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

Wednesday, January 23, 2013  An attorney says a South Carolina government board violated the constitution when it voted to split the cost of increases in public workers' health insurance premiums between employers and employees.

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 20, 2012  Teachers may have to pay more in insurance premiums.

Friday, August 17, 2012  A University of South Carolina professor is dropping his lawsuit in Richland County against a panel led by Gov. Nikki Haley in order to join a similar lawsuit at the state Supreme Court.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012  The leaders of groups representing teachers and state employees are asking the state Supreme Court to take up its lawsuit against a panel led by Gov. Nikki Haley for ignoring the budget and hiking workers' health insurance premiums.

Thursday, August 09, 2012  House Speaker Bobby Harrell says he expects South Carolina to be sued over a panel's decision to disregard the state budget and increase employees' health insurance costs anyway. And he expects the state to lose.

Wednesday, August 08, 2012  South Carolina's public employees and retirees will pay more for their health care next year after all, despite legislators passing a budget that covered premium hikes.

Wednesday, August 08, 2012  State employees and retirees won't pay more for their health care premiums next year, but South Carolina taxpayers will.

Thursday, June 28, 2012  The South Carolina Senate has approved a resolution to keep government running until a new budget is finished.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012  Gov. Nikki Haley has vetoed a bill providing new, safer equipment to fight wildfires for South Carolina's forestry agency through insurance premium taxes.

Monday, May 10, 2010  Letting young adults stay on their parents' health insurance until they turn 26 will nudge premiums nearly 1 percent higher for employer plans, the government said in an estimate released Monday.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009  House passes bill to eliminate premium hikes for Medicare Part B patients; bill goes to Senate

Wednesday, April 22, 2009  Here in the midlands a city struggling to make ends meet. Now, its retirees, doing the same. Wednesday night Columbia city leaders are meeting to discuss a new retirement plan that will save the city money, but cost retirees a lot more..