South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster commended the General Assembly for raising teacher salaries and cutting taxes in the 2024 session but sees more work ahead. York County residents faced a double ordeal with a damaging April hailstorm and aggressive roofing salespeople. A solar panel manufacturer's facility plan was rejected by the York County Board of Zoning Appeals, potentially affecting 800 jobs. Upcoming discussions include Richard Hatcher on his book about Fort Sumter and Kevin Duffus on the history of Charleston's first lighthouse. The South Carolina Lede podcast covers Senator Lindsey Graham's comments on weapons shipments to Israel, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin's commencement speech, and a roundtable on state legislation. French Gates expresses pride in the Gates Foundation's work as she plans to step down as co-chair.

North Carolina and South Carolina have the most restrictive public sector collective bargaining laws in the U.S., prohibiting all government employees from unionizing. Despite this, educators in Durham, North Carolina, continue to advocate for representation. The Broadside explores the implications of being a union in a state where striking and collective bargaining are illegal, reflecting on the history of labor organizing in the South.

Merchant mariners, including Madeleine Wolczko from Washington state, are stranded on their ships near Shanghai's port due to a COVID-19 lockdown that has lasted over six weeks. The crew, aboard a container ship requiring maintenance, has been restricted to the vessel for nearly three months, facing challenges such as lack of electricity and plumbing issues. Wolczko has been documenting the experience through photography and a video series, which includes candid interviews with crew members like Ernesto Lagramada. The lockdown has suspended shore-leave and caused extended shipping delays, impacting the global economy and the merchant marine industry. Shanghai officials aim to lift the lockdown by June 1, but the ship remains unseaworthy, and the crew's return home is uncertain.

Jump roping has become a competitive sport in China, influencing primary and middle school students' grades. Schools set targets for students, such as 100 jumps a minute for first graders, and proficiency in jump roping can impact final grades and high school entrance exams. Parents, like Yolanda Cheng, have enrolled their children in activities and even cram classes to improve their skills. Education expert Lenora Chu explains that this trend reflects the Chinese education system's emphasis on testable skills. Despite the pressure, some parents appreciate the focus on physical education, noting improvements in their children's abilities.

In response to a herd of 14 elephants' 800-mile journey to Kunming, China, efforts are being made to promote coexistence between humans and elephants. Initiatives include a national elephant park and 'canteens' with protected lands for elephants to feed on during treks. The elephant population in Yunnan Province has nearly doubled since the 1990s due to legal protection, leading to increased human-elephant encounters. Conservationists and villagers are working on projects like the elephant canteen and reforestation to encourage wildlife to return and reduce conflicts.

George Nissen, an Iowa native, invented the modern trampoline, inspired by his acrobatic background and a desire to improve his gymnastic and diving skills. With his coach Larry Griswold, Nissen developed the trampoline from spare parts and junkyard scraps. The invention gained popularity for both entertainment and training purposes, used by the military and NASA. Nissen's daughter, Dian, a trampoline coach, recounts her father's efforts to make trampoline a competitive sport, leading to its inclusion in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. George Nissen's legacy continues through the Nissen Cup and the joy of trampolining he spread worldwide.

Feminist and LGBTQ activists in China are facing online censorship, with social media accounts being shut down. Activist Li Maizi's Weibo account was closed after she defended another feminist online. Liang Xiaowen, a US-based feminist activist and lawyer, sued Weibo for shutting down her account without explanation. Author Leta Hong Fincher suggests that the Chinese government perceives feminism as a threat due to its impact on birth rates. Despite the crackdown, activists like Lu Pin remain determined to continue their work. The recent policy changes allowing couples to have three children have received a tepid response from Chinese women.

Zhang Hong, a blind man from China, has become the first blind person in Asia to climb Mount Everest. He was inspired by Erik Weihanmayer, the first blind person to summit Everest. Zhang trained rigorously, facing the challenge at age 46 during a pandemic. Despite fear and reliance on his guide, Qiangzi, Zhang reached the summit, experiencing the moment through the sound of the wind rather than the sight. He only felt a sense of accomplishment after safely descending the mountain. Zhang now aims to complete the Explorers Grand Slam. The documentary team leader, Fan Lixin, highlighted the universal courage needed to face one's own Everest.

Chinaplas, the plastics industry's first global show since the pandemic began, saw a significant drop in overseas visitors due to China's mandatory two-week quarantine, with only 577 of the 44,000 attendees on the first day being non-mainland Chinese. Rebecca Kanthor interviewed three individuals who underwent quarantine to attend the event in Shenzhen. Patrick Kwan from Samsonite Asia, based in Hong Kong, attended to visit vendors and spent his quarantine time in various activities, including playing the saxophone. Tao Cornier from ESOPP SAS, based in France, managed the company's booth design and passed quarantine time working and reading. Rex Hsieh from Multitech Machinery Ltd., based in Taiwan, described his quarantine in Xiamen as a nightmare but found the trip worthwhile for business opportunities in China.

A year after Wuhan's lockdown, the city has transformed a temporary COVID-19 hospital into a museum celebrating the government's pandemic response, while some residents, like Yang Min and Zhang Hai, seek justice for lost loved ones, criticizing the government's initial handling and alleged cover-up. Despite the official narrative of recovery, underlying anxiety persists among the populace, with some preparing for a potential second wave. The vaccine offers a glimmer of hope, but the city remains vigilant.

Chinese students unable to attend universities in the US and Canada due to pandemic-related travel restrictions have formed 'study pods' in co-living communities like 706 Life Lab. They face challenges such as time zone differences and isolation. Emily Mao, a student at the University of British Columbia, and Bowen Zheng, a philosophy major at Wake Forest University, share their struggles with remote learning. The 706 Labs, founded by Wu Fang Rong, offer a sense of freedom and control for students. Education consultant Tess Robinson notes that some students are opting for gap years due to the inconveniences of remote learning. Mao plans to return to campus despite concerns, while others continue to manage overnight classes.

The article discusses Joe Biden's promise to pressure China to stop financing coal plants abroad as part of his climate change strategy. It highlights the challenges of convincing China, which is heavily investing in coal projects through its Belt and Road Initiative, to shift towards greener energy. Experts suggest that competition, rather than confrontation, might be a more effective approach. The article also contrasts Biden's climate policies with those of President Donald Trump, emphasizing the global stakes of US-China cooperation on climate change.