Extreme Heat & Heat Dome: South Carolina is heading into the Fourth of July week under a heat dome, with heat index values climbing into the upper 90s to near 100 and feel-like temps pushing past 100 in many areas—officials urge hydration and extra checks on vulnerable neighbors. Drought & Water Limits: Severe drought has been declared for the Pee Dee River Basin, prompting Grand Strand Water & Sewer Authority to activate its drought plan July 1, tightening the “excess use” threshold and asking customers to cut non-essential water use. Coastal Conservation & Recreation: Gaston County and partners bought a 562-acre Lake Wylie tract for a new Catawba Cove park, adding about 6 miles of trails, public lake access, and wetland/floodplain protection to help filter stormwater. Wildlife Health Alert: A rabid fox bite in Gloverville has triggered rabies treatments and highlights three recent rabies cases across SC, with exposed pets and people being managed under state rules. Plastics Policy Fight: Seventeen state attorneys general, including South Carolina’s, are suing California over its single-use plastics packaging law, arguing it raises costs and oversteps state authority. Transportation Overhaul: Gov. McMaster signed a major S.C. DOT restructuring bill, moving oversight to a single cabinet secretary and setting up “choice lanes” language plus new pothole funding and reporting. Ports Update: South Carolina Ports plans to pause Leatherman Terminal operations Aug. 1 and consolidate container work to Wando and North Charleston amid trade headwinds.