Columbia attorney Dick Harpootlian.
Making official what had long been heavily rumored, firebrand Columbia attorney Dick Harpootlian announced he will seek the District 20 seat in the state Senate. Harpootlian, a Democrat, will be going for the seat that recently was vacated by longtime Sen. John Courson, who pleaded guilty in special prosecutor David Pascoe's State House corruption probe. Harpootlian is the former state Democratic Party chairman, former Fifth Circuit solicitor and former Richland County Council member. He's also grabbed headlines this year for his participation in a host of issues in Five Points. “It is unconscionable that the Legislature failed to address the SCE&G debacle that has cost the people of this state hundreds of millions of dollars due to the greed and avarice of a few executives," Harpootlian said of the Legislature, in his campaign announcement. "But when your attention is on the next legislative reception or cocktail party, it’s hard to focus. The current crowd is gaming the system for their benefit while people in South Carolina suffer."
Democratic Primary Voters Overwhelmingly Approve of Medical Marijuana
In a ballot question in Tuesday's Democratic primary, voters overwhelmingly were in support of the legalization of medical marijuana. Eighty-two percent of voters said they were in favor. The vote was non-binding, but does give officials an idea of the temperature of the citizenry on the issue. "The electorate is way out in front of the elected officials on this issue," former U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles said, according to The State. Nettles has been pushing for the legalization of medical marijuana in South Carolina.Â
 Sanford Tells Republicans His Loss Was a "Wake-up Call"
A day after being defeated by Katie Arrington in a GOP primary race, U.S. Rep. Mark Sanford said the loss to his Donald Trump-supported challenger was a "wake-up call." Sanford has been seen as a Republican representative who has not slavishly fallen in line with Trump. Arrington, meanwhile, received a late endorsement from Trump and championed the president's positions throughout her primary run. "I've never said anything about him personally," Sanford told Fox News when asked whether his criticism of the president might have led to his loss. "What I have disagreed with were certain stands that he took, and I think that's legitimate." Sanford later added, "I do think that this is a wake-up call about the institutions of our country, what we believe in on that front and, ultimately, what we believe in regard to the Republican Party."
Irmo Mayor Makes Statement on Facebook Posts About Muslims
Irmo Mayor Hardy King recently came under fire, and made national news, when he posted several offensive memes about Muslims on social media. On Wednesday, the mayor posted a lengthy statement on the matter on his Facebook page, which included an apology.  "I do apologize, for being inconsiderate, and not thinking more lenghty [sic], more accurately about others that could be hurt by my actions. I do have respect for others of other faiths, Muslims included. I do believe most Muslims are like me, trying to work, live a good life, make the world, their community a better place for them, their families and the next generations to come. I do apolgize [sic] for not thinking and being stupid, because it in the end it was. That is what I would call it if someone else did it, so I will call it what it is as well." King says several Muslims have reached out to him and have invited him to attend a local mosque. He says he is "eager" to attend.
