Doctors testifying in a federal trial challenging South Carolina’s six-week abortion ban say the law’s exceptions are too vague to apply safely in practice. The parent company of Duke’s Mayonnaise is rebranding itself as Duke’s Mayo Company, cementing the influence of the Greenville-born condiment. President Donald Trump rallied in Rock Hill Oct. 29 to boost Republican Darline Graham’s struggling U.S. Senate campaign against Democrat Annie Andrews.
We’re going to catch you up on these and other top stories from The Post and Courier for Thursday, Oct. 29.
Doctors call SC abortion law ‘chilling’ in first day of federal bench trial over six-week ban
Two obstetricians testified Oct. 28 that South Carolina’s six-week abortion ban contains unclear exceptions for maternal health and fatal fetal anomalies, leaving doctors uncertain when they can legally perform abortions. One South Carolina-based doctor identified as Jane Doe said she has had two to three conversations monthly with colleagues since 2023 about whether specific conditions like breast cancer, sickle cell disease and lupus meet the law’s standards, and has referred patients out of state rather than risk felony charges. The trial, which continues through Oct. 30, centers on a lawsuit filed by OB-GYNs arguing the vague language is unconstitutional.
Not Sauer anymore: Duke’s Mayo becomes the multinational company that absorbed it a century ago
Nearly a century after Virginia-based Sauer Brands bought Duke’s Mayonnaise from Greenville founder Eugenia Duke, the company is rebranding itself as Duke’s Mayo Company to reflect its focus on condiments after selling off its spice business. Duke’s Mayonnaise, born in 1917 when Duke began making sandwiches for soldiers at Camp Sevier during World War I, has become a staple of Southern culture and was featured in “Top Chef’s” 23rd season filmed in Charlotte and Greenville. The rebrand confirms what many in South Carolina already know: Duke’s is an icon that has persisted through multiple private equity ownership changes since 1929.
Charleston attorney suspended nearly 6 years disbarred for alleged financial misconduct
The S.C. Supreme Court disbarred attorney Jason F. Taylor on Oct. 28 following financial misconduct allegations stemming from two separate legal cases in 2018. Taylor, who had been suspended since November 2020 after being charged with pointing a gun at a police cadet, collected $5,000 from another attorney for an expert witness who provided no services then filed false fee documents in federal court, and accepted a $27,500 settlement check in a personal injury case without disbursing funds to the client. Taylor admitted his conduct violated professional rules but sought a six-month suspension instead of disbarment.
Presidential parties do lose US midterms, Trump notes in SC, as fears mount for Darline Graham
President Donald Trump acknowledged that parties in power typically lose midterm elections as he rallied in Rock Hill on Oct. 29 to boost Republican Darline Graham’s U.S. Senate campaign against Democrat Annie Andrews, who has been gaining ground in recent polls. Trump urged supporters to treat the Nov. 3 election as if he were on the ballot. He repeatedly used an anti-transgender slur when referring to Andrews, while Graham attacked her opponent’s fundraising and gun violence prevention advocacy. U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, who lost the Senate primary to Graham, notably did not attend the rally in his hometown and said he would not have gone even if invited, citing concerns about her electability.
Charleston Place to close its restaurants to make way for 3 new dining concepts
The Charleston Place will close The Palmetto Cafe and the Thoroughbred Club at the end of 2026 to make way for three new dining venues opening in 2028, including a signature restaurant, a casual pub-inspired spot and a new lobby bar honoring the Thoroughbred Club’s legacy. The closure follows the October conclusion of Eleven Madison Park chef Daniel Humm’s yearlong pop-up and the 2025 closure of Charleston Grill after 36 years in operation. Hotel guests will have access to in-room dining, the renovated rooftop bar The Perch and the club lounge during the restaurant closure period beginning Jan. 1.
This news briefing was created with the assistance of AI to summarize stories. The briefing was edited by a Post and Courier journalist before it was published.
