Report: NSA Tracking 5 Billion Cell Phone Records Daily

The NSA collects nearly 5 billion records a day on the locations of cell phones overseas to create a huge database that stores information from hundreds of millions of devices, including those belonging to some Americans abroad, the Washington Post reported Wednesday.

Documents provided to the Post by NSA leaker Edward Snowden detail how this database is able to track people worldwide and map out their relationships with others.  

The NSA inadvertently gathers U.S. location records, along with the billions of other records it collects by tapping into worldwide mobile network cables, the Post reported.

The database and projects designed to analyze it have created a mass surveillance tool for the NSA, allowing it to monitor individuals in a way never seen before.

NSA analysts can look at the data and track an individual’s movements throughout the world. They can then map out the person's relationships with others and expose previously unknown correspondence.

The agency collects the large amount of cell phone data in order to find out who is interacting with targets the agency is already tracking, even though most of the records collected are not relevant to national security.

The number of Americans who are tracked as part of the data collection overseas is unclear from the Snowden documents, and a senior intelligence official told the Post it is “awkward for us to try to provide any specific numbers.”

U.S. officials told the Post the programs that collect cell phone data are strictly geared towards tracking foreign intelligence targets, and are not against the law

Study: States Rejecting Medicaid Expansion Losing Billions

WASHINGTON — The 20 states choosing not to expand Medicaid will lose billions of dollars in federal funds, according to a new study released Thursday.

By 2022, Texas could lose $9.2 billion by not expanding Medicaid as allowed under the Affordable Care Act, while Florida could lose $5 billion over that period, the study conducted by The Commonwealth Fund shows. Commonwealth was founded in 1918 to improve health services for Americans.

Also during that period, the study showed, Georgia could lose $2.9 billion, while Virginia could lose $2.8 billion.

"There are no states where the taxpayers would actually gain by not expanding Medicaid," said Sherry Glied, lead author on the study. "Nobody wins."

Under the Affordable Care Act, states may expand their Medicaid programs to include anyone who falls beneath 138% of the federal poverty level, or about $32,500 for a family of four. But the 2012 Supreme Court decision that upheld the law also said states could choose not to expand Medicaid and not lose federal funding for their existing programs.

All 20 of the states choosing not to expand Medicaid have Republican governors. Many have said increasing Medicaid could add to the federal deficit. Others have long opposed the law since its passage in 2010.

Medicaid, however, is a federal program, Glied said, and residents of states that have not expanded the program are still paying taxes to support it. They're just not getting the extra benefits in their states.

"When you hear the states talk about it, they talk about raising state taxes for it," she said. "But that's not the case."

The extra federal money spent on Medicaid goes directly to local health care providers, such as hospitals or physicians, and helps the overall state economy, Glied said.

"There's new money flowing into the states," she said. "It's sort of like why states are eager to get defense contracts: It can be used to create jobs."

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Dem S.C. Lt. Gov. Candidate Puts Distance from Obamacare

How will red state Democrats handle Obamacare as a hot-button campaign issue in 2014?

Here's a small clue.

In South Carolina, Democratic state Rep. Bakari Sellers, who is running for lieutenant governor next year, filed a bill Wednesday to "lessen the burden" of the medical device tax on South Carolina businesses. The bill was "pre-filed," meaning it will be taken up next year when the legislative session begins in Columbia.

Sellers' bill would provide a tax credit to companies in the state developing or manufacturing medical devices, essentially reimbursing them for the tax, a vital source of funding for the Affordable Care Act.

"The federal government has created far too many impediments for businesses to grow and prosper," Sellers said in a statement announcing the legislation. "It is time to lessen the regulatory burden on companies not increase it."

In a follow-up interview, Sellers chuckled when asked if he supports the Affordable Care Act in its entirely. "That's a loaded question," he said.

But Sellers, whose mother was recently diagnosed with cancer, said he agreed with elements of the legislation, specifically its effort to expand access to health insurance and cover people with pre-existing conditions, a serious problem in his small town district. Sellers said he is also pleased to see improvements to the HealthCare.gov web site.

But as a Democrat running statewide in South Carolina-a state that voted for Mitt Romney last year by 10 points-talking about Obamacare "is not really a debate we want to have, to be honest with you," he said.

