TODAY'S HEADLINES | MAY 3, 2012

Warm winter hurts SCANA Q1 earnings

Total earnings for the first quarter of 2012 slipped 5.8% to $121 million. SCANA, the parent of South Carolina Electric & Gas, said the decline was primarily driven by weather-related factors in the company’s non-regulated gas business in Georgia.

Online advertised jobs rise by 400 in April

The overall job picture continues to show growth in online advertising, according to data released by The Conference Board Help Wanted Online. In the past three months, the number of online advertised vacancies in South Carolina has climbed by 2,900. Nationally, there are nearly 4.8 million online help wanted ads.

Columbia mayor joins Parker Poe law firm

Columbia Mayor Stephen K. Benjamin has joined the firm’s Columbia office. He is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court of South Carolina and the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.

City Parks and Recreation sets hearings on 5-year plan

The master plan will become a guide to the development of Columbia's parks and recreation programs, initiatives and facilities over the next five years. The first meeting is tonight at the MLK Park.

Colonial Life launches new group term life product

The Columbia-based life insurance provider said the new product will have benefits for employers and employees. Employers can offer this new benefit without impacting their bottom line since employees pay 100% of the premium, the company said.

S.C. ranks No. 7 among best states to do business

South Carolina moved up a spot to No. 7 on Chief Executive magazine’s list of the best states in which to do business. The Palmetto State has moved up the list two consecutive years. Results are based on surveys of 650 CEOs from across the country.

Clemson signs six more tenants for CU-ICAR center

Thermo-Pur Technologies, CU-ICAR Supplier Testing Laboratory, DreamWeaver International Inc., Mumford Industries Inc., Clemson University Manufacturing Workforce Initiative and Toho Tenax plan to move into CU-ICAR’s Center for Emerging Technologies. Clemson officially opened the center on Wednesday.