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SC workers watch Dreamliner take-off

December 15, 2009 By

Boeing will begin production on 787 Dreamliners in 2012

South Carolina aviation workers will get to view their work from a big screen today. The 787 Dreamliners have flown over Seattle for years, and with the recent addition of a new facility in North Charleston, local workers will get to see their work in flight. Employees at the Boeing and Global Aeronautica plants in North Charleston have been working hard on piecing together rear fuselage parts, and today they will watch an oversized screen with live footage as the 787 Dreamliners take off out of Seattle. Boeing will test pilots and the planes as line workers watch from Charleston. The jet is expected to take about four to five hours for testing.

Members of the community are also expected to watch the flight. Dreamliner planes will be assembled in North Charleston and turned over to customers from the $750 million expansion. Charleston Mayor Joe Riley plans to watch the flight from his office today and he told The Post and Courier newspaper “In many respects, it’s already our airplane. We haven’t started the assembly, though we’ve engaged in the beginning of the manufacturing process, but it’s really wonderful.”

Today’s flight will show several months of testing for safety and performance. The new 787 jetliner is expected to take up less fuel, having quieter engines, and have lower emissions than other airplanes.

Filed Under: News, Transportation

DeMint taking part in “Code Red” rally in D.C.

December 15, 2009 By

Organizers of an anti-health care bill  rally are calling it ”Code Red” to remind Americans that there may be only a few votes standing in the way of passage of health care reform in the U.S. Senate.

Senator Jim Demint will be one of the speakers. The American Conservative Union,The Susan B. Anthony List, 60 Plus and the Americans for Prosperity are among the gathering of 26 political organizations, lawmakers and celebrities who are meeting at a Capitol Hill park today.

DeMint spoke in the Senate last week about his continued opposition to this health care plan:

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

$21 million for Shaw AFB clears Congress

December 15, 2009 By

Congress gave final approval to a $21 million project that will expand and modernize the Headquarters of the Air Force Central Command and 9th Air Force at Shaw Air Force Base (USAFCENT/9th U.S. Air Force).  The funding was secured by U.S. Rep. John Spratt of South Carolina. The headquarters facilitates command and control of air and ground operations within U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility. Currently, operations are spread among five older buildings on the base. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Economy, Legislature, News, Politics & Government

Midlands students help draft bill to ban texting while driving

December 15, 2009 By

Using your cell phone to text while driving is dangerous, according to students in a class at Dreher High School in Columbia. A vote was taken by the students and they agreed on that, two to one. But the students in the advance placement government studies class went a step further–and they’re drafting legislation to ban texting while driving statewide.

Richland County Representative James Smith helped the students draft the bill and will be sponsoring it in the House during the legislative session that begins next month. He says high school students know the issue well.  “It has been shown to be as risky as driving while intoxicated,” he says.  “They’re the most prolific texters in the state.  This is particularly significant to them, given that they’re new drivers, and their own experiences as well as accidents around the country.” 

Smith says there is certainly precident for the law, which has already been inacted in 26 states. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Human Interest, Legislature, News

New tax credit/state assistance double help for home buyers

December 15, 2009 By

Low-to-moderate income South Carolinians now have a few options that can boost them toward the purchase of their first home. The South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority is offering first-time home buyers loans through a statewide network of participating lenders.

Housing Authority marketing Director Clayton Ingram says the loans have competitive, fixed interest rates, and are offered directly through the state Housing Authority–$5000 in assistance to help first-time buyers with their down payment.

Ingram says first-time buyers are eligible, as well as individuals who have not owned a home in three years, but Ingram says that requirement is waived in certain counties.  “There are lots of variations, so I would encourage anyone who might qualify to talk to their realtor, broker or lender about using S.C. State Housing Authority for their mortgage.” [Read more...]

Filed Under: Business, News
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