Today 
Sunday, September 29, 2013 at 3:27PM The Finance Committee of Anderson County Council will meet Monday at 1 p.m. in the council chambers of the historic courthouse downtown. Ecnonomic development is the core of the agenda.
Saturday, September 28, 2013 at 6:23PM Since 2010, the National Security Agency has been exploiting its huge collections of data to create sophisticated graphs of some Americans’ social connections that can identify their associates, their locations at certain times, their traveling companions and other personal information, according to newly disclosed documents and interviews with officials.
The spy agency began allowing the analysis of phone call and e-mail logs in November 2010 to examine Americans’ networks of associations for foreign intelligence purposes after N.S.A. officials lifted restrictions on the practice, according to documents provided by Edward J. Snowden, the former N.S.A. contractor.
The policy shift was intended to help the agency “discover and track” connections between intelligence targets overseas and people in the United States, according to an N.S.A. memorandum from January 2011. The agency was authorized to conduct “large-scale graph analysis on very large sets of communications metadata without having to check foreignness” of every e-mail address, phone number or other identifier, the document said. Because of concerns about infringing on the privacy of American citizens, the computer analysis of such data had previously been permitted only for foreigners.
The agency can augment the communications data with material from public, commercial and other sources, including bank codes, insurance information, Facebook profiles, passenger manifests, voter registration rolls and GPS location information, as well as property records and unspecified tax data, according to the documents. They do not indicate any restrictions on the use of such “enrichment” data, and several former senior Obama administration officials said the agency drew on it for both Americans and foreigners.
N.S.A. officials declined to say how many Americans have been caught up in the effort, including people involved in no wrongdoing. The documents do not describe what has resulted from the scrutiny, which links phone numbers and e-mails in a “contact chain” tied directly or indirectly to a person or organization overseas that is of foreign intelligence interest.
The new disclosures add to the growing body of knowledge in recent months about the N.S.A.’s access to and use of private information concerning Americans, prompting lawmakers in Washington to call for reining in the agency and President Obama to order an examination of its surveillance policies.
Saturday, September 28, 2013 at 11:16AM In the first communication between the leaders of the United States and Iran since 1979, President Barack Obama on Friday spoke to President Hassan Rouhani by phone and called for the release of American Pastor Saeed Abedini, who is in an Iranian prison because of his Christian faith and has been tortured.
Obama, the first American leader to speak with an Iranian president since the Islamic revolution, noted the nation's concern about three American citizens who have been held within Iran in his 15-minute conversation with the Iranian president.
The three include the missing U.S. citizen Robert Levinson, Pastor Saeed Abedini, and alleged CIA spy Amir Hekmati, according to Fox News. Obama "noted our interest in seeing those Americans reunited with their families," a senior Obama Administration official was quoted as saying.
Rouhani, who spent the last few days at the U.N. General Assembly, was on his way to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport when Obama called him at about 2:30 p.m. on Friday. The conversation was focused mostly on the nuclear issue.
This is the first time that Obama has spoken out about the imprisonment of Saeed. Pastor's wife, Naghmeh, said it was "the most encouraging news I have heard since Saeed was imprisoned one year ago."
"I am very grateful to President Obama for standing up for Saeed and for the other Americans who are held captive in Iran," Naghmeh added. "This development is truly an answer to prayer. I urge President Rouhani, as I have done throughout this week, to release Saeed so he can return to our home and our family in the United States. In recent days, Iran has released 80 prisoners being held because of their beliefs. I pray that we can add Saeed to that list very soon."
Saturday, September 28, 2013 at 10:18AM The October meeting of the Anderson County Democratic Party is scheduled for Oct. 5 at 9 a.m. at the Golden Corral Restaurant in Anderson. The guest will be Tevor Rodgers, the new Field Director for the South Carolina Democratic Party, who will discuss organizing for the 2014 eelection.
Fore more information contact Stuart Sprague at sprague_s@bellsouth.net or 864-314-5640
Friday, September 27, 2013 at 10:39PM The Anderson County Council Planing and Public Works is considering a variety of options to keep the Clemson Area Transit and Homeland Park bus routes active after the end of 2013.
The county will have to find $178,000 to fund the bus routes and are exploring options including charging for the rides or continuing to seek help from other communities along the route to help pay for the CAT bus.
Anderson County Councilwoman Gracie Floyd said that any fee might make the buses inaccessible to those who need it most.
Deputy County Administrator Holt Hopkins, who also supervises transportation in the county, said charging for CAT bus rides could prove difficult since it would make Anderson the only place on the route charging for the rides. CAT buses are currently not set up to receive any sort of fare.
The issue will be discussed Tuesday night at the regular county council meeting.
