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Shaw to consolidate fighter squadrons
Shaw
Air Force Base will combine its four F-16 fighter units into three by giving the
78th "Bushmasters" Fighter Squadron on inactive status. The
State DMV employees get inspiration
South Carolina
Division of Motor Vehicles employees took a day off Wednesday for a training seminar
in Columbia focused on making them better at serving the public. WYFF-TV,
WSPA-TV
Beware
of Sierra Leone e-mail plea
If an e-mail comes in with a subject line in
all caps: URGENT ASSISTANCE NEEDED, don't open it! Greenville
News
Sanford,
House debate use of federal aid
With his tax plan tangled up in a Senate
bog, Gov. Mark Sanford on Wednesday urged lawmakers to spend the more than $100
million in a federal budget aid package announced last week on education and health
care needs. Greenville
News, The
State/AP *
Erwin wins Democratic chairmanship, faces difficult role
Party activists
are questioning whether Joe Erwin’s advertising blitz is a sign that funding
will play as central a role in shaping party priorities as they claim it did under
Harpootlian’s controversial tenure. Charleston
City Paper * Tuomey workers urge Senate
to back cigarette tax
Debate over the proposed cigarette tax hike and the
attached income tax reduction reached a frenzied level Tuesday as hundreds of
health-care workers from across South Carolina, including some from Tuomey Regional
Medical Center in Sumter, lobbied at the Statehouse for more adequate Medicaid
funding. The
Item
Herlong ends run for US House
Seven weeks after promising to work for economic recovery and the region's share
of federal funds, Greenville school trustee William Herlong on Wednesday quit
his race for the 4th Congressional District GOP primary field. Greenville
News Investment reform bill close to passage
Legislation
generated by the fall of Carolina Investors Inc. was aimed for passage late Wednesday
as both the House and Senate adopted a joint conference committee report and prepared
the bill for Gov. Mark Sanford's signature. Greenville
News, WSPA-TV
Congressman Wilson travel overseas
US Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C.,
traveled to North Korea on Wednesday in an effort to improve relations between
the rogue nuclear state and the United States. The
State
Hog farm bill heads to Senate
A bill prohibiting counties
from strictly regulating poultry and cattle farms, but still letting them to pass
tough hog farm rules, is headed to the S.C. Senate for consideration. The
State
 Duke
Power rate hike approved
State regulators passed Wednesday an increase
in Duke Power rates that will cost residential patrons about $2 extra per month.
The
State * Carolina Investors officials
schedule meeting with investors
Ordinary investors will have their only
opportunity to question Carolina Investors officials Friday as the firm moves
through bankruptcy reorganization. Anderson
Independent-Mail * Gas prices remain
stable
Gasoline prices throughout Orangeburg showed little activity with
a majority of the station's surveyed experiencing little to no price change. Orangeburg
Times and Democrat * Ambulance company
to bring jobs to Pee Dee
Road Rescue Inc. will shut down its St. Paul,
Minn. ambulance plant and relocate the work to South Carolina, affecting nearly
100 employees. Florence
Morning News * Falling ISO rates should
result in lower insurance premiums
Orangeburg County Fire District officials
announced Tuesday that both the Bowman and Four Holes fire departments have seen
their Insurance Service Office ratings decline from class 9 to class 5 after station
inspections earlier this year.
Orangeburg Times and Democrat
* Partnerships
help rural counties attract new businesses
Participation in regional economic
development alliances are rural communities' best hope of succeeding in the 21st
century. Union
Daily Times Myrtle Beach airport may opt to expand
Despite
designs, studies and thousands of dollars spent on plans for a new terminal, officials
may decide to expand Myrtle Beach International Airport. Myrtle
Beach Sun News Over 60 publicly traded companies out of South Carolina
file financial statements with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
The
State
Radisson
cuts back
Sales at the Radisson Plaza in myrtle Beach hotel didn't meet
scaled-back expectations for April, forcing cuts in staffing and other expenses
to compensate for projections. Myrtle
Beach Sun News Phone system causes confusion
Changes to Adelphia
Communications' billing system this week has Hilton Head customers confused as
they have unsuccessfully tried to reach the customer service staff. Hilton
Head Island Packet GTA to expand route
Greenville bus passengers
may get to call ahead for front door service in some areas, and also travel to
the Michelin Plant, Cherrydale Point, County Square and Donaldson Center, according
to a plan presented to the Greenville Transit Authority Board Wednesday night.
