Criminal Defense Lawyer in Myrtle Beach, SC

Recent shark sightings in Myrtle Beach spotlight the need for public awareness of both shark behavior and marine safety measures. Reports of stranded or injured sharks highlight the importance of not intervening without expert consultation, with officials urging individuals to prioritize safety and contact wildlife authorities. While unprovoked shark attacks remain infrequent, Myrtle Beach's history of interactions, including recent minor incidents and rankings as a potentially dangerous beach, shows the balance between human activity and natural marine habitats.

The presence of various shark species and other marine life along the coast reflects seasonal migratory trends, emphasizing the coexistence of people and wildlife in the area. These events underscore the importance of conservation and clear guidelines for public safety in marine environments.

Myrtle Beach Fire Department responded to an incident Wednesday morning. Crews helped an injured person who said they were bitten in the ocean. | Published July 10, 2024 | Read Full Story by Emalyn Muzzy

Is it safe to help a shark stuck on the beach back into the water? Here’s what a marine biologist says you should do if you find one stranded. | Published September 18, 2024 | Read Full Story by Maria Elena Scott

Beaches in Myrtle Beach offer a wealth of free, beautiful mementos. Here’s what you can legally bring home from your beach vacation. | Published December 2, 2024 | Read Full Story by Maria Elena Scott

Myrtle Beach was ranked as one of the top dangerous beaches in the U.S. Here’s why we were placed on list among other Florida beaches. | Published November 29, 2024 | Read Full Story by Terri Richardson

Migrating and local animals converge in the Atlantic Ocean off of South Carolina this time of year. Here’s what’s out beneath the waves in the Myrtle Beach area. | Published February 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by Maria Elena Scott

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.

The Myrtle Beach area is no doubt a melting pot of different foods and restaurants – offering a little bit of something for everyone.

But there’s something about those familiar dishes from home that sends new residents in search of places that can match, or at least come close, to what they know and love.

Horry County is among the nation’s fastest-growing places and the fastest-growing county in South Carolina.

Contributing to the population growth are residents from New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, which are the top states with the highest relocation to Horry County.

That has resulted in an increase in new restaurants or places which serve dishes that cater to these northern transplants.

Here is where you can find iconic dishes from each state in the Myrtle Beach area.

Pizza. OK, we know that there is a huge debate about New York-style pizza and whether you can really get a good pie along the coast. We’re not jumping into that argument.

What we will offer is a few places where fellow New Yorkers serve up their version of this quintessential food.

Deli. There are plenty of options for a New York-style deli. Here are some of the top recommended.

Bagel. It’s hard to find a spot that offers those fresh-baked bagels, but believe us they are out there.

The Garden State is known for its Taylor Ham or pork roll, disco fries and tomato pie. And there are places that have added them to their menu.

There are many places in the Myrtle Beach area that offer a Philly cheesesteak or some version of a pierogi. We’re sure people have their opinions about which ones are the best. Here are a few to try.

Philly cheesesteak:

Pierogi:

Pitts Burger/Primanti. It wouldn’t be a Pennsylvania tribute unless we included this favorite state dish that adds cole slaw and fries on the sandwich.

If you’re looking for a spot that offers up the unusual combination, head to Oscar’s, 4101 Highway 17 S. in North Myrtle Beach, and tell them to make your sandwich Pittsburgh style.

Myrtle Beach is among the most popular places to tag on Instagram, according to a study from online gambling website Betway Casino.

Analyzing Instagram posts for more than 50 of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States, the online betting website ranked the most Instagrammable attractions.

Its top-10 list features everything from nature scenes to urban landmarks.

Myrtle Beach, which was ranked No. 7, is the only city and only South Carolina spot to make the ranking.

With popular tourist attractions like Broadway at The Beach and the downtown boardwalk, seaside landscapes and dozens of golf and minigolf courses, Myrtle Beach has been tagged in more than 3 million Instagram posts, according to Betway.

For tourists interested in visiting the top-ranked spots, New York City is the place to be. As the most populous city in the country, New York welcomes more than 60 million visitors annually, so perhaps it’s not surprising that half of the top 10 destinations are in the city.

