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SC ranks 2nd in nation in providing school breakfast (Audio)

February 23, 2010 By

South Carolina rates the second highest in the nation in serving free or reduced price breakfasts at school. The “School Breakfast Scorecard” reports that 60.2 percent of students participated in both the school lunch and school breakfast program last year.

Todd Bedenbaugh is Director of Health and Nutrition with the South Carolina Department of Education.  Bedenbaugh says providing hot nutritious meals at school has been proven to improve nutrition, prevent obesity and increase students’ achievement as well as reduce school discipline problems.  He says that the large number of participants is a good thing.  “That means we’re reaching out to those kids, and providing them, in most cases, a hot breakfast before school starts. You know, hungry children can’t learn. So it’s very critical that they have nourishment to begin the school day for the academic rigor that they face.”

(Todd Bedenbaugh, Director Health & Nutrition  MP3  1:14) 
 Todd Bedenbaugh, Director Health & Nutrition MP3 1:14  [Read more...]

Filed Under: Economy, Education, News

DHEC: Stomach virus cases spreading across SC

February 23, 2010 By

State health officials say a stomach virus is quickly spreading across South Carolina. The Department of Health and Environmental Control says the state has seen twice the normal number of Norovirus cases so far this year.

Adam Myrick of DHEC explains, “Typical symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramping. We want people to understand that frequent hand washing is still the best way to protect yourself. If you do have those type of symptoms, stay home from work and it’s your kids, keep them out of school.”

Most people show symptoms within 48 hours of exposure to Norovirus, with the illness typically lasting one to two days, but sharing of the virus  might continue for two weeks after recovery, according to a DHEC statement.

Jerry Gibson, M.D., state epidemiologist and director of DHEC’s Bureau of Disease Control says, “We’ve increased our surveillance efforts across the state and we’re working with schools, nursing homes, assisted living facilities and other partner organizations and institutional settings to create awareness about Norovirus and what you can do to control transmission.”

Cleaning guidelines for institutions experiencing a diarrheal outbreak have been posted on DHEC’s web site.

Filed Under: Health & Medicine, News

Leatherman: Early release an option for SCDC budget (Audio)

February 23, 2010 By
SC Budget and Control Board meeting Feb. 23, 2010

Two very different budget requests captured the attention of the governor and the state budget board Tuesday. One was whether the state should purchase a golf course  for Coastal Carolina University. Another was inviting the state Department of Corrections to use its own power to release prisoners early.

The golf course is currently leased for the Coastal Carolina professional golf management (PGM)program that it shares with Horry Georgetown Technical College. The curriculum is licensed by the PGA. The school has asked to buy the course outright for $3 million. Gov. Sanford says he has always been concerned with the leasing of the course and questioned the costs to the school. Coastal’s President David A. DeCenzo defended the program, saying it serves as a classroom for 250 student  and nets $2 million a year to the program. The board held the item over, with the suggestion that the school get creative and negotiate a better lease or plan to work with other nearby courses.

When the question of the Department of Corrections continuing to deficit spend, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Hugh Leatherman suggested early release of some prisoners to ease the budget. SCDC Director Jon Ozmint says he is restricted by statute, Leatherman disagrees. The governor joined the discussion:

(Leatherman, Ozmint and Sanford on early release of prisoners MP3 11:16)
Leatherman and budget board on corrections deficit MP3

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

LAC: Flights need better records, cheap ticket law needs clarification

February 23, 2010 By

State auditors say records concerning use of the state plane need to be improved.

A report from the Legislative Audit Council says the state’s Aeronautics agency should revise its record keep to include more specific information, including contact information for the person authorizing every flight, each passenger’s affiliation, and typed or printed names of those authorizing flights. The report released Tuesday metinos the Department of Natural Resources and State Law Enforcement Division saying they need more precise record keeping.

The LAC reviewed approximately 1,600 flight logs of the Division of Aeronautics, SLED, and DNR, and determined that, overall, there were no significant problems with the use of state aircraft.   Between 2007 and 2009, Aeronautics had one airplane, SLED had four helicopters, and DNR had three airplanes. In 2003-2004, DNR exchanged its only helicopter for SLED’s only airplane.

Read audit summary.

The audit was ordered by Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell following allegations that Governor Mark Sanford may have used state planes for personal use. The report indicates that Sanford used the state plane a few times to attend political functions. Sanford has said that attending such events is part of the duties of his office.  

Also, the report indicates that officials, according to law, should purchase the least expensive airline tickets, but say’s the state’s regulation doesn’t prohibit business-class tickets and should be clarified. The South Carolina Department of Commerce have purchased business-class tickets for Sanford and the department head.

Filed Under: Business, News, Politics & Government

Illness spreads through Charleston cruise ship, 446 sick

February 23, 2010 By

The cruise ship, Celebrity Mercury, that ported out of Charleston on February 15, is heading back with more than 400 sick passengers. According to a Celebrity Cruises statement, 419 of the 1,838 guests and 27 of the 849 crew members on board the Celebrity Mercury have experienced a gastrointestinal illness. Those affected by the illness have so far been treated with an over-the-counter medication. The ship’s staff is also conducting enhanced cleaning throughout the ship.

To take extra precautions, an additional doctor and two nurses joined the medical staff already on board. The ship left out of Charleston on February 15, and is expected to return on February 26.

Filed Under: Health & Medicine, News, Transportation
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