Report: S.C. Should Confiscate Guns of CDV Offenders

Experts recommended Wednesday confiscating the firearms of offenders convicted of criminal domestic violence as one way to make South Carolina a safer state for women.

They also recommended making a second offense a felony, making it tougher for accused abusers to make bail to get out of jail and increasing the number of women’s shelters.

The recommendations, made to a special S.C. House committee charged with proposing ways to toughen the state’s abuse laws, come against a backdrop of high domestic violence.

In 2011, South Carolina led the nation in the number of women killed by men. In 2012, the state was second.

The combination of firearms and domestic violence is a toxic cocktail, University of South Carolina School of Law professor Colin Miller said, recommending the state join others in confiscating firearms and ammunition from convicted offenders.

State law now says offenders convicted of criminal domestic violence cannot possess weapons. But the state does not confiscate those weapons.

“You cannot take on this issue if you do not take on the issue of alcohol and guns,” said Noel Busch-Armendariz, associate dean of the University of Texas School of Social Work.

Miller and Bush-Armendariz were among 10 experts who testified to the legislative committee, chaired by state Rep. Shannon Erickson, R-Beaufort.

Miller also recommended the state classify a second offense of domestic violence as a felony, saying that would indicate the gravity of the crime is fundamentally different from a misdemeanor.

"Once that person has repeated the conduct… it shows a lack of rehabilitation,” Miller said. “It shows, through the repeated conduct, a fundamentally different type of behavior that justifies the labeling of that person as a felon."

But Heath Taylor of the S.C. Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, said increased penalties are not the answer, suggesting instead focusing on education as a preventive measure.

Domestic violence cases are different than other crimes because perpetrators can be anyone – a police chief, a doctor, a lawyer, Taylor said. "(Domestic violence) doesn’t know any social class or economic class."

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Group Says Offshore Drilling in S.C. Too Profitable to Ignore

The benefits of drilling for oil off South Carolina's shores outweigh the potential environmental impacts by at least a 2-to-1 margin, according to a new report released Wednesday by the conservative nonprofit Palmetto Policy Forum.

The report quantifies the costs of potential oil spills, increased carbon emissions and environmental impacts and concludes that even with a high impact from drilling, the state would still benefit enough economically to outweigh the $6.4 billion estimated cost to the environment.

The state could see $15 billion in added value from the industry by 2035, according to the report authored by Timothy Considine, an economics professor at the University of Wyoming who specializes in research of the petroleum industry.

"Even under the high evaluation of environmental impacts, the economic benefits of oil and gas development significantly outpace the environmental costs," Considine said. "That's a fairly robust finding."

While the study quantifies emissions impacts and oil spill cleanup as environmental factors, it doesn't appear to address impact to coastal tourism, human and wildlife health and the long-term impacts to beaches or coastal wetlands, which could take decades to recover from major disasters, said Hamilton Davis, energy and climate director with the Coastal Conservation League.

The study focused on six states, from Delaware to Georgia, and the impacts of the industry on each state. South Carolina's economic benefits would rank second highest to North Carolina along the East Coast with the potential to create anywhere from 8,200 direct and indirect jobs on the low end to 45,700 jobs on the high end by 2035.

Since it would take some years to ramp up production, Considine called his 2025-2035 figures "the opening act" of an oil and gas industry along the Atlantic Coast.

"So we're really talking about the beginnings of an industry," he said.

U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan, a staunch supporter of offshore drilling, said South Carolina could become a valuable player in the nation's energy independence and it would mean jobs for the state and revenue-sharing from oil profits.

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Swinney, Spurrier: "Zero Tolerance" on Domestic Violence

Clemson University football coach Dabo Swinney is being praised by local domestic violence groups after comments made Tuesday during a press conference.

During the regularly scheduled conference, a reporter asked for his thoughts on domestic violence. Swinney shared a story that was intensely personal, saying he has "zero tolerance" for it.

"I can't tell you how many times as a kid I was thrown in a car and driven off to go to sleep in a car somewhere, or knock on somebody's door and find a place to spend the night," he said.

Swinney has been open about his past, saying he grew up with an alcoholic father.

"Not a lot of men are willing to speak against domestic violence," said Becky Callaham, director of Safe Harbor, a domestic violence organization serving the Upstate. "It's important that men do that."

Swinney's comments come at a very opportune time, too. State legislators are tackling the issue of domestic violence Wednesday at a hearing in Columbia.

Earlier, University of South Carolina Football Coach Steve Spurrier also said he had a zero tolerance policy on domestic violence.

South Carolina ranks No. 2 in the nation on deaths from domestic violence, behind Alaska, according to the Violence Policy Center.

Clemson Group to Create Free Speech Wall Today

Clemson's Young Americans for Liberty Chapter will be creating a giant Free Speech Wall on a central part of campus, to commemorate the signing of the U.S. Constitution on this Constitution Day. The wall will generate responses from students to the posed question, "What does the U.S. Constitution mean to you?"

The purpose is to create conversation on campus about the current state of the ability to uphold The U.S. Constitution in regard to concerns over the constitutionality of specific policy and laws currently being discussed in U.S. politics today. Also, the chapter will be handing out hundreds of pocket Constitutions and literature on the founding principles of the United States of America.  

In addition to the activism on Clemson's campus, YAL chapters across the country will also be participating in "Constitution Week" celebrations. Thousands of students will be distributing tens of thousands pocket Constitutions, personalized flyers, and sign-up sheets to teach students about our founding principles and bring more students into the liberty movement.  

For more information about this year's demonstrations, visit here.

Council Approves Parking Area for East-West Parkway

Anderson County Council on Tuesday night approved exploring the possibility of a parking area/landscaped park for the East West Parkway. The county recently accepted ownership of the old roadbed of Hobson Road from the South Carolina Department of Transportation.Click map for exact location

Anderson County Councilman Francis Crowder allocated $8,000 from his recreation funds for a engineering and landscaping studies the property for parking and a possible park and playground. The plans are considered phase one of the project, and Crowder said he would use funds from his paving account to pave the lot. 

Crowder said parking for those wishing to walk the track has become a problem for the parkway. Currently complaints are coming in because people are parking in fields and on private property.  

Phase two of the project, which has no target date, would allow for an expanded plan picnic tables, benches, a playground and additional parking space.  Crowder said he would come back to ask council to approve future phases at a later date. Future phases would require approval of Duke Power who owns the additional property.  

Council approved, after long discussion, a resolution by Anderson County Councilman Eddie Moore asking that McDaniel Road remain as a County maintained public road. Moore said he had been asked by constituents to keep the road over. 

Anderson County is being sued to close the road, and Anderson Attorney Mike Mullinax, who represents the two parties who own all of the property on both sides of the road, asked council to table the resolution, saying a lawsuit has been filed to close the road after a series of crimes - including fires and vandalism - created a dangerous environment for the only two property owners. 

“Half of the road is mine, said Gracie, and you have not discussed any of this with me,” Anderson County Councilwoman Gracie Floyd said. Floyd said she had constituents who want the road closed, and that it would be best for the county to close it.

“It’s only two-tenths of a mile to go around that road,” Floyd said. “The road is so short it does not matter.’ 

Moore said that if council did not go on record in favor of keeping the road open, the courts would assume the council approved closing the road. 

Anderson County Council Chairman Tommy Dunn said the county was not closing the road, it was abandoning the road based on a a request from the two residents who own and live on the road.  

“If I am going to err, I’m going to err on the side of taxpayers on this issue,” Dunn said. 

The resolution passed 4-3, with Crowder, Dunn, Moore and Wilson favoring the move.

Heard a report from the Appalachian Council of Governments (ACOG) on economic development progress in 2014 update for the area which called on a greater emphasis on workforce training, small business programs, local-based development and global competitiveness as the group submits grant applications for the region. 

Anderson County Council Members Tom Allen, Francis Crowder and Wilson praised ACOG’s efforts on behalf of the county and the region. The region includes the Interstate 85 corridor, and Anderson County has the longest stretch of the interstate at 37 miles.

Approved on third reading tax incentives for Glen Raven, Inc., to  its Anderson County Sunbrella manufacturing center through a $13.5 million investment that is expected to create 10 new jobs with an average salary of $16 per hour. 

Glen Raven's Anderson Plant, which employs more than 600, is the company's largest manufacturing center for its market-leading Sunbrella brand of fabrics for awning, marine and upholstery applications. the one-million-square-foot business center is operated by Glen Raven Custom Fabrics. 

On Tuesday night, Council also:

Approved on third reading an ordinance authorizing a lease agreement with PF Flyers, Inc., for rental space at the Anderson County Airport. 

