Estate Jewelry in Hilton Head, SC

BEAUFORT — The State Infrastructure Bank has denied a key piece of funding for the long awaited Hilton Head Island bridge project.

The decision by the SIB board comes weeks after Beaufort County met a tight deadline to present a scaled back plan for the multi-million-dollar project. That solution came with a new problem: The revised plan doesn't meet the scope originally agreed to by the SIB.

The project isn't dead yet. There will be opportunity for the county to meet and discuss revisions, SIB board chairman John White said during the group's May 12 meeting.

"We understand the seriousness of this. We understand the need," White said. "We're left with passing something that is not a part of our contract. There are provisions there in violation. We'll let the lawyers deal with that and the staff."

The scaled-back project to replace Hilton Head's span of bridges was approved by Beaufort County Council in March. It took several years, hundreds of thousands of dollars in consulting fees and a threat of rescinded funding from the SIB to reach that point.

The original scope looked to build a new six-lane bridge with corridor improvements on the island. As debate over final design dragged on, the estimated cost skyrocketed to $499 million.

The county had a plan to cover the price tag. A $950 million sales tax referendum would have implemented a 1 percent sales tax for 10 years, with the goal of improving the county's transportation infrastructure. About $90 million was earmarked for the bridge project.

About 55 percent of county voters struck the referendum down.

On Nov. 7, the State Infrastructure Bank, which pledged $120 million to the project, sent a letter requesting a plan to address the $190 million shortfall.

In early January, state Sen. Tom Davis, R-Beaufort, suggested a new course of action: "Do the best we can with the money we have."

In other words, scale back the $499 million plan that called for a new six-lane bridge. Scrap the "add ons," which included features like pedestrian pathways, a breakdown lane and corridor expansion on the island. Simplify the project.

Town and county leaders have spent the past few months doing just that.

A new plan came together. It calls for demolition of the existing eastbound bridge over Mackay Creek and the construction of a new bridge from the mainland to Jenkins Island.

"It got down to the eleventh hour, but right now we've got a bridge that only has two lanes going one way," White said, "and our contract had a scope of a bridge with two lanes going both directions."

A system of two eastbound and two westbound bridges provide the only way to and from Hilton Head Island.

The S.C. Department of Transportation built the Mackay Bridge in 1956 and widened it in 1984. The state agency inspects all bridges in South Carolina at least every two years. Due to the age and condition of the MacKay Bridge, DOT inspects it annually.

An inspection in January 2024 rated the structure and substructure as “poor.” While the bridge is safe to drive over, it is approaching the end of its life and has been placed on a statewide priority list.

If the county and town fail to finalize a funding plan in a matter of weeks, it's likely the DOT will step in and replace only the deficient span of bridge. This scenario would scrap the planned project and cause serious congestion issues on and off the island while construction is underway.

County council members were briefed on the situation during their May 12 meeting. Davis once again offered a way forward.

He suggested the county address the SIB's concerns, which include clarification on when and how the secured funding will be used, and the development of a more detailed cost estimate.

"I spoke with Chairman White. He wants to figure out a way to move this project forward," Davis said. "There's some work to do in a very abbreviated period of time, but I don't want the feeling of this council to be that this project is dead. That is not the case."

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. -- A male sperm whale washed ashore on Hilton Head Island over the weekend and drew dozens of onlookers to Coligny Beach days later. Crews worked throughout Monday to conduct a necropsy and bury the massive marine mammal's feet beneath the sand, WJCL reported.

According to NOAA officials, the 30-foot male whale was underweight for its size, which raised concerns about its health prior to beaching. Clay George, a marine mammal biologist with NOAA Fisheries, explained that researchers examined the whale for signs of entanglement or vessel strikes. However, it could take months to determine the exact cause of the beaching.

"It's pretty sad, but it's what any whale does," said Regina Laboe, a visitor to Hilton Head Island for the week.

For many visitors, the sight of the beached whale was a rare and somber experience.

"I've seen sharks, I've seen stingrays, you name it. But never a beached whale," Laboe said.

This marks the fifth beached whale in South Carolina since 2005. Sperm whales, known to beach themselves when in poor health, are a rare sight on the state's shores. The whale was first spotted on Saturday, with a nearby hotel staff member capturing a photo of the scene.

Tourists and locals alike gathered to watch as crews conducted the necropsy and prepared the whale for burial.

"We walked probably a mile and a half to get here," said Steve Doll, visiting from Tennessee. "I've never seen a whale up close. This is about as close as I'll ever get."

When asked by WJCL 22 News if the whale could've been put back in the ocean, George said that would've caused more harm than good for the whale. That thought led crews to the decision to euthanize the 20,000-pound adolescent male sperm whale Sunday night

Monday evening, the whale was buried deep enough to prevent other animals from disturbing it.

"I love the fact that they're doing the right thing and burying it where it came out, rather than taking it away," said Christy Doll, who was also visiting from Tennessee.

While the cause of the beaching remains unknown, NOAA researchers say the burial process ensures the whale will soon decay underneath the sand, where no other animal will reach it. They added that in a few weeks, it will be as if it never washed ashore.

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Hilton Head|Local Event

Sun, May 11, 2025 at 11:30 AM

Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island, 130 Shipyard Dr, Hilton Head Island, SC, 29928

More info here

Celebrate Mother’s Day with an unforgettable brunch at Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island on Sunday, May 11, 2025, from 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM. Treat mom to a sophisticated dining experience in an elegant oceanfront setting. The lavish buffet includes a carvery station with roasted sirloin and herb-crusted salmon, classic brunch favorites like ham and Gruyère croissant benedict, blueberry pancakes, and potato au gratin, as well as seafood delights such as lobster deviled eggs, peel-and-eat shrimp, and blackened mahi. Guests will also enjoy made-to-order omelets, artisan breads, charcuterie, fresh salads, and a decadent dessert selection featuring cakes, mousse cups, berry panna cotta, and more. Pricing is $59.95 for adults (13+), $24.95 for children ages 3–12, and complimentary for children under 3. Reservations are recommended.

