SC Public Radio News - The state’s booming economy has allowed its’ budget writers this year to come through on some long standing promises. To significantly increase public education funding including teacher pay, and reducing personal income taxes. This week the House Ways and Means Committee reported out the first draft of next year’s record-setting $11 state budget. Also this week, the House of Representatives by a vote of 110-0 approved a bill that would lower the state's personal income tax rates. - South Carolina House budget writers want to send raises to teachers, state employees and law enforcement, build new schools and a state health lab and buy more body cameras and bulletproof vests for police officers. The House Ways and Means Committee approved the state's $14 billion spending plan Thursday, sending the plan to the House floor where it will be debated in mid-March. The House budget includes a $4,000 raise for teachers, a 3% raise for state employees and extra pay for law enforcement officers. It also includes a $600 million income tax cut and $1 billion on roads from accelerating the widening of clogged interstates to repaving and improving safety on rural highways. - The South Carolina Senate has given key approval to a bill banning anyone from holding a cellphone while driving. The proposal faces one last routine vote before heading to the House, which has failed to pass a number of similar bills in recent years The bill allows drivers without Bluetooth to put the cellphone in a cradle and push a button to make or end a call or deal with a navigation app as long as they weren't holding the phone. Any driver could hold a phone while parked or stopped. Drivers caught holding a phone would face a $100 fine for the first offense and a $200 fine and two points on their driving record for each additional offense. - Roughly 18 million children under the age of five are still not eligible for a COVID vaccine as parents struggle to keep them safe with limited daycare options. Open Space Institute works in concert with others to protect South Carolina's scenic, natural, and historic landscapes The Open Space Institute’s mission is to protect scenic, natural, and historic landscapes to provide public enjoyment, conserve habitat and working lands, and sustain communities. Over the past 40 years, the institute has saved 2,285,092 acres of land through direct acquisition, grants, and loans. Having begun by focusing on land in New York State, they have in recent years saved significant, complex, and large-scale tracts in South Carolina, Florida, and New Jersey through direct acquisitions. In December 2022, the Open Space Institute (OSI) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) announced the purchase of three properties along the Santee River in South Carolina, expanding the largest contiguous block of protected coastal lands in the state. OSI’s Vice-President and Director of the Southeast, Maria Whitehead, joins Walter Edgar to talk about the acquisition and about the Institute’s plans for land protection in the state. In December 2022, the Open Space Institute (OSI) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) announced the purchase of three properties along the Santee River in South Carolina, expanding the largest contiguous block of protected coastal lands in the state. OSI’s Vice-President and Director of the Southeast, Maria Whitehead, joins Walter Edgar to talk about the acquisition and about the Institute’s plans for land protection in the state. Latest SC Lede Episodes - April 19, 2022 — A look at what's happening at the statehouse this week as the legislative session begins to wind down; an update on first quarter fundraising numbers for some of the state's top races; new inflation data; and more. - SC Lede: Spring Break Special — A Conversation with United Nations World Food Programme Director David BeasleyApril 12, 2022 — Host Gavin Jackson talks with David Beasley, former South Carolina governor, current United Nations World Food Programme Director and Nobel Prize recipient, about his humanitarian work in Ukraine. The Latest Episodes of the SC Business Review - If you are a technology entrepreneur or thinking about becoming one, there are events coming to our state’s coast that you may want to know about. Mike Switzer interviews Jess O’Brien, executive director of the Beaufort Digital Corridor in Beaufort, SC, the organization bringing TechStars Startup Weekend to their city April 29-May 1. The Myrtle Beach Techstars Startup Weekend is May 6-8. - Quality of life is always an essential part of the equation when economic developers talk to industry. Our next guest’s organization is one of many across our state working to improve that common denominator. Mike Switzer interviews Stuart White, executive director of the Congaree Land Trust in Columbia, SC. 'diSConnected': an occasional series from South Carolina Public Radio - diSConnected: Is Ayn Rand or Mother Teresa better for protecting South Carolinians with disabilities?People with disabilities are done appealing to selflessness in order to save them. Save yourself on purpose, though, and you might save a few others by accident. - School is supposed to teach kids a thing or two. Pandemic-era schooling's mix of in-class and in-home learning, however, taught them something people don't usually figure out until a lot later – who they really are. Part of South Carolina Public Radio's occasional series 'diSConnected.' More Stories - Strong storms could bring damaging winds and tornado threat to Palmetto State Tuesday evening. - North Carolina and Kansas face off tonight at the Super Dome in New Orleans for a conclusion of college basketball's March Madness tournament. - Ukraine has launched an investigation into war crimes officials believe have been committed by Russian forces during the course of the invasion. - Flush with money after the 2020 protests, community bail funds are releasing more people from jail. - President Ulysses S. Grant signed a law to preserve and protect the land, wildlife, and cultural heritage of Yellowstone on March 1, 1872. - CBS News' Jill Schlesinger believes college is still worth it. - Alsop talks about the rejection she faced on the way to becoming the first woman to lead a major American orchestra, the Baltimore Symphony. She's now the subject of a new documentary, The Conductor. - Congress has rejected requests from the White House to approve funding to continue COVID-19 tests and treatments for everyone. - These NH teachers want students to connect climate change to what's happening in their own backyardsA number of states have adopted school science standards that include teaching about climate change. - Title 42, as it's known, blocked migrants from entering the country because of concerns about COVID-19. Rapp on Jazz highlights the Palmetto State's connection to the history of jazz music and the current jazz scene. Join Mark Rapp, executive director of the ColaJazz Foundation and host of SC Public Radio’s ColaJazz Presents, for these 60-second segments covering everything from famous South Carolinians like Dizzy Gillespie and Eartha Kitt to the “Big Apple” dance craze of the 1930s to the best clubs to experience jazz in the state. South Carolina Public Radio News Updates Walter Edgar's Journal delves into the arts, culture, history of South Carolina and the American South. News and Music Stations: Fridays at 12 pm; Saturdays at 7 am News & Talk Stations: Fridays at 12 pm; Sundays at 4 pm News and Music Stations: Fridays at 12 pm; Saturdays at 7 am News & Talk Stations: Fridays at 12 pm; Sundays at 4 pm Get weekly program highlights via e-mail. News from South Carolina's business community with interviews of many small business owners, business leaders from around the state, and South Carolina's nonprofits. Mon - Fri 7:51 a.m. Mon - Fri 7:51 a.m.

O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC B-LOC O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG B-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER O B-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER O B-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER O O O B-PER I-PER I-PER O O B-PER I-PER B-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER O B-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER O O O O O B-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER O B-PER I-PER O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O B-LOC I-LOC O O O B-ORG O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER O B-PER I-PER O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O B-PER I-PER O B-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC O O O B-ORG I-ORG O B-ORG I-ORG O O O O B-LOC I-LOC I-LOC B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG O O B-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG B-PER I-PER O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG O O O O B-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER O O O O B-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER O O O O B-ORG I-ORG O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER O B-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O B-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC O O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O


