The South

South Carolina state officials are determining how to proceed with a $1.8 billion balance discovered in a state account and Republican Gov. Henry McMaster has given leaders a July 1 deadline to chart a course forward. On Oct. 31, 2023, South Carolina Comptroller General Brian Gaines sent a letter to South Carolina Treasurer Curtis Loftis, directing Loftis to research the account's origins. It marked the start of a months-long Senate investigation that exposed what a Senate Finance Committee Constitutional Subcommittee report dubbed "financial irregularities" in the state treasurer's office.

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee joined a coalition of 24 other governors in issuing a joint statement demanding that the Biden administration lift its pause on new liquified natural gas (LNG) export approvals. In January, the Biden administration temporarily paused pending decisions on LNG exports to “non-FTA countries until the Department of Energy can update the underlying analyses for authorizations” in the name of “climate change.”

Larry Ellison, founder of the tech company Oracle, announced Tuesday that the company’s world headquarters will be moved to Nashville.

Memphis interim Police Chief C.J. Davis urged unity and offered a $15,000 reward for information leading to arrests of those behind the Saturday shootings at an illegal block party that resulted in two deaths and at least six injured in a Sunday statement. Davis described the events at the illegal block party as "senseless acts of violence," then asked Memphis citizens for help finding the culprits.

Drivers in Virginia have until June 1 to obtain insurance for their motor vehicles due to a law passed in 2022 that removes the option to avoid insurance premiums with an annual fee to the commonwealth. Governor Glenn Youngkin signed in 2022 legislation to end Virginia's Uninsured Motor Vehicle (UMV) fee, which previously allowed citizens to annually pay $500 to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to register a vehicle without insurance.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis received the Woman of Influence Award from the Cobb County Democratic Committee in a Friday gala aimed at attracting political donations. Willis was confirmed as an attendee by the Cobb County Democratic Committee's acting chair Essence Johnson, according to Fox 5 Atlanta, which reported Willis "was honored with the Woman of Influence Award."

National political reporter Neil W. McCabe said the scene of former President Donald Trump visiting a bodega in West Harlem last week “absolutely” resonates with Hispanic and Black voters, which ultimately makes the left “very concerned.”

Tennessee U.S. Representative Steve Cohen (D-TN-09) on Friday joined a number of congressional Democrats who seek to remove the Secret Service protection afforded to former President Donald Trump if he is convicted and sentenced to prison. Cohen was named in a press release issued by Representative Bennie Thompson (D-MS-02), who led the House January 6 committee, as a co-sponsor of the DISGRACED Former Protectees Act, which would amend Secret Service procedures "by automatically terminating Secret Service protection for those who have been sentenced to prison following conviction for a Federal or State felony."

Candidates running for Fulton County Sheriff told voters at an ACLU of Georgia "Know Your Sheriff" town hall event on Tuesday they plan to improve prison conditions through a combination of additional staff, increased scrutiny of incoming inmates, and upgraded housing. Suggestions come in the wake of a slew of deaths in the county's prison system. As part of the event, candidates completed a questionnaire to inform voters about their position on issues. One question asked, "Since 2022, over 20 people have died in the custody of the Fulton County Sheriff's department. What plans do you have to improve the safety of the Fulton County Jail?"

Several state treasurers and other officials sent a letter to Bank of America warning the banking giant of apparently targeting customers with conservative politics by de-banking them—however, Tennessee State Treasurer David Lillard's signature was absent. The letter to Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan said its signatories are concerned that Bank of America has a "track record of discriminating against religious ministries," a "systemic bias" against politically conservative views, and supporters of former President Donald Trump.

Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell released the details of his transit referendum that is expected to go before voters in November, revealing his plans will cost $3.1 billion and be partially financed through a half-cent sales tax increase. In a statement, O'Connell called his transit referendum "the best opportunity we've ever had to build out our priority sidewalks, to synchronize signals so you're spending less time at red lights, and to connect neighborhoods via a better transit system that doesn't have to come downtown just to go somewhere else."

Governor Glenn Youngkin confirmed he will "work with legislators" to achieve compromise legislation addressing controversial skill games machines. The Virginia Senate tossed Youngkin's version of the bill, with just six senators voting in favor and 34 voting against. Youngkin's amended bill sought to place strict restrictions on legislation that originally would have allowed skill games in convenience stores throughout the commonwealth.

Several pieces of Tennessee legislation could see action in the next week, with the bills either held from long calendars or intentionally delayed for further discussion. The state’s amended $52.8 billion budget bill, however, passed both chambers of the State House and State Senate.

U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA-14), a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, told Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas that he was "probably the best business partner" cartels "could ever have" in a hearing on Tuesday. "Mr. Secretary…you've allowed the cartels to make billions and billions. As a matter of fact, you're probably the best business partner they could ever have," she said, and added, "They make all this money in human trafficking and drug trafficking at our border. You've allowed approximately 300 Americans to be murdered every single day from fentanyl that comes across our border…."

Cobb County School District (CCSD) Superintendent Chris Ragsdale announced the removal of four books containing "lewd, "vulgar," and "sexually explicit" content from school media centers in a Board of Education meeting Thursday night. "Tonight, I am announcing that four additional books are being removed after having gone through our very thorough district process: 'It Ends with Us,' 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower,' 'Lucky,' and 'Thirteen Reasons Why.' The review found all four of these books to contain lewd, vulgar, and sexually explicit and graphic content inappropriate for a public school," Superintendent Ragsdale said during the meeting.