COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) _ AT&T is encouraging South Carolina groups to apply for a piece of $250 million to be distributed nationwide for programs that boost high school graduation rates.

A local professor believes a judge's sentence should be harsh regarding an Orangeburg double murder case, in which the Midlands woman responsible confessed to murdering her two toddler children.

A new South Carolina law officially declares February as African-American History Month, 36 years after former President Gerald Ford recognized the first month-long tribute to black history.

GAFFNEY, S.C. (AP) _ A man wanted in the shooting death of his girlfriend as she walked into her Gaffney home has been arrested in Greensboro, N.C. Authorities said 30-year-old Joseph Satterwhite was taken into custody Thursday night as he got of a bus in his hometown.

A candlelight vigil will be held this weekend for missing Columbia toddler Amir Jennings.

The price of Carbob, a key ingredient used in some fuel, has gone down consistently for the past month, and economists say that trend could make its way eastward to the Palmetto State, causing gas prices to drop.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) _ The South Carolina Senate is debating a charter school bill that Superintendent Mick Zais calls his top legislative priority. The state schools chief wants to increase the number of charters statewide.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) _ The South Carolina House wants to ban public schools from buying meat containing the common beef filler dubbed ``pink slime.'' The House approved an amendment to its budget plan barring state money from buying food for students treated with ammonia hydroxide.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) _ Sunshine Week in South Carolina is being celebrated with a rally at the Statehouse supporting the Freedom of Information Act.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) _ South Carolina Democrats are trying to give state employees a one-time bonus in November, saying legislators need to recognize their service. The bonus would be in addition to the 2 percent raises called for in the Ways and Means' budget plan.

The Nickelodeon Theatre, South Carolina's only non-profit art house film theater, launches the second phase of its Move the Nick Capital Campaign to renovate and move the theater, hoping to continue an economic boom in downtown Columbia.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) _ A second independent audit of South Carolina's unemployment agency shows the system that checks whether people getting jobless benefits were also being paid at a job didn't work properly for six years.

GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) _ Greenville County deputies say they arrested a man who killed one man and shot another while trying to take marijuana from him. Authorities said 23-year-old Colby Thomas was taken into custody Monday at a motel in Anderson and charged with murder, attempted murder, kidnapping and other charges.

Veteran South Carolina lawmakers Glenn McConnell and John Courson take on new roles in state leadership, amid a controversial exit by former Lt. Gov. Ken Ard.