SC Public Radio News - U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm has announced that $3 million in federal funding will be directed toward historically Black colleges and universities. She says it'll go toward research that will further the Biden administration's goals of carbon neutrality, and help strengthen a pipeline from those schools into energy-related jobs. Granholm made the announcement during a stop at South Carolina State University on Thursday. She said the money helps advance work toward an executive order to make the federal government carbon-neutral by 2050. - The whispers and chatter about top contenders for the Supreme Court are growing as President Joe Biden zeroes in on a nominee to replace retiring Justice Stephen Breyer. But while the president is eager for input, the White House insists he's not going to be swayed by any sniping. Biden has he said he'll have a nominee by the end of the month. The top three contenders are believed to be federal appeals court judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, California state Supreme Court judge Leondra Kruger and U.S. District Court Judge J. Michelle Childs. Each finalist has a long set of bona fides and powerful backers, as well as some critics. - Another shot of good economic news this week immediately saw the state’s Republican leadership vowing to cut state income taxes something many have advocated for years. Bills to lower personal income tax rates are advancing in both the State House and Senate. - The financial leader in the South Carolina Senate has proposed nearly $2 billion in income tax cuts and rebates. The plan by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Harvey Peeler adds an even larger number to the debate on cutting taxes heating up in the General Assembly. Peeler's plan would drop the state's top tax rate of 7% down to 5.7% when people file their returns next year. That would cost nearly $900 million. Peeler also wants to give $1 billion of one-time rebates to taxpayers, but the Gaffney Republican said he is still working on those details. Gov Henry McMaster and Republican House leaders proposed cutting the top state income tax rate from 7% to 6.5% on Tuesday. Open Space Institute works in concert with others to protect South Carolina's scenic, natural, and historic landscapes The Open Space Institute’s mission is to protect scenic, natural, and historic landscapes to provide public enjoyment, conserve habitat and working lands, and sustain communities. Over the past 40 years, the institute has saved 2,285,092 acres of land through direct acquisition, grants, and loans. Having begun by focusing on land in New York State, they have in recent years saved significant, complex, and large-scale tracts in South Carolina, Florida, and New Jersey through direct acquisitions. In December 2022, the Open Space Institute (OSI) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) announced the purchase of three properties along the Santee River in South Carolina, expanding the largest contiguous block of protected coastal lands in the state. OSI’s Vice-President and Director of the Southeast, Maria Whitehead, joins Walter Edgar to talk about the acquisition and about the Institute’s plans for land protection in the state. In December 2022, the Open Space Institute (OSI) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) announced the purchase of three properties along the Santee River in South Carolina, expanding the largest contiguous block of protected coastal lands in the state. OSI’s Vice-President and Director of the Southeast, Maria Whitehead, joins Walter Edgar to talk about the acquisition and about the Institute’s plans for land protection in the state. Latest SC Lede Episodes - April 19, 2022 — A look at what's happening at the statehouse this week as the legislative session begins to wind down; an update on first quarter fundraising numbers for some of the state's top races; new inflation data; and more. - SC Lede: Spring Break Special — A Conversation with United Nations World Food Programme Director David BeasleyApril 12, 2022 — Host Gavin Jackson talks with David Beasley, former South Carolina governor, current United Nations World Food Programme Director and Nobel Prize recipient, about his humanitarian work in Ukraine. The Latest Episodes of the SC Business Review - If you are a technology entrepreneur or thinking about becoming one, there are events coming to our state’s coast that you may want to know about. Mike Switzer interviews Jess O’Brien, executive director of the Beaufort Digital Corridor in Beaufort, SC, the organization bringing TechStars Startup Weekend to their city April 29-May 1. The Myrtle Beach Techstars Startup Weekend is May 6-8. - Quality of life is always an essential part of the equation when economic developers talk to industry. Our next guest’s organization is one of many across our state working to improve that common denominator. Mike Switzer interviews Stuart White, executive director of the Congaree Land Trust in Columbia, SC. 'diSConnected': an occasional series from South Carolina Public Radio - diSConnected: Is Ayn Rand or Mother Teresa better for protecting South Carolinians with disabilities?People with disabilities are done appealing to selflessness in order to save them. Save yourself on purpose, though, and you might save a few others by accident. - School is supposed to teach kids a thing or two. Pandemic-era schooling's mix of in-class and in-home learning, however, taught them something people don't usually figure out until a lot later – who they really are. Part of South Carolina Public Radio's occasional series 'diSConnected.' More Stories - “A” is for Allen, William Hervey, Jr. (1889-1949). Poet, novelist. - Ever since the pandemic’s darkest days bottomed out, our state has been one of those leading the country in improving economic statistics. How is the rest of 2022 looking now that the first quarter is in the books? Mike Switzer interviews Joey Von Nessen, chief economist at the Darla Moore School of Business at USC in Columbia, SC. - Airline CEOs say it's time to end the requirement that everyone wear masks in airports and on planes. The Biden administration has extended the mask mandate until mid-April. - As maternity wards continue to close across the U.S., demand for midwives has grown, especially in rural areas. But hospitals and health care providers have raised concerns about licensing and safety. - The former Tennessee nurse faces prison time for a fatal medication mistake. Reaction from her peers was swift and fierce on social media and beyond ― and it isn't over. - There's concern the U.S. push to send more natural gas to Europe will increase climate warming emissions. But energy experts say the crisis might actually speed up the shift to cleaner energy. - Refugees streaming across the border at the Medyka border crossing into Poland leave behind the air raid sirens and the sounds of war and are welcomed by musician Davide Martello. - The New York Public Library recently received a machine that will read cracked and scratched wax cylinders — which include some of the earliest recorded audio. - The country's defense minister cites both the Russia-Ukraine war and China for accelerating the rearming of fighter jets and warships. - The Jayhawks break a 59-year-old record in staging the greatest comeback in NCAA title game history. Rapp on Jazz highlights the Palmetto State's connection to the history of jazz music and the current jazz scene. Join Mark Rapp, executive director of the ColaJazz Foundation and host of SC Public Radio’s ColaJazz Presents, for these 60-second segments covering everything from famous South Carolinians like Dizzy Gillespie and Eartha Kitt to the “Big Apple” dance craze of the 1930s to the best clubs to experience jazz in the state. South Carolina Public Radio News Updates Walter Edgar's Journal delves into the arts, culture, history of South Carolina and the American South. News and Music Stations: Fridays at 12 pm; Saturdays at 7 am News & Talk Stations: Fridays at 12 pm; Sundays at 4 pm News and Music Stations: Fridays at 12 pm; Saturdays at 7 am News & Talk Stations: Fridays at 12 pm; Sundays at 4 pm Get weekly program highlights via e-mail. News from South Carolina's business community with interviews of many small business owners, business leaders from around the state, and South Carolina's nonprofits. Mon - Fri 7:51 a.m. Mon - Fri 7:51 a.m.

B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O B-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG O O O B-PER I-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O B-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER I-PER B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O B-PER I-PER O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG B-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG O B-ORG O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG B-PER I-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG B-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER I-PER O O B-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC B-LOC O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG B-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER O B-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O B-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG B-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER O B-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O B-ORG O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG B-PER I-PER I-PER O O O O B-PER I-PER O O B-PER I-PER O B-ORG I-ORG O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER O B-PER I-PER O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER O B-PER I-PER O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O B-PER I-PER O B-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER O B-PER I-PER I-PER O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG O O O O O O O B-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC O O O B-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG O O B-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER O O O O B-ORG I-ORG O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER O B-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O B-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC O O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O


