State House Dispatch: May 5, 2025

Mandatory flag salutes, juvenile justice reform, and a unanimous vote for school proselytization — plus an update on the teacher criminalization bill

By Paul Bowers

"State House Dispatch: May 5, 2025. This Week Under the Copper Dome." Text appears over a yellow and blue-tinted image of the South Carolina State House dome.

State House Dispatch: April 21, 2025

Police surveillance expansion, religious messaging in public schools, and a positive change for incarcerated pregnant women

By Paul Bowers

"State House Dispatch: April 21, 2025. This Week Under the Copper Dome." Text appears over a red-tinted image of the South Carolina State House dome.

Death Row Case Exposes Failures to Protect Childhood Trauma Survivors

Mikal Mahdi’s life was marked by abuse. Today, as he awaits execution, the courts have the responsibility to acknowledge the systemic failures that shaped his path.

By Megan Byrne, Elisa Epstein

A young Black boy stands in a front yard smiling and wearing a tuxedo

State House Dispatch: March 24, 2025

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion on the House floor. Positive bills waiting for a committee hearing. Also: Advocacy 101!

By Paul Bowers

"State House Dispatch: March 24, 2025. This Week Under the Copper Dome." Text appears over a blue-tinted image of the South Carolina State House dome.

State House Dispatch: Jan. 21, 2025

This week under the copper dome: Inauguration, private school vouchers, and a juvenile justice emergency

By Paul Bowers

"State House Dispatch: Jan. 21, 2025. This Week Under the Copper Dome." Text appears over an image of the South Carolina State House dome.

How America Outlawed Adolescence

At least 22 states make it a crime to disturb school in ways that teenagers are wired to do. Why did this happen?

Outside of Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center

Criminal offense or adolescent misbehavior? 'Disturbing schools' blurs the line

It's really very difficult not to blur the line between discipline and crime.

screen-grabs of officer forcibly removing student from chair