Monday, April 14, 2003 (Final edition posted at 8:30 a.m.)

Beware of that which you seek:
Rain douses Carolinas

After a few years of dealing with too little rain, now South Carolinians have too much.

March rainfall totals in the York County area, for example, were 13.5 inches -- more than 30 percent above normal.

That's caused flood warnings all across the state for Wateree, Congaree, Pee Dee, Edisto, Broad, Catawba, Black, Cape Fear, Lumber and Waccamaw rivers.

It's time now to fight for public schools

From the Sunday editorial in The State:

"Right now, a basic foundation of those communities is being undermined. Our public schools are threatened with the draining of their lifeblood, and it's being done so quietly that you may not see the damage until it is too late.

"The state spending plan that is moving through the Legislature proposes to take hundreds of millions of dollars from the basic state education funding formula. In real dollars, it would represent the lowest level of state spending on public schools since the mid-1990s. When you consider inflation, the state has never spent less on schools since the 1970s....

"If you care at all about the community where you live, do not let this happen. The only way our state lawmakers are going to own up to what they're doing, and, more important, fix it, is if their constituents raise a ruckus. There is still time to do that now, but it's running out."

• Brooks: Black Monday falls on Pickens
  "If it weren't for the pain and shock and the questions and the anger and enough cold liquid fear to swamp all 8,000 or so investors, this Carolina Investors story would seem like a made-for-television heartbreaker of a movie." Greenville News, Saturday.
• Brack: Securities bill on legislative fast track
  "The retired Easley police officer is one of 8,000 people, mostly from the northwestern part of the state, who put money in Carolina Investors, a hometown fixture that sold unsecured securities to the public and gave proceeds to a mortgage business operated by its parent company." S.C. Statehouse Report.

• Graham says King holiday should be paid
  U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham said Greenville County Council should make MLK Day a paid county holiday. Greenville News, Saturday.
• SC Commerce Secretary pressuring council on King holiday. Post and Courier/AP, Saturday.
  

Budget cuts might force state's prisons to lose accreditation
To save $250,000, the state has dropped accreditation contracts at four prisons and may have to drop accreditation by the American Correctional Association at 23 other prisons if budget woes don't go away. The State, Monday.

First drought, now too much rain
After a few years of dealing with too little rain, now South Carolinians have too much. The State/AP, Monday.

• State issues flood warnings. Flood warnings continued Sunday for the Wateree, Congaree, Pee Dee, Edisto, Broad, Catawba, Black, Cape Fear, Lumber and Waccamaw. WIS TV/AP.
  

Morris Island Lighthouse to be featured on postage stamp
Efforts to preserve the historic lighthouse off Folly Beach may get a boost as its image will be one of five lighthouses on a run of postage stamps, officials say. The State/AP, Saturday.

* Weir wins Masters
Canadian Mike Weir won the 67th Masters golf tournament in Augusta. Augusta Chronicle.

• Cabinet members. The State,Sunday.
• Sanford ready to deal on cigarette tax hike, income tax cut. The State/AP, Saturday; Post and Courier/AP, Saturday.
• Hoover: Boot camp is easier than dealing with legislature
  "If military training is about the art of the possible, getting a tax hike through a Republican legislature concurrent with a general tax cut in perilous economic times may be mission impossible. And Sanford is a Republican." Greenville News, Sunday.
• Sanford gets Wal-Mart smock; Altman has cheap shot at liberals. The State, Sunday.

Former governors say first legislative session is crucial
A first legislative session for a new governor is the time to take on tough issues. Gov. Mark Sanford says he's had to take a more deliberate tack due to the budget crisis. Greenville News, Monday.

• Hollings helps steer federal dollars to South Carolina. The State, Sunday.

• Edwards says South is key to Democratic presidential win. The State, Sunday.
• Kerry, Lieberman campaign Sunday in Upstate. Greenville News, Monday.
• Kerry delivers campaign speech in South Carolina; observer says he doesn't appeal to common man. Spartanburg Herald Journal.
• * Lieberman says race and religion won't be factors in 2004. Spartanburg Herald Journal/AP. ;* Myrtle Beach Sun News;* Florence Morning News.

Coleman sets frantic travel pace
Minnesota's new US Senator is a real comer, says SC GOP Chairman Katon Dawson. The New York Times.

