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Clemson students hold town hall with President Barker

November 18, 2009 By

Clemson University President James Barker

Clemson University students held a town hall meeting to discuss issues with the president. The university’s president, that is. The students of Clemson’s media organizations hosted a town hall meeting Wednesday at the university with President James F. Barker on stage taking questions.

Patrick Neal, associate director for Student Media at Clemson University says the university’s media is made up of 2 newspapers, a radio station, a television station, yearbook and literary magazine and says this became a project early on.

“Early in the semester, as the school year began, the leaders of our respective groups wanted to do something to help inform the Clemson community about various and sundry things that are going on here at campus -from budget to parking to anything of concerns to students, faculty and staff.”

Neal said it was just a matter of lining things up. “We got in touch with President Barker and issued an invitation for him to come out and do a town hall event with us, with the Clemson community and he graciously accepted that.”

Members of the audience were  invited to ask questions on any university-related issue or concerns. “The institution has a lot of challenges.” says Neal.  “ We just felt this would be the opportune time to be the conduit by which President Barker could help enlighten members of our community about all the different things that are going on.”

Filed Under: Education, News

Union Count official resigns, facing $200,000 in embezzlement charges

November 18, 2009 By

Former Union County Clerk Brad Morris has turned himself on charges of misconduct in office and embezzlement of public funds.

According to arrest warrants Morris embezzled in excess of $200,000 from the counties Child Support fund between January and October of this year. A warrant says Morris admitted to the crimes.

Union County Sheriff David Taylor said he received reports that child support checks were bouncing. People who owe child support pay it into an account before it’s sent to parents. Morris supervised that account in the Union County Clerk of Court’s office.

Morris was released on a $30,000 bond Tuesday. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Crime & Courts, News

Ethics Commission finds probable cause in Sanford case

November 18, 2009 By

The South Carolina Ethics Commission says there is probable cause on several ethics charges against Governor Sanford. The Commission met behind closed doors in executive session for most of Wednesday. Then Commission Director Herb Hayden gave a statement saying that notice has been sent to the governor’s office that probable cause was found in the investigation.  Hayden pointed out that finding probable cause is not the same as finding guilt, but only one phase in the investigation.

Hayden did not reveal specific charges. The Commission will conduct a hearing in the case after January 1.

South Carolina House Speaker Bobby Harrell has said that House members need the Ethics Commission report before they consider whether or not to begin impeachment proceedings. He said previously that information about Sanford’s actions available so far would not be sufficient to impeach Sanford. Even the writer of the impeachment resolution said Tuesday that he wasn’t sure that there would now be enough House votes for impeachment,  though he says there may have been enough support for impeachment over the last summer.

Filed Under: Legislature, News, Politics & Government

Prosecutor wants Ludwig’s sentence reconsidered

November 18, 2009 By

Greenville County Solicitor Bob Ariail has filed a motion to overturn John Ludwig Jr.’s sentence of probation for a reckless homicide guilty plea.  In the motion, the solicitor asks the judge to reconsider the sentence for three reasons:

1. The sentence is so disproportionate to other sentences for similar cases in Greenville County.

2. The court expressed that it was influenced by the way Ludwig spent the money he earned.  The prosecutor says that is not appropriate for sentencing.

3. The public reaction in the case mandates a review to ensure community faith and confidence in the justice system.

Arial has also been under public criticism in Greenville for his handling of the case. 

It was revealed Wednesday that Ludwig given a $3 million settlement to the family of the man he killed in the accident.

Filed Under: Crime & Courts, News

Ethics Commission spends the day behind closed doors

November 18, 2009 By

Half a dozen news crews have been camped out at the state Ethics Commission Office in Columbia since 9:30 this morning, awaiting the posssible release of a report from the Commission concerning Governor Mark Sanford’s business travel and other actions in office. The commissioners, all of whom are appointed by the governor, are expected to decide whether Sanford is guilty of wrongdoing or should be cleared.  At publishing time, the Commission is still in executive session. 

Reporters camped out outside SC Ethics Commission offices

Meanwhile, the South Carolina House is also waiting for the Commission’s report. Speaker Bobby Harrell has said that House members need that report before they consider whether or not to begin impeachment proceedings. Chester County Republican Greg Delleney and others filed an impeachment resolution on Tuesday, the first day for pre-filing.

Harrell as said that information revealed so far has not been on a level that would lead to Sanford’s impeachment. Even Delleney told a WRHI reporter in Rock Hill Tuesday that he wasn’t at all sure there would be enough House votes for impeachment in January, even though he believed that it would have been more likely last summer.

And because a of legal question it’s uncertain if the full Ethics Commission report will be released immediately following today’s executive session. Commission director Herb Hayden says commissioners are confused and need clarification on what the state Supreme Court meant in its November 5th decision labeling the Commission report as public, if the Commission chooses to release it.

Entrance to Ethics Commission offices in Columbia

Filed Under: Legislature, News
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