February 10, 2012

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Texting while driving ban advances in SC Senate (Video)

February 10, 2010 By

A state Senate subcommittee Wednesday advanced a bill to ban texting while driving. State Department of Public Safety Director Mark Keel testified before the panel. He and the lawmakers on the panel are focusing on the dangers of texting, rather than handheld cell phone use.

Edgefield Senator Shane Massey supports the amended bill:
 
Massey is adding tougher fines to the bill, civil penalties to be higher than the $25 fine in the first version. Senate bill 642, as amended, goes to the Senate Judiciary. The misdemeanor would apply to all drivers.

Filed Under: Legislature, News, Transportation Tagged With:

US Department of Labor regional director defends SC ESC

February 10, 2010 By

(from press release)

In a Feb. 9 communication to the S.C. Employment Security Commission the U.S. Department of Labor Regional Director Dianna Milhollin defended the South Carolina Employment Security Commission against charges from State Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom that there are irregularities in the agency’s reporting of stimulus funds.

In a report this morning at Governor Mark Sanford’s cabinet meeting, State Comptroller General Eckstrom stated that he has notified a federal inspector general of the U.S. Department of Labor and the FBI about accounting problems with federal stimulus dollars used to pay federal extended benefits.

J. William McLeod, Chairman of the ESC’s three-member commission, said the Commission was surprised by the comments.

“In fact, the Commission has been working with the Comptroller General’s staff and hand delivered the requested information this morning. We had staff members working over the weekend on this matter, and were in constant contact with the Department of Labor and the State Comptroller General’s office.”

[Read more...]

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

Some snow for mountains, blustery cold for rest of SC

February 10, 2010 By

Wind chill factors of 60 mph in the Upstate add to the bitter cold that will worsen overnight. There is a chance of sleet and snow again in the mountains, while the Midlands feel the windy side effects of a front that is slamming the middle East Coast with snow.

South Carolina will see nothing like the weather conditions that have shut down the Capitol in Washington, DC or closed schools in New York City.

The South Carolina mountains are more of a wintry wonderland. See photos from South Carolina State Parks.

Filed Under: News, Weather

Point of sale fails in Senate, back to committee

February 10, 2010 By

The point of sale tax exemption failed on a final vote 27-13 in the South Carolina Wednesday afternoon. It needed 31 votes to pass. Oconee County Republican Thomas Alexander said that the latest compromise between the SC Association of Realtors and the Association of Counties was reached Tuesday morning. A previous compromise fell apart. The measure now goes back to committee.

For the current year, those properties would be taxed at their current level. For other years, the taxable value would reduce by 20 percent from the purchase price. The legislation would eliminate additional taxes at the point of sale on second homes, businesses and commercial real estate for any sales this year. Local governments stand to loose millions because of the change. The compromise amendment was created to correct a problem that realtors say exists in Act 388, passed several years ago, which stipulated that properties would be reassessed when they were sold. That put higher taxes on buyers of second homes and businesses, all taxed at six percent.

Filed Under: Legislature, News, Taxes

Newberry Sheriff adds to fleet at no taxpayer cost

February 10, 2010 By

It pays off for local law enforcement to help break up interstate drug rings.

By assisting in a Federal investigation of drug dealers, the Newberry County Sheriff Office has added two vehicles to their fleet with no cost to the local taxpayer.

Truck includes disclaimer, “This truck was seized from a drug dealer”

A 2006 Ford F150, seized from a group of drug dealers, has been added to the sheriff’s fleet. Newberry County Sheriff Lee Foster said that they could not comment on the specifics of the case because it is a federal case still under investigation and prosecution. Foster says that the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office was instrumental in the investigation and that the truck was seized under a program that allows local governments to use seized assets for local law enforcement. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Crime & Courts, News, Taxes
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