From the daily archives:

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Governor Mark Sanford responded Tuesday to recent allegations that he misused the state plane. He said it was basically a politically-driven feeding frenzie.
Concerning allegations that he used a plane to fly to a hair salon at Myrtle Beach and a dentist appointment, Sanford said those were notes in state files taken out of context. He said the hair cut was an $11 drop-in visit to a local discount barber shop which he made during extra time on a business trip.

“I did wrong, I messed up, and there are consequences,” said Sanford.  “But what you can’t do is create a feeding frenzy where every practice, that may have been employed for 20 years, and no other governor faced that question.  The Department of Commerce arranges the trips.  I don’t think you should have one standard for this governor, separate from other governorships in the past, and separate from the standards of other state agencies.”    [click to continue…]

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Newberry family accused of beating grandfather who allegedly molested children

by William Christopher 08/11/09 9:21 PM

Newberry County authorities say a man was beaten by his family after admitting that he sexually assaulted his grandchildren.
Newberry Police Officers said they were taking a prisoner into the county’s detention center when they spotted a man in the parking lot, being let out of a car, who had been badly beaten. The officers called [...]

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Drake announces gubernatorial bid

by William Christopher 08/11/09 4:26 PM

Attorney and statehouse lobbyist Dwight Drake has announced a run for Governor as a Democrat.
Drake says he led efforts to bring BMW to South Carolina, resulting in 15,000 new jobs, and to protect public school funding.
Drake says it’s time to get South Carolina working again. “What will be eight years with Mark Sanford will have [...]

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ESC director steps down after 38 years of service

by Eric Guimaraes 08/11/09 4:12 PM

Roosevelt Ted Halley will be stepping down after 38 years with The Employment Security Commission. He served as Executive Director of the agency since December of 2002. The commission says they will now put together a transition team, and that will include Mr. Halley, to consider a successor. They are commending him for his many [...]

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Governor responds to recent investigations

by Michael Brown 08/11/09 2:35 PM

Governor Mark Sanford is responding to a recent AP investigation that accused him of misusing state aircraft for personal trips, such as hair and dental appointments. Tuesday, the governor was on Charleston affiliate WTMA’s Rocky D talk show and said a reporter who quoted the governor flying from Myrtle Beach to Columbia for a haircut [...]

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