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

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.

Thursday, April 18, 2013  Data posted online for South Carolina's 60 acute-care hospitals shows a wide disparity in their financial health, with bottom lines ranging from a four-year loss of $96 million to a combined profit of $223 million.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013  South Carolina Democrats are criticizing a Republican lawmaker's decision to fly a conservative columnist and radio commentator on the state plane to Columbia to testify against the federal health care law.

Wednesday, March 13, 2013  The South Carolina House has sent the Senate a $6.3 billion proposed spending plan that boosts school spending, hires law enforcement officers and fixes bridges with load restrictions.

Monday, March 11, 2013  South Carolina Democrats say the state needs to expand Medicaid eligibility at least as long as the federal government promises to fully cover the cost.

Monday, March 11, 2013  It's budget week at the South Carolina House.

Thursday, February 21, 2013  House Republicans will lay out their alternative to expanding Medicaid eligibility under the federal health care law.

Saturday, January 12, 2013  The federal health care law, terrorist threats to America and the nation's financial situation are among the topics up for discussion at the South Carolina tea party convention.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012  The director of South Carolina's Medicaid agency sent another warning to state senators that costs for the health insurance program will likely keep rising.

Thursday, August 23, 2012  South Carolina's insurance plan for public employees expects to spend about $70 million to provide the preventive services that federal health care law requires insurance plans offer at no out-of-pocket cost to workers.

Monday, August 29, 2011  Small business owners are invited to meetings across South Carolina to learn how the federal health care law could affect them.

Friday, February 25, 2011  South Carolina is among 26 state suing to stop the health care system overhaul passed last year. Those states said in legal filings Thursday they should be allowed to immediately stop following the law after a Florida judge ruled it was unconstitutional.