May 21, 2012

New housing for Charleston airmen

Airmen of all ranks at the Charleston Air Force Base will soon have new modern homes to live in after crews demolish existing, older homes on the base. Currently, there are hundreds of decades-old houses on the Charleston Air Force Base; however, they won’t be there for much longer. That’s because they are going to be demolished to make way for newer, more modern homes for airmen and their families.

The Post and Courier reports this is good news on several different fronts. First, it reduces the fear for airmen when Congress goes to make more cuts in the next round of military closures and realignments. If the new homes are built, the more likely the airmen will stay put. Second, this goes a long with the Pentagon’s plan to privatize military housing. The current housing is too old to be upgraded. A Housing spokesman for the Charleston Air Force Base says the existing homes have reached their life expectancy.

SCDOT to hear from public on I-526 Project (AUDIO)

Today, SCDOT officials, lawmakers and the public will gather for the first of five meetings to discuss the Interstate 526 expansion in Charleston. For visitors, I-526 takes them straight to the beach. For locals, it’s a daily commute to and from work on I-526. However, currently, the interstate just stops in West Ashley.

South Carolina Department of Transportation Project Manager David Kinard says discussion of the expansion project goes back a few decades.

Audio: Full report with Kinard’s comments on expansion (:57)

“The original approval was actually 1972. So, it dates back to the days of the Charleston Interbelt Freeway,” says Kinard. [Read more...]

Hurricane season calls for flood insurance check (AUDIO)

We are smack in the middle of hurricane season and the fifth anniversary of the devastation of Hurricane Katrina occurred on August 29 , however the Insurance Information Institute estimates that just one in 10 Americans has a flood insurance policy. South Carolina Insurance News Service Executive Director Russ Dubisky says now is a good time for homeowners in the state to get a flood insurance checkup. Dubisky points out that many homeowners are confused on whether flood insurance is different from insurance against a storm surge or does one policy cover both events.Dubisky says there is a 30 day waiting period from the day you purchase flood insurance to the date it goes in effect.

Dubisky says flood insurance rates are based on a number of factors including the history of storms in a particular area and can be as low as $10 a month. Homeowners shopping for flood insurance must make sure that it covers both the home and its contents.

Dubisky points out that flood insurance can be obtained through the National Flood Insurance Program only through September 30. When shopping for flood insurance start with your homeowners insurance provider. Dubisky says it’s important to note that if your are holding a mortgage and you live in an area that has a high risk of flooding more than likely your mortgage company is going to require that you have flood insurance.

 AUDIO: Russ Dubisky, Exec Dir of the SC Insurance News Service says flood insurance is important, affordable 1:22

She says: Welcome home! He says: Marry me? (AUDIO)

Airman Micah Sowders made Katherine Stanley his fiancee the day he came home.

When the South Carolina Air National Guard airmen returned to McEntire on Sunday after a 120-day deployment to Iraq, one young man’s return became a life-changing moment for his girl .

AUDIO: Listen to Susan’s story (:43)

Military officials say more members of the 169th Fighter Wing are expected to return on Tuesday.

Sheheen wants to debate with specific style, topics

Democratic Gubernatorial candidate Senator Vincent Sheheen made public today a challenge he sent to his opponent, Republican Representative Nikki Haley, to five debates in the Lincoln-Douglas style on five topics in five regions of South Carolina.

As outlined in the letter sent to Haley last week, Sheheen wrote:

I challenge you to debates on jobs and the economy in Greenville, education in Columbia, governmental reform and transparency in Charleston, comprehensive tax reform in Rock Hill and infrastructure and tourism in Myrtle Beach. I propose the debates follow the Lincoln-Douglas format as prescribed by the National Forensic League, the oldest and largest interscholastic forensic organization in the United States.

Haley’s campaign spokesman Rob Godfrey sent South Carolina Radio Network this response:

Nikki looks forward to debating with Vincent Sheheen and the opportunity to contrast her conservative reform vision for South Carolina with Sen. Sheheen’s liberal ideology and status quo vision. But I’m sure you’ll forgive us if we refrain from allowing our opponent to unilaterally determine the locations, formats and topics of those debates.