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

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) -- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham thinks he has a way to clear a channel for the deepening of Charleston Harbor.

Graham told reporters in Charleston Monday that he and members of the state's congressional delegation will propose language in the federal continuing budget resolution allowing the Corps of Engineers to move ahead with studies on deepening several harbors nationwide.

That would allow the corps to spend some of its own money and move forward with a study of Charleston without delay.

Graham also proposes an independent commission like the military base closing commission be created next year to review Corps of Engineer projects nationwide.

Such a commission is something U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint has also proposed as part of a corps reform proposal.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)