TODAY'S HEADLINES / JUNE 22, 2011

S.C. Legislature OKs immigration bill

The legislation would require all employers to check workers’ citizenship through a federal database and allow law enforcement officers to check the citizenship of people they suspect may be in the country illegally. The bill now awaits action from the governor.

S.C. delegation to represent burgeoning bioscience

South Carolina will send a team next week to represent the state’s growing biosciences industry at the 2011 BIO International Convention in Washington. Delegates to the four-day conference aim to promote the 500-plus companies already in the state to leading bioscience leaders from across the globe.

Milli...

TODAY'S HEADLINES / JUNE 21, 2011

Audit: ‘Questionable’ spending at S.C. State

The Legislative Audit Council said in its report posted today that S.C. State needs $80 million to complete the James E. Clyburn University Transportation Center but that it found nothing to back up allegations of $50 million in missing funds.

Michelin’s chairman and president to retire

Dick Wilkerson, the chairman and president of Michelin North America in Greenville, will retire by the end of the year, Michelin Group announced today. Pete Selleck, currently president of Michelin Truck Tires worldwide, will succeed him.

Camden wheel-maker acquired by Accuride

Accuride bought most of the assets of Forgitr...

TODAY'S HEADLINES / JUNE 20, 2011

USC executive committee approves 2011-12 budget

The Columbia campus tuition increase of 3.9% will be taken up by the full board on June 30.

DAK Americas to acquire Wellman’s U.S. PET business

Charlotte-based DAK Americas will acquire the PET business of Wellman Inc. DAK owns the former Eastman Chemical Co. facility near Columbia.

Commerce names new director for global business

Jennifer Noel will leave the Upstate SC Alliance later this month to take the global business development director position at the S.C. Department of Commerce.

South Carolina home sales down 17% in May

The housing market slumped further in May with statewide home sales dropp...

TODAY'S HEADLINES / JUNE 17, 2011

Ruling means 950 jobs stay at S.C. BlueCross affiliate

The Government Accountability Office upheld the U.S. military’s South Region Tricare contract with Humana Military Healthcare Services. According to BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, the ruling means the retention of 950 jobs at PGBA LLC, a subsidiary of S.C. BlueCross, which subcontracts with Humana Military.

Adviser offers ideas for transforming mass transit

The Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority must undertake immediate changes if the region is to begin transforming transportation in the Midlands, adviser Derrick Huggins said in a report to the transit agency.

S.C. unemployment ...

TODAY'S HEADLINES / JUNE 16, 2011

Haley appoints Keel new SLED chief

Gov. Nikki Haley appointed Mark Keel to be the next director of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Keel currently serves as director of the S.C. Department of Public Safety.

Columbia arms maker receives $28M Army contract

FN Manufacturing has contracted with the Army to provide 3,053 machine guns. The weapon, the M240L, is currently used by the United States military for combat operations.

SCE&G files for natural gas rate increase

The request by S.C. Electric & Gas Co. came under the Natural Gas Rate Stabilization Act, which is meant to keep rates from large fluctuations. If approved, the rate increase wo...

TODAY'S HEADLINES / JUNE 15, 2011

Haley signs unemployment tax relief bill

The Senate put $100 million into the budget to be used to begin repaying loans made to the state by the federal government to keep the unemployment benefits system afloat. The House raised the amount to $146 million.

Sonoco Recycling opens new landfill diversion facility

The subsidiary of Hartsville-based Sonoco opened The Recycling Center, a landfill diversion facility, today in partnership with Shoosmith Brothers Inc. of Chester, Va. The facility will be operated by Sonoco Recycling at the Shoosmith Brothers landfill in Chester.

BMW exports local X3 parts to key countries

BMW Manufacturing Co. has started s...

TODAY'S HEADLINES / JUNE 14, 2011

State approves Bull Street sale to developer

The state Budget and Control Board today approved the sale of the 166-acre Bull Street property to Greenville developer Bob Hughes for not less than $15 million. The city of Columbia must approve the zoning changes by the end of this year for the sale to be completed.

Lexington company receives $45 million military contract

U.S. Foodservice in Lexington was awarded a $45 million contact as the prime vendor of food and beverage to the U.S. military. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

National Labor Relations Board vs. ...

TODAY'S HEADLINES / JUNE 13, 2011

Vista condos to go on auction block

The new condos are located at the intersection of Lady and Pulaski streets. They are finished and have covered parking and views of the city. They include one-level floor plans of two to four bedrooms.

Hartsville man pleads to counterfeiting

Andrea Lavorn Jackson pleaded guilty Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Florence to conspiracy to possess, pass, buy and sell counterfeit reserve notes, according to U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles.

Third Army deploys economic impact on Midlands

The Army estimates that the unit’s 1,200 soldiers and 300 civilian employees and contractors will generate an annual economic impact of at ...

TODAY'S HEADLINES / JUNE 10, 2011

USC to receive $11M for deferred maintenance

The University of South Carolina expects to receive $11 million in the new state budget for deferred maintenance, which has mounted to tens of millions of dollars as state spending on higher education has shrunk in recent years.

