Lawmakers have full plate this year

Money, Chas. port lead 2012 session

COLUMBIA -- South Carolina lawmakers are about to embark on their 2012 session, but how much will their work in the next six months change the lives of the men, women and children who call this state home? Read More

Clean out a closet, help your neighbor

Want to make room in the closet for a new Christmas gift? Read More

State's voter ID measure blocked

S.C. leaders will fight U.S. ruling

South Carolinians won't need a picture ID to vote after all. That is unless the state can figure out a way to change the mind of an assistant U.S. attorney general or persuade a federal judge in Washington, D.C., that South Carolina's new voter ID law does not discriminate against minorities. Read More

Gingrich immigration plan: U.S. border would be secured

Newt Gingrich said Friday that if he were president he would tell the U.S. Justice Department to drop all of its lawsuits against American states, including one in South Carolina over the Palmetto State's anti-illegal immigration law. Read More

South Carolina’s Voter ID law struck down

Fed: law would affect minorities more than whites and create a significant burden for them. Read More

Gingrich gives wide-ranging stump speech in Columbia

COLUMBIA — Newt Gingrich said today that if he wins South Carolina’s GOP nomination for president, he thinks it will give him the momentum to win nationally and take on President Barack Obama. Read More

Judge bars Occupy camp in Columbia

The Occupy protesters were handed an eviction notice Thursday: They can march on the Statehouse grounds 24 hours a day, but they can't sleep there and their tents must go. Read More

Occupy Columbia protestors cannot camp at Statehouse, may protest around the clock

COLUMBIA - ThU.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie let stand a rule passed Tuesday by the South Carolina Budget and Control Board.e Occupy Columbia protesters will be allowed to protest 24 hours a day at the statehouse but they can't camp or sleep on the grounds, a federal court judge ruled Thursday. Read More

Ruling on Statehouse Occupy protesters could come today

A federal court judge could decide as early as today whether the Occupy protesters, who have camped out at the Statehouse for the past two months, have the right to stay or if Gov. Nikki Haley is right to kick them off the grounds. Read More

Zais blasted over denial of grants

Superintendent of Education Mick Zais is pitting a political fad against the future of South Carolina schoolchildren, state Rep. Joe Neal said Tuesday during a Statehouse rally. Read More

Rally held to call on Zais to accept federal cash for S.C. schools

COLUMBIA — "Kick him out!" M.L. Kohn, a retired teacher, yelled at rally today at the Statehouse to oppose state Superintendent of Education Mick Zais's rejection of federal education dollars. Read More

Gov. Haley, state leaders attempt to kick Occupiers off Statehouse grounds - again

COLUMBIA — Gov. Nikki Haley led the passage of new Statehouse rules today intended to kick the Occupy Columbia protesters off capitol grounds. Read More

New regulation targets Occupy

COLUMBIA -- The showdown between Gov. Nikki Haley and the Occupy Columbia protesters continues. Read More

Clyburn: Ousting Obama top GOP goal

COLUMBIA -- Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn said Monday that congressional Republicans are acting with one primary goal in mind: To make sure President Barack Obama is a one-term president. Read More

Clyburn: GOP can end gridlock

COLUMBIA — Democratic Congressman Jim Clyburn told a South Carolina rotary club today that even though the “super committee” failed to make long-term spending cuts, Congress still has time to act. Read More

Haley vows jobs, but rural S.C. residents must find ways to survive in meantime

BARNWELL -- The pecans Felisa Rice collected off the side of a country road lined with tall trees and open fields will buy her what her college degree hasn't: food, soap, electricity. Read More

Haley chooses to back Romney

Experts: Nod may not be enough

As South Carolina prepares to catapult a Republican presidential candidate toward the 2012 nomination, Mitt Romney received a boost Friday with Gov. Nikki Haley's endorsement, but political observers say it might not be enough to jolt Newt Gingrich's momentum. Read More