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The state now has 22 books banned from all public school classrooms and libraries, becoming the nation’s leader in book bans.

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South Carolina became the nation’s leader for the most books banned in public schools Tuesday. Over half of the books now banned in the state have come from one Beaufort County parent.

The South Carolina Board of Education voted to remove 10 more books after tabling the discussion last month to clarify the review process. The state now has 22 books banned from all public school classrooms and libraries, beating Utah as the former nation’s leader in book bans, according to PEN America, a nonprofit organization advocating for freedom of expression. At least 14 of the books banned have come from Beaufort County parent Elizabeth “Ivie” Szalai, sparking controversy over whether one individual should have the power to influence reading access for all public school students.

Szalai, who previously sought to remove 97 books at the district level, has argued that while these books explore important themes, they contain explicit sexual descriptions inappropriate for K-12 students.

Under Regulation 43-170 of the board’s guidelines, books can be banned in South Carolina public schools if they contain descriptions or visual depictions of sexual conduct. With local school officials declining to act on Szalai’s challenges within the required 90-day period, the decision now rests with the state.

Only two of the 17 board members, Dr. David O’Shields and Rev. Tony Vincent, voted against the removals at Tuesday’s meeting.

The books listed below are banned in all South Carolina elementary, middle and high schools unless noted otherwise.

The asterisk indicates the titles Beaufort County resident Szalai brought to the attention of the state review board in an effort to get them banned throughout South Carolina public schools.

This story was originally published May 7, 2025 at 10:55 AM.

The Island Packet

Isabella Douglas is the accountability reporter for The Island Packet and The Beaufort Gazette. A graduate of the University of Florida, she has spent time reporting for The Independent Florida Alligator, Fresh Take Florida and New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a concentration in criminology.

An unfortunate combination of weather disruptions, air traffic controller staff shortages and out-of-date technology has caused an undeniable headache for travelers this week at the Newark Liberty International Airport and now nationwide.

Hundreds of flights have been delayed or canceled, causing a domino effect for travelers coming to and from the Palmetto State.

On April 28, a technical issue occurred at the Newark Liberty International Airport, where air traffic controllers lost contact with aircraft due to a system failure.

Following the system failure, air traffic controllers who were responsible for controlling the technical failure took leave to recover from “traumatic stress,” resulting in a massive staffing shortage.

While this incident itself did not directly affect South Carolina airports, it has caused a ripple effect on flight operations nationwide.

The root cause of these delays and issues stems from the outdated technology system, with some equipment dating to the ‘50s.

Some systems still use copper wires and floppy disks, which the Federal Aviation Administration and Government Accountability Office have admitted to still being in use.

Another problem is the shortage of air traffic controllers, which is an issue that has affected airports across the country for years.

In addition to unreliable technology and staffing concerns, the Newark airport has been under reconstruction, which has caused issues and a three-month closure on one of its major runways, worsening delays.

Airports across the Southeast are experiencing increased weather-related delays, with rain and storms heading to the region.

In the Lowcountry region, rain and storms are anticipated to start as early as Wednesday afternoon and continue into the weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

Even if you’re not flying out of Newark, flight delays or cancellations there can, and have, rippled across the country.

If you have a flight connecting through Newark or flying with United Airlines, which has a major hub there, delays are expected. As of Wednesday morning, delays have expanded to larger travel areas including Dallas, Chicago, Detroit and Los Angeles, according to the Newark Airport Flight Tracker.

The national shortage of air traffic controllers is an ongoing issue for airports across the nation.

The FAA is currently short-staffed, with about 3,000 unfilled controller roles. Adding to the frustration, it takes up to two years to train new ones.

With this staffing shortage in conjunction with outdated technology, this means chronic delays could persist through summer and beyond, potentially impacting airports in South Carolina.

To manage risk, the FAA has slowed down arrivals and departures into Newark with ground delay programs on Tuesday morning.

This has led to 4+ hour delays in some cases. For travelers departing from a South Carolina airport with a connection through Newark, your flight may be held at the gate or canceled before even taking off.

If your flight is canceled or significantly delayed, the U.S. Department of Transportation allows you to request a full refund, but only if you decline any rebooking offer.

Note that if you are offered and accept a later flight (even 36 hours later), that may waive your right to a refund. Always check for alerts and alternative routes before heading to the airport.

If you can switch flights to a different airport, like nearby LaGuardia in New York City, or book a direct flight to your destination, that is another solution to avoid Newark delays.

South Carolina is home to six different airports for passenger travel:

While only short delays have been reported, make sure to check the status of your flight often and be prepared for any disruptions.

Click on the link for each airport above to be directed to their flight tracker page.

While there’s no good estimate of when these problems will be resolved, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York called for an investigation into the cause.

Americans flying in and out of Newark Airport have experienced increasing delays & disruptions.I'm demanding a full Inspector General investigation into what happened at Newark so these problems don't get worse, or spread to airports across the nation. pic.twitter.com/5O6ND4ooZR

— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) May 5, 2025

On Tuesday evening, FlightAware reported that around 340 flights were delayed on their way into and out of Newark and 114 flights were canceled.

This story was originally published May 7, 2025 at 9:57 AM.