Greenville
News * Tufco bought out
Trimaco
LLC has purchased the Paint Sundries Business of Tufco Technologies, and as a
result of the acquisition, the company plans to increase employment up to 210
associates at the Manning facility. Manning
Times
Former USC Honors College student awarded $300,000 scholarship
Kristina
Cooper, 22, was awarded a $300,000 scholarship from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation
to pursue graduate studies in art at New York University. Greenville
News, The
State * FMU trustees to consider tuition
increase
The Francis Marion University Board of Trustees will discuss an
increase in tuition and fees for the 2003-04 academic year during its next regularly
scheduled board meeting. Florence
Morning News * Institute to be held
at Coker College
The founder's meeting for a new institute that will improve
youth development programs across the nation will be held at Coker College on
Thursday. Hartsville
Messenger
Furman students recycling
Students moving out of on-campus housing this week are joining a national trend
by sending more of their belongings to charities instead of the trash bin. Greenville
News Clemson awarded NASA grant
Clemson
University been awarded a NASA grant for research to help communications satellites
enter dangerous radiation belts in space. Greenville
News Five
Greenville schools come out on top
Five Greenville County schools are rated
among the top 600 public high schools in the nation, according to a Newsweek cover
story to be released this week. Greenville
News Minorities get enrollment priority at Beaufort Middle.
Beaufort
Gazette
Fewer
people buying hunting, fishing licenses
South Carolina has lost $500,000
in revenue because fewer people are purchasing hunting and fishing licenses, according
to state officials. The
State/AP
Wackenhut protects Savannah
River Site
Wackenhut, the company that provides security for the Savannah
River Site is getting the 98 percent of the available bonus for its work at the
nuclear weapons complex. The
State/AP * Rain creates good environment
for ticks
Recent rains in addition to warm weather are leaving South Carolinians
with a greater risk for exposure to ticks, according to the state Department of
Health and Environmental Control. Anderson
Independent-Mail
Spartanburg water becomes accustomed
to new standards
Tests performed at the consolidated Spartanburg Water
System and Spartanburg Sanitary Sewer District are even more sensitive since they
detect traces of the potentially hazardous compound mercury in parts per trillion.
Spartanburg
Herald-Journal Hilton Head prevents
water terrorProtecting local drinking water sources from a terrorist attack
is the focus of federally mandated studies expected to cost Hilton Head utilities
thousands of dollars. Hilton
Head Island Packet
Request for site may harm wetlands
The
developer of a car dealership planned for a site near the intersection of US 278
and S.C. 170 in Hilton Head wants to reduce the width of the site's buffers on
both sides, a reduction that would move it closer to wetlands. Hilton
Head Island Packet Hunting Island Lighthouse needs repairs
Repairs
to the Hunting Island Lighthouse might take some time to fund and complete, according
to state officials. Hilton
Head Island Packet Cyclists
refuse to wear helmets
Some of the 15 motorcyclists who died in the Myrtle
Beach area in May might still be alive today if they had been wearing helmets,
according to law enforcement and medical officials. The
State, WIS-TV *
Kingstree-area hospital has profitable month
After three months in red
figures, Williamsburg Regional Hospital reported $53,941 in revenue over expenses
for April. Kingstree
News
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Obituary
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can click on the links below and easily view today's Obituaries in each of the
following papers: | 
Group demands funds to relocate cultural sites
A Columbia business
group wants to use restaurant tax money to move two of the city's longtime cultural
venues to the Main Street area of downtown. The
State - Columbia Council debates use of restaurant tax. WIS-TV
*
Florence says no to business tax
Florence County Council refused to
approve an ordinance that would have implemented a business license tax in the
unincorporated areas of the county Wednesday. Florence
Morning News
Children protest SCALE program's closure
Nearly 20 children turned out Wednesday at Eastover Town Hall to protest the closing
of a popular summer activities program. The
State Lexington County considering raising trash tax. The
State * Greenwood lawmakers say no
to giving schools tax
School boards in Greenwood County will not be given
the authority to levy taxes to support their budgets. Greenwood
Index-Journal * Sumter urges tax, fee
increases
Tax and fee increases, along with some savings, could generate
more than $900,000 into Sumter city coffers while only modestly increasing the
bills of average Sumter residents, officials reported Tuesday. The
Item BMW contributes
BMW will donate a million
dollars to the Spartanburg Arts Center. WSPA-TV,
Spartanburg
Herald-Journal Police tackle language barrier
Law enforcement
officers in North Charleston are trying to break the language barrier with the
Hispanic community by learning to speak Spanish. WCBD-TV
Security
company to finish out contract
A recently fired security firm will continue
to serve the Spartanburg County courthouse until its contract expires on June
30. Spartanburg
Herald-Journal
Beaufort Marines return from stint in Iraq.