Here are the 10 most Instagram-friendly destinations in America, according to Betway:

1. Central Park, New York

Instagram posts: 8,368,361

2. Times Square, New York

Instagram posts: 5,223,336

3. The Grand Canyon, Arizona

Instagram posts: 4,451,563

4. The Brooklyn Bridge, New York

Instagram posts: 3,970,754

5. The Golden Gate Bridge, California

Instagram posts: 3,366,446

6. The Empire State Building, New York

Instagram posts: 3,302,453

7. Myrtle Beach

Instagram posts: 3,057,885

8. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Instagram posts: 2,431,589

9. The Statue of Liberty, New York

Instagram posts: 2,392,292

10. Route 66 along Arizona, California, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas

Instagram posts: 2,262,056

Myrtle Beach also ranked among the most fulfilling tourist attractions in the nation.

Betway Casino looked at Tripadvisor reviews and, to a lesser extent, TikTok and Instagram posts tagged with the attractions to find out which destinations visitors enjoy the most.

Myrtle Beach and most of the other Instagrammable destinations made the list, but the Statue of Liberty and Route 66 weren’t included. Instead, Alcatraz and the U.S. Capitol building landed in the top 10.

1. Central Park

Tripadvisor rating: 4.5

Percent of positive Tripadvisor reviews: 96.87%

TikToks: 251,000

Instagram posts: 8,368,361

2. The Grand Canyon

Tripadvisor rating: 5

Percent of positive Tripadvisor reviews: 97.54%

TikToks: 164,200

Instagram posts: 4,451,563

3. Myrtle Beach

Tripadvisor rating: 4.5

Percent of positive Tripadvisor reviews: 88.65%

TikToks: 307,100

Instagram posts: 3,057,885

4. Alcatraz

Tripadvisor rating: 4.5

Percent of positive Tripadvisor reviews: 95.46%

TikToks: 200,700

Instagram posts: 1,227,944

5. The Brooklyn Bridge

Tripadvisor rating: 4.5

Percent of positive Tripadvisor reviews: 95.61%

TikToks: 92,000

Instagram posts: 3,970,754

6. The Golden Gate Bridge

Tripadvisor rating: 4.5

Percent of positive Tripadvisor reviews: 95.57%

TikToks: 92,300

Instagram posts: 3,366,446

7. The United States Capitol Building

Tripadvisor rating: 5

Percent of positive Tripadvisor reviews: 98.56%

Number of TikToks: 72,000

Instagram posts: 949,852

8. Yellowstone National Park

Tripadvisor rating: 5

Percent of positive Tripadvisor reviews: 95.03%

Number of TikToks: 62,100

Instagram posts: 2,431,589

9. Times Square

Tripadvisor rating: 4.5

Percent of positive Tripadvisor reviews: 82.86%

Number of TikToks: 144,900

Instagram posts: 5,223,336

10. Empire State Building

Tripadvisor rating: 4.5

Percent of positive Tripadvisor reviews: 88.16%

Number of TikToks: 105,900

Instagram posts: 3,302,453

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Maria Elena Scott writes about trending topics and what you need to know in the Grand Strand. She studied journalism at the University of Houston and covered Cleveland news before coming to the Palmetto State.

The creation of this content included the use of AI based on templates created, reviewed and edited by journalists in the newsroom. Read more on our AI policy here.

An updated flood warning was released by the NWS Columbia SC on Tuesday at 12:03 p.m. valid from 1 p.m. until Friday 8:45 p.m. The warning is for Greenwood, Newberry and Saluda counties.

The NWS adds, "Minor flooding is forecast for Saluda River at Saluda River at Chappells."

"At 14.0 feet, Lowlands around and downstream from Chappells become flooded. Cattle grazing river bottomland should be moved to higher ground. At 16.0 feet, Extensive farmland and river bottomland around and downstream from Chappells become flooded," says the NWS. "Residents and those with interests near the river should monitor rising water levels and take action if necessary. Most flooding deaths occur in vehicles. Never drive through a flooded roadway or around barricades. Turn around, don't drown. The next statement will be issued late tonight at 12:15 a.m."

This warning is in effect until Friday at 8:45 p.m.

In case you reside within a flood-prone area or are currently camping in a low-lying zone, it is crucial to promptly seek higher ground. If told to evacuate, do so immediately. Ensure your home is securely locked when vacating the premises. If time permits, disconnect utilities and appliances. Avoid entering basements or rooms with submerged electrical outlets or cords. Should you observe sparks or hear buzzing, crackling, snapping, or popping sounds, evacuate immediately. Refrain from entering water that might carry an electric current and avoid walking through floodwaters. Remember, as little as 6 inches of moving water can knock you off your feet. If trapped by moving water, seek the highest possible point and contact emergency services by calling 911.

