Local News

Okra Strut 'Home' to Cost $1 Million

After years of contention and friction over the future of the Irmo's Annual Okra Strut, town leaders could purchase a new home for the festival for a $1 million price tag.

Pretrial Intervention

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) _ The South Carolina House has approved a bill allowing some lawbreakers another chance to straighten up

Rubio to headline SC GOP fundraising event

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Florida Sen. Marco Rubio is coming to South Carolina to address an annual Republican fundraising dinner.

Police: Patrol on Bikes

With a record crowd of more than 40,000 in attendance, this year's St. Patrick's Day Festival in Five Points only came with 36 arrests, during the festival.

Loaded gun found in bag at Columbia Metro Monday

A loaded gun was found in a passenger's bag while trying to board a local flight.

SC Gov Haley Campaigning for Romney in PA

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley is returning to the campaign trail to help presidential hopeful Mitt Romney.

Soles for Souls

a USC Student is working on a senior thesis he says he is putting his entire "sole" into.

AT&T Helping to boost High School Graduation Rates

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.

Professor: Duley Sentence Should be 'Harsh'

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.

Graham: Export-Import Bank Crucial to SC growth

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) _ U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham warns the Federal Export-Import Bank is crucial for business to grow in South Carolina. The self-financed bank helps American companies sell abroad by providing credit and loan guarantees to foreign customers. The bank is up for reauthorization in Congress.

Report: SC improves its high school dropout rates

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A report by a national think tank has found South Carolina's high school graduation rates have sharply increased since 2002.

SC Guard agribusiness team heads to Afghanistan

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A South Carolina Army National Guard agricultural development team is heading for training and a year's deployment in Afghanistan.

Ex-Spartanburg parks director hired by Columbia

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A man fired as parks director for the city of Spartanburg has been hired to do the same job in Columbia.

Keel refocuses SLED on helping local law agencies

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Mark Keel says he hopes a new state budget with more money for more officers will help return South Carolina's top police agency to its originally intended role: supporting local law enforcement.

SC Law Designates February for Black History Study

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.

Columbia Police Dept. unveils new unit

Friday, the Columbia Police Department unveiled their newest unit, the bike patrol team.

Suspect in Gaffney Shooting Arrested in Greensboro

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.