Secretary of state lists charity scrooges, angels

COLUMBIA -- S.C. Secretary of State Mark Hammond urged South Carolinians Wednesday to be knowledgeable about the charities they will donate to this holiday season, as he highlighted this year's "scrooges and angels." Read More

Ethics panel finds probable cause

Sanford to face judges on reimbursement issues

COLUMBIA -- Gov. Mark Sanford will now have to face a panel of ethics judges after the State Ethics Commission determined Wednesday that probable cause exists on several allegations related to his travel and campaign reimbursements. Read More

Two North Charleston charities make top 10 'Angels' list

COLUMBIA — Local charities Dress for Success Worldwide and Metanoia made Secretary of State Mark Hammond's annual top 10 list of "Angels" for the organizations that devote the highest percentage of their donations to their cause, not overhead. Read More

Sanford to learn today of ethics panel findings

COLUMBIA -- A series of events today and in the coming week will help to determine Gov. Mark Sanford's fate. Read More

Impeachment resolution introduced

COLUMBIA -- A day before Gov. Mark Sanford faces the state ethics commissioners in a closed-door session on his alleged wrongdoings, an impeachment resolution has been filed in the House. Read More

Writing the laws on $10,400 a year

Do time, salary limit the ranks of who can serve?

The ranks of the state's legislature are filled with attorneys, businessmen and retirees, a makeup influenced by the state's 6-month-long session and low legislative pay. Read More

College president seeks schools job

COLUMBIA -- Mick Zais, president of Newberry College, announced Thursday that he will join the crowded race to become South Carolina's next Superintendent of Education. Read More

Newberry College president to run for state education chief

COLUMBIA -- Mick Zais, president of Newberry College, announced today that he will run to be the next state Superintendent of Education. Read More

Bookkeeping worries Eckstrom

The state Employment Security Commission's questionable accounting practices could put South Carolina's ability to borrow federal money -- and cut checks to the nearly 12 percent of unemployed workers -- in jeopardy, state chief accountant Richard Eckstrom said Wednesday. Read More

Eckstrom: Bookkeeping at the unemployment office could jeopardize federal funds

The state Employment Security Commission's questionable accounting practices could put South Carolina's ability to borrow federal money -- and cut checks to the nearly 12 percent of unemployed workers -- in jeopardy, state chief accountant Richard Eckstrom said today. Read More

Majority of independents in South disapprove of Obama

Southern independents, the very group that President Barack Obama leaned on to take the White House last year, aren't all happy with his performance when it comes to health care, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and other matters, according to the results of a Winthrop Poll made public today. Read More

Group probes Boeing

Black caucus won't push for unions, aims to ensure fairness for minorities

COLUMBIA -- The South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus won't push for unions at Boeing's planned 787 Dreamliner facility in North Charleston, but the state legislators will do all they can to make sure the state's minorities have a fair shot at the new jobs the aeronautics giant will create, Sen. Robert Ford said Monday. Read More

Summit on homelessness planned

A summit planned for Thursday in Charleston is intended to forge a dialogue between the community's homeless, its residents and South Carolina's elected officials to find out what the state needs to do to take care of its own, state Rep. Wendell Gilliard said Monday. Read More

Summit on homelessness Thursday in Charleston

Charleston Rep. Wendell Gilliard wants the community to help improve the lives of homeless in South Carolina by hosting a summit on Thursday. Read More

Black caucus seeks info on Boeing's hiring practices

COLUMBIA — South Carolina's Legislative Black Caucus wants to make sure that minorities have a fair and equal shot at the new jobs Boeing Co. is bringing to the Lowcountry, according to letter obtained by The Post and Courier Monday. Read More

Court won't block probe's release

Ruling leaves question in commission's hands

COLUMBIA -- Gov. Mark Sanford did not make any part of his ethics investigation off limits when he waived confidentiality, so the S.C. Supreme Court won't block the findings from reaching the hands of state legislators, according to an opinion issued Thursday. Read More

