Wednesday, April 24, 2013
SC legislator proposes shortening separation time before divorce becomes official.
A proposed amendment would allow couples seeking a no-fault divorce to be granted one after 150 days of separation. Currently, couples must wait one year before a divorce is granted. Rep. Walt McLeod introduce the amendment last month, according to the Anderson Independent Mail. He says he decided to introduce the amendment after a constituent told him the year-long waiting period only increased the amount of arguing between his parents. McLeod said other states set no time requirements before a no-fault divorce becomes official. He said he hoped the shortened required separation time would end mudslinging between the two parties. But Joe Carter of S.C. Coalition 4 Parents & Children said a shortened separation period would make no …
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Many states make it a crime for adults to permit alcohol consumption in the home by anyone under 21, but South Carolina doesn't have a specific Social Host law. Does the state need one?
Does South Carolina need a Social Host law to help combat underage drinking? Michelle Nienhius, Prevention Consultant with the Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services said that many states and local governments are seeing “very good results” from having Social Host ordinances. “We do not have a state law in South Carolina, however we do know of some local ordinances out there,” she said. Social Host laws and ordinances target those who host “the event, the party.” “Even if they're not directly providing the alcohol, they're providing the place for it to be consumed, and if they're knowingly providing the place for it to be consumed, then they could be held liable and have to pay some fines and fees and things like that,” …
Monday, April 22, 2013
State hasn't had a natural disaster reported in more than five years.
The map is a bit spooky. No other state in the United States has enjoyed the luxury of zero natural disasters since 2007 except for South Carolina, according to EnvironmentAmericaCenter.org. Colorado State University's Department of Atmospheric Science reported this week that there will be four major hurricanes out of the tropics this season. Are you prepared for a disaster? The American Red Cross recommends that everyone create an emergency plan. Make sure you and your family know what to do when disaster strikes. Speak out: Are we overdue for a 'big one'? Tell us in the comments!
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Clemson's Hopkins, who was participating in an NFL scouting combine, was sharing the room with Rutgers' Mark Harrison. Both players said they left the room hours before the incident occurred.
Editor's note: Some readers may find portions of Speak Out objectionable. Clemson's DeAndre Hopkins is making a name for himself in the NFL, but probably not the way most Clemson fans would want him to be remembered. At a February NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, Hopkins, along with Rutgers' Mark Harrison, allegedly trashed a hotel room prior to check out. According to Yahoo! Sports, "most of the damage was done in the bathroom, where urine and feces were strewn around the room, and toothpaste was left on the mirror." Football Scouting president Jeff Foster, who runs the scouting combine, also told the publication that there was trash all over the hotel room. Hopkins denied the allegations on his Twitter account Thursday afternoon and…
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Song has stirred up controversy in recent weeks.
It’s been talked about on The View and Conan, spoofed on Saturday Night Live and lit up message boards for the better part of two weeks. It’s the song by country music star Brad Paisley called “Accidental Racist.” Paisley is joined in the song by rapper/actor LL Cool J as they both reference symbols of racism, such as the confederate In interviews such as the one above, Paisley has said the song is a plea to make racism a thing of the past. But critics say it trivializes slavery and that Paisley is in no position to discuss matters of race. What do you think? Here are the lyrics: To the man that waited on me at the Starbucks down on Main, I hope you understand When I put on that t-shirt, the only thing I meant to say is I'm a Skynyrd fan …
Monday, April 15, 2013
Congestion and traffic woes, tell us how you cope in the comments.
Last week, we asked you to tell us what area roads need working on. Today, we'd like to know what you do when traffic grinds to a halt. While traffic in the Upstate generally isn't all that bad, compared to other places, traffic jams are inevitable anywhere. I learned to stop complaining about Upstate traffic several years ago when talking to my friend Josh. After patiently listening to me rant and rave about how it takes forever to go from one end of Woodruff Road to the other, Josh reminded me that he lives – and commutes – in Los Angeles. I shut up. But people in the big cities really don't have anything to complain about. The longest traffic jam in history occurred in China in 2010. Imagine traffic backed up for 62 miles. Imagine …
Sunday, April 14, 2013
We're always on the lookout for great books! Share the diamonds and the duds you've been reading lately.
I love to read. I usually keep a different book in each room of my apartment – a book to read before I turn out the lights, a book to read while sitting in my Comfy Chair in the my living room. Technology allows me to take a whole library with me wherever I go. I can download the Kindle app and read my Kindle books on my laptop or even on my phone. What’s becoming harder to find is time to read. I’ve got a job that keeps me busy and an active social life, which is a big improvement from a time when I was pretty much a hermit. Some people don't have time to read at all, which is sad. Some people don't enjoy reading for pleasure, which I honestly do not understand. Since time to read is sometimes hard to come by, I really enjoy the …
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Sen. Harvey Peeler introduces bill that would provide $200 million to state’s roads and bridges.
Seemingly every time a state official is asked what the state needs to move forward, repairing crumbling infrastructure is mentioned, but it seems money for roads and bridges is handed out piecemeal. Sen. Harvey Peeler has introduced a bill that would allocate $200 million in funding to roads and bridges in the state. "It's a big bill because it's a big problem. And it's getting bigger every day,” Peeler told the Greenville News. (Subscription may be required.) The Greenville News also reports that a DOT task force has estimated that fixing the state’s roads and bridges would require $29 billion over 20 years. The bill would also give the Department of Transportation oversight of the State Infrastructure Bank, which Peeler says devotes…
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Tax Day is almost here.
Millions of procrastinators like myself waited until the last week before Tax Day to have their taxes done. But once I get all my paperwork in order and go to my appointment, I can look forward to the real fun – spending my tax refund. I'm fairly sure I'm getting a refund from both federal and state this year. Sometimes refunds aren't much to write home about. One year, my brother took his refund to Skins and bought a hot dog with it. I had him beat last year. Last year, after years of not getting a federal tax refund or, even worse, having to cut the government a check, I finally got one. It was...wait for it....wait for it.....a whole dollar. That's right. One dollar. My tax preparer was stunned. “I've never seen a refund this small,” he…
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
President Obama, Sen. Lindsey Graham pledge to donate portions of salaries.
As many federal workers and defense contractor employees face furloughs in South Carolina and in the nation, elected officials from both parties are donating portions of the salaries in order to show support for those impacted by sequestration. President Barack Obama will take 5 percent of his annual salary "solidarity with furloughed federal workers," according to the Huffington Post. (a sum equalling $20,000) and give it back to the Treasury. Yesterday, Senator Lindsey Graham announced that he would be donating 20 percent of his own salary in support of furloughed workers. Many federal employees are being furloughed the equivalent of 20 percent of their pay. Several of President Obama's Cabinet members are also making donations. …
TruckerTwotimes
4:23 am on Thursday, May 16, 2013
No, according to the news they are killing each other already, it should be like canceling a license tag more ›