"On the whole, I can tell you there are certain aspects of Obamacare which give me trepidation, and I can't tell you everything that's in it, because I'm not certain anyone can, outside of Kathleen Sebelius or someone at HHS," Sellers said. "But I think the medical device tax is a burden, and if we do something like this, it can give us an economic edge."

This, mind you, is coming from a leading member of Obama's campaign during the 2008 South Carolina primary fight. Sellers, a 29-year-old African-American attorney and one of the state's rising political stars, is certain to be a key player in South Carolina's 2016 Democratic primary.

"I have to get people to understand that my name is Bakari and not Barack," he said.

Coaltion Fighting Big Trash Business in S.C.

The big business that is trash has become a hot-button item in South Carolina.

DontDumpOnSC.org is running television ads with “Anthony,” a New York City boy, thanking us for taking their garbage. “We can have mountains of garbage stinking up Staten Island – and we can unload it on youse cheap, since you don’t mind making your state a dump.”

DontDumpOnSC.org is a coalition “committed to protecting the beauty of our state from Big Trash, who want to turn us into the nation’s dumping ground.”

The coalition includes the Coastal Conservation League, the Sierra Club, the SC Wildlife Federation, the SC Association of Counties, the League of Women Voters, Conservative Voices of SC and Audubon South Carolina.

Laurens County Council Chairman Jim Coleman warned his fellow council members in February that a law passed by the S.C. House and sent to the Senate would change the way counties can deal with solid waste.

Laurens County Public Works Director Scott Holland said the law takes away from counties the right to say all solid waste generated in a county has to be disposed of in the landfill run by, or designated by, a county.

Coleman said the waste companies – the big boys is how he referred to them – operate mega-landfills and they want to be able to accept solid waste from anywhere.

Hence, the televised “thank you” from The Big Apple’s Anthony.

Laurens County state Sen. Danny Verdin chairs one of the committees that will consider the House-passed legislation when the General Assembly reconvenes in January.

If the bill is signed into law by Gov. Haley, opponents warn, landfills financed by taxpayers will be at risk financially. The money borrowed to build these landfills is expected to be repaid by money from tipping fees. If less trash is taken to public landfills, there will be less revenue generated and the taxpayers could be left on the hook.

If public landfills become unsustainable, the only alternative would be private landfills.

“The private business model for landfills is to fill them as fast as possible and to mound the landfill as high as physically possible,” says DontDumponSC.org. “Out of state waste generators pay higher fees than South Carolina residents to dispose of waste destined for South Carolina, even after transportation costs are taken into consideration. The result is that out of state waste customers are highly desirable for a private landfill operator.”

And this is not a fight for your kitchen trash. Waste Management, the industry leader, has annual revenue in excess of $15 billion. The annual revenue of Allied Waste Industries is approaching $10 billion.

Waste Management, which has 22,000 collection and transfer trucks, is the largest environmental solutions provider in North America.

Opening our state to more out-of-state waste will negatively impact us all, DontDumponSC.org warns.

The big waste companies are writing the law, Council Chairman Coleman said in February. “Those companies donate to a lot of campaigns. That’s where this comes from.”

P.A.W.S. Offering $4 Animal Adoptions for Holidays

Imagine being alone, without loved ones during the holiday season. Hundreds of homeless animals will knowthat fate unless you help them find a forever-home. In order to remedy this situation, the Anderson County Pets Are Worth Saving (P.A.W.S.) is offering $4 adoptions for all dogs and cats beginning tomorrow at noon through Dec. 21.

Adopt, don't shop! Anderson County P.A.W.S. is open Monday– Friday: noon-6pm; Saturday: noon-4pm; and is closed on Sunday. For more information, call 864-260-4151 or visit www.petango.com/andersoncountypaws

S.C. Legislature Pre-files 53 Bills for 2014

State lawmakers are busy working on next year's legislative agenda. On Monday, the House prefiled 53 bills to be considered when the General Assembly convenes in January.

Tuesday was the deadline for lawmakers to submit their bills to be tentatively assigned to various committees for consideration. It's also a chance for the Legislature to inform taxpayers about the areas on which they want to focus.