10 gubernatorial hopefuls meet on Orangeburg stage for first-of-a-kind debate

Starting Wednesday afternoon, you can watch the archived debate on ETV's web site. Read More

Debate to put focus on natural resources

Ten Republican and Democratic gubernatorial hopefuls will take the stage in Orangeburg tonight to debate the ways South Carolina should grow its economy while conserving its environment. Read More

Election Day debate planned for gubernatorial hopefuls

The S.C. Natural Resources Society has invited the field of 10 Republicans and Democrats vying for governor to debate their ideas about growing South Carolina's economy while protecting its environment. Read More

Sanford signs jobless benefits fix

Governor says change needed at state employment agency

COLUMBIA -- With Gov. Mark Sanford's signature Thursday, checks will be mailed to about 15,000 state workers who can't find jobs. Read More

SANFORD: Deal could help him keep job, but legacy still in doubt

Boeing is coming: Now what?

COLUMBIA -- When history writes Gov. Mark Sanford's legacy, will it begin with Argentina or Boeing? Read More

Benefit checks are on the way

Legislature fixes oversight; stimulus funds to flow

COLUMBIA -- It's official: the state Legislature fixed an oversight Wednesday that will send tens of millions of dollars to unemployed workers. Gov. Mark Sanford will sign the bill today and residents could receive a check within a week. Read More

BOEING: Aircraft giant lands here

Aviation giant expects to break ground on new assembly plant within the next few weeks

North Charleston won the fiercely fought battle for a Boeing 787 aircraft assembly plant Wednesday. Go to our Boeing page for more coverage. Read More

Lawmakers offered lure worth $450M

The power brokers sat together in Senate leader Glenn McConnell's office and huddled around the phone 15 minutes before the Boeing announcement. Read More

Boeing lands in North Charleston

North Charleston will be home to a new Boeing 787 jet assembly plant, ending a hotly sought-after deal that thrusts the state into the front lines of aircraft manufacturing. Read More

Boeing incentives session in holding pattern; Senate adjourned until 4:55 p.m.

The state Legislature is in a holding pattern this afternoon with speculation that a Boeing announcement could come at any time. The House and Senate were expected to reconvene at 2 p.m. Late starts are nothing new in the halls of Columbia, but this is different. Read More

IMPEACHMENT: Measure to oust Sanford blocked; Harrell says now isn't time

Special, and busy, session of S.C. Legislature

An effort to begin impeaching Gov. Sanford was turned aside Tuesday when House Speaker Bobby Harrell rejected the action during a special session. Read More

BOEING: Hush-hush talks held to attract a company that no one will identify

Special, and busy, session of S.C. Legislature

UPDATE: The state Legislature is in a holding pattern this afternoon with speculation that a Boeing announcement could come at any time. Read More

Impeachment action rejected during special session

House Speaker Bobby Harrell rejected action on impeachment today during a special session. Read More

Legislators consider incentives to bring manufacturing, jobs to state

Update: The House this afternoon unanimously passed legislation to allowing unemployed residents access to federal stimulus money for extended benefits. The measure should be headed to the state Senate for final approval by Wednesday afternoon. Read More

Columbia lawyer entering AG race

COLUMBIA -- Former 9th Circuit prosecutor Robert Bolchoz launched his bid Monday to become South Carolina's next attorney general, the third Republican to enter the field. Read More

Session to tackle historic matters

Jobless benefits, Boeing, impeachment hot topics

COLUMBIA -- State legislators will reconvene today for what could be one of the most significant special sessions in recent state history. Read More

Can black or woman win state's top spot?

