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

Thursday, February 28, 2013  Testing students' readiness for first grade and requiring prescriptions for meth-making medicines are among the recommendations of a committee that advocates for South Carolina's children.

Sunday, February 03, 2013  One man is in custody after allegedly firing shots outside a nightclub.

Thursday, January 24, 2013  Fontana Unified School District police purchased 14 of the Colt LE6940 rifles last fall, and they were delivered the first week of December — a week before the Connecticut school shooting.

Tuesday, January 15, 2013  South Carolina's prisons agency is seeking additional money to better protect officers who watch over the state's most violent inmates.

Thursday, January 10, 2013  Superintendent Janet Robinson urges an indefinite police presence at the district's schools to allay fears.

Thursday, January 03, 2013  A suburban New York newspaper has hired armed guards to protect staff following its publication of a list of residents with pistol permits.

Monday, December 03, 2012  Christmas is coming to the Governor's Mansion in Columbia as three white pine trees are being delivered thanks to the state Christmas Tree Growers Association.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012  The South Carolina National Guard is making sure as many of its 11,000 members as possible are employed full-time in the civilian world.

Friday, October 19, 2012  'Gangnam Style' lifeguards, fired after aqua boogie, to get jobs back at Southern California pool

Thursday, July 12, 2012  The death of a man outside of a Santee gentleman's club is being investigated by the Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office.

Wednesday, July 04, 2012  The Lexington Veteran of Foreign Wars Post 8738 is hosting a barbeque lunch Wednesday to raise money for the families of fallen South Carolina Army Guardsmen 1st Lt. Ryan Rawl and Sgt. John Meador.

Friday, June 22, 2012  Three South Carolina Army National Guard soldiers killed by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan are expected to return home next week.

Monday, May 14, 2012  A paraglider has died after crashing into some cliffs in San Diego.

Monday, April 30, 2012  Gov. Nikki Haley has asked the state inspector general to review all agencies' security systems following the theft of personal information of more than 228,000 Medicaid patients.

Monday, April 09, 2012  The identity of the man who was shot and killed by security guards Friday night at a Columbia nightclub was released Monday.