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

Monday, May 13, 2013  The Senate's 2013-14 budget could buy $15 million worth of new school buses for South Carolina's aging fleet.

Friday, May 03, 2013  The Senate Finance Committee has approved a budget proposal that expands full-day 4-year-old kindergarten, gives state workers a slight raise, and puts more troopers on the highways.

Tuesday, December 04, 2012  The South Carolina Supreme Court has blocked an increase in costs for state employee health insurance.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012  The South Carolina Supreme Court will decide if state employees must pay more for health insurance.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012  South Carolina's director of Health and Human Services wants to start talking about how the state will respond to the new federal health care act.

Wednesday, July 18, 2012  South Carolina lawmakers have appointed the first director to an agency charged with managing the state's retirement and health care systems for public workers.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012  The South Carolina House has unanimously approved a $6.5 billion state spending plan that gives most employees a 2 percent raise, boosts state law enforcement and provides health coverage to more children.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012  Retired Barnwell County school teacher Jerry Bell says he flirted with the idea of taking a part-time job to supplement his state benefits but he says he doesn't have the time.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012  Teachers and other South Carolina public employees may get their first raise in four years.

Tuesday, January 31, 2012  South Carolina State Treasurer Curtis Loftis is criticizing the state's investment commission's lack of transparency in everything from how it handles a retirement system with a rate of return below the national average, to the schedule its chairman keeps.

Tuesday, January 31, 2012  South Carolina Treasurer Curtis Loftis says the state pension system is underperforming and paying too much in fees.Loftis is to testify Tuesday to a Senate Finance subcommittee. Legislators are looking to reform the pension system to make it more secure. Possibilities include requiring public workers to contribute more of their salary to their retirement benefits

Wednesday, November 16, 2011  A House panel plans to talk about proposals to fix South Carolina's pension system for state workers. The panel plans to meet Wednesday to begin shaping a final set of recommendations.

Wednesday, November 09, 2011  Unions see Ohio victory as springboard for resurgence, boost for 2012 election

Tuesday, September 27, 2011  Gov. Nikki Haley is ordering state workers to answer phones with a cheery "It's a great day in South Carolina" ---- despite a sky-high unemployment rate and the fact that one-in-five residents are on Medicaid.