SC Public Radio News - Upstate church is funding members who, right now, are driving supplies into and war refugees out of KharkivAnderson-based Summer of God Slavic Evangelical Church has members from the Upstate on the ground in Ukraine right now. They're facing harrowing conditions while performing humanitarian aid. - Next week the State Senate next is expected to put the finishing touches on a bill to reduce personal income tax rates. A similar bill was unanimously approved by the House a couple of weeks ago thus almost assuring the long sought tax cut being enacted.The Senate bill would lower the top income tax rate from seven to five-point-seven percent. It also would eliminate the tax on military retiree income, and reduce manufacturers property tax from nine percent to six percent.Many state and business leaders have advocated a reduction of the income tax for years maintaining the rate is too high and puts the state at a competitive disadvantage with other southeastern states. - A bill that would require doctors to inform patients receiving drug-induced abortions about a controversial method to possibly halt the abortion process is moving forward in the South Carolina House. The House Judiciary Committee could consider the legislation after a panel of lawmakers voted 3-1 to advance it Thursday. The measure would require physicians to give pregnant people receiving the two-dose drug a written statement saying the abortion could potentially be reversed after the first pill. That's a stance experts have disputed. Critics of the bill say the legislation would restrict doctors' free speech and that South Carolina would likely face costly and time-consuming litigation should the bill become law. - The South Carolina Senate has unanimously passed a $2 billion income tax cut and rebate bill, setting up what will likely be intense negotiations with the House over the $1 billion tax cut it passed last month. The proposal would send a rebate of at least $100 to everyone who files an income tax return in South Carolina, Taxpayers who do owe state income tax would get that amount back up to $700. It cuts the state's top income tax rate from 7% to 5.7%, The House's tax cut bill trims the top rate from 7% to 6.5% now, eventually falling to 6%. All other brackets would collapse to 3% under the House plan. Open Space Institute works in concert with others to protect South Carolina's scenic, natural, and historic landscapes The Open Space Institute’s mission is to protect scenic, natural, and historic landscapes to provide public enjoyment, conserve habitat and working lands, and sustain communities. Over the past 40 years, the institute has saved 2,285,092 acres of land through direct acquisition, grants, and loans. Having begun by focusing on land in New York State, they have in recent years saved significant, complex, and large-scale tracts in South Carolina, Florida, and New Jersey through direct acquisitions. In December 2022, the Open Space Institute (OSI) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) announced the purchase of three properties along the Santee River in South Carolina, expanding the largest contiguous block of protected coastal lands in the state. OSI’s Vice-President and Director of the Southeast, Maria Whitehead, joins Walter Edgar to talk about the acquisition and about the Institute’s plans for land protection in the state. In December 2022, the Open Space Institute (OSI) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) announced the purchase of three properties along the Santee River in South Carolina, expanding the largest contiguous block of protected coastal lands in the state. OSI’s Vice-President and Director of the Southeast, Maria Whitehead, joins Walter Edgar to talk about the acquisition and about the Institute’s plans for land protection in the state. Latest SC Lede Episodes - April 19, 2022 — A look at what's happening at the statehouse this week as the legislative session begins to wind down; an update on first quarter fundraising numbers for some of the state's top races; new inflation data; and more. - SC Lede: Spring Break Special — A Conversation with United Nations World Food Programme Director David BeasleyApril 12, 2022 — Host Gavin Jackson talks with David Beasley, former South Carolina governor, current United Nations World Food Programme Director and Nobel Prize recipient, about his humanitarian work in Ukraine. The Latest Episodes of the SC Business Review - If you are a technology entrepreneur or thinking about becoming one, there are events coming to our state’s coast that you may want to know about. Mike Switzer interviews Jess O’Brien, executive director of the Beaufort Digital Corridor in Beaufort, SC, the organization bringing TechStars Startup Weekend to their city April 29-May 1. The Myrtle Beach Techstars Startup Weekend is May 6-8. - Quality of life is always an essential part of the equation when economic developers talk to industry. Our next guest’s organization is one of many across our state working to improve that common denominator. Mike Switzer interviews Stuart White, executive director of the Congaree Land Trust in Columbia, SC. 'diSConnected': an occasional series from South Carolina Public Radio - diSConnected: Is Ayn Rand or Mother Teresa better for protecting South Carolinians with disabilities?People with disabilities are done appealing to selflessness in order to save them. Save yourself on purpose, though, and you might save a few others by accident. - School is supposed to teach kids a thing or two. Pandemic-era schooling's mix of in-class and in-home learning, however, taught them something people don't usually figure out until a lot later – who they really are. Part of South Carolina Public Radio's occasional series 'diSConnected.' More Stories - Ayesha Rascoe talks to energy analyst Kevin Book about the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve and what role it plays in prices at the gas pump. - Hawk elevated his sport. But in middle age, it's become hard on his body. NPR spoke with the skateboarding icon about his new documentary, Tony Hawk: Until the Wheels Fall Off. - Fans in North Carolina react to the clash between what may be college basketball's biggest rivalry, as UNC wins over Duke and is headed to the national championship. - As the invasion of Ukraine enters its sixth week with signs of a Russian pivot, we get the latest from Kyiv. - New York policymakers are facing pressure to roll back the changes they made to the state's cash bail system three years ago. Ayesha Rascoe talks with Jon Campbell of WNYC about it. - Starbucks founder and two-time CEO Howard Schultz is coming back to the company as interim leader. His return coincides with a widespread union drive by the chain's employees. - Ayesha Rascoe speaks to Andy Yen, founder and CEO of Proton VPN, about the jump in Russians using virtual private networks to access websites blocked by their government. - We take a moment to remember Maksym Levin, a Ukrainian photojournalist whose body was found north of Kyiv. - Ayesha Rascoe talks to pediatrician Adiaha Spinks-Franklin, of Texas Children's Hospital, about the risks of early onset puberty and its complicated relationship with COVID-19. - NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with winner Jim Frost of Albuquerque, New Mexico and puzzlemaster Will Shortz. Rapp on Jazz highlights the Palmetto State's connection to the history of jazz music and the current jazz scene. Join Mark Rapp, executive director of the ColaJazz Foundation and host of SC Public Radio’s ColaJazz Presents, for these 60-second segments covering everything from famous South Carolinians like Dizzy Gillespie and Eartha Kitt to the “Big Apple” dance craze of the 1930s to the best clubs to experience jazz in the state. South Carolina Public Radio News Updates Walter Edgar's Journal delves into the arts, culture, history of South Carolina and the American South. News and Music Stations: Fridays at 12 pm; Saturdays at 7 am News & Talk Stations: Fridays at 12 pm; Sundays at 4 pm News and Music Stations: Fridays at 12 pm; Saturdays at 7 am News & Talk Stations: Fridays at 12 pm; Sundays at 4 pm Get weekly program highlights via e-mail. News from South Carolina's business community with interviews of many small business owners, business leaders from around the state, and South Carolina's nonprofits. Mon - Fri 7:51 a.m. Mon - Fri 7:51 a.m.

B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC B-LOC O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG O O O O O O B-PER I-PER O B-PER I-PER I-PER O O O O O O O B-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG O O O O O O B-PER I-PER O B-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O B-PER I-PER O O O O B-PER I-PER O O B-PER I-PER O B-LOC I-LOC O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER I-PER B-PER I-PER O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER O B-PER I-PER O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O B-PER I-PER O B-PER I-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O B-PER I-PER O O O O B-PER I-PER I-PER O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG O B-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC O B-LOC I-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER O O B-PER I-PER I-PER B-ORG I-ORG O O B-ORG I-ORG O O O B-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER O O B-PER I-PER O O O O B-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O B-LOC O B-PER I-PER I-PER O O B-PER I-PER O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG B-PER I-PER O O O O O B-PER I-PER O B-LOC I-LOC I-LOC O O B-PER I-PER B-PER I-PER O O O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER O O O O B-ORG I-ORG O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG B-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER O B-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O B-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O


