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

Wednesday, May 01, 2013  An effort to expand South Carolina's full-day 4-year-old kindergarten program to more poor children is advancing in the Senate.

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.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013  A Senate panel has passed a bill that would allow people to carry guns in public in South Carolina without a concealed weapons permit.

Wednesday, March 13, 2013  A 28-year-old woman who authorities say unsuccessfully tried to fire a gun at officials at a private girls' school in Charleston has been indicted in federal court.

Wednesday, March 06, 2013  Legislators say this weekend could decide the fate of the South Carolina High School League.

Wednesday, March 06, 2013  Parents from a Charleston school that authorities say was the scene of a failed shooting say a new proposal could keep South Carolina safer.

Thursday, February 28, 2013  A Senate panel has decided not to create a whole new agency for the state's cyber-security officer.

Thursday, February 14, 2013  A Senate panel has advanced a bill putting oversight of prisoners, parolees, and those on probation in a single agency.

Thursday, February 14, 2013  The governor could appoint South Carolina's education chief under legislation advanced by a Senate panel.

Wednesday, February 13, 2013  A Senate panel advanced a bill designed to ensure that South Carolinians can hold on to their weapons regardless of what Congress does.

Wednesday, February 13, 2013  A Senate panel has advanced a bill intended to let people with concealed weapon permits carry their gun into restaurants.

Thursday, February 07, 2013  Advocates for expanding Medicaid say if legislators do not act, hundreds of thousands of poor South Carolinians will be left without health care coverage.

Wednesday, February 06, 2013  South Carolina's unemployment agency wants to charge anyone who fraudulently receives unemployment benefits a 25 percent penalty, in addition to paying the money back.

Wednesday, February 06, 2013  Measures to strengthen South Carolina's ethics laws have been introduced in the Senate.

Thursday, January 03, 2013  Reforming state ethics and elections laws and better security for taxpayers' personal information are top priorities for both Republicans and Democrats in the South Carolina House.