TODAY'S HEADLINES / AUG. 9, 2011

Mungo closes deal for new community in West Columbia

The Brookland Mills neighborhood will be built on Hook Road near U.S. 378 and Interstate 26. Despite the struggling economy, the 57-year-old Columbia homebuilder says it has found that homes priced in the mid-$100,000s are strong sellers.

Budget & Control Board approves $63M in construction

The state executive board gave the OK to new projects at state agencies and universities, including $15 million to upfit three floors of the University of South Carolina’s Discovery I research building on the Innovista research campus.

State employees' health plan premiums to go up 4.5%

The state Budget and Cont...

TODAY'S HEADLINES / AUG. 8, 2011

Agency reaffirms S.C. AAA, assigns negative outlook

Weeks after threatening to downgrade South Carolina’s bond rating because of its ties to the U.S. government’s rating, Moody’s Investors Service reaffirmed the state’s AAA rating; but it assigned a negative outlook pending a review of the state’s ability to withstand risk.

Fall Main Street Marketplace taking vendor applications

Columbia’s City Center Partnership, the nonprofit that manages the downtown business improvement district, will hold the Fall Main Street Marketplace again this year and is now accepting vendor registration forms.

LCK Construction names senior project manager

The Columbia-bas...

TODAY'S HEADLINES / AUG. 3, 2011

PalmettoNet to combine with Spirit Telecom

PalmettoNet, which operates fiber-optic networks in the across South Carolina, will combine with Spirit Telecom, a South Carolina-based local exchange carrier. The combined company will do business as Spirit Communications.

BAE Systems receives contracts for 2 S.C. locations

The Army selected BAE Systems and 15 other contractors for a $997 million contract for technology systems. BAE also received $108.4 million to provide Hercules vehicles and parts to the Army and Marine Corps. Part of that work will be done in Aiken.

BMW hiring again, adding health center

BMW Manufacturing said today it will add 100 jobs ...

TODAY'S HEADLINES / AUG. 2, 2011

Palmetto Health gets grant from Duke Endowment

The hospital received $3 million to develop a new model of care for patients with complex illnesses. It will be used to expand an outpatient case management program, develop a new patient care center and secure accreditation as a patient-centered medical home.

Dan Cooper joins Parker Poe Consulting

Former state legislator Dan Cooper of Anderson has become a principal of Parker Poe Consulting, a governmental affairs consulting firm and newly formed subsidiary of the Parker Poe law firm. Cooper spent two decades in the S.C. House of Representatives

TODAY'S HEADLINES / AUG. 1, 2011

SCBT officially takes control of BankMeridian

BankMeridian is the first Columbia-based bank to wind up on the list of failed banks since the Great Recession ended. BankMeridian is the third acquisition SCBT has made in the past year.

Sonoco invests in efficiencies at European mills

The Hartsville packaging manufacturer’s Brussels-based subsidiary, Sonoco-Alcore, is making multimillion-dollar investments in three of its European uncoated recycled paperboard mills. The investments are to improve the plants’ energy efficiency, product range and environmental performance.

USC, Clemson, MUSC get federal nursing grants

The S.C. universities received $657,6...

TODAY'S HEADLINES / JULY 29, 2011

Miller-Valentine refits Lexington County facility

Miller-Valentine Group recently began renovations to an existing industrial facility in Lexington County for Interstate Container, which will manufacture Greencoat, a 100% recyclable, corrugated packaging product used in the food industry.

Surge in retail filling empty storefronts

A market report on commercial real estate in Columbia shows that nearly 300,000 square feet of space has been filled in 2011 as retailing shows signs of bouncing back and landlords trim rents.

SCBT posts Q2 14% rise in net income to $4.9 million

SCBT Financial Corp., the Columbia-based holding company for SCBT, National Ass...

TODAY'S HEADLINES / JULY 28, 2011

Renewable energy offers path for S.C. growth

South Carolina will need power from an assortment of resources, including wind, solar and biofuel, to meet future needs, participants at a renewable energy forum in Columbia said.

NBSC parent Synovus trimmed loss in Q2

The parent company of NBSC bank of South Carolina reported today it lost $53.5 million for the second quarter, a 43% improvement from the first quarter of 2011 and a 78% improvement from the second quarter of 2010. NBSC is the sixth-largest bank in the state, with about a 5.3% market share of deposits as of June 30, 2010.

CapitalBank parent reports loss

Greenwood’s Community Capital Corp. a...

TODAY'S HEADLINES / JULY 27, 2011

Air Wisconsin to open aircraft maintenance facility

The regional feeder airline to US Airways plans to begin an aircraft maintenance facility at Columbia Metropolitan Airport beginning Aug. 4 to service the carrier’s 50-passenger Canadair Regional Jets.

Haley signs tort reform law, makes punitive damages cap

Changes to South Carolina civil litigation laws include a $2 million cap on punitive damages that the Republican governor said was long overdue. She said she would like to see a loser-pay system be added to the law in the future.

Democrats ask for hearing, vote on NLRB subpoenas

Members of the minority party in the House Oversight Committee have...