SC Public Radio News - diSConnected: Is Ayn Rand or Mother Teresa better for protecting South Carolinians with disabilities?People with disabilities are done appealing to selflessness in order to save them. Save yourself on purpose, though, and you might save a few others by accident. - The South Carolina Senate has passed a bill that would ban businesses from refusing to serve people who haven't gotten the COVID-19 vaccine and prevent public employers from requiring the shots. The Senate approved the bill 29-12 on Wednesday. Senators made changes to a House bill which that chamber passed in December, meaning the proposal returns to the House to see if it accepts those changes. Senators initially put in a large unemployment tax penalty for private businesses that fired unvaccinated workers. But instead they compromised to allow fired workers to collect unemployment benefits, retroactive to the last nine months. - A South Carolina inmate set to die either by a firing squad or in the electric chair later this month is asking the state Supreme Court to halt his execution. Lawyers for 57-year-old Richard Moore say he shouldn't face execution until judges can determine if either method is cruel and unusual punishment. Moore is set to die on April 29 unless a court steps in. He has until next Friday to choose between the South Carolina's electric chair, which has been used twice in the past 30 years, or being shot by three volunteers who are prison workers in rules the state finalized last month. - Inspired by the Charleston-area legend of early 19th-century convicts John and Lavinia Fisher, Jeremy Turner's Six-Mile House premieres in Beaufort on Sunday, April 10th, with a second performance in Columbia on April 12th. Open Space Institute works in concert with others to protect South Carolina's scenic, natural, and historic landscapes The Open Space Institute’s mission is to protect scenic, natural, and historic landscapes to provide public enjoyment, conserve habitat and working lands, and sustain communities. Over the past 40 years, the institute has saved 2,285,092 acres of land through direct acquisition, grants, and loans. Having begun by focusing on land in New York State, they have in recent years saved significant, complex, and large-scale tracts in South Carolina, Florida, and New Jersey through direct acquisitions. In December 2022, the Open Space Institute (OSI) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) announced the purchase of three properties along the Santee River in South Carolina, expanding the largest contiguous block of protected coastal lands in the state. OSI’s Vice-President and Director of the Southeast, Maria Whitehead, joins Walter Edgar to talk about the acquisition and about the Institute’s plans for land protection in the state. In December 2022, the Open Space Institute (OSI) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) announced the purchase of three properties along the Santee River in South Carolina, expanding the largest contiguous block of protected coastal lands in the state. OSI’s Vice-President and Director of the Southeast, Maria Whitehead, joins Walter Edgar to talk about the acquisition and about the Institute’s plans for land protection in the state. Latest SC Lede Episodes - April 19, 2022 — A look at what's happening at the statehouse this week as the legislative session begins to wind down; an update on first quarter fundraising numbers for some of the state's top races; new inflation data; and more. - SC Lede: Spring Break Special — A Conversation with United Nations World Food Programme Director David BeasleyApril 12, 2022 — Host Gavin Jackson talks with David Beasley, former South Carolina governor, current United Nations World Food Programme Director and Nobel Prize recipient, about his humanitarian work in Ukraine. The Latest Episodes of the SC Business Review - If you are a technology entrepreneur or thinking about becoming one, there are events coming to our state’s coast that you may want to know about. Mike Switzer interviews Jess O’Brien, executive director of the Beaufort Digital Corridor in Beaufort, SC, the organization bringing TechStars Startup Weekend to their city April 29-May 1. The Myrtle Beach Techstars Startup Weekend is May 6-8. - Quality of life is always an essential part of the equation when economic developers talk to industry. Our next guest’s organization is one of many across our state working to improve that common denominator. Mike Switzer interviews Stuart White, executive director of the Congaree Land Trust in Columbia, SC. 'diSConnected': an occasional series from South Carolina Public Radio - School is supposed to teach kids a thing or two. Pandemic-era schooling's mix of in-class and in-home learning, however, taught them something people don't usually figure out until a lot later – who they really are. Part of South Carolina Public Radio's occasional series 'diSConnected.' - The Bantu word 'ubuntu' conveys humanity and shared experience. Current and future healthcare professionals Upstate are channeling it. But you don't have to be a medic to find connection. More Stories - After a couple of years with little to no human touch, photographer Diane Conn reminds us of the power of human connection in her recent book "Holding Hands." - As lawmakers push forward with efforts to curb the rights of queer and trans youth, authors who've written about gender expansive and trans identities say storytelling is crucial. - Chris Rock's recent wisecrack at the Oscars about Jada Pinkett Smith's shaved head has brought renewed attention to the long history of jokes about Black hair. - Experts say it's a strategy to ban the teaching of critical race theory and could have widespread consequences. - The plan would involve releasing a total of 180 million barrels of oil over several months — the largest amount ever drawn from the reserve. - In a small village in western Ukraine, family and friends recently buried a 29-year-old MIG fighter pilot who was killed in combat over his homeland. - Some 72% of Americans have confidence in the Ukrainian president's handling of world affairs, a Pew Research Center survey finds. Meanwhile, just 48% say the same about U.S. President Biden. - U.S. intelligence officials believe that Russian President Vladimir Putin is being misinformed by advisers about the poor performance of his military in Ukraine. - Moscow says it will scale back its offensive in Ukraine, but the United States and its allies are skeptical it will follow through. - Gas prices have been soaring. President Biden is announcing he will release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Rapp on Jazz highlights the Palmetto State's connection to the history of jazz music and the current jazz scene. Join Mark Rapp, executive director of the ColaJazz Foundation and host of SC Public Radio’s ColaJazz Presents, for these 60-second segments covering everything from famous South Carolinians like Dizzy Gillespie and Eartha Kitt to the “Big Apple” dance craze of the 1930s to the best clubs to experience jazz in the state. South Carolina Public Radio News Updates - Wednesday, Apr 20 Walter Edgar's Journal delves into the arts, culture, history of South Carolina and the American South. News and Music Stations: Fridays at 12 pm; Saturdays at 7 am News & Talk Stations: Fridays at 12 pm; Sundays at 4 pm News and Music Stations: Fridays at 12 pm; Saturdays at 7 am News & Talk Stations: Fridays at 12 pm; Sundays at 4 pm Get weekly program highlights via e-mail. News from South Carolina's business community with interviews of many small business owners, business leaders from around the state, and South Carolina's nonprofits. Mon - Fri 7:51 a.m. Mon - Fri 7:51 a.m.

B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O B-PER I-PER O B-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O B-MISC B-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC O O O O O B-PER O B-PER I-PER B-PER I-PER O O O O B-LOC O O O O O O O O O B-LOC O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC B-LOC O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG B-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER O B-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG B-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER O B-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG B-PER I-PER I-PER O O O O B-PER I-PER O O B-PER I-PER O B-ORG I-ORG O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG B-PER O O O O O O O O O B-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER O B-PER I-PER O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O B-LOC I-LOC O O O B-ORG O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC B-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER O B-PER I-PER O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER O O O O O O B-PER I-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER I-PER O B-ORG O O O O B-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC O B-ORG O O O O O O O O B-LOC O O B-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER O O O O B-ORG I-ORG O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER O B-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O B-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC O O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O


