Porch Construction in Charleston, SC

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – Latest data from the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce shows that nearly 18,000 people are searching for a job across Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester Counties.

Jobseekers can take part in a series of career fairs happening across the tri-county, and it comes amid Workforce Development Month in South Carolina.

SC Works Trident is partnering with economic leaders from Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties to maximize opportunities and help people connect with the region’s top private and public sector employers and learn about open positions.

The first of four career fairs is on Thursday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Berkeley County, followed by events in Charleston and Dorchester counties later in the month. The stretch will culminate with a public service career fair on Sept. 23 in North Charleston.

Berkeley County Workforce Career Fair: Thursday, September 3, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.at the Berkeley County Administration Building, 1003 Highway 52, in Moncks Corner.

Charleston County Workforce Career Fair: Wednesday, September 9, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at ECPI University, 3800 Paramount Dr., in North Charleston.

Dorchester County Workforce Career Fair: Thursday, September 17, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Rollins Edwards Community Center, 301 N. Hickory St., in Summerville.

Public Service Career Fair: Wednesday, September 23, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Charleston Area Convention Center, 5001 Coliseum Drive, in North Charleston.

Jobseekers should bring an updated resume when attending a hiring event and be prepared for an on-site interview or to apply on the spot.

For those who need help with their resume before attending one of the career fair events, SC Works Trident can partner individuals with a career coach for resume assistance. Book an appointment online.

For more information, resources, or details about the upcoming career fairs, please visit SC Works Trident’s website.

CHARLESTON — Gov. Henry McMaster has initiated a process that could result in the removal of Darlene Roberson from the Charleston County School Board.

An executive order was filed midday Sept. 1, according to Michelle LeClair, the governor’s press secretary.

It gives Roberson until Sept. 10 to “notify the governor … whether she intends to exercise her right to be heard.”

A three-member panel will consider her response, assess the evidence and recommend whether she should be removed from the board, a press release said.

Roberson has been the subject of an S.C. Inspector General’s investigation into alleged financial wrongdoing and malfeasance.

The Inspector General’s office issued the report late Aug. 27 and referred its findings to the FBI, the State Law Enforcement Division and S.C. Department of Revenue.

Among the findings cited were allegations of fraudulent billing practices on the part of Roberson’s consulting company, Next Level Education Services, prior to her serving on the school board.

Her former campaign manager, Aaron White, who operates Circle of Life, a nonprofit providing mental health and wellness services to students, benefited from Roberson’s influence as a school board member and obtained work in the district, the report alleges.

McMaster’s executive order referred to three general charges against Roberson:

The governor appointed Thomas A. Limehouse Jr., Adair Boroughs and Clarence Davis to serve on the hearing panel. Roberson has until Sept. 14 to submit in writing a response to the charges against her, according to the executive order. A hearing will be held by Sept. 28. The panel’s written report will be submitted to McMaster’s chief of staff and chief legal counsel by Oct. 5.

Roberson, who was elected to the school board in 2022, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Post and Courier.

In 2022, state law was amended to give the governor authority to remove school district trustees who willfully commit acts of misconduct, conflicts of interest and other infractions. Previously, a felony conviction was required before the governor could act to remove a board member.

In the report, the Inspector General found evidence that on at least 28 occasions, Roberson forwarded district emails with confidential and privileged information to local media outlets and Next Level Educational Services, LLC, a district vendor of which she is the CEO.

Roberson also is accused of helping her former campaign manager obtain work in the district, an alleged conflict of interest.

In late 2023, Superintendent Anita Huggins — who then was a deputy superintendent — and Roberson engaged in an email exchange over vendor involvement.

“Receiving a chastising email from you regarding my availability and my response to a vendor is unacceptable,” Roberson wrote in a November email. “Please be mindful of your approach when addressing me.”

Huggins responded that she regretted Roberson found her message chastising.

“Regularly meeting with vendors for whom we have not identified a need for services and/or have sought solicitation is simply not standard practice,” Huggins wrote. “And, as the SC School Board Association cautions Board members about their involvement with vendors/the procurement process, we see it as our role internally to help shield Board members from unnecessary questioning, scrutiny, and/or criticism…”

‘Intent to award’

The report describes an effort by Roberson to connect Aaron White, her former campaign manager, with the principal of St. John’s High School. White operated the Circle of Life Foundation, a Summerville-based nonprofit that provided mental health and wellness support, including individual and group counseling and mentorship.

District emails obtained by The Post and Courier show that in early May 2023, Roberson first reached out to St. John’s principal to facilitate a meeting with White, who was copied in the email.

