Roofer in North Charleston, SC

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - A former North Charleston City councilman, who is facing charges from a corruption probe, has entered a guilty plea.

Mike A. Brown was one of three North Charleston City councilmembers who were charged in a February corruption probe.

Brown, along with his attorney, state representative Todd Rutherford, appeared in federal court downtown on Monday. Brown withdrew his initial not guilty plea to guilty in pursuit of a plea agreement.

Brown agreed to partially appeal his right to oppose or appeal the plea agreement for post-conviction rights.

Brown pleaded guilty to one count of charges with conspiracy to commit bribery with respect to programs receiving federal funds and honest services wire fraud.

The maximum charge is imprisonment for up to five years. The ex-councilman will receive a sentencing at a later date.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI described the five others who were also charged as associates in the corruption investigation.

Court documents detail that Brown and former North Charleston Councilman Jerome Heyward, along with boat company lobbyist Aaron Hicks, were named for allegedly conspiring to solicit kickbacks in exchange for their influence on a critical rezoning vote.

Court Documents detail that the rezoning vote was related to a Berkeley County boating manufacturing company listed as ‘Company A’.

Documents detail the FBI’s interception of the phone calls of former councilmember Jerome Heyward’s cell phone communications starting on April 17.

Brown was involved in intercepted conversations of the company paying money to Brown. Brown received at least $1,000 in cash before April 18.

Documents also allege intercepted phone calls found Brown needed the money to help with his son’s wedding expenses.

Gov. Henry McMaster issued Executive Order 2025-09, suspending Brown from office until he is formally acquitted, convicted, or a successor is elected and qualifies as provided by law, whichever comes first.

Brown resigned from his seat on the city council on Oct. 16.

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - School and district officials are planning a year of events to celebrate the centennial for North Charleston High School.

One of the projects will include an archives room that will house memorabilia and artifacts related to the school’s history.

Charleston County School District Superintendent Anita Huggins thanked the school’s staff and its principal, Henry Darby, for the academic progress the school’s students have made.

“North Charleston High School has made meaningful gains in recent years in academic growth, in college and career readiness, in the graduation rate and in a confidence and pride of the students that it readies for the future,” Huggins said. “We have work to do, but we are so proud of everything that has been accomplished by this great team, because it’s not easy.”

Darby said the school’s graduates are among the top talent within the nation. He said the milestone represents the continuation of the legacy and shows that the school is still relevant.

“Who would have thought 100 years ago that this school would still be standing?” he said. “At North CHarleston High School, even though we have various mission statements and values and whatnot, but our ultimate goal in North Charleston School is to produce productive citizens.”

He referred to a quotation engraved into the school building: “Education is a possession of which man cannot be robbed.”

“With that and the totality of that statement, that’s what makes the school a good school to live up to this statement,” he said.

Huggins credited Darby’s leadership, retelling stories of his working part-time three days a week at an area Walmart to help his students in need.

“He even walked to work for three weeks because he’d given his car to a staff member whose vehicle had broken down,” she said. “That kind of servant leadership is very rare. It speaks volumes about his heart, his integrity and his belief that every student deserves a chance in this world to succeed.”

Darby’s selfless act of working a part-time job gained national attention and Gov. Henry McMaster presented him with the Order of the Palmetto, the highest civilian honor in South Carolina, in 2021.

The school is asking graduates to donate to the Archives room. Darby said the school recently made contact with a Colorado woman whose grand-grand-aunt graduated from the school. They sent the graduation program as well as her school ring, which he called one of the most cherished items in the archives. He said representatives from the school’s Class of 1962 provided a drape of that year’s basketball championship team.

The archives will also include volumes of yearbooks dating back to 1928.

Work is underway on a timeline of the school’s history and interviews are being conducted of past graduates about the school’s legacy.

CHARLESTON, S.C.— U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is pleased to announce the opening of a new Global Entry Enrollment Center in the Low Country region of South Carolina at Charleston International Airport. This new center will expand access to the Trusted Traveler Program for international travelers. With this addition, CBP now operates three Global Entry Enrollment Centers in the Southeast region, providing greater convenience for individuals seeking to complete their Global Entry enrollment process.

The newly opened Global Entry location is:

Hours: Monday - Friday. 10a.m. – 2 p.m.

This new center joins the existing operational Global Entry Enrollment Centers located in:

“The demand for the Global Entry Trusted Traveler Program continues to grow”, said Gregory Alveraz, CBP Atlanta Director of Field Operations. “This new enrollment center in Charleston reflects CBP’s commitment to improving accessibility and convenience for travelers in the Southeast region. We are proud to offer this service to help streamline international travel for our Trusted Traveler members.”

Enrollment appointments at Charleston International Airport are now available for booking. To schedule your Global Entry interview, use the official TTP website at https://ttp.cbp.dhs.gov/scheduler and book an appointment at the preferred enrollment center.

