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State budget gets unexpected infusion of life-saving
cash
The state will get more than $250 million over the next 18 months from
a federal program that stems from the $350 billion tax cut. The extra
money should shore up Medicaid costs and cut the need for a cigarette
tax, state leaders said. Others said the one-time money still doesn't
solve huge education funding gaps and longer term solutions. Greenville
News, Saturday.; Post
and Courier, Saturday;
Thousands of emotionally disturbed SC kids are getting
overlooked
State officials say thousands of kids in South Carolina with emotional
disturbances are being overlooked because there are as many as 10 agencies
with the responsibility to care for them. Because of fragmented services,
they often get sicker and further behind in school, according to a study
by the Greenville News. Greenville
News, Sunday.
Thousands of black bikers meet along Grand Strand
Black Biker Week remains a huge gathering, but some say the steam is going
out of its sails with a discrimination lawsuit and other controversies.
Post
and Courier, Sunday.
Funding cuts to kill Upstate monitoring program for halfway
houses
State budget cuts will cut a program that allows the state to monitor
progress of about 100 people in halfway houses. They'll be left on their
own after June 30. Greenville
News, Monday, Spartanburg
Herald-Journal/AP, Tuesday
Highway department wrestles with what to do on 99 kinds
of license plates
Some say it's costly to offer so many kinds of tags; others say it's a
safety issue because a plethora of tags make it difficult for officers
on traffic stops. Greenville
News, Monday.
Troops' e-mails tell story of Iraq war
Humorous, mundane, lonely, grisly. E-mails collected from SC troops by
the S.C. Confederate Relic Room and Museum in Columbia tell the story
of the war on terrorism. Post
and Courier, Monday.
State's lynching law fuels controversy
In an odd twist, South Carolina's lynching law, a remnant of the past
to protect blacks from white mobs, is more likely to be used to charge
blacks than whites. Post
and Courier/AP, Monday.
Hollings to run again for U.S. Senate
In what has been the most awaited for political announcement of the
year, U.S. Sen. Fritz Hollings, a 37-year Senate veteran, said he would
run again. Greenville
News, Saturday.; The
State, Sunday.
Hoover: Tenenbaum already starts on 2006 election
"Tenenbaum is seen as the only Democrat capable of attracting crossover
votes on her own, without motivation by serious Republican gaffes or
voter disapproval, such as benefited Jim Hodges in 1998's governor's
race." Greenville
News, Sunday.
Bandy: What GOP minority outreach?
"The South Carolina Republican Party's minority outreach effort
is a joke. In fact, it's nonexistent." The
State, Sunday.
Statehouse Roundup
The Senate budget heads back to the House, and more of the recent legislative
week. The
State, Sunday.
Sanford takes on restructuring torch
The governor's effort to restructure government has been low-key, observers
say, but it's the first year of a three year process. Post
and Courier/AP, Saturday.
Lawmaker takes on surcharge
State Sen. John Hawkins opposes a $25 ticket fee despite lots of lobbying
by cops and prosecutors. Post
and Courier/AP, Monday.
Parties not asked to participate in Boys' State
After controversial comments last year by the chairs of the state Democratic
and Republican parties, Boys' State officials elected to have no comments
from this year's chairs. The
State, Sunday; Post
and Courier, Saturday.
Political buzz: Bush officials might steer clear of BMW plant
Now that two White House officials that have visited the Spartanburg
BMW facility have moved on, the Buzz speculates that those who want
to stay in the Cabinet won't visit. The
State, Sunday.
Legislation will help protect animal aids
Legislation has been approved that would create new safeguards for dogs
and other service animals that aid blind and disabled people. The
State, Tuesday
Bill calls for flying POW/MIA flag on state buildings
A Greenwood legislator is pushing a bill that would require flying a
black and white flag honoring prisoners of war and soldiers missing
in action on some state buildings six days each year. The
State/AP, Tuesday
* S.C., Horry leaders to lobby for
I-73
S.C. tourism and business leaders on Friday will get the opportunity
to tell a U.S. congressman how important they think an interstate connection
is. Myrtle
Beach Sun News, Tuesday
 Carolina Investors depositors may get pennies on dollars
A bankruptcy examiner said in a surprising report that the best thing
to do for depositors with Carolina Investors and its parent HomeGold Financial
would be to liquidate and pay back as much as it could -- probably 8 cents
on the dollar. Greenville
News, Saturday.
