RIGHT NOW ON WJCL 22 MORNING NEWS .. PEOPLE COULD SOON BE ALLOWED TO CARRY A GUN OPENLY WITHOUT HAVING TO DET HI THE PUSH IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE TO PASS A BILL BEFORE DEADLINE D. AY "I'M FAITH ABUBEY WITH T HE LATEST ON THE COVID-19 NDPAEM IC THE C-D-C HAS GIVEN CRUI LINES THE GREEN LIGHT TO SET SAIL. THE RULES THAT WILL GET PASSENGERS BACK ON BOARD AS SOON AS THIS SUMMER. - ***2-SHOT***)} THANKS FOR STARTING YOUR DAY WITH WJCL 22! GOOD MORNING, I'M ASHLEY GARRETT. AND I'M CHRIS TATUM... WJCL'S METEOROLOGI JONATHAN MYERS IS ALSO HERE... WITH YOUR CERTIFIED MOST ACCURATE FORECAST. NOW, HERE'S YOUR STORM TRACKER RADAR... TODAY MOSTLY SUNNY, WITH A HIGH NEAR 84. NORTHWEST WIND 5 TO 11 MPH. THURSDAY NIGHT MOSTLY CLEAR, WITH A LOW AROUND 56. NORTHWEST WIND AROUND 6 MPH. FRIDAY SUNNY, WITH A HIGH NEAR 78. BREEZY, WITH A WEST WIND 8 TO 13 MPH INCREASING TO 16 TO 21 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON. WINDS COULD GUST AS HIGH AS 31 MPH. FRIDAY NIGHT CLEAR, WITH A LOW AROUND 52. NORTHWE WIND 5 TO 10 MPHWITH, NOW, HERE'S YOUR STORM TRACKER RADAR... TODAY MOSTLY SUNNY, WITH A HIGH NEAR 84. NORTHWT ES WIND 5 TO 11 MPH. THURSDAY NIGHT MOSTLY CLEAR, WITH A LOW AROUND 56. NORTHWEST WIND AROUND 6 MPH. FRIDAY SUNNY, WITH A HIGH NEAR 78. BREEZY, WITH A WEST WIND 8 TO 13 THE-- SOUTH CAROLINA--SENATE- -REJECTS-- AN-- A- MENDMENT-- THAT WOULD'VE-- HAVE ALLOWED--FOLKS--TO CARRY-- A GUN--OPEN-LY-- WITHOUT HAVING-- A PERMI T. BUT-WJCL'S DANIEL ROBINSON REPORTS--- THERE'S-- STILL-- ONE-- MORE DAY -- OF --DE-BATE... ASHLEY - THERE I.. S. A LOT OF EYES - HAVE BEEONN THIS CONTROVERSIAL BILL - SINCE IT PASSED THE HOUSE EARLIER THIS YR EA BUT THE AMENDMENT -- FAILED TO GET ENOUGH VOTES YESTERDAY... AND WILL BE ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK LATER TODAY... 25 TO 21 - AMENDMENT TABLED AND THERE YOU HAVE IT -- SENATORS VOTED 25 TO 21 AGAINST - THE SO CALLED CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY AMENDMENT - AFTER MANY HOURS. THE AMENDMENT WOULD HAVE ALLOWED ANYONE WHO CAN LEGALLY OWN A GUN - TO CAR RY IT OPENLY ANYWHERE THAT THE WEAPONS ARE LEGALLY ALLOWED - ALL WITHOUT A PERM. IT THE SENATE WAS ON THSEE COND DAY OF DEBATE ON THE BILL - WHICH REPUBLICANS HAD QUICKLY PUSHED TO THE SENATE FLOOR. THE HOUSE BILL WOULD ALSO ADD ADDITIONAL TRAING IN FOR WEAPONS - INCLUDING HOW TO PROPERLY SECURE A GUN TA O HOLSTER, DURING A COURSE TO GET A SOUTH CAROLINA WEAPONS PERMIT. ASHLEY - THE SENAT- E EXPECTED TO HAVE A FINAL VOTE ON THE BILL LATER TODA..Y. THERE ARE NOW ONLY FOUR MORE DAYS LEFT - IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S SESSION.. ASHLEY - DANIEL - SINCE THE PANDEMIC STARTED-- SOME AREAS--E AR SEEING- A IKSPE-- IN GUN SALES. HOWS THE LOWCOUNTRY DOING WHEN IT COMES TO THIS? DAN: ASHLEY - THE TREND IS CONTINUING... SOME LOCAL GUN STORES HERE SAY THEY ARE HAVING TROUBLE KEEPI NG GUNS AND AMMUNITION IN STOCK, ESPECIALLY OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.. ASHLEY... THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOU SE HAS ADDED FIRING SQUADO T THE STATES EXECUTION METHODS. IT WILL WILL REQREUI INMATES ON DEATH ROW TO CHOOSE EITHER BEING SHOT OR ELECTROCUTED- IF LETHAL INJECTI ON DRUGS AREN'T AVAILAB. LE SOUTH CAROLINA IS ONE OF ONLY NINE STATES TO STILL USE THE ELECTRIC CHAIR. THE BILL NOW HDSEA TO THE GOVERNORS DESK FOR HIS SIGNATURE. IN GEORGIA-- THE--BILL-- SIGNING SPREE--IS PICKING . UP OV GERNOR BRIAN KEMP-- HAS ALREADY-- SIGNED A BILL--THAT'S-- POP-U-LAR-- WITH-- SOON- TO-- BE PARES.NT IT GIVES--THREE WEEKS-- OF-- PAID-- PA-RENTAL LEAVE-- TO-- STATE-- EM- PLOYEES-- AND-- TEACHERS AND STAFF-- OF-- PUBLIC SCHOOLS. UP UNTIL NOW-- NEW PARENTS WOULD'--VEHAD TO-- TAKE-- SICK TIME OR UN-PAID LEAVE--THEY'D COLLECTED. THE NEW-- LAW TAKES EFFECT-- JULY FIRS T. NEW THIS MORNING... A MAN CAUGHT ON CERA AM- - ATTACKING TWO-- ASIAN-AMICERAN- WOMEN-- WITH- A CINDER BLOCK... THIS VIDEO IS DISTURBING TO WATCH... THOSE WOMEN WERE AT WORK - - AT A BOSTON, MASSECHUSETTS LIQUOR STORE WHEN A MAN WALKED IN WITH A PIECE OF CINDER BLOCK... HIMMEE DIATELY ATTACKS THE WOMEN... HITTING THEM IN THE HEAD AND FACE WITH THAT BLO... BUT AS YOU CAN SEE... THEY FOUGHT BACK... THEY EVENTUALLY TOOK THE CINDER BLOCK FROM HIM. .. AND CHASED HIM OUT OF THE STORE... A NEIGHBORING BUSINESS OWNER SAYS THAT MAN TRIED TO BREAK INTO HIS STORE BEFE OR HE ATTACKED THOSE WOMEN. "I HEAR ABOUT THE KICKS." "JUST HANG AROUND HEREI . WORRY ABOUT HIM DO IT AGAIN. I TOLD HIM YOU CANNOT CO TME MY STORE. YOU CANNOT STAY HERE. I WILL CALL THE POLICE." AND LOOK AT THIS HEARTPOUNDING VIDEO FROM RICHMOND, TEXAS... THAT TRUCK YOU SEE THERE IS STUCK ON RAIL- ROAD TRKS. AC AND ALONG COME THE TRAIN... LITERALLY SLICING THAT TRAILER IN HALF.. THE GOOD NEWS... THE TRUCK WAS HAULING WATER SO THERE WASN'T MUCH TO CLEAN UP... BUT THE BEST NEWS... NOBODY GOT HUR HEALTH OFFICIALS NOW SAY --THERE'S A-- "PATH OUT"-- OF-- TH- E- PAN-DEMIC---- AND WE COULD SEE-- NEW-- HOSPITAL-- AD- MISSIONS-- AND-- DEATHS DECLINE-- OVER-- THE NEXT MONTH. A-B-C'S FAITH ABUBEY IS IN WASHINGTON WITH THE LATEST. THIS MORNING A MONTH AFTER THIS DARK WARNING FROM CDC DIRECTOR DOCTOR ROCHELLE WALENSKY SOT WALENSKY: "I'M GOING TO REFLECT ON THE RECURRING FE ELING I HAVE OF IMPENDING DOOM." WEDNESDAY'S WHITE HOUSE COVID BRIEFING BROUGHT A MORE HOPEFUL PROJECTION SOT WALENSKY: "WE HAVE THE PATH OUT OF THIS AND MODELS, ONCE PROJECTING REAL LY GRIM NEWS, NOW OFFER REASONS TO BE QUITE HOPEFUL FOR WHAT THE SUMMER Y MA BRING." THE CDC NOW SAYING IF THE U.S. CONTINUES SOCIAL DISTANCING, MASKINANG D VACCINATIONS WE COULD SEE A "SHARP DECLINE" IN COVID CASES WITHIN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS BUT THE THREAT OF NEW VARIANTS AGAINST PROGRESS STILL VERY REAL. NEW DATA FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUN MASERVICES SHOWS YOUNGER, UNVACCINATED PEOPLE ARE NOW DRIVING NEW INFECTIONS. IN THE LT WEEK AMERICANS 12 TO 17 YEAR OLD SAW THE HIGHEST INCREASE IN THRAE TE OF POSITIVE COVID TESTS. DR. ANTHY