Rural Cell Service Could Be Spotty During Eclipse

If you plan to livestream next month's solar eclipse from one of the prime viewing spots, here's a thought: Keep your phone in your pocket, put on your paper shades and just enjoy the celestial wonder.

The Aug. 21 solar eclipse, when passage of the moon completely blocks out the sun, will be seen first in Oregon and cut diagonally across 14 states to South Carolina. It will be the first total solar eclipse visible coast-to-coast since 1918.

The best places to see it fall within a 60- to 70-mile-wide swath known as the "path of totality," where there will be periods of total darkness ranging up to two minutes and 40 seconds. The path carves through largely rural areas, where cellphone service can be spotty at best, though, so it may not be possible to quickly post to Facebook, Instagram and the like even though carriers plan to temporarily boost capacity in some places.

"We're expecting a good experience but there will be times at peak where the network will struggle," said Paula Doublin, assistant vice president for construction and engineering for AT&T, the nation's second-largest provider.

Some communities are hosting eclipse-watch gatherings that are expected to draw tens of thousands of people.

The 6,700 residents of Madras, Oregon, will be far outnumbered by visitors, and Verizon, AT&T and Sprint all plan to bring portable towers for its event.

AT&T will deploy eight portable cell towers across the country - in Madras and Mitchell, Oregon; Columbia, Owensville and Washington in Missouri; Carbondale, Illinois; Hopkinsville, Kentucky; and Glendo Reservoir, Wyoming.

"It is very much akin to a national championship week that occurs with the NCAA or pro sports, except it's happening in a 3,000-mile-long band," Doublin said.

Sprint and Verizon Wireless, which is the nation's largest cellphone company, say recent network enhancements have reduced the need for deployment of temporary cell towers at large-scale events.

Still, Sprint plans to have portable towers in Madras and Mitchell and in Rexburg, Idaho. Other locations are still being evaluated, spokeswoman Adrienne Norton said.

Verizon spokeswoman Karen Schulz said that with such large crowds expected in parts of Oregon and Kentucky, Verizon will deploy portable towers in Madras and Bend, Oregon, and in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. She said the company could bring in portable towers elsewhere, if needed.

T-Mobile will also be boosting coverage in places by expanding its network capabilities and deploying temporary towers.

U.S. Cellular is still evaluating how best to ensure optimal connectivity and "will be implementing additional capacity and fine tuning the towers as needed," Robert Jakubek, vice president of engineering and network operations, said in an email.

"At large events such as this, we usually see a spike in text and data usage more than voice, so we are also looking at how we can prioritize services that are most important to our customers," Jakubek said.

S.C. Sales Tax Holidays Set for Aug. 4-6

South Carolina is the annual Sales Tax Holidays – the state’s popular three-day sales and use tax break on traditional back-to-school purchases - begins is scheduled for Aug. 4-6.
 
The annual event, which was implemented in 2000, will begin Aug. 4 at 12:01 a.m. and tax-exempt purchases can be made through at midnight. While providing taxpayers with an exemption on the 6 percent statewide sales tax as well as any applicable local taxes, the tax-free weekend also benefits in-state businesses by urging taxpayers to do their back-to-school shopping in South Carolina.
 
During this time, taxes will not be imposed on clothing, shoes, school supplies, book bags, computers, printers, bedspreads and linens, and more. Nonexempt items during the weekend include the sales of jewelry, cosmetics, eyewear, furniture, or items placed on layaway. Portable devices whose function is primarily used for telephone calls, listening or downloading music, watching videos, or reading books, are not exempt during the tax-free weekend. However, with the growing popularity of computer tablets, portable devices that have computing functions and allow users to access multiple software applications are considered computers and are therefore tax-exempt, provided they do not allow users to make telephone calls. More information on the exemption of computer tablets can be found at www.sctax.org.
 
The popularity of the tax-free weekend has made it the third busiest shopping period of the year, surpassed only by the weekends after Thanksgiving and before Christmas, as South Carolina shoppers save approximately $3 million during the tax-free weekend.

