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

Yesterday at 6:20 PM  The state inspector general says prescription painkiller abuse is rampant in South Carolina, but there's no statewide effort to combat it.

Yesterday at 3:40 PM  Numerous witnesses testified Monday about Bryan Capnerhurst, one of two people the state believes Brett Parker shot and killed at his Ascot Estates home in April 2012.

Yesterday at 12:05 PM  AT&T is hiring 120 people across South Carolina as it expands its wired and wireless network nationwide.

Yesterday at 10:25 AM  A South Carolina sheriff's deputy has died after working three nights of security at the scene of a fire that destroyed 26 condominiums near Myrtle Beach in March.

Saturday, May 18, 2013  The annual South Carolina Book Festival continued Saturday.

Friday, May 17, 2013  South Carolina's unemployment has dropped to its lowest rate in five years.

Tuesday, May 14, 2013  A planned $2 million upgrade at the Hilton Head Island Airport will address a problem that's been affecting passengers for the past decade.

Tuesday, May 14, 2013  Pentagon poised to trim number of civilian furlough days, expand pool of exempt workers

Monday, May 13, 2013  Columbia mayor Steve Benjamin announced Monday that he is running for a second term.

Monday, May 13, 2013  The Senate's 2013-14 budget could buy $15 million worth of new school buses for South Carolina's aging fleet.

Monday, May 13, 2013  Charleston County authorities have released the name of a man who died in a backhoe accident in North Charleston.

Friday, May 10, 2013  Four days after being rescued, the three women who were kidnapped for 10 years are starting a difficult transition back to a normal life.

Friday, May 10, 2013  A New York collector and seller of historic maps and natural history art work is donating $30 million worth of materials to the University of South Carolina.

Thursday, May 09, 2013  Wm. Jennings Bryan Dorn Veteran Affairs Medical Center has two remaining town hall meetings with Veterans to discuss VA health care, explain about VA programs and services, and to gain valuable feedback to help continuously improve our programs.

Wednesday, May 08, 2013  South Carolina's law enforcement officers and firefighters will again be required to put a higher percentage of their salaries toward their retirement benefits than other public workers.