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

Yesterday at 8:30 AM  President Barack Obama vigorously defended the surveillance programs in a lengthy interview Monday, calling them transparent — even though they are authorized in secret.

Saturday, June 15, 2013  State officials are touting a U.S. Department of Commerce report that ranks South Carolina's economy as the 12th fastest growing in the nation.

Thursday, June 13, 2013  State Commerce officials will be in Paris next week without Gov. Nikki Haley to tout South Carolina's growing aerospace industry.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013  Intelligence official says US spy program will remain despite backlash at home and abroad

Monday, June 10, 2013  The man responsible for leaking to the press information about sweeping U.S. surveillance programs has revealed his own identity.

Friday, June 07, 2013  Like profit-driven companies, US government mining Big Data to dig deeper into people's lives

Friday, June 07, 2013  Intelligence chief declassifies details of phone-records program after uproar over snooping

Thursday, June 06, 2013  A British newspaper reported that the administration was collecting telephone records of millions of US citizens who were Verizon customers.

Wednesday, June 05, 2013  A Democratic senator has asked Gov. Nikki Haley whether South Carolina paid a ransom to the computer hacker who stole millions of taxpayers' personal information last fall.

Friday, May 31, 2013  A half-dozen congressmen from the Carolinas and Virginia are urging Interior Secretary Sally Jewel to use "extreme caution" when considering any proposals for oil and gas exploration in Atlantic waters.

Friday, May 17, 2013  The commission working to preserve the culture of slave descendants on the Southeast coast is holding its quarterly meeting. The Gullah-Geechee Heritage Corridor Commission meets in Conway.

Wednesday, May 15, 2013  Lawmakers outraged over another military sex case involving someone assigned to prevent sexual assault.

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

Monday, May 13, 2013  A plan to preserve the culture of slave descendants of the sea islands on the Southeast coast has been approved by the Department of the Interior.

Friday, May 10, 2013  Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates says there are smart ways to reduce the size of the nation's defense budget.