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

Monday, February 25, 2013  South Carolina's state-owned utility has agreed to loan the Laurens County Development Commission $1.5 million to build a shell building.

Tuesday, January 29, 2013  A lawsuit brought by property owners along an abandoned Lowcountry rail line has been settled for $33 million.

Thursday, November 29, 2012  Columbia will stop putting rat poison in its storm drains to deal with the rodents.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012  City of Columbia Water Works has issued a boil water advisory for the residents of Coatesdale Road from Veterans Road to Henry Curtis Road, Henry Curtis Road from Coatesdale Road to Coachmaker Road, and Coachmaker Road from Henry Curtis Road to Veterans Road.

Thursday, October 11, 2012  South Carolina's water resources, or the lack of them, are the topic of discussion this week at a conference being attended by political leaders and scientists and those who oversee water supplies.

Thursday, June 07, 2012  Summer is a great time to work on projects outside, but a new digging law in South Carolina will require people to take an extra step before getting started.

Monday, February 06, 2012  City of Columbia officials say the current water and sewer revitaliazation project is going according to plan.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011  A water and sewer service in coastal South Carolina has received a top national honor.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011  Two infrastructure improvement projects in Columbia are almost done and chances are you have noticed the cost of getting them accomplished.

Wednesday, September 07, 2011  The utilities department says a new hotline number is designed for residents to report foul odors or sewer concerns.

Thursday, August 04, 2011  Park Street in downtown Columbia was closed Thursday morning for a sewer line repair beneath the road. It's the latest incident in a string of closures plaguing city streets as officials work to replace aging pipes and infrastructure. City Council voted unanimously in June to raise water and sewer rates to pay for $100 million in upgrades. Do you support a rate hike to pay for repairs?

Thursday, July 14, 2011  A public hearing on a proposed rate hike by Carolina Water Service was flooded Wednesday by more than 200 Midlands residents and business owners. The utility is requesting an 80 percent increase in its water rate and a 14 percent increase in its sewer rate.

Friday, June 10, 2011  Some South Carolina officials expect the Atlanta area will be looking to the Savannah River basin soon to get drinking water.

Wednesday, June 08, 2011  City Council voted unanimously Tuesday evening to approve raising water and sewer rates five percent. That would increase the average monthly bill by about $2 for city residents and $3.43 for customers outside the city, according to Columbia officials.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011  At a work session Tuesday, City manager Steve Gantt gave the council two options for next fiscal year's water and sewer budget; they can either opt to raise rates or issue bonds to pay for improvement projects. City leaders reluctantly agreed to advertise a 2011-2012 budget that includes the hike for the city's water and sewer operating budget and capital improvement program.