Local News

Columbia officer charged with prostitution

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A 32-year-old Columbia school resource officer is charged with paying a 17-year-old for sex.

New award to recognize innovation in SC schools

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A new award in South Carolina aims to spark innovation in the state's public schools.

Lexington County Deputies Probe Fatal Shooting

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) _ Lexington County sheriff's deputies say a man has been killed in a shooting. Investigators said 40-year-old Kelvin Bouknight was shot three times on a road just off Interstate 26 near Columbia around 9 p.m. Thursday.

Gasoline Thieves

ORANGEBURG, S.C. (AP) _ Orangeburg County deputies say thieves managed to pump about 2,200 gallons of premium gasoline from a gas station in five separate thefts this month.

Columbia police officers respond to burning cross

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A Columbia spokeswoman says police officers responded to a report of a burning cross and racial slur involving a man charged this week with taking money from seven vulnerable adults.

DHEC to Stores: Bath Salts, Fake Marijuana Illegal

South Carolina's public health agency is warning stores that sell mind-altering ``bath salts'' and synthetic marijuana that the substances are now illegal and possession will soon bring state charges.

70 Families Could Soon Be Homeless

Nearly 70 families call Parkwood Mobile Home Park in West Columbia, home. But on Thursday, residents received an unofficial eviction notice.

Sept. SC jobless rate drops slightly to 11 percent

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina's unemployment rate fell slightly in September to 11 percent.

SLED: Former deputy sent sexual messages to teen

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A former Beaufort County Sheriff's deputy is accused of sending increasingly sexual online messages to a 15-year-old girl that led to personal meetings while he was on duty.

President Says U.S. Troops Home by end of 2011

President Barack Obama says the Iraq war is at its end, and he's announcing that all U.S. troops will be withdrawn by year's end. Obama's statement put an end to months of wrangling over whether the U.S. would maintain a force in Iraq beyond 2011.

AT&T invests $125M in wireless in South Carolina

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — AT&T has invested more than $125 million in the first half of 2011 in its South Carolina telecommunications networks.

4 of 5 SC high school students pass exit exam

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Nearly four out of five students passed South Carolina's high school exit exam on their first try last spring — a tiny increase over last year.

More Arrests Made in Dog Fighting Bust

Two more people have been charged in connection with a major dog fighting bust in Richland county that dates back to September.

$344M bond package that includes I-73 delayed

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The board that oversees the South Carolina Department of Transportation is delaying a $344 million bond package due to the agency's cash flow problems.

Wells Fargo customers get others' bank statements

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — An undetermined number of new Wells Fargo bank customers in South Carolina and Florida have received portions of other customers' bank statements in the mail.

Air Force looking at SC base for drone squadron

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The Air Force says it is looking at South Carolina's Shaw Air Force Base as one of three possible sites to station a ground control squadron for its remote-controlled Reaper and Predator drones.

Dirty Diapers, Maggots Found in SC Home

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) _ Spartanburg County deputies say they charged a woman with child neglect after finding dozens of soiled diapers and maggots in a home where she was caring for three children. Authorities said 24-year-old Mashana Goodwin was arrested Thursday at her home. She remains in the Spartanburg County jail and it wasn't clear if she had an attorney.