Some House members want to move forward with plans to penalize drivers who text while driving. State Rep. Don Bowen, of Anderson County, is proposing that drivers get fined who are caught texting behind the wheel. He wants reckless driving charges to be filed if someone is hurt in an accident because of texting.

Also, Rep. Wendell Gilliard, of Charleston, is introducing a bill that would make it a hate crime to beat up a homeless person. The bill provides a two-step penalty for the offender. Domestic violence was also a topic for lawmakers. One bill wanted to strengthen the penalties for those convicted of criminal domestic violence. State Attorney General Alan Wilson says domestic violence is the No. 1 crime problem in the state.

The new bill increases the penalty for first-time offenders. Rep. Bakari Sellers, of Orangeburg, wants to punish offenders by making them spend 180 days in jail and take part in a domestic violence intervention program. The offender would also be restricted from carrying a gun as a condition of his or her bond. 

These are only a few of the 53 bills filed Monday. They will be officially introduced on Jan. 14 when the General Assembly convenes. 

Intruder Drill Set at Robert Anderson Today

Today, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department will be working with Robert Anderson Middle School to conduct a live intruder drill at 12:30 p.m. Please be aware that this is only a drill. For more information contact the Anderson County School District Five office at 864-260-5000.

Council Moves Final Meeting of 2013 to Dec. 20

In a meeting that lasted just under a single hour, Anderson County Council voted to move the second meeting of this month to Dec. 20 at 1 p.m. to accomodate time for public notice for the need of a later date

Anderson County Councilwoman Gracie Floyd opened her remarks by apologizing to county employees for another year with no raises. Floyd said that while she voted for the one time cost of living adjustment of $500 for those making under $50,000, the move was not enough. Floyd said the county will continue to lose good employees if raises are not given. She also promised to request a 3-4 percent raise for all employees in the next budget.

Floyd indicated that the county was already losing one important employee, and though she did not name him, the Anderson Observer has learned the employee in question is Urban Planner Michael Forman. Forman is reported leaving the county for a post in Greenville.

Anderson County employees have not received pay increases in five years.

Floyd also asked council why the Clemson Area Transit bus issue has been delayed.

"I tried to do what was best for the citizens of Anderson County who need the opportunity to work," Floyd said.

"On the Joey Preston issue, I will say this," Floyd. "Once you've told people with common sense the truth and they still don't get it, what else is there to say."

Council also approved on third reading a new fee-in-lieu-of-tax agreement with Plastic Omnium and a rezoning ordinance rezoning a parcel on 3031 S.C. Highway 81 North.

On Tuesday night, Council also approved:

• On second reading, a fee-in-lieu-of tax agreement with Project Rack. It is an expasion of an existing international company in Anderson County, which will add 125 jobs at $13 per hour and a $13 million in capital investment. The company is a textile company which has been in Anderson County for 20 years. They expanded nine years ago.
• On first reading a fee-in-lieu-of tax agreement for Project Opportunity. The company is an international company with 120 years of sucess, this expansion 45 jobs with payroll of $17 per hour and an $11 million investment.
• On second reading, development of joint industrial park with Greenville County. 
• On second reading, development of joint industrial park with Abbeville County. 

Anderson Among Top Counties for Job Seekers

The Palmetto State’s economy is on the road to recovery, with an unemployment rate of 7.5 percent in October 2013 compared to 8.8 percent in October 2012. Many job seekers are looking to find places with more opportunity for job growth and strong economic development. To help, NerdWallet crunched the numbers to find the best counties for job seekers in South Carolina by asking the following questions:

1. Is the county growing? We assessed growth in the working-age population, ages 16 and older, from 2009 to 2011 to ensure that the county was attracting workers and exhibiting a trend of upward population growth.
2. Can you afford to live in the county comfortably? We measured a county’s median household income to see if workers made a good living. We also analyzed the monthly homeowner costs, including mortgage payments, to see if the county had a reasonable cost of living.
3. Are most people employed? We looked at the unemployment rate.

For more information, check out our cost of living calculator here.

What is great about your county? Let us know in the comments below.

