Jessica Holdman

Jessica Holdman

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Jessica Holdman is a senior reporter for the SC Daily Gazette. She has more than a decade of newspaper experience, most recently with The Post and Courier. Before moving to South Carolina in 2019, she worked for newspapers in North Dakota, Washington and her home state of Missouri. Her reporting has won awards from the North Dakota and South Carolina press associations. Jessica reports on South Carolina’s workforce, the economy and higher education.

SC agency considers entering the carbon business to improve state forests
South Carolina

SC agency considers entering the carbon business to improve state forests

Jul 10, 2026
Jessica Holdman
COLUMBIA — South Carolina could generate money to manage the state’s protected forests by selling credits to polluting companies. Exactly how that might work remains unknown. The state Department of Natural Resources is paying a consultant nearly $110,000 to report...
University of Georgia provost named Clemson’s new president
South Carolina

University of Georgia provost named Clemson’s new president

Jul 09, 2026
Jessica Holdman
CLEMSON — Clemson University’s governing board on Thursday selected University of Georgia provost Benjamin Ayers as the college’s 16th president. Ayers’ selection to lead the 30,000-student university came four days after the previously chosen candidate, Kevin Guskiewicz, unexpectedly opted to...
SC back-to-school tax savings holiday set for Aug. 7-9
South Carolina

SC back-to-school tax savings holiday set for Aug. 7-9

Jul 08, 2026
Jessica Holdman
South Carolina shoppers can again take advantage of 72 hours of savings on school supplies, clothing, computers and more during the state’s annual sales tax holiday next month. Tax Free Weekend falls a little later this year: Aug. 7-9. That’s...
Decision on potential $2.7B sale of SC nuclear reactors could be 2 years away
South Carolina

Decision on potential $2.7B sale of SC nuclear reactors could be 2 years away

Jul 07, 2026
Jessica Holdman
South Carolina’s state-owned utility company announced a key deadline for the potential $2.7 billion sale of a pair of partially built nuclear reactors in the Palmetto State. Santee Cooper will know by the end of March 2028 whether the deal...
Clemson’s search for college president continues after new hire opts to remain in Michigan
South Carolina

Clemson’s search for college president continues after new hire opts to remain in Michigan

Jul 06, 2026
Jessica Holdman
CLEMSON — Clemson University’s search for a new president resumed Monday after the chosen candidate opted to stay in Michigan. Less than six weeks after agreeing to lead the Upstate university, Kevin Guskiewicz informed the college’s governing board he would...
SC now requires American-made steel for roads, bridges and other public projects
South Carolina

SC now requires American-made steel for roads, bridges and other public projects

Jul 04, 2026
Jessica Holdman
COLUMBIA — Nearly all taxpayer-funded construction projects must be built using U.S.-made steel and iron under a new law signed by Gov. Henry McMaster. The law, pushed by South Carolina steel companies, passed through the General Assembly with almost no...
Scientists who identified remains of Revolutionary war soldier from Maryland hope to name others
Maryland

Scientists who identified remains of Revolutionary war soldier from Maryland hope to name others

Jul 04, 2026
Jessica Holdman
CAMDEN, SC — Fourteen unknown soldiers who died in the Battle of Camden are one step closer to being identified 246 years after their deaths. With one soldier named last month, a team of archaeologists, preservationists, genealogy and DNA experts...
Scientists identify a soldier who died in the 1780 Battle of Camden, hold out hope of naming others
South Carolina

Scientists identify a soldier who died in the 1780 Battle of Camden, hold out hope of naming others

Jul 02, 2026
Jessica Holdman
CAMDEN — Fourteen unknown soldiers who died in the Battle of Camden are one step closer to being identified 246 years after their deaths. With one soldier named last month, a team of archaeologists, preservationists, genealogy and DNA experts hold...
Clemson University veterinary students will provide on-farm care
South Carolina

Clemson University veterinary students will provide on-farm care

Jun 30, 2026
Jessica Holdman
CLEMSON — Veterinarians in training at Clemson University will make farm calls, helping fill shortages in rural South Carolina. As part of the curriculum at its new vet school — which admits its first class this fall — Clemson veterinary...
SC counties enacting data center moratoriums
South Carolina

SC counties enacting data center moratoriums

Jun 26, 2026
Jessica Holdman
Absent statewide rules, South Carolina counties are hitting pause on the development of data centers to give them time to set their own standards. Meanwhile, hundreds of residents showed up for a three-hour meeting in downtown Spartanburg Thursday evening with...
THC hemp products remain legal for all in SC after efforts to limit sales fails
South Carolina

THC hemp products remain legal for all in SC after efforts to limit sales fails

Jun 25, 2026
Jessica Holdman
COLUMBIA — South Carolinians, including teens, can continue to buy hemp products infused with THC at grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants and vape shops across the state after legislators failed to reach a consensus on regulating the intoxicating gummies and...
SC Democrat for governor makes first post-primary pitch to voters
South Carolina

SC Democrat for governor makes first post-primary pitch to voters

Jun 24, 2026
Jessica Holdman
COLUMBIA — A day after Republicans selected their choice for governor, the Democrat in the race asked South Carolinians to shift their focus to November. State Rep. Jermaine Johnson of Hopkins made his first public post-primary pitch to Palmetto State...