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

Wednesday, April 24, 2013  A South Carolina Senate panel has advanced a bill aimed at boosting students' chances for success by ensuring they can read by fourth grade.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013  A South Carolina Senate committee has advanced a measure that creates more oversight of public agency computer systems following the massive breach of the state's tax collection agency.

Tuesday, January 08, 2013  Gaffney Sen. Harvey Peeler has been re-elected leader of South Carolina's Senate Republicans for the next four years.

Monday, April 16, 2012  South Carolina Treasurer Curtis Loftis says putting his office in charge of audit findings could save the state money and fix problems before they become a crisis.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012  South Carolina's treasurer and House speaker are opposing the Senate's version of a bill restructuring state government, saying they worry that the way it handles the state retirement system and long-term debt could erode the state's credit rating.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012  Republican Senator John Corson of Columbia has been elected as the new President Pro Tempore of the South Carolina Senate.

Friday, December 09, 2011  The Senate Medical Affairs Committee cleared Governor Nikki Haley’s office of unfairly influencing DHEC’s decision to grant a water permit, clearing the way for the expansion of the Port of Savannah.

Thursday, November 17, 2011  Occupy Columbia protestors who were arrested Wednesday night are out on bond as of Thursday morning. At the request of Governor Nikki Haley, troopers with the S.C. Bureau of Protective Services arrested nearly two dozen Occupy Columbia demonstrators after Haley ordered the group to leave State House grounds by 6pm Wednesday.

Thursday, June 09, 2011  Thursday's state Financial Summit was postponed due to the mechanical failure of the plane on which representatives from both ratings agencies, Moody’s and Fitch’s, were traveling to South Carolina. Both agencies have requested that the Summit be rescheduled.

Wednesday, May 04, 2011  South Carolina senators are resuming debate on a $5.8 billion general budget spending plan.

Thursday, April 21, 2011  South Carolina's Senate Republicans have re-elected Gaffney Sen. Harvey Peeler as their majority leader.

Thursday, April 07, 2011  A state lawmaker has filed legislation he hopes will help the more than two dozen injured in a children's train ride crash in Spartanburg.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011  South Carolina legislators have postponed a meeting to consider giving businesses a tax break to hire unemployed workers.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010  The South Carolina Senate's top Republican wants an ethics law loophole closed that has allowed GOP and Democratic caucuses to secretly spend more than $3 million since 2008.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009  South Carolina Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler (R-Cherokee) issued the following statement today: