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

Tuesday, July 03, 2012 

Monday, April 30, 2012  A federal court has given the state of South Carolina until Monday to clarify whether it would be feasible to implement a statewide voter identification requirement for this year's elections.

Monday, December 19, 2011  A federal judge is set to hear arguments in a challenge to South Carolina's tough new immigration law.  U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel has set aside three hours on Monday so the parties can argue their cases in Charleston.

Friday, December 09, 2011  Civil rights groups have sent a second letter to the U.S. Justice Department asking that the agency block South Carolina's new voter ID law.  Those groups say the law would affect more than 215,000 voters, many of them minority, elderly or disabled.

Friday, November 11, 2011  A top South Carolina Democratic lawyer has filed a federal lawsuit that plans for U.S. House district lines "voting apartheid."

Friday, November 04, 2011  The South Carolina Election Commission said it will seek a legal opinion on whether it has to release the names of voters who may face hurdles when they head to the polls because they don't have state-issued photo identification or driver's licenses.

Thursday, October 27, 2011  Ads, posters and postcards the state has prepared about the state's new photo identification law for voting leave out a key fact: mail-in absentee voters don't need a photo ID.

Monday, October 10, 2011  Less than a week after Columbia police chief Randy Scott marked one year on the job by announcing his department is operating at full strength for the first time in 15 years, he has another reason to celebrate. On Monday, the city announced the U.S. Department of Justice awarded the Columbia police department a $732,320 grant through the Community Oriented Policing program, allowing the department to add officers.

Wednesday, October 05, 2011  The South Carolina Attorney General's Office has told the state Election Commission to provide details on voters excluded from an analysis of people lacking state issued identification required by a new law.

Wednesday, August 31, 2011  Gov. Nikki Haley and South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles Director Kevin Shwedo announced Wednesday at a press conference those people needing a ride can call a new toll-free phone number.

Wednesday, August 31, 2011  South Carolina's U.S. House redistricting plan that includes a new 7th District is under review by the U.S. Justice Department.

Wednesday, August 31, 2011  Council members unanimously voted in favor of a redistricting plan that will shift thousands of Columbia residents to different polling places.

Monday, July 18, 2011  Civil rights leaders are holding a meeting in North Charleston to discuss South Carolina's new voter ID law.

Friday, July 08, 2011  The SC Progressive Network laid out the case Friday afternoon that it plans to make to the U.S. Justice Department that the law requiring South Carolina voters to show a state driver's license or identification card at the polls will prevent a number of eligible voters from casting ballots.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011  South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley signed a bill Wednesday that requires people to have a state or military photo identification card before voting.  Republicans say the bill is crucial to avoiding election fraud.  Democrats say the measure will suppress voter turnout. They cite state data that shows 178,000 registered voters don't have a driver's license.