Friday, September 27, 2013 at 8:36PM With three major government events all occurring in October, the month ahead will prove to be full of political drama. Here are the three main things to keep an eye on:
1. Funding the Government
Without congressional authorization, there will be no funding for the government beginning Tuesday, Oct. 1. If no agreement is reached, all "essential" personnel will continue in their position while "non-essential" government employees will be on unpaid leave until Congress authorizes more spending.
The Republican-led House passed a continuing resolution last week to temporarily fund the government, but that bill contains provisions that would defund the Affordable Care Act, also known as "Obamacare." The Democratic-led Senate will likely strip those provisions on Saturday. This means that the House must either pass the Senate's amended bill, or amend the Senate's amended bill, which would put it back in the hands of the Senate. And, all this must happen before midnight on Monday to prevent a government shutdown.
2. "Obamacare"
At the time of this publication, a temporary government shutdown on Tuesday appears highly likely. Tuesday also happens to be the day that the main parts of the ACA are scheduled to go into effect. And that implementation has, thus far, not been smooth.
The ACA is a large, expansive law that has proven technically difficult to implement. The Obama administration has already delayed or abandoned parts of the law by executive order because those parts were determined to be unfeasible or too burdensome to implement. Even Democrats who support the law, and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, who is in charge of implementing the law, have used these words to describe the ACA: complex, complicated, confusing, beyond comprehension, train wreck.
3. Debt Ceiling
On top of all that, Treasury Secretary Jack Lew announced Wednesday that Congress must increase the nation's debt limit by Oct. 17 or the U.S. Treasury will begin defaulting on promised payments.
This does not mean that the U.S. government will default on its debts. Money will still be flowing into the Treasury, and debts will most certainly be paid first. But other payments that are owed, such as to vendors who provide services to the U.S. government, may not get paid.
Friday, September 27, 2013 at 8:32PM 
The Anderson Touchdown Club Announces Winners for week 5 -
Coach: Jeff Murdock, Crescent High School
Lineman: Chris Mackey, Belton-Honea Path High School
Co-Offensive: Charqez Daniel, Powdersville High School
Kelly Bryant, Wren High School
Defensive: Dalston Davis, Crescent High School
Scott Smith
Anderson Touchdown Club
Friday, September 27, 2013 at 5:26AM The Public Works Committee of the Anderson County Council will meet today at 1 p.m. in the historic courthouse downtown to consider the fate of the Clemson Area Transit bus route in Anderson.
The committee hopes to complete evaluation of information about the cost of funding the CAT bus route and the Homeland Park bus route as part of the meeting.
A complete packet of information, including surveys and detailed information on who uses the buses, can be dowloaded here.
The Clemson Area Transit bus, which runs from the city of Anderson to Clemson, Pendleton and Central, with other stops along the way, provides transportation primarily to students attending Tri-County Technical College, Clemson and Southern Wesleyan University. The CAT bus, according to the county serves nearly 150,000 riders each year.
The Homeland Park bus route. which served nearly 40,000 passengers last year, is also in question.
The county reported that it will take more than $350,000 annually to operate the bus routes, with $180,000 going to the CAT bus and the remainder to the Homeland Park route.
A recommendation on if or whether the county will continue to fund the buses, is expected to be presented to the full county council soon. Without a new agreement, both buses will end service at the end of 2013.
Friday, September 27, 2013 at 5:20AM To learn more about the new Federally Facilitated Health Insurance Exchange, and make plans to enroll in an affordable health insurance plan that best suits your needs, there will be two events in October on the affordable health insurance available in the state of South Carolina through the health insurance exchange:
Seneca
October 7 - 6:30 p.m. Seneca - Gignilliat Center 621 North Townville Street Seneca, SC 29678
Anderson
October 8 - 6:30 p.m. Anderson County Library 300 North McDuffie Street Anderson, SC 29621
Qualified health insurance navigators helping individuals learn about the new health insurance plans and how to enroll. The event is sponsored by AnMed, Oconee Medical Center, The Anderson Free Clinin, The Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce, DEC0, the Mountain Lakes Center and the Clemson Free Clinic.
Friday, September 27, 2013 at 5:15AM Premiums for insurance plans purchased through South Carolina’s new health care marketplace will be higher than the national average but lower than some 2011 prices, according to data in a new federal report.
People without health insurance can start shopping Tuesday in the online marketplaces. South Carolina’s exchange is being run by the federal government.
Nationally, the average premium for a middle-of-the-road plan purchased through a health care exchange will be $328 a month, according to the report from the Department of Health and Human Services. In South Carolina, it will be $339.
But compared with premiums in South Carolina in 2011, it appears the marketplace will offer some lower price tags when income-based subsidies are included.
The exchanges, created under the 2010 Affordable Care Act, will allow consumers to choose from four levels of coverage, starting with bronze and moving upward to silver, gold and platinum. Catastrophic coverage will be available for people younger than 30.
The state-based marketplaces are meant to provide affordable insurance options for people who don’t already get coverage from an employer or the government.
In South Carolina, a family of four earning $50,000 will be able to buy a silver-level plan through the state’s exchange for $282, after the subsidy is applied. Gold level plans would be higher. Bronze level plans would be lower. Without the subsidy, the cost for a silver-level plan would be $809.
In 2011, the average monthly premium for a family in South Carolina in 2011 was $1,271, according to a 2012 report from the Commonwealth Fund.
“We are excited to see that rates in the South Carolina marketplace are even lower than originally projected,” HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in a statement.
“In the past, consumers were too often denied or priced-out of quality health insurance options, but thanks to the Affordable Care Act, consumers will be able to choose from a number of new coverage options at a price that is affordable.”
In South Carolina, there were about 665,000 people without health insurance in 2012, according to Census Bureau data.
Friday, September 27, 2013 at 5:03AM Dr. Bill Daggett will be leading teacher/administrative professional development sessions for Anderson School District Five Friday at Glenview Middle School. Dagett is found and chairman of the International Center for Leadership in Education, and for his proven ability to move preK-12 education systems towards more rigorous and relevant skills and knowledge for all students. Daggett has also collaborated with education ministries in several countries and with the Council of Chief State School Officers, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the National Governors Association, and many other national organizations.
Friday, September 27, 2013 at 1:36AM Controversial Christian author and former megachurch pastor Rob Bell sits down with Oprah Winfrey for an interview in an upcoming episode of her spirituality-theme program "Super Soul Sunday." Bell's latest book, What We Talk About When We Talk About God, has been listed as the first recommended title in "Oprah's Super Soulful Book of the Month" club.
According to a publicist for OWN's "Super Soul Sunday" program, Winfrey's interview with Bell will air Nov. 3 at 11 a.m. ET/PT with the title "Oprah & Rob Bell: What We Talk About When We Talk About God."
"The Emmy Award-winning series 'Super Soul Sunday' delivers a thought-provoking, eye-opening and inspiring block of programming designed to help viewers awaken to their best selves and discover a deeper connection to the world around them," reads a press release from Winfrey's network.
In its announcement on the new season lineup, OWN noted that Bell would be among "Super Soul Sunday" guests that include Anne Lamott, Jack Kornfield, Steven Pressfield and others.
Winfrey has written on Oprah.com about her time talking with Bell, whose books she said opened her heart and mind.
"When Rob Bell — pastor, best-selling author, provocative thinker — recently joined me on the show, we talked for two and a half hours, and I could have kept going," wrote Winfrey. "The ideas Rob sets forth in his books Love Wins and What We Talk About When We Talk About God opened my heart and my mind. People like him are the reason I set out to build OWN in the first place: to be able to gather a global community of like-minded seekers."
The post titled, "What Oprah Knows for Sure About Spirituality," was accompanied by a picturesque photo of Bell and Winfrey deep in discussion with the media mogul grasping a copy of What We Talk About When We Talk About God.
Friday, September 27, 2013 at 12:39AM Renowned evangelist Billy Graham is asking Iran's president Hassan Rouhani for the release of Pastor Saeed Abedini from prison, pointing out that such an action might be perceived by U.S. leaders as a significant step in reducing tensions.
"On September 26, the one-year anniversary of Pastor Abedini's imprisonment, thousands will attend prayer vigils in more than 70 U.S. cities, calling on your country to release this husband, father and servant of God," Graham writes in a letter addressed to Rouhani and published on the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association website. "I join them by respectfully asking you to release Pastor Saeed Abedini from prison. Such an action would, I believe, have a positive impact in our nation, and might well be perceived by our leadership as a significant step in reducing tensions."
Abedini has been in Evin Prison in Tehran since his arrest last year, and was later sentenced to eight years in jail, supposedly for endangering national security. The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) recently launched the largest campaign in its history aimed at sending thousands of letters each week to Rouhani, petitioning for the U.S. pastor. The ACLJ, which represents his wife, Naghmeh, and their two young children in the U.S., says that Iran has targeted the pastor for his Christian faith.
Despite a worldwide petition signed by close to 650,000 people, and top U.S. officials, such as Secretary of State John Kerry, calling on Iran to release the pastor, who has suffered beatings and been placed in solitary confinement, the Islamic republic has refused to listen to pleas for his release. In addition, the Tehran Court of Appeals declined to reduce Abedini's 8-year sentence in August.
On Monday, Naghmeh Abedini was able to hand-deliver a letter to Rouhani's delegation in their hotel lobby while in New York to attend the U.N General Assembly, according to news reports. In the note, she asked for her husband's quick release, according to her attorneys.