Local News

SC Firms Help Get New Home to Wounded Veteran

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) _ Two firms that are part of BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina are providing $20,000 to provide a mortgage-free home for an Army veteran wounded in Iraq.

Spokesman Billy Quarles says the firms are presenting keys to the Columbia home Monday to retired Army 1st Sgt. Peter Lara, who suffered gunshot wounds during a firefight in Iraq in 2005.

180 in SC Received $10K in Jobless Overpayments

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) _ South Carolina’s unemployment agency says it has identified 180 people who fraudulently received at least $10,000 each in unearned jobless benefits.

The Department of Employment and Workforce is working with the U.S. Labor Department and the state attorney general’s office to investigate and prosecute unemployment insurance fraud.