Developer says auto research park is underway
Miami developer Cliff Rosen told an Upstate audience that a proposed auto
research park that could employ thousands is underway. Post
and Courier/AP Saturday.
Columbia set to help smaller contractors
The city is set to implement new rules that will help it award contracts
to more female and minority contractors. The
State, Monday.
South Carolinians are charitable
A study shows South Carolinians give away 8.5 percent of discretionary
income -- higher than the national average. The
State, Sunday.
Upstate companies have finalists for entrepreneur of year. Greenville
News, Saturday.
Rains hurt state's golfing industry
The state's golf courses might have lush, green grass, but too much rain
has made business soggy. The
State, Sunday; Post
and Courier/AP, Monday.
Charleston goes digital
The city is using marketing tools to try to attract high-tech companies
to Charleston. Post
and Courier, Monday.
Some Charleston stores collecting extra sales tax that hasn't been
approved
A handful of stores have been collecting an extra half-cent local sales
tax that hasn't been authorized yet. Post
and Courier, Saturday.
Peoples Building in Charleston to auction eight units. Post
and Courier, Saturday.
Clemson's ag school transforms from low-tech to high-tech
Agriculture school used to be about plowing and seeds. Now, Clemson's
ag school is becoming better known for biotechnology and genetics. Greenville
News, Monday, The
State/AP, Tuesday
Budget cuts cause students' uncertainties in Greenville
Because of budget cuts and delays, many students still don't know whether
they'll be able to get the classes they need next year to graduate.
Greenville
News, Monday.
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Midlands educators urge students to seek summer
learning alternatives. The
State, Monday.
* State's testing program ranked 11th
in nation
In "Testing the Testers 2003: An Annual Ranking of State Accountability
Systems," South Carolina's testing program for meeting the criteria
of the federal No Child Left Behind Act was ranked 11th best in the
nation.
Florence Morning News, Tuesday
Laurens boosts scholarship applications
There's been about a 40 percent in the number of Laurens County students
applying for scholarships following a local push by school officials.
Greenville
News, Sunday
Berkeley renovates schools with new buildings
Just four years ago, Berkeley County's schools were pitiful. Now with
a $192 million building program, new schools offer lots of new choices
and opportunities. Post
and Courier, Sunday.
More than 600 graduate from Johnson & Wales in Charleston.
Post
and Courier, Sunday.
College Upward Bound program gets $5.2 million in grants. The
State, Sunday.
Lexington student to deliver Harvard's Latin graduation speech.
The
State, Sunday.
TCL to start X-ray technician program
Technical College of the Lowcountry will have a new X-ray technician
program this August but will have to wait another semester for a surgical
technician program because of a lack of money.
Hilton Head Island Packet, Tuesday
* Georgetown board considers cutbacks
to balance school budget Myrtle
Beach Sun News, Tuesday
* Fort Mill divided on issue of second
high school
School board members in Fort Mill are considering building a second
high school to handle the student population, which has grown by 37
percent during the past five years. Rock
Hill Herald, Tuesday
Salamanders thriving in South Carolina
One of the best ways to keep tabs on the health of wetlands is through
the salamander population, which is thriving these days after six months
of wet weather. Post
and Courier, Monday.
State may get federal help to test beach water
The state Department of Health and Environmental Control is poised to
get $300,000 from the federal government to monitor water at more than
100 public beaches. Post
and Courier, Sunday.
SRS soon to make first shipment of converted nuclear fuel for reactors.
Post
and Courier/AP, Saturday.
New water plant in Lugoff-Elgin to start construction soon.
The
State, Monday.
SC weather alert system expanding
The National Weather Service and the South Carolina Emergency Management
Division are expanding weather radio coverage in South Carolina with
plans to add seven new transmitters next month. Greenville
News, Tuesday
* Georgetown considers ordinance forbidding
large hog farms
Concern over water pollution caused by industrial hog farms is driving
Georgetown County Council to push through an ordinance against them.
