Latest South Carolina news, sports, business and entertainment

GUN DAY-SOUTH CAROLINA

Thousands attend SC gun show, hundreds at rally

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Thousands of gun supporters are voting with their feet and their wallets in South Carolina’s capital.

A couple of hundred people came Saturday to the South Carolina State House for a local rally part of what national organizers called Gun Appreciation Day. Gun rights groups see the day as an effort to opposed new gun and ammunition restrictions proposed by President Barack Obama.

Thousands more attended a gun and knife show held at Columbia’s Jamil Temple.

Many attending the gun show or the State House rally said interest was high because of President Obama’s proposals.

NULLIFICATION FEVER

Fear of feds leads to nullification fever in SC

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The old idea of nullification is finding new life at the South Carolina Statehouse.

Several bills filed over the past few years would allow the state to ignore federal laws on gun control and light bulbs and mint its own currency.

Several hundred people came to a rally on the opening day of the General Assembly supporting a bill that would declare that the new health care law supported by President Barack Obama is not legal in the state. It said anyone trying to enforce it would be guilty of a felony.

The bills haven’t gotten much traction. But critics say they make it harder to compromise on other items.

Nullification first came about in the 1830s, when President Andrew Jackson threatened military action if South Carolina refused to collect a tariff.

ADOPTION BATTLE

Utah Supreme Court denies stay in custody battle

(Information in the following story is from: The Salt Lake Tribune, http://www.sltrib.com)

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Utah Supreme Court has refused to stay a lower court’s decision ordering the adoptive parents of a 2-year-old girl to give her to the biological father.

Attorneys for the father, Terry Achane of South Carolina, say Friday’s ruling paves the way for him to soon take custody of his daughter.

The child was placed for adoption at birth without Achane’s consent or knowledge by his now ex-wife, Tira Bland.

Jared and Kristi Frei, who live in a Provo suburb, legally adopted the girl and have raised her since she was born in 2011.

The Salt Lake Tribune reports the high court on Friday also set an expedited hearing for the couple’s appeal of 4th District Judge Darold McCade’s decision giving Achane custody of his daughter.

FRAT SUSPENDED

SC college frat suspended, hazing investigated

ROCK HILL, S.C. (AP) — A Winthrop University fraternity is barred from holding campus events as campus police investigate complaints of hazing.

The Herald of Rock Hill reports that Winthrop University’s chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha is suspended until further notice.

University officials said Friday the campus chapter of the nation’s first collegiate fraternity for black men was engaging in verbal hazing.

The university said it was still trying to determine who was involved after learning about the hazing in late December.

PURPLE HEART RETURNED

NC man getting Purple Heart back, 70 years later

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina man is getting his Purple Heart back, almost 70 years after he mailed it home and never saw it again.

Ninety-year-old George Hemphill will receive his Purple Heart medal in a ceremony Sunday in Rutherfordton. Hemphill got the award for his fighting in 1944 during World War II in France.

He mailed it home and never asked about it again.

A man bought Hemphill’s Purple Heart in October 2000 in an antique store in Columbia, S.C. He held on to it until a friend put him in touch with Purple Hearts Reunited, which is run by a Vermont man who found Hemphill and his daughter in Union Mills, N.C.

Hemphill says he’s flabbergasted that so many people went to so much trouble to return a Purple Heart that he didn’t even know was missing.

VANDERBILT-SOUTH CAROLINA

Fuller scores 12 as Vanderbilt wins 58-51

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Kyle Fuller scored 12 points and Dai-Jon Parker 11 as Vanderbilt held on down the stretch to defeat South Carolina 58-51 Saturday for its first Southeastern Conference victory of the season.

The Commodores (7-9, 1-3) led 45-35 with 8:35 to go after a free throw by Shelby Moats. South Carolina (11-6, 1-3) used a 14-6 run over the next six minutes to get within a basket at 51-49, but the Gamecocks got no closer.

Vanderbilt went 0-for-6 from the field in the last 6:27 but made seven foul shots down the stretch to keep in front. The Commodores’ leading scorer coming in, Kedren Johnson, was held to 3 points, 12 fewer than his average, on 0-of-6 shooting.

Brenton Williams had 16 points to lead South Carolina. Williams missed a 3-pointer with 1:41 left that would’ve given the Gamecocks a lead when they trailed 51-49.