This year’s meeting of the Southern Legislative Conference(SLC) will bring around 2000 state lawmakers from 15 Southern states to Charleston for a 64th annual conference to be held Saturday through Wednesday. Charleston was chosen because South Carolina House Speaker Bobby Harrell was elected to chair the conference.

Harrell projects that the conference’s economic impact on the state to be more than $3.5 million. And he says it will be a nice tourism boost.

AUDIO: Harrell on SLC (2:55)

Attendants will hear some high-powered speakers, including Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, who grew up in Dillon, South Carolina, as well as U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham and U.S. House Majority Whip James Clyburn, all speaking about issues that affect Southern states. Music will be provided by Darius Rucker, a country music recording artist from Hootie and the Blowfish fame.

Events will be held all around the historic city, including Charles Towne Landing and the South Carolina Aquarium.

Harrell says no state general funds were appropriated in the budget to host the SLC meeting. He says private sector donations are being used, even though host states have generally appropriated hundreds of thousands of dollars to support the event, because of its legislative role and large economic impact.  Harrell said:

Because of recent budget cuts, we felt it important to dedicate taxpayer dollars to the core government services and independently raise the funds. I want to thank the many generous members of our business community for all they have done to ensure that South Carolina and all that our state has to offer is properly displayed during the conference.

During these tough economic times, funds for a number of governmental projects are dwindling for preservation projects like the 49 U.S. National Heritage areas across the country. That includes the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor.

The Legislative Audit Council agreed to a request by state legislators to audit the program to make sure each rural area along the 240 mile corridor is getting its fair share of funding for tourism. Mike Allen of the National Park Service is coordinator of the fledgling Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor which runs partly through South Carolina. Allen says for such corridors to survive strong, stable partnerships must be formed from several federal, state, local, and private entities to help preserve the culture and history of these regions.

Allen says government and private groups working together is the key to the success in preserving historical heritage and creating opportunities for rural areas. Of the 49 government-run Heritage Corridors in the United States, the Gullah/ Geechee corridor is the first and only one dedicated to preserving the heritage and culture of African Americans.

Allen says as he meets with various groups and individuals throughout the region, people are expressing support for the project. However, he says that expression of support must include a monetary commitment.

Nationally, the National Heritage Areas get total federal appropriations of $18 million. Originally, each area received $1 million, but as more areas were added, it cut into the individual appropriations each area gets because the total budget was not expanded for the growth.

Allen says  rural areas have often been left out in the planning process of developing, enhancing and maintaining historical preservation sites. For the Gullah/ Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor to realize its enormous potential, the input and support from rural areas is invaluable.

For more information on the Gullah/ Geechee and other historical corridors you can go online to www.NPS.gov.

AUDIO: Mike Allen, Gullah Geechee coordinator, National Park Service (1:31)

Jobless benefits were extended by 99 weeks last week, but Congressman Joe Wilson says he’s concerned about how they will be paid for. Wilson says the Democrat’s call it emergency spending and approved the help, but that raises a red flag for him.

They said just borrow another $34 billion and just add that to the debt. Actually, the extension of unemployment is an admission of the failure of the spending stimulus program of this administration. We should be working together, Democrats, Republicans, to do what John F. Kennedy did, what Ronald Reagan did: cut taxes, that’s what grows jobs, not just more spending.

Wilson says Republicans were not against the unemployment benefits, just how they would be paid for.

There’s always the concern the longer we extend unemployment, we’re promoting unemployment. But, there are people, legitimately, who need our assistance, so that’s why I would savor extension of unemployment because of the record unemployment that we have. But, we should use the money that’s already at hand. There’s stimulus money that has not been spent.

Instead of the extension of unemployment benefits, Wilson says they could start by focusing on growing small businesses, which would create more jobs.

Approximately 8,000 unemployment benefits claimants were expected to show up to Workforce Center centers around the state during special office hours held Saturday to deal with those who needed to begin filing for benefits again. President Obama signed the unemployment extension bill the end of last week.

South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce spokesman Clark Newsom says the financial impact from all those benefits being paid out will be considerable–about $24 million to go to businesses, money that was not there before.  “There are 40,000 people affected by the new benefits,” he says, “and this will have an impact.”

Newsom says many checks will be mailed out Monday.  If claimants have been filing for benefits throughout their unemployment, they will receive checks soon, within five days.  But it will take longer, up to four weeks, if they haven’t been filing.  He says those claimants who sign up to receive their benefits on a debit card instead of a check will receive benefits sooner.

