South Carolina Radio Network affiliate WTMA in Charleston’s News Director Fred Storey spoke with several American relief workers who witnessed the earthquake in Haiti. Air Force Team Charleston flew out Friday to Haiti with 80 FEMA search and rescue personnel and humanitarian supplies. Storey spoke with this worker about what she was doing when the disaster struck:
Water war in limbo
January 18, 2010 By
It’s been 25 and a half months since the state of South Carolina filed suit in the U.S. Supreme Court against North Carolina over the amount of water being drawn out of the Catawba River. The case is currently in a state of limbo until the nation’s highest court decides on the question of intervenors who want to join in he case. Duke energy, the city of Charlotte and the Catawba River Water Supply Company want to join on the side of the defendant North Carolina. South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster has argued that adding the intervenors with their separate arguments will only prolong the case and that the states can argue for all entities within its respective borders. McMaster says he hopes to hear From the Supreme Court later this month concerning a decision on the question of the intervenors in order to move the case along.
“If they take these three parties out then that will clear the way for us finally to get down to the real issues and finally present that to the special judge who will be accumulating evidence,” says McMaster. “The special judge will then, based on the evidence, make a recommendation to the U.S. Supreme court to decide the case.”
McMaster says eventually when the case is heard, a number of experts are set to offer their testimony on how the daily permanent withdrawal of tens of millions of gallons of water from the Catawba River by the state of North Carolina would adversely affect business and industry and overall quality of life of the citizens of South Carolina served by the river. [Read more...]
Charleston airport back up after runway lights problem
January 18, 2010 By
After flight cancellations over the weekend at the Charleston International Airport, things are back to normal today. The runway lights at the Charleston International Airport went out around 6 p.m. on Saturday. Then, all flights were canceled and two planes were diverted.
The Associated Press reports one U.S. Airways flight was on its way to Charleston and was sent back to Charlotte. Another flight flying into Charleston, United Express, was diverted to Columbia. Crew from the Charleston Air Force Base worked Saturday night to fix the problem and now have the airport back up and running. Officials are still telling passengers to double check their airlines to make sure there are no delays.
SC Chamber sets agenda for new legislative year
January 18, 2010 By
The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce has released its agenda for the new legislative year. Promoting economic development, reforming the Employment Security Commission, addressing workforce development needs, repealing Act 388 and protecting secret union ballots all lead the list.
SC Chamber President and CEO Otis Rawl
Chamber President and CEO Otis Rawl says his organization is concerned about the effectiveness with which the Employment Security Commission is linking unemployed workers with jobs. He says the state is also facing a debt to the SC Unemployment Trust Fund of more than $2 billion all totaled. He says if that debt isn’t addressed properly, then businesses will be left holding all the burden. He says mismanaging that problem will drive away jobs.
The Chamber president says high unemployment tax payments was one of the reasons a branch of Boeing left Seattle. [Read more...]
Clyburn pushing bill for 2009 tax breaks for Haiti donations
January 18, 2010 By
South Carolina Congressman James Clyburn, who has been focused on health care reform negotiations, is now charged to help with passage of a new bill that would allow Americans to write off donations to Haiti as charitable donations in current tax filings.
Congressman Jim Clyburn
Clyburn has been tapped to lead the House effort for the bill, which would allow those who make charitable donations towards Haiti’s recovery to claim the amount as an itemized deduction. He joined with Congressman Charles Rangel, as well as Republicans Eric Cantor and Dave Camp in an effort to increase American giving towards Haiti after it has been rocked by a devastating earthquake.
Such a bill is not unprecedented. Similar legislation allowed Americans to make such claims after a 2005 tsunami in the Indian Ocean. The dealine to make the donation is March 1st. House Democratic leaders say they plan to move the bill along quickly.