US Senate vote gives president half of tax cut he wanted
US Rep. John Spratt said an earlier House deal would have been a bad deal. The New York Times.

* Wilson to be honored by Orangeburg group. Orangeburg Times and Democrat.

• Statehouse Week: Sanford dons smock; lobbyists lobby for their jobs, more. Post and Courier, Sunday.

Kuhn tries to calm storm around Myrtle Beach slur
State Sen. John Kuhn was enjoying Myrtle Beach Friday -- a week after slamming its tourism base. Post and Courier, Saturday.

• Laurens voters to elect new councilman. Greenville News, Sunday.
• Dorchester GOP picks council candidate in Tuesday election. Post and Courier, Sunday.

• McEntire airmen still hear the call of duty. More than 400 airmen remain on duty in the Middle East and still are busy with war operations. They try not to think yet about coming home. The State, Saturday.

• More than 100 gather to honor military, flag in Columbia. The State, Monday.
• More than 50 march for peace Saturday. The State, Sunday.
• Beaufort residents rally behind troops. Beaufort Gazette.
• * Clover woman uses Web site to support troops. Rock Hill Herald.
  

• Economy, war slow tourism growth in SC, officials say. The State/AP, Sunday.
• Small business still drives economy, but there are a few more big employers now in the state. The State, Sunday.
• Hilton Head ad campaign for tourism may suffer from budget cuts. Beaufort Gazette.
• With Saddam gone, Myrtle Beach hopes vacationers feel safer to visit. Myrtle Beach Sun News.
• Regional tourism efforts may take awhile. Myrtle Beach Sun News.

* Average 2002 earnings up in Charlotte-Rock Hill area. Rock Hill Herald.

• Top administrators retire, leave Charleston schools. Post and Courier, Saturday.

* Nationally-certified teachers want their bonuses
Teachers with national certification, promised $7,500 per year extra for studying and winning the accreditation, say they want their bonuses and don't want lawmakers to back out of their earlier promises. Sumter Item; Lancaster News.

SCHOOL CUTS: Cuts might not be as severe in Berkeley County.
Berkeley County school officials say their projected school deficit might not be as much as earlier predicted, but layoffs and cuts are still in the works. Post and Courier, Saturday.

• Several districts end summer school plans. Post and Courier/AP, Saturday.
• $4 million cut worries Kershaw school leaders. The State, Monday.
• * Georgetown schools' deficit projected to be $7.2 million. Georgetown Times.

• Citadel, other military schools have more applications due to war. The New York Times.

SC Republican congressmen push for nuclear power plant
Sandwiched in a federal energy package that has passed the US House is a proposal to look at a new nuclear power plant in the Aiken area. Post and Courier, Saturday.

* Coal-fired power plant considered for Lancaster County. Lancaster News.

Lawmakers steal from trust funds for wildlife, other interests
If you check off that you want some of your taxes used for special funds, it might not be used for that purpose, as highlighted by a story in The Charlotte Observer.

West Columbia, Cayce work hard to get Three Rivers Greenway built
Plans to expand the riverfront park are underway even though it's been open only six months. The State, Monday.

• Columbia's part of the Greenway trails West Columbia, Cayce. The State, Sunday.
• Columbia moves forward on two sections of Greenway near USC, Riverfront. The State, Sunday.

Horry, Georgetown have areas that desperately need water, sewer
While parts of the counties are among the wealthiest in the state, there are other areas where thousands don't have access to water and sewer service. Myrtle Beach Sun News.

Two people, six groups honored at historic preservation conference. The State, Saturday.

New federal privacy rules for health care to start today
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA, has new privacy rules that start Monday. Post and Courier, Saturday; * Anderson Independent Mail. ; * Rock Hill Herald.

MUSC forges ahead with dramatic hospital plan
The university, short on hospital beds, is moving forward with plans for a first phase of a new downtown facility ($226 million) that eventually will cost $1 billion and dramatically change Charleston's landscape. Post and Courier, Sunday; The State/AP, Saturday.

• HealthSouth's problems force it to scuttle plans for expansion in Pee Dee. The State, Saturday.

* Union hospital rejects Spartanburg group's management offer
Wallace Thomson Hospital has rejected a management offer by Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System. Union Daily Times.

* Springs Hospital's CEO wins award
Community Health Systems Inc. has named Dan McKay of Springs Memorial Hospital as CEO of the Year. Lancaster News.

