www.thecentersquare.com – By David Beasley | The Center Square contributor – (The Center Square – ) 2025-05-28 16:06:00
A South Carolina judge will hear arguments on whether to dismiss Charleston’s 2020 climate-change lawsuit against 24 oil and gas companies accused of causing global warming by selling fossil fuels. The lawsuit claims these companies knew for over 50 years their products would worsen flooding but hid the truth for profit. Charleston seeks monetary damages. The case was moved back to state court after Chevron requested federal jurisdiction. President Trump issued an executive order opposing such state lawsuits, citing energy cost impacts and federalism concerns. Despite this, climate lawsuits are expected to increase, especially among left-leaning municipalities backed by law firms willing to work pro bono.
(The Center Square) – A South Carolina judge is scheduled to hear arguments Thursday and Friday on whether to dismiss a climate-change lawsuit by the city of Charleston against 24 oil and gas companies.
In the lawsuit filed in 2020, the city said the companies contributed to greenhouse gas pollution, global warming, and climate change by selling fossil fuel products.
“As this lawsuit shows, these companies have known for more than 50 years that their products were going to cause the worst flooding the world has seen since Noah built the Ark,” then mayor John Tecklenburg said in a statement when the lawsuit was filed. “And instead of warning us, they covered up the truth and turned our flooding problems into their profits. That was wrong, and this lawsuit is all about holding them accountable for that multi-decade campaign of deception.”
The lawsuit seeks unspecified monetary damages.
Charleston’s lawsuit is one of 20 filed nationwide by state and local governments against oil companies, according to federal court records.
Two of the defendants in the Charleston case, Chevron Corp. and Chevron U.S.A. Inc., tried to have the case tried in federal court. But U.S. District Court Judge Richard Mark Gergel in 2023 moved it back to state court.
On April 8, President Donald Trump issued an executive order instructing the U.S. attorney general to take action to stop state climate change lawsuits against oil companies.
“These state laws and policies weaken our national security and devastate Americans by driving up energy costs for families coast-to-coast, despite some of these families not living or voting in states with these crippling policies,” the executive order states. “These laws and policies also undermine federalism by projecting the regulatory preferences of a few states into all states. Americans must be permitted to heat their homes, fuel their cars, and have peace of mind – free from policies that make energy more expensive and inevitably degrade quality of life.”
The Center Square was unsuccessful before publication getting comment from Charleston Mayor William Cogswell.
South Carolina Circuit Court Judge William Young is scheduled to hear arguments Thursday and Friday on the oil companies’ motion to dismiss the Charleston lawsuit.
Regardless of the ruling in the South Carolina case and Trump’s executive order, these types of lawsuits aren’t likely to go away anytime soon, Jason Isaac, CEO of the American Energy Institute, told The Center Square.
“I think the trajectory of the climate lawsuits is probably going to increase,” Isacc said. “As long as we have leftist elected municipalities in states who recognize there is a law firm out there that will do this for them for free, I think you are going to continue to have people take the hook.”
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Center-Right
The article largely reports on the lawsuit and related political actions in a factual manner, citing statements from involved parties and officials without overt editorializing. However, the inclusion of language such as quoting President Trump’s executive order criticizing state climate lawsuits for raising energy costs and the choice of a source like Jason Isaac of the American Energy Institute—who uses the phrase “leftist elected municipalities”—introduces framing that leans toward a center-right perspective. The article highlights arguments against the climate change lawsuits and stresses concerns about economic and regulatory impacts, which are common themes in center-right discourse. Therefore, while the article presents information on both sides, the selection and framing of quotes suggest a subtle center-right bias rather than a fully neutral stance.