Click here for a list of exempt items in South Carolina.

Judge: Elected Officials Can't Block People on Social Media

A federal judge this week ruled against a Virginia public official, saying she violated the First Amendment rights of a constituent who she blocked on Facebook, a case that could effect politicians all the way up to President Donald Trump.

The plaintiff in the case, Brian Davison, sued Louden County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Phyllis Randall after she blocked him from a Facebook page she promoted as a vehicle to communicate with constituents. Davison used the page to accuse members of the Loudon County School Board of official corruption.

Randall deleted the post and blocked Davison from viewing any subsequent posts.

District Court Judge James Cacheris ruled in Davison's favor, finding Randall violated Davison's First Amendment rights by blocking him from reading government information that was otherwise available to the public.

Cacheris said Randall did not have the right to ban Davison from accessing public information "because she was offended by his criticism of her colleagues in the county government."

Because Randall used her Facebook page to disseminate information about government, blocking users was "a cardinal sin under the First Amendment," Cacheris ruled this week.

A similar suit has been filed against Trump by a First Amendment group on behalf of the hundreds of Twitter users Trump has blocked from his personal Twitter page, @realDonaldTrump. Trump has frequently turned to his personal Twitter account, rather than the official @POTUS account, as a means for proclamations about government business. Earlier this week, he tweeted from @realDonaldTrump that the U.S. military would no longer permit transgender people to serve in any capacity. However, showing the limits of social media, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Joe Dunford said the Pentagon would not abide by Trump's announcement because a tweet does not constitute an actual executive order.

Trump Threatens to Stop Insurance Subsidies for ACA

U.S. President Donald Trump threatened on Saturday to end government payments to health insurers if Congress does not pass a new healthcare bill and goaded them to not abandon their seven-year quest to replace the Obamacare law. 

In a Twitter message on Saturday, Trump said "if a new HealthCare Bill is not approved quickly, BAILOUTS for Insurance Companies and BAILOUTS for Members of Congress will end very soon!" 

The tweet came a day after Senate Republicans failed to muster enough votes to repeal parts of the Affordable Care Act, President Barack Obama's signature healthcare bill commonly known as Obamacare. 

The first part of Trump's tweet appeared to be referring to the approximately $8 billion in cost-sharing reduction subsidies the federal government pays to insurers to lower the price of health coverage for low-income Americans. 

The second part appeared to be a threat to end the employer contribution for Congress members and their staffs, who were moved from the normal federal employee healthcare benefits program onto the Obamacare insurance exchanges as part of the 2010 healthcare law. 

Trump has previously threatened to suspend the payments to insurers, which are determined by the Department of Health and Human Services. In April, he threatened to end the payments if Democrats refused to negotiate over the healthcare bill. 

Responding to Saturday's tweet, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said that if the president carried out that threat, "every expert agrees that (insurance) premiums will go up and health care will be more expensive for millions of Americans." 

"The president ought to stop playing politics with people's lives and health care, start leading and finally begin acting presidential,” Schumer said in a statement. 

Report: Elderly Abuse not Properly Investigated in S.C.

A new report says social workers in South Carolina who investigate reported abuse of elderly and disabled residents are often overburdened by excessive caseloads and fail to properly review allegations.

The report released Friday by the Legislative Audit Council says many potential victims aren't visited for months, before or after the investigation, and there's often no attempt to interview the alleged abuser.

As of last fall, the Department of Social Services employed 74 full-time workers statewide to handle vulnerable adult cases. The report says caseloads are highest in Lexington County, where two workers were handling 222 cases.

DSS Director Susan Alford says the review confirms many of the agency's challenges, and improvements are underway.

Alford notes she's testified repeatedly since 2015 that the division hasn't received adequate attention in years.

GOP Attempt to Repeal Obamacare Defeated

In a stinging blow to President Donald Trump, U.S. Senate Republicans failed on Friday to dismantle Obamacare, falling short on a major campaign promise and perhaps ending a seven-year quest by their party to gut the healthcare law. 

