COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) _ Authorities say a man who jumped into a creek while being chased by Richland County deputies has died.

Memorial Day officially marks the beginning of summer, but for revelers on Lake Murray, their holiday partying means more arrests and citations for local authorities.

A cluster of thunderstorms that stalled off the southeastern U.S. coast on Saturday is expected to make for a sloppy, rainy Memorial Day on beaches and in tourist towns from Florida to South Carolina. Tropical storm warnings were in effect for the entire Georgia coastline, as well as parts of Florida and South Carolina, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

LEXINGTON, S.C. (AP) _ A car crash in Lexington County has claimed the lives of both the South Carolina driver and a North Carolina pedestrian walking along the highway.

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (AP) _ Researchers at Coastal Carolina University are forecasting a solid start to the summer season along South Carolina's Grand Strand during the Memorial Day weekend.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) _ Democratic state senators have failed in a bid to remove funding from the proposed 2012-13 budget for the voter ID lawsuit. The Senate defeated 24-17 on Wednesday an amendment stripping $1 million from the attorney general's office for its fight with the federal government on a state law requiring voters to show photo identification.

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. (AP) _ A member of the Air Force's 20th Fighter Wing at South Carolina's Shaw Air Force base is taking part in a military tribute at this weekend's Indianapolis 500.

On June 4, 2012, the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will begin a pilot program offering road tests by appointment in 12 offices across the state for Class D passenger and Class M motorcycle licenses.

Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin, along with Ike McLeese, president and CEO of the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce, presented a proclamation, declaring May 21st-May 25th Small Business Week in an effort to show leaders' support of small businesses and encourage customers to shop locally more often.

Two of South Carolina State University's three candidates to be interim president are from outside the school.

BATESBURG-LEESVILLE, S.C. (AP) _ Authorities say a man shot and killed his girlfriend at a Batesburg-Leesville restaurant, then turned the gun on himself. Police say 30-year-old Shaquanah Jones-Brannon reported her boyfriend was harassing her just hours before the shooting around 11 a.m. Monday. Officers were looking for 27-year-old Jamael Goodman, but he was driving a different car and hid his dreadlocks under a hat.