White continued to communicate with the principal and other district officials during May and June 2023 regarding his interest in obtaining work.

In a July 2023 email, which the IG report also quotes, a district official questioned whether White’s services were needed.

“When I look at this proposal (20-30 students between St. John’s and Haut Gap), I don’t see anything unique that Mr. White would be doing that our internal staff couldn’t already do (including direct services). Do you?” the official wrote.

Initially, the district had opted for a “sole source” contract with Circle of Life, but state officials disallowed it because federally funded projects require competitive requests for proposals. The district issued an RFP on Jan. 12, 2024, for “student services for mentoring, academic support and mental health wellness.” The RFP deadline was Jan. 31. Three vendors submitted proposals.

Only White was granted a school visit to St. John’s High School during the RFP submission period, in violation of the district’s procurement code. After the visit, he submitted a revised proposal.

A senior district official involved in the process felt compelled to choose Circle of Life because of the “pressure applied by the district board member who directed the initial interaction between the school and the vendor,” according to the IG report.

“It was this direction by the district board member that permitted the vendor to gain access and eventually circumvent the statutory procurement process,” the report contends.

Voicemail and text messages left for White on Sept. 1 were not answered by deadline.

The district prepared an “intent to award statement” naming Circle of Life as the vendor of choice, and agreeing to a $216 per pupil per hour pay rate. The money would come from federal ESSER III COVID relief funding.

But a contract was never drawn up.

Nevertheless, White billed the district, and the district made a payment of $48,120 for services rendered during the first half of that year.

On Nov. 12, 2024, the district’s chief financial officer, Daniel Prentice, notified White that his services were terminated and invited him to submit a final invoice. A little more than $17,000 was paid soon after, not including late fees of nearly $3,600, which had been applied in contradiction to state law.

The law allows vendors to charge a maximum of 15 percent interest annually. That means that no more than 1.25 percent of the late fee should be imposed any given month, Prentice said. What’s more, the 30-day pay window begins not on the date of the invoice but once district officials certify the invoice, he said.

The district has a “reasonable amount of time” to review what is billed and to confirm funding sources, he said.

NORTH CHARLESTON — Park Circle patrons will notice some exciting differences at the longstanding spot previously occupied by DIG in the Park. But the new owners assure the now open Rocko’s will still have the same fun, casual and outdoorsy vibes as always.

Todd Justice took ownership of the spot at 1049 E. Montague Ave.in May, he said, noting he had been looking at another restaurant for sale but couldn’t resist the indoor-outdoor space that has ample tables and two covered patios.

He was just as excited to get into Park Circle, seeing the still rising potential the small North Charleston neighborhood has with its ever-evolving lineup of restaurants and shops.

“It’s a growing area in the next 15 years versus going downtown or going out to Mount Pleasant and competing out there,” he said. “You can pull from Hanahan, Nexton, Summerville and again, Park Circle.”

Following the changeover, Justice closed the interior dining space for renovations but kept the outside in operation — albeit with temporary bathrooms.

The restaurant reopened Aug. 24 as Rocko’ s — named in tribute to Justice’s beloved dog. The space now has a new bar, plenty of new TVs, a fresh exterior and as a bonus Justice said they’ll be adding four new bathrooms inside.

The owner, along with operating partner Jeremy Tuberville, plans to have an official grand opening sometime in mid-September.

The new bar leans into the familiar DIG atmosphere of an open space where everyone can gather inside and out, but Rocko’s, Justice said, leans a little more into the country music scene and sports.

“In the South you have to make your money off football. That’s when the masses come out,” he said. “That’s what pays the rent.”

The new menu serves up a mix of bar favorites like burgers, fried pickles, sandwiches and beer, along with fresh bites like Carolina Deviled Eggs, teriyaki salmon with a sweet and savory glaze, mahi tacos and hotdogs with Carolina Gleezy sauce. There’s also a kids menu and plenty of drinks to pass around.

Justice is no stranger to the food and beverage scene, having for years owned and operated spots in Charlotte, the Upstate and Charleston.

In December 2025, he opened a SuperChix at 1137 Savannah Highway at the Whole Foods-anchored West Ashley Station. The Charleston location marks the counter-casual chain’s fourth restaurant in South Carolina and the third for franchisees Justice, Scott Coffman and Tuberville.

Thomas Dowling and Brian Mahoney founded DIG Hospitality and opened their first restaurant, Daniel Island Grill in 2009. The Park Circle restaurant followed in 2011, taking over the former Zocalo space.