SC Public Radio News - diSConnected: Is Ayn Rand or Mother Teresa better for protecting South Carolinians with disabilities?People with disabilities are done appealing to selflessness in order to save them. Save yourself on purpose, though, and you might save a few others by accident. - The South Carolina Senate has passed a bill that would ban businesses from refusing to serve people who haven't gotten the COVID-19 vaccine and prevent public employers from requiring the shots. The Senate approved the bill 29-12 on Wednesday. Senators made changes to a House bill which that chamber passed in December, meaning the proposal returns to the House to see if it accepts those changes. Senators initially put in a large unemployment tax penalty for private businesses that fired unvaccinated workers. But instead they compromised to allow fired workers to collect unemployment benefits, retroactive to the last nine months. - A South Carolina inmate set to die either by a firing squad or in the electric chair later this month is asking the state Supreme Court to halt his execution. Lawyers for 57-year-old Richard Moore say he shouldn't face execution until judges can determine if either method is cruel and unusual punishment. Moore is set to die on April 29 unless a court steps in. He has until next Friday to choose between the South Carolina's electric chair, which has been used twice in the past 30 years, or being shot by three volunteers who are prison workers in rules the state finalized last month. - Inspired by the Charleston-area legend of early 19th-century convicts John and Lavinia Fisher, Jeremy Turner's Six-Mile House premieres in Beaufort on Sunday, April 10th, with a second performance in Columbia on April 12th. Open Space Institute works in concert with others to protect South Carolina's scenic, natural, and historic landscapes The Open Space Institute’s mission is to protect scenic, natural, and historic landscapes to provide public enjoyment, conserve habitat and working lands, and sustain communities. Over the past 40 years, the institute has saved 2,285,092 acres of land through direct acquisition, grants, and loans. Having begun by focusing on land in New York State, they have in recent years saved significant, complex, and large-scale tracts in South Carolina, Florida, and New Jersey through direct acquisitions. In December 2022, the Open Space Institute (OSI) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) announced the purchase of three properties along the Santee River in South Carolina, expanding the largest contiguous block of protected coastal lands in the state. OSI’s Vice-President and Director of the Southeast, Maria Whitehead, joins Walter Edgar to talk about the acquisition and about the Institute’s plans for land protection in the state. In December 2022, the Open Space Institute (OSI) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) announced the purchase of three properties along the Santee River in South Carolina, expanding the largest contiguous block of protected coastal lands in the state. OSI’s Vice-President and Director of the Southeast, Maria Whitehead, joins Walter Edgar to talk about the acquisition and about the Institute’s plans for land protection in the state. Latest SC Lede Episodes - April 19, 2022 — A look at what's happening at the statehouse this week as the legislative session begins to wind down; an update on first quarter fundraising numbers for some of the state's top races; new inflation data; and more. - SC Lede: Spring Break Special — A Conversation with United Nations World Food Programme Director David BeasleyApril 12, 2022 — Host Gavin Jackson talks with David Beasley, former South Carolina governor, current United Nations World Food Programme Director and Nobel Prize recipient, about his humanitarian work in Ukraine. The Latest Episodes of the SC Business Review - If you are a technology entrepreneur or thinking about becoming one, there are events coming to our state’s coast that you may want to know about. Mike Switzer interviews Jess O’Brien, executive director of the Beaufort Digital Corridor in Beaufort, SC, the organization bringing TechStars Startup Weekend to their city April 29-May 1. The Myrtle Beach Techstars Startup Weekend is May 6-8. - Quality of life is always an essential part of the equation when economic developers talk to industry. Our next guest’s organization is one of many across our state working to improve that common denominator. Mike Switzer interviews Stuart White, executive director of the Congaree Land Trust in Columbia, SC. 'diSConnected': an occasional series from South Carolina Public Radio - School is supposed to teach kids a thing or two. Pandemic-era schooling's mix of in-class and in-home learning, however, taught them something people don't usually figure out until a lot later – who they really are. Part of South Carolina Public Radio's occasional series 'diSConnected.' - The Bantu word 'ubuntu' conveys humanity and shared experience. Current and future healthcare professionals Upstate are channeling it. But you don't have to be a medic to find connection. More Stories - A new study shows a massive increase in police seizures of fentanyl pills, confirming its dramatic takeover of illicit drug consumption in the U.S. The fake pills look safe but are often deadly. - In Judge Jackson's Supreme Court confirmation hearings, some Republicans dwelled on her handling of child pornography cases. Extremism experts say a QAnon narrative may be catching on with the right. - On Wall Street, the first quarter of 2022 was characterized by extreme volatility, as the Federal Reserve started to hike interest rates to fight surging inflation and Russia invaded Ukraine. - Reggaeton superstar Daddy Yankee has announced his retirement from music at the age of 45. But it's unclear whether that means he'll never perform or release music again. - The oil glut of 2020 drove crude prices down to -$38 a barrel, forcing U.S. producers to cap wells and lay off workers. Now, oilfield supplies are scarce and expensive and there's a labor shortage. - At a warehouse near the front lines in southern Ukraine, volunteers are making bulletproof vests, fixing shattered car windows and helping people escape from Russian-controlled areas. - Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham says he won't vote for Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson. He expressed concerns about her record despite supporting her confirmation as an appeals court judge last year. The South Carolina senator's announcement Thursday was expected after he criticized Jackson during her four days of hearings last week. But it gives Democrats one less Republican vote as they seek bipartisan backing for President Joe Biden's pick to replace retiring Justice Stephen Breyer. Graham, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine and Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska were the only three Republicans to vote to confirm Jackson on the appeals court in 2021. - Genealogists and historians can get a microscopic look at sweeping historical trends when individual records from the 1950 census are released this week. Researchers view the records that will be released Friday as a gold mine, and amateur genealogists see it as a way to fill gaps in family trees. The records will be indexed into a searchable website. The digitized forms have information about household members' names, race, sex, age, address, occupation, hours worked in the previous week, salary, education, marital status and the country where their parents were born. The records couldn't be released for confidentiality reasons until 72 years after they were gathered by census takers knocking on every home in the U.S. - A House committee will hold a public hearing Monday on a bill to allow the use of medical marijuana in South Carolina. A small group of House members made a few changes in the lengthy bill passed in February by the full Senate on a 28-15 vote. One amendment cleaned up the grammar and a few typos in the bill which senators considered more than 60 changes over seven days of debate. A second change restores some podiatrists with extra training to the list of doctors who can prescribe medical marijuana. There was little discussion of the bill Thursday. Much of that is expected for the meeting Monday morning by the full House Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee. - The judge says the state's Republican-led government was using subtle tactics to suppress Black voters. An appeal of the ruling is expected. Rapp on Jazz highlights the Palmetto State's connection to the history of jazz music and the current jazz scene. Join Mark Rapp, executive director of the ColaJazz Foundation and host of SC Public Radio’s ColaJazz Presents, for these 60-second segments covering everything from famous South Carolinians like Dizzy Gillespie and Eartha Kitt to the “Big Apple” dance craze of the 1930s to the best clubs to experience jazz in the state. South Carolina Public Radio News Updates Walter Edgar's Journal delves into the arts, culture, history of South Carolina and the American South. News and Music Stations: Fridays at 12 pm; Saturdays at 7 am News & Talk Stations: Fridays at 12 pm; Sundays at 4 pm News and Music Stations: Fridays at 12 pm; Saturdays at 7 am News & Talk Stations: Fridays at 12 pm; Sundays at 4 pm Get weekly program highlights via e-mail. News from South Carolina's business community with interviews of many small business owners, business leaders from around the state, and South Carolina's nonprofits. Mon - Fri 7:51 a.m. Mon - Fri 7:51 a.m.