Sen. Robert Ford, Rep. Nikki Haley challenge gender, racial barriers in running to succeed Mark Sanford

COLUMBIA -- Gubernatorial hopefuls state Sen. Robert Ford and state Rep. Nikki Haley could do for South Carolina what President Barack Obama and former vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin did for race and gender barriers on the national scene. But can they get elected here? Read More

Clyburn cites S.C. hostility

COLUMBIA — U.S. House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn said Friday that a conversation with White House staff left him with the sense that a hostile environment in South Carolina is keeping the first lady from visiting. Read More

More passing GED

State matches national average

In the last six years, the rate at which S.C. adults passed their GED tests has doubled, a sign that the state's workforce is growing stronger. Read More

State GOP taps Wilkins as fundraiser

COLUMBIA -- The state Republican Party announced Thursday that it has tapped David Wilkins, former U.S. Ambassador to Canada and speaker of the South Carolina House, to raise enough money to pay off its mortgage and make upgrades to its headquarters. Read More

Error with scooter stops big rig cold

COLUMBIA -- Bob Morookian was cruising along Highway 131 outside Monroe County, Wis., some 1,000 miles from his Mount Pleasant home, when a DMV policy stranded him at a truck stop with an 80,000-pound rig, a hazardous load and no license. Read More

Lawmaker to boost Barrett

COLUMBIA -- U.S. Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana, the House's third-ranking Republican, will be in Charleston on Oct. 12 for a fundraiser for S.C. gubernatorial hopeful and 3rd District Rep. Gresham Barrett. Read More

High court to make call on ethics report

Governor's attorneys say the release of the information to the House will corrupt the process

COLUMBIA -- The state Supreme Court will hear arguments Oct. 19 in a case over the release of an ethics report that the House could use as a foundation to impeach Gov. Mark Sanford. Read More

2 Republicans enter House race

Democratic Rep. Vida Miller has represented sprawling House District 108 since 1996

COLUMBIA -- Democratic state Rep. Vida Miller, whose district includes Awendaw and McClellanville, will face a Republican challenge in the 2010 race from one of at least two GOP contenders. Read More

S.C. Supreme Court will hear Sanford case

The state Supreme Court justices agreed today to hear oral arguments on Oct. 19 in the case between Gov. Mark Sanford, the Ethics Commission and the House over the release of a report into the governor’s alleged wrongdoings. Read More

State NAACP chapter to hold annual conference in Charlotte

COLUMBIA -- The NAACP's upcoming 68th annual state conference will focus on educating, inspiring and empowering the civil rights community, South Carolina chapter President Lonnie Randolph said Friday. Read More

S.C. strategy on Boeing: Tight lips

Officials going after plant with behind-the-scenes efforts

The state is in a high-stakes battle with Washington to seal a deal with Boeing, but officials here aren't saying a word. Read More

South Carolina officials silent on Boeing recruitment

South Carolina is in a high-stakes competition with Washington to land a deal with airplane manufacturing giant Boeing Co. that could become the cornerstone for the aerospace industry on the East Coast, but officials here aren't saying a word. Read More

State's $2B jobless benefits puzzle

Forecaster: Loans must be repaid to federal government while restoring trust fund

COLUMBIA -- South Carolina soon will have a $2 billion problem to solve that could hamstring its ability to recover from the recession, the state's top economic forecaster, John Rainey, warned Tuesday. Read More

GOP going green

Party to receive gift to make sustainability improvements

COLUMBIA -- Longtime Republican Party loyalist Roger Milliken agreed Monday to help the South Carolina GOP pay off the mortgage on its headquarters, but on one condition: the party go green. Read More

GOP to get funding to green its headquarters

COLUMBIA - Longtime Republican Party loyalist Roger Milliken pledged $250,000 in matching funds Monday for the state GOP to make green improvements and technological upgrades to its headquarters, as well as pay off the mortgage. Read More

Schools defend lobbying costs

Opponents say practice misuses public money

The state's public colleges and universities spend hundreds of thousands of dollars each year on lobbyists to influence legislators to send more money and pass laws that are favorable to their respective schools. Read More

Questioning the need for lobbyists

Many state agencies, not just higher education institutions, hire lobbyists. But the practice at the state's colleges and universities raised concerns last week when the College of Charleston created a new lobbyist position and hired the former chairman of its Board of Trustees to fill it. Read More

Limehouse optimistic on Boeing

Lawmaker says state offering super deal to lure new plant

Rep. Chip Limehouse said S.C.'s offer to Boeing is too good to pass up and the state will land a second Dreamliner assembly line. Read More