State inspector checks restaurants' health
The Post and Courier offers a long story that describes state restaurant inspections and what eateries go through to maintain A health ratings. Post and Courier, Sunday.

Public health authorities prepare for SARS.
State health officials say they're coordinating efforts to be ready in case any cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome are manifest in the state. Post and Courier, Sunday; The State/AP, Sunday.

DSS, children's advocates make appeal to Upstate congregations for help. Greenville News, Monday.

Upstate social services, civic agencies want more black volunteers
They say having more diversity brings differing, healthy perspectives. Greenville News, Sunday.

Greenville seeks $53 million for new federal courthouse. Greenville News, Saturday.

Charleston works to develop new county election plan. The Post and Courier, Sunday.

Richland County may have second property tax hike in as many years.
County officials say they're reluctant to raise property taxes again, but they're reluctant to cut the public safety budget, which makes up more than half of county spending. The State, Monday.

Plaugh asks for second hearing
Fired a second time last week by the city of Columbia, former City Manager Leona Plaugh has asked for a second public hearing. The State, Saturday.

MCI may be sponsor for Heritage golf tournament
The Heritage Classic Foundation has signed a $22 million, four-year sponsorship deal for the golf tournament, but has remained mum about the sponsor. That may change this week if WorldCom renames itself MCI as expected. Beaufort Gazette.

Beaufort County Council to give final reading to budget. Beaufort Gazette.

• * Florence County Council to discuss $3.5 million deficit. Florence Morning News.
• * Florence County considers 2 percent hospital fee for capital projects. Florence Morning News.
• * Historic Charleston Foundation to hold property tax forum. Post and Courier, Monday.

* SC loses a soldier
"The euphoria over the recent rescue of Private Jessica Lynch in Iraq was tempered in sadness for South Carolina. The Palmetto State suffered the loss of its first soldier, Sgt. George E. Buggs, whose body was one of nine found when Pvt. Lynch was rescued from an Iraqui hospital." Anderson Independent Mail.

It's time to fight for public schools
"Right now, a basic foundation of those communities is being undermined. Our public schools are threatened with the draining of their lifeblood, and it's being done so quietly that you may not see the damage until it is too late. The state spending plan that is moving through the Legislature proposes to take hundreds of millions of dollars from the basic state education funding formula. In real dollars, it would represent the lowest level of state spending on public schools since the mid-1990s. When you consider inflation, the state has never spent less on schools since the 1970s." The State, Sunday.

* Reward certified teachers, don't cut them
"Once again some state lawmakers are zeroing in on bonuses for nationally certified teachers, saying they are too costly. The problem, it seems, is that this program worked too well. " Rock Hill Herald.

* Keeping Shaw open will require team effort
" ‘Shaw AFB To Close” is a headline we never want to publish in The Item. But the clock is ticking for the next round of base closures to be announced in November 2005. That is less than 21/2 years away and next year the Department of Defense will be working to that end by putting together a report on Sumter and Shaw Air Force Base. With an estimated economic impact of nearly $700 million ($870 million when you include retirees payroll), the devastation Sumter would experience if Shaw were to close cannot be underestimated." Sumter Item.

Sanford's idea for small schools could bust budgets
"Gov. Sanford wants South Carolina to have more neighborhood schools, with smaller student populations. It's a quaint and politically popular notion, but it has the potential to be enormously expensive for local school districts that already are suffering from the Legislature's painful budget cuts. " Greenville News, Monday.

Look at prison alternatives
"But there are alternatives for nonviolent and drug offenders that could be more effective and less expensive for the state and nation. Leaders should explore those alternatives." Spartanburg Herald Journal.

How can cutting taxes spur the state's economy?
"The governor is on the right track. South Carolinians must examine how we tax and spend. Still, the public needs more statistical information on how cutting taxes will spur the economy." Beaufort Gazette.

Dredge spoil legislation needs to die
"Legislation that could lead to pollution of Calibogue Sound remains on track in the South Carolina Senate after a public airing Thursday, and that is unfortunate for the public. This legislation needs to die." Hilton Head Island Packet.

Greenville County Council should reconsider MLK vote
"Greenville County Council has an opportunity Tuesday night to reconsider its vote against a paid holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement that he led. Doing so will help move Greenville County past a horribly divisive controversy that threatens to damage economic development and leave ill will in this community." Greenville News, Sunday.