ONFAUCI ON NBC. SOT FAUCI: "ADOLESCENTS, KIDS 12 TO 15 YEARS OL D, BECAUSE OF THE WAY THEY CONGREGATE TOGETHER IN THEIR SOCI INTERACTIONS, HAVE A GREATER CHANCE OF SPREADING INFECTION." IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST UNVACCINATED YOUNG PEOPLE IN THEIR 20'S FUELING A W NE SURGE AS U.S. VACCINATION RATES DROP ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE NEW YORK YANKEES AND THE METS NOW OFFERING FREE TICKETS TO ENCOURAGE FANS TO GET THE SHOT TS.HE NFL ALSO GIVING UP 50 FREE SUPER BOWL TICKETS TO THOSE WHO ARE VACCINATED. AND IF PROGRESS CONTINUES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THE PANDEMIC BROADWAY COULD LIGHT UP AGAIN AS SOON AS THIS SEPTEMBER. SOT WALENSKY: "SOMETHING I AM ASKED OFTEN IS WHEN WILL THE PANDEMIC BE OVER AND WHEN CAN WE GO BACK TO NORMAL. THE REALITY IS: IT ALL DEPENDS ON THE ACTIONS WE TAKE NOW." G: TA PFIZER IS STILL WAITING FOR THE FDA TO APPROVE ITS VACCINE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE BETWEEN A12ND 15 YEARS OLD. A CDC PANEL COULD MEET NEXT WEDNESDAY TO DISCUSS THE ROLL OUT OF THSHE OTS FOR THAT AGE GROUP IF THE A FD GIVES PRAPOVAL. FAITH ABUBEY, ABC NEWS, WASHINGTON. GOODEW N- MODERNA SAYS-- A BOOSTER SHOT-- OF ITS- VACCINE-- HEOT-- OF ITS- VACCINE-- LPS-- FIGHT-- TWO-- VARIANTS-- FIRST-- FOUND- IN-- BRAZIL-- AND-- SOUTH AFRI. CA EXPERTS SAY- THOSE VARIANTS-- CAN---- GET A- ROUND-- THE--I- MMUNE-- SYSTEM AND-- VACCITI. NA THEY ALSO SAY-- A BOOSTER SHOT OF MODEA'RNS FIRST VACCINE-- APPEARS TO HELP-- FIGHT OFF- THE ORIGINAL COVID STRAI N. NEW WORD OTHN E ASTRAZENECA VACCINE- AND BLOOD CLOTS. RE-SEARCHERS INEN DMARK SAY-- THE VACCINE-- *DOES* -- IN- CREASE-- THE-- RISK-- OF-- VEIN-- BLOOD-- CLOTS. THE STUDY- LOOKED AT- 280- THOUSAND PEOPLE- - IN-- DENMARK AND NORWAY--- AGES-- 18 TO--5- 6-- WHO GOT-- THE FIRST DOSE-- OF-- THE VACCINE. BUT--- ONE RE- SEARCH ER SAYS-- THE BENEFITS STILL OUTWEIGH THE RISKS--WHEN IT COMES TO-- ASTRAZECA AND- - JOHNSON AND JOHNSON VACCINES. AS MORE OF YOU GET YOUR VACCINE SHOTS-- WE RLLY EA WANT YOU TO-- KEEP THIS IN MIND. THE VACCINE IS FREE. WE'RE TELLING YOU THIS- AFTER RE-PORTS OF YET ANOTHER SCAM THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS SAYS-- IT'S-- HEARING-- SCAMMERS--ARE-- TRYINGO T GET YOUR MONEY AND-- INFORMATION. IN SOME CASES-- THIEVES ARE SAYING-- YOU MUST BUY A VACCINE-- ONLINE-- O- R- YOU-- NEED-- TO PAY-- TO SIGN UP. THAT'S NOT THE SECA NO MATTER IF YOU'RE IN GEORGIA OR SOUTH CAROLINA YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY ANYTHINGO TGET A SHOT. YOU WILL NEVER RECEIVE A BILL OR BE TURNED AWAY IF YOU DON'T HAVE INSURANCE. A CALIFORNIA BAR OWN ER IS IN JAIL ON SUSPICION OF SELLING COUNTERFEIT VACCINATION CARD S. THEY HAVE THE C-D-C LOGO AND EVERYTHING. THE CALIFORNIA DEPAMERTNT OF ALCOHOL BEVERAGE CONTROL STARTED INVESTIGATING THE BAR AFTER IT GOT A TIP--- AND IT SAYS ITS UNDERCOVER AGENTS WERE ABLE TO BUY SEVERAL OF THE FAKE CARDS. LUKE BLEHM/DIVISION CHIEF, CALIFORNIA DEPARENTMT OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL: "WE WERE ABLE TO PURCHASE 4...AND THEN TOD WE AY LOCATED 30 BLANK CARDS. LAMENATING MACHINES, LAMINENT, CUTTERS D AN THINGS TO MANUFACTURE THE CARDS." 