During heavy rainfall, there is a risk of flooding, especially in low-lying and flood-prone areas. Remember to never drive through water on the road, even if it seems shallow. According to the NWS, as little as 12 inches of rapidly flowing water can carry away most cars.

What is hydroplaning?

Hydroplaning is the term for when a vehicle begins sliding uncontrollably on wet roads.

This happens when water in front of the tire builds up faster than the vehicle's weight can push water out of the way. The water pressure then causes the vehicle to rise and slide on a thin layer of water between the tires and the road, making the driver lose control. The three main causes of hydroplaning are:

In the event of your vehicle hydroplaning, here's what to know:

Source: The National Weather Service

This story was originally published May 13, 2025 at 12:07 PM.

It’s a Wrap! The 2024-2025 SC legislative Session is officially over. It has been one long and crazy ride trying to get tort/lawsuit reform accomplished in SC! The liquor liability law bill that passed is confusing. The Mom and Pop Alliance of SC will take a stab at explaining it for all of us non-lawyers. Understanding liquor liability law is essential for both businesses and consumers.

A brand-new House bill (H.3430) is the one that made it through both chambers and will be headed to the Governor for signature. For a little background, earlier in the Session the House passed H.3497, in our opinion a relatively weak bill that dealt only with liquor liability law. The Senate passed a stronger, more comprehensive bill (S.244) which, in addition to liquor liability law, offered protections for all types of businesses (read more here). Opponents said the Senate bill was too comprehensive, but from a small business perspective, we very much wanted to see Senate bill S.244 make it through!

What we ended up with was not as strong as we would like, but it is a definite improvement over current liquor liability law. It may help bring down insurance rates. It appears H.3430 was rushed. In fact, it looks like they inserted the new liquor liability law language into a previous bill dealing with the auditor. This legislative process is known as “strike and replace,” or “strike and insert.” It’s a way of avoiding the committee process to get a bill passed very quickly. While legal, we have issues with its use. It was the mechanism used in the past to get the $1.3 Billion incentive package for VW/Scout through both SC chambers in a matter of days.

Understanding Liquor Liability Law in South Carolina

Liquor liability law has significant implications for both businesses and patrons, and understanding it is crucial.

The main issue driving skyrocketing liquor liability insurance rates in SC is our unchecked liability laws. H.3430 helps provide some new safeguards. While it falls short of the true proportional liability we wanted to see (each party only liable according to their degree of fault), the liquor liability law that passed both chambers does offer tangible improvements. It helps address claim severity, which is a key component needed to help lower insurance premiums for venues.

The issue of being 1% at fault and paying 100% of the award (unique to liquor liability law) will end. Now, you must be at least 50% at fault to pay 100% of the liability, as is the case for other industries in SC. Additionally, under this new liquor liability law, those who are under 50% responsible could pay up to 50% of the damages, even if they are only 1% responsible. Again, this is not true proportional liability, but it is much better than current liquor liability law, from our perspective.

Understanding the nuances of liquor liability law can help mitigate risks for businesses.

Other helpful aspects of the bill include:

• No longer limits the apportionment of fault to named defendants. Cases can now include all at-fault parties, with some significant exceptions.

• Guarantees that if there is a DUI driver, they must be on the verdict form. This is huge because they would likely be over 50% responsible for the fault.

• The standard for guilt was raised. A venue must “knowingly” sell to an intoxicated person.

• The Senate bill (S.244) that was sent to the House (which they chose not to go with) lowered the mandatory minimums of liability insurance bars/restaurants need to carry from $1 Million to $500K, which we strongly supported. This bill does not do that, but with mandatory server training and meeting other criteria, venues can lower their maximums.

• The coverage limits for non-profits were lowered to $500K in aggregate, with a $250K per-occurrence limit.

Overall, liquor liability law remains a critical topic for business owners in South Carolina.

• This bill allows the formation of captive insurance companies, like a co-op where parties can pool resources and form their own insurance coverage if standards are met.

The Mom and Pop Alliance of SC (along with many other groups and individuals) have been pushing for lawsuit reform in SC for years. We are happy to see something get across the finish line! Of course, we wish it were closer to true proportional liability and expanded beyond liquor liability to provide protections to all types of businesses. Lastly, we were disappointed to see it will not go into effect until Jan. 1, 2026. Given the urgency of this issue and years of advocacy work to get a bill passed, it is difficult to wait another 7 months to see any results. But at this point, we are just grateful to FINALLY have results!