The Best Places in South Carolina for Job Seekers

1.     Lexington County

Lexington County is located in central South Carolina and is part of the Columbia metropolitan region. Its county seat and largest city is Lexington, situated 12 miles away from Columbia. From 2009 to 2011, the county saw 5.9 percent growth in the working-age population while its median household income was $52,857, the third highest on our list. Additionally, the county’s unemployment rate of 6.5 percent in August 2013 was the lowest in South Carolina. Lexington County’s largest employers include Lexington Medical Center, SCANA Corporation and Michelin. The county provides a workforce development program at the Midlands SC Workforce Center, a branch of the SC Works program. There, job seekers can find online job postings, job-training opportunities and online educational resources.

2.     Beaufort County

Beaufort County is located in southern South Carolina, along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean in the Lowcountry region. A part of the Hilton Head metropolitan area, the county is divided by the Broad River. The county has a strong military presence, home to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort and Naval Hospital Beaufort. Beaufort County saw a working-age population growth of 8.1 percent between 2009 and 2011, while its median household income was the highest on our list at $57,133. The top employers in Beaufort County outside of defense include Beaufort Memorial Hospital, Marine Corp Community Services and Hilton Head Hospital. Residents of Beaufort County can find job-seeking assistance at the Lowcountry Workforce Investment Area, which serves Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper Counties. Job seekers can find training and educational opportunities, networking groups and other workshops. Beaufort is home to the Technical College of the Lowcountry, which provides continuing education classes at the Colleton Career Skills Center. Students can pick up technical skills, logistics and soft skills.

3.     Kershaw County

Kershaw County is located in central South Carolina and part of the Columbia metropolitan region. The county’s seat is Camden, home to the Carolina Cup, a famous steeplechase horse race. The county experienced 5.4 percent growth in the working-age population from 2009 to 2011 while its median household income was $43,509. Kershaw County’s top employers include KershawHealth, Haier America Research and Development and Target, which has a distribution center in Lugoff. The county is home to ready SC, one of the oldest worker training programs in the U.S. Founded in 1961, it has trained 2,692 workers from 1998 to 2011 and is a division of the SC Technical College System. The program provides employee recruiting, training and assessment programs for local businesses to help them create new jobs. Kershaw is also home to Central Carolina Technical College, which has a division dedicated to Workforce Development. Students can explore career paths and hone their employability skills at the Workforce Readiness Center while businesses can find customized training programs and other resources to help them expand.

4.     Greenville County

Located in the northwestern part of the state, Greenville County is the most populous county in South Carolina. Its county seat is the city of Greenville. The county saw a working-age population growth of 3.9 percent between 2009 and 2011 while its households earned a median income of $48,518 in 2011. The county’s unemployment rate was 6.8 percent in August 2013, below the state average of 8.1 percent. Greenville County’s largest employers include Greenville Health Systems, Bon Secours St. Francis Health Systems and Michelin North America, which has its headquarters in Greenville. Residents can find access to seven different higher education institutions at the University Center of Greenville. They provide specific resources for transfer students, those who have changed careers and those who have relocated. Greenville is also home to Greenville Technical College, which has career services for students ranging from finding a good career fit to perfecting resumes at a workshop.

5.     Richland County

Richland County is situated in central South Carolina and is home to Columbia, the state capital and the largest city in the state. Columbia is located at the confluence of the Broad River and the Saluda River, which join to form the Congaree River, a popular place to kayak. The county saw a working-age population growth of 6.1 percent between 2009 and 2011 while its median household income in 2011 was $48,485. The county’s largest employers include Blue Cross, Palmetto GBA and Computer Sciences Corporation. Columbia is home to many institutions of higher education, including Allen University, Benedict College, Columbia College, South University and Southern Wesleyan University, amongst others. The University of South Carolina, one of the largest employers, is located in town. Their career center helps students find internships and job opportunities, explore majors and careers and prepare resumes and cover letters. Columbia is also home to the main campus of the Midlands Technical College, which offers students and alumni career opportunities and resources for the job search.

