This Just In

Feds Indict 21 for Cockfighting

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:00:08 -0400

The Gamecocks haven't been fighting as hard as we'd like, but it seems that actual cockfigthing is alive and well in South Carolina.

Rep. Joan Brady: S.C. Lands Boeing

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:02:10 -0400

Rep. Joan Brady told a group of political leaders and economic development officials tonight that Boeing has agreed to open a production facility in South Carolina.

Gays and the Church: Does Christianity Mandate Discrimination?

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:30:49 -0400

The Charleston-based Diocese of South Carolina has voted to withdraw from much of its participation in the national Episcopal Church because of the national church's positi

Barrett Slams Obama's Nobel Prize

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:56:05 -0400

Perhaps sensing his Joe Wilson moment -- a chance to prove his conservative bona fides to potential supporters by making an outlandish statement -- Republican gubernatorial candidate Rep.

Digital Billboards: Inevitable Progress or Sign of the Apocalypse?

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:56:46 -0400

The war is on: aesthetics versus commerce. Lexington County and the City of Columbia have long since chosen the side of commerce in the battle over digital billboards, but Richland County has, thus far, held firm on the side of aesthetics.

Confederate Clothing: School Safety or Free Speech?

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 11:52:41 -0400

U.S. District Judge Terry Wooten ruled last week that school officials in Dillon County had acted reasonably in compelling a teenage student to not wear clothing with images of the Confederate flag, the Associated Press reported.

End of an Era: Coble Will Not Seek Re-Election

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 22:29:39 -0400

When Free Times columnist Kevin Fisher suggested back in July that Mayor Bob Coble might not seek re-election, there were undoubtedly some readers who thought he was nuts. After all, Coble had already de

Wilson Speaks, S.C. Stays in (Negative) Spotlight

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:08:09 -0400

"You lie!" came a shout from the chambers of Congress tonight as President Obama addressed a joint session on the subject of health care reform.

Blogger Says No Sanford Link on Bauer Story

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 12:37:16 -0400

When Washington, D.C. blogger Michael Rogers posted a story claiming to have confirmation from multiple sources that S.C. Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer is a closeted homosexual, he didn't expect the mainstream media to pick it up.

Is Bauer Gay? Question Surfaces Again

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 17:44:35 -0400

High-profile gay activist Mike Rogers -- who is featured in the film Outrage and is the founding editor of blogactive.com -- is reporting that Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer is gay.

"I have confirmed and spoken to four individuals who I have no doubt are telling me the truth," Rogers

DeMint Fans Flames in Health Debate

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 13:33:31 -0400

Speaking at a town hall meeting on health care in Greenville last week, Republican Sen. Jim DeMint told a crowd that "this is about more government control"

Kale Roscoe's Son Doing Business out of John Parks' Kentucky Home

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 15:42:20 -0400

Free Times has learned that a Kentucky home owned by Innovista director John Parks is listed in an online business directory as the official business address for Roscoe Holdings, LLC.

Bauer Calls on Sanford to Resign

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:45:23 -0400

Republican Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer is calling on his GOP colleague and the man whose job Bauer would fill should it become open, Gov. Mark Sanford, to resign.

Sanford's Opportunistic Opponents

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:07:57 -0400

On and on it goes, an endless trickle of the alleged misdeeds of Gov. Mark Sanford.

Local Housing Market: It Could Be Worse

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 12:01:48 -0400

First, the "good" news: Things could be a lot worse.

Clyburn versus DeMint: Who Has Your Back on Health Care Reform?

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:48:43 -0400

In a June 22 blog entry, I asked whether South Carolina politicians would have a seat at the table in the health care reform debate.

Sanford Drama Continues: Jenny Moves Out

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 14:00:06 -0400

First Lady Jenny Sanford issued a statement today saying she is moving out of the Governor's Mansion -- but still hopes to reconcile with her husband.

Innovista: Parks, Pastides at Odds over Tax Conviction; Timeline Raises Questions

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 20:56:49 -0400

Following the Aug. 5 cover story "Who in the World is Kale Roscoe?", which details the troubling background of Innovista's most recent developer, Kale Roscoe -- including a 2002 conviction

City Won't Close Finlay Park Lot

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:42:37 -0400

Public access to Finlay Park in the heart of downtown Columbia, often described as a jewel of the Capital City, will not be reduced, at least not in the near term.

