Charleston has finalized a settlement over the controversial removal of the John C. Calhoun statue from Marion Square in 2020.

 

The city will transfer ownership of the statue to the Calhoun Monument Preservation Society, which aims to reinstall it somewhere in the Lowcountry.

 

The monument, honoring John C. Calhoun—a former vice president and outspoken supporter of slavery—was taken down following nationwide protests for racial justice.

 

After the city council’s unanimous decision, crews spent over 17 hours dismantling the statue, which once stood near the historic Mother Emanuel AME Church.

 

A lawsuit by the American Heritage Association claimed the removal breached the state’s Heritage Act, leading to the recent agreement.

 

Plans for the statue’s new public display have yet to be announced, and community reactions remain divided as officials weigh the monument’s significance in Charleston’s evolving landscape.

Governor Andy Beshear is capturing national attention for his ability to win and govern effectively in deeply Republican Kentucky.

 

Now chair-elect of the Democratic Governors Association for the 2026 midterms, Beshear is set to steer his party’s national strategy.

 

Emphasizing jobs, health care, education, transportation, and public safety, Beshear urges Democrats to focus on the real-life concerns of voters, especially in regions that have turned red.

 

His Christian faith and belief in treating everyone as a neighbor guide his unifying, compassionate political style.

 

Beshear also criticizes federal tax and spending cuts that hurt rural and Southern communities, particularly Medicaid access and hospital funding.

 

He’s credited with Kentucky’s $6.9 billion in new economic investments and thousands of new jobs in 2024, plus a 30.2% drop in overdose deaths.

 

Championing universal preschool and clear, relatable communication, Beshear’s approach offers Democrats a proven path to success in conservative states.