Columbia Mayor Bob Coble has endorsed Columbia attorney and former lobbyist Dwight Drake's bid for the Democratic Party gubernatorial nomination.
Coble, who is not running for reelection this year, said the state needs a governor capable of im-mediately getting things done.
"Dwight understands the challenges facing the Midlands, and his experience working for Governors John West and Dick Riley makes Dwight the only candidate who can do the job of governor from day one," Coble said in a news release. "The chal-lenges we face demand that we have a governor who needs no on-the-job training."
Drake is one of five Democrats running for governor. The field includes state Sen. Robert Ford of Charleston, Charleston attorney Mullins McLeod, Superintendent of Education Jim Rex and state Sen. Vincent Sheheen of Camden.
- John O'Connor
Camden coach quits amid allegations
Camden High School's varsity girls basketball coach has resigned amid allegations that he had inappropriate contact with a female student.
Sean Cassidy submitted a letter of resignation Friday, two days after the allegations were made, said Mary Anne Byrd, a spokeswoman for the Kershaw County School District.
The student told another coach about Cassidy's alleged behavior, Byrd said. The student is not a basketball player.
The school began an investigation into the allegations on Thursday when Cassidy was put on administrative leave and fired as coach, Byrd said.
A.J. Cooke, assistant coach for the girl's varsity team, was promoted to head coach. The team lost Friday night's game to Wilson High School.
- Noelle Phillips
Benjamin, Muhamed file to run for mayor
Steve Benjamin and Nammu Muhamed became the third and fourth candidates Monday to file for the Columbia mayor's race.
Benjamin, an attorney, was the Democratic nominee for state attorney general in 2002. Muhamed ran for City Council in 2008.
Benjamin and Muhamed join City Councilman Kirkman Finlay, U.S. Post Office employee Sparkle Clark and Five Points business owner Aaron Johnson as the only candidates to file for the race.
Attorney Steve Morrison, retired Lt. Colonel Gary Myers and Five Points business owner Joseph Azar have all announced their candidacies but have not officially filed for the race. Filing closes at 5 p.m. Friday.
- Adam Beam
Mayoral forum tonight at Eau Claire Print
The Hyatt Park and Keenan Terrace neighborhood associations will host a forum for Columbia's seven mayoral candidates tonight at 6 p.m. at the Eau Claire Print Building, 3907 Ensor Avenue.
Organizers are requesting audience members arrive early to submit questions for the candidates to answer. The forum will last until 7:30 p.m., followed by 30 minutes of social time with the candidates.
- Adam Beam
Woman's body found in abandoned house
A woman's body was found in an abandoned Columbia home about noon Monday, police announced.
The unidentified woman - described as white and in her 20s or 30s - was found in the 5800 block of Ames Road, said Columbia police spokeman Brick Lewis.
An autopsy is planned to determine the cause of death
- Staff Reports
S.C. sites make list of endangered places
An environmental group lists the Carolinas three times in its top 10 list of the most endangered places in the South.
The Southern Environmental Law Center's report released Monday includes the Catawba-Wateree waterway that winds through North Carolina and South Carolina, Cape Fear wetlands in North Carolina and freshwater wetlands north of Charleston.
South Carolina is suing to stop two N.C. cities from pumping up to 10 million gallons a day from the Catawba and Yadkin river basins. The U.S. Supreme Court is hearing the case.
South Carolina's Great Pee Dee River came off the list, after plans for a coal-fired power plant in rural Florence County were dropped.
- The Associated Press
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