USC Severs Ties with Innovista Developer

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 21:09:40 -0400

Just one day after Free Times interviewed Innovista developer Kale Roscoe and director John Parks for a forthcoming Aug. 5 story, the University of South Carolina has cut its ties with Roscoe.

Does Jim DeMint Represent You?

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 14:26:02 -0400

Last Friday, I had the opportunity to go on a local radio show, The Weekend Countdown on 620 AM, and talk about how South Carolina's elected representatives are reflecting upon us in the national media. By and large, my answer to that question was "not very well," e

Of Knives and Men: Backstabbing in the SC GOP

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:49:01 -0400

In a recent New York Times piece, former South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Katon Daws

Steve Benjamin and Payday Lending: Does It Matter?

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:15:21 -0400

The votes are in, and our readers said they support local attorney Steve Benjamin for mayor by an overwhelming margin: In an online survey, 58 percent supported Benjamin, 20 percent supported Bob Coble and 14 percent supported Joe Azar.

Calling All Readers: Who Do You Want for Mayor?

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:32:22 -0400

The mayor's race isn't until next spring, but it promises to be an exciting one -- yes, really. Five-term inc

Haley Makes Politico, Barrett Raises Mad Cash

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 11:19:45 -0400

As the Sanford controversy dies down -- the end result being that he's staying in office as a severely weakened political force -- more and more attention is turning to the race to replace him.

Beauty Queen Says Let Sanford Stay

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 09:55:42 -0400

OK, we can all rest easy about this whole Gov. Sanford mess, because the expert has spoken: Newly crowned Miss South Carolina Kelly Sloan says Sanford should be allowed to finish his second term.

It's All About Sanford: Media Deluge Continues

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:00:51 -0400

Just as the unrest in Iran was bumped from the news by Gov. Sanford's affair, so too could Sanford's trangressions soon disappear from media coverage. But considering that the governor's bizarre "disappearance" and subsequent revelation of an affair with an Argentinean wom

Knotts Asks SLED to Investigate Sanford Affair

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:52:50 -0400

S.C. Sen. Jake Knotts, an outspoken political foe of Gov. Mark Sanford, says he has asked the State Law Enforcement Division to investigate Sanford's actions related to the governor's extramarital affair with a woman in Argentina.

Affair, Deception Sink Sanford

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:32:42 -0400

Gov. Mark Sanford's political future, for all intents and purposes, is probably over. Indeed, Sanford, rumored to be a 2012 presidential hopeful, can forget about that. He has a much more pressing and important problem to worry about - keeping his marriage and family together.

Sanford Admits to Affair

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:22:44 -0400

Apologizes to children, family, friends.

Health Care Reform: Will S.C. Politicians Be At the Table?

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:12:26 -0400

Almost 700,000 South Carolina residents lack health care coverage, according to statehealthfacts.org. That's 16.2 percent of the population, slightly higher than the 15.3 percent nationally who lack coverage. And a new New York Times/CBS poll says 61 percent of Amer

Rusty DePass and Latent Racism

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:34:26 -0400

Here we go again ... another Our Dumb State moment.

Clean-Energy Jobs Surge in S.C.

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:23:22 -0400

South Carolina employed 11,255 people in clean-energy jobs as of 2007 and saw a 36.2 percent increase in the field between 1998 and 2007, according to a new report by the Pew Charitable Trusts.

After the Stimulus Fight: What Next?

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 13:36:51 -0400

Now that Gov. Mark Sanford has lost his months-long fight with the General Assembly over $700 million in contested stimulus funds, what will happen next?

Is Our Stimulus Nightmare Over?

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 15:50:52 -0400

WIS TV reports that the S.C. Supreme Court has ordered Gov. Mark Sanford to accept the $700 million in contested federal stimulus money. The General Assembly had allocated the money in its budget, but Sanford had refused to request it from the federal government.

Housing: How Is Your Neighborhood Doing?