6.     York County

York County lies along the North Carolina-South Carolina border. Located in the north central region, York County is a part of the Charlotte, NC metropolitan area. The county experienced a working-age population growth of 5.3 percent between 2009 and 2011 while its median household income was $53,536. Top employers in the county include Wells Fargo, Ross Stores Distribution Center and Piedmont Medical Center. York County is home to a branch of the readySC program to provide workforce development and training for workers. Additionally, York Technical College is located in Rock Hill, and it provides continuing education for all residents in the region as well as customized training courses for local businesses. Rock Hill is also home to Winthrop University, which provides career services at its Center for Career & Civic Engagement. They provide support for students looking for help developing job skills, job hunting and choosing a career path.

7.     Aiken County

Located in eastern South Carolina, Aiken County is a part of the Augusta, GA metropolitan area. The county is bordered by the Savannah River on the west and is the fourth-largest county in South Carolina by size. The county has seen plenty of growth, with a 4.3 percent increase in the working-age population between 2009 and 2011. Aiken County’s largest employers include Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, Shaw AREVA MOX Services and Kimberly-Clark Corporation. The Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce launched the Young Professionals Initiative in 2008 to help young professionals meet, network and find greater economic opportunities in Aiken. Additionally, the Aiken and Edgefield regions have formed an Economic Development Partnership focused on providing career-focused programs for graduating high school students as well as specialized coursework and continuing education for local residents at colleges such as the Aiken Technical College. The University of South Carolina Aiken provides individual students specific career-oriented help at their Office of Career Services. Students can sign up for individual appointments for one-on-one assistance, search for career programs and events and find job-shadowing opportunities, internships and co-ops.

8.     Pickens County

Pickens County is located in northwestern South Carolina, west of Greenville County in the “boom belt” along I-85. The county is a part of the Greenville metropolitan region, and the county seat is Pickens, located approximately 20 miles west of Greenville. Pickens County saw a working-age population growth of 3.0 percent between 2009 and 2011, and its unemployment rate was 7.4 percent in August 2013, below the state average of 8.1 percent. The county’s top employers include Contract Environmental Services, ARAMARK and Baptist Easley Hospital. Additionally, companies such as Alice Manufacturing Company and JMMS have headquarters in Easley, the largest city in Pickens County. Clemson University is located in Clemson, approximately 20 miles southwest from Easley. The university’s Center for Career and Professional Development helps students find internship opportunities, career workshops and other experiential-education programs.

9.     Oconee County

Oconee County is the westernmost county in South Carolina, and Seneca is its largest city. From 2009 to 2011, Oconee County saw a 4.9 percent increase in the working-age population, and its households earned a median income of $42,641 in 2011. The county’s top employers include Duke Energy, Oconee Medical Center and Schneider Electric. Seneca is home to Tri-County Technical College, which provides a Career Services Office to help students through personalized career counseling, career goal setting and other workshops and seminars. Additionally, the Worklink Workforce Investment Board helps link residents and employers in Anderson, Oconee and Pickens Counties. They provide job seekers with job training and other employment opportunities.

10.  Anderson County

Anderson County is located in northwestern South Carolina, southeast of Oconee County. The county is home to Lake Hartwell, which provides plenty of recreational activities for the county’s residents. The county saw a working-age population increase of 3.3 percent between 2009 and 2011 while households earned a median income of $42,854 in 2011. Large employers in the county include AnMed Health, Electrolux and the Bosch Group. Anderson is home to Innovate Anderson, a public/private community development corporation that works on boosting the region’s economy. Additionally, Anderson County is a part of the Tri-County Economic Partnership, which works on providing small business and entrepreneurial services to help local industries grow. Located in the city of Anderson, Anderson College provides students with a Career Services Center that offers comprehensive career counseling and other job-related resources.

