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DHEC says EVERYONE should have an HIV test

June 22, 2009 By Leave a Comment

More than 1.1 million Americans are living with HIV, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Approximately 230,000 of them are unaware they are infected with the virus. DHEC statistics indicate that more than 15,000 people are living with HIV in South Carolina, but officials say the actual rate is much higher, since at least 20 percent of those with HIV don’t know they’re infected.Events are being held throughout South Carolina this week in observance of National HIV Testing Day. This Saturday is National HIV Testing Day.

DHEC’S HIV Prevention Program Manager Tony Price says DHEC is following a new philosophy now, that EVERYONE should get an HIV test.  “Just like people should know what their blood pressure or cholestorol level is, we want everyone to know what their HIV status is.  Everyone should find out once and for all, regardless of how they view themselves fitting into a particular risk group.”  [Read more...]

Filed Under: Health & Medicine, News

President signs tobacco regs

June 22, 2009 By Leave a Comment

President Barack Obama

The FDA regulates so many foods and drugs that many people don’t know that tobacco products have not been regulated. Well as of Monday, that changed. President Obama signed historic legislation that regulates what goes into tobacco products, and makes the ingredients public. It also prohibits marketing tobacco to children.President Obama lamented the first time he smoked as a teen, saying that he has spend much of his adult life fighting the habit.

Director of Advocacy for the American Lung Association of South Carolina, June Dean, says this progress comes after a 10-year battle with the tobacco industry.  She says the new regulations will go very far in reducing smoking and related illnesses in the U.S., and result in fewer children and teens smoking as well as adults.  “It will prohibit cigarettes geared toward kids, like those flavored with grape, peppermint or peach.  It will require much larger health warning labels on cigarettes.  Tobacco companies will be prohitbited from making health claims, like light cigarettes being less harmful to a smoker’s health.” 

Almost 90 percent of smokers started at age 18 or younger.   Dean says companies will be required to tell what chemicals are put in cigarettes.  “We’ve long known that there many cancer-causing chemicals in cigarettes and cigarette smoke.”

Dean says tobacco marketing campaigns are dangerous and contribute to kids smoking before, if not long before, they reach their 18th birthday.   “Absolutely.  You know kids usually try tobacco for the first time when they’re 11, 12 or 13.  And they’re addicted to cigarettes by the time they’re adults. ” 

Dean says smoking is the number one preventable cause of death and disease in the U.S.  “Well over 400,000 people die in this country each year from smoking-related diseases.  More than 1,000 American kids begin smoking each day.  It’s big business.” 

The regulation process will be paid for using user fees from the tobacco industry.

Filed Under: Agriculture, Business, Health & Medicine, News

Clyburn, Graham lead health care reform debate

June 22, 2009 By Leave a Comment

According to national polls just released, a majority of Americans want health care reform, in some form. A CBS-New York Times poll says that 72 percent support the idea of a government run health plan, with 57 percent saying they’d pay more taxes for universal health care. Other national polls showed even higher numbers.Two of South Carolina’s congressional leaders are heavily involved in the health care reform debate.

James Clyburn, House majority Whip and advisor to President Barack Obama, says a public option has not been decided upon.

“A public option can come in many different forms,” he says, “I’m one of those who believes very strongly that we ought to have 100 percent coverage in community health centers. Community health centers would be very strong on the prevention side and would do a whole lot to break down the cost of health care.”

South Carolina senior Senator Lindsay Graham calls it socialized medicine. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Health & Medicine, News, Politics & Government

Financial Aid applications on a rise

June 22, 2009 By Leave a Comment

This year, Clemson University increased its tuition by 4.5 percent. Right now, it costs the average in-state full-time student at Clemson approximately $11,400 a year in tuition. Keith Reeves with Clemson University’s Financial Aid Office says they’ve seen an increase in students applying for need-based financial aid.

“We have a rise for applications for need-based aid roughly in the area of 24 percent. Part of it is due to just an increase in admissions applications, we have more students apply to the university; therefore, there’s a corresponding increase in FAFSA hours. The other part of it is due to the economy, more people are gonna need it,” says Reeves.

Reeves explains how the school is dealing with the struggling economy.

“Really as best we can. The economy is worse, but there’s not a lot more resources available to us to help out, so we are doing what we can with the federal money we get and the adjustments we can make to the students eligiblity, and that’s really about all we can do right now,”says Reeves.

Currently, more than 18,000 students attend Clemson, and Reeves says more than 45 percent of them receive some form of financial aid assistance. The university has also seen more students requesting increased amounts on their financial aid forms due to “special conditions.”

“The FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, kind of takes a snap-shot picture of the prior years, income and financial situation, and if the situation has changed, there is a procedure where you can appeal to the Financial Aid Office to take anything into account that the form doesn’t ask for. For example, loss of job, death of a family member, anything along those lines,” says Reeves.

Clemson receives most of its financial aid money from the South Carolina need-based grant, amounting to $2 million, and the Federal Pell Grant, amounting to $6 million. Clemson also has a merit-based aid program that bases financial assistance on academic achievements, or merits. Those who receive merit-based aid do not have apply, which separates Clemson from some other universities in the state.

Filed Under: Economy, Education, News

Ag Commissioner: Overriding Governor’s veto could clear path for future measure

June 22, 2009 By Leave a Comment

The measure to give in-state vendors preference over out-of-state vendors when competing for State Government contracts which became law when the General Assembly overrode Governor Sanford’s veto a week ago will not only help businesses in the state, it will also aid the state’s farmers and agri-business persons.State Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers says the wording in the measure may also aid in the passage of the “Farm to School Program Act” during the next legislative session. The bill remained in committee when the legislative session ended. Weathers says the proposed program would link schools with South Carolina farms in order to provide schools with fresh fruits and vegetables to include in school meals and snacks. Weathers says the measure would not only provide more business opportunities for farmers, it would also help children develop healthy eating habits.

“Anderson County has been very energetic about getting farmers a greater opportunity to get their products into the school system. The legislation was introduced by a member from Anderson County with the idea that if it can happen statewide with a little more work we can get the fresh vegetables into the school system and make it healthier for the younger kids especially.”

The legislation was introduced by Anderson County Representative Dan Cooper. The proposal also calls for the integration of Nutrition and Agriculture education into school curricula by providing hands-on learning opportunities for students such as farm visits, cooking demonstrations, and school gardening programs.

Weathers envisions the proposed program as a great opportunity for the agriculture and education communities to work hand and hand in improving the overall education of youngsters in South Carolina through nutrition and learning.

“The combination of having that preference language and having the strength behind “Farm to School” which hopefully can pass next year, then we would have our marching orders to be a little more aggressive in working with the Department of Education.”

According to the language in the bill, a successful Farm to School Program will require the resources, expertise, and collaboration of a number of state agencies including the Department of Education, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Environmental Control.

Filed Under: Agriculture, Business, Economy, Education, Legislature, News
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