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 12:12:13 -0400

Is the housing meltdown finished or are we still bottoming out? A few recent reports paint a less than rosy -- but also less than catastrophic -- picture.

Sanford: Better to Burn Out than Fade Away?

Mon, 25 May 2009 17:38:42 -0400

So, South Carolina's stimulus nightmare continues, and none of us can say for sure how it will end.

Sanford Files Lawsuit, Stimulus Madness Continues

Thu, 21 May 2009 10:31:02 -0400

Jack Kuenzie of WIS-TV has an excellent update on the stimulus fiasco here. Basically, here is where things stand: Sanford vetoed most of the Legislature's $5.7 billion budget; both Republican-led chambers overrode Sanford's vetos; now Sanford is filing a law

Governor's Race: All GOP, All the Time

Mon, 18 May 2009 13:20:02 -0400

Local Republican activist Jeffrey Sewell (who publishes www.schotline.com) posted several Facebook status updates recently followin

Bump on the Hydrogen Highway?

Mon, 11 May 2009 14:03:40 -0400

Long before the news this weekend that the Obama administration has decided to slash research funding for hydrogen-powered cars, some South Carolinians -- Gov. Mark Sanford prominently a

Gergel Says Public Expects Council to Lead on Homelesness

Wed, 06 May 2009 17:07:21 -0400

Columbia residents have a "great expectation" that City Council will take the lead to address homelessness in the city, Councilwoman Belinda Gergel said in a May 6 City Council meeting.

Federal Audit Questions SRS Safety

Mon, 04 May 2009 14:30:24 -0400

A report released April 23 by the federal Department of Energy raises safety questions about the Savannah River Site, especially with regard to the procurement of parts that were in a number

Obama Nominates Clyburn's Daughter to FCC

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 11:16:45 -0400

President Obama will nominate Mignon Clyburn, daughter of U.S. Rep. James Clyburn, to head the Federal Communications Commission, the White House announced April 29.

Stimulus Standoff Continues; Treasurer Backs Legislators

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:17:45 -0400

The standoff between Gov. Mark Sanford and state legislators continued as state senators rejected an alternative budget plan backed by pro-Sanford legislators - and stuck with a plan

Republican Gubernatorial Candidates Running from Sanford

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 11:54:07 -0400

As if we didn't already know it just by listening to what citizens and legislators are saying, a recent story in The State reinforces the fact that Gov. Mark Sanford is almost completely isolated poli

SC Black Pride Announces June Events

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 13:32:36 -0400

The Fourth Annual SC Black Pride celebration will be held JUne 18-21 in Columbia. The theme of this year's event is "United 4 Change: Black, Bold & Proud."

City Blunders: Small Stuff Points to Larger Issues

Sun, 19 Apr 2009 22:18:06 -0400

I try not to beat up unnecessarily on the City of Columbia. I really do. After all, I've said before and I'll say again that I think Mayor Coble is a well-meaning politician who dedicates endless hours to the betterment of this city for an absurd pittance of a salary. I also believe that some (though not all) of the city's problems can be attributed to its form of govern

Public Invited to Weigh In on Five Points Parking

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 11:42:03 -0400

The City of Columbia's Five Points Parking Advisory Committee will meet on Wednesday, April 15 at 5 p.m. to present an update from parking study consultants Wilbur Smith and Associates on their efforts.

City Budget Outlook Still Red

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 13:03:19 -0400

The City of Columbia remains headed for a multimillion-dollar budget deficit this fiscal year despite extensive steps the city has taken to cut its expenses, including all but eliminating overtime for city employees.

Gov. Sanford, Shock Doctor

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 10:43:02 -0400

In Naomi Klein's 2007 groundbreaking book, The Shock Doctrine: The rise of disaster capitalism, the Canadian journalist machine-gunned the dominant ideological myth of our time: that the free-market revolution was brought about peacefully. With blistering accuracy and max

Stimulus Standoff Continues, Anti-Sanford Rally Planned

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 09:30:39 -0400

Gov. Mark Sanford looked relaxed and carefree when I saw him jogging through Riverfront Park yesterday, but the same can't be said for angry state residents or for state legislators now facin

Does Sanford Matter?