They did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The duo sold the Daniel Island location at 259 Seven Farms Drive in 2022 to the group behind Mack’s Place in downtown Charleston.

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) — The Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce has launched a new poll for voters focused on business and economic issues, with organizers saying the data will help shape decisions across the Tri-County area.

Starting the first week of August, the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce opened the poll, called the Lowcountry Pulse, to voters across the Tri-County area. In just one week, 800 people who consistently vote in the region filled out the survey.

The survey included 40 questions covering childcare, job creation, infrastructure, affordability and economic growth, all focused on the business community.

Leaders with the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce said they made sure the poll was a balanced representation of each county, as well as age, race, income and education.

After analyzing the feedback, the Chamber of Commerce is sharing data trends with the community as well as business and government leaders. The data is meant to help county governments determine how to tailor business and economic decisions to what the community says it needs.

Kevin Sheilley, the president and CEO of the Charleston Metro Chamber, said the data will help guide decisions.

“It benefits all of us when we have data because we represent the business community. That’s how businesses make decisions, it’s based on data. That’s what we want our governments to do. That’s what they want to do so if we can help them get access to data, we can get the best decisions possible for our region,” Sheilley said.

Sheilley also said preliminary data shows the area outperforming the rest of the country.

“We are already looking at preliminary data that our economists are going to share and our area is, well, outperforming the rest of the country. How do we make sure that continues to happen? How do we make sure we’re a place that people want to live, that they can find the opportunities they want, that they can find the jobs and the wages that they want and need?” Sheilley said.

The Chamber will announce the findings from the Lowcountry Pulse polling data at 10 a.m. Wednesday. Moving forward, the Lowcountry Pulse will be conducted every year.

CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCIV) — Charleston County School District officials announced Tuesday they have begun implementing a broad corrective action plan in response to a South Carolina Office of the State Inspector General report that identified governance failures, policy violations and alleged misconduct involving a district board member.

At a Wednesday meeting of the Board of Trustees' Audit & Finance Committee, district administrators outlined immediate steps to address the report's findings, including hiring an independent firm to conduct a comprehensive review of invoices and payments associated with Next Level Educational Services and the Circle of Life Foundation.

The move follows an August report by the State Inspector General's Office that examined allegations of misconduct, conflicts of interest, procurement irregularities, Freedom of Information Act concerns and board governance issues within CCSD.

"The administration is taking the findings of the State Inspector General seriously," Superintendent Anita Huggins said in a statement. "Our responsibility is to respond with facts, accountability and action. We are moving deliberately to examine the financial issues identified in the report and ensure that the public can have confidence in how CCSD conducts its business."

The Inspector General's investigation was launched at the request of Gov. Henry McMaster in January 2026. Investigators reviewed board activities dating back to November 2022 and concluded there was sufficient probable cause to recommend that McMaster consider removing a board member under state law. The report cited allegations including disclosure of confidential information, ethics violations, conflicts of interest, tax-related concerns, procurement issues and violations of board policies.

READ MORE | McMaster moves to remove Charleston County school board member over misconduct allegations

The report also detailed broader concerns about board dysfunction, strained relationships among trustees, improper communications and legal expenses incurred through unauthorized contacts with outside counsel.

Rather than focusing solely on the report's conclusions, district leaders emphasized corrective measures now underway.

According to CCSD, the independent audit will review all invoices and payments connected to Next Level Educational Services and the Circle of Life Foundation. Auditors will also determine whether the district should pursue reimbursement for services that may not have complied with contractual or ethical standards.

The review is part of a larger action plan developed by Huggins that assigns responsibility, deadlines and documentation requirements for each recommendation outlined in the Inspector General's report.

Among the immediate actions announced by the district are efforts to recover any improper payments identified through the audit, subject to consultation with legal counsel. District procurement and legal staff will also evaluate whether vendors found to have knowingly violated procurement rules should face debarment proceedings.

The district is simultaneously reviewing its vendor-screening procedures, including requirements for periodic background checks for vendors who enter schools during instructional hours, particularly those who interact directly with students.

Board training sessions are tentatively scheduled following the November election, officials said, with additional public discussions planned later that month.

"Our focus is not simply on responding to a report," Huggins said. "It is on making the changes necessary to strengthen our systems, protect our students and employees, safeguard public resources, and reinforce the standards of accountability our community expects from Charleston County School District."

The Inspector General's report included recommendations for annual board training, revisions to board policies governing legal expenditures and confidentiality, enhanced procurement oversight and a forensic review of vendor payments.

District officials said they will continue working with legal counsel and the Board of Trustees as implementation of the corrective action plan moves forward.