Beaufort
Gazette, Carolina
Morning News
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Letters
engine
You
can click on the links below and easily view today's letters to the editor in
each of the following papers: | 
S.C.
Still in need of cigarette tax
"It's undeniably good news that the
federal government will send South Carolina $265.6 million over the next two years
to help our state balance its budget. The money is South Carolina's share of $20
billion destined for the states to help them cope with their biggest budget crises
in 50 years." Greenville
News School reform needs refreshment
"Going on six years
ago now, an energetic and influential group of agitators boldly announced their
plans to drastically improve and overhaul South Carolina's public schools. It
didn't matter that these business and community leaders were not members of the
education establishment. In fact, their status outside the bureaucracy was part
of their appeal." The
State Lawmakers looking to escape budget trouble
"State
lawmakers admit that part of the reason for their budget problems is the practice
of annualization." Spartanburg
Herald-Journal Voters should decide on minibottles
"A
bill that would allow South Carolinians to eliminate liquor laws from the state
Constitution may not pass this year because of time and economics." Beaufort
Gazette Folly Field must prepare for changes
""Folly
Field to get sewer service." That announcement this week sounds simple enough,
and something that could be a source for jubilation. But there's more to it than
simply digging ditches and laying pipes. Somebody needs to make sure the spin-off
effects are planned for. Land-use regulations need to be in place to suit the
majority on how the neighborhood will look in the future." Hilton
Head Island Packet Horry health plan up and running
"We hope the medical specialists needed to make SharedCare fully workable
step forward to help uninsured Horry County residents. The program is a godsend
to hardworking folks too "rich" to qualify for Medicaid, the state-federal
health plan for the impoverished. Many of the adults in the program work for county
employers who don't or can't provide private group health insurance." Myrtle
Beach Sun News * Education grants do
a lot
"Piedmont Technical College recently received a $279,496 grant
from the South Carolina Department of Education. The money will be used to bolster
the Upward Bound program at the college. Some taxpayers might quibble with the
idea of such grants. Sometimes, though, the grants have a more significant and
positive impact than it might seem. This should be one of those times." Greenwood
Index-Journal * Head Start doesn't need
any major changes
"Legislation aimed at reforming the Head Start program
has some good components -- but Republicans should not use the proposal as a backdoor
way to dismantle what has been an effective federal program for preparing at-risk
children for school." Orangeburg
Times and Democrat * Respect armed officers
"So
what’s the moral of this story? I’m not sure there is a moral, but you
can bet some people close to this story learned a valuable lesson: When Glock-wielding
officers are on a manhunt, mind your manners." The
Item * Moredock: Bike Week article only
an opinion
"I think the storm is over. I think it’s safe to come
out now. It took two weeks for my editor to run all the letters of outrage that
followed my recent exposition on motorcycles in the Holy City. To wit: I humbly
suggested that the city’s new ordinance against revving motorcycles was a
good idea and hoped that authorities would keep a tight rein on the first Heritage
Motorcycle Rally, which occurred last month. In a voice of pure sweetness and
reason I pointed out that Myrtle Beach is for bikers and Charleston is for …
Charlestonians." Charleston
City Paper
Propps: Bike Week plaintiffs
not reasonable
"There are certain truths that can't be disputed
about the Atlantic Beach Bikefest, but the plaintiffs in the recently filed race
discrimination lawsuits don't seem to care about truth and fact." Myrtle
Beach Sun News Carson: Race isn't motivation in Bike Week closings
"If anyone is not abiding by rules and regulations, then other alternatives
are taken. We eat out a lot and have never been mistreated or had any altercations.
We have always been treated with respect. But we also give respect. We do not
use profanity with respect to others and their children; we are not loud in public.
Never have [we] been stopped by the police just because they see white and black."
Myrtle
Beach Sun News
Scoppe: Cigarette tax a temporary fix
"Without reform, House leaders argue, Medicaid spending would continue to
grow. And since the cigarette tax is a static tax (it doesn't go up as the cost
of the underlying product goes up), the money wouldn't keep up." The
State Barnet: Don't cut state agencies
"Amid the dramatic
cuts to so many other state agencies — including the disappointing underfunding
of the Education Finance Act and the state Department of Education (SDE) —
the $1.4 million transfer of funds from the EOC might seem insignificant. Some
senators' contention that the EOC simply duplicates the work of the SDE suggests
a lack of understanding. While it might be convincing to some, nothing could be
further from the truth." Greenville
News | 