Critics of dredging approval fire away

Haley issues strong defense

The controversial decision by South Carolina regulators to allow the Georgia Ports Authority to deepen the Savannah River came under fire from multiple directions Thursday. Read More

Gov. Haley's top staff to senators: We did not influence port decision

COLUMBIA — Under oath and by force of a subpoena, Gov. Nikki Haley's top staff members reaffirmed to a Senate panel Thursday that neither the governor, nor her office put pressure on Haley's political appointees to give Georgia a port permit. Read More

Charleston rules state's economy

S.C. near top in nation; gradual recovery forecast

Only three states have an economy more competitive than South Carolina, and Charleston is king in the Palmetto State. Read More

Charleston is bright spot in S.C.'s economy

COLUMBIA – Charleston's sizable college-educated population, port operations and global tourism designation make the area South Carolina's strongest economic engine. Read More

NAACP: Fight Voter ID

Law hurts minorities, won't stop fraud, group says

COLUMBIA -- The NAACP called on supporters Monday to fight what it deems a "coordinated and comprehensive assault" on black and Latino voters by states such as South Carolina. Read More

NAACP takes aim at S.C. voter ID law, voter 'suppression' efforts

COLUMBIA — The NAACP argues that South Carolina's new Voter ID law, among other similar measures nationwide, is a coordinated and comprehensive assault on black and Latino voters. Read More

Senators subpoena Haley's top aides

4 will testify on dredging decision

What do South Carolina senators hope to untangle by taking the historic step of forcing Gov. Nikki Haley's staff to testify under oath? Read More

Senate panel votes to subpoena governor's staff; Haley says staff will testify

Haley says staff will testify

COLUMBIA -- In what was called an historic move, a panel of senators has voted to subpoena four of Gov. Nikki Haley's top staff members over the controversial decision by a state agency that will lead to the dredging of the Savannah port. Read More

GOP sets up debate weekend

COLUMBIA -- The S.C. Republican Party on Thursday released details of a weekend full of events surrounding the January GOP presidential debate in Myrtle Beach. Read More

Bill would ban 'great day' greeting

Sometimes, it's not a great day in S.C.

A couple of state Democrats want to can Gov. Nikki Haley's "It's a great day in South Carolina" greeting for making bureaucrats out to be pollyannas. Read More

It's not a great day in South Carolina?

COLUMBIA — A couple of state House Democrats want Gov. Nikki Haley's cheery "It's a great day in South Carolina" greeting canned. Read More

DHEC officials grilled on ports

Leaders deny influence by Haley

South Carolina environmental oversight officials testified Tuesday that they were not influenced by Gov. Nikki Haley or economic consequences when they made the much-maligned decision to lift a barrier toward Savannah port development. Read More

Senators grill DHEC board chairman

COLUMBIA — A panel of South Carolina senators on Tuesday grilled the chairman of the state's environmental panel for two hours over the circumstances that led to a controversial decision to give Georgia the OK to dredge the Savannah River for its port. Read More

Input sought on fiscal fitness plan

A Senate subcommittee will take public comments on a fiscal fitness plan for South Carolina at 6:30 tonight in North Charleston City Hall. Read More

Nikki Haley battles critics on ports

Georgia fundraiser donors named

COLUMBIA -- Gov. Nikki Haley used her bully pulpit Monday to send a message to her critics: She did not sell South Carolina down the river. Read More

Gov. Haley builds her defense on port issue

COLUMBIA — Gov. Nikki Haley vehemently defended herself Monday against allegations that she improperly influenced a decision by an environmental board that will allow dredging at the Savannah port, a day before a Senate committee is expected to examine the situation. Read More

More disabled veterans may get special license tag

Rep. Wendell Gilliard came up with one more way South Carolina can honor the state's military heroes. Gilliard, a Charleston Democrat, said a bill he will file in the state House ahead of the January session would allow less-severely disabled wartime veterans to obtain special license plates to park in spaces reserved for handicapped individuals. Read More

