Local News

Hundreds expected at Columbia technology gathering

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Hundreds of technology experts from across South Carolina are in Columbia this week The 3rd Annual Carolina Technology Conference is slated for Tuesday at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. Organizers say they expect 600 people specializing in information technology, security and technology management to participate. The daylong conference features speakers and vendors from around the country,…

DOJ, SC reach settlement over HIV inmate policy

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The federal government has settled a dispute with South Carolina’s prisons over a policy segregating HIV-positive inmates. The U.S. Justice Department said Tuesday it has reached an agreement with the Department of Corrections over alleged violations of the Americans With Disabilities Act. The federal government had been preparing a complaint accusing the agency of denying HIV-positive…

3 candidates running for Robert Ford’s old seat

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Three candidates are vying in a special election to fill the state Senate seat vacated by the resignation of Robert Ford. Democratic Marlon Kimpson faces Republican Billy Shuman and Libertarian Alex Thornton in Tuesday’s election in District 42 in the Charleston area. Kimpson emerged from a six-way Democratic primary and runoff to win his party’s nomination….

SC museum offers price break to federal workers

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (AP) — The Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum in Mount Pleasant is offering half-price admission to federal workers affected by the government shutdown. Museum executive director Mac Burdette says it’s something small the museum can do to help workers whose lives have been thrown into uncertainty because of the shutdown. Patriots Point on Charleston Harbor is…

Group wants AG to advise on Haley’s reimbursements

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) âone space€one space” A government watchdog group wants South Carolina’s attorney general to weigh in on whether Gov. Nikki Haley should reimburse taxpayers for a trip to North Carolina in June. In a letter provided to The Associated Press, John Crangle of Common Cause asked the State Ethics Commission’s director to either change his mind or seek…

Gov. Haley: Opening day for health exchange a mess

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Gov. Nikki Haley says opening day for enrolling in health insurance through the federally run online marketplace is a mess. The Republican governor has actively opposed the federal health care law. But Haley says her office is trying to help people calling in with questions and their problems with signing up. Haley says while she fought…

SC zoo offers free admission to federal employees

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Columbia’s Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens is offering free admission to federal workers affected by the government shutdown. Zoo officials say all federal government employees can come to the zoo for free on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of this week. Government workers are asked to show their ID cards at the gate. The Patriots Point Naval and…