Approved on second reading tax incentives for “Project Wolf,” and existing Anderson company which will 14 jobs, average salary of $14.50 per hour, and a $2.5 million investment, to the existing business which employs 16. The company manufactures emergency medical equipment which is used worldwide. 

Approved tax incentives for “Project Haven” first reading an existing company, 15 years, metal working company, and major supply for other industries. The company currently employs 30 employees with an average salary of $18 per hour. The expansion will add 10 employees at $18.25 per hour and construction of a 60,000 square-foot facility. The move represents a capital investment of $5.9 million. 

Approved the refinancing of special source revenue bonds.

Approved a resolution to authorize the Anderson County Sheriff”s Office to enter into a mutual aid agreement with the Abbeville County Sheriff’s Office. The agreement provides cooperative procedures for the two counties to work together with law enforcement.

Honored Mayor Rufus Callaham for his outstanding leadership and years of dedicated service to the residents of Belton.

County Hires New Manager for Airport

Anderson County has chosen. A. Justin Julian, C.M., ACE as the new Anderson Regional Airport Manager. Mr. Julian was the unanimous choice of the Anderson Airport Commission. An aviation enthusiast with operational management experience, Justin’s expertise lands squarely within the comprehensive skill set required to run a general aviation facility such as the Anderson Regional Airport.

“We are very impressed with Justin’s credentials,” said Anderson County Council Chairman Tommy Dunn. “I am confident that his practical experience in airport operations, academic background and professional affiliations will help give our local airport the momentum to grow into a thriving hub that will fuel more economic development in the Upstate.”

Justin’s aviation career includes work in South Carolina and California. For the past two years, he served as the Airport Operations Officer at the Ventura County Department of Airports in Camarillo, California, where he maintained the security and safety integrity of the Camarillo and Oxnard Airports. He also facilitated and organized the 2013 Oxnard Airport Emergency Plan Table Top exercise. An Airport Certified Employee in Operations, Security, Communications and Airfield Lighting (ACE) with the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), he brings a high level of professionalism to the position.

Anderson Regional Airport represents an opportunity for Justin to build on his already strong airport career. Additionally, he plans to pursue the Accredited Airport Executive Certification (AAE) and the Airports Council International’s (ACI) International Airport Professional (IAP) designations.

“Justin is just the ticket to help us maximize the Anderson Regional Airport's potential,” said County Administrator Rusty Burns. “His experience and education, as well as his enthusiasm will strategically position our airport as a viable hub for our growing industrial base.”

Justin earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with emphasis in Aviation Management from Auburn University and a Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Science with a concentration in Aviation and Space Science, as well as a Graduate Certificate in Aerospace Security from Oklahoma State University. His coursework includes Aviation Meteorology, International Airline Operations, Economic Analysis of the Aviation Industry, Aviation Safety, Air Traffic Control, Aviation Law and Insurance and Aerospace Leadership.

$60,000 ACOG Grant Will Remove Debris from Toxaway Mill

Anderson County Council woman Gracie Floyd is pleased to announce the receipt of a $60,000 Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Grant. This grant funding will be matched with local dollars ($60,000 is included in the adopted FY 2014-15 County Budget) and will be used to remove the remaining debris from the 14-acre Toxaway Mill Site on Gossett Street.

"I am thrilled that the progress is continuing at the Gossett Street Mill site," said Council woman Gracie S. Floyd. "Special thanks are due to the Appalachian Regional Commission for providing Anderson County with the funding for this stage of the project. Fourteen years ago, district 2 committed to this being one of our top priorities. The work has not gone as fast as we had originally hoped, but we are steadily reaching our goal."

Currently, Anderson County has completed assessment work and partial debris removal using in-house resources in combination with previous grant funding. Cleanup work at the adjoining Riverside mill site, including debris removal and capping, has also been concluded. 

"This project will result in the quality of life being improved for 515 persons occupying 208 households in the affected area," said Council Chairman Tommy Dunn. "We are grateful for this investment in our community. Council woman Floyd has faithfully worked on this project since 2000. District 2, as well as the entire county will benefit from her efforts."

Once completed, this project will transform unusable acreage into property that can be used for public purposes.  Additionally, the cleanup will complement conservation plans developed and promoted by local stakeholders.

GAO Report: Obamacare Does Cover Abortions

A report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office showed that the Affordable Care Act, also called "Obamacare," is providing coverage for abortions.

Contrary to the claims of many proponents of the health care law, the GAO's Monday report found that the rules were not clarified and thus ignored.