O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-MISC B-PER I-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC O O O O O B-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER B-PER I-PER O O O O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC B-LOC O B-LOC I-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG B-ORG I-ORG B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG B-ORG O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG O O O O O B-PER I-PER O B-PER I-PER O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC I-LOC I-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER B-PER I-PER O B-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER B-PER I-PER O O O O B-PER I-PER I-PER O B-PER I-PER O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER O B-PER I-PER B-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER I-PER B-PER I-PER B-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC B-LOC O O O B-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O B-MISC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER O O O O O B-PER I-PER I-PER B-PER I-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER I-PER O O O O B-PER I-PER I-PER B-PER B-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER B-LOC O B-PER I-PER I-PER O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER B-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER I-PER B-PER I-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O B-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC I-LOC O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O


SEEKING NEW OR EXPERIENCED BASKETBALL OFFICIALS: The Litchfield County Board of IAABO officials is seeking interested candidates to become basketball officials for this winter. The first training clinic is Oct. 3. Interested women and men should contact Randy Hobbs at 860-927-6253 or email him at HobbsR@kent-school.edu. WOMEN'S OVER 40 PICKUP GAMES: Basketball for women over 40. Pick-up games, tournaments, possible league play. Call 203.426.8693 or e-mail jbrown1225@sbcglobal.net. NMYBO TRAVEL TEAM COACHES: The NMYBO Travel basketball program is looking for coaches for the 2005 season. All Travel Coaching positions are open for anyone interested. (Boys travel teams grades 8\/7\/6) (Girls travel teams grades 8\/7\/6) Call Paul Hembrook, Travel Team Director at 860-355-3268. BEST OF THE BEST YOUTH TOURNAMENT: Oct. 29 and 30, Sacred Heart University in Fairfield. Boys and girls teams ages 9U-19U, three-game guarantee. Registration $250. Top three finishers per division qualify for Best of the Best Nationals in Atlanta in July 2006. Look online at www.bestofthebestbasketball.com or call (866) 831-2002.

O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER O B-MISC O O O O B-MISC O B-MISC I-MISC O O O O O B-MISC I-MISC O O O O O O O B-MISC O O B-MISC B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O B-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER I-PER O B-MISC O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O B-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC O O O O O O O O O B-MISC I-MISC


SEOUL, South Korea - Kim Jong Un's top military official - a key mentor to North Korea's young new leader who had served under his father - has been removed from all posts because of illness, state media said Monday. But Ri Yong Ho had looked healthy in recent appearances, and that fed speculation among analysts that Kim purged him in an effort to put his own mark on the regime he inherited seven months ago when Kim Jong Il died. The decision to dismiss the 69-year-old from top military and political posts was made at a Workers' Party meeting Sunday, according to the official Korean Central News Agency. It was not immediately clear who would take Ri's place, and the dispatch did not elaborate on his condition or future. Skeptical of claim Daniel Pinkston, a North Korea analyst at the International Crisis Group, was skeptical of the illness claim, in part because of Ri's recent apparent health. He also said Ri won his major promotions at a September 2010 party conference but received none in April, which stirred speculation about the general's future. "There's a very high probability that it wasn't health issues, but that he was purged," he said, sending a strong signal to anyone seeking to challenge Kim Jong Un - even if Ri never directly defied the new leader. Ri was vice marshal and chief of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army, making him the nation's top military official behind Kim Jong Un, who rules as supreme commander.

B-LOC I-LOC I-LOC O B-PER I-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O B-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O B-PER O O O O O O B-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER I-PER O O O B-PER O O O O O O B-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER I-PER O O O O O


SEX FILES: Netflix's new show, Sexy Beasts truly an eye-opener Article content Last Tuesday, I found myself glued to my television as I tried to second guess whether a demon would choose a baboon or a mouse for a second date. Before you ask, “what fresh brand of TV hell is this?” I was watching Sexy Beasts, Netflix’s latest terrifying entrée in the canon of absurd dating reality shows. The show, which premiered July 21 after its viral trailer took the internet by storm earlier this summer, follows a cast of real life singles who’ve agreed to wear elaborate makeup and prosthetics to put true blind-date chemistry to the test. And yes, it’s just as wild as you may expect. tap here to see other videos from our team. SEX FILES: Netflix's new show, Sexy Beasts truly an eye-opener Back to video Each episode is focused on a different “beast” as they go on a series of speed dates with three members of the opposite sex who are also disguised as creatures. At the end of each speed date, the singles return to Sexy Beast Manor, “a stately home designed for dumping” (their words, not mine) where the beast decides who he or she will kick off the show in a series of “dramatic ditching ceremonies.” Advertisement 2 Article content It’s best to think of Sexy Beasts like an absurd hybrid of the show Elimidate paired with the most cringe-worthy moments of the film adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Weber’s Cats (Jason Derulo’s unitard, anyone?) only with more uncomfortable kissing. Like previous pandemic era Netflix oeuvres like Love is Blind and Too Hot To Handle, this reality show also feels like a fever dream spawned from a pitch meeting helmed by 30 Rock’s Jack Donaghy (“OK, writers. There’s no bad ideas! Only good ideas that go horribly wrong!”) There’s cheetahs. There’s demons. There’s a musclebound beaver that earnestly declares to the camera that he’s looking for “ass first, personality second.” Over the course of six short episodes, we’re introduced to the Noah Ark of singles that include memorable contestants like Nina, a bubbly (no pun intended) dolphin “looking for her cowboy;” Bennett a baboon who’s bonkers for boobs; Mick a new-agey rhino who loves “sex kung fu” and believes “vulnerability is our biggest muscle;” and Adam, a pink shirt and gold chain clad, mouse with a man bun who proves that yes, a rodent can look like a total douchebag. While best consumed after a few drinks (or if you’re really brave, some legally obtained edibles), this reality show has everything you could possibly need from a midsummer binge-watch. Interspecies romance! Weird oil paintings! Foot massages! The English Countryside! Dad jokes about elephant penises! Advertisement 3 Article content However, along with answering questions you never thought to ask like, “exactly how awkward is it to watch a beaver and cheetah makeout?” and “am I imagining it or does the troll have really good chemistry with the rooster?” there is some wisdom to be found underneath all the faux fur and grease paint. For starters, there’s a fine line between knowing what you want and shooting yourself in the foot (or fin). One of the most unforgettable moments happens when Kariselle, an adorable Panda with the personality of an aggressive Minnie Mouse on uppers, tells her date (a wide-eyed Ram) that she wants to have babies and get married within the next two years, then asks in the same breath, “do you have health insurance?” While extreme honesty can be a great litmus test for future partners (example: the Tin Man that literally cheers when Kariselle rejects him), being so rigid with your expectations does you a disservice. Be clear about what you want but also give relationships time to unfold at their own pace. Sexy Beasts is also a nice reminder that even in our app-driven, image obsessed world, true attraction is still about more than just physical appearance. While I don’t suggest showing up to your next date dressed as a manatee, we could all probably benefit from looking inward and asking, “how does this person actually make me feel?” next time we meet someone new – even if it means kissing a few literal toads.