SUMMARY: U.S. stocks rose Monday, nearing record highs ahead of a busy earnings week, despite tariff pressures from President Trump. The S&P 500, Dow Jones, and Nasdaq all gained, led by Verizon’s strong quarterly profit and raised forecasts. Block jumped 8.2% after being added to the S&P 500, while steel producer Cleveland-Cliffs gained 6.6%, benefiting from tariffs boosting domestic manufacturing. Some companies like Domino’s saw weaker profits. Upcoming earnings from GM, Alphabet, Coca-Cola, and Tesla will test tariff impacts. U.S. consumers show strength in travel and retail data. Treasury yields declined, and European markets slipped. Japan’s ruling party lost parliamentary majorities, signaling political and economic uncertainty.
Jackson County, North Carolina, voted to leave the Fontana Regional Library system, citing controversy over LGBTQ+ content in children’s books. The decision, supported by four of five commissioners, followed months of public debate. Critics warn the departure will raise operational costs and reduce services. Several municipalities, including Sylva and Webster, have expressed support for staying in the system. The county has until July 2026 to reverse its decision. Only one book was challenged in five years. Library officials and local leaders hope to negotiate a compromise to avoid increased taxpayer burdens and diminished educational and cultural resources.
by Lucas Thomae, Carolina Public Press July 21, 2025
Last month, Jackson became the second county in Western North Carolina to vote to exit its library system following local controversy over books with LGBTQ+ content. The move is the latest example of public libraries in the region being turned into political battlegrounds over such issues.
On June 24, the Jackson County Board of Commissioners voted to exit the Fontana Regional Library it shares with Macon and Swain counties. Four members of the five-person commission voted in favor of the exit. The lone “no” vote was Board Chairman Mark Letson, who cited increased financial burden on the county as the reason for his opposition.
Months of impassioned public comments at meetings of the county commissioners and public library board preceded the deciding vote. As in Yancey County, which on July 1 officially exited its former library system, a group of conservative residents ignited the movement to leave the system with complaints over materials in the library that they deemed inappropriate for children.
Yancey locals who supported remaining in the library system spent months trying to convince county commissioners to reverse course through protest and threat of legal action, but their efforts fell short.
Now, a strikingly similar situation is playing out in Jackson, and supporters of the library system there are aiming for a different outcome. They are joined by the several municipalities within Jackson County who have signaled that they also want Jackson to remain a part of Fontana Regional.
Jackson County has until July 2026 to reverse its decision. At that time, the control of two system libraries within Jackson County — one in the community of Cashiers and the other in the county seat of Sylva — will be turned over to the county commissioners.
Lead-up to the Jackson County vote
Although rumors of a potential exit from Fontana Regional have circulated ever since Yancey County’s consequential vote to leave its library system, Jackson County commissioners began serious talks earlier this year.
County Manager Kevin King told commissioners in previous public meetings that the transition would require hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional county spending to maintain the same level of services offered by the regional system.
All the while, a contingent of conservative commissioners sympathetic to the idea of leaving the system accused the libraries of espousing liberal ideologies and questioned whether safety measures at the library branch in Sylva were up to par.
Commissioners called upon Tracy Fitzmaurice, who serves both as the librarian of the Sylva branch and the director of Fontana Regional, to respond to their concerns at several public meetings.
On June 19, the Jackson commissioners conducted a joint meeting with the Fontana Regional board of trustees during which they peppered library officials with questions about library administration, funding, safety measures and the book challenging process.
Despite claims of inappropriate materials in the children’s section of the library, only one book has been challenged in the last five years in Jackson County, and none have been removed from the collection. One book over that span, a sex education graphic novel, was reclassified from the youth to the young adult section.
Library officials hoped that the joint meeting would allow Fontana Regional and Jackson County to come to an understanding and avoid the county’s exit. But five days later, commissioners voted to break away from the system.
Fitzmaurice told CPP in an email that she was “saddened and disappointed” by the vote.
“I thought that the joint meeting between the (Fontana Regional) Board of Trustees and the Jackson County Commissioners on June 19th would have cleared up some of the legal aspects of how the libraries in Jackson County are managed,” she said.
“I also hoped the commissioners would give the (Fontana Regional) Board members time to review the commissioners’ concerns. Everyone is aware that by leaving (Fontana Regional) the Jackson County libraries will cost more to operate and the taxpayers will carry this cost.”