Reminder – Applicants must bring their current passport, driver's license and proof of residency to their interview.

Global Entry is a CBP Trusted Traveler Program (TTP) that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States. All applicants undergo rigorous and recurring background checks and complete an in-person interview before enrollment. Global Entry is available at major U.S. Airports and Preclearance locations with reduced wait times and no paperwork. Members can use automated kiosks at select airports to bypass traditional customs processing lines.

Follow X @CBPSoutheast and the director of CBP’s Atlanta Field Office on X and Instagram at @DFOAtlanta for breaking news, current events, human interest stories and visual imagery.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is America's frontline: the nation's largest law enforcement organization and the world's first unified border management agency. The 65,000+ men and women of CBP protect America on the ground, in the air, and on the seas. We enforce safe, lawful travel and trade and ensure our country's economic prosperity. We enhance the nation's security through innovation, intelligence, collaboration, and trust.

CHARLESTON — An aerospace industry supplier is looking to bring 55 jobs to North Charleston — or two other cities where Boeing Co. is a dominant employer.

Charleston County Council's finance committee recently reviewed a package of potential tax incentives for an overseas-based business identified by the code name "Project OPF." The company plans to invest about $5.8 million to set up its first U.S. location.

The jobs would pay an average of about $76,600.

“If selected, the … site would position 'Project OPF' in close proximity to Boeing's existing operations in North Charleston, strengthening an already robust aerospace ecosystem in the region,” according to a summary of the incentive package. “The company cited Charleston’s strategic location, strong workforce pipeline and growing reputation as an aerospace hub as key factors in its site selection process.”

Merle Johnson, the county’s economic development director, described the overseas prospect on Aug. 21 as ”a major tier-one supplier to Boeing,” which builds the 787 Dreamliner next to Charleston International Airport and is investing $1 billion to increase production.

The incentives include an agreement that would lock the mystery company’s property tax bill at a fixed rate for 20 years, resulting in about $960,317 in revenue for schools and other public agencies over that period. The business also could be reimbursed up to $76,000 for certain expenses tied to its investment.

The county said the company has looked at other locations in the U.S., with North Charleston "emerging as a front-runner” beside St. Louis and Seattle.

“'Project OPF' will serve as a final assemblies site for major commercial aerospace projects" and play "a key role in supporting" Boeing's local 787 program and its 777 operation in Everett, Wash., according to the summary.

The supplier will be identified by name before elected officials vote on the incentive agreement for the third and final time.

Among other questions, councilman Larry Kobrovsky asked last week exactly where the company is headquartered, but he didn't get an answer. He and chairman Kylon Middleton were outvoted in opposing the incentives on Aug. 26.

A global manufacturer of aerospace components is investing about $43 million and adding 53 jobs in a customer-fueled expansion of its North Charleston operation.

Eaton Corp. announced Sept. 30 that it plans to build a 60,000-square-foot plant next to its longtime existing factory at 7230 Cross County Road to make hydraulic pumps and motors. The parts are "used on nearly every major aircraft today," according to a Charleston County Council document.

Eaton said the investment will partly support a recent, unidentified "program win" for the manufacturer. It also will give the company extra capacity to take on new business.

The new jobs will pay an average of $46 per hour, or $97,632 a year, boosting Eaton's existing local payroll by about $5.14 million, the S.C. Commerce Department said.

The capital investment will be split roughly between property improvements and equipment

The second plant is expected to ramp up operations starting in 2028.

"The expansion ... will enable Eaton to add machining, assembly and test capabilities and expand our existing additive manufacturing capability to support a key customer’s accelerated delivery schedule on a new program win,” company executive Armando Tellez said in a written statement.

The manufacturer considered about six of its other sites for the investment, according to Merle Johnson, Charleston County's economic development director.

The expansion is expected to generate about $11.7 million for government agencies over the next 20 years under an agreement that replaces Eaton's property tax bill with a flat fee.

Also, up to $2.3 million in state tax credits and government grants have been approved for the company to help pay for infrastructure upgrades and construction costs tied to the project.

County Council’s finance committee approved the incentive package last month. At the time, Eaton was identified by the code name "Project Modern."

The property tax break still must be finalized. County Council will hold a public hearing on the fee agreement on Oct. 14 at 6:30 p.m.

The North Charleston plant is part of Eaton's aerospace division, a global supplier of mechanical, hydraulic and air-driven components that flight crews need to safely and easily control and operate aircraft.

The company has stated previously that it makes pumps and valves for Boeing Co.'s locally based 787 Dreamliner program, which is investing $1 billion to raise its production rate to 10 planes a month from seven.

Eaton Aerospace LLC acquired its 14-acre Cross County Road property in 1999 through its purchase of Aeroquip-Vickers Inc., an Ohio company that made high-precision metal parts at the North Charleston site.