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SC National Guard unit returns from Middle East deployment

April 27, 2012 by

An Army National Guard air unit has returned to South Carolina after a seven-month deployment to Iraq and Kuwait.

About 400 members of the 151st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion returned Friday to the McEntire Joint National Guard Base in Eastover.

The unit left in May for four months of training at Fort Hood, Texas and then deployed to Iraq.

The Associated Press reports the soldiers then moved to Kuwait after U.S. forces were withdrawn from Iraq in December.

The unit flew helicopter reconnaissance missions in Iraq and Kuwait. It also trained with members of the Kuwaiti Air Force.

Filed Under: Military, News

Eight-hour standoff ends in Oconee County

April 27, 2012 by

Oconee County deputies got more than they bargained for when they received a domestic disturbance call Thursday night that turned into an eight-hour standoff.

According to Captain Travis C. Tilson of the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office, officers were called to the home of 44-year-old James Pyles just before 8 p.m. after his wife called 911. The wife said her husband was being extremely violent, even to the point of firing shots off inside their home.

Pyles’ wife was gone when authorities arrived on the scene. After a failed attempt at making contact with the suspect, he began to fire shots at police as they tried to secure the perimeter. The Sheriff’s Office’s SWAT team was then called to the scene.

Pyles finally surrendered and exited his home at 4:30 a.m. Deputies said no one was injured. Pyles was then taken into custody.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Crime & Courts, News

Legislative Update: April 27

April 27, 2012 by

Headlines from the State Capitol:

Rep. Jay Lucas (R-Hartsville, speaking at podium) recognizes the Hartsville High School basketball team Thursday for its state title

–The Senate potentially took a major step towards government restructuring Thursday, voting in favor of a constitutional referendum on whether the governor and lieutenant governor should run on the same ticket. The two are currently elected separately. The Senate passed a slightly-altered House bill 34-1. However that small difference–not letting the changes take effect until 2018– upset Gov. Nikki Haley.

–The House passed a bill Thursday that would strengthen the state’s open records law to give the public easier access to government documents. It would require state and local government agencies to charge “current market value” when they respond to “Freedom of Information Act” requests. Rep. Bill Taylor (R-Aiken), a former reporter himself, said some government agencies will charge high copying costs to discourage requests. The bill would also end legislators’ exemptions from open records laws. Some lawmakers fear the second part could doom the bill in the Senate.

–Earlier in the day, the House voted to eliminate $11 million worth of sales tax exemptions. The bill, part of the House Republican tax reform plan, is much smaller than an original $220 million in exemptions that was first proposed last month. Legislators steadily chipped away at that list over the past three weeks. Most of the eliminated breaks now are for obscure exemptions such as railroad cars, zoo animals, and petroleum asphalt sold to out-of-state customers.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Legislature, News, Politics & Government

Friday’s weather

April 27, 2012 by

Your Friday for the Palmetto State will give us partly to mostly cloudy skies with highs in the  low to mid 80s. A few afternoon thunderstorms may be around as well. Overnight lows will be in the low to mid 60s.

Weather reports are provided by South Carolina Radio Network staff meteorologist, Tom Crawford (from WCIV-TV, Charleston).

UPDATE ALERT (8 AM)

There is a slight risk for severe thunderstorms for much of the Palmetto state for this Friday afternoon and evening. A stationary front will settle across the northern portion of our state and this will provide a focusing mechanism for storms to develop. The main threat will be large hail, damaging winds are also possible.

Filed Under: Weather
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