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SC’s fallen soldiers honored, another name added today (Audio)

March 10, 2010 By

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a South Carolina soldier supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.  Sgt. Aaron M. Arthur, 25, of Lake City, died March 8 north of Al Kut, Iraq, of injuries sustained during a vehicle roll-over. He was assigned to the 203rd Brigade Support Battalion, attached to the First Battalion, 10th Field Artillery Regiment, Third Brigade Combat Team, Third Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga.

Such notifications happened in South Carolina 10 times in the past year. Families like the Fowlkes of Gaffney still struggle with the grief. Dominick Fowlkes  wrote about it after his brother Lance Corporal Christopher Fowlkes was mortally wounded in Afghanistan.

(Listen to Fowlkes’ poem, “The War” MP3 :40)
Listen to poem of Dominick Fowlkes, 6th Grade

Today Sen. Jake Knotts hosted the annual Fallen Soldiers Ceremony and luncheon across from the Statehouse.  The Senate will also pay tribute to the families of soldiers who have died in military service in the past year. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Legislature, Military, News

Laurens man convicted as part of statewide drug ring

March 10, 2010 By

A Laurens man was convicted by a jury in federal court Wednesday of trafficking illegal drugs.   Thirty-one-year old Terry Demond Cunningham was convicted of conspiracy to distribute in excess of five kilograms of cocaine and more than 50 grams of crack cocaine. Cunningham’s arrest and conviction is the result of a two-year Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation that resulted in the prosecution of 50 people in Richland and Orangeburg Counties for drug trafficking and money laundering. The investigation involved several federal and state law enforcement agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administration, SLED, the FBI, and the Orangeburg, Richland, and Lexington County Sheriff’s Offices.

 Cunningham was identified as a co-conspirator through intercepted wire taps of cellular phones. The Government presented over 30 recorded conversations that showed that Cunningham bought large amounts of cocaine between April 2008 until October 2008.  Prosecutors says Cunningham was personally responsible for more than 15 kilograms of cocaine over the course of the conspiracy, and was converting the cocaine into crack cocaine for resale in the Laurens area. When Cunningham was arrested in October 2008, he had in his possession more than $33,000 cash, he admitted that he had the money for te purpose of buying more cocaine from his supplier. Cunningham faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Filed Under: Crime & Courts, News

SC Education Lottery has funded $1.5 million in gambling addiction services

March 10, 2010 By

SC Education Lottery Executive Director Paula Harper Bethea

On the same production set used to announce  game winners, South Carolina Education Lottery officials Tuesday announced its continued campaign to counter the negative effects of gambling. The SC Lottery—via the legislature– has transferred more than $1.5 million to treat gambling addictions. Lottery Director Paula Harper Bethea says, “We take seriously our responsibility for this and intend to do everything that we can to make sure that, number one, the message gets out and number two, that we are able to offer people help when they seek it.”

Bethea says the lottery gives more than is mandated, in order to fight gambling issues. “We now put about 10 percent of all of our advertising into the “Play Responsibly” message. That’s going to increase as we move forward. We feel strongly that it’s a responsibility that we have to the people of this state. It’s above and beyond our mandate but we feel good about that.” [Read more...]

Filed Under: Health & Medicine, News, Recreation & Entertainment

State unemployment rate reaches record high

March 10, 2010 By

South Carolina’s jobless rate reached a new high in January. The South Carolina Employment Security Commission reported Wednesday that the unemployment rate was 12.6 percent in January, up from a  revised 12.4 percent in December. Almost all major categories lost jobs in January, with the biggest loses coming in retail, leisure and hospitality, and government work. Retail cut 7,700 positions in January as temporary workers were released after the holiday season. Construction lost another 1,700 jobs. The number of the state’s unemployed rose by 4,600 to a state record of more than 273,000. Unemployment rose in all of the 46 counties. Allendale and Marion Counties tied for the state’s highest jobless rate at 24.3 percent. Unemployment was lowest in Lexington County at 9.4 percent.

Filed Under: Economy, News

Limehouse: Cigarette tax increase will move SC forward

March 10, 2010 By

Rep. Chip LimehouseThe Senate is slated to discuss a cigarette tax increase of up to 50-cents per pack. The House approved the increase last year. Some members of both parties say the increase would significantly help the state with health care costs and budget deficits.

Charleston Republican and House Ways and Means Committee member Representative Chip Limehouse made a proposal to get a 30-cent increase in the budget.

“It’s gonna be significant. So, not only would this give us a bump in income, it won’t plug the hole, it will only be a $100 million under the current proposal I have in. But, it’ll be a step in the right direction because we have some serious budget challenges coming up. For all those people who wanted to see cuts for all those years, we’re gonna see cuts ten times deeper than anybody ever called for. So, all those people who wanted to see cuts, they’re gonna be happening,” says Limehouse. [Read more...]

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