The Carolinas | Privatized bus maintenance costs more
A report on South Carolinas pilot project on privatizing school bus maintenance shows the contracted bus shop cost the state more money and required more direct state supervision than shops operated by the education agency.
The report comes as Gov. Nikki Haley seeks input on how to privatize the states school bus fleet.
Maintenance for buses serviced in Mount Pleasant has been handled by General Diesel since March 2008. The pilot project was the result of former Gov. Mark Sanfords push to privatize the fleet.
Company president Ron Hallman says it was a learning process and changes have been made. He said the age of the buses presented challenges. The report by TransPar shows the state spent about $1,500 more per bus at the contracted shop than at shops statewide.
COLUMBIA
Legislature overrides its first Haley veto
The SC legislatures first override Thursday of a veto by Gov. Nikki Haley will allow two public agencies to join the state health insurance plan.
The House voted 96-12 to override Haleys veto, a day after the Senate voted 27-6 to do the same. The measure has become law.
State Rep. Garry Smith, R-Simpsonville, said the bill was designed to allow Piedmont Municipal Power and the Greater Greenville Sanitation District join the state health plan, by adding sanitation services and joint agencies to groups that can participate.
Haley opposed the bill, saying it would expand the health plan to non-state agencies and increase the states liabilities. She wrote that too many special groups already have been added to the plan over the last three decades, threatening its financial soundness.
Supporters said the bill has no bearing on state pensions.
ESTILL
Nine hospitalized after prison fight
Authorities say nine inmates at a federal prison in Hampton County have been taken to the hospital after a fight in the prisons recreation yard.
Federal officials said in a press release that the disturbance happened about 8 pm Thursday at the prison in Estill.
Authorities say the prison was placed on lockdown after the fight, and there was no danger to the public. Officials didnt immediately respond to a phone call asking how many inmates were involved or what caused the fight.
The facility is a medium security prison with around 1,200 inmates about 90 miles south of Columbia.
PICKENS
Racial remark leads to chiefs resignation
The police chief in Pickens has resigned after a controversy over what city officials called racially insensitive and derogatory remarks.
Pickens Mayor David Owens says Tommy Ellenburg resigned during an executive session of the city council meeting Thursday night.
Ellenburg quit one day after returning to work following a 15-day suspension.
Local National Association of the Advancement of Colored People officials had called for the chief to be removed from his job permanently. During a public meeting that preceded the closed executive session Thursday, chapter president Shelia Crawford says Ellenburg admitted he used a racial slur more than a year ago in reference to two city council members.
State police have said theyre investigating and will give their results to the US Department of Justice.
Assistant Chief Rodney Gregory will take over as acting chief.
CLOVER
Man kills teen during home break-in
York County sheriffs deputies say two men have been arrested in connection with a home invasion that ended with a 17-year-old girl being shot to death by a homeowner in Clover.
Deputies said the man said he shot at several people who tried to break into his home Thursday morning. The mans name was not released.
Coroner Sabrina Gast says Christina Sayers of Lake Wylie died in the shooting.
Sheriffs Lt. Mike Baker said 20-year-old Justin Lamarr and 17-year-old Jeffery Gillespie were arrested Friday and charged with first-degree burglary. Baker says deputies continue to investigate the shooting.
A school across the street from the home was on lockdown for nearly two hours Thursday morning because of the shooting.
North Carolina
CHARLOTTE
Davidson picks first woman president
Davidson College has chosen its first female president for the once all-male school.
The Charlotte Observer reported that 51-year-old Carol Quillen has been a vice president at Rice University in Houston.
She replaces Tom Ross, who left the liberal arts college in December to become president of the University of North Carolina system.
Quillen has been a teacher, researcher and administrator at Rice. She was appointed last October as Rices vice president for international and interdisciplinary initiatives.
Quillen told about 600 students, graduates, faculty, staff and town residents she feels grateful for the opportunity to lead Davidson.
She has a bachelors degree in American history from the University of Chicago and a doctorate in European history from Princeton University.