Bachmann latest 2012 candidate to release memoir

COLUMBIA -- Michele Bachmann is the latest 2012 hopeful to release a book, a tool that could help her struggling campaign gain traction in South Carolina's First in the South GOP primary. Read More

Scrutiny growing on Haley port role

Fundraiser before dredging approval raises suspicions

COLUMBIA -- Gov. Nikki Haley faces increasing questions over her role in a decision that helped Savannah gain a competitive advantage over the Port of Charleston, the state's main economic engine. Read More

New ad accuses Gov. Haley of selling out S.C.’s port

COLUMBIA — A group of Republican activists opposed to Gov. Nikki Haley will run an ad Saturday during the USC-Clemson match-up that accuses the GOP governor of a backroom deal. Read More

Non-camping Statehouse protesters OK’d

COLUMBIA — Gov. Nikki Haley’s Department of Public Safety director said Monday that some 150 Occupy protesters would not be arrested for a peaceful protest at the Statehouse after dark, as long as they leave their sleeping bags at home. Read More

Haley won't testify on ports role

Subpoena from full panel unclear

COLUMBIA -- Gov. Nikki Haley declined a request Monday to testify at a Senate hearing over whether she played a role in a controversial environmental decision that critics say gives Savannah's port a competitive edge over Charleston's. Read More

Occupiers stay past 6 p.m. deadline

Columbia-Some 150 Occupy protesters took to the Statehouse steps past Gov. Nikki Haley's 6 p.m. deadline. Read More

Gov. Haley asked to attend hearing over port permit, provide records

The matter is at the center of a fire storm over a decision earlier this month by the state Department of Health and Environmental Control board to grant a water permit to the Savannah port that will enable it to prepare for larger ships. Read More

Haley: Invest more in mental health

Her budget to seek more spending

Gov. Nikki Haley wants South Carolina to invest more in mental health services, a commitment advocates see as a lifeline for their struggling loved ones. Read More

Haley's flight rules changing

Ethics panel bans method of calculating cost

COLUMBIA -- The way Gov. Nikki Haley wrote off the cost of flying to out-of-state fundraising events was banned Wednesday by the State Ethics Commission. Read More

Troopers arrest 19 at Occupy Columbia

Haley points to mess, behavior

COLUMBIA -- Under the Confederate battle flag at the Statehouse, 19 Occupy protesters were arrested Wednesday and escorted by troopers to a basement corridor in the Capitol, where they lined the hallway and sang "God Bless America" with their arms handcuffed behind their backs. Read More

Occupy Columbia protesters arrested at Statehouse

COLUMBIA — A showdown between state law enforcement officers and Occupy Columbia protesters took place on the grounds of the Statehouse today. After Gov. Nikki Haley ordered police to remove the protesters at 6 p.m., many remained behind in the pouring rain after police ordered them to disperse. Read More

Sen. Peeler to Gov. Haley: What are you going to do about Occupy protesters?

COLUMBIA — Sen. Harvey Peeler asked Gov. Nikki Haley what she plans to do about the Occupy protesters that have been living at the Statehouse for the last month. Read More

Ethics Commission sets new flight rules

COLUMBIA — The state Ethics Commission today voted to set a new standard in the way politicians value the cost of a flight on a private airplane. Read More

Romney in S.C. touts his turnaround plan

COLUMBIA -- Mitt Romney stood back and watched his wife, Ann, as she described to a capital city crowd Tuesday the way she sees her husband. Read More

Romney stumps in South Carolina

COLUMBIA — Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor and two-time GOP presidential candidate, spoke to about 150 capital city supporters at an international sign manufacturing plant today. Read More

GOP primary case before high court

COLUMBIA -- Chief Justice Jean Toal on Monday suggested that the way South Carolina's GOP presidential primary is paid for could be as fundamental as protecting access to the ballot box for all voters. Read More