Myrtle
Beach Sun News, Tuesday
* Southern shrimpers try to keep up
with competition
Southern shrimpers have a new marketing campaign in their fight to stay
in business while in competition against pond-raised shrimp from abroad,
emphasizing that American shrimp are wild, not farm raised. WCIV-TV,
Tuesday
* Planners hope to save lighthouse
Volunteers are proposing to construct a concrete, steel and rock base
around the Morris Island Lighthouse to strengthen its foundation and
prevent further erosion. Post
and Courier, Tuesday
Area better prepared for hurricane evacuation
Recent equipment upgrades in outlying counties will help local residents
evacuate for a hurricane in Jasper and Hampton counties. Beaufort
Gazette, Tuesday, Hilton
Head Island Packet, Tuesday
Bar coding becoming standard in patient care
Spartanburg Regional has used a bar-coding system for years, and other
hospitals are likely to follow now that the Federal Drug Administration
is preparing regulations to require pharmaceutical manufacturers to
bar-code drugs to reduce errors that injure and kill thousands of
Americans every year. Greenville
News, Tuesday
* Doctors opening dialysis clinics
in 3 sites in Orangeburg County
The South Carolina Nephrology and Hypertension team has announced
the opening of a new dialysis facility, the Orangeburg Dialysis Center.
Orangburg
Times and Democrat, Tuesday
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Thousands celebrate Freedom Weekend Aloft in Anderson
The well-known balloon festival featured 90 balloons soaring over onlookers.
More than 200,000 people are predicted to have participated in the weekend
festival. Greenville
News, Monday.
Property taxes to go up in Anderson County
Many will see property tax bills go up soon because of a recent reassessment.
Greenville
News, Sunday.
Trial wrapup: Charleston libel trial takes big toll
A $9 million verdict that may never be paid isn't the only big result
from the recent two-week long libel trial involving attorneys, a big TV
station and a convicted felon/former news director. Post
and Courier, Sunday.
Charleston's Greenberg shrugs criticism; others steam
Charleston's high-profile police chief Reuben Greenberg recently has been
on the giving end of some controversial comments, but he's still supported
by city leaders. Others aren't as generous with their comments. Post
and Courier, Sunday.
South Congaree debates its budget. The
State, Monday.
Richland food tax could help build sports complex. The
State, Monday.
Spoleto ticket sales set record
Weekend box office sales of $151,000 broke all records in the arts festival's
26-year history, an encouraging sign to organizers worried about the effect
of a weak national economy on festival sales. The
State/AP, Tuesday
Greer Mental Health clinic prepares for larger building
Site preparations will begin by month's end for a new, 9,000-square-foot
building to be owned by the S.C. Department of Mental Health, which will
replace a 4,000-square-foot leased building currently in use. Spartanburg
Herald-Journal, Tuesday
Beaufort County looks to cut $4 million from budget
The Beaufort County Council wants to cut more than $4 million from a proposed
$61.1 million budget to avoid a 2 percent tax increase and to preserve
its savings. Beaufort
Gazette, Tuesday
Beaufort lowers fees for rehabilitation in Historic District
In an effort to improve the upkeep of Beaufort's homes, the city has agreed
to reduce fees associated with the demolition or rehabilitation of vacant
and run-down properties in the Historic District. Beaufort
Gazette, Tuesday
* Conway approves
plan to defeat deficit
Conway City Council members agreed on a plan to take care of a deficit
of more than $360,000 to balance the proposed 2003-04 budget without raising
property taxes.
Myrtle Beach Sun News, Tuesday
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Letters
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Budget aid helps, but more needed
"Even with the federal assistance, South Carolina's budget will contain
significant cuts without the cigarette tax increase. This infusion of
one-time federal money, even if it is for two years, doesn't absolve state
legislators for irresponsible budget decisions made in recent years. This
state needs tax reform, and Gov. Sanford needs to become a more forceful
and persuasive advocate of it — if not next week, then next year.
Greenville
News, Sunday.
State should raise taxes to deal with long-term needs
"We should use this budget crisis as the impetus to finally address
all these problems. If our legislators cannot do that, they still have
to address our immediate needs. Lawmakers should increase the cigarette
tax (which nearly everyone outside the State House supports) and impose
whatever other tax increases are needed to meet these basic, essential
needs. " The
State, Sunday.
Stop raiding budget trust funds
"The House of Representatives' attempted raid of a state account
set up for the destroyer Laffey, a museum ship at Patriot's Point, is
unjustified and counterproductive. " Post
and Courier, Monday.