59-YEAR-OLD TO ANDERSON IS CHARGED WITH FALSIFYING A MEDICAL RECORD AND A SEAL--- AND SEVERACOL UNTS OF IDENTITY THEF T. AUTHORITIES SAY IT'S UNCLEAR HOW MANY CARDS WERE SOLD. WALT DISNEY WORLD ALSO ANNOUNCED IT'S ENDING TEMPERATURE SCENREIN. GS THE CHANGES BEGIN FOR CAST MEMBERS STARTING SATURDAY. IT WILL END FOR GUESTS ON SUNDAY, MAY 16TH. FACE COVERINGS ARE STILL REQUIRED IT'S THE NEWS THE CRUISE INDUSTRY HAS BEEN WAITG IN MORE THAN A YEAR TO HEAR. SHIPS CAN SET SAIL ONCE AGAIN... NEW GUIDANCE FROM E TH CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION SAYS CRUE ISLINES CAN CONDUCT SIMULATED VOYATES WITH VOLUNTEERS TO TEST OUR COVID SAFETY PROTOCO. LS THE EARLIE TSTHIS COULD HAPPEN --- WOULD BE JUNE --- BECAUSE THE C-D- C REQUIS RE CRUI LSEINES TO GIVE 30 DAYS' NOTICE BEFORE DOING THESE. BUT UPON SUCCESSFUL TEST CRUISES --- CRUISE LIN ES COULD GET THE FINAL GREEN LIGHT FOR A FULL RETURN. THE PANDEMIC IS CAUSING A SHORTAGE OF CERTAIN GLASS PRODUCTS---- WHICH IS AFFECTING EVERYTHING FROM DISTILLERIES TO HARDWARE STOR. ONE MINNESOTA DISTILLERY SAYS IT NORMALLY TAKES TWO WEEKS TO RECEIVE AN ORDER OF GLASS BOTTLES- -- BUT NOW IT'S TAKING AS MUCH AS *90 DAYS*- THE OWNER SAYS IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE SHORTAGE CATCHES UWIP TH HIS BUSINESS--- AND CAUSES SOME DAMAGE. KYLE KETTERING/OWNER, COPPERWI DNGISTILLERY: "I'LL CERTAINLY RUN OUT OF CERTAIN PRODUCTS WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO RESUPPLY, AND SO IT HASN'T HAPPENED YET, BUT I CAN FORESEE IT COMING BECAUSE I HAVE TO ANPL MONTHS IN ADVANCE." GLASS JARS HAVE ALSO BEEN A CHALLENGE TO GET--- ACCORDING TO A HARDWARE STORE OWNER. HE SAYS HIS STORE WON'T GET ANYMORE RSJA BEFORE THE END OF AUGUST. HE'S TELLING CUSTOMERS THAT THE JARS ARE FIRST COME--- FIRST SEE.RV THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION SAYS THE PAYCHE PCKROTECTN IO PROGRAM IS OUT OF CASH. 284-BILLION DOLLARS WAS SET ASIDE TO HELP BUSINESSES STRUGGLING DURING THE PANDEMIC. THE ADMINISTRATION SAID THE MONEY HAS BEEN EXHAUSTED ALMOST A MONTH BEFORE THE PROGRAM W AS SCHEDULED TO CLOSE ON MAY 31ST. VENUES AND RESTAURANTS STILL HAVE ACCESS TO TWO GRANTS CONTROLLED BY THE FEDERAL AGEN. CY THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION SAYS IT WILL STILL ACCEPT SOME NEW P-P-P APPLICATIONSOR F BUSINESSES IN UNDERSERVED AREAS...BUT THE PROGRAM IS NOW CLOSED TO THE MAJORITY OF BUSINESSES. SOME FAMILIES WILL SOON HAVE MORE SPENDING MONEY THE I-R-S WILL START SENDING OUT PAYMENTS THIS SUMMER TO SOME LOW AND MODERATE INCOME FAMILIES -- DEPENDING ON THE AGE OF THEIR KIDS. FAMILIES WILL G ET MONTHLY PAYMENTS OF 250 TO 300 DOLLARS -- STARTING IN JU. LY THE PAYMENTS ARE PART OF THE INCREASE TO THE 20 CHILD TAX CREDIT FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN THAT PASSED IN MAH.RC THE