🌱 Parents Surprised By School Mask Mandate + Seawall Concerns

Good day, people of Charleston! Nicole Fallon-Peek here with today's edition of the Charleston Daily.

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First, today's weather:

Heavy rain and a thunderstorm. High: 52 Low: 44.

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Here are the top three stories today in Charleston:

1. Some parents feel they were "left in the dark" about the Charleston County School board's decision to reinstitute its mask mandate, which received no public comments before it was announced. The lack of input raises questions about the transparency provided by the school board agendas made public before each meeting. Parents say that if the district had been clearer about putting the mask issue on the agenda, they would have shown up and engaged. The topic is expected to be placed on the agenda at a special school board meeting on Jan. 10. (WCSC)
2. The upcoming $1.1 billion seawall around much of downtown Charleston will likely rely on concrete structures, although many would like to see the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers include less intrusive solutions. According to public comments, residents, nonprofit groups, and even the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources all want more natural characteristics included such as living shorelines and enhanced marshes. However, the Corps' Charleston District said any nature-based protections for the city they had considered would not adequately protect Charleston against a hurricane surge of several feet. (US News and World Report)
3. Charleston Animal Society's Disaster Response Team will deploy Monday morning to Greenville, Kentucky to evacuate 20 dogs from the Muhlenberg County Animal Shelter. Muhlenberg County was in the path of the devastating tornadoes that claimed the lives of 96 people last weekend. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is leading the tornado response for animals at the request of the Kentucky Humane Society. (holycitysinner.com)

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Today in Charleston:

• City Council Meeting At Charleston City Hall (5:00 PM)

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From my notebook:

• Is a new job on your Christmas wish list? Be your own Santa and apply for one of the openings at Charleston County Public Library! (Facebook)
• The Charleston Fire Department reminds residents to practice fire safety this holiday season by getting their chimneys inspected regularly. (Facebook)
• Charleston Music Hall currently has tickets on sale for some exciting upcoming 2022 shows. (Facebook)

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That's it for today! I'll see you around.

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.