www.thecentersquare.com – By David Beasley | The Center Square contributor – (The Center Square – ) 2025-05-29 14:50:00
The city of Charleston sued 24 oil and gas companies in 2020, claiming they contributed to climate change by selling fossil fuels and seeking monetary damages for costs like sea walls. Defense attorneys argued the case should be dismissed, saying global warming is a political, not judicial issue, and that regulating emissions across states violates the U.S. Constitution’s federal system. South Carolina’s attorney general’s office supports dismissal. Charleston’s lawyers compared the case to tobacco and opioid lawsuits, saying companies hid climate risks and shifted costs to taxpayers. The companies countered that most emissions occur outside South Carolina and the U.S. The hearing continues Friday.
(The Center Square) – A climate-change lawsuit by the city of Charleston against 24 oil and gas companies should be dismissed because global warming “is not an issue for courts to decide,” an attorney for the companies argued Thursday.
“It’s a scientific policy issue that should be decided by the political branches: the executive branch and Congress,” Chevron attorney Ted Boutrous told South Carolina Circuit Court Judge Roger Young in a hearing. “A string of cases from state courts and federal courts require dismissal.”
The office of South Carolina’s attorney general agrees.
“The state agrees entirely with the defense position here that their motion to dismiss should be granted entirely on the merits,” Ben McGray, assistant deputy solicitor with the South Carolina attorney general’s office, told the judge Thursday.
The U.S. Constitution prohibits one state from dictating or regulating conduct in another state, Gray said.
“Allowing the plantiffs’ claims to go forward, would this violate the equal dignity that is afforded each state in the union,” Gray said. “That’s inherent in our federal system.”
In the lawsuit filed in 2020, Charleston claimed the companies contributed to greenhouse gas pollution, global warming, and climate change by selling fossil fuel products.
In the lawsuit, Charleston seeks unspecified monetary damages from the oil and gas companies.
Attorneys for Charleston argued Thursday that the oil and gas companies knew that their products contributed to climate change but kept that from the public.
Vic Sher, one of Charleston’s attorneys, compared the Charleston climate change case to tobacco, opioid lawsuits and asbestos lawsuits.
Sher said as a result of climate change, Charleston will have to spend billions of dollars to construct sea walls and other mitigation measures. The lawsuit does not seek to dictate how other states handle climate change.
“It is about the money,” the attorney told the judge. “The complaint states that the purpose of the lawsuit is to transfer money from those who benefit from the misconduct – the wrongful promotion and marketing and the failures to warn – to the taxpayers who would otherwise have to bear that burden.”
Boutrous countered that Charleston is asking the oil and gas companies to pay for alleged climate change damage that “overwhelmingly occurred in other states, other countries.”
An estimated 87% of global carbon emissions are generated outside of the United States, he told the judge.
“Only .17% of greenhouse gas emissions originate in South Carolina,” he said.
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
This article primarily reports on the ongoing climate change lawsuit between Charleston and oil and gas companies, presenting arguments from both sides. However, the framing emphasizes the defense’s legal and constitutional arguments, highlighting points such as the limits of judicial authority over scientific and policy matters and the interstate nature of emissions. The inclusion of strong legal rebuttals from Chevron’s attorney and South Carolina’s attorney general, alongside less detailed presentation of Charleston’s position, subtly aligns the narrative more with a skeptical view of climate litigation. Overall, the piece leans slightly toward a center-right perspective by focusing on legal technicalities and federalism concerns rather than environmental advocacy, while still maintaining factual reporting without overt editorializing.
Tropical Depression Chantal caused severe flooding in Central North Carolina towns like Chapel Hill, Hillsborough, and Carrboro on July 6, inundating businesses with up to 6 feet of water. Chapel Hill’s Eastgate Crossing plaza suffered catastrophic damage, with local favorite Guglhupf Bakery losing equipment and interiors despite flood gates. Recovery is hampered by complex insurance and lease issues. Nearby University Place also faced significant flooding, yet some businesses have reopened. Hillsborough endured a water crisis after its treatment plants flooded, with the historic Eno River Mill and arts commission severely damaged. Despite setbacks, communities are committed to rebuilding and holding events like the Uproar arts festival to rally support and economic recovery.
by Jane Winik Sartwell, Carolina Public Press July 14, 2025
It wasn’t that they didn’t know their businesses could flood. They just didn’t realize how bad it could get — until Tropical Depression Chantal hit Central North Carolina last week.
Up to 6 feet of water filled shops in one of Chapel Hill’s most beloved shopping centers as Chantal’s rains pounded the area on July 6. Flooding destroyed inventory, equipment and interiors. It left local business owners, employees and customers in shock.
Across Orange County, in towns like Hillsborough, Carrboro and Chapel Hill, businesses large and small are dealing with the destruction wrought by Chantal. As recovery begins, it’s hard not to still feel underwater.
