February 10, 2012

Barrett: “I’m not the smartest in SC but I know who the smartest are”

US Congressman Gresham Barrett was on the gubernatorial campaign trial in Greenville Tuesday. The Republican spoke to the Upstate Republican Women’s club. 

Barrett says the governor must be motivated and have connections.  “We have tremendous potential in South Carolina.  But the Governor has to be the #1 cheerleader.  The governor has got to be the CEO.  I’m not the smartest person in the state.  I’ll tell you that up front.  But I know the smartest in the state–businessmen and businesswomen who can turn this state around.”  [Read more...]

Discrimination lawsuit against SC plant granted class-action status

A federal appeals court in Charleston has revived a lawsuit involving discrimination at a Berkeley County Nucor plant. The Race Discrimination Suit against South Carolina Nucor Plant in Berkeley County was granted rare class-action status Tuesday by a federal appeals court.

The lawyers of the seven black mill workers announced the action from Charleston. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued the ruling Brown v. Nucor Corp., reversing the district court. The workers that brought suit against the Huger, South Carolina plant say there were racial slurs and monkey noises over broadcasts made on the mill’s radio system, racially charged E-mails, and various derogatory racial slurs referring to the black workers. The suit also alleges the plant using discrimination when promoting its employees.

The court decided to move the case forward on class-action status. It is now being sent back to federal district court in Charleston.

EPD keeps eye on Hurricane Bill

Hurricane Bill continues to churn out in the Atlantic and even though forecasters have it turning away from the South Carolina coast, the state’s Emergency Management Agency continues to watch. Jon Boettcher, Chief of Preparedness is monitoring conditions out there.”We have certain decision points, even before Bill turns,” explains Boettcher. “One of them, obviously, is that we continue to watch. One of them is we do in fact start putting out just some very low level notices to some of our state agency partners, letting them know that it is there –because they have certain actions that they may undertake at this particular time in Bill’s approach.”

Boettcher added that even though the forecast indicates that Bill is not likely to turn toward South Carolina, his agency still needs to be ready and to continue watching its developments.

(filed by SCRN’s Susan Trautsch)

Lawmaker seeks help in shaping agenda

Like lawmakers all over the state, District 79 State Representative Anton Gunn knows the importance of getting a pulse on what his constituents are thinking as far as important issues are concerned and To that end Gunn has scheduled later this month three legislative issues forums in various parts of his district that includes parts of Richland and Kershaw Counties. Gunn says the forums will give the voters in his district the opportunity to help shape his 2010 legislative agenda. Gunn says the number one issue in his district and in the state for that matter is the 12 percent unemployment rate.

“People are looking for opportunities in that they want their lawmakers, their policy makers, the leaders of this state to actually do something about the roads and the infrastructure in our communities, to improve education, and the number one issue that’s sticking in everybody’s face and that is 12 percent unemployment and that South Carolinians need jobs.”

Gunn’s issues forums are scheduled for August 24, 27 and 31.

Gunn says while Governor Sanford’s trips and infidelity is garnering a lot of attention, lawmakers and the people they represent must maintain their focus on the issues that affect their everyday lives. [Read more...]

SRS employees exposed to nitric acid

Medical personnel responded to the Savannah River Site Tuesday after some employees were exposed to nitric acid.

Three employees at the Savannah River Site were transported to a Doctors Hospital in Augusta Tuesday morning after exposure to nitric acid. The exposure happened while the three employees were working in the F Area of the site, which is a former chemical processing complex where deactivation work takes place. They were preparing the facility for the removal of piping and residual materials in the area when they came into contact with the nitric acid.

In a release by the Savannah River Site, it says four additional employees were evaluated by on-site medical personnel. The fire department also responded to the scene after the F Area was issued protective actions, that has since been lifted.