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

COLUMBIA (AP) -- South Carolina legislators have killed three efforts to allow charities to hold raffles.

The House refused Thursday to allow members to consider measures allowing churches, schools and other charities to raise money through raffles. The only legal raffle in South Carolina now is the state lottery.

A 59-49 vote on one bill fell far short of the two-thirds majority needed to waive a rule that bills be on the calendar for a day.

The House sent proposed constitutional amendments to ask voters whether charitable raffles should be legal to separate committees.

The moves mean those bills are almost certainly dead this session. Similar measures in the Senate have languished without debate.

Opponents said they fear the bills will lead to outright gambling.

(Copyright ©2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)