Local News

SLED: 2 SC men face charges in Barnwell death

SUMTER, S.C. (AP) — Two South Carolina men face charges in the death of a Barnwell woman found in her burning home earlier this month. The Item of Sumter reported (http://bit.ly/18Acq3g ) that 36-year-old Michael Paul Buckmon of Sumter and 23-year-old Matthew Trey Bolen of Williston are facing multiple charges in the death of 56-year-old Donna Dempsey. Barnwell County Coroner…

SC: State not required to honor DC gay marriage

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Attorneys for Gov. Nikki Haley and Attorney General Alan Wilson say a lawsuit filed by a legally married gay couple living in South Carolina has no merit. State attorneys say in court papers filed Thursday that South Carolina does not have to recognize the couple’s marriage, which happened last year in Washington, D.C. Earlier this year,…

SC woman pleads guilty to benefits fraud

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) âone space€one space” A Greenville County woman has been ordered to repay the state of South Carolina thousands of dollars in unemployment benefits she received fraudulently. South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson and the state Department of Employment and Workforce said Friday that 50-year-old Patrice McMahan had pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement…

SC’s September jobless rate falls to 7.9 percent

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) âone space€one space” South Carolina’s unemployment rate dropped to 7.9 percent in September. The state’s jobless rate was 8.1 percent in August, which was unchanged from the previous month. The Department of Employment and Workforce had been scheduled to release jobless figures Friday afternoon, three weeks after the original release date of Oct. 21. But the numbers…

Live Surveillance Cameras In Columbia

Columbia, SC (Columbia Police Department)- A new crime prevention effort is underway in the capital city.Starting tonight, The Columbia Police Department and Statewide Security Systems will participate in the live-monitoring of 50-cameras.It will happen at different times of the day and night.Interim Chief, Ruben Santiago says doing so will help his officers spot crime before it happens. Categories: Local News,…

Sheriff: Father killed son, wedged body in bridge

ABBEVILLE, S.C. (AP) — A South Carolina man is accused of murdering his son and then leaving the young man’s body wedged in a bridge over the Little River. The Anderson Independent Mail reported Friday (http://bit.ly/1bOcHCk ) that Tony Vernon Jordan has been charged with murder and possessing a weapon during a violent crime. Abbeville County Sheriff Ray Watson says…

PPP agents help with weekend security in Columbia

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Agents from South Carolina’s Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services are fanning out in Columbia over the next two weekends. Director Kela Thomas says some of her agents will be in Five Points on Saturday night to help officers from the Columbia Police Department and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. The University of South Carolina…

Richland deputies flipping pancakes, raising money

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Sheriff’s deputies in Richland County are participating in a pancake breakfast to raise money for the Sheriff’s Foundation. On Saturday, Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott is participating in the “Stacks for Change” breakfast at FATZ Cafe in Columbia. For a $7 donation, people can get pancakes, sausage, fruit and a drink. The event helps the foundation…