O O B-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER I-PER O B-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG B-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC I-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O


SEX FILES: The ABCs of F-Boy Island Article content “Women have been forced to tolerate the manipulative douchebaggery of “f-boys” for far too long.” So begins the trailer for the new HBO Max show F-Boy Island, which promises to flip the script. Advertisement 2 Article content The reality series, hosted by comedian Nikki Glaser, follows a trio of single women (Nakia Renee, CJ Franco and Sarah Emig) as they try to find love among 24 bachelors. Half of the guys are self-proclaimed “Nice Guys,” who are allegedly looking for a relationship, and the other 12 are self-proclaimed “F-Boys” (players looking for sex) who are only there to hook up and win the $100,000 cash prize. Drama and beach volleyball ensue as they navigate a series of challenges designed to “separate the men from the bros.” tap here to see other videos from our team. SEX FILES: The ABCs of F-Boy Island Back to video The reality show is a strange but irresistible mash-up of Love Island, Blues Clues and the world’s longest frat party complete with ample muscle flexing, beard grooming, a chorus of “bruhs” – and most importantly – mystery and intrigue. Is the guy rhythmically thrusting his pelvis towards the camera while he holds (what appears to be) a foaming bottle of something (champagne? whipped cream?) against his crotch, a “good guy” or a player? Who’s to say! (If you’re placing bets, you might want to keep an eye on him. Just a thought.) There are a couple of reasons why I think F-Boy Island is set to be a hit. For starters, it’s premiering on July 29th, smack dab in the middle of what’s been dubbed “Hot Vaxx Summer,” but in Canada should really be renamed “I’m vaccinated but I’m going to wear a mask in this suburban Winners because I think I have to but I’m not sure so I’m going to keep it on because I don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable, Summer.” Advertisement 3 Article content It’s hot, we’ve run out of shows to binge and it still feels a bit weird to touch other humans. A show about a bunch of sexy people (some of whom are jerks of soap opera villain proportions) frolicking half-naked on the beach feels like the summer we deserve but haven’t quite received yet. Secondly, tropical locale and TV crew aside, the premise feels eerily familiar. When I first saw the trailer I thought, “isn’t this just … dating?” As someone who actually lives on an actual island, “F-boy Island” could easily double as the title of my dating memoir. My love life feels like never-ending exercise in sussing out sincere suitors from a very limited (and questionable) pool of bachelors. Only in my case, it involves less rock-hard abs and jelly shots and more male pattern baldness and 40-year-olds on skateboards. Having fallen under the spell of one too many corrupt Casanovas, I’ve become quite adept at spotting them from afar (or at least, from across the table on the first date). Here’s a few telltale signs you’re dealing with a player. They get weird about feelings and the future F-boys live in a perpetual present, where everything is “chill,” and feelings don’t really exist, unless of course, it’s their own. You may feel like they’re “letting you in” when they vent about their bad day at work but how do they react when you share something personal with them? How about when you bring up the topic of relationships or marriage? Do they engage and show emotional vulnerability or do they brush it off with a joke or playful banter? They want a high return with minimal investment A player is looking to get the most with the least amount of effort. They want you to meet them, physically and emotionally, wherever they might be. Whether that’s the bar right by their office or a late-night rendezvous, F-boys don’t make plans, they say, “let’s play it by ear.” If you feel like something might be off, trust your gut. You may not be able to control how many F-boys land on your own personal island, but as the show reminds us, you do have the power to decide who you send packing with an “F-bye.”

O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-ORG I-ORG O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-PER I-PER O O O O O O B-PER I-PER B-PER I-PER O B-PER I-PER O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O B-LOC O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O


SINGAPORE -- Many Asian countries are facing a spike in COVID-19 infections after the widely-celebrated Lunar New Year holidays, as health officials grapple with the highly-transmissible omicron variant and expectations that numbers will continue to rise in coming weeks. The Lunar New Year, which is China's biggest holiday, was celebrated across Asia on Feb. 1 even as pandemic restrictions in many countries kept crowds and family outings to a minimum. Hong Kong's authorities are confronting record cases that are straining its so-called "zero-COVID" policy. On Monday, the city reported a new high of 614 local infections. "We expect there will be more cases coming in a few days. We consider this as some effects after the holiday events and clusters," told reporters on Monday Edwin Tsui, an official with the Centre for Health Protection. "With our current containment measures, we hope we can still contain the disease." Hong Kong currently requires all cases to be hospitalized. On Monday, authorities announced that close contacts of infected persons will be allowed to isolate at home, starting from Tuesday. Those who test positive while in home isolation will be transferred to a hospital. Hong Kong has aligned itself with China's "zero-COVID" policy that aims to totally stamp out outbreaks, even as many other countries change their approach to living with the virus. Authorities look to impose lockdowns on residential buildings wherever clusters of infections are identified, and have banned public dining after 6 p.m. In Singapore, a dramatic rise in coronavirus infections followed last week's holiday, with cases tripling to 13,000 on Friday. Daily infections have since dipped to 7,752 on Sunday, amid restrictions that include limited capacity for restaurants and capping the number of unique visitors to each household. Singapore has reported over 100,000 cases spanning the last month, although over 99 per cent of the cases are mild or asymptomatic. Across Asia, authorities are confronting a similar pattern as the more easily transmissible omicron becomes dominant, even as health officials in several countries report that omicron surges are not driving hospitalizations or deaths as high as the previous delta variant. In Japan, nearly 90,000 new cases nationwide were reported on Sunday, including 17,526 in Tokyo, as local omicron infections showed no signs of slowing. Experts say the infections are now spreading to vulnerable elderly people who are beginning to fill more hospital beds. Less than 5 per cent of the country's population has received their third dose of the coronavirus vaccine. Local outbreak numbers are similarly rising in Indonesia, edging toward the caseloads that marked the height of last year's devastating delta outbreak. On Jan. 6, Indonesia recorded 533 new COVID-19 cases and seven deaths. A month later on Sunday, the daily figure had soared to 36,057. Daily deaths have also climbed to 57, almost four times the rate a week ago. In Thailand, officials on Monday reported more than 10,000 daily cases for the third day in a row, but the Department of Disease Control said that the number of severely ill patients was dropping, while the fatality rate has remained stable. Department chief Opas Karnkawinpong said that Thailand might consider relaxing some of the country's pandemic restrictions, as the omicron variant seemed to be less severe. "The global situation of COVID-19 seems to be moving in the same direction," he was quoted as saying in The Bangkok Post. "Many countries have started to ease measured despite spikes in daily infections." In other countries where the Lunar New Year is a major holiday, governments are likewise on high alert ahead of expectations that omicron will continue to stoke higher infections. New cases in Malaysia have been hovering higher, with the health ministry reporting 11,034 on Monday. The rise came after the Lunar New Year when many Malaysians travel, but health officials said most of the cases were asymptomatic or have light symptoms. Top health official Noor Hisham Abdullah has warned that daily cases could double by the end of March and urged Malaysians to take their booster dose. Some 98 per cent of adults in the country have completed their vaccination and half of them have received their third jab. In South Korea, health experts warn that the country may see daily jumps of 130,000 or 170,000 by late February. The country reported 38,691 new cases of the virus, a nine-fold increase from the levels seen in mid-January, when omicron became the country's dominant strain. In Vietnam, authorities have warned that infections may rise after the popular new year holiday. Vietnam reported 192 cases of the omicron variant in the past month, with most of those showing only mild symptoms or no symptoms at all. With low hospitalization and death rates, Vietnam had previously moved toward resuming most social activities. The Philippines has moved to ease coronavirus restrictions and open its doors to tourists as outbreak numbers eased to about 8,300 on Sunday, down from a peak of 39,000 in mid-January. But social distancing restrictions remain in place amid fears of an outbreak ahead of the country's presidential and general elections May 9. Campaigning begins on Tuesday, with a ban in place on handshakes, kissing, hugging and large crowds. In mainland China, new local infections continue to fluctuate, falling as low as nine on Friday, but rising again to 45 on Monday, most of them in the southern region of Guangxi. Recent cases have included a handful of omicron infections, though such outbreaks have been tightly contained. Chinese authorities have imposed strict local lock downs and mass testing, as the country kicked off the Beijing Winter Olympics last week. Meanwhile, the far-flung Pacific archipelago nation of Tonga has been trying to contain its first outbreak since the start of the global pandemic, which might have been brought in with the delivery of emergency medical supplies and water after last month's volcanic eruption and tsunami. Two Tongan men who worked handling shipments tested positive last week. Over the weekend, Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni said two more positive cases were confirmed, bringing the total of active cases to seven. ------ Associated Press writers Kim Tong-hyung in Seoul, Jim Gomez in Manila, Hau Dinh in Hanoi, David Rising in Bangkok, Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo, and Niniek Karmini in Jakarta contributed to this report.