Voting in the early hours, three Republican senators, John McCain, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, crossed party lines to join Democrats in a dramatic 49-to-51 vote to reject a "skinny repeal" bill that would have eliminated some parts of Obamacare. 

"This is clearly a disappointing moment," Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell told the Senate floor right after the vote. "The American people are going to regret that we couldn't find a better way forward." 

Trump's failure sent the dollar down against a basket of other currencies on Friday. [FRX/] 

The setback leaves him without a major legislative win after more than six months in power, even though Republicans control the White House, Senate and House of Representatives. He had been expected to make rapid changes to healthcare, taxes and infrastructure spending. 

"3 Republicans and 48 Democrats let the American people down. As I said from the beginning, let Obamacare implode, then deal. Watch!" Trump tweeted after the vote. 

Sanford Wants FCC to Jam Cell Phones in Prisons

A former South Carolina governor now in Congress is asking federal communications officials for their help combatting the danger of cellphones in the hands of prison inmates.

U.S. Rep. Mark Sanford on Thursday asked Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai to reverse a policy prohibiting states from using technology to jam signals of cellphones smuggled to inmates behind bars.

Pai has said decades-old law governing airwave regulation has tied the agency's hands. But Sanford says it's lobbying by the cellphone industry that has kept states from being able to jam.

Sanford's letter comes weeks after an inmate escaped one of the state's maximum-security facilities in a scheme officials said was facilitated in part by use of illegal cellphones. Corrections Director Bryan Stirling has called cellphones his agency's biggest security threat.

Sheriff Asks for Help Finding Fugitive Sex Offender

The Anderson County Sheriff's Department is asking for your help to locate a local fugitive who is a registered sex offender.

Mark Charles Brown, 55, is wanted for Failure to Register 3rd or Subsequent, Violation of Probation, DUS Bench Warrant and Giving False Information to Law Enforcement Bench Warrant. Brown is 5’9” tall and weighs approximately 180 pounds.

Mark Brown is considered armed and dangerous. Officials say in no way should you attempt to engage, confront or try to apprehend this individual.

If you have any information regarding the location of this subject, contact the Sheriff's office at 260-4444 or call Crime Watchers at 888-274-6372. 

Anderson ComiCon Set for Aug. 5 at Library

The Anderson County Library System will host the Third Annual Electric City ComiCon from 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. August 5 at the Main Library. The event features young adult authors, comic artists, local authors, vendors, and artisans, a Cosplay contest, food trucks and more. Anderson County Library staffer Dani Lubsen gets the giggles over The Black Knight (from Monty Python) at last year's ComiCon.

This year’s keynote session is at 3:45 p.m., and will feature Marvel artist Sanford Greene, best known for his work on Marvel’s "Power Man" and "Iron Fist" series.  Joining him for a panel at 1 p.m. is "Squirrel Girl" and "Spider Gwen" colorist Rico Renzi, and local artist for the "Flintlock" books, Anthony Summey.  Young adult authors Ryan Graudin ("Wolf By Wolf"), Megan Spooner ("Hunted"), and Alexandra Duncan ("Blight") will talk about their adventures in writing that morning at 11 a,m. Their books will also be available for purchase and signing. 

At 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., the Con will feature "LightSpeed Demos." The morning demonstrations will include "Cosplay with Jo-Ann Fabric," a "Mini Robot Art Session" with J. Chris Campbell, and a discussion of An Abridged History of Anime with Dustin Kopplin.  Afternoon demos feature Hero Training with Heroes in Force, and "Anime through Space and Time" with Dustin Kopplin.

The Cosplay Contest, open to all, is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.  Registration, for both individuals and a groups, is required prior to the contest. 

