Anderson Jobless Rate Drops to 5.9 Percent; S.C. 7.1 Percent

In November, Anderson County's unemployment rate dropped to a five-year low of 5.9 percent. Anderson County Council said continued economic develop efforts of the county's Economic Development Director Burriss Nelson and Anderson County Administrator Rusty Burns. 

Burns said the additional job announcements would likely push that number even lower for December, even with seasonally adjusted numbers. Meanwhile, the state’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for November declined significantly to 7.1 percent from the October rate of 7.5 percent. 

The number of unemployed persons was 152,584, a decrease of approximately 10,230, and employed persons increased by 6,343 from October to November to a total of 2,000,756. The labor force was estimated at 2,153,340 people, reflecting a decline of 3,887. 

The early report of the Anderson County rate indicates a drop to 5.5 percent.

Since November 2012, the unemployment rate has decreased by 1.5 percent, and the estimated number of unemployed people has declined by 34,674. Over the same period, 19,991 people found work, and 14,683 people left the labor force. 

The national unemployment rate for November was estimated at 7.0 percent down from 7.3 percent in October. 

In November, the state’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate declined significantly to 7.1 percent from the October rate of 7.5 percent. The number of unemployed persons was 152,584, a decrease of approximately 10,230, and employed persons increased by 6,343 from October to November to a total of 2,000,756. The labor force was estimated at 2,153,340 people, reflecting a decline of 3,887.  Since November 2012, the unemployment rate has decreased by 1.5 percent, and the estimated number of unemployed people has declined by 34,674. Over the same period, 19,991 people found work, and 14,683 people left the labor force.  The national unemployment rate for November was estimated at 7.0 percent down from 7.3 percent in October. 

Duck Dynasty Family Warns A&E: "We Stick Together"

The Robertson family has defended its patriarch and Christian faith in a first official media statement since A&E's announcement on Dec. 18 to suspend Phil Robertson, following comments he made about homosexuality in an interview in the January edition of GQ magazine.

On their website the family thanked fans – thousands of whom on Thursday took to social media and online petitions to decry the suspension – for their "prayer and support" and reiterated a strong commitment to their Christian faith.

"We want you to know that first and foremost we are a family rooted in our faith in God and our belief that the Bible is His word," read the statement.

While the family acknowledged that Phil's comments were "unfiltered" and "coarse," it defended them as "grounded in the teachings of the Bible."

When asked to define what was sinful, Robertson said it started "with homosexual behavior and just [morphed] out from there. Bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and those men."

"Neither the adulterers, the idolaters, the male prostitutes, the homosexual offenders, the greedy, the drunkards, the slanderers, the swindlers – they won't inherit the kingdom of God. Don't deceive yourself. It's not right," he added. 

The Robertson family's statement also defended Phil as a strong Christian and said he "is a Godly man who follows what the Bible says are the greatest commandments 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart' and 'Love your neighbor as yourself'."

The Robertsons also hinted that the future of the show – with a fifth season set to premiere in January 2014 –could be in jeopardy if A&E goes through with its indefinite suspension.

"We have had a successful working relationship with A&E but as a family, we cannot imagine the show going forward without our patriarch at the helm. We are in discussions with A&E to see what this means for the future of Duck Dynasty," it said.

"Phil would never incite or encourage hate. We are disappointed that Phil has been placed on hiatus for expressing his faith, which is his constitutionally protected right."

The Robertson Family's statement can be read in full below:

We want to thank all of you for your prayers and support. The family has spent much time in prayer since learning of A&E's decision. We want you to know that first and foremost we are a family rooted in our faith in God and our belief that the Bible is His word. While some of Phil's unfiltered comments to the reporter were coarse, his beliefs are grounded in the teachings of the Bible. Phil is a Godly man who follows what the Bible says are the greatest commandments: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart" and "Love your neighbor as yourself." Phil would never incite or encourage hate.We are disappointed that Phil has been placed on hiatus for expressing his faith, which is his constitutionally protected right.We have had a successful working relationship with A&E but, as a family, we cannot imagine the show going forward without our patriarch at the helm. We are in discussions with A&E to see what that means for the future of Duck Dynasty. Again, thank you for your continued support of our family.

NAACP to Investigate Stops by Pickens Sheriff

The S.C. NAACP says it is investigating traffic stops conducted by the Pickens County Sheriff's office after Sheriff Rick Clark refused to lower the department's American flag to honor the passing of former South African president Nelson Mandela.

