Bluffton Town Hall reopens to the public as COVID-19 numbers improve
Bluffton Today
Bluffton Town Hall reopened to the public Monday after closing in March 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Town Council discussed reopening the building at its meeting last month. Interim town manager Scott Marshall said he would plan for a reopening if local case and vaccination numbers “continue to trend in a positive direction.”
The town said members of the public must wear face coverings when they are inside Town Hall. Employees also must “wear face coverings when interacting with the public,” a news release said.
Hand sanitizer is available at the entrances, the town said, and people can continue to conduct business with the town remotely. Bins will remain outside Town Hall to drop off and pick up paperwork.
6 new COVID-19 cases Sunday in Beaufort County, 3 in Jasper County
Bluffton Today/Jasper County Sun Times
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control reported six new COVID-19 cases in Beaufort County and three in Jasper County on Sunday.
Beaufort County has now had 14,901 total confirmed cases and 194 deaths in the pandemic. DHEC says Jasper County has had 2,165 cases and 43 deaths.
The department reported 378 new cases and eight deaths in South Carolina, bringing the totals to 485,766 cases and 8,444 deaths. It said 5.7 percent of the 14,965 COVID-19 tests reported Sunday were positive.
DHEC said 74.5 percent of the state’s hospital beds are occupied, including 68.3 percent of intensive care unit beds. It said 356 COVID-19 patients are hospitalized, with 94 in ICUs and 52 on ventilators.
Flickr Proposed legislation would allow N.C. lawmakers to carry concealed guns in places that are currently prohibited as long as they re performing official duties.
Elected politicians in North Carolina who hold concealed weapons permits including General Assembly members would be allowed to bring their guns into places that are currently prohibited, under legislation a House judiciary committee approved Monday.
Local prosecutors, judges and court workers already receive special exemptions to state rules that prohibit concealed permit holders from bringing guns to schools, parades and funerals; to any state and federal government buildings, or to any establishments where alcohol is served. Local sheriffs issue permits that last five years. Recipients have to receive special training.
NC bill exempts lawmakers, others from concealed gun limits
GARY D. ROBERTSON, Associated Press
May 10, 2021
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RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) Elected politicians in North Carolina who hold concealed weapons permits including General Assembly members would be allowed to bring their guns into places that are currently prohibited, under legislation a House judiciary committee approved Monday.
Local prosecutors, judges and court workers already receive special exemptions to state rules that prohibit concealed permit holders from bringing guns to schools, parades and funerals; to any state and federal government buildings, or to any establishments where alcohol is served. Local sheriffs issue permits that last five years. Recipients have to receive special training.
Lowcountry businesses hopeful governorâs order gets people back to work
Lowcountry businesses hopeful governorâs order gets people back to work By Jake Wallace | May 7, 2021 at 5:41 PM EDT - Updated May 7 at 7:32 PM
BEAUFORT COUNTY, S.C. (WTOC) - Many small businesses in the Lowcountry are applauding a move by South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster to get people back to work.
On Thursday, Gov. McMaster announced he is directing the state to no longer participate in any federal, COVID-related unemployment benefit programs, effective this summer. The governor says the call is to combat what he calls an âunprecedented labor shortage.â