TODAY'S HEADLINES / MARCH 22, 2011

Budget and Control Board authorizes $100M deficit

Department of Health and Human Services Director Tony Keck returned to the board Tuesday with $2.8 million in cuts but told board members that federal and state regulations severely restrict his ability to cut spending on the entitlement program, which provides health care for the poor.

Santee Cooper looking to sell share of nuclear output

The state-owned electric and water utility has signed a letter of intent to negotiate a power purchase agreement with Orlando Utilities Commission. Santee Cooper would sell between 5% and 10% of its output from two nuclear units it is building in a project wit...

TODAY'S HEADLINES / MARCH 21, 2011

Poll: Haley blundered by taking Moore off USC board

Gov. Haley had few supporters of her move, with only 7.1% saying they approve of her decision to replace Darla Moore with Lexington attorney Tommy Cofield, who financially supported Haley’s campaign. However, 78.6% want Moore back on the board.

Builders and contractors board installs new members

An Aiken businessman begins his second term on board of directors of the Associated Builders and Contractors of the Carolinas, and three Upstate construction leaders join the board, which represents 500 member firms in the two-state region.

TODAY'S HEADLINES / MARCH 16, 2011

Haley removes Moore from USC board of trustees

Wall Street investor Darla Moore, who has donated $70 million to the university since 1998, was ousted in favor of Lexington lawyer Thomas Cofield, the governor’s office confirmed this morning.

Midstate Chambers Coalition aims for one voice

The new organization aims to break down regional political barriers and speak with a single voice on issues of vital business and economic interest to the region, officials said Tuesday.

TODAY'S HEADLINES / MARCH 15, 2011

SCANA undeterred by Japanese nuclear failures

SCANA Corp. executives indicated Tuesday they are not pulling back on plans to build two new nuclear reactors 20 miles northwest of Columbia despite the destruction in Japan of as many as six electric power generating reactors.

DeMint introduces reform bill for Army Corps

In legislation he introduced Monday, U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., proposed reforms that, among other changes, would give the Army Corps of Engineers more authority to start studies and projects. The reform effort has been at the center of a debate about how to fund the beginning of a feasibility study on deepening Charleston Harbor.

TODAY'S HEADLINES / MARCH 14, 2011

19 chambers to unveil regional coalition

A group of chamber of commerce executives from 19 chambers and 11 counties will jointly announce the formation of the Midstate Chambers Coalition on Tuesday.

GSP director: “We’re not done”

Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport and Southwest Airlines concluded a weekend-long celebration Monday of the low-cost airline’s arrival in the Upstate. GSP Executive Director Dave Edwards said that he has his sights on another low-fare carrier.

TODAY'S HEADLINES / MARCH 11, 2011

South Carolina drops more construction jobs

Construction jobs in the state fell by 4.6%, or 3,600 jobs, in January, according to the Associated General Contractors of America. South Carolina was one of the top states that lost construction-related jobs in January, likely as a result of a harsher than normal winter.

Cmark completes three federal projects

The projects, all completed in the past eight months, included the furnishing and installation of office, conference and classroom furniture. The largest project, completed in January, was a $1.3 million barracks and dormitory project at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio.

TODAY'S HEADLINES / MARCH 4, 2011

Former CFO sentenced in Doctors Care fraud case

Jerry Francis Wells Jr. was sentenced to 78 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Wells will also be required to pay restitution of nearly $3 million.

BlueChoice HealthPlan names new vice president

The health insurer promoted Dave Krupa to vice president and chief marketing officer. Krupa replaces Bill Ferguson, who retired from a 41-year career in the health insurance industry.

TODAY'S HEADLINES / MARCH 3, 2011

SCANA contracts with N.C. company for nuclear project

Pike Electric Corp. was given a $275 million contract for engineering, procurement and construction of 250 miles of 230-kilovolt transmission lines associated with the expansion of the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station in South Carolina.

Federal grand jury indicts 10 on business crime charges

Ten people have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Columbia on charges of business-related crimes. Eight of those charged were involved in a credit card fraud ring, said U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles.

TODAY'S HEADLINES / MARCH 2, 2011

USC to operate hydrogen-powered bus

The University of South Carolina will operate a hydrogen-fueled bus in its transportation fleet for a year as part of a Ford Motor Co. and U.S. Department of Transportation prototype demonstration project.

Edens & Avant names VP of portfolio management

The Columbia-based development company said Carol Hall will “be responsible for creating value through the delivery of technology-enabled process and analytical tools to the investment management, property management and leasing teams.”

TODAY'S HEADLINES / MARCH 1, 2011

BMW adds $100M investment at Spartanburg Co. factory

BMW Manufacturing is adding another $100 million investment at the company’s Spartanburg County factory as well as a new X3 program to further streamline the company’s export operation. BMW President Josef Kerscher made the announcement Monday night in his keynote speech at the annual meeting of the Spartanburg Chamber of Commerce.

First-time jobless claims on the decline

For the past month, South Carolina and the rest of the United States have seen a steady decline in the number of first-time unemployment claims, an indication of fewer layoffs. From Feb. 5-11, first-time claims fell 15% in South Ca...

TODAY'S HEADLINES / FEB. 25, 2011

Wilbur Smith merges with Massachusetts company

Columbia-based international engineering firm Wilbur Smith Associates has been acquired by wastewater and environmental remediation company CDM of Cambridge, Mass. The two companies have been in discussions since June.

Comptroller wants to consolidate state’s financial offices

In a letter sent today to Sen. Larry Martin, chairman of a Senate Judiciary subcommittee studying possible changes to statewide elected offices, Eckstrom advocates combining the Comptroller’s and Treasurer’s offices as a means of streamlining costs and eliminating administrative duplication.

TODAY'S HEADLINES / FEB. 24, 2011

Foreclosures cause hefty price cuts in residential sales

Unlike in some states, such as Kentucky, non-distressed homes that sold in 2010 in South Carolina saw a slight bump in sales price, on average. But homes that were sold in foreclosure in this state took a 21% discount for the year and a 20% cut for the fourth quarter.

Insurance Auto Auctions opens Columbia location

The company, based in Illinois, also has locations in Charleston and Greenville, as well as more than 150 corporate-owned facilities across the United States and Canada. The company focuses on the automotive total-loss industry.

TODAY'S HEADLINES / FEB. 23, 2011

Unemployment insurance proposals shift tax burden

With unrest growing over increases to some employers’ unemployment insurance bills, the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce has modeled several options to provide tax relief for higher-tiered rate payers. S.C. DEW released new models Tuesday.

Newberry College appoints CFO

Newberry College announced it has appointed Steven Feld as CFO and executive vice president for administrative affairs. Most recently, he was chief operating officer for the New York firm CEO Connection.