"What happens to young people, particularly African-American males, when they are stopped in Pickens County," S.C. NAACP president Lonnie Randolph asked during a news conference on Thursday to announce plans for the 2014 King Day at the Dome Rally. "A fish wouldn't get in trouble if he kept his mouth shut. He opened his mouth, and we are going to look into it."

Clark made national headilnes when he posted on his Facebook page that he would not lower the American Flag at the Pickens County Sheriff's Department because Mandela was not an American citizen.

Clark said he would pull the statistics Thursday to answer Randolph's questions.

"I think we're going to have some positive numbers," he said.

Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/2013/12/19/3167605/buzz-sc-naacp-says-it-is-investigating.html#storylink=cpy

Some Question S.C.'s Primary Importance in Presidential Election

For more than 30 years, South Carolina’s political calling card was its perfect record of voting for the eventual Republican presidential nominee in its first-in-the-South primary – so much so that the state’s Republican Party slogan was “We Pick Presidents.”

Until, in 2012, it didn’t.

Newt Gingrich’s victory, which broke the Palmetto State’s streak that began in 1980, has national Republicans saying South Carolina is no longer an indicator of the eventual winner – and perhaps its spotless tally up until last year was more of a happy coincidence than anything else.

“There’s a little of ‘wet streets cause rain’ thinking,” said GOP consultant Mike Murphy of the state’s marketing of its perfect record.

Murphy added that even if a candidate doesn’t win South Carolina’s primary, the perception that he exceeded expectations there – plus a win in one of the earlier two states, Iowa or New Hampshire – can give the candidate a boost for the rest of the primary stretch.

“In the first three, if you’ve won at least one of them, but done well in perceptions in the other two, and you have the most firepower in Florida,” meaning enough money to play in the state’s expensive media markets, “you’re in pretty good shape,” Murphy said.

That’s what happened with Mitt Romney, the eventual 2012 GOP nominee, said a longtime consultant who advised the former Massachusetts’ governor’s 2008 and 2012 bids.

After spending a lot of time and money in the state in 2008, Romney’s distant third that year was “tough to spin as anything other than a big loss,” the consultant said. But in 2012 they “navigated a second-place finish much better, since we were careful not to raise expectations of a win in South Carolina, even when polls showed him in a strong position.”

For this consultant, perception mattered more than victory in South Carolina – but not so, he added, when it came to the following primary state – Florida. The Sunshine State is bigger, has a wider diversity of Republican voters, and much-pricier media markets.

“Florida, I believe, figures more prominently in the nomination calculation,” the consultant said, “since it’s more of a microcosm and you need big-time resources and an organization to survive the fight there.”

That doesn’t, of course, mean you can ignore the state entirely. Take Rudy Giuliani in 2008, who focused exclusively on Florida – without playing in the early three -- to his detriment.

Gingrich’s South Carolina win meant he was able to fight another day against the more well-heeled Romney campaign. But, Murphy said, “He couldn’t compete with Romney’s money in Florida.”

Romney went on to win Florida 46%-32% over Gingrich.

Even as national consultants say the state is no longer essential, activists and consultants on the ground in South Carolina will not cede an inch of their state’s importance in the presidential selection process.

Full Story Here

Carolina Wren Park Sets Light Show Downtown Schedule

Don’t forget about the Carolina Wren Park Light Show in Downtown. Here’s the schedule through January 1.

Water Wall Lights: 

Sunday – Thursday  5:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Friday & Saturday  5:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

The Spray Plaza lights run for 30 minutes on the hour (i.e. 6:00, 7:00, 8:00 and 9:00)

P.A.W.S. Offers Free Cats Through Dec. 23

Anderson County P.A.W.S. is pleased to announce the “Meowy Catmas” holiday promotion.  All fees have been waived for cats and kittens adopted between now and December 23.    

“We have a number of wonderful cats and kittens available, and we want to make it easier for people in our community to give to them the gift of a Fur-Ever home for the holidays”, said P.A.W.S. Director Jessica Cwynar.  

All potential adopters will be pre-screened.  Anderson County P.A.W.S. is located at 1320 Hwy 29 South in Anderson.  Hours of operation are from 12 Noon to 6 PM  Monday through Friday and 12 noon to 4 PM on Saturday.  Visit the P.A.W.S. website at http://www.petango.com/andersoncountypaws, or call (864) 260-4151.

For further information about this news release, please call P.A.W.S. Director Jessica Cwynar at (864) 260-4151.

Bill Would Eliminate S.C. Individual Income Tax

State Sen. Katrina Shealy wants to eliminate the state’s individual income tax, and she has Republican Gov. Nikki Haley’s blessing.