• Brown: Resolution on MLK holiday must be reached
  "We applaud the members of County Council who have supported constructive solutions to this issue and ask the rest of the Council to do likewise. To delay an acceptable solution to this contentious and damaging discussion is to jeopardize the very future of a community, region and state we all care for. " Greenville News, Sunday.

Cutting education remediation programs is bad idea
"Expanding summer school to help underachieving students — and raise academic standards throughout the state — was one of the Legislature's best ideas. Cutting those same programs represents a distressing step backward for public education." Greenville News, Sunday.

Phony bonus proposed for state employees
"But giving some employees a pay raise that will result in their colleagues being laid off, or that will result in their take-home pay being cut through furloughs, is no way to do that. That kind of dishonest and hurtful action has no place in our state government. The Senate should quickly reject it. If there's no money for bonuses, admit that, and move on." The State, Monday.

Bush administration must keep promise to textile industry
"The administration must remain faithful to its promise to fight for the industry as it pursues the larger, laudable goal of expanding markets for US industry." Greenville News, Saturday.

Thumbs up: BMW training program
"Thumbs up to BMW for its generous and enthusiastic support of the Call Me Mister program at Clemson University. BMW has donated $150,000 to the program to help train critically needed black male teachers." Greenville News, Saturday.

House shows common-sense approach
"When representatives were ready to debate one of the hottest items of the year, a measure to regulate predatory lending, they passed over the bill that House leaders had introduced and instead debated the bill that the Senate had passed the previous week." The State, Monday.

Columbia doctor's remarks hurt cap efforts
"A Columbia doctor's insensitive comments hurt the legitimate effort to cap jury awards for medical malpractice." Greenville News, Monday.

Guillory: Tie cigarette tax to number of butts on ground
"Cigarette-butt refuse is not something that smokers can blame on the tobacco companies -- "They greased the filters so they just slid right out of my hand!" -- and it's not something that will ever get blamed on nonsmokers. Cigarette butts trashing the sides of the roads are a direct result of smokers who are too lazy or inconsiderate to properly dispose of their waste." The State, Monday.

Floyd: Keep research universities in current system
"A strong, centralized agency assures South Carolina that all public colleges and universities must work together to reach the state's goals, not just the goals of a single institution. And from listening to hundreds of institutional requests, commissioners will tell you that the state's goals and individual college's goals are not always the same." The State, Sunday.

* Hill: Orangeburg is mecca for education
"Toward these ends, the institutions of higher education in Orangeburg County and neighboring Bamberg County appear poised to become Meccas." Orangeburg Times and Democrat.

Wooten: Taxpayers face test on educational accountability
"Final question: What will guarantee South Carolina's failure on the "educational accountability" test? Ominous answer: Not giving our public schools a fighting chance to implement it." Post and Courier, Sunday.

Wilkins: Medicaid funding should come from unfair tax
"In the past few weeks, the S.C. House fully funded Medicaid in the budget without raising taxes and passed a landmark Medicaid reform package that ensures in the future we will not continue to throw good money at a broken program. I submit that is what real leadership is all about." Spartanburg Herald Journal.

Sanford: Raise cigarette tax; lower income tax
"In the meantime, I'll make two commitments: If a cigarette tax comes my way without accompanying reform and offsetting tax cuts, I will veto it, period. Second, if we don't get income tax reform this way, we'll be looking for other ways to make it happen." Spartanburg Herald Journal

* Behre: Fort Sumter faces test of dealing with time's withering effects
"The National Park Service is finishing a $250,000 repair job to ensure that the preserved ruin of Fort Sumter doesn't become even more of a ruin." Post and Courier.

Herbkersman: Real estate transfer fee creates buzz.
"House bill 3803, allowing the real estate transfer fee, was a big buzz in the House this week. This bill, which I am sponsoring along with Reps. Jo Anne Gilham and Walter Lloyd of the Beaufort County delegation, is currently in committee and attracting a tremendous amount of lobbying." Carolina Morning News.

Brown: Troops to Teachers could fill gap
"South Carolina, like most states today, faces a shortage of teachers in core subjects such as math and science in the coming years. One innovative solution to this problem is already under way: the Troops to Teachers program." Myrtle Beach Sun News.

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