February 4, 2012

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Longtime state senator will not seek reelection

February 4, 2012 By

State Sen. Phil Leventis (D-Sumter) has confirmed that this year will be his last in the Senate.

Leventis said Friday that he will not run for reelection in November. He has spent 32 years in the Capitol.

He is an Air Force and Air National Guard veteran who flew combat missions in the Persian Gulf in 1991 while still a member of the General Assembly. He also served as a Brigadier General in the National Guard at McEntire Air Force Base. He currently works as an aviation consultant.

Leventis told The State newspaper that his proudest accomplishments include stopping large hog farms from building in South Carolina, improving aid for military families, and working to spur redevelopment in Sumter and Lee counties.

He ran for lieutenant governor in 2002, but was defeated in the general election by Andre Bauer.

Filed Under: Legislature, News, Politics & Government

Environmental groups sue to stop Savannah River deepening

February 3, 2012 By

Three environmental groups are suing to stop the Savannah River harbor deepening project, saying federal officials did not get a South Carolina pollution control permit.

The Southern Environmental Law Center, which filed the challenge on behalf of the Coastal Conservation League, the Savannah Riverkeeper, and the South Carolina Wildlife Federation, cited a recent South Carolina Supreme Court decision that expands pollution regulations.

The lawsuit states the Army Corps of Engineers– which will oversee the dredging– cannot move any further unless it gets the permit.

“This situation is a once in a century, or maybe once in a millennium, project,” SELC senior attorney Frank Holleman told South Carolina Radio Network, “This is one of the most significant environmental projects to occur in South Carolina in our lifetime.”

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Environment & Conservation, News, Politics & Government

SC State considering budget cuts to alleviate deficit

February 3, 2012 By

Officials at South Carolina State University are considering budget cuts, as the school faces a nearly $4 million deficit.

Board members at the school in Orangeburg were stunned to learn Thursday about the budget shortfall.

The Charleston Post and Courier reports that university leaders had hoped to have a $2.5 million surplus by the end of the fiscal year June 30.

Instead South Carolina State is facing a $4 million deficit that officials attribute to a decline in enrollment. The school has about 500 fewer students than expected.

Trustee Maurice Washington says the university is “on life support.” Washington says the school should consider opting out of the expensive Division I athletic program.

University President George Cooper will meet with the Finance Committee Monday to discuss the school’s options.

Filed Under: Education, News

Change could be coming to family court system (AUDIO)

February 3, 2012 By

The South Carolina House passed a bill this week that could take the family court system in a new direction.

Rep. Mike Pitts (R-Laurens)

Rep. Mike Pitts (R-Laurens) says, if the Senate agrees and the measure becomes law, it would change the way child custody cases are conducted in family court by putting a greater emphasis on the well-being of children. In a recent interview with Greenwood affiliate WLMA, Pitts said the legislation would help relieve some of the congestion in the family court system.

He says the measure would compel parents involved in a marital dispute or divorce to compose a comprehensive plan for raising children. Pitts emphasizes that he wants to make sure that steps are taken to make it feasible for a child or children caught in the middle of a marriage dispute or divorce to ultimately experience quality time with both parents.

Pitts says he feels good about the legislation because he made sure to get the input of people from many walks of life and of varying expertise as he was composing the bill. He says he considers his bill landmark legislation because the last time the state made a change in the way things are done in family court was over 50 years ago.

The bill passed the House unanimously on Wednesday.

AUDIO: Pitts says his primary concern is the welfare of the child (2:42)

Anne Eller, WLMA Greenwood, contributed to the story.

Filed Under: Crime & Courts, Legislature, News

DMV worker admits creating fraudulent licenses

February 3, 2012 By

A Florence woman who worked for the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles pleaded guilty Thursday to charges of issuing a fraudulent commercial drivers license (CDL).

40-year-old Brenda Poston faces a five-year prison sentence and a fine of up to $250,000, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Poston worked as a customer service representative at the Florence DMV office when proseuctors say she admitted falsely entering information into a state database saying that a certain person had passed the written and driving skills tests required for the license when, in fact, they had not taken the test at all. She also admitted giving the person a fraudulent social security number in order for them to get the license.

Although Thursday’s plea was only for one license, a grand jury had originally indicted her on fraudulently obtaining five licenses. The DMV says it has since revoked those licenses.

Filed Under: Crime & Courts, Featured, News, Transportation
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