Board Bans Camping on Statehouse Grounds

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The Budget and Control Board has voted unanimously to ban camping and sleeping on the Statehouse grounds, effectively ending the around-the-clock protests by Occupy Columbia. The board voted 5-0 Tuesday to approve the emergency regulation, as well as to direct an agency to draft regulations under the normal process. That involves a 30-day public hearing period and approval by the Legislature. Protesters at the meeting said afterward they were denied the chance to speak. They say there is no emergency, given that they’ve been protesting for 67 days. A federal judge ruled last week the protesters and their tents could stay until regulations were in place. The judge made clear the rules must be valid. Gov. Nikki Haley says the state will go before the judge Wednesday. (Copyright 2011 by the Associated Press. All rights reserved.)