Borrowers get new protection
"House and Senate negotiators have settled upon an antipredatory
lending law that will provide this state's most vulnerable and unsophisticated
borrowers protection from exploitative lenders." Greenville
News, Tuesday
Veto partisan school board bill
"Gov. Mark Sanford should veto an ill-considered bill to provide
partisan elections for the Charleston County School Board. A veto would
be consistent with the governor's opposition to state lawmakers dabbling
in local government." Post
and Courier, Sunday.
* Smaller schools for S.C.'s future
"Gov. Mark Sanford's plan to place limits on school enrollments was
tabled recently by a House committee that screens education legislation.
But his neighborhood-schools concept, though temporarily sidetracked,
should get another chance in next year's legislative session." Post
and Courier, Tuesday
Time for legislators to show true colors on campaign reform
"Through five years of debate and non-debate and negotiations and
stalls, cynics have charged that the House's enthusiastic support of campaign
finance reform had less to do with principle than with sticking it to
the Democrats. They've charged that the Senate never wanted any type of
reform, but worked very hard to make it look like senators were supporting
reform, while stopping just short of allowing it to happen, to avoid owning
up publicly to their opposition." The
State, Tuesday
* Drug bill's fate up to S.C. Senators
"S.C. senators today can help make our state one of the first to
do something about the plight facing seniors who need prescriptions to
preserve their quality of life. Senators can pass, unamended, a bill that
would allow the state to buy prescription drugs in bulk and sell them
to older South Carolinians at cost." Myrtle
Beach Sun News, Tuesday
Watershed trail moves closer to reality in Greenville
"A 12-mile hiking trail through the Greenville watershed moved closer
to reality last week following the strong support of the Greenville City
Council. The trail will be a safe and appealing addition to the 425-mile
Palmetto Trail." Greenville
News, Monday.
* Younger veterans should support patriotic
groups
"There could have been more people to turn out for the first Memorial
Day parade in Greenwood Sunday. Nevertheless, the parade to honor Americans
who lost their lives in the defense of this country was a success. Those
in attendance enjoyed and appreciated the effort with a patriotic theme."
Greenwood
Index- Journal, Tuesday
Begin hurricane season with solid personal plan
"Hurricane season begins next week, which is the earliest warning
for everyone in the Lowcountry. The warning is: Be prepared." Hilton
Head Island Packet, Tuesday
- * Officials need help planning for
natural disasters
"It is interesting and perhaps a bit alarming to note that after
thousands of man-hours spent planning for hurricanes and other natural
disasters, those plans are still not set in stone." Carolina
Morning News, Tuesday
Miami adds weight
"The likely defection of Big East members Miami, Boston College and
Syracuse to the venerable ACC would be quite a coup for the league and
Clemson University athletics." Greenville
News, Tuesday
Court sides with teen in N.J. T-shirt case
"A victory for a New Jersey teenager in a school-attire, free-speech
case may not mean a victory for Beaufort County teens who want to wear
shirts adorned with the Confederate flag." Beaufort
Gazette, Tuesday
Barrett: Patriotism is essential to country
"Patriotism, however, is more than risking your life for your fellow
countryman. It includes volunteering your time to help those less fortunate,
sending care packages to soldiers far from home, participating in your
community and exercising your right to vote. Healthy patriotism is as
essential to a nation as is a dynamic economy and a strong national defense."
Greenville
News, Monday.
Harner and Reece: Budget cuts will hurt education
"Education in South Carolina and Greenville County will certainly
move backward as a result of continuing state budget cuts." Greenville
News, Sunday.
Scoppe: S.C. needs to acknowledge new economy, add sales tax to services
"Ed Robinson is right. We shouldn't just tax dry cleaners. His solution
is backwards, though. We should tax all services -- or at least a lot
more than we're taxing today." The
State, Tuesday
Brack: Clyburn Connector doesn't pass smell test
"We believe it's in the best interest of the people of South Carolina
to keep the habitat between Lone Star and Rimini free from a bridge that
could cause adverse environmental and economic impact. Instead, we believe
Congressman Clyburn should help steer the $83 million to bridge repair
projects throughout the state to protect the safety of drivers and their
families." The
State, Saturday.
Brack: Philosophy versus reality equals gridlock
"Winner of the week: the philosophy that the state needs to "live
within its means" - - even at the expense of seniors and students."
S.C.
Statehouse Report
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