Rank	County	Largest City in County	Working-Age Population Change (2009 to 2011)	Median Household Income (2011)	Monthly Homeowner Costs (2011)	Unemployment Rate (2013)	Overall Score
1	Lexington County	Lexington	5.9%	$52,857	$1,181	6.5%	85.0
2	Beaufort County	Hilton Head Island	8.1%	$57,133	$1,745	7.7%	78.7
3	Kershaw County	Camden	5.4%	$43,509	$1,065	7.6%	76.6
4	Greenville County	Greenville	3.9%	$48,518	$1,249	6.8%	75.0
5	Richland County	Columbia	6.1%	$48,485	$1,310	8.1%	74.8
6	York County	Rock Hill	5.3%	$53,536	$1,338	8.2%	74.3
7	Aiken County	Aiken	4.3%	$43,999	$1,084	7.5%	74.1
8	Pickens County	Easley	3.0%	$42,241	$1,071	7.4%	70.4
9	Oconee County	Seneca	4.9%	$42,641	$1,086	8.8%	69.8
10	Anderson County	Anderson	3.3%	$42,854	$1,069	7.8%	69.8

Wealth Inequality in American Worse than Thought

Wealth inequality in the United States is much worse than people think. There is a thin line between the collective earnings of the lower-middle class and poor, while the gap between them and the ridiculously rich is a shocking shame.

A videographer working under the name "Politizane" illustrated this in a video posted to YouTube called 

"Wealth Inequality in America" in which he features the results of a poll conducted by a Harvard business professor and economist that asked 5,000 Americans how they thought wealth was distributed in the country.

The graphic above illustrates the disparity between what people think the distribution of wealth is, what they believe it should should be like and what actually exists.

And what it shows is that wealth distribution in the U.S. is much worse than people think it is.

The six-minute video that was posted on YouTube last Fall has stirred an insightful discussion among viewers who have expressed thoughts from shock to dismissing it as biased.

"I'm sure it's been said before, but for those of you that get all stirred up by the negatively skewed distribution of wealth, consider this. This data is based off of tax information. This says nothing about the wealth that is not recorded," notes critic Ethan Craig on the video.

"In general the poorest people live off of everyone else's dollar. So of course they are not working. They don't have to. What money they do earn is under the table. This video is making the poor individual seem like they are suffering in this Capitalistic society. It's amazing to hear inner city youth talk about how they will never work, because their parents have taught them everything they need to know to milk the system. This is America, it is the country that even the poorest individuals have a better standard of living than most of the rest of the world," he explained.

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U.S. High Schoolers Scores Continue to Fall in Rankings

U.S. 15-year-olds made no progress on recent international achievement exams and fell further in the rankings, reviving a debate about America's ability to compete in a global economy.

The results from the 2012 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), which are being released on Tuesday, show that teenagers in the U.S. slipped from 25th to 31st in math since 2009; from 20th to 24th in science; and from 11th to 21st in reading, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, which gathers and analyzes the data in the U.S.

The PISA is administered every three years by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. A representative sample of about 510,000 students took the exam in 65 countries and locales, representing 80% of the world economy.

U.S. scores have been basically flat since the exams were first given in the early 2000s. They hover at the average for countries in the OECD except in math, where American students are behind the curve. Meanwhile, some areas—Poland and Ireland, for example—improved and moved ahead of the U.S., while the Chinese city of Shanghai, Singapore and Japan posted significantly higher scores.

The stagnant U.S. results are certain to spark more hand-wringing by politicians, business leaders and policy makers concerned that American students are not keeping pace with counterparts in other countries.

They are also likely to fuel the debate over which policy fixes could be instituted to boost results. Many U.S. schools already have undergone decades of policy overhauls, including grading teachers on student test scores, expanding school-choice options and instituting more rigorous math and reading standards.

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Democrats Scramble in South to Hold Senate

Sen. Mark Pryor, speaking to a group of college officials, recently offered a biblical solution to Washington's gridlock. Politicians should follow the teachings of Jesus, the two-term Democrat said, quoting from the Sermon on the Mount.

Dale Leatherman, an administrator at a Baptist college, warmed up to the Arkansas senator after those remarks but said he still couldn't imagine voting for Mr. Pryor next year.

"Even though he personally supports conservative ideas," Mr. Leatherman said, "I struggle with the fact that he's part of a party that does not."

The ability of Democrats to keep control of the Senate in 2014 will depend largely on elections in southern states like Arkansas. One measure of the difficulties facing the party is that even a lawmaker like Mr. Pryor, a Scripture-quoting evangelical, is viewed by some conservative voters with suspicion. 

