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House overrides warrantless searches veto–barely (AUDIO)

April 28, 2010 By

The South Carolina House has finally overridden the governor’s veto that allows law enforcement officers to perform searches of individuals those on probation or parole. The vote was 74-37, meaning that the two-thirds majority won by only one vote.

This was the second attempt at the override. Last week the vote was 16 votes short of the super majority required, even though the House had passed the same bill in February by a vote of 81-26.

The Senate has already overridden the veto.

House Speaker Bobby Harrell said the search bill makes sense to him, and the constitutional complaint doesn’t hold water.

(Harrell on warrantless searches  MP3  1:27)
Harrell on warrantless searches

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Crime & Courts, Legislature, News

Charter school bill passes House (AUDIO)

April 28, 2010 By

The South Carolina House has passed key reading of legslation that would make the charter school system stronger.

The bill is one of the Republican Caucus’ priorities this year. It allows the creation of single-gender charter schools, in addition to the single-gender classrooms allowed under current law. It also provides for the procedures whereby a private school can dissolve and become a charter school, which receives public school funding.

The legislation also allows students attending charter schools to participate in the extra-curriclar programs and sports of traditional schools located in their area, as is being done in some districts now.

But Union County Democrat Mike Anthony, who is also a coach at Union High School, was concerned that students at charter schools that already have athletic programs should not be allowed to play for other public schools.

(Anthony on charter schools  MP3  1:57)
Anthony on charter schools

Charter schools would also become eligible for federal and state sponsored leagues, competitions, awards, scholarships and grants, just as in traditional public schools.

Filed Under: Education, Legislature, News

Comptroller General posts agency credit card spending online

April 28, 2010 By

Comptroller General displays his web page at Statehouse press conference

Monthly credit card statements for state spending are now online for all to see. The state comptroller general Richard Eckstrom announced at the Statehouse Wednesday that state agency and state university credit card statements are posted for citizens to review…and to question. Eckstrom says:

The public certainly currently has a deep level of distrust in the government. And most of that distrust stems from the fact that they feel the government is a little more involved in the things than they need to be. Underlying all that is the government spends a little bit too much. And so, people, I think, justifiably are concerned over government spending. Credit card spending is probably the least controllable spending in government.

The state purchase card statements are posted at the state comptroller general’s website, purchase-by-purchase, just like a personal credit card statement. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Business, News, Politics & Government

Free HIV/AIDS testing reaching high risk communities

April 28, 2010 By

Offering free HIV/AIDS testing to people across the state, the South Carolina HIV/AIDS Council’s mission is to provide screening services to hard-to-reach and high risk communities.

Dr. Francis LaMont Adams,the supervisor, estimates that they put 30,000 miles on the van taking the the mobile unit and testing department to colleges, clubs and communities—anywhere that will let them offer free HIV/AIDS testing .

If a person comes in and they’re diagnosed –first it’s preliminary positive for the virus, the antibodies surface in the test. Then we would do a blood draw and send that to DHEC for a confirmatory. Upon receiving a confirmatory, the person is diagnosed with HIV, then they’re sent to case management. We have a doctor here in town. She will take care of any client who comes through here positive.

Adams says his is the only unit  in South Carolina that has the ability to go out and set up a lab and test on site. “We tend to like to go into areas where we can meet our target population, and that is people that are having sex and are at high risk,” says Adams. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Education, Health & Medicine, Human Interest, News

Darlington tornado damage assessment continues

April 28, 2010 By

Fewer than 100 insurance claims from homeowners and auto owners in the Darlington area have been filed as a result of the tornado that damaged homes and schools there Sunday night.  Insurance adjusters began assessing damage on Monday and more insurance claims may be filed during the week, adding to the totals.

State disaster officials say the uninsured damages were not high enough to qualify for federal aid.

Joe Farmer, Public Information Director with the Emergency Management Division gives what figures they have thus far.

A little less than $6 million estimated.  And that is aside from the cost of clearing debris which is estimated to be something less than $2 million.  Now all of that said, it sounds like there should be some eligibility for federal money assistance.  But not so because of the 102 homes that were damaged -most were insured.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Accidents & Disasters, News
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