The (Myrtle Beach) Sun News week in review

New upscale nightclub coming to Myrtle Beach area

A new upscale nightclub called After 25 is set to open this July in the Myrtle Beach area, located at the former Renegades space in the Galleria shopping plaza at 9668 N. Kings Highway. The club will be operated by Roger Davisson, former owner of Whiskey Beach and Froggy Bottomz, and managed by Steven Davisson. As the name suggests, only guests aged 25 and older will be admitted. The venue will feature live bands on Fridays and a DJ on Saturdays, with a large dance floor offering a mix of country and dance music. Food and drinks will be available, along with a happy hour starting at 5 p.m. Davisson, who had previously retired, said he “got bored” and decided to return to the nightlife industry with a more refined concept.

Reported by Terri Richardson, published June 23

Medicare fraud fugitive deported to SC after FBI pursuit

Herbert Leon Kimble, 60, accused of masterminding a $1 billion Medicare fraud scheme, has been deported from the Philippines and appeared in a Columbia federal courtroom June 22 in an orange jumpsuit. Kimble had pleaded guilty in 2019 to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and related charges, then spent five years cooperating with investigators, helping prosecutors charge roughly 80 defendants. He failed to appear at his 2024 sentencing hearing, prompting a judge to void his plea deal and making him eligible for up to five years in prison. A federal grand jury has since indicted him on three counts of failure to appear. Philippine authorities arrested Kimble on June 11 after the FBI placed him on a new top fraudster most wanted list, and FBI agents from Columbia escorted him back to the States. U.S. district attorney Bryan Stirling credited the FBI’s most-wanted designation as the key factor in securing Kimble’s swift return to face justice.

Reported by John Monk, published June 21

USC freezes in-state tuition but fees keep climbing

The University of South Carolina will hold in-state tuition flat for an eighth straight year, keeping the rate at $12,288 annually — the same price charged since 2019. Out-of-state students will face a 3% tuition increase. The freeze is supported by state funding, with both House and Senate budgets proposing $26.3 million distributed among 16 public colleges, including $7.2 million for USC’s Columbia campus. Despite frozen tuition, non-tuition costs are rising. Housing costs increased 2.8% and meal plans rose 4.1%. Students will also pay a new $150 per semester fee for the renovation of Russell House, the 72-year-old student union. This follows a $300 annual athletics fee introduced last year. USC spokesman Jeff Stensland noted Russell House is funded through student fees as an auxiliary facility.

Reported by Zak Koeske, published June 19

SC faces steep home insurance rate hikes by 2035

South Carolina is projected to see the second highest home insurance premium increases in the nation by 2035, trailing only Louisiana, according to a report from the Coalition for an Insurable Future and Mandala Partners. SC premiums are expected to rise at least 60% on average and potentially up to 203% by 2035. For 2026, SC’s projected annual premium stands at $3,370, ranking it the 10th most expensive state, above the national average of $3,057. The report links rising rates to increasing climate disasters, noting a 38% surge in U.S. homeowners insurance premiums since 2021. Coastal counties in SC are expected to bear the greatest impact, and by 2035, residents may spend more annually on home insurance than on groceries or property taxes.

Reported by Damian Bertrand, published June 23

USC president Amiridis gets a $150K raise

University of South Carolina President Michael Amiridis has been approved for a $150,000 raise, bringing his base salary to $1.3 million, with the potential to earn up to $1.65 million annually. The USC board of trustees also approved a supplemental compensation plan worth up to $1.75 million over five years, which vests in 2031 if Amiridis remains in his post. Board President Thad Westbrook praised Amiridis, saying the university is “thriving and flying higher than it ever has before.” Since taking the helm in 2022, Amiridis has overseen record fundraising, increased research funding, and rising enrollment while keeping tuition flat for in-state students. His new base salary slightly exceeds that of Clemson University President Kevin Guskiewicz, who recently signed a contract with a base salary of $1.216 million.

Reported by Zak Koeske, published June 20

Judge dismisses Boyd’s lawsuit against Spivey family lawyer

An Horry County judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Weldon Boyd, a North Myrtle Beach restaurant owner involved in a deadly road rage shooting. Boyd, one of two men who shot and killed Scott Spivey on Sept. 9, 2023, sued attorney Mark Tinsley in November, accusing him of creating a false narrative in media outlets to promote himself. Tinsley represents Spivey’s family in a wrongful death lawsuit against Boyd and Kenneth “Bradley” Williams. Judge Alex Hyman granted Tinsley’s motion to dismiss after careful consideration, though the reasoning has not been released. Boyd and Williams, who both claim self-defense, were not criminally charged after the state Attorney General ruled the shooting fell under South Carolina’s Stand Your Ground law. However, a judge in February denied them civil immunity, and a trial in the wrongful death case is currently set for December.

Reported by Kate Robins, published June 18

This story was originally published June 25, 2026 at 4:19 PM with the headline "The (Myrtle Beach) Sun News week in review."