The Affordable Care Act required that qualified health plans (QHPs) be provided that may include coverage of abortion services.

While officially the ACA should not cover abortions, except in the event of rape, incest, or health of the mother, the GAO found that 15 of 18 insurers providing QHPs ignored such rules.

"Of the 18 issuers offering QHPs that cover non-excepted abortion services from which we obtained information, all but three issuers indicated that the benefit is not subject to any restrictions, limitations, or exclusions," noted the GAO.

"These 18 issuers offered a total of 246 unique QHPs that covered non-excepted abortion services — or 24 percent of the total number of QHPs covering non-excepted abortion services in the 28 states with no laws restricting the circumstances under which abortion services can be provided as a covered benefit."

Throughout the debate over the ACA, a common charge leveled by critics against the proposed law was that it would provide federal funding to all abortions.

For example, in a letter to the U.S. House of Representatives in January 2011, the National Right to Life Committee warned that the ACA (or PPACA) was "riddled with provisions that violate right-to-life principles."

"As enacted, the PPACA contains multiple provisions authorizing federal subsidies for abortion, and additional provisions on which future abortion-expanding regulatory mandates may be based," charged the NRLC.

President Barack Obama and others countered, arguing that the law does not change the pre-existing federal restrictions on abortion funding.

"And one more misunderstanding I want to clear up — under our plan, no federal dollars will be used to fund abortions, and federal conscience laws will remain in place," said President Obama.

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Coca-Cola Revives Super-Sugar Drink Surge

Coca-Cola has revived Surge soda.

The sugar-filled soft drink originally debuted in 1996, and was discontinued in 2002. Thanks to "a passionate and persistent community of brand loyalists" called The Surge Movement, Coca-Cola has brought back the soda in 16 oz., 12-pack cans.

Surge is a citrus-flavored soda akin to Mountain Dew, and boasts 56 grams of sugar per can. The 12-pack cans are for sale exclusively on Amazon for $14.

Ervin Kicks Off $500,000 TV Campaign

Independent gubernatorial candidate Tom Ervin has kicked off a $500,000 statewide television advertising buy that seeks to emphasize two of his campaign's central messages.

The campaign is continuing to run two advertisements as part of the buy, one that focuses on a plan to improve South Carolina's economy and another that promises reforms for a more ethical government. The ads have already aired as part of the campaign's recent $2 million advertising buy. A series of digital advertisements is also being planned, according to Ervin campaign spokesman Christian Hertenstein.

Ervin is coming off of a statewide listening tour and informal town halls, and he said in an interview that he wants to provide an alternative to the race's major candidates, Republican Gov. Nikki Haley and Democratic Sen. Vincent Sheheen. Ervin jumped into the race relatively late and has largely self-funded his gubernatorial bid.

Ervin said the recent indictment of House Speaker Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston, over office-related ethics issues, underscores the need for ethics reform in the state.

"We need an independent investigative body to investigate legislative ethics complaints," Ervin said. "Had we had one, this (Harrell) scandal would not have lingered for so long." Ethics complaints against members of the House and Senate are generally overseen by respective ethics committees in either chamber.

Ervin said that if elected he would ban so-called Leadership PACs, a form of raising money in politics that has fewer reporting requirements. His ad also says the state should ban gifts to politicians, and Ervin criticized Haley for accepting gifts. Since becoming governor in 2011, Haley has reported $152,600 in gifts, according to The State.

"I want to restore the true meaning of public service, and that is you do it to serve the public interest not as a way to feather your own nest," Ervin said.

A Haley campaign spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Ervin also hopes to gain in-roads on an issue many consider to be Haley's greatest strength - the state's economy. Haley has been aggressive in recruiting companies and the state's unemployment rate has dropped.

In his advertisement, Ervin put out an economic blueprint that includes abolishing the state income tax and increasing the state's minimum wage. Ervin said that abolishing the state income tax does not mean the state would have fewer dollars because the plan also calls for eliminating exemptions to the state's sales tax.

"(The plan) would allow us to put more money back on Main Street . stimulate small business, and help us grow jobs," he said.

Appalachian State Releases Fall Color Map

Fall is almost here, and leaf-watchers will soon head to the mountains to enjoy the season.

This map above gives an estimation of the timing of fall color peaks for the various regions of North Carolina. If you have used our map in the past, you’ll see that we have added two new features to the mountain section of our fall color map: towns and scenic roads. We hope these new graphics help you orient yourself as you decide where to visit in the North Carolina Mountains during our fall foliage season. This map differs from most other such maps because it combines the effects of both elevation and latitude on fall color, whereas most other maps simply use elevation alone.

