TODAY'S HEADLINES | MAY 16, 2012

Chance encounter pulled Wilkins into hunt for Boeing

IN PRINT: William W. Wilkins, a former chief justice of the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, was given a role in Boeing’s negotiations to expand its commercial airplane assembly operations to S.C. following an informal luncheon with the state treasurer.

S.C. bank raising capital to buy back TARP stock

First Community Corp. said Tuesday it plans a public offering to raise $12.5 million to repurchase all of its outstanding Series T preferred stock and, potentially, the warrant issued to the U.S. Treasury as part of the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

Boeing looks to ramp up Dreamliner production

Program leaders are exploring the possibility of raising monthly production goals at its assembly facilities in North Charleston and Everett, Wash. Presently, the company is cranking out 3.5 wide-body Dreamliners monthly at its two facilities.

City Council backs Alumni Center, student housing

In two unanimous votes, the council approved a proposal by the University of South Carolina Alumni Association to build an Alumni Center in downtown Columbia; and approved an exception to current city limits on the size of privately developed student-oriented housing.

U.S. Senate approves Ex-Im Bank in 78-20 vote

The U.S. Senate voted Tuesday 78-20 to reauthorize the charter of the Export-Import Bank, and to raise its lending ceiling to $140 billion from $100 billion. The U.S. House of Representatives passed the measure last week. The bill now goes to President Obama.

Duke Energy's S.C. president to depart

Duke Energy named Catherine Heigel the first president of its South Carolina service region in 2010. Heigel is leaving in June to become vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary of American Transmission Co. in Wisconsin.

S.C. home sales down 1.3% in April

In April, statewide home sales were down 1.3% at 4,181, compared to April 2011, with median sales price increasing 3% to $146,000. Year-to-date, statewide home sales were up 4.8%. On average, a home stayed on the market 145 days.

BlueCross VP to speak about new health care model

BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina's Laura Long will deliver the keynote presentation on a new model in health care, the patient-centered medical home, at the 2012 Prevention Partners Health at Work Conference Thursday in West Columbia.