Neither King nor Letson responded to a request for an interview prior to the publication of this article.
Municipal governments push back
Several weeks before the commissioners’ decision, the Village of Forest Hills and Town of Webster passed resolutions in support of Jackson County remaining in the regional library.
“Withdrawal from the Fontana Regional Library System would result in increased operational costs for a standalone system, diminished resources, reduced programming, and potentially limit the scope and quality of library resources available to Jackson County residents, thereby negatively impacting the educational opportunities and quality of life for its citizens,” the Town of Webster’s resolution read.
That resolution and a similar one passed by the Forest Hills council were sent to Jackson County officials.
Webster and Forest Hills, each of which comprise fewer than 400 residents, are only tiny enclaves in the 44,000-person county. Much of Jackson’s population lives in unincorporated areas, giving county officials an outsized amount of governing power.
The largest community, Cullowhee, is the site of Western Carolina University, which boasts 11,000 students. It is located just south of Sylva and, being a large public university, is home to a sizable LGBTQ+ population.
However, there exists no municipal government in Cullowhee that could weigh in on the Jackson County library situation.
The one municipal government that could wield significant influence is Sylva, the county seat and largest incorporated community with more than 2,000 residents.
Town commissioners were set to vote on a similar resolution in support of Fontana Regional during their regular meeting on June 12, but it was scratched from the agenda following a motion from commissioner Jon Brown.
Brown told CPP that although he supported Jackson remaining in the regional library, he didn’t think it was appropriate for Sylva to pass a resolution on a divisive issue that the town ultimately didn’t have control over.
“It’s been a real hot topic in our community,” Brown said.
“There’s been a lot of conversation. A lot of folks feel passionately about the library. We have one of the best libraries I’ve ever seen — it’s a real treasure for Jackson County and Sylva, and I hope that we can keep the doors open, keep the funding it needs and keep all the great services.”
Brown said commissioners will likely vote this week on a revised resolution in support of a compromise between Fontana Regional and Jackson County.
Sylva Commissioner Brad Waldrop, who also supports Jackson remaining with Fontana Regional, confirmed in an email that town commissioners are working on a new resolution.
“I am still in favor of a resolution from the Town of Sylva in support of remaining in the FRL and am working to make that happen,” Waldrop said.
“Although Jackson County commissioners already voted to leave the FRL, that doesn’t actually occur until July 2026 so there’s still time to reverse course from this bad decision that looks certain to significantly increase costs, decrease library services, or both.”
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Center-Left
The article from Carolina Public Press presents a largely factual account of Jackson County’s decision to exit the Fontana Regional Library system, but its framing subtly favors those opposing the exit. Language choices such as describing residents supporting LGBTQ+ content as seeking “compromise” and opponents as part of a “conservative movement” suggest a slight ideological slant. Emphasis on cost increases, community opposition, and emotional reactions from library officials also leans toward supporting the library system’s continuation. However, the piece includes multiple perspectives and quotes from both sides, maintaining a mostly balanced tone with a modest left-leaning tilt.
SUMMARY: A fire destroyed Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Darlington County, but the congregation held Sunday service outdoors despite the loss. The 156-year-old church, with a close-knit community, was consumed by flames Saturday night. Pastor Eugene Thomas arrived to find the church nearly gone and was heartbroken. Longtime member Deborah Moses recalled the church’s welcoming spirit. Determined to stay connected, members gathered with lawn chairs outside to worship and support each other. Pastor Thomas shared a hopeful message about rebuilding. Authorities are investigating the fire’s cause. The church asks for prayers and aims to rebuild on the same property once the inquiry concludes.
A Darlington County church is a total loss after a fire broke out Saturday night.
Despite the tragedy, members of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church didn’t let the fire keep them from worshipping together on Saturday.
“This fire has not destroyed God’s church because I see them sitting in front of it,” an Evangelist said.
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