Latest local news, weather and high school sports from the Midlands

Today at 8:40 AM  House takes up far-reaching bill to ban almost all abortions after 20 weeks

Today at 8:30 AM  President Barack Obama vigorously defended the surveillance programs in a lengthy interview Monday, calling them transparent — even though they are authorized in secret.

Yesterday at 11:24 AM  About 20 people were evacuated from the South Carolina Statehouse for about an hour after smoke from an escalator set off alarms.

Sunday, June 16, 2013  A group of South Carolina mothers is sending Father's Day gifts to the state's congressman, urging them to support gun control legislation.

Friday, June 14, 2013  A legislative panel working on a budget compromise has agreed to keep South Carolina's two state planes but not let colleges use them for athletic recruiting.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013  South Carolina's top prosecutor is spending some time this week with students who might be some of the state's next generation of leaders.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013  South Carolina's high court says legislators and not the legal system should handle citizens' complaints against their elected representatives.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013  AT&T is bringing its campaign about the dangers of texting while driving to Columbia. Company representatives will give people at one of its retail stores a chance to use a simulator that they say shows how dangerous it is to try to send a text message while behind the wheel.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013  The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is suing discount retailer Dollar General Corp., and a BMW manufacturing plant in South Carolina over their use of criminal background checks to screen out job applicants or fire employees.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013  A $50,000 bond has been set for a 21-year-old Hartsville mother indicted in the deaths of her four children.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013  House Speaker Boehner predicts Congress can pass sweeping immigration legislation this year

Saturday, June 08, 2013  An 18-year old Columbia man accused of having sex with a 15- year old girl has been arrested.

Friday, June 07, 2013  A committee state senators and representatives is sitting down to iron out differences on South Carolina's $6.3 billion state budget.

Friday, June 07, 2013  A 28-year-old man has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for a shooting death in the parking lot of a Waffle House restaurant in Spartanburg.

Thursday, June 06, 2013  A Darlington County grand jury has indicted a 21-year-old Hartsville mother in the deaths of her four children in an April fire.