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SPARTANBURG — Slightly more than $120,000 of the $695,000 in grants recently awarded by the Spartanurg Regional Foundation will be spent on improving health care services in Union County. In a statement released this morning, the Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System announced that a total of $695,000 in Spartanburg Regional Foundation grants had been awarded to 27 organizations providing health and wellness services to the residents of the Upstate. The press release states that because of the grants “an individual who experienced a stroke will now have access to a motor vehicle simulator to test their driving skills. A family whose child was diagnosed with cancer will receive financial support for transportation to treatment. Young girls in Spartanburg will learn about self-respect and healthy living.” Kristy Caradori, Executive Director of the Spartanburg Regional Foundation, said that “we are proud to support nonprofits and healthcare system programs that make Spartanburg healthier. We are grateful to our community for the opportunity to give back to improve health and wellness.” The Founation recognized the grant recipients during a ceremony this morning at the Piedmont Club in Spartanburg. The recipients included three health and wellness services providers in Union County including: • Ellen Sagar Nursing Center which received $53,234 to help fund an outdoor courtyard for its 113 residents. Ellen Sagar is a long-term healthcare center and provides physical, occupational, and speech therapy. • Union Medical Center Emergency Department which received $13,000 to help purchase 10 televsions for exam rooms and the Emergency Department waiting room. • Union Medical Center Pharmacy which received $54,623 to help purchase an Acudose cabinet for the after-hours pharmacy area. Other grant recipients include: • Boys and Girls Clubs of the Upstate which received $16,000 for a healthy lifestyles program at the Mary H. Wright Elementary School Boys and Girls Club of the Upstate, located in Spartanburg. This program will aid up to 200 children in first through fifth grades. • Charles Lea Center Foundation which received $8,575 for four telehealth tool kits on the Charles Lea Center campus. Telehealth is a service in which patients can speak to a doctor via computer or phone if they cannot get to a doctor’s office. The Charles Lea Center provides services to help improve the quality of life of those with disabilities and special needs. • Girls on the Run of Spartanburg which received $5,000 for two sites, allowing 20 girls from third to fifth grades to attend 20 lessons in preparation for a 5k race. Girls on the Run of Spartanburg teaches girls about self-respect and healthy living. • Greater St. James Temple Holiness Church, Inc. which received $7,000 for medical supplies, equipment and cabinetry for the church’s health room and outreach program. Greater St. James Temple is located in Inman. • Greer Relief and Resources Agency which received $7,000 for a homeless prevention program for disabled and/or elderly members of Greer, Taylors, Duncan, Lyman and Wellford. The program aids participants through individual case management, matching participants to resources and agencies for further help with financial support. Financial support can include utility bills, rent or mortgages. • Healthy Smiles of Spartanburg which received $14,475 to expand access to preventive and restorative dental health care via a mobile dental clinic. Children from ages four to 18 in Spartanburg County will be served. • Medical Group of the Carolinas — Weight Loss Services which received $3,000 for a portable total-body composition analyzer to measure patients’ weight and instantly calculate body fat percentage and body water percentage, in addition to body mass index (BMI). • Mental Health America of Spartanburg County which received $6,000 for resource materials and other supplies to support first aid training for 300 individuals who work with behavioral health patients. • Middle Tyger Community Center which received $5,000 to expand the capacity of the clinic that provides patients with counseling and prescriptions. • Pelham Medical Center — Education which received $62,987 to support the purchase of one SimMan Essential Manikin and accessories. The SimMan is a form of clinical training using an interactive human-like machine that simulates breathing, a beating heart and blood circulation. • Piedmont Care which received $15,000 for community education on HIV and AIDS prevention. Piedmont Care works throughout Spartanburg, Cherokee and Union counties to fight the spread of HIV and AIDS and provide care and education. • SAFE Homes — Rape Crisis Coalition which received $4,000 to help fund a conference to educate professionals on interpersonal violence. SAFE Homes education empowers community members so they can provide help to a friend being abused, speak out about abuse or act as an engaged bystander. • Spartanburg Medical Center — Transitional Unit which received $150,000 to support a new early admissions transitional unit that will decrease wait times for Emergency Center patients. The telemetry unit will improve the patient transport from the Emergency Center to their point of care. A telemetry unit is an area where machines are used to help monitor patients, such as changes in blood pressure or rhythm of the heart. • Spartanburg Medical Center — Rehabilitation Services which received $75,000 for the purchase of two driving simulators to help determine if patients who have suffered from injuries or illnesses such as strokes or concussions are ready to drive a motor vehicle. • Spartanburg Medical Center — Trauma which received $10,338 for the purchase of equipment for the Stay Active and Independent for Life fitness class to help older adults with balance. • Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System — Medical Staff which received $32,500 for a plan to combat burnout and promote wellness among physicians and clinical staff. • Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System — Corporate Education which received $55,384 for the purchase of an adult simulation manikin for the Simulation Lab. • Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System — Safe Kids Spartanburg which received $22,825 for an opportunity for 15 certified child passenger safety technicians to attend a class on proper child restraint evaluation and will provide child seats for families of children with special healthcare needs. • St. Luke’s Free Medical Clinic which received $31,560 for patients’ life-sustaining medications. St. Luke’s offers primary medical care, physician-ordered medications, pastoral support and patient education for uninsured residents of Spartanburg County. • The Children’s Security Blanket which received $2,500 for a feasibility study on expanding their services into Cherokee and Union Counties. The Children’s Security Blanket provides financial support to families with a child who is diagnosed with cancer. • The Walker Foundation which received $5,305 for the purchase of specialized equipment for special needs students to help healthcare professionals assess and monitor these students in a more efficient manner. The Walker Foundation supports programs at the South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind. • TOTAL Ministries which received $5,000 for patient medications. TOTAL Ministries is a Christian ministry that assists families in financial crisis. Assistance can come in the form of preventing loss of utilities, providing heat during the winter, providing food or covering medical costs. • Transportation Service Bureau which received $23,108 for a matching grant to fund the purchase of a replacement wheelchair-accessible bus. The Transportation Service Bureau helps individuals travel to health and human services, to jobs, the grocery store or the library. • Upstate Stand Down which received $6,585 for prescriptions, glasses, hearing aids and other supplies to assist veterans. Upstate Stand Down assists homeless veterans, veterans at risk of homelessness or veterans in need. Spartanburg Regional Foundation is a charitable organization whose primary mission is to benefit the Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System through direct support and support of community programs and services that share Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System’s mission of providing quality health care to our community. Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System (SRHS) offers a full spectrum of services through three hospitals: Spartanburg Medical Center, Pelham Medical Center and Spartanburg Hospital for Restorative Care. SRHS provides unparalleled oncological care through the Gibbs Cancer Center & Research Institute. The multidisciplinary Medical Group of the Carolinas has more than 300 physicians across seven counties in two states. SRHS employs nearly 6,000 associates and offers outpatient surgery centers, a vibrant post-acute division, a Level I Trauma Center, and Advicare, a licensed Health Maintenance Organization (HMO). Advicare provides Medicaid services to residents throughout the state of South Carolina. U.S. News and World Report ranked Spartanburg Medical Center the No. 1 regional hospital in South Carolina. The Commission on Cancer gave Gibbs Cancer Center & Research Institute its Outstanding Achievement Award. The American Nurses Association lists SRHS among the nation’s top 7 percent of hospitals for excellence in nursing. This story courtesy of the Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System.

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