Three of the four most vulnerable Senate Democrats in the 2014 election are from the South. Mr. Pryor and Sens. Kay Hagan of North Carolina and Mary Landrieu of Louisiana—as well as Democratic candidates in Kentucky and Georgia—must contend with the dismal approval ratings of President Barack Obama in their home states. They face increased political pressure from the problem-ridden rollout of the health-care law.

Republicans believe Arkansas is their best shot at knocking off an incumbent, making Mr. Pryor a prime target in the battle for control of the chamber. The GOP needs to add six seats to win a majority in the Senate, an achievable but far-from-certain goal. It is hard to see how they could hit that mark if they can't win here.

Five years ago, Mr. Pryor coasted to a second term, but it was a different world. In 2008, Congress had dozens of conservative Democrats; the Tea Party had not yet made a mark on the GOP; and Arkansas remained a Democratic Party bastion, a holdout against the GOP tide that swept the South over the last half century.

Now, Mr. Pryor, son of one of Arkansas' most popular political figures, is the state's remaining Democrat in Congress and one of the last of Washington's "Blue Dogs," as the dwindling ranks of conservative Democrats are known. The state still has a Democratic governor, but since Mr. Obama was first elected president, Arkansas' state legislature and U.S. House delegation have flipped from blue to red.

Porter Briggs, a Little Rock businessman and lifelong Democrat, had always supported Mr. Pryor and Mr. Pryor's father, David Pryor, a former senator and governor. But disappointed in Mr. Pryor's support of the health-care law, Mr. Briggs said he let the senator know he would back his likely 2014 opponent, Republican Rep. Tom Cotton. The Arkansas Poll in October found voters evenly split between the two men.

"I told him I felt he's listening to the Democratic Party, which has left us," Mr. Briggs said. "It swung to the left and Mark went with them."

The 2014 midterm elections will test whether Democrats can stop or slow the march of the South's swing voters into the GOP, an exodus that accelerated in some places during the Obama presidency.

"The question is: Does the rightward shift in Arkansas voters solidify, to continue beyond this particular president, who continues to be peculiarly unpopular here, or can the Democrats white-knuckle it to 2016 and win back at least some of the brand loyalty they enjoyed for more than 100 years?" said Janine Parry, director of the Arkansas Poll, a nonpartisan survey conducted by the University of Arkansas.

The state has a rich history of prominent Democrats, including former President Bill Clinton, who served as governor, Sens. Dale Bumpers and William Fulbright, and Rep. Wilbur Mills. But Arkansas voters have mostly supported Republicans for president since the 1960s, with the exception of Mr. Clinton in 1992 and 1996, and former Alabama Gov. George Wallace in 1968.

Today, the political terrain of Arkansas isn't hospitable to the coalition of urban, secular voters who helped put Mr. Obama in the White House. Only one city, Little Rock, has a population of more than 100,000 people. The rest of the state, from the Ozarks in the north and west to the fertile Arkansas Delta of the east, is thoroughly rural. Its population is 80% white.

More than half of residents say they are evangelical Christians, making Arkansas one of the two most evangelical states in the U.S., along with Oklahoma, according to a 2007 survey by the Pew Research Center.

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Greenville Considers Banning Cell Phone Use While Driving

Using a cellphone while driving may soon be against the law in Greenville. For weeks, the city has been working on a distracted-driving ordinance.  Monday night, a task force suggested going hands-free.  That means a cellphone could not be in a person’s hand while that person is behind the wheel.

When the ordinance was first introduced, the city was focusing mainly on a texting-and-driving ban, but after doing more research, a subcommittee said that would be difficult to enforce.

 “I don't care that he's not texting.  He might say, ‘Well I'm not texting.  I'm surfing the web or I am dialing a phone number.’  I don't want him doing any of that,” said Mayor Pro Tem David Sudduth.

Greenville police agree that not being able to prove a driver has been texting has always been the biggest obstacle for enforcement.

 “If it's in their hand and we can see them doing something, it's easy for us to enforce,” said Police Chief Terri Wilfong.

Forty-seven states have some sort of distracted driving law.  South Carolina is not one of them. The city of Greenville said it can't wait for the state to take action. City council said it plans to hold a public hearing on the issue shortly after the holidays.