Tom Barton
The State Newspaper
Columbia, SC, United States
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Past articles by Tom:
As state lawmakers weigh next abortion ban, more SC women seek access elsewhere
Twenty-years-worth of legislative efforts to reduce abortions in the state have not stopped South Carolina women from terminating their pregnancies, but more and more are doing so outside of the state. → Read More
SC drivers will see higher gas prices ahead of July 4th holiday weekend
After weeks of falling prices in South Carolina, gas prices across the country jumped a nickle Monday ahead of the Fourth of July holiday. The Carolinas saw the largest weekly increase in the country. → Read More
How to help SC’s new Child Advocate watchdog embattled child-welfare agency
A new state advocate charged with watchdogging South Carolina’s embattled child-welfare agency launched a toll-free complaint line and online submission to help better protect children in the state’s care. → Read More
Winners and losers in first 2020 Democratic presidential primary debate
South Carolina political experts react to Democratic candidates’ performance in the first presidential primary debate of the 2020 election. See which candidates had the best and worst moments on stage in Miami. → Read More
This is why you’ll be paying more for gas in SC on July 4
South Carolina’s gas tax will increase another 2 cents, bringing the state’s fuel tax rate to 23 cents per gallon. To date, more than $1 billion has been committed to fix some 3,000 miles of roads and bridges. → Read More
Lowcountry lawmaker to run for SC Democract Joe Cunningham’s US House seat
A South Carolina sophomore state representative with connections to President Trump enters the race for Congress to unseat freshman Democrat Joe Cunningham in 2020 for his 1st District congressional seat. → Read More
‘Nobody here should feel left behind’: DCCC chair says money will flow to SC
A chief Democratic fundraiser for congressional candidates says SC will see a piece of a ”multi-multi-million dollar” investment in races across the country to ensure SC’s coastal district stays blue. → Read More
Under Trump, federal infrastructure spending drastically shifts to rural SC
A greater share of federal transportation dollars have been driven to South Carolina and rural road projects in two years under President Donald Trump’s administration than all eight years under Barack Obama. → Read More
SC Dems want to end gerrymandering. Obama AG Eric Holder is here to back them up
Columbia Democrats say efforts to end gerrymandering and chip away at Republicans’ control of redistricting needs to be a key issue in the 2020 presidential debate and upcoming First-in-the-South primary. → Read More
Company that treated elections chief to trips awarded $51M for new SC voting machines
A voting equipment vendor that treated the state’s elections director with trips to Las Vegas and elsewhere was awarded a multimillion dollar contract to provide South Carolina a new voting system. → Read More
GOP fields third challenger looking to oust SC Democrat Joe Cunningham from Congress
Republican businesswoman and Mount Pleasant Town Councilwoman Kathy Landing plans to jump in the race to challenge freshman Democrat Joe Cunningham for South Carolina’s coastal congressional seat. → Read More
‘It hurts.’ Hopes dashed for SC Methodists open to LBGT clergy, same-sex marriage
Proposals urging United Methodist Church leaders to remove or reconsider language barring same-sex marriage and gay clergy were ruled out of order at an annual meeting of the South Carolina Conference. → Read More
Divided SC Methodists to weigh same-sex marriage, LGBT clergy bans at conference
South Carolina Methodists will gather in Greenville Sunday for a five-day annual conference that will, in part, weigh rifts within the Church over same-sex marriage and ordaining openly gay clergy. → Read More
Same-sex Greenville couple sues over SC adoption waiver, claiming discrimination
A same-sex Greenville couple hoping to adopt but turned away by an Upstate foster-care agency by failing to meet the agency’s religious criteria is suing the state of South Carolina and Trump administration. → Read More
SC Democrat Jaime Harrison to announce bid to challenge Graham for US Senate seat
After months of exploring a bid to challenge Republican incumbent Lindsey Graham in the 2020 election, former SC Democratic Party chairman Jaime Harrison declared his candidacy to run for the U.S. Senate seat. → Read More
Lexington County sheriff’s deputies catch would-be golf cart thieves in the act
Three men attempting to steal a golf cart from a Lexington County dealership face multiple charges after being caught in the act by deputies, according the sheriff’s department. → Read More
Chesterfield County man struck and killed while crossing roadway, says highway patrol
A 61-year-old Pageland man was killed Sunday night after being struck by a car while attempting to cross U.S. 601, according to the S.C. Highway Patrol and Chesterfield County Coroner. → Read More
Estranged husband kicks in door to Lexington apartment and assaults wife, police say
Lexington police are searching for a man they say broke into his estranged wife’s apartment and assaulted her. Police issued warrants for Jamal Theron Davis’ arrest for domestic violence and burglary. → Read More
GOP thinks they can retake Congress seat. But who will take on SC’s Joe Cunningham?
Republicans are eager to win back South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District in 2020, but a top-tier candidate has yet to emerge who can excite donors and mobilize the base to take on Democrat Joe Cunningham. → Read More
‘Grab ‘em by the ballot box’: Abortion advocates to fight abortion bans in 2020
Abortion rights advocates rallied at the SC State House as part of a nationwide #StoptheBans protests against a flurry of restrictive abortion bans passed in several states and debated in the General Assembly. → Read More