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State Chamber: Increasing cost to businesses must be done carefully

September 30, 2009 by

The Board of Economic Advisers has been meeting with other state officials and the business community to discuss how to rebuild the state’s Unemployment Trust Fund and repay funds borrowed from the federal government’s pool of unemployment loans.

Currently the board is looking at a recommendation that would repay $1 billion in loans, beginning the first of 2011, using a reduction in the federal credit against the state unemployment tax paid by businesses. It will take the state until 2019 to pay off just the borrowed money.

South Carolina Chamber President Otis Rawl says to generate an extra $400 million, as recommend to repay the federal loan and rebuild the trust fund, it could cost businesses another $140-$200 per employee.

Rawl says the business community is ready to step up and do what has to be done.  “But on the other side of it, we’re in pretty trying times right now.  From an economic development standpoint, we could loose any kind of initiative we have in this state.  If you increase too quick, you put jobs at risk.  We have to be careful about what we do.” [Read more...]

Filed Under: Business, Legislature, News

Authorities bust up heavy equipment theft ring

September 30, 2009 by

Authorities have so far recovered approximately $400,000 in stolen farm equipment. Law enforcement from both North and South Carolinas gathered Wednesday to announce the arrest of a suspect in a theft ring that stretched from Charlotte to Georgia. Authorities say the culprits have been taking very expensive heavy equipment for several months or longer. More arrests are expected.

Representatives of the Polk County, North Carolina Sheriff’s Office and Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office say the Spartanburg man, whose name has not been released, drove a stolen truck from Lincoln County, North Carolina. He’s also accused of thefts in Greenville and Spartanburg counties and Rutherfordton, North Carolina. Authorities in those locations have assisted in investigating the case, as well as the North Carolina Highway Patrol and deputies in Davis County Georgia.

The suspect was arrested Wednesday morning after a chase in North Carolina. Authorities say the suspect was driving a truck with a trailer attached on I-26, then left the interstate traveling more than 80 mph onto an exit ramp near Saluda. A foot chase followed before the suspect was apprehended.

Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright says they expect to recover at least $1.5 million in farm equipment. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Agriculture, Crime & Courts, News, Uncategorized

Greer PD awarded with video poker assets

September 30, 2009 by

U-S Attorney Walt Wilkins presented a check for $1.3 million to the Greer police department Wednesday. The money was part of assets from a multi-million dollar video poker ring that led to the arrest of Billy Hindman back in 2007.

“This money represents the joint partnership that we have,” said Wilkins.  “And we can now give a portion of this money back to the Greer Police Department so they can buy cars and uniforms that are desprately needed.” 

That’s U-S attorney Walt Wilkins. Hindman agreed to pay $9 million in fines after pleading guilty to running the operation in the upstate.

Filed Under: Crime & Courts, News

Butterflies fly over statehouse to raise cancer awareness

September 30, 2009 by

In contrast to the heavy air surrounding South Carolina politics in recent months, a van-load of colorful Monarch butterflies flew over the Statehouse Tuesday evening.

The annual butterfly release is sponsored by the South Carolina Ovarian Cancer Foundation.

Jane Williams directs the organization. She says ovarian cancer affects one in 72 women, but is usually more dangerous than breast or some other types of cancer.  “It’s more deadl because it’s usually detected in later stages.  The disease has whispering symptoms, including fatique, adominal pain,  back pain, bloating and feeling full when you haven’t eaten much.”

Each year, more than 20,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer and 15,000 die from it. Williams emphasizes that a woman’s chance of survival is much better if the cancer if found early. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Health & Medicine, News

Study illustrates South Carolina’s domestic violence problem

September 30, 2009 by

The national investigative, research and advocacy organization known as the Violence Policy Center has released a study ranking South Carolina eighth in the nation in the rate of females murdered by males. The study used 2007 data showing the Palmetto State with a murder rate of men killing women at 2.04 per 100,000, which is nearly twice the national average. Rebecca Williams-Agee  of the South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault says the number actually shows improvement from 2006 when the state was ranked second, with 63 women murdered by men. Williams-Agree says the state must do more to further curb the cycle of violence against women.

What it really means is that we are still in the top 10, something we have never been out of as a state just means we still have a lot of work to do. There needs to be more education, more access to different groups, and more information provided for those who need help. We need to let them know what services we as an organization provide and what services their local communities’ programs provide.” [Read more...]

Filed Under: Crime & Courts, Human Interest, News
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