The Lexington County Republican filed a bill Tuesday that would abolish the state’s individual income tax over the next five years. If the bill becomes law, South Carolina would join seven other states – including Texas and Florida – that do not have state income taxes.

“That would be like a 9 percent cut (in the first year followed by other cuts) if every agency cut their budget,” Shealy said. “My husband has gone without a paycheck the last two years because the way his business has been. ... So if we’ve had to do it, the state needs to do it, too.”

South Carolina would lose $3.4 billion in revenue – more than half of its general fund. Shealy does not propose to replace that money with other taxes. Instead, she says the government should spend less.

Initial reaction from other Republicans, who control the Legislature, was skeptical.

“It’s very easy to propose doing away with all taxes, but there are actual reasons that we raise money,” said state Rep. Tommy Stringer, who led a House Republican tax study committee and has proposed several tax reforms. “There is infrastructure, prisons, law enforcement, education – all these things.”

Read more here: http://www.heraldonline.com/2013/12/17/5513808/sc-senator-proposes-eliminating.html#storylink=cpy

Legislation Would Change How Kids Ride in Cars

A bill prefiled in the South Carolina Senate would keep children in booster seats longer and keep them out of front seats until they're 13 years old instead of five.

Current state law requires children to use a car seat or booster seat until they're 5. This bill would raise that to 7 years old. It would also require children to stay in rear-facing car seats until they're two years old instead of one, or until they've outgrown the seat manufacturer's height or weight limit.

Pam Channell already makes her 7-year-old daughter Kady keep using a booster seat, even though it's not required by law. "She's not tall enough that the lap belt hits her in the right spot across her thighs, or the neck belt, so she really needs to be raised up," she says. She thinks the bill is a good idea to better protect all children.

Megan Branham is the policy and government liaison for Children's Trust of South Carolina and worked on the bill with Sen. Tom Alexander, R-Walhalla, who prefiled it in the state Senate. She says the bill would bring South Carolina's law in line with the recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics. "They've done the research, they've done the work to show that this is absolutely the best of the best, and so in order to keep kids safe this is what we should be doing," she says.

Car accidents are the leading cause of death for children and more than half who die in South Carolina are not in any kind of restraint, according to the preamble to the bill.

Mega Millions Lottery at $636 Million, Could Go Higher

The Mega Millions lottery jackpot rose to $636 million Tuesday, just $20 million short of the U.S. record.

The one-time cash payout for tonight's jackpot: A whopping $341.2 million, according to Virginia Lottery spokesman John Hagerty.

There are about 259 million number combinations in play for what has exploded into the second-largest prize ever, but long odds were not deterring long lines at lottery ticket outlets.

"Even though the odds are against you, it's just the excitement of, 'Hey, I might wake up one day and be a millionaire,' " says Chris Scales, 31, of Nashville. The hot dog vendor says he brings in about $35,000 a year "if I really hustle."

Scales said he usually reserves his lottery playing for jackpots of at least $40 million. Tonight, count him in.

The incredibly remote odds don't really sink in for people, says George Loewenstein, a professor of economics and psychology at Carnegie Mellon University who has researched the motives underlying lottery ticket purchases.

STORY: How winners spend their money

"People don't really understand probabilities at all," he says. "Once you have a bunch of zeroes, it doesn't matter how many you have — one in 10,000, one in a million or one in a billion. … People do understand the meaning of the word 'largest.' They overreact to one dimension and underreact to the other."

Apparently so. The record $656 million Mega Millions jackpot in 2012 sold 26 million tickets an hour the day of the March 30 drawing, says Multi-State Lottery Association director Chuck Strutt.

"They're buying like crazy," Ahmed Karim, the owner of a New Brunswick 7-11, told nj.com.

The boom in interest also promises a financial windfall to state lottery programs. The Iowa Lottery's sales for the past five months have totaled about $129 million, down 5.8% from a year ago. "Timing is everything. This month we'll see the opposite as the Mega Millions' run produces some added sales," Iowa Lottery Chief Executive Officer Terry Rich said.

A $1 billion Christmas Eve jackpot could end up under some lucky winner's tree if no one hits the jackpot tonight or Friday night. The jackpot — up more than $160 million since hitting $425 million Dec. 13 — has rolled over 21 straight times since Oct. 4, when it was a relatively pocket-change $12 million.

Santas Duke it Out in NYC Sidewalk Brawl

New York police confirmed officers were alerted to a weekend brawl in which eight to 10 Santas duked it out on a snowy city sidewalk.

