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by WILL FOLKS
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The stars of South Carolina’s most infamous reality show, Southern Charm, have a date with the Palmetto State’s supreme court next week as their bitter custody drama has now become an open records battle.
Former S.C. treasurer Thomas Ravenel and his ex-girlfriend, model Kathryn Dennis, will have their case heard by the four justices during a special session the court is holding on the campus of Clemson University. Ravenel is hoping to have family court files tied to his case unsealed – while Dennis is hoping to keep them from public view, arguing their publication would adversely impact the couple’s two minor children.
In addition to Ravenel v. Dennis, the court will also hear a case involving the Upstate institution of higher learning and its governing board of trustees – specifically, whether Clemson’s lifetime appointments to the board violate the state constitution.
FITSNews – which has broken a ton of Clemson news over the past week – will be in attendance at the court’s special session next Tuesday (September 15, 2026), so stay tuned for updates.
In other news, S.C. circuit court judge Debra McCaslin issued her highly anticipated venue ruling ahead of the retrial of confessed fraudster/accused killer, Alex Murdaugh. Per McCaslin’s order, Murdaugh 2.0 will take place in Sumter, S.C. – ending months of speculation (and back-and-forth between prosecutors and defense attorneys) related to the location of the retrial.
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Our research director Jenn Wood joined me to discuss McCaslin’s venue decision, and also provided an update on the tragic case of Saylor Hayes – the five-year-old, nonverbal autistic girl whose body was found near a rental home in Pawley Island, S.C. late last month.
Hayes’ case has continued to draw scrutiny as her parents, both of whom are facing felony child endangerment charges, were extradited to South Carolina last week to answer for their alleged actions.
Jenn also teased her upcoming interview with a key figure in the ongoing saga of Mica Francis Miller, the late wife of disgraced S.C. pastor John-Paul Miller.
Thanks again to everyone who watches and shares our show – and a big ‘thank you’ to everyone who subscribes to our media outlet. Your subscriptions drive everything we do at FITSNews: the lights, the camera, the accountability… it’s all thanks to your support.
If you appreciate our work – subscribe today! And if you’re already a subscriber, please consider gifting a subscription to a friend… or grabbing some of our cool merch!
Look forward to seeing you next week…
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR…
Will Folks is the founding editor of the news outlet you are currently reading. Prior to founding FITSNews, he served as press secretary to the governor of South Carolina. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and eight children.
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