Alex Murdaugh’s defense team is demanding state investigators turn over information about allegations that Lowcountry police officers helped dispose of murder weapons and bloody clothing. A proposed bill in Congress could allow South Carolina homeowners to transfer ultra-low mortgage rates to new properties, potentially loosening the tight housing market. The Charleston Wine + Food Festival will launch ticket sales next week for its 2027 edition.

We’re going to catch you up on these and other top stories from The Post and Courier for Thursday, Oct. 1.

Murdaugh lawyers demand more info on supposed murder cover-up

Defense lawyers for disbarred lawyer Alex Murdaugh are demanding that state investigators provide information regarding allegations that Yemassee police officers transported and handled murder weapons and bloody clothing after Maggie and Paul Murdaugh were shot to death June 7, 2021. A state grand jury has been investigating claims since at least August that police officials helped dispose of evidence. Murdaugh was convicted of murdering his family in 2023 but was granted a retrial by the S.C. Supreme Court in May due to prejudicial comments made to jurors; he is scheduled to be tried again in April in Sumter County.

NBA teams get plenty out of their time in Charleston, but so does The Citadel

The Charlotte Hornets are returning to The Citadel for their second consecutive year of preseason training camp, and the Boston Celtics will arrive Oct. 4 for three days of practice. The Citadel’s McAlister Field House, which features three full-length basketball courts under one roof, has attracted multiple NBA franchises including the Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks. The Hornets paid approximately $25,000 for five days of facility use, while the Celtics will pay around $15,000. The Citadel’s basketball players benefit from observing NBA-level training and professionalism.

Bill in Congress would allow SC homeowners to carry their ultra-low mortgage rates to a new house

A proposed federal bill could allow homeowners with ultra-low pandemic-era mortgage rates to transfer those rates to new properties, potentially loosening inventory in South Carolina’s tight housing market. The MOVE Act would apply only to conventional mortgages and would require Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to begin buying and bundling portable mortgages within 180 days of passage. Rising mortgage rates above 7 percent have contributed to an affordability crisis in Charleston, where inventory has dropped from 2,612 homes in 2018 to 1,507 as of August 2026.

Charleston Wine + Food tickets go on sale next week. Here’s what you need to know before the launch.

Tickets for the 2027 Charleston Wine + Food Festival, scheduled for March 3-7, will go on sale at 11 a.m. on Oct. 8, with prices starting at $75. The festival will feature approximately 90 citywide events including tasting events, signature meals, excursions, hands-on classes and a new category called “late nights” inspired by restaurant kitchens after closing. Notable experiences include Fire + Fin at The Dunlin, where attendees will watch bluefin tuna caught and prepared by local fishermen and chefs, and the return of the three-day Culinary Village at The Citadel’s Johnson Hagood Stadium.

Dog leash rules change Oct. 1 on Charleston-area beaches. Here’s when your pup can roam.

Starting Oct. 1, dogs will have expanded hours to roam off-leash at three Charleston-area beaches as summer restrictions end. On Sullivan’s Island, dogs can run off-leash between 5 a.m. and noon; on Isle of Palms, off-leash hours extend from 4 p.m. to 10 a.m. through March 31; and on Folly Beach, dogs are allowed all day but must remain leashed at all times. All three beaches require dog licenses or rabies vaccinations depending on the location.

This news briefing was created with the assistance of AI to summarize stories. The briefing was edited by a Post and Courier journalist before it was published.