We constructed the map using the following assumptions. First, we assumed that fall color would start earlier at higher elevations. We then figured (guessed!) that for each 1,000' increase in elevation, peak fall colors would occur about one week earlier, with the exception of those areas near the coast, where we divided the elevation into 500' sections.

For the latitude effect, we used data from published papers suggesting that each degree of latitude north is equivalent to going up in elevation by about 200 m (656'). This means that if you were to compare 3,000' down in Murphy with 3,000' in northern Ashe County (which are about 2.5 degrees apart), it would be as if you were really at 4,640' in Ashe County, at least fall color peak-wise. In other words, the same elevation in the north is cooler than the same elevation in the south, which causes the vegetation to differ. The resultant cooler temperatures mean that peak fall colors will come earlier to those same elevations in the north than in the south.

Thus, our map is among the first to take both elevation and latitude into consideration. However, it is only an approximation, and we would love to hear from any of you as to whether we have hit the fall color peak correctly or missed it. Over the next few years, we hope to "adjust" the map to better model the progression of fall colors throughout our state.

S.C. Drivers Almost Twice as Likely to Hit Deer

The odds that South Carolina drivers will his a deer in the coming year are 1 out of 93, which is almost twice the national average, according to claims data from State Farm.

South Carolina is No. 10 in the list of states for the likelihood of a deer-vehicle collision, according to State Farm.

According to data, drivers are most likely to collide with a deer in South Carolina during October, November and December, which is mostly due to mating and hunting seasons.

Dusk and dawn are high risk times for deer-vehicle collisions, according to the Insurance Information Institute and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

How to avoid a collision:

• Use extra caution in known deer zones

• Always wear your seat belt

• Use high beams at night when there is no oncoming traffic

• Avoid swerving when you see a deer

• Scan the road for deer and other danger signs

• Do not rely on devices such as deer whistles

Service Academy Nominations Vary in S.C.

South Carolina's two Upstate congressman and two senators follow starkly different approaches in deciding which high-school students to nominate to the nation's service academies.

The four lawmakers also vary in how much they disclose about the nominations.

Those differences are typical of Congress as a whole, according to a USA TODAY analysis. Members of the House and Senate have wide latitude in deciding which students should be admitted to one of the nation's prestigious service academies, where tuition is covered by taxpayers.

Nomination by a member of Congress is required for high-school students interested in attending the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy or the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. The requirement is designed to ensure broad geographic representation for the next generation of officers. Nominations also can come from other sources, including the president and vice president.

Generally, no more than five students nominated by an individual member of Congress may attend a service academy at one time, with the exception of the Merchant Marine Academy. Nominations to that academy are subject to state quotas that lawmakers can vie to fill.

Lawmakers may nominate up to 10 students for each open slot each year. Not all nominees are accepted, and the academies, for the most part, have the final say on who gets in and who doesn't.

The nomination process is one of the most significant and least-known duties of a member of Congress.

Republican Lindsey Graham, South Carolina's senior senator, hosts an Academy Day each year where students can meet representatives from the academies. Last year, 350 students in grades eight through 12 attended. This year's event will be held in Columbia on Sept. 27 .

Graham has one staffer with primary responsibility for handling applications. This this year's deadline is Oct. 31 for students hoping to attend a service academy in 2015. A group of career military officials and academy graduates interviews potential candidates before Graham's office chooses its nominees.

Members of Congress can opt to express a preference for a particular nominee when they submit their lists to the academies. Academies must admit such "principal" nominees if they meet all basic qualifications, without considering other nominees on the list.

Most lawmakers don't select principal nominees and instead send academies lists of unranked nominees, letting the academies decide which ones to admit. Graham's office uses that approach most often.

An academy education is worth close to $500,000. In exchange, graduates must serve at least five years active military duty.

Graham does not disclose which high-school students he nominates or which ultimately receive appointments.

Sen. Tim Scott, also a Republican, in March released the names of the 59 students he nominated in 2014. His office held nine workshops around the state last year to give students a chance to ask questions about the academies and the nomination process.

Scott uses an outside panel of advisers, many of them service academy graduates, to interview applicants in person before he decides whom to nominate. Like other lawmakers, he considers test scores, grades, leadership ability and community service.

Scott is among the minority of lawmakers who name a principal nominee.

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