Partial funding and special assistance for the ComiCon has been provided by Empire Games, the S.C. Arts Commission, the S.C. Humanities Council, Friends of the Anderson County Library, Walmart, Magnolia Veterinary Hospital, Forx Farm, and Dollar Bin Productions.  For more information, visit www.andersonlibrary.org, email electriccitycomicon@andersonlibrary.org, or call Brianna McDonell at 864-260-4500, ext. 103.

High Court Says Domestic Violence Laws Cover Gay Couples

South Carolina's highest court says people in same-sex relationships should get the same legal protections against domestic violence as heterosexual couples.

The state Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that a portion of the state's criminal domestic violence statute is unconstitutional. The court had been asked to weigh in after a woman tried to get a protective order against her former fiancée, also a woman, and was denied.

Current law defines "household members" as a spouse, former spouse, people with a child in common, or men and women who are or have lived together. It does not include unmarried same-sex couples.

The Ohio Supreme Court in 2016 adopted the use of gender-neutral references in family court cases. California and Massachusetts proactively changed language in their laws.

Big League World Series in Easley Friday

Baseball players worldwide will head to the Upstate on Friday to celebrate the Senior League Baseball World Series, according to the Easley Chamber of Commerce.

Teams from Asia Pacific, Latin America, and all across the U.S. will compete in the 2017 tournament in Easley.

Community members are encouraged to line the crosswalk leading into the amphitheater to welcome players, coaches, and their families. Team members will be escorted into Old Market Square, located in downtown Easley, to be formally introduced by the country/region they represent.

A free concert will take place from 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. in the outdoor amphitheater featuring "Jack n’ Diane’s Dueling Pianos."

The Clemson University Rally Rats, along with several food vendors will also attend the festivities.

The Senior League Baseball tournament will begin on Saturday at 8 a.m through August 5.

Tickets start at $5 a day or $25 for the entire competition.

Kids ages 5 and under are free.

Senate Rejects Bill to Repeal ACA

The U.S. Senate narrowly voted Tuesday to move ahead with efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act -- with only Republicans supporting the measure -- but hours later rejected a bill that would have accomplished the long-held GOP goal.

The rejected legislation was a modified version of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's Better Care Reconciliation Act, a comprehensive effort to replace the ACA. It needed 60 votes to overcome parliamentary barriers but fell short, with only 43 in favor and 57 opposed, including nine Republicans.

The strong objection to the BCRA, the Senate version of the House's American Health Care Act, by many in McConnell's own party indicates Republicans are still far from a consensus over how to replace the Obama-era law with a more GOP-friendly healthcare bill.

The rejection of McConnell's plan occurred soon after Republicans narrowly won a procedural vote to debate a repeal-and-replace plan -- in which Vice President Mike Pence, the Senate's president, broke a 50-50 tie.

McConnell had scheduled a procedural vote even though it was uncertain what the replacement might look like. The senators voted on proceeding to debate the bill with numerous amendments certain from extremes of the political spectrum.

Voting no on debate were two moderate Republicans -- Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.

GOP senators who opposed the latest Senate proposal but backed the procedural motion were Rand Paul of Kentucky, Dean Heller of Nevada, Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, Rob Portman of Ohio, Mike Lee of Utah and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin.

Supply and Demand Pushes Gas Prices Up

Supply and seasonal demand pressures are catching up with U.S. travelers, pushing gas prices up in all but 11 states, motor club AAA reported.

The motor club reported a national average retail price of $2.28 for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline on Tuesday, unchanged from the previous day, about 1 percent higher than last week and 5 percent, or 12 cents per gallon, higher than this time last year.

Nation-wide, 39 states reported an increase in prices at the pump over the week, compared with nine states the previous week. The average increase in retail gasoline prices over the last week was the sharpest since before Memorial Day, the first major holiday of the season.

Jeanette Casselano, a spokesperson for AAA, said demand pressures suggest gas prices could remain relatively high for the rest of the summer driving season, which runs through September.

"Demand has remained strong as gasoline stocks dip for a fifth consecutive week, driving up prices at the pump," she said in a statement.