TODAY'S HEADLINES / JULY 22, 2011

Santee Cooper adds third potential nuclear purchaser

The S.C.-owned utility announced today it has signed a letter of intent to negotiate a potential minority interest with Florida Municipal Power Agency for a portion of the two planned new nuclear reactors in Fairfield County. Earlier this week, Santee Cooper said it was in similar negotiations with Duke Energy Carolinas.

Energy, Defense contract with Columbia supplier

Logan Energy Carolina LLC will be assembling in Columbia the clean-energy units it will install and operate in 18 fuel cell backup power systems at eight military installations, the Department of Energy and Department of Defense announ...

TODAY'S HEADLINES / JULY 21, 2011

Masonite International expands in Bamberg County

The maker of residential and commercial doors plans to invest $14 million to expand its production operations. The company expects it will add 159 jobs by the time the new technology is fully installed. The expansion is expected to be operational by early 2013.

Sonoco posts 8.8% decline in Q2 net income

The global packaging company based in Hartsville said net income dropped in the second quarter to $53.7 million from $58.9 million a year earlier. Second-quarter sales reached a record $1.13 billion, up 12% from $1.01 billion in the second quarter of 2010.

DMV employee indicted over fake driver’s licens...

TODAY'S HEADLINES / JULY 20, 2011

Duke may buy nuclear from Santee Cooper

Duke Energy Carolinas announced today that it signed a letter of intent with Santee Cooper for a potential minority interest in the new nuclear reactors at the V.C. Summer Nuclear Generating Station. Duke said it continues work its proposed Lee Nuclear Station.

Moody’s threatens to downgrade S.C. credit rating

The battle over debt in Washington, D.C., prompted the credit ratings agency to review South Carolina’s credit rating. Moody’s said the state’s reliance on Medicaid and a lack of state funds to cover payments could put the state’s Aaa in jeopardy.

TODAY'S HEADLINES / JULY 19, 2011

Columbia office report indicates area bouncing back

Private sector expansion blunts impact of government cutbacks in downtown; suburban landlords drop rents to draw new tenants.

Colonial Life names four to senior posts

Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Co. has named four new senior executives at its Columbia headquarters, including Tim Arnold, who has been named senior vice president, chief operating officer.

TODAY'S HEADLINES / JULY 18, 2011

Columbia home sales dropped in June; prices up

Home sales in greater Columbia dropped 31.2% in June compared with the same month in 2010, but the median price ticked upward by about 1%. Sumter-Clarendon reported an 8.5% increase in sales for June compared with the same month in 2010, and Realtors there attributed it to the 3rd Army headquarters’ recent move.

Palmetto Health admits 90 new residents, fellows

The hospital will bring the new residents and fellows on board this month. The new resident physicians at Palmetto Health are from 25 states and represent 32 United States and five international medical and dental schools.

Columbia International ad...

TODAY'S HEADLINES / JULY 15, 2011

SCRA study finds copper cuts risk of hospital infections

Results from the clinical trial managed by ATI, an affiliate of SCRA, indicate that using antimicrobial copper surfaces in intensive care rooms cuts the risk of acquiring a hospital-based infection by 40.4%.

TD Bank offers homebuyer kit

The bank, which entered the S.C. market last month, has launched an online service to educate first-time homebuyers. The kit is meant to guide customers through the process of purchasing a home.

Director named at coalition against domestic violence

The S.C. Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault has appointed Pamela Jacobs as its new executive d...

TODAY'S HEADLINES / JULY 14, 2011

Accenture to acquire Duck Creek Technologies

The global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company says it will acquire Duck Creek Technologies, a Columbia-based company that specializes in software for the property and casualty insurance industry. Terms were not disclosed.

HUD allocates $3.6M to Columbia Housing Authority

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has given $3.6 million to the Columbia Housing Authority to upgrade and repair public housing units. Overall, S.C. public housing authorities received $23.6 million from the federal agency.

S.C. Bar Foundation names president-elect

Collins & Lacy attorney...

TODAY'S HEADLINES / JULY 13, 2011

Pure Power recognized for manufacturing practices

Pure Power Technologies LLC, a Navistar company, was recently honored with an Innovator Award from the Southern Growth Policies Board. The awards are given to companies for adoption of innovative manufacturing practices.

Public hearing on proposed I-26 widening set for July 21

The S.C. Department of Transportation scheduled the hearing to discuss a proposed widening and rehabilitation project for Interstate 26 in Lexington and Calhoun counties.

Architecture firm names new shareholder

Quackenbush Architects & Planners named Barbara L. Haller as a new shareholder and principal. She will continue to ser...

TODAY'S HEADLINES / JULY 12, 2011

Fitch rates Lexington Medical’s debt outlook stable

The Chicago-based debt rating agency said Lexington Medical Center is expected to benefit from its expanded cardiovascular program and affiliation with Duke Heart Center.

Dennis Corp. names new CFO

Dennis Corp. appointed Morgan “Mo” Denny to be chief financial officer for the Columbia-based civil engineering, surveying, and construction management firm.

Wright Group Construction launches HVAC division

The Wright Group of West Columbia has created a heating and air division, headed by a veteran of the HVAC business, David Terry.

Five Points bar is sold

Chubby's Bar, 715 Harden St., Columbia was re...