov. advocates for youth programs, small businesses, public-private partnerships

South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette visited the Summerville Family YMCA at The Ponds on April 24 to discuss the YMCA’s role in the community and emphasize the importance of local partnerships.

During the one-hour tour, YMCA CEO Joe Debney highlighted the organization’s community-focused initiatives, such as drowning prevention programs, outreach efforts, and partnerships with local businesses, nonprofits and elected officials.

“Every single time I have heard her speak, she stresses the importance of small business, public-private partnerships and nonprofits,” Debney said. “Not only here in South Carolina, I’ve seen her do this at the national level with the YMCA.”

Evette expressed her strong support for the YMCA’s work, particularly its effect on youth and seniors. She praised the organization’s programs that teach soft skills to high school students and provide seniors with opportunities to stay active and socially engaged.

“I am a huge champion of the Y, and for so many reasons,” Evette said. “First and foremost, because of the impact you’ve had in your community, not just with young people.”

She also shared her enthusiasm for the YMCA’s historical connections to prominent figures such as Ronald Reagan and Walt Disney.

“Ronald Reagan’s first job was being a lifeguard at the Y, and Walt Disney lived at the Y while he was sketching out his characters,” she said. “All these amazing people who did such impactful things have such a strong connection to the Y.”

Evette also highlighted the YMCA’s role in fostering youth involvement in government, pointing out the Youth in Government program led by the Y.

“It is so important for us to get our younger generation involved in government,” she said, referencing the increased awareness of state government processes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to discussing the YMCA’s contributions, Debney recognized local partnerships that strengthen the organization’s impact. The visit underscored the YMCA’s commitment to community health and its role as a resource for Summerville residents.

South Carolina lieutenant governor visits Summerville YMCA

By Anna Harris, originally published by WCSC Live 5 News on April 24, 2025

SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCSC) – South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette says the YMCA has played a crucial role in her work and personal life, which led her to take a trip to Summerville’s YMCA on Thursday.

She says the YMCA is a huge help to young people looking to get a job, especially those in high school, and helps make community connections stronger, like at The Ponds in Summerville.

Evette visited one of the three YMCA locations in Summerville to learn more about their programs. In the past, she says she’s visited a location in Florence, Myrtle Beach and even the national organization in Washington, D.C.

In the Lowcountry, Evette has worked with the Y to bring a portable pool to communities like Walterboro and St. George over the past few years. And she says the programs the Y offers are important to the youth as they allow them to learn soft skills.

“School is going to be coming to an end, and parents need to know what they can do with their children during the day,” Evette said. “A safe place, a learning place, a place their kids will have fun and want to come every day. And the Y fills that gap also.”

Plus, she says the Y benefits seniors as they’re able to find new friends and keep up with their social life.

And at The Ponds’ YMCA, a new “Y on the Fly” bus is taking those kinds of programs and bringing them on the go. This new addition came from a $50,000 donation from Boeing.

Evette says anyone with this access is able to succeed.

“Ronald Reagan had his first job as a lifeguard here with the Y,” Evette said. “Walt Disney lived at the Y while he was designing and creating some of his most iconic characters. And so, the Y has a long-standing reputation of being a staple in every community. And so, it’s important to let people know the resources they have right here under this roof.”

Evette says youth and government are headed by the Y. So, it’s important for the younger generation to get involved in government and learn how to vote.

And although she has not officially filed, Evette did mention she is still strongly considering running for governor.

Click here to learn more about the YMCA at The Ponds and to get involved with their programs.

South Carolina Lt. Governor Pamela Evette Announces STEM Funding for the Palmetto Academy for Motor Sports

PALM to receive funding as part of the National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA) Lt. Governors’ STEM Scholarship Program

CONWAY, SOUTH CAROLINA – South Carolina Lt. Governor Pamela Evette has announced that Palmetto Academy for Motor Sports is an award recipient of the 2025 NLGA Lt. Governors STEM Scholarship Program!  NLGA will award the school $500 as part of a national call for applications for funding STEM programming and curriculum in schools.

“STEM opportunities are essential for students across all ages, disciplines, and career paths,” said Lt. Governor Evette. “South Carolina stands as a national leader in the automotive, manufacturing, and motorsports industries. Through supporting STEM education at PALM, the NLGA funding is advancing the education and development of South Carolina’s future S.C. workforce.”

PALM is a vocational high school dedicated to preparing students for careers in the motorsports industry. The STEM Scholarship will provide funding for microscopes, enabling students to incorporate microscopy into subjects like biology and chemistry, and to enhance their academic experience through a robust, competency-based curriculum.

NLGA opened the application period for the STEM Scholarship Program in January 2025. The application process was competitive, with NLGA receiving more than 125 requests for STEM funding from schools in 32 states and territories. Twelve schools in 12 states and territories were awarded $500 – $1,000 for STEM-related expenses.

“As the seconds-in-command in state and territorial government, lieutenant governors are uniquely poised to lead on STEM education,” said NLGA Executive Director Kellie Rittershausen. “By supporting STEM-related activities in schools across the country, we can encourage a long-term interest and passion in STEM education in America’s youth.”

The Scholarship Program is administered by NLGA, the nonpartisan, nonprofit association for the nation’s seconds-in-command, and sponsored by ACT, the education and career readiness nonprofit.

“ACT is proud to have been the sponsor of the NLGA STEM scholarship program since its inception and to see its growth and impact over the past 4 years,” ACT CEO Janet Godwin said. “STEM education is crucial for our country’s future workforce which will be increasingly reliant on the critical thinking and problem-solving skills it fosters, regardless of a student’s college or career pathway.  ACT is uniquely poised to meet this moment, and working alongside NLGA, we are committed to ensuring that all students leave high school prepared to enter a world of evolving postsecondary and work opportunities, including those for which a high-quality STEM education are essential.”

Public, private, and tribal schools serving pre-K – 12th grade students in the 50 states and five U.S. territories were invited to apply for funding to support STEM-related activities, programming, curriculum, equipment, and other expenses. Funding will be provided to all winning schools in May.

Additional information on the STEM Scholarship Program can be found at https://nlga.us/state-strategies-in-stem/.

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