TheState.com: Breaking News

Homicide reported Saturday

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 21:58 EDT

The Richland County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a homicide that occurred Saturday evening.

Officials would only say that sheriff’s deputies were called to Palmetto Health Richland on a report of a deceased male victim.

No other information was available Saturday evening.

Lady Street closes after water main break

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 15:08 EDT

Lady Street between Main and Assembly street in downtown Columbia is closed to traffic while a broken water line is repaired, city officials said today.

The break occurred shortly after noon, officials said.

Repairs are expected to last until early evening before Lady Street can be reopened. -- Staff reports

Sanford confidant Davis: 'Time to get back to work'

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:56 EDT

Statement by Tom Davis re: Governor Mark Sanford

Over the past two weeks, South Carolinians have been disappointed, angry and embarrassed by the actions of Gov. Mark Sanford. I share these emotions. We cannot control the unfortunate circumstances that got us to this place, but we can and must control how we now move past them.

I have been Gov. Sanford’s friend for 30 years and the First Lady’s friend during their 20 years of marriage. God willing, we will remain friends for the next 30 years. I have not hidden my concern for Gov. Sanford and the First Lady or my support for them as they try to move forward together.

This is why as a friend, I asked Gov. Sanford on several occasions to consider resigning for the sake of his marriage and his family.

Gov. Sanford told me that discharging the duties of his office would not prevent him from working on that reconciliation, and the First Lady told me the same thing. I am not going to second-guess them in that personal matter.

SC serial killer conjures memory of 60s murderer

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 07:55 EDT

A terrified rural South Carolina community hunkered down over the Fourth of July after the sheriff said a serial killer was on the loose, and longtime residents were reminded of a murderer who terrorized the town in the 1960s.

Memories of the "Gaffney Strangler" were reignited this week after authorities said a new serial killer gunned down four people during three separate incidents over several days. Authorities have released a sketch of the accused killer and a description of the sport utility vehicle he may be driving, but they have been silent about exactly what has linked the slayings.

The town of Gaffney, about 50 miles south of Charlotte, N.C., is located in a county that had just six homicides in all of 2008, and half that the year before. The last time the town was this threatened like this was when the "Gaffney Strangler" killed four women over 10 days in 1968 and vowed to kill more. The town banded together, despite racial prejudice, to find the man who was killing both white and black women.

The strangler, Lee Roy Martin, called the editor of a local newspaper on Feb. 8, 1968, and told him where to find the bodies of two women he'd dumped in the woods. He threatened to kill even more women until he was "shot down like the dog I am."

People started to comb the community for clues, which led to Martin's arrest. He was convicted of four murders and sentenced to four life terms. In 1972, he was stabbed to death in his cell.

Miss SC Preliminary winners announced

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:38 EDT

Spartanburg -- Four preliminary winners were announced at the Miss South Carolina and Miss South Carolina Teen Pageant Preliminaries on Thursday.

The two pageant preliminaries and finales have been combined for the first time this year.

Morgan Dampier, Miss Capital City, won talent with her saxophone rendition of "Amazing Grace" during the third preliminary night of competition. She is a 22-year-old from Hartsville.

Tiona Lee, Miss Laurens County, won the Swimsuit award. She is a 22-year-old from Columbia.

Ali Rogers, Miss Laurens County Teen, won talent with her piano performance of "In the Mood." She is a 17-year-old from Laurens.,