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

MANNING, S.C. (AP) -- Retailers in Manning say a city council plan to give close to $1 million to a big-box home improvement store will hurt them.

Officials say a new Lowe's Cos. home improvement store will bring 75 full-time jobs and 25 part-time jobs to the area.

Geddings Hardware owner Tad Graham told the Sumter Item for a story Tuesday that the North Carolina-based retailer would hurt business at more than two dozen stores in the city, causing them to cut jobs.

Mayor Kevin Johnson says the $900,000 will be paid to Lowe's over eight years and will pay for the removal of an old Wal-Mart building at the new store site.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)