Carolina Public Press spoke with owners and community leaders in Orange County to get a sense of what things look like one week out.
Eastgate Crossing and University Place in Chapel Hill
When Sean Scott walked into Guglhupf Bakery on Monday morning, July 7, he stopped in his tracks. Chantal was gone, but the bakery’s Chapel Hill location was ruined.
He thought that perhaps the 4-foot metal flood gates would be enough to spare the bakery the worst of it. He was wrong. Water rose to five-and-a-half feet in under two hours.
“It was kind of surreal,” Scott told CPP. “No one was ready for that. There’s been some pretty catastrophic damage. All of our equipment was lost. We had to tear down the walls.”
For Scott, the next steps of recovery pose a daunting challenge.
“The legalities, the insurance, all of that stuff — it’s pretty hard to manage, especially when everything is so emotionally charged,” he said.
Guglhupf Bakery’s Chapel Hill location is at the Eastgate Crossing plaza, which is owned by a parent company called Kite Realty. Although each business has a different lease agreement with Kite, for Guglhupf, Kite is only responsible for damage to the exterior of the business.
This is just one of the complex nuances that Scott is trying to manage. He is unsatisfied by the protocol in place for this kind of event.
“There’s not a checklist or order of operations,” he said. “I think it’s a wake-up call for the town, because Eastgate is in a known floodplain. There needs to be a bit more planning involved, and a bit more transparency.”
To remedy this perceived lack of transparency, Scott says he is getting to work on a database of revenue loss and flood levels from Chantal. He feels like he was leased the property without a real briefing on the flood risk. In addition, he is attempting to renegotiate his lease with Kite Realty.
He thinks the bakery will reopen within a month. Even so, he estimates Guglhupf will lose $110,000, in addition to $150,000 in lost revenue. He knows Guglhupf will recover, but he isn’t so sure about other Eastgate businesses.
He’s planning a concert and auction event to raise money for businesses, the details of which are yet to come.
“I want to do an in-person event, instead of some Go-Fund-Me, because then you get to see your neighbors,” Scott said. “That’s just a really beautiful part of tragedy: connecting with others and creating a good energy around the disaster.”
Nearly every business in the plaza, including a Trader Joe’s grocery store, is devastated. Most of the shops will need to be gutted completely. Many have flood insurance policies in place, but they are likely inadequate to their needs this time around, due to the severity of flooding from Chantal, according to Ian Scott, vice president for advocacy of Chamber for a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro.
“These are long-standing, beloved businesses,” Scott said. “Most are locally-owned, even if at first glance they look like chains. The impact of this will ripple around the community because Chapel Hill is really a hyper-local place.”
Eastgate wasn’t the only plaza in the area that flooded during Chantal.
Heavy cleanup equipment is mounted outside University Place businesses in Chapel Hill, including Stony River restaurant, on July 12, 2025, as recovery from Tropical Depression Chantal continues. Frank Taylor / Carolina Public Press
Nearby, at University Place, formerly the University Mall, flooding overtook many businesses, including The Frame and Print Shop, several restaurants and the Silverspot Cinema.
Cleanup from Chantal at these locations continued through the weekend and is likely to continue for a while at several stores. Saturday, lines of dumpsters full of garbage bags of flood-damaged goods and materials stood alongside the curb outside the University Place businesses.
The Chantal flooding impact was uneven at University Place. A few businesses, including Hawker’s restaurant, had reopened by Saturday after shorter closures.
Despite significant damage, the Frame and Print Shop was operating again. Mud and water from Chantal filled the bottom of the shop, according to owner Becky Woodruff. They lost supplies and equipment, resulting in a loss Woodruff estimates at $10,000.
Store Manager Ash Lindner (left) and owner Becky Woodruff at the Frame and Print Shop in Chapel Hill on July 12. The store reopened despite significant flooding damage from Tropical Depression Chantal on July 6. Frank Taylor / Carolina Public Press
“The main thing we’re focused on is keeping our staff healthy and employed,” Woodruff told CPP.
“We don’t have any supplies at the moment, but customers are already coming back in.”
Hillsborough businesses and Chantal
In Hillsborough, the most widespread impact of Chantal on local businesses was a boil-water advisory that was lifted Thursday. Both the town’s water treatment plant and sewage treatment plant flooded, leaving the local water supply compromised.
Durham stepped in to supply Hillsborough with water, but still, the town was still under a mandate to conserve water. That was finally lifted over the weekend.
“This is worse than anything I ever saw in the past 20 years in Hillsborough,” Hillsborough mayor Mark Bell told CPP.
“No hurricane ever produced this much water in such a short period of time. There are a lot of people and a lot of businesses scrambling.”
The flooded Eno River engulfs part of the old Eno River Mill in Hillsborough on July 7, 2025, following the passage of Tropical Depression Chantal. The building housed a charter school and the local arts commission, which were severely damaged. Frank Taylor / Carolina Public Press
In addition to flash-flooding in several places, major flooding occurred along the Eno River, inundating an old mill building that houses a charter school and the Eno Arts Commission. Many original works of art were lost in the flood. The town’s riverwalk and parks, a major attraction to the historic downtown area, will require major repairs.
By Wednesday night, downtown Hillsborough Italian restaurant Antonia’s had already begun a carry-out and delivery service, according to owner Brian Pearson.
That way, they don’t have to worry about boiling water to wash silverware and plates. Pearson says it reminds him of the COVID protocols they used in the pandemic.
Open for business after Chantal
The main message Scott Czechlewski, CEO of the Hillsborough Chamber of Commerce, wants to communicate is this: we are open for business despite the damage from Chantal.
In Chapel Hill, they too are planning their economic rebound. In the summer, though, when the UNC-Chapel Hill students are gone on break, the town can be pretty dead.
Still, Bedford and others are planning to go ahead with Uproar, the second-annual August arts festival in Orange County. One of the main locations of the festival is the now-devastated Eno Arts Mill in Hillsborough.
“After a lot of debate with my boards, staff, and our Uproar town partners, we have decided to move forward with Uproar,” wrote Katie Murray, director of the Orange County Arts Commission.
“Our capacity is challenged due to this unexpected loss of our space, but we feel like showing up for our community, especially after this devastating storm, is exactly what needs to happen right now.”
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: Centrist
The article focuses on the factual reporting of flood damage and community recovery efforts in Central North Carolina without promoting a particular political ideology or agenda. It highlights local business impacts, community responses, and calls for better planning and transparency from property managers and local government. The tone remains neutral and empathetic, emphasizing human interest and practical concerns rather than ideological framing. The content avoids partisan language or policy advocacy, reflecting balanced, community-focused journalism typical of centrist reporting.
Carolina Public Press (CPP) will receive at least 20 journalism awards from the North Carolina Press Association, marking its highest single-year total. Competing in the online-only division, CPP earned eight first-place, eight second-place, and four third-place awards, primarily for coverage of Tropical Storms Helene and Debby during the April 2024-March 2025 contest period. Executive Director Frank Taylor praised both staff and freelancers for their dedication to impactful storytelling serving North Carolinians. Awards span categories such as News Enterprise Reporting, Special Sections, Breaking News, Feature Writing, Photography, and Illustrations. The official award presentation will occur at NCPA’s September banquet, with potential special honors.
by Staff Reports, Carolina Public Press July 11, 2025
Carolina Public Press will be recognized with at least 20 journalism awards from the North Carolina Press Association in the newspaper organization’s annual contest, the most that CPP has ever won in a single year.
CPP, which competes in the online-only division of the state press association, was notified Friday that it has won eight first-place awards, eight second-place awards and four third-place awards. The awards will be presented at the NCPA’s annual awards banquet in September, at which time additional special awards could also be given.
Much of the award-winning work related to CPP’s extensive coverage of Tropical Storm Helene and its aftermath, as well as Tropical Storm Debby. The contest year covers the period from April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025.
“I can’t say how proud I am of our team,” said CPP Executive Director and acting editor Frank Taylor. “These awards went to longtime freelancers as well as staff reporters in their first year with CPP. They are all great and deserving people.
Zan Sistare, owner of the McCalls building in Spruce Pine, works Oct. 4, 2024, on cleaning up the building, a week after flooding from Tropical Storm Helene left massive damage. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public Press
“Every one of our team members was committed to outstanding work in service to the people of North Carolina. We are dedicated to our mission of impactful storytelling about issues that affect the lives of people in our state and this recognition from our industry, as the state press association acknowledges the quality of our work, is gratifying.”
A full list of the awards, by category, follows. Links connect to the winning content:
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: Centrist
The content primarily reports on the journalism awards won by Carolina Public Press, highlighting the quality and impact of its reporting without any evident ideological framing or partisan language. The piece focuses on factual information about the awards and the organization’s dedication to storytelling about local issues. There is no explicit political viewpoint or editorial slant presented, making the tone neutral and balanced. Overall, it represents straightforward reporting rather than promoting a specific ideological stance.
SUMMARY: Sea turtle hatchling season is underway at Folly Beach, where volunteers tracked two nests hatching and observed a female loggerhead turtle nesting. A near full moon helped hatchlings navigate toward the ocean’s bright reflection, resulting in a narrow track path. Recent changes to local lighting ordinances encourage turtles to head straight to the water after sunset, improving their chances. A nesting female turtle took twice the normal time to return to the ocean, getting temporarily trapped in dune vegetation before volunteers guided her safely back. Residents are urged to turn off beachfront lights to prevent disorienting hatchlings.
