Defense Budget Push: War Department Secretary Pete Hegseth urged Congress to approve a $1.5 trillion FY2027 military budget during a Charleston ceremony renaming Joint Base Charleston to honor late Sen. Lindsey Graham. Politics & Business Climate: The DNC approved a new 2028 presidential primary calendar with South Carolina first on Jan. 22, followed by Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Michigan and Virginia—shifting early campaign attention and spending. Manufacturing Expansion: Trison Wells plans a $3.37 million expansion in Walterboro, adding a liquid-fill production line and creating 30 jobs. EV Plant Oversight: South Carolina lawmakers put potential funding for Scout Motors’ $150 million Richland County site overrun on hold pending a Legislative Audit Council investigation. Local Housing Policy: Mount Pleasant raised income limits for workforce housing, while Charleston moved toward a new food vendor policy. Consumer & Safety: Henkel began a voluntary recall of Schwarzkopf Professional Osis Grip hair mousse in 12 states, including South Carolina, due to a packaging defect that could cause cans to leak under pressure. Energy Watch: GasBuddy data showed one Anderson County station selling E15 at $3.27 in the week ending Aug. 8, with statewide E15 averaging $4.19. Public Safety Tech: Local agencies are reviewing policies after Flock camera changes following privacy backlash and reported misuse.