The Legislative Audit Council has agreed to review the state’s participation in the National Heritage Corridor. State Representative Bakari Sellers of Denmark made the request for the review along with several other lawmakers whose districts lie within the boundaries of the corridor. Sellers says he and the other lawmakers want to know if the funds allocated for the program are being used in all areas of the region.

The program was created to boost tourism in rural areas. Designated by Congress in 1996,  the S.C. National Heritage Corridor is a 240-mile path running through 17 counties from Oconee County in the northwest down the western border to Charleston. The corridor is divided into four regions.

Nationally, the National Heritage Areas received total federal appropriations of $18 million. Originally, each area received $1 million, but as more areas were added, it cut into the individual appropriations each area got because the total budget was not expanded for the growth. There are currently 49 National Heritage Areas in 32 states nationwide.

Sellers says he wants to know if the federal dollars allocated for the program are being used effectively. Sellers says if the review shows effective use of the funds, it may persuade the state to invest revenue in the program to enhance tourism in those areas many say are off the beaten path. That could prove important because the U.S. Government’s 2010-11 budget included language to eliminate 22 National Heritage areas. The S.C. National Heritage Corridor is seeking partnerships, either through private companies or other government agencies.

Sellers says state Representatives Tom Young, Gilda Cobb-Hunter, Bill Clyburn, Jerry Govan, and John Matthews signed his letter officially asking the LAC to review the program.

AUDIO: Rep. Bakari Sellers on LAC audit request 1:43

Sellers says no timetable has been set for the review.

Workforce Centers statewide will be open this Saturday, after President Obama signed the unemployment extension bill, an extension of the federally-funded Emergency Unemployment Compensation and Extended Benefits program.

South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce spokesman Clark Newsom says the 36 offices will be open between 8 am and noon Saturday, expecting a large turnout, to assist people who are entitled to unemployment benefits but who haven’t been filing their claims eash week.  Newsom says the Saturday hours are only for those claimants who have not been filing.  Newsom says if you think you’re entitled to unemployment benefits and have received them before, but you haven’t been making your regular Saturday or Sunday calls to the Department of Employment and Workforce to file your claim, you will need to go into an office to file.

Newsome says he expects that the first checks will be mailed Monday. These extensions will go to people who have exhausted their state-funded regular unemployment benefits, who meet other eligibility criteria.

U.S. Senators voted 60-40 Tuesday to reinstate unemployment benefits for workers who have been out of work for longer than six months. The House is expected to approve the bill and send it to President Barack Obama to sign on Wednesday. The measure had been delayed by Senate Republicans, who wanted the benefits financed using cuts to government programs, not through additional debt.

Tuesday’s crucial vote came just after Carte Goodwin was sworn in as a successor to West Virginia Democrat Robert Byrd, who died last month. Goodwin broke the Republican filibuster. Ben Nelson of Nebraska was the lone Democrat who voted in support of the filibuster.

The legislation would restore checks for 2.5 million people whose benefits began running out seven weeks ago.

South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce spokesman Clark Newsom says benefits will be sent out again soon.  Claimants call in their claims on Sundays and Mondays. The first benefits will go to those who call Sunday.  Newsom says if you have been unemployed and haven’t been filing with his agency, it’s time to start again.

AUDIO: Newsom on unemployment benefits (:44)

The South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce just began this week sending out bank cards, which will replace the paper checks.

South Carolina’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 10.7 percent in June, a drop of 0.4 of a percentage point from the previous month and 1.2 percentage points below the June 2009 rate.

This marks the fifth straight month of decline in the unemployment rate. But Department of Employment and Workforce analyst Steve McLaughlin says in reality, that has been largely driven, not by more people getting jobs, but by the unemployed dropping out of the labor force–for the fourth straight month.

AUDIO: McLaughlin on job stats (1:16)

Over the month, there was a decrease in the labor force of 9,618 to 2,149,605. That includes the number of employed persons, which dropped 1,009 (or 0.1 percent), and the number of unemployed, which decreased 8,609 (or 3.6 percent).

Nationally, June’s unemployment rate decreased 0.2 of a percentage point to 9.5 percent. The national civilian labor force also declined.

McLaughlin says census takers help to gather information from the public which gives labor officials a more accurate picture of the labor force.

Executive Director of the Department of Employment and Workforce John Finan says the state has a long way to go in increasing consumer confidence, which would lead to increased demand and more job growth. McLaughlin adds that there is no way of really knowing when that is going to change.

The private sector experienced a modest gain of 7,300 jobs in June. The leisure and hospitality industry added 6,200 jobs reflecting increases in tourist activity.

McLaughlin says retail jumped 1,800 jobs, construction grew by 900 jobs and manufacturing edged up by 500.

The overall job count was 14,100 above the year-ago level, but still almost 100,000 below pre-recession levels.

The South Carolina Department of Transportation would welcome more revenue in order to maintain the state’s roads and bridges.  However SCDOT Executive Director Buck Limehouse says given the condition of the state budget during this recession he doesn’t think there is much appetite in the state legislature for an increase in the gasoline tax, which funds road construction and maintenance.  

The state gasoline tax is currently 16 cents a gallon. The Tax Realignment Commission is set to recommend this fall a state gas tax increase of 10 cents a gallon that would be phased in over three years. Limehouse says the arguments for an increase are compelling, the most important being that many of the roads and bridges in the state are in dire need of repair.

Limehouse says he has seen indications that people are concerned about infrastructure improvements and are willing to help foot the bill for these improvements if the money is spent wisely. Limehouse says South Carolina is a donor state which means that the state pays more into the federal Highway Trust Fund than it receives. But he says the state has been successful in arguing for a fairer share of money from the trust fund, because the system is not as equitable as it should be.

AUDIO: Limehouse on possible gasoline tax increase 4:54

Growers say this year’s South Carolina peach crop is the biggest the region has had in several years, and although peach growers say this year’s harvest has smaller fruit, it’s sweeter fruit.

Amy London, executive director of the SC Peach Council says that the mild winter produced a large crop.

We’re having a wonderful crop this year. We’re anticipating a larger volume than we’ve had in quite some time. We’ve had a great winter. We didn’t have any late freezes, and we’ve got an abundance of peaches for everyone this year. There shouldn’t be a short hand anywhere.

London says that some varieties of peaches are smaller than usual because of a lack of rainfall, but experts say the smaller the peach, the higher the sugar concentration.

We do have a sweeter fruit. So people have a better eating experience this season with the SC peaches, probably better than ever before. I don’t think anybody will be disappointed with the flavor of the peaches this year–really, really sweet.

Peach production is a big segment of South Carolina’s second largest industry after tourism, which is agriculture.  Alone, the South Carolina peach industry grosses approximately $40 million annually to the state.

The SC Peach Council brags that South Carolina farmers let their peaches ripen naturally on the tree under the summer sky and that, combined with the Palmetto State’s hot days, humid nights, and slightly acidic soils, the state produces some of the sweetest,  juiciest, and greatest-tasting peaches on the market.

London says that there are distinct areas around the state where peaches are grown.

Find out where most of SC peaches are grown (:42)

South Carolina U.S. Senate candidate Alvin Greene had his first public speaking engagement at a church in Manning over the weekend. Since winning the June 8 Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, Greene has said he wants more jobs in the state. At his first public appearance, he spoke the same.

“Let’s get South Carolina back to work from Alvin, South Carolina to Greenville, South Carolina,” says Greene.

Greene, an unemployed military veteran, spoke at the NAACP gathering, quoting stats from job losses to South Carolina’s poor numbers in standardized tests. Greene said he’s the man for the job.

“I’m the best candidate in the United States Senate race here in South Carolina,” says Greene.

ABC News caught up with a citizen, who has concerns after hearing Greene’s speech.

“I was a little disappointed. I felt like some things were really cliche. The first thing he said was: ‘I’m the best candidate.’ I wanted to know why. What sets you apart from the other candidates?”

Greene faces Senator Jim DeMint in November’s general election.

AUDIO: Full report with Greene’s comments (:53)

Behr Heat Transfer Systems will expand product portfolio at its Charleston County manufacturing plant, producing automotive components. The South Carolina Department of Commerce, Charleston County and the Charleston Regional Development Alliance made the announcement of Behr’s $3 million investment that will generate about 70 new jobs in the next several years.

Behr Plant Manager Peter Birk says “We are pleased to further solidify our presence in Charleston, and the introduction of two new products is an important step in our growth. Exhaust gas recirculation systems and charge air coolers, which will be produced in Charleston, are two central products in improving fuel efficiency.”

Secretary of Commerce Joe Taylor says “This is another indication that South Carolina’s business-friendly climate, skilled workforce and strong automotive industry provides the foundation needed to attract new investment into the state.”