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 12:17:00 -0400

Turn on the national news or pick up a newspaper - even an international edition - and Gov. Mark Sanford is everywhere, the poster child of resistance to President Obama's nearly $800 billion stimulus package. Small-government conservatives are praising Sanford as if h

Archives and History Responds to Free Times Cemeteries Story

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 14:23:11 -0400

In the March 18 cover story "What Lies Beneath" (labeled "Columbia's Forgotten Cemeteries" in the online edition) staff writer Ron Aiken notes that the S.C. Department of Archives and History asked that questions about its role with regard to cemeteries in Columbia b

State Publisher Weighs In on Cuts

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 14:17:05 -0400

Reached after Free Times went to press with the story "McClatchy Further Cannibalizes The State," publisher Henry Haitz vigorously defended the paper's intention to serve as a public watchdog.

Free Times Wins Nine Press Association Awards

Sun, 15 Mar 2009 00:01:21 -0400

Free Times has won nine 2008 South Carolina Press Association awards. The number of awards is an all-time record for the paper. The awards were officially announced at the Press Association's winter meeting in Myrtle Beach held this weekend.

Report: S.C. Bound for Bigger Coal-Ash Danger

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 17:13:20 -0400

South Carolina is among the 15 states heading for the largest increases in the production of toxic coal-ash waste from new coal-fired power plants, according to a new report from the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.

Welcome to S.C., Home of Ben Bernanke

Sun, 08 Mar 2009 18:00:29 -0400

OK, so state lawmakers have decided to name a stretch of I-95 after Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, a native of Dillon, S.C.

Indie Grits Film Festival Announces Schedule

Fri, 06 Mar 2009 17:15:02 -0400

Popular local film festival returns for its third year.

City Ditches Business License Requirement for Landlords

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 12:48:31 -0400

Columbia City Council on March 4 ditched a proposal to require everyone who rents out property in the city to pay $11 yearly for a business license. The requirement would have applied even to people who rent out a room in their homes. The council's decision to nix the business license measure quells a residential uprising on one front but leaves another unresolved.

Coble's Last Stand?

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 12:08:57 -0400

As reported Feb. 4 in Free Times, local attorney and Democratic heavyweight Steve Benjamin is considering a run for mayor in April 2010.

Maverick State Senator Pushes Civil Unions

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 14:38:09 -0400

Coming from another state senator, a move toward legally recognized civil unions for same-sex couples in South Carolina would be welcome news " a sign that the 2006 constitutional amendment prohibiting the state from acknowledging same-sex partnerships might e

Our Dumb State ... Again

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 12:46:27 -0400

Here we go again: South Carolina in the national and international news, and not in a good way.

State of the City: What's Your Take?

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 14:34:39 -0400

The theme of Mayor Bob Coble's "State of the City" address this year, delivered last Thursday at the Convention Center, was "Challenges and Opportunities." Whether you agree or disagree with the mayor's take on the status of things in our fair city, Coble's speech gives a good deal of insight into his perception of how our city is doing.

Faith and Begorrah!

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 11:35:31 -0400

Get ready to paint Five Points green.

Bus Funding Plan: Yay or Nay?

Mon, 02 Feb 2009 14:21:48 -0400

In the Jan. 28 edition of Free Times, City Watch columnist Kevin Fisher took a hard line against an interim bus-funding plan, arguing that supporting the plan would amount to underwriting the "incompetence" of city officials, who failed to establish a long-term funding source when SCANA wriggled out of its commitment to fund the system in 2002. [See Fisher's column here.]

City Drops Plan to Make Landlords Get Business Licenses

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 12:33:53 -0400

Responding to pressure from landlords who packed a meeting on the issue, Columbia City Council has dropped a plan to require landlords to pay $11 for business licenses.

City Finances: Can They Get it Right?

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 15:17:16 -0400

If you haven't read Adam Beam's Jan. 25 article in The State, "Poor choices, weak oversight plague Columbia," you should. It's not every day that the editor of one paper directs you to a

Sanford to ESC: I'm Coming After You

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:59:31 -0400

Gov. Mark Sanford is threatening to fire members of the Employment Security Commission as soon as two weeks from now, The Associated Press reports.

Feds, State Reach Settlement on C.M. Tucker Nursing Home

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 17:03:44 -0400

An agreement has been reached to improve care at the troubled C.M. Tucker Jr. Nursing Care Center in Columbia.

City Manager Charles Austin to Resign

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 16:29:00 -0400

Beleaguered City Manager Charles Austin is resigning, effective March 31.

Yay! Fifteen Percent of State Residents Can't Read!

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 13:59:42 -0400

No, Free Times isn't in favor of illiteracy: As a newspaper, after all, we sort of depend on people being able to read.

Clyburn: S.C. Needs Help, With or Without Sanford

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 13:14:35 -0400

U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn is angling to make sure South Carolina gets a piece of any Obama stimulus package, with or without the support of Gov. Mark Sanford, who has argued against federal bailouts and stimulus measures.

Coble and Sanford: A Wish for 2009

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:04:51 -0400

For Columbia's chattering classes, Mayor Bob Coble and Gov. Mark Sanford provide endless fodder for discussion. Whether it's Sanford's frequent dust-ups with the General Assembly or Coble's endless struggles with balancing competing factions, there's always something to get worked up about.

Going Backwards on Juvenile Crime

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 12:01:57 -0400

Two recent reports from The Associated Press should be cause for alarm in Columbia and beyond. First is a report that finds funds for juvenile justice programs are being cut as part of ongoing state cutbacks

Bah Humbug: Cuts Hitting the Weakest

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 12:18:21 -0400

Merry Christmas: You're going to die without hospice care. Such are the tidings the latest round of state budget cuts are bringing. On Dec. 17, the state Medicaid agency announced $61 million in new cuts. Among the cuts: A $40,000 savings that comes from not taking new HIV enrollees, and another plan to cut hospice care for Medicaid-only patients.

Court Blocks "I Believe" Plates

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 16:11:01 -0400

It was a victory today for the defenders of the First Amendment, as a federal district judge issued a temporary order blocking the Department of Motor Vehicles from issuing the controversial Legislatively-created Christian "I believe" license plates.

City Massaging Prostitution Ordinance

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:29:20 -0400

They said it. We didn't. On Dec. 10, City Council delayed taking a final vote on changes to an ordinance that bans prostitution in Columbia out of concern that the changes could affect artistic performances.

USC Unveils Budget Cuts

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 11:41:25 -0400

In a meeting with reporters from throughout the state Monday morning, University of South Carolina president Harris Pastides announced the cuts he plans to implement to shave $38.9 million off the school's $1.06 billion budget.

Sanford Right on Tax-Free Guns

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:02:04 -0400

Last weekend, as shoppers everywhere responded to marked-down prices by boosting retails sales an estimated 3 percent over last year, South Carolinians had an incentive beyond price breaks on TVs, Wii

S.C. Jobless Rate Hits 25-Year High

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 10:17:03 -0400

South Carolina's unemployment rate spiked to 8 percent in October, up from 7.3 percent the previous month, according to the S.C. Employment Security Commission.

A Chat with Finlay on Homelessness

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 11:32:33 -0400

A week-and-a-half ago, City Councilman Kirkman Finlay stopped by the Free Times office for a chat about the homeless issue. More to the point, Finlay wanted to take me to task for an editorial I had written, "If You Can't Stand the Heat ...," in which I argued that the city needs to overcome its paralysis on the homeless issue and back the Midlands Housing Alliance's effort to buil

Bungling on City Web Site

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:20:55 -0400

D'oh! Already facing massive budget problems, the City of Columbia has managed to spend more than $100,000 developing not just one web site overhaul, but two.

In Pursuit of the Obama-Sign Thief

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 16:59:56 -0400

For those who don't follow the Rant & Rave column in Free Times, the story of the Obama-sign thief might be a new one. So, first, some background.

I Believe I'll Keep My Old License Plate

Sat, 01 Nov 2008 21:50:55 -0400

"I Believe" license plates are now a reality in the state of South Carolina. Which begs the question, "I believe what?" I believe that all men are endowed with certain inalienable rights?

City Crime Initiative ... Too Little, Too Late?

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 10:56:05 -0400

The City of Columbia is launching a new initiative against crime. Dubbed "Take Back Our City," the effort aims to bring together police and other departments in a multifacted approach to reducing Columbia's crime rate.

Beware Election Day Rumors

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:01:32 -0400

The scariest thing this Halloween might be the swirl of rumors about voting. Whether the rumors are orchestrated or not, the fear

State Senator Criticizes USC's Ayers Ties

Sun, 26 Oct 2008 19:02:36 -0400

File under: Doesn't this guy have something better to worry about? Republican S.C. Sen. Chip Campsen is calling on the University of South Carolina to pay the state back for speaking fees it has paid over the past 13 years to Bill Ayer

James Hansen Speaking at USC

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 16:25:31 -0400

James Hansen, director of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, will speak Oct. 23 at USC's Law School Auditorium.

Senate Overrides Sanford

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 08:04:55 -0400

The S.C. Senate unanimously overrode Gov. Mark Sanford's veto of legislation that would take DNA samples from criminal suspects.

Homeless Alliance Plans to Stick with Elmwood Site

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 08:37:45 -0400

In a letter to City Council, the Midlands Housing Alliance says it will stick with its plan to place a homeless services center on Elmwood Street downtown, according to WIS-TV.

N.Y. School Choice Advocate Spending Heavily for S.C. Races

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 08:53:21 -0400

New York multimillionaire Howard Rich is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars in South Carolina to elect candidates who support his school-choice agenda, according to an

State Agencies Mulling Massive Cuts

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 08:17:01 -0400

In response to a call from Gov. Mark Sanford to plan for budget shortfalls, heads of South Carolina's 72 state agencies are mulling massive cuts. Among the moves being considered, according to The Associated Press: the Department of Natural Resources says

Travis Barker Blogs About Recovery from S.C. Crash

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 12:15:10 -0400

Three weeks after a plane crash at the Columbia airport that left four dead and two badly injured, former Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker is blogging about his tragic experience.

Black S.C. Voter Registration Posts Huge Gains

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 16:37:47 -0400

An analysis by The Associated Press shows that new voter registration among blacks in South Carolina is on pace to nearly double that of whites in percentage terms.

Feds Raid Greenville Chicken Plant

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 10:58:58 -0400

The Associated Press reported Oct. 7 that federal authorities have raided House of Raeford's Columbia Farms plant in Greenville in a search for illegal immigrants. They have detained more than 300 suspected illegal immigrants, according to the AP.

Trooper Cleared in Videotaped Car-Strike Case

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 16:39:08 -0400

In June 2007, white state highway patrolman Steven Garren struck a fleeing black suspect, Marvin Grant, with his car -- and bragged about it. On Oct. 3, Garren walked on charges that he violated Grant's civil rights. On a videotape of the incident, Garren says, "I nailed the f#!k out of him ... I was trying to hit him." "This just goes to show us that justice isn't blind and that Lady Justice's scales are very unbalanced," state NAACP president Lonnie Randolph told The Associated Press. "To describe it as a miscarriage of justice is an understatement." View the videotape for yourself, and then ask yourself what the hell the jury was thinking.

Another One Down: Wachovia Bites the Dust

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 20:46:06 -0400

After a huge decline Sept. 29, the stock market regained much of its ground on Sept. 30 as investors wagered that Congress will get a bailout deal done despite Friday's "no" vote in the U.S. House.

Teen Pregnancy Program Cut

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 08:12:40 -0400

The Charleston Post & Courier reported Friday that a teen pregnancy program administered by Medicaid will be eliminated by the end of the year because of budget cuts.

SCE&G Nuke Plants Get Initial Approval

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 10:31:14 -0400

The Associated Press reported Sept. 24 that the South Carolina Public Service Commission has given unanimous approval for SCE&G to begin construction on two sites where it intends to build nuclear power plants

"So Gay" Ad Draws U.K. Tourist

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 09:50:32 -0400

When Andy Harley stepped into the Columbia Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau last week, a friendly woman working the desk there asked him what had brought him to Columbia.