Politicians, Boeing employees open assembly building

Politicians and Boeing executives spoke briefly during the ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday in North Charleston for a 787 Dreamliner final assembly plant, describing the event as historic and a game changer for the state of South Carolina.

Providence heart program rated in top 10% nationally

For the ninth consecutive rating period...

TODAY'S HEADLINES / JUNE 9, 2011

USC budget proposal includes 3.9% tuition increase

The University of South Carolina administration will propose a 3.9% increase in tuition for S.C. residents to the university’s board today, boosting their cost by $191 per semester, to $5,084 from $4,893.

Safety rules for utility digging become law

Among other parts of the legislation, all utility owner-operators will have to be members of the state’s “Call Before You Dig” service, and utilities must communicate with excavators about digging plans.

KeenanSuggs moves into new headquarters

The insurance firm’s corporate office is now located at Capitol Station in Columbia. Colliers International agents...

TODAY'S HEADLINES / JUNE 8, 2011

Amazon gets back to work on Cayce distribution center

The Internet giant released a statement at 12:15 a.m. today saying it was resuming hiring for the full-time jobs it will be creating in the Columbia area. The company has said it will invest at least $125 million in facilities in South Carolina.

Governor sets state financial summit for Thursday

Gov. Nikki Haley will host her administration’s first state financial summit starting at 8:30 a.m. in the Parks, Recreation and Tourism conference room, Room 252 of the Brown Building in Columbia. The session will include rating agencies, as well as the state’s financial, legislative and executive branch lead...

TODAY'S HEADLINES / JUNE 7, 2011

Supreme Court blocks Haley’s special session

A three-judge majority of South Carolina Supreme Court ruled Monday that Gov. Nikki Haley did not have the authority to order the General Assembly back to meet in special session when they were technically still in session, but on recess.

S.C. Engineering Conference starts Thursday

The 2011 South Carolina Engineering Conference will start Thursday at the Marriott Hilton Head Resort on Hilton Head Island and run through Sunday. Topics include environmental, geotechnical, structural, electrical and business management.

COR launches networking initiative

Columbia Opportunity Resource is launching the 2011 Tab...

TODAY'S HEADLINES / JUNE 3, 2011

Haley tweaks Legislature’s nose, insists on her agenda

The governor ordered lawmakers back to Columbia next week for a special session, and demanded they do it without additional pay, to finish work on her government restructuring agenda.

Enviro AgScience gets Camp Lejeune contract

Enviro AgScience Inc. of Columbia was selected from among 11 proposals for a $14.8 million contract for design and construction of the French Creek mess hall at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, N.C. Work is expected to be completed by Feb. 2013.

Sonoco unveils new process for printed packaging

The Mirrorink process produces a metallic finish in less time and...

TODAY'S HEADLINES / MAY 31, 2011

SCE&G files for rate increase to reduce building costs

S.C. Electric & Gas Co. today filed for an overall 2.7% increase to electric rates with the Public Service Commission of South Carolina and the S.C. Office of Regulatory Staff.

Study links obesity to decreased activity in workplace

A new study co-authored by a University of South Carolina professor has found that the decrease in workplace physical activity over the past 50 years is a significant contributor to the obesity epidemic.

Dennis Corp. names new chief operating officer

Dennis Corp. announced that Ross Travis has been named chief operating officer. Over the past three years, Travis has wo...

TODAY'S HEADLINES / MAY 27, 2011

Committee requests NLRB documents about Boeing

The House Oversight Committee gave the National Labor Relations Board until today to turn over documents about two issues it is involved with that concern South Carolina. The panel wants materials regarding the NLRB’s complaint against Boeing and its investigation of union election laws in four states.

Wachovia/Wells Fargo hosts mortgage workshop

Wachovia bank, soon to be Wells Fargo in the Carolinas, is offering customers who are having difficulty making their mortgage payments a free workshop to address those concerns.

New SmartState endowed chair to develop cancer drugs

Dr. Patrick Woster will be base...

TODAY'S HEADLINES / MAY 26, 2011

Expectations remain low for U.S housing recovery

Attitudes about the U.S. housing market have downshifted in the past six months, according to a survey by a national polling data company. Among the findings, more than half of Americans think a recovery will not occur until after 2014.

Batesburg man pleads guilty to clean water violation

John Ashley Mabus, 44, of Batesburg, pleaded guilty in federal court in Columbia to a Negligent Violation of the Clean Water Act. U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph R. McCrorey accepted the plea and will impose a sentence at a later date.

BB&T Real Estate Funding to expand lending

BB&T Real Estate Funding's parent company, ...

TODAY'S HEADLINES / MAY 25, 2011

Senate poised to vote on Amazon tax provision

The S.C. House of Representatives last week gave final approval to a measure that would exempt the big national Internet retailer Amazon.com from the requirement that it collect sales taxes for several years on items sold to South Carolina residents.

Mast General opens to ‘overwhelming’ Columbia crowd

The store at 1601 Main St. dates back to the 1870s, and has been home to a dry goods store, grocery store, shoe and boot store, a saloon, and an undertaker service. Most recently, the building was the home of Lourie’s, a men’s clothing store, for 40 years.

Santee Cooper inks renewable energy contracts

W2E-Or...