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

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- University of South Carolina President Harris Pastides has been named to a national panel on manufacturing competitiveness.

The university said Tuesday that Pastides had been named to the Steering Committee of the Manufacturing Competitiveness Initiative. He will work with the heads of major corporations and universities to develop policy suggestions to improve the manufacturing environment in the United States.

A report will be presented to Congress and the Obama administration at a national summit in 2011.

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