6 Stories In SC Politics And Government This Week: Mahjongg, Moms And Mammoths ...and Yes, Sex

Top stories we talked about in SC government this week

1. Bringing sex ed back

Sex education in SC schools needs to get real, according to some House lawmakers. It's true that our youth have already heard plenty about sex--outside of the classroom.

The bill's sponsors say the new legislation will allow teachers to tell teens the medical truth behind it. Opponents of the bill say the state's current focus on abstinence is already helping to reduce teen pregnancy rates.

Either way, bored students will act like they know it all, whether or not they actually do:

2. Preserving the American way

As the election registration deadline passed last weekend, some unexpected candidates signed up for the primary election this June. Many of those candidates say they are inspired by the need to make South Carolina -- and America-- great again.

A lot of contenders have signed up to kick the shins of some pretty big politicians with big bucks. Most notable among them is likely former judge and state legislator Tom Ervin, who filed a longshot Republican primary bid against Gov. Nikki Haley on Saturday.

We salute you, the obscure underdog candidate, for upholding the American ideal of democracy.

3. Mom, he's killing my mammoth!

It took a phone call from her mom, the attachment of creationist language, and a ban on any more "state anythings" for a 8-year-old's official state fossil bill to move forward.

Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler --who got the earful from the little girl's mom--had opposed the bill because he said it wasted valuable legislative time. He dropped his objection Thursday.

Meanwhile, a small group of Christian conservatives got Biblical language included as a condition of their support. The House will now have to consider whether or not to include this language in official recognition of the Columbian mammoth:

"Section 1-1-712A. The Columbian Mammoth, which was created on the Sixth Day with the other beasts of the field, is designated as the official State Fossil of South Carolina and must be officially referred to as 'the Columbian Mammoth', which was created on the Sixth Day with the other beasts of the field."

Booyah!

4. No skin in this game

The 14,000-member Sun City retirement community halted all of its organized card and dice games after they learned such gaming was illegal.

But they got a break when the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to legalize such games if there is no payout. The bill now heads to the state Senate floor...

..which made this mahjongg player very happy:

5. Did you miss me?

Remember Richland County's troubles in the 2012 General Election? 6-hour-long lines, broken voting machines, ill-equipped precincts, frustrated staff and hundreds of uncounted votes?

County election director at the time Lillian McBride apologized for that and resigned, but is now back in a top leadership position at the county's election office.

State party officials, Midlands voters, were obviously not aware that was the case:

6. What happens on international waters, stays on international waters

The state's highest court said "no" to the Catawba Indian Nation's request to open video poker parlors on their reservation. The tribe currently has an agreement with South Carolina that allows it to offer any forms of gambling that are offered elsewhere in the state. Lawyers representing the tribe argued that gambling currently allowed on cruise ships which sail from South Carolina to international waters should count.

Not so, said the justices. Some state lawmakers were pleased with the decision, saying video poker had caused mayhem in years past: