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Organizers expect 5,000 for Saturday's King march
Organizers from the Rev. Jesse Jackson Rainbow/Push Coalition and national
NAACP President Kweisi Mfume and the NAACP predict about 5,000 people
will march Saturday to protest Greenville County Council's position on
a Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.The
State, Greenville
News, Spartanburg
Herald-Journal
DMV plans to offer Web services, Saturday hours
Division of Motor Vehicles offices will open on Saturdays to relieve congestion,
and South Carolina drivers will be able to renew their licenses on the
Internet this summer to help prevent the long DMV lines of last August.
Greenville
News, The
State, WYFF-TV,
WIS-TV,*
Post
and Courier
Hollings, McCain push for port security probe
U.S. Sens. Fritz Hollings and John McCain say there needs to be a federal
investigation of port security because $700 million -- including $10 million
for the Port of Charleston -- isn't enough to plug a huge hole in terror
defenses after Sept. 11's attacks. Post
and Courier.
Ports board approves soil testing
The State Ports Authority board has approved a key step in plans to expand
its operations in Charleston, authorizing soil testing at the old Navy
Base on the Cooper River. Spartanburg
Herald-Journal/AP
Sanford, board halt state leases
State agencies will have to wait at least three months before submitting
any office lease deals and a proposed Statehouse memorial to fallen
law enforcement officers may not be funded at all using state dollars,
according to Gov. Sanford. Greenville
News,
The State, WIS-TV,
Spartanburg
Herald-Journal/AP
Senate rejects cigarette tax on first vote
The state Senate rejected a 53-cent per pack increase in the cigarette
tax on its first test vote, a measure that some thought was essential
to shore up the state's Medicaid health care program for poor children
and the elderly. Greenville
News, WIS-TV,
Spartanburg
Herald-Journal/AP
Bush deputy to tackle minority issues in Greenville
Immigration, health care and other topics facing local Hispanics will
be discussed Saturday when a top Bush administration official, Ruben
Barrales, comes to Greenville for a town hall-style meeting. Greenville
News
Budget board delays retiree pay increase decision
The state Budget and Control Boards voted Thursday to delay approval
of cost-of-living adjustments for state retirees for a month. The
State/AP
General Assembly approves predatory lending compromise
The General Assembly approved a bill Thursday to tighten regulation
of high-interest loans to protect South Carolina consumers. The
State/AP,* Rock
Hill Herald
Panel broadens hog farm bill
A Senate Judiciary subcommittee broadened the scope of a bill Thursday
that would protect industry in South Carolina from tough land-use and
pollution rules imposed by counties. Spartanburg
Herald-Journal
* House budget uses funds meant for
Laffey
The House-approved version of the state's $5 billion budget is balanced
in part by using interest from two Patriot's Point bank accounts and
$7,000 in interest earned off private donations meant for maintaining
the destroyer Laffey. Post
and Courier
 Bankruptcy filings reach record levels
Bankruptcy filings have hit record levels in South Carolina and the United
States as the economic recovery struggles. The
State
Work to continue on road for auto research park
Greenville city officials said Thursday work will continue on $12 million
worth of roads on the site of a proposed automotive research and development
park over objections from the state agency that appropriated the funds.
Greenville
News, WYFF-TV
Spartanburg's Exopack buys four facilities
Spartanburg-based Exopack plans to widen its reach by buying four facilities
from Plassein International Corp. Spartanburg
Herald-Journal
* Armor Chassis closes doors
Armor Chassis LLC, which has been in Ridgeland since 1998, had been experiencing
financial hardships since last year, and finally had to close it's doors.
Carolina
Morning News
* Single-family sales boom along Grand
Strand
The number of single-family home closings in Horry County increased 42
percent during the first quarter of this year compared with the same period
a year ago, one of the biggest increases in the Carolinas. Myrtle
Beach Sun News
Parents, colleges waiting on tuition costs to be determined
Clemson and other state universities won't set tuition until they know
what the state budget will be, leaving graduating seniors and their
parents unsure of what a college education will cost. Greenville
News, The
State/AP
* Budget cuts have rural schools struggling
At least two-thirds of the state's 85 school districts are in rural
communities,which lack local industries to pump tax money into the schools
to offset cuts. Myrtle
Beach Sun News/AP
More students get chance for Jump Start
Greenville County School District's Jump Start program is being expanded
to include science and computer classes, some of which will be taught
on high school campuses. Greenville
News
S.C. State president up for vote today
South Carolina State University trustees will meet in Orangeburg today
possibly to select a new president. The
State
School board to lend SchoolBook Foundation $66,000
The Beaufort County school board has agreed to lend the SchoolBook Foundation
more than $66,000 to help make a payment on the foundation's debt of
more than a half-million dollars. Hilton
Head Island Packet
* Bamberg school calendar revised after
loss of day
Bamberg School District One has revised its school calendar for the
end of the year due to the day of classes the district lost when a water
main broke on May 8. Orangeburg
Times and Democrat
Mysterious illness threatens life of koala at Riverbanks Zoo
Veterinarians think a mysterious gastrointestinal disease has made one
of two koalas at Riverbanks Zoo gravely ill. The
State,* WLTX-TV
* Shrimpers optimistic for coming season
Despite initial misgivings from the S.C. Department of Natural Resources
on the number of roe shrimp that will be available when the season opens,
local fishermen are hoping that abundant rainfall and few cold days
this past winter will help end the slump.
Myrtle Beach Sun News
USC scientists make important discovery
A USC-led research team has found what could be a key tool in the effort
to build a better vaccine against the most deadly form of anthrax. The
State
* Oconee hospital vaccinates workers
Oconee Memorial Hospital has vaccinated nearly 30 employees, part of
the hospital’s smallpox preparedness team, as part of a nationwide
effort to enact a variety of anti-terrorism measures. Anderson
Independent Mail
* MUSC's board approves lease
The Medical University of South Carolina's Board of Trustees approved
an agreement to lease a portion of Doughty Street from the Department
of Veterans Affairs, for a new hospital in downtown Charleston. Post
and Courier
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Obituary
engine
You
can click on the links below and easily view today's Obituaries in each of the
following papers: | 
Greenville celebrates National Tourism Week
Visitors to Greenville County bring in more than $45 million annually,
enhancing the area's economy and reducing the tax burden on residents.
Greenville
News
District, GOP prepare for budget debate
Beaufort County Republicans and school district officials are preparing
for a showdown Monday over how much money local schools should see next
year. Beaufort
Gazette, Hilton
Head Island Packet
Contractor's failure to pay bills delays work for month
The final eight days of work to expand a five-mile portion of S.C. 280
from two lanes to five have been stalled for a month because the project's
contractor stopped paying its bills. Beaufort
Gazette
Ridgeland votes to increase taxes
Ridgeland Town Council members voted 4-1 Thursday night to pass first
reading of an ordinance to pass the 2003-04 budget, which includes a tax
increase and a business license fee increase. Beaufort
Gazette
No fee increase for PSD customers
No rate increase and more money at the end of the year than at the beginning
are called for in the Hilton Head No. 1 Public Service District's most
recent budget proposal. Hilton
Head Island Packet
* Bluffton budget calls for new officer,
no new taxes
Bluffton's $1.8 million budget calls for a new police officer, a new associate
municipal judge, and an increase in hours and duties. Carolina
Morning News
* Port hearing set for June
The South Carolina Supreme Court will hear arguments for and against Jasper
County's condemnation of land owned by Georgia south of Hardeeville for
a proposed deep-water shipping port on June 25. Carolina
Morning News
* Horry County plans road-fee increase
Horry County probably will increase the road maintenance fee paid on all
registered vehicles, from $15 to $20, which will help in avoiding a property-tax
increase. Myrtle
Beach Sun News
* Fort Mill rejects water, sewer service
plan
The Fort Mill Town Council has rejected further study of a proposal by
the York Countywide Water and Sewer Committee to consolidate water and
sewer service in Rock Hill. Rock
Hill Herald
* Charleston Council votes to close juvenile
detention center
Charleston County Council members voted Thursday to shut down the county
juvenile detention center in North Charleston to balance the county budget
without a tax increase. Post
and Courier
* Vote lets Summerville stores sell alcohol
on Sundays
Beer and wine can be sold in Summerville on Sundays from store shelves
as well as restaurant menus under a measure passed in a town referendum
Wednesday. Post
and Courier
* 2-hour pay for city workers is back
on council agenda
Last month Georgetown City Council decided to continue the two-hour minimum
pay guarantee for city workers who are called in to work when they are
not on duty, but the issue has been placed on the agenda for tomorrow
night’s council meeting as a discussion item. Georgetown
Times
| |
Letters
engine
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can click on the links below and easily view today's letters to the editor in
each of the following papers: | 
Crack down on drunk drivers
"Ty Couch, a 6-year-old Greenville boy known for his cheery smile,
was the latest victim of an alleged drunk driver in South Carolina.
The boy was riding with his father and older sister to the races at
the Greenville-Pickens Speedway on Saturday when their car was hit by
a Spartanburg motorist who was charged with DUI." Greenville
News
Health privacy law spurs confusion, calls for revision
"If you have been to the pharmacist's counter lately, you may have
seen signs encouraging you to wait in line several feet from the counter,
so that the customer in front can speak to the pharmacist without fearing
that you overhear anything about his medical needs." The
State
* Strong protection for borrowers;
now pass PSC consumer measure
"The bill against predatory lending approved by the Legislature
on Thursday provides needed protections for consumers, including those
with insufficient means to obtain conventional loans. It should be followed
by action on another pro-consumer bill that would provide for the long-overdue
reform of the state's Public Service Commission." Post
and Courier
Unfortunate attention
"Greenville County Council should have approved a paid holiday
honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. because of his unique role in the
civil rights movement that made this a better country and brought it
closer to the ideals at its very foundation. The council's stubborn
refusal to do so puts Greenville County on the wrong side of history."
Greenville
News
Gas tax can gain momentum this year
"A very significant thing happened at Monday's meeting of the Beaufort
County legislative delegation, when business leaders asked for a tax
increase."
Carolina Morning News
Affordable housing still too elusive
"Beaufort County's affordable housing efforts are beginning to
sound like a broken record. The public gets the same message time after
time, study after study." Beaufort
Gazette
Don't leave school needs in hands of a consultant
"The public should trust the Beaufort County Board of Education
on the budget needs of the school district, over a consultant to the
County Council."
Hilton Head Island Packet
* Local districts take the heat
"It's ironic that local school superintendents are lobbying state
lawmakers to give them the opportunity to be villains in the eyes of
taxpayers. And yet it may be the only way school districts can fulfill
their responsibility to educate students." Rock
Hill Herald
* Environmentalists could pave the
way for change
"We are disappointed in the S.C. Coastal Conservation League’s
intense and short-sighted opposition to attempts to land a connector
highway from the new Carolina Bays Parkway to U.S. Highway 701 south
of Conway." Georgetown
Times
Looking to ourselves for change best way to advance
"I believe, with God as our guide, the good-hearted and well-intentioned
citizens and leaders of Greenville will prevail and make the MLK holiday
a reality. This is just the first step in the healing process and our
community actually becoming the type of community that we portray ourselves
as being." Greenville
News
McMullen: A necessary debate on education spending
"The S.C. Policy Council recently released information that pointed
out less than half the education dollars are actually spent in the classroom.
Almost instantly, the scare tactics and misrepresentations began to
fly. Nina Brook's column ("Cut education and you'll get what you
pay for," May 1) addressing our analysis does not present a fair
or accurate picture of our position on education spending." The
State
Fitts: USC strives to lead in crowded field of the 'hydrogen economy'
"It's not much of a stretch to say that expectations are high for
South Carolina's foray into hydrogen fuel-cell engines." The
State
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