Police said a caller about 8:20 p.m. Saturday reported a street fight involving several men in Santa Claus costumes during SantaCon, an international bar crawl that took place in hundreds of cities, CNN reported Monday.

The not-so-jolly old elves had left by the time officers arrived and there were no assault complaints linked to the incident, which was partially caught on video, police Sgt. Lee Jones said.

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said Friday officials had no plan to attempt to stop SantaCon despite problems with drunken rowdiness in previous years.

"It's what makes New York New York," he said. "There has been some rowdy activity by a small handful of people."

SantaCon NYC organizers said online they were working to make future events more jolly.

"SantaCon has had growing pains," the organizers wrote on the event's website. "With a little elbow-grease from the elves, a little patience from the community, and just a pinch of holiday magic, SantaCon can spread joy."

Salvation Army Ringer Punched for Saying "Happy Holidays"

An Arizona woman who was serving as a bell ringer for The Salvation Army's Red Kettle campaign says she was assaulted by another woman for saying "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas."

Kristina Vindiola says she was bell ringing outside a Walmart in Phoenix when a shopper hit her for saying "Happy Holidays," ABC affiliate KNXV-TV Phoenix reports.

"I thought she was going to put money in the kettle," Vindiola told the station. "She came up to me and said, 'Do you believe in God?' And she says, 'You're supposed to say Merry Christmas,' and that's when she hit me."

The woman reportedly hit Vindiola's arm then went into the store. Vindiola told a store manager, who called the police, though KNXV-TV reports that law enforcement officials did not have enough evidence to arrest the accused woman.

Kathy Lovin, a spokesperson for The Salvation Army's Western Territory, told The Christian Post that bell ringers are asked during training to say "Merry Christmas" when they volunteer, though they aren't required to do so. They are trained, however, to be "gracious at all times."

"The vast majority of their interactions with the public are really positive. But even if they're not, our bell ringers are trained to be gracious and to be good representatives of The Salvation Army," said Lovin.

Senate Appears Ready to OK Budget

The Senate appeared set to approve a budget deal this week after a handful of Republicans announced they would vote to advance the bill, which has deeply divided the party.

Their backing, along with that of most Democrats, would be enough to break a tea-party-backed filibuster during a crucial vote Tuesday and boost the package across the 60-vote threshold needed for consideration. Final passage could come as soon as Wednesday.

But the sharp Republican divisions over the $85-billion deal, which was approved last week by the House with a robust bipartisan majority, has turned the Senate procedural vote into a high-stakes battle between the Republican tea party wing and establishment conservatives.

The conservative organizations that vehemently oppose the package are putting tremendous pressure on Senate Republicans, their last line of defense. Opposition is likely to come from the top tier of the Republican leadership, as well as some Democrats.

"Sometimes the answer has to be yes," Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah) said Monday.

The budget package, crafted by Rep. Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), is a modest effort to bridge the gaping divide between the way Republicans and Democrats approach fiscal issues.

If approved, it could provide a respite from the budget wars that have sent Congress careening from crisis to crisis, and reduce the risk of a shutdown next month.

The deal would increase spending by $63 billion for 2014 and 2015 and reverse some of the steep so-called sequester cuts that only the most conservative lawmakers want to keep. No new taxes are included, but fees would be imposed on airline travel, and cuts would be made elsewhere in the federal budget, including reductions to pensions for federal workers and military retirees. More than $22 billion would be applied to deficit reduction.

Ryan, the party's former vice presidential nominee, has been calling Republican senators to round up support. A spokesman said Ryan was "confident" the Senate would approve the deal.

http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-congress-budget-20131217,0,3688380.story#ixzz2nj7MBZC4

McCants Principal to Retire at End of School Year

McCants Middle School Principle Jacky Stamps will be retiring at the end of the current school year, after serving as the leader of McCants for 18 years. 

Said Mr. Stamps, “It has been a pleasure to have worked in the field of education for 45 years, and in Anderson School District Five for 38 of those years.  I have learned so much from those I have worked with over the years.  I have truly enjoyed every year and look forward to the next step in my life.  I am especially appreciative of the opportunity Mr. Henry Adair gave me to start my administrative career as an assistant principal at Westside High School.  I also appreciate the support of the Board of Trustees and the four superintendents for which I worked during my tenure in Anderson School District Five."

“Mr. Stamps has been a stalwart in this district for decades, and his leadership will be missed,” said Superintendent Tom Wilson.  

Superintendent Wilson further elaborated by stating, “While no one can replace Mr. Stamps, I am confident we will find a quality successor to build upon the success that has been created at McCants.” 

The district will begin the search for a new principal in January.