From the category archives:

Legislature

The Ways and Means Committee of the South Carolina House held a briefing Tuesday to give House members a look at the many cuts to the state’s budget they’ll debate next week. And it’s not pretty. The proposed cuts may eliminate close to 2,300 jobs, including temporary positions. Many remaining workers will be subject to furloughs.

Health and Human Services Subcommittee Chairman Tracy Edge of Horry County said that the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation will lose $600,000 in state funding, and since all of its funding is matched by federal funds, the impact will be even more severe.

Edge says the Department of Disabilities and Special Needs is losing $42.3 million in base funding, but will receive $12.5 million in reserve funds and retain $22 million more, for a net loss of more than $7 million.  Edge says those cuts alone may affect 1000 jobs.

Edge says the Department of Mental Health will cut some beds out of its remaining hospitals, and cut out 350 jobs. 

(Edge on state cuts  MP3  8:34)

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Florence council decides on daytime curfew (Audio)

by William Christopher 03/10/10 4:58 AM

The city of Florence has approved a kind of curfew for youngsters–not a typical nighttime curfew but one during the day, to catch those who should be in school.
Florence City Council voted 4-3 for a new law affecting anyone aged 6 through 16. Between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on school days, [...]

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Rex talks to faculty about school cuts

by William Christopher 03/9/10 4:59 AM

State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex held an on-line meeting with South Carolina educators Monday to discuss current and pending budget cuts.
Rex says it’s the worst funding situation he has heard of. After this year’s cuts, the revenue will returned to the level where it was in 1995.
Rex says the positions of around 1400 teachers [...]

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SC House member to recommend re-using school construction plans (Audio)

by William Christopher 03/9/10 4:57 AM

Legislation may be coming before a House subcommittee this week that at least one lawmaker says could save $212 million dollars in education construction costs over a period of only a few years.
Anderson County Republican Don Bowen is drawing up the bill that would mandate the purchase of uniform school architectural plans, which he says [...]

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Rose’s Senate bill prevents credit check for job applicants

by Michael Brown 03/8/10 12:21 PM

Some employers are checking credit reports of job applicants before they hire. Senator Mike Rose of Dorchester says that will not help ease the states record high unemployment and has sponsored a bill to change